Amazon.co.uk Review
Before this astonishing album, Teenage Fanclub had released a couple of pleasant singles and a whole load of generic, indie dishwater. In the middle of 1991, they went into a Liverpool studio, with Don Fleming producing, and emerged with a masterpiece.
Bandwagonesque is, of course, hugely derivative--difficult to make a record with two guitars, a bass and drums that isn't. More than a few reviews at the time suggested that
Bandwagonesque had gone a step further, into the realm of pastiche and plagiarism, especially in regard to
Big Star. Given time, however, it became clear that
Bandwagonesque wasn't a problem even on those terms--it was at least as good a Big Star album as Big Star ever made. And on its own merits,
Bandwagonesque is so near perfect as to make no odds. It contains stackheeled glam stomps that
Slade would have been proud of ("What You Do To Me"), exquisitely lachrymose ballads ("December"), endlessly quotable lyrical couplets ("There's a side of me unknown/Big deal", from "Starsign") and gorgeous, ringing electric guitars and still more gorgeous
Byrds-esque vocal harmonies (the whole album).
Bandwagonesque is the sort of album that makes you wish you owned a convertible. Utterly unimpeachable, work of genius, etc, and Teenage Fanclub have since made at least three albums which are even better.
--Andrew Mueller
CD Description
Teenage Fanclub emerged from a fraternal milieu centred on the Scottish town of Bellshill. A common love of pop tradition bound the quartet together and elements of their mentors abound on this collection. Neil Young and Big Star are obvious reference points, but the Fannies are not merely Byrds copyists. Dizzy melodies, long-hair guitar and unpretentiousness abound, the set's attraction ultimately residing in its cumulative, carefree charm. An impishness enhances the entireproceedings; only the churlish can resist its obvious attractions. Since this release they have been sorely taken for granted and have become an institution rather than stars. Everybody loves them but not enough to buy them.
~ Teenage Fanclub
~ Teenage Fanclub
~ Teenage Fanclub
~ Teenage Fanclub
~ Teenage Fanclub
