Track Listing

1. About You
2. Sparky's Dream
3. Mellow Doubt
4. Don't Look Back
5. Verisimilitude
6. Neil Jung
7. Tears
8. Discolite
9. Say No
10. Going Places
11. I'll Make It Clear
12. I Gotta Know
13. Hardcore/Ballad

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8898 in Music
• Released on: 2001-01-15
• Number of discs: 1

CD Description
The adorable Fannies are in danger of becoming a 'much-loved institution' like the Kinks and XTC: great for warm-hearted feelings, but lousy for record sales. Grand Prix breaks the band's Byrdsian mould slightly, but there are enough jangly G chords to satisfy everyone. Virtually every song is a flawless gem, complete with the most precise harmonies; each rolls into the next with love and care, played, sung and produced with supreme clarity. With the fantastic boon of possessing three talented songwriters, TFC offer plenty of variety; in particular, Gerard Love's irresistible 'Sparky's Dream'achieves classic pop song status, and his 'Don't Look Back'is this accomplished album's highlight.

Customer Reviews

listening should be mandatory
When talking about 'Grand Prix' it's difficult not to get carried away. When you think of Teenage Fanclub you may envisage middle-of-the-road twee musical pap from poncey Scottish poets who are too limp-wristed to thrash out a decent rock choon. And you'd be utterly wrong. When 'Sparky's Dream' explodes and the fragile 'Mellow Doubt' quells, you realise just how extraordinary and versatile this band are. The lyrics are wonderful (how did they manage to make "the sun shines in your eyes so brighten up my city sky" not sound like a crap chat-up line?) and the harmonies are delightful. 'Discolite' marches on with authority, and the pleasure sustained throughout the understated 'Going Places' leaves you with a warm glow. Perhaps 'Verisimilitude' needs to be heard live to be fully appreciated, but the finale 'Hardcore/Ballad' embodies everything there is to treasure about this album, blending the hardest and the softest aspects of the previous songs.
The word 'pop' seems insulting in today's music culture, but if taken literally as 'something that everyone will like' then 'Grand Prix' is undoubtedly the greatest pop album of all time.

Feelin' low? Go listen to Grand Prix. Trust me - it works.
Only the ideal synergy of chunky chords, wistful lyrics and cracked harmonies can fill our dangerous and depressing world with sunshine and exultation on every listen. Luckily for them the Fannies mastered the trick first time out, and luckily for us they believe in refinements rather than new directions. Grand Prix isn't quite as lovable as some of their other albums, but it's their most polished and consistent. Sparky's Dream and Neil Jung are the best singles they ever released, and Verisimilitude has a tune worthy of its wonderful title. Don't be put off by the fact that they never quite made the big time - that says a lot more about the British public and its radio stations than it does about the Fannies. You will be denying yourself a guaranteed works-every-time happy pill if you do not buy this album.

Worth a Podium Place
Interesting to review `Grand Prix' from a `neutral' perspective - Teenage Fanclub is a band that had passed me by but my buddy is a massive fan and he urged me to check this one out.

The music of `Grand Prix' is laid-back, melodic guitar pop performed and produced superbly. The only pitfall with this style of music is if laid back becomes lazy but this album is a real success.

The core of the record, from `Sparky's Dream's sweet pop harmonies to `Going Places's beautiful chiming guitar work is absolutely excellent. All of these tracks have really strong melodies and are a joy to listen to. I really like `Don't Look Back' with its anthemic, cranked-up guitars; `Verisimilitude's early-REM style jangly guitar backing and satisfying keyboard chord progression and `Tears's fantastic piano and horns.

The band carries off the feat of three songwriters enhancing an album rather than being a hindrance. Unusually, all seem equally talented and their differing vocals add a welcome extra bit of variety.

The only downside for me is the end of the record. `I'll Make It Clear' and `I Gotta Know' are not up to the quality of the preceding tracks whilst the record deserves a much better closing number than `Hardcore/Ballad', an out of place experimental curiosity fit only for a B-side.

On the whole, though, `Grand Prix' is really enjoyable to listen to but if you are reading this you probably know that already!