The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Hear, hear for Here
Scotland’s Teenage Fan Club have long been one of Britain’s most loved bands and one of indie rock’s greatest success stories. Over the years – they formed in 1989 – they have had plenty of critical plaudits, some commercial success and one of Britpop’s ultimate accolades ... the approval of Noel Gallagher.
He called them “the second best band in the world’’ after Oasis of course!
After a six-year gap Here is the band’s 10th album and despite their veteran status feels as fresh and vibrant as some of their justifiably revered early work such as Bandwagonesque and Grand Prix.
All the elements are in place – the lilting West Coast guitar rock with echoes of the Byrds and the Beach Boys welded to the Caledonian indie pop tradition of the likes of Orange Juice.
The band’s three founder members Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley and Gerard Love as usual share the songwriting with each contributing four songs.
They are ably assisted by drummer Francis Macdonald and keyboard player Dave McGowan.
The album opens with the Blake penned I’m In Love that chimes and jangles in classic Teenage Fan Club style.
The quality is impressively consistent throughout with stand-outs With You, It’s ASign and The First Sight.
There are no startling new depatures with TFC just doing what TFC do best – which is making music that’s as welcome as an old friend. To be in with a chance of winning this album answer this question. What was the band’s debut album called? Entries to, Teenage, Nigel Thornton, Peterborough Telegraph, Unex House - Suite B,Bourges Boulevard, Peterborough, PE1 1NG by September 16.