Scotland's Teenage Fanclub have been compared to everyone from Dinosaur Jr. to The Byrds, but the most common connection is to Alex Chilton's Big Star. With the release of Songs from Northern Britain, the Fanclub may finally leave the comparisons behind. On this record the band sounds like, well, Teenage Fanclub, having seemingly perfected the art of guitar-centered pop confection. Songs like "Mount Everest" and "Take the Long Way Round" are vintage TF, and fine examples of rock n' roll that you can take home to Mom.

Harold Check