29 November 2023
Norman Blake, the frontman of Scottish indie rockers Teenage Fanclub remembers
meeting Kurt Cobain when touring with Nirvana in UK and Europe in 1992.
24 September 2023
(Press photo by Donald Milne)
Scottish sugary pop heroes TEENAGE FANCLUB announced
have their 12th album, baptized Nothing Lasts Forever out.
Norman Blake (vocals/guitar/co-songwriter) about the LP: “The songs are definitely personal. You’re getting older, you’re going into the cupboard getting the black suit out more often. Thoughts of mortality and the idea of the light must have been playing on our minds a lot. These new songs are reflective of how I’m feeling now, coming out of that period. They’re fairly optimistic, there’s an acceptance of a situation and all of the experience that comes with that acceptance. When we write, it’s a reflection of our lives, which are pretty ordinary. We’re not extraordinary people, and normal people get older. There’s a lot to write about in the mundane. I love reading Raymond Carver. Very often there’s not a lot that happens in those stories, but they speak to lived experience.”
MOJO (British music monthly) says: “Free for over three decades now from the typical creative trials and headaches of bands who try to reinvent their sound with each new album, Teenage Fanclub have shrewdly stuck with tweaking their winning formula: strummy guitar-led songs, high in melodic content, charting their emotional weather. The years have proven that the deceptive simplicity of their music only increases its potency, working hand-in-hand with their long commitment to the healing powers of brotherhood and melody.” Score: 4/5.
TUTV: Another collection of lazy tunes for lazy moments. If you’re not a fanatical
TF fan (like me) it’s hard to know if these new easygoing songs are old or new ones. Teenage Fanclub musings sound very alike, but before you realize it, you’re whistling
or humming along. And that says a lot about these Scottish veterans.
SINGLES/CLIPS: Back To The Light / Tired of Being Alone / Foreign Land
– Back To The Light –
– Tired Of Being Alone –
– Foreign Land –
ALBUM
New striking strokes
10 August 2023
(Press photo by Donald Milne)
Scottish sugary pop heroes TEENAGE FANCLUB announced
a new album, their 12th, a couple of weeks ago. It’s baptized
Nothing Lasts Forever will hit the streets on 22 September.
Norman Blake (vocals/guitar/co-songwriter) about the LP: “The songs are definitely personal. You’re getting older, you’re going into the cupboard getting the black suit out more often. Thoughts of mortality and the idea of the light must have been playing on our minds a lot. These new songs are reflective of how I’m feeling now, coming out of that period. They’re fairly optimistic, there’s an acceptance of a situation and all of the experience that comes with that acceptance. When we write, it’s a reflection of our lives, which are pretty ordinary. We’re not extraordinary people, and normal people get older. There’s a lot to write about in the mundane. I love reading Raymond Carver. Very often there’s not a lot that happens in those stories, but they speak to lived experience.”
The band just dropped a third piece of the forthcoming LP.
BACK TO THE LIGHT is pure TF. Another easygoing, jangly
tune that easily could come from one of their previous albums.
WATCH/LISTEN
STREAM
Every week 10 new rad tracks added
In order to not miss a beat Turn Up The Volume scans the musical
horizon daily (doing it for years now, actually) to stay in touch with
all new things sonically great and shares the results on a weekly
basis.
Check the 10 new rad cuts just
added to this rad 2023 playlist.
TRACK-BY-TRACK
1. ‘Rigor Mortis Radio’ by THE HIVES
(Photo by Turn Up The Volume)
The Swedish punk madcaps nail it again with the third single from their upcoming LP,
titled The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons (who?) and out next month, August 11.
Sassy stroke.
.
2. ‘The Trench Coat Museum’ by YARD ACT
Following last year’s triumphant debut album The Overload the British indies return with this 8+ minute dancefloor filler infused with a flabbergasting bass riff, spiced with Smith‘s parlando vocals, schizo guitars and yes, cowbells.
