What I'm listening to today? (26/09)

"Grand Prix", the third studio album by Teenage Fanclub

A slightly more approachable and mature record than their debut "Bandwagonesque", thanks to their sweeter, more nostalgic beats and solidified lyrics, you can't find a more perfect pop album than "Grand Prix". Arriving at a time when grunge was long gone and the sound of Britpop was taking all the room, the record takes inspiration from the sound of 60s bands like The Byrds and The Beach Boys, and marks you from the first listen. The sound is joyful enough for you to move your head along. Still, there's something about the simplicity and relatability of the lyrics that just makes you want to wallow and sadden, "That summer feeling is gonna fly/ Always try and keep the feeling inside" (from "Sparky's Dream"). Because the lyrics are consonant with the band's motto, "Teenage Fanclub"; they recall teenage hood and are definitely targeted to a teenage audience. They're not ruff or complex, but they don't try to be; they might not change the world but they definitely help us see the beauty already present in existence, "Just kick my feet off the ground / I'll embrace the sky" (from "Going Places"); and just like that, their very truthfulness and simplicity reveal a revolutionary act on their own.

Personal Favourite: "Mellow Doubt" and "Neil Jung"

Release Date: 1995