TEENAGE FANCLUB – SPARKY’S DREAM (CREATION RECORDS)
This is a classic song of any era. After an opening that sees the band appear to be hold its breath the single kicks with a tumbling hook and the silkiest of intentions with more of the greatest flow of pop that has ever come from jangling indie music.
Here is another love song from Teenage Fanclub dripping in resignation, turning something blue into something beautiful whilst maintaining integrity despite being expressed by clear geeks and nerds. There is much pride is this package.
At a time where so many guitar bands were suddenly appearing out of nowhere, this single arrived in the mid nineties when it was probably needed the most. In a climate where too many airbrushed guitar outfits were experiencing some degree of success, attaining a false career in a vocation they weren’t overly talented at, here was a song that hand claws and hooks that meant you would register the song in the mind immediately and a few listens later the words/lyrics would be cast to the point of singalong.
The song was a regular feature on the Mark Radcliffe (and Marc Riley) graveyard shift on Radio One from 10PM to midnight and for me this song (and Mellow Doubt) have very much come to represent those times which truly were something of a peak in radio history/legend. How green was our valley?
Their affection for Neil Young continues with a cover of “Burned” by Buffalo Springfield to which they once again do true justice to the song and make it their own with the chiming sentiments and none too subtle hooks. “For You” follows in dour and downbeat fashion, quieter fare than from what usually comes from the Fannies. I sounds very much like The Beatles in execution, like a person crying their eyes out on a Saturday night hiding emotions away from the rest of the world. Beauty comes at a price.
“Headstand” closes proceedings and almost sees the band returning to their grunge leanings with a larger electric guitar sound than usual coupled with loud harmonies. With its quiet loud quiet procedure it sounds like the Beach Boys fronting Pavement in a tasteful manner.
This is the sound of a band playing to its strengths and striking gold.
Thesaurus moment: height.
Teenage Fanclub
Creation Records
This is a classic song of any era. After an opening that sees the band appear to be hold its breath the single kicks with a tumbling hook and the silkiest of intentions with more of the greatest flow of pop that has ever come from jangling indie music.
Here is another love song from Teenage Fanclub dripping in resignation, turning something blue into something beautiful whilst maintaining integrity despite being expressed by clear geeks and nerds. There is much pride is this package.
At a time where so many guitar bands were suddenly appearing out of nowhere, this single arrived in the mid nineties when it was probably needed the most. In a climate where too many airbrushed guitar outfits were experiencing some degree of success, attaining a false career in a vocation they weren’t overly talented at, here was a song that hand claws and hooks that meant you would register the song in the mind immediately and a few listens later the words/lyrics would be cast to the point of singalong.
The song was a regular feature on the Mark Radcliffe (and Marc Riley) graveyard shift on Radio One from 10PM to midnight and for me this song (and Mellow Doubt) have very much come to represent those times which truly were something of a peak in radio history/legend. How green was our valley?
Their affection for Neil Young continues with a cover of “Burned” by Buffalo Springfield to which they once again do true justice to the song and make it their own with the chiming sentiments and none too subtle hooks. “For You” follows in dour and downbeat fashion, quieter fare than from what usually comes from the Fannies. I sounds very much like The Beatles in execution, like a person crying their eyes out on a Saturday night hiding emotions away from the rest of the world. Beauty comes at a price.
“Headstand” closes proceedings and almost sees the band returning to their grunge leanings with a larger electric guitar sound than usual coupled with loud harmonies. With its quiet loud quiet procedure it sounds like the Beach Boys fronting Pavement in a tasteful manner.
This is the sound of a band playing to its strengths and striking gold.
Thesaurus moment: height.
Teenage Fanclub
Creation Records
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