One Track Mind

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In the interest of full disclosure, you should know that Teenage Fanclub, those harmony lovin’ fools from Scotland, are way up there on more shortlist of all-time favorite bands. Twenty-one years into their career, they’re still way cooler than anybody you’ll read about on StereoGorillaVeganFork, and in the wake of Alex Chilton’s passing, they are perhaps more valuable a commodity than ever before.

If you aren’t familiar with the band’s output, you needn’t be ashamed; the sad truth is you aren’t alone. But in 1991, Teenage Fanclub’s masterpiece Bandwagonesque was named Album of the Year by Spin magazine–back when the publication was relevant, it should be noted–beating out such lofty contenders as Nirvana’s Nevermind, A Tribe Called Quest’s Low End Theory, R.E.M.’s breakthrough Out of Time, the Red Hot Chili Peppers chart-topping Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and one of the most influential records ever, My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless.

Since that mighty apogee (and through no fault of their own), the band has seen their public following wane as they have continued to release perfect album after perfect album. Curiously enough, Teenage Fanclub’s innumerable followers (e.g. Fountains of Wayne, Oasis, Ash, Travis, et al) have had their moments in the sun while the band whose chops they copped has had trouble getting their records released. Thankfully, that won’t be the case for their latest offering, Shadows, which will see a Stateside release on June 8th courtesy of Merge Records.

“Baby Lee” is the first single from Shadows, the band’s ninth or tenth studio LP depending on who you ask, and is as quintessential a Teenage Fanclub song as any. Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley, and Gerard Love all lend their singing talents to the rich vocal harmonies, anchoring the cut’s melodic center. Acoustic guitars, gentle strings, and a shambling drum beat tease out a hip-shaking, mellow groove in the vein of The Beatles and Big Star before them–nothing remotely revolutionary but radiant pop perfection nonetheless.

Indeed, if there is a knock against Teenage Fanclub these days, it’s that their last few records have been such similarly oriented outings. Even still, I believe there is no such thing as having too many flawless pop nuggets at your disposal. “Baby Lee” feels instantly familiar in that most magical sense, the sort of song that feels as though it has always been with you… and hopefully always will be.