Tag: Teenage Fanclub

Dolour and Teenage Fanclub

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Dolour

Dolour “Televangelist”

Shane Tutmarc, multi-talented singer-songwriter of Seattle band Dolour has been busy during the pandemic and last year’s highly recommended Royal We album. The lockdown provided him plenty of time to develop this power-pop gem.

The opening title track is a catchy synth melody with influences from the late ‘70s ELO and Supertramp with its layered guitar rhythm, bells, and handclaps. Next, “It Would Be A Delight” directs energy to get away “instead of giving in to the doom and gloom.” Shanes smart vocal phrasing is brilliantly cheerful, and even the bouncy horns of “Summer Rain” speak to the open and easy-going time. The choral harmonies are clean and subtle, and “A Sight For Sore Eyes” is a great mid-tempo ballad, but it’s the positivity running through the album that draws you in. “Pick Up The Phone” is another highlight, with its strong hooks and as things gradually slow down, you get a full instrumental version of the entire LP. After a few listens, you realize how tightly composed, well-written and detailed each tune is. Highly Recommended and earns a nod for my best of 2021 list.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Teenage Fanclub

Teenage Fanclub “Endless Arcade”

Endless Arcade follows Teenage Fanclub’s 2016 album Here, an album that shows just how much the band has mellowed over the past 30 years. Bassist Gerard Love left the group in 2018, leaving Norman Blake (vocals) and Raymond McGinley (guitar) to hold up the fort. The infectious but relaxed sounds of “Home” call back to an earlier time, when an extended guitar jam was a common occurrence in a song (Steely Dan anyone?) but in 2020 it feels like a distinct statement. It’s a lot less “teenage” and more “old age” for this Fanclub.

The theme of bittersweetness is laid bare in the title track and the keyboards of Euro Childs add a nice twist to the traditional composition. “Warm Embrace” echoes the Mod-era sound of The Who, with great harmonies and strong drum support. The insecurity of “Everything Is Falling Apart” features a compelling rhythm, and the wistful “The Sun Won’t Shine On Me” is a recognition of age that’s beautifully done. Unfortunately, they don’t hit those high marks again. The repetitive themes of time on “Back In The Day” and “The Future” make these dudes sound older than The Moody Blues. Fans and completists will definitely embrace this, but it would be nice to have the band sustain enough energy for an entire album.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

TUNS and Teenage Fanclub

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TUNS

TUNS “TUNS”

TUNS (named after the Technical University of Nova Scotia) is a Canadian indie “supergroup” consisting of Chris Murphy (Sloan), Matt Murphy (Super Friendz, Flashing Lights) and Mike O’Neill (The Inbreds). And TUNS doesn’t lean on any one member to make it special, it combines the strengths and experience of each member to deliver a pure power pop treasure.

Opening with the jangling upbeat melody of “Back Among Friends” where “good times, band times, never gets old.” Next “Mixed Messages” has a jaunty beat and winding lead similar to Squeeze, while the handclaps and thick riffs of “Mind Over Matter” just sink into your brain. The slow, hazy beat on “Look Who’s Back In Town Again” is infectious, just oozing psychedelic reverb.  Each track is a tightly structured gem and this 9 track album deserves a spot on my 2016 top ten list.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Teenage Fanclub

Teenage Fanclub “Here”
As a band evolves and its vision clarifies, you get a good feel of a where its members hearts and minds are at. And what the band feels at this point is pure love and gratitude. “I’m in Love” is the most optimistic song I’ve ever heard from the Teenage Fanclub, a rich uplifting melody and the hushed harmonies on “Thin Air” display their adult wisdom, a perfect example of Adult Oriented Power Pop (AOPP) with the comforting rhythm of electric guitars. The hooks continue on the song “Hold On” where Norman Blake gives his audience advice “Hold on to your life and your dreams.”

All these songs share a theme of enjoying the short moment of time we have left on this planet. From the chiming chorus on“The Darkest Part of The Night” to the guitar buzz on “I Have Nothing More to Say,” it stays on point.  The tempos gradually slow, so by the time we get to “Live in The Moment” a bit of message fatigue sets in. Vocalist Raymond McGinley soothing lead approaches a zen-like calm on “Steady State,” but goes darker on “With You,” where your fear that “life is short and life is long.” It ends on the sobering acoustic chamber pop of “Connected To Life.” Overall a solid, highly recommended album that crosses from joy to “disappear into shadows in the night.”

Amazon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxqIkUaH5_M

Candlebox and Lightships

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Candlebox “Love Stories & Other Musings”
Candlebox is a perfect example of popular rock band that doesn’t want to be hemmed into a single rock category. With a platinum-selling debut in 1993, they rode the Seattle grunge bandwagon but the wheels fell off in 2000 with numerous personnel changes. They reformed in 2008 and the band now sounds totally ready for a comeback. Opening with “Youth In Revolt” it’s got a loose feel, and like the Foo Fighters, blasts us with guitars and a heavy hook. My favorite here is next, “Sweet Summertime,” its a great power pop track about the difficulty of touring and being away from your family while on the road.

There are many great songs here from the hard melodic “Lifelike Song” to the sweet power ballad “Baby Love.” Lead singer Kevin Martin still has those trademark howls that work best with Peter Klett’s gritty riffs. They are no longer beholden to grunge, although a faithful re-recording of five past hits are included (in case you forgot them). After listening to the entire album those “hits” are the weakest songs here. If we evaluated the new tracks alone it would stand as the best Candlebox album ever. A great re-introduction to a band that plays genuine melodic rock n’ roll.

Lightships “Electric Cables”
Gerard Love’s (Teenage Fanclub) new solo outing is a shimmering poppy confection, opening with the lighter-than-air  “Two Lines” and the summery warmth of “Muddy Rivers,” it has more in common with Belle & Sebastian than his former band. Backed by Bob Kildea from Belle & Sebastian (surprise!), Tom Crossley from The Pastels, Dave McGowan and Brendan O’Hare from Teenage Fanclub, Love gets to indulge in sweet melodies and lush arrangements that echo and envelope the listener. There is no better example than “Sweetness In Her Spark” with its quivering rhythms and ethereal vocal. The precious centerpiece is “Silver And Gold” – and it’s got some groovy guitar fuzz to go with harmonies worthy of The Association.

While lovely, the thick atmosphere and flute of “The Warmth of The Sun” could also put you to sleep. But there are enough wonderful harmonies like on “Stretching Out” that prevent things from being a total snoozefest and fans of  gentle chamber pop and psychedelic daydreaming will find this a perfect album. Others may consider it the musical equivalent of Prozac.