Disco-punk thrill.
.
3. Arrive! by LOOKING GLASS WARS
Photo by Coleman Rogers
This new Boston band hit bullseye right away with their debut single.
Arrive! is a bang-on belter spiced with towering vocals.
Score!
4. ‘Every Chance I Get (I Want You In The Flesh)’ by DAN AUERBACH
Black key voice/guitarist bewitches with his new moody solo single.
Bluesy stuff.
.
5. ‘Quirky’ by POINDEXTER
This Michigan-based collective mixes ska, pop and indie with head-spinning effects.
You can’t but go skagaga to their effervescent burst of music like here with a single
from their upcoming debut album, titled Treats that lands on July 25th.
Turn up the trombone.
6. ‘Bloodscreamtorture (Theme From Bathtime)’ by DEAN STACY
Photo by Connie Ann
Bluesy, groovy and electrifying, driven by a magnetic guitar riff and ending with
a vocal climax. An absolute highlight from this Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter’s
new 7-track EP The Bathtime Tapes.
Stupendous.
.
7. ‘Drift Away’ MIRROR GLAZE
Photo by Aylin Sengül
This German pithy pop-punk act just released their punchy debut album All Change Please. Drift Away is a standout track pushed by bass/drum energy, jangly guitars and
riot grrl vocals.
Bingo!
.
8. ‘Fourteen Days’ by STYLUSBOY
Melancholic Americana folk the English way. Fourteen Days is a pearl of a song. Gripping, heavy-hearted and forthwith captivating. I’ll feature on his new EP Back In The Day that lands on 28 July.
Splendid accomplishment.
.
9.’Foreign Land’ by TEENAGE FANCLUB
(Press photo by Donald Milne)
The Scottish veterans have their album number 12, baptized Nothing Last Forever
on 22 September. Single Foreign Land is vintage TF. Harmonious dream pop for relaxing moments.
Sweet.
.
10. ‘De(e)pends’ by MR. AUTUMN
This Belgian singer-songwriter is blessed with a mesmerizing that fits
his candlelight musings spot-on. Discover De(e)pends and you’ll hear what
I mean.
His debut album ‘Catharsis‘ arrives in September. More info here.
Soul-stirring.
.
ALL TOGETHER
Steam to Spotify and stream.
.
TUTV: Blog – Facebook – Instagram
New striking strokes
7 July 2023
(Press photo by Donald Milne)
Scottish twinkling veteran TEENAGE FANCLUB are back from never being away.
The Glaswegians communicated recently that their longplayer #12, titled
Nothing Lasts Forever will see the light of day on 22 September.
Norman Blake (vocals/guitar/co-songwriter) about the LP: “The songs are definitely personal. You’re getting older, you’re going into the cupboard getting the black suit out more often. Thoughts of mortality and the idea of the light must have been playing on our minds a lot. These new songs are reflective of how I’m feeling now, coming out of that period. They’re fairly optimistic, there’s an acceptance of a situation and all of the experience that comes with that acceptance. When we write, it’s a reflection of our lives, which are pretty ordinary. We’re not extraordinary people, and normal people get older. There’s a lot to write about in the mundane. I love reading Raymond Carver. Very often there’s not a lot that happens in those stories, but they speak
to lived experience.”
Following lead single Foreign Land the band comes up with a second fresh track.
TIRED OF BEING ALONE is a familiar, characteristic TF jingle. Always ideal for lazy (summer) moments with a Piña Colada within hand reach. You’ll not feel alone.
Tune in.
New striking strokes
25 May 2023
(Press photo by Donald Milne)
Scottish veteran popsmiths TEENAGE FANCLUB are playing
around since 1989 with no intention to end their long journey.
On the contrary. The Glaswegians just announced album number 12.
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER will see the light of day on 22 September.
