Product 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.

Track Listing

1. The concept
2. Satan
3. December
4. What you do to me
5. I don't know
6. Star sign
7. Metal baby
8. Pet rock
9. Sidewinder
10. Alcoholiday
11. Guiding star
12. Is this music?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4047 in Music
• Released on: 2001-01-15
• Number of discs: 1

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

Customer Reviews

A masterpiece
Loads of people maintain that Grand Prix is better, and as far as a collection of songs by a fine British band at their peak goes, you can see why - "Sparky's Dream" and "Niel Jung" are among the best songs they ever did...For that matter, "Ain't That Enough" and "I Don't Want Control of You" are another couple of blinders from "Songs From Northern Britain"...But the thing about "Banwagonesque" is its cohesiveness - it sounds like a Proper Album; its twelve songs hold together as a unit, and - dare I say it - the record takes you on a journey, in the way that all the best albums do. From the unforgettable start of "The Concept" ("She wears denim wherever she goes/Says she's gonna buy a record by the Status Quo/Oh yeah...") to the winddown after the party that is "Is This Music?", this is a record that demands to be listened to. And while it wears its influences brazenly on its sleeve, its unrelenting inventiveness, unpretentiousness and sheer ebullience make it a must-have for anyone who loves great pop songs and the buzz they give.

Need yer tunes like
I bought this album after a mate recommended it to me and it truly is a classic. Definitely an album u can play from start to finish. Maybe this is an album from the early 90s but it still wipes the floor with the N.M.E. influenced thrashy, fast-paced, tuneless garbage that we are getting now. The boys from the band are obviously brilliant songwriters and musicians. This albums sounds as fresh today as it wouldav in the 90s. Look u neeps, just buy it! its only a fiver or so and u wont be dissapointed!

Shivers down the spine
I got this album in 1991 on a pre-release. Listening to it then I couldn't believe that a band had made such a gorgeous timeless collection of music. I have had to buy this FIVE times now due to wearing it out or giving it away in moments of elated altruism. Live, the band still pull a few of these songs out, and despite making about six albums since, they have not bettered it, well maybe close with Grand Prix, but THIS IS THE ONE. Stop reading and buy it... or come and see me and I'll give you mine!