24/03/2004

Grant Lee Buffalo and Teenage Fanclub — top forgotten bands of the 1990s

by Todd Sikorski

Walking through a record store these days can be dispiriting: there are so few new releases to get excited about. Increasingly, I find myself checking out artists who haven’t had the commercial success they deserve — artists I've always wanted to learn more about, but never got round to it.

So, instead of picking up the new Norah Jones CD, now is the time to take chances and pick up something different. Need a suggestion? Look into two of the best bands from the '90s — Grant Lee Buffalo and Teenage Fanclub. Both have released excellent compilations in the past couple of years.

Grant Lee Buffalo’s Storm Hymnal (2001) is a double CD with its hits on the first disc and B sides and unreleased tracks on the second. While the second CD is good, the first disc is required listening if you want to enjoy the cream of the Los Angeles band and its main songwriter, Grant Lee Phillips.

Grant Lee Buffalo are mostly known for a rootsy, acoustic vibe and the songs “Fuzzy” and “Honey Don’t Think” are perfect examples of that. However, the band could rock out when required, as evidenced by the songs “Homespun” and “My, My, My.” The real surprise, however, is the quality of Grant Lee Phillips’ voice which can range from hauntingly beautiful (“Mockingbirds”) to downright passionate (“Bethlehem Steel”).

Teenage Fanclub’s 4,766 Seconds: A Short Cut to Teenage Fanclub (2003) is a single CD, but it contains a stunning 21 songs. This Scottish band featured three impressive songwriters — Norman Black, Gerard Love, and Raymond McGinley. They major on power pop songs, featuring gorgeous harmonies and impressive guitar work.

“Ain't That Enough” and “I Need Direction” sound like the best updated Byrds-era songs you'll ever hear. Of the outstanding guitar-driven songs, the Big Star-influenced “The Concept” and “Everything Flows” are arguably the best. To be honest though, every song is a winner. These are some of the most infectious songs you'll ever hear.

So if you want to hear something a little different, try these two releases. Both are highly recommended - especially considering the meagre output of quality new albums in the past few months.

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