Norman Blake (vocals/guitar/co-songwriter): “The songs are definitely personal. You’re getting older, you’re going into the cupboard getting the black suit out more often. Thoughts of mortality and the idea of the light must have been playing on our minds a lot. These new songs are reflective of how I’m feeling now, coming out of that period. They’re fairly optimistic, there’s an acceptance of a situation and all of the experience that comes with that acceptance. When we write, it’s a reflection of our lives, which are pretty ordinary. We’re not extraordinary people, and normal people get older. There’s a lot to write about in the mundane. I love reading Raymond Carver. Very often there’s not a lot that happens in those stories, but they speak
to lived experience.”
First single FOREIGN LAND is a vintage TF humdinger.
Brisk, easygoing, jangly, 60s organs and with featherlight
Byrds vocals. Stay, guys.
Tune in.
5 April 2022
Sottish heroes TEENAGE FANCLUB released their 11th LP, titled Endless Arcade a year ago. They’re ready to promote it on their upcoming UK/Europe tour, starting tomorrow.
Along comes a new single. On I LEFT A LIGHT ON
the Fanclub still sounds/sings like legendary American
nightingales The Byrds.
Have a listen…
TEENAGE FANCLUB: Facebook
19 November 2021
Band: TEENAGE FANCLUB
Who: Scottish indie jingle-jangle rockers
Active: Since 1989 / 11 studio albums
with this year’s Endless Arcade as the
most recent one.
Anniversary album: BANDWAGONESQUE
Released: 19 November 1991 in the US,
and 4 November 1991 in the UK.
AllMusic says: “The gold standard of the early-’90s power pop revival, in its own way Bandwagoneque was as much a benchmark as contemporary records like Nevermind
and Loveless; though not the generational rallying cry of the former nor the revolutionary
sonic breakthrough of the latter, Teenage Fanclub’s 2nf LP nevertheless heralded the return
of melody and craft, coupled with energy and spirit, hallmarks of much of the greatest rock
and roll of the past, and virtues as rare as hen’s teeth in the years immediately prior to the disc’s release.” Full review here. Score: 5/5.
Turn Up The Volume: Status Quo playing slacker rock
with 60s legends The Byrds in harmony on vocals.
Singles/clips: The Concept / What You Do To Me / Star Sign
– THE CONCEPT –
– WHAT YOU DO TO ME –
– STAR SIGN –
Full album on Spotify
.
TEENAGE FANCLUB: All Albums – Facebook
3 May 2021
Band: TEENAGE FANCLUB (Scotland)
Active: Since 1989 / 11 albums (so far)
Album: ENDLESS ARCADE – 11th LP
Released: 30 April 2021 – order info here
Pitchfork: “The Scottish band’s eleventh album feels uniquely pensive,
even tentative. Nearly every song will have you humming along, though
few seem designed to grab your attention…. This thematic territory, self-
doubt, aging, nostalgia—spans the record and can sometimes make
Endless Arcade feel like a gloomy concept album.”
Full review here. Score: 7/10.
Turn Up The Volume: This could easily be their 5th or 10th album.
The jangly Teenage vibe still remains the Byrds same. Melancholic,
ruminant, melodic, and easy-listening. The band reflects on – a not
so bright – present and future. Despite the dreamy pop timbre, the
Scots share a lot to think about, while you hum along.
Singles: Everything Is Falling Apart / Home / I’m More inclined
– EVERYTHING IS FALLING APART –
– HOME –
– I’M MORE INCLINED –
Full album…
.
TEENAGE FANCLUB: Facebook
New sonic impulses…
16 March 2021
Scotland’s guitar pop crooners TEENAGE FANCLUB
have their new, 11th album ENDLESS ARCADE out
on 30th April.
After lead-single I’m More Inclined the Scots show
their love for 60s legends The Byrds once again.
THE SUN WON’T SHINE ON ME is a harmonious,
melancholic ballad with a jangly, weeping guitar
we heard so much on the works of that American
60s beat group.
Enjoy here…
TEENAGE FANCLUB: Facebook
