Bangers & Mash

Flashback Friday: Jump on the Bandwagon to Scotland's Hip Fanclub

There was no sophmore slump on Teenage Fanclub's wonderful Bandwagonesque album back in 1991. The quartet from Glasgow, Scotland had their power pop chops working in full effect, giving way to sunny West Coast rock ala Byrds, Beach Boys and Big Star; leaving behind the atmospherics of shoegaze and heavy grunge in favor of clean, polished harmonies. The band often referred to as "The Fannies" and "The Bellshill Beach Boys" still please listeners today; their last record, Man-Made was released by Merge Records in 2005. The boys continue to rock out at many of a fest throughout Europe. However, nothing quite compares to the nostalgic second record, with the classic crunchy guitars and contemplative style on "Star Sign" which reached #4 on the U.S. Modern Rock charts. How can one stop humming the irresistible love song, "What You Do to Me" or the laid-back Byrdseque jam on "The Concept."

Star Sign

What You Do To Me

The Concept

 

Flashback Friday: Candy Store Pop of Cloudcuckooland

Liverpudlian dream pop outfit , The Lightning Seeds hit the music scene in the late 1980s. Its been 20 years since Ian Broudie, the mastermind behind the one-man band released its cheesy candy store pop, Cloudcuckooland. Broudie is better known for producing such acts as Echo & The Bunnymen and The Fall, and later working with British alt rockers, The Coral, The Zutons and I Am Kloot. Lightning Seeds scored a major hit with the shimmering saccarhine sweet gem "Pure" and the equally as mesmerizing pop ballad "All I Want." Broudie is notorious for creating an alternative dreamy reality all filled with fireworks and sparks flying.

Pure

All I Want

Dont Let Go

This week in Chicago: Celebrity DJ's, Tributes, and so much more!

Let's not forget Atomic at Neo for all your new wave needs every Thursday.

Flashback Friday: The Village Green Hipsters

The London based quartet, The Kinks, were one of the most influential bands from the British Invasion movement of the early 60's. The band wowed listeners around the world with timeless Brit-rock masterpieces, "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and and All of the Night." However, it wasn't until the autumn of 1968 that the band hit their hippy stride, chronicling the perfect peaceful group gems, The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society. Back in the day, the album's record sales were poor but the critics praised it's pure genius, crafty songwriting and baroque-like countrified rock. Each song tells a story of a precious time gone by that would sit nicely between the Zombies, Odessey & The Oracle and the Beach Boys' Smile or even Donovan's Greatest Hits. The self-titled track is one of the coolest hippy songs of the 60's with its coy philosophy about preserving everything from strawberry jam to Donald Duck. Although there is a song not to be missed on this delightful summer record, "Starstruck" and "Animal Farm" are certainly stand-outs. "

 The Village Green Preservation So

Starstruck

 Animal Farm

Sitting By The Riverside

 

This Week In Chicago: Smith's Night and PANIC!

Danny's is located at 1951 W. Dickens, in Chicago's luverly Bucktown neighborhood.

Friday Shoegazing

Inspired by today's Friday Flashback with Ride, my love of shoegaze, and the rainy weather in Chicago, I looked up some shoegaze videos on YouTube and thought I'd share. 

Flashback Friday: We Got A Ticket To Smile & Ride

Artsy Oxford, UK quartet, Ride had some damn good shoegaze chops on its early Smile E.P. which showcased the band's thundering drums, screeching guitars and charming English vocals. The band certainly won over Creation records in 1990 while it pushed the pedals to the max on its air pump guitar jams. Smile had the heart of the Jesus & Mary Chain and the musical soul and fad of the Stone Roses and My Bloody Valentine. Ride went on to release four albums in a span of six years before its official break-up in 1996. Some critics expected them to save Brit rock but their longevity and even creativity was short-lived after it's first two albums. Here are a few smokin' numbers from their Smile EP, including the dynomite-pop sizzler, "Like A Daydream," the ulta-scratchy cat's meow jam on "Chelsea Girl" and the chill bass-driven bomb, "Drive Blind."

Chelsea Girl

Drive Blind

Like A Daydream