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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Life's not fair and it certainly rains a lot in Scotland but no-one could ever accuse spangly Glaswegian power-pop vets Teenage Fanclub of sounding like washed-out malcontents. Now happy to damn the hit parade and release records at their leisure, Man Made--the band's first album in five years--arrives on the group's own label; a defiant (or desperate) gesture of self-preservation equivalent to circling the wagons in defence of the bloodline. Musically, little has changed which means that Messrs Blake, Love and McGinley are still applying the post-grunge anti-ageing cream to the respective legacies of Roger McGuinn and Alex Chilton. There are some great tracks--the atypically Fannies "It's All In My Mind", the folk-rock fight against terminal illness on "Cells", the stack-heeled glam stomp of "Born Under A Good Sign" and a fair bit of borrowing from The Raspberries to The Allmann Brothers (plus violin from the Battlefield Band's John McCusker). Blake imagines himself to be "Like a wave, a pulse across the ocean". Love says "There is more to learn than I aim for, so much under the sun I should claim for". McGinley muses that "I'm alive and I'm alone, I love this life and all I've known". They remain free-spirited, life-affirming, resolutely optimistic and damned tuneful. And yet--like Amerigo Vespucci, whoever it was who invented marmite crisps or the Prussians at Waterloo--Teenage Fanclub may never receive the credit they duly deserve. --Kevin Maidment
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By S. Mills
Format:Audio CD
Back after a 5 year break since their last album, Man Made sees the band remaining on good form. There are some songs that spring out immediately to you - perhaps such as "Slow Fade" - a fast paced tuneful burst of melody which draws you into the album, others take more time. The main thing to make clear is that this is a really good album but you have to listen to it a few times. Having played it a week now the hooks have really got into me. If you buy a lot of CDs and find they grace your CD player for a short time then there is a chance that you may miss the underlying beauty of this album. Do so at your peril. So what of the highlights? Well if you're looking for a starting point check out "Fallen Leaves" or the fantastic "Cell" (with its heart rending subject matter but beautiful tune) , "Its all in my mind" leaves me feeling optimistic every time i hear it.
Teenage Fanclub as a band deserve yours, mine and everyones support. They have put this album out on their own label. Consistently they write great songs, are good humoured - check them out live! No-one creates harmonies like these guys and the love of guitar in their songs is always evident.
If you're new to the band then you may want to start with Grand Prix or Bandwagonesque that have some cracking tunes.
The music world needs Teenage Fanclub. Unpretentious and great songwriters. Buy this album and spread the word (further).
Teenage Fanclub as a band deserve yours, mine and everyones support. They have put this album out on their own label. Consistently they write great songs, are good humoured - check them out live! No-one creates harmonies like these guys and the love of guitar in their songs is always evident.
If you're new to the band then you may want to start with Grand Prix or Bandwagonesque that have some cracking tunes.
The music world needs Teenage Fanclub. Unpretentious and great songwriters. Buy this album and spread the word (further).
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Martin Grace
Format:Audio CD
Took a few listens but the quality of the songs doesnt take long to shine through.Like another reviewer in my opinion the songs written by Ray take longer than the others to catch on.
Those of Gerry and Norman however are typically melody laden and infectious. Born under a good sign is an electric guitar gem that makes you wanna get on yer feet and it harps back to the urgency of some of the earlier TFC numbers. The album is for me is probably the best since Grand Prix, listen after listen songs like Its all in my mind, Save, Time Stops, Feel - the list goes on are true classics - The best few quid I've spent in a while I pray to God it wont be another 4 or 5 years before we have to wait for the next release.
Those of Gerry and Norman however are typically melody laden and infectious. Born under a good sign is an electric guitar gem that makes you wanna get on yer feet and it harps back to the urgency of some of the earlier TFC numbers. The album is for me is probably the best since Grand Prix, listen after listen songs like Its all in my mind, Save, Time Stops, Feel - the list goes on are true classics - The best few quid I've spent in a while I pray to God it wont be another 4 or 5 years before we have to wait for the next release.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By "dafydd56"
Format:Audio CD
teenage fanclub have made one of the most laid back, life afirming and beautiful album of this decade, it brims with musical vitality. The highlights of this album include the beautiful songs flowing, only with you and cells which are emotional yet soothing at the same time...Norman Blake continues to be the best songwriter, however the other two contribute songs which complement his songs greatly. If only teenage fanclub got the expose they trully deserve, perhaps then though it might taint their wonderfully ideallic and peaceful sound, as long as they stick around I shall be delighted. I just wish they could have another album out tomorrow as there is nothing else briming with as much musical ability and sould as this on the market... a must have for tfc fans and all good fans of music out there.....
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Man Made but Godlike tunes
Simply Fan-tastic. Their best album since Bandwagonesque.
Can't wait till next one due out this year.
Can't wait till next one due out this year.
Published on 2 Mar 2010 by J. Charles
2.0 out of 5 stars
Can't get into this one
Huge fan of TFC's album Grand Prix and enjoyed Songs From Northern Britain and Howdy! but this album doesn't impress me at all. Read more
Published on 21 Feb 2010 by Mr. Jonathan Robin Oxley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Business as usual
"Something simple and unaffected" sang Norman Blake on 1995's Grand Prix album, and this could well describe Man Made. Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2006 by "matt_foy70"
2.0 out of 5 stars
Pipe and slippers music.
Man Made is the first Teenage Fanclub album I've bought since Songs From Northern Britain which along with Grand Prix is the band at their best. Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2005 by Michelle Coyle
4.0 out of 5 stars
disappointed at first but this album really grows on you
This album starts off well but after a first listening I was disappointed, especially when thinking of the glories of Howdy! Read more
Published on 21 May 2005 by P. J. Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grace and Beauty
It would be wrong to criticise Man-Made for failing to replicate the faster paced thrills of Bandwagonesque, Grand Prix etc. Read more
Published on 6 May 2005 by "marknenadic"
3.0 out of 5 stars
Old Man Made
It's been five years since "Howdy!", and TFC have drifted into even softer territory in their advancing years. Read more
Published on 4 May 2005 by Norman's Ghost
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