Teenage Fanclub, Bandwagonesque

First of my Desert Island Disc series. My brother has always had a
finger on the new music scene, and in 1991 he brought home a little
cd with a great cover, Teenage Fanclub's Bandwagonesque. I quickly
made a copy and played it consistently in my car. The music is
jangly pop, and is often compared to Big Star. I would back that
comparison up and add some non-contemporary similarities such as the
Posies and even the Replacements. But enough of the
comparisons. This album, released in 1991, the year that Nirvana et.
al. broke, was ranked as best album of the year by Spin magazine,
back when Spin used to matter a little bit. And for good
reason. Those hooky, melodic songs ring in your head and make for a
transcendent experience. I should also say that of the 'Class of 91' albums ("Nevermind", "Ten", "BloodSugarSexMagic", "Badmotorfinger", etc.) this is the only one that I have never pulled out of rotation, and in fact I think the only one I still own. From the love anthem "What You Do to Me" to the confused lover "I don't Know"; rock worship odes "The Concept" and "Metal Baby"; the funny spirituality and gum-sticky melodic "Star Sign", down beat "December", reflective "Alcoholiday", and the rockin/raucous and melodic/Scotch (respectively)instrumentals "Satan" and "Is This Music?", this is simply a perfect album. This needs to be in your player/on your platter. Now. These
guys still pop out amazing alt-pop, but this one stands with me as
their masterpiece. Get it

TB