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Album Details

• Artist: Teenage Fanclub
• Album: Man Made
• Label: PeMa
• Year of Release: 2005
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2005-05-13

Here's a band that has never really captured the early heyday they had with their proper debut, Bandwagonesque. Teenage Fanclub have been at it for over 15 years now and have been putting out some of the most beautiful pop music but it seems as though their fanbase has been getting slimmer and slimmer but more rabid. It's funny to think that Bandwagonesque was released the same year as Nevermind and made Spin magazine's Top Albums list that year. With the exception of maybe Howdy, each of Teenage Fanclub's is chock full of great songwriting. Man-Made is no exception to that idea. This album was recorded in Chicago last year with indie-extraordinaire John McEntire at the production helm. That's not as big a statement as if I said Steve Albini. No, John actually pulls out some of Blake's, McGinley's, and yes, Love's best songs in years. The album opens with a sweet track called "It's all in my mind", with what could be construed as the signature Fanclub sound. "Time Stops" picks up the volume slightly and even then manage to weave together some of the finest vocal harmonies ever. Then there is the forlorn piano ballad "Only With You" which features the saddest piano playing this year. When you get to the lovely closing track "Don't Hide Who You Are", we are presented with some of the best Fanny vocal melodies that have ever been penned. They are beautifully executed and provide a nice bookend to yet another great Teenage Fanclub album.

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