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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
"I Need Direction" is just the sort of song-title forewarning that a band has suddenly fallen out of love with itself and is about to shoot off on some ill-advised, creative tangential excursion into choppy uncharted waters. But this is Teenage Fanclub. And "I Need Direction" is the reassuringly familiar sound of a group which, unlike one of their principle sources of inspiration--Neil Young--has no intention of getting sued by it's record label for issuing unrepresentative material. So it's a great big "Hello", or Howdy!, to the branded, jangling Byrdsian pop of Messrs Love, Blake and McGinley (who all contribute four songs each) and their corona-fringed melodies, pealing Caledonia-meets-California harmonies and guitars which spray the warmth of July like a well-shaken bottle of carbonated sunshine. Even the semi-glumness of the brilliant "Happiness" ("Can't find a smile, got one to lend me?"), with its down-in-the-mouth "Paint Your Wagon" harmonica, is an audio cure for Seasonal Affective Disorder on an album several times chirpier than an aviary of well-fed budgies. --Kevin Maidment
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I think that one of the greatest achievements of Teenage Fanclub is their innate ability to distill the best and most memorable achievements in recent pop music: Beatles, the Byrds, Big Star, et al. and just deliver beautifully crafted songs. I still get goosebumps listening to any of their records. This is the way I always wished my band to sound. Happy, straight and un-presumptous music. No coincedence that artists like Matthew Sweet, who also drink from the same fountain of musical inspiration as TFC, is also one of my favorite artists. So much music nowadays is heralded by self-appointed "mental patients", pretend tough guys deppresives, etc. Its good to just listen to music dedicated to us, the normal ones, the little people. It is such a humble and honest way to approach a listener. Simple and heartfelt. Give them a try, you won't regret it!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
No change of direction other than the fuller arrangements, built up with hammond organ, harmonicas and other odds and sods - even Fanclub on auto pilot beats the best most other bands can muster.
Gerry Love contributes the "hit singles" off this collection - "I Need Direction", "Near You", "The Town and the City" - each as good and as catchy as anything he's ever composed.
The real revelation for me on this album is the sheer quality of Ray McGinley's songs. So often the "third man" behind Love and Blake, "Howdy" sees Ray step right out of the shadows with some classic songwriting, the depth of which is unrivalled by much of the contribution of Love and Blake. Forget the gripes about Ray's voice. Listen to the songs.
The album lost one star due to Norman Blake's selection of songs. Must try harder, Norm. Nothing wrong with them, just average Fanclub fare though. Remember, this is the man who has written countless exceptional TFC tunes.
But as I said, better on autopilot than...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Teenage Fanclub, surely the most underappreciated band of recent times, carried on where their previous album "Songs From Northern Britain" had left off with another collection of harmonic masterpieces. This record is a real grower and, while I wouldn't recommend it as your first Fanclub purchase (try the new Best Of or Grand Prix) there are enough quality moments to ensure a five-star rating. Norman Blake, Gerry Love and Ray McGinley are great singers and songwriters and have produced the goods yet again. From the chiming "I Need Direction" with its "ba ba ba" backing vocals to the call and response vocals of "My Uptight Life, this album is a must for anyone who enjoys jangling guitars, harmonies and summery tunes.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Effortless sounding music
With echoes of Byrds and Buffalo Springfield harmonies this 2000 album features bright and breezy music but deals with serious themes. Read more
Published 17 months ago by haunted
some of their best work
Stand out tracks - I can't find my way home - My uptight life - Near you - If i never see you again - The town and the city - The fannies coasting slightly but the above tracks... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Saima Mumtaz
Their most underrated record
This album was virtually forgotten on release (their record label Creation had been engulfed by Sony and Teenage Fanclub were cruelly sidelined). Read more
Published on 20 Feb 2010 by Mr. Jonathan Robin Oxley
Criminally Under rated Record
'Howdy' was given pretty indifferent reviews on first release. I think it's time for a reassessment. This record has some of Teenage Fanclub's finest songs on it. Read more
Published on 12 July 2007 by Christopher Hunter
Going backwards
After two great albums, Grand Prix and Songs From Northern Britain, Teenage Fanclub take a backward step and release an album that most bands would be happy with, but come on, it's... Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2004
HOW TO BE GOOD
Teenage Fanclub are to music what Nick Hornby is to books.
Their songs are funny, unpretentious, smarter than they look, mad for pop ( Byrds, Beatles, Big Star, Beach Boys,... Read more
Their songs are funny, unpretentious, smarter than they look, mad for pop ( Byrds, Beatles, Big Star, Beach Boys,... Read more
Published on 5 July 2002
HOW TO BE GOOD
Teenage Fanclub are to music what Nick Hornby is to books.
Their songs are funny, unpretentious, smarter than they look, mad for pop ( Byrds, Beatles, Big Star, Beach Boys,... Read more
Their songs are funny, unpretentious, smarter than they look, mad for pop ( Byrds, Beatles, Big Star, Beach Boys,... Read more
Published on 5 July 2002 by Tanya
A brilliant album, buy it!
I bought this album six months ago, and it's still fantastic!. It is full of wonderful, happy, joyful music, great chord changes, harmonies and uplifting lyrics. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2001
GOING DOWN?
THIS IS THE SOUND OF A BAND ON THE WAY OUT.THEY ONLY HAVE TO WRITE FOUR GOOD SONGS EACH EVERY TWO YEARS, AND IF THIS IS THE BEST THEY CAN DO, I'M AFRAID THEY'RE GONNA... Read more
Published on 13 Oct 2001
A Warm Familiar Coat
Howdy may not break any new ground, but if you are TFC why do you need to. Songs such as My Uptight Life can speak directly to myself and cause me to reflect on my own uptight... Read more
Published on 9 Dec 2000
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