Some Songs Considered

“Alcoholiday” – Teenage Fanclub
(Words/music: Norman Blake, available on Bandwagonesque, DGC 1991) 

Warmth and drunkenness often go hand-in-hand, so it’s appropriate that a song dealing with that state features a warm tone.  Teenage Fanclub accomplishes this with most of their usual tricks – the ringing opening riff, the sighing harmonies deployed periodically, and a melody that lifts at just the right moments.  These tricks, with the right combination of distortion and precision, give the song a focused haze; where a lesser band might mask its flaws in distortion, Teenage Fanclub tightens up when the tone fuzzes and uses the effect to set mood rather than compensate for technical gaps. 

As with many of Teenage Fanclub’s singles, approaching the song on warmth alone misses part of the picture.  Even if the music evokes the warmth of a good buzz, the lyrics focus on the mental lapses that sometimes come along for the ride.  There’s a general sense that the narrator put his foot in his mouth and said something regrettable, particularly in the “baby I’ve been fucked already” line.  The falling note at the end of the harmonies give the song a slightly sad tinge, making the promises in the first few lines feel a little sadder and perhaps more regrettable.  Appropriately, the last part of the song finds the narrator accepting his blunder and ready to move past it; there’s no pleading or backpedaling, only a brief acceptance of blame and the desire to move beyond this moment. 

More on Teenage Fanclub: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm

“Jesus Christ” – Teenage Fanclub
(Words/music: Alex Chilton, available on Ain’t That Enough EP, Creation 1997)

Writing about Teenage Fanclub covering a Big Star song does a disservice to the band, as they’re unfairly cast aside as Big Star imitators too often.  Still, it’s Christmas and I wrote about Big Star at the beginning of the year, so Teenage Fanclub will get their own day sometime next year.

That aside, their version of Chilton’s “Jesus Christ” leans heaviest on the ways Big Star influenced generations of power pop bands.  Every inch of this song, whether the sweet melody in the hook, the fuzzy lead guitars, or the clear counter melodies plucked underneath, hums with melody.  Their version is a faithful, slightly more muscular version of Big Star’s recoridng, although it leaves out Chilton’s closing declaration that “we’re gonna get born now.”  Even though it’s one of my favorite parts of the original (especially the way Chilton slightly rises up from his otherwise placid delivery), it’s a necessary omission.  This final line, along with the rest of the weird and twisted Third / Sister Lovers collection, suggests that Chilton laces the song with sarcasm.  Regardless of his intent, the sweetness of the melody and the charming arrangement are wonderous, and it’s this part of the song Teenage Fanclub honors on their version.  That’s the way I plan on spending the rest of my Christmas - celebrating the spirit and beauty of the season and taking a day off from the snark or cynicism.  There’s plenty of time for that the rest of the year.

More on Teenage Fanclub: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm

“Ain’t That Enough” – Cloud Eleven
(Words/music: Gerard Love, available on What a Concept! A Tribute to Teenage Fanclub, Not Lame 2004)

A few years back, I ended up with the What a Concept collection probably because I wanted to hear Superdrag’s version of “Radio,” one of my favorite Teenage Fanclub songs.  This coincided with my gradual yet steadily growing love affair with Teenage Fanclub’s catalog.  Even now, every time I listen to one of their albums or the handful of (recent) live recordings I possess, I find a new song to love.  I’m also drawn to tribute albums the way that some people are drawn to cars pulled over by state troopers on the highway – you know nothing good will come from craning your neck in that direction, but you still can’t help but pay attention to it.  I say this because tribute albums generally have three types of songs.  From least to most frequent: the transcendent interpretation placing the song into a new context, the frustratingly awful version that hangs around the original like an albatross, and the play-it-safe almost too faithful recreation of the original.  What a Concept leans heavily on the play-it-safe versions, but that in itself is a fitting tribute to Teenage Fanclub.  A band that made its name on perfectly placed pop deserves to have their songs repeated note by note.

Of all the songs on the compilation, Cloud Eleven’s “Ain’t That Enough” might be the most by-the-numbers recreation of a Teenage Fanclub song.  Even if the harmonies aren’t as prominent on their version, Cloud Eleven still recreates the glockenspiel, guitar riffs, and drum beat almost note for note.  Ironically, “Ain’t That Enough” might be my favorite single song on this compilation.  It’s a bit of a backhanded compliment calling the one that sounds the most like Teenage Fanclub my favorite, but it’s a credit to the band.  “Ain’t That Enough” works because it’s simple and straightforward melody and harmony.  It wouldn’t make sense at twice the speed or in a doom metal version.  Cloud Eleven realizes this, and in this case their reverent take is the right move.  Or, in this case, it’s enough.

More on Cloud Eleven: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm