Search - Teenage Fanclub :: Four Thousand Seven Hundred & Sixty Six Seconds

These Brit-POWER "Pop"sters GREATEST HITS 1990-2003

Chris G. | IL USA | 04/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll admit I am normally not a fan of GREATEST HIT albums; but to me - Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Six Seconds: A Short Cut to TEENAGE FANCLUB...exceeded all my past expectations on that account. Many "Best Ofs" feature the band's recordings in chronological order from a debut through the band's last album, which may not have much variety in between. That is not the case for Teenage Fanclub though, they mix up and rearrange MOST of their best tracks on this Jam-packed 21 songs; clocking in at a GOOD 79 minutes worth of music!

So of course the band had to make some omissions, like "Metal Baby" - "December" - "I'll Make It Clear" and others.

It did however include my favorites: "Ain't That Enough" - "Star Sign" - "Sparky's Dream" - "Neil Jung" - "Radio" - "My Uptight Life", really all of them!

This is really all you need if you are at all interested in the absolutely brilliant songwriting skills of this trio: Norman Blake, Gerard Love & Raymond McGinley. Three talented minds heavily influenced by Big Star (you'll see the resemblance once you hear them) putting forth their best all on one Cd. 4766 Seconds...also include 3 new "hits" to add to this release(2003), along w/ 3 each from "Bandwagnesque"(1991) & "Howdy"(2001). There are 2 songs from "Thirteen"(1993) < considered somewhat of a low point in the Fannies' career, but Thirteen has my favorite song "Radio" on it, also on this. Four songs...from "Songs from Northern Britain & Five songs from "Grand Prix"(1995)"

This ain't enough...

Reggie Martinez | Fargo, ND United States | 12/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are many fringe-popular bands along all spectrums of rock and pop music who make putting together a greatests hits or retrospective collection a real chore. When most of their singles, let alone album tracks, are relatively unknown to most music buyers from this side of the Atlantic, it is hard to know whether what you are buying represents the best of a particular band that you have "only heard of."



Teenage Fanclub were one of those bands that I had always "only heard of," until about three years ago, when I was going through one of my many Big Star phases. I started with Bandwagonesque, and that quickly turned into a near-obsession that I have not stopped with since. After all that time, I am still not out of my Teenage Fanclub phase.



For the casual listener, this collection will do just fine, and the three new tracks, each written by one of the band's three pop masters (although, to be fair, despite several outstanding tracks over the years, Raymond McGinley is far behind Norman Blake and Gerard Love in quality output, as evidenced by his having only three - not counting the new track - of the album's 18 selected songs listed) stand tall next to their many classics.



The Fannies are simply one of those bands where a greatest hits comp is a sticky proposition. Any fan of classic pop from any era would most definitely benefit from buying each of their seven albums (with A Catholic Education perhaps being the least of them).



Although the band fills up nearly the entire disc, it hardly leaves room for such stunning music in the form of songs such as "Tears Are Cool", "December", "Everybody's Fool", "Fear of Flying", "I Don't Know", "Alcoholiday", "Going Places", "I'll Make It Clear", "Discolite", "God Knows It's True", and "Start Again" (among many others). If you want to know the Fannies, these songs need to be heard as well.



For someone whose taste runs the full gamut of styles, the Fannies have become one of my all-time faves. Buy this album if you only have the need for one, but don't say I didn't warn you of the addictive nature of perhaps the finest, and maybe more importantly, most consistent pop band of the last two decades.



ps for anyone who's looking for a similar pop fix while TF ponder their next move, check out former Fanclub drummer Paul Quinn's The Primary Five. Another fantastic, yet unknown, foray into this same type of sunny, contemplative jangle-rock."

TFC best of compilation cd

Joseph Morris | Elmwood Park, NJ | 09/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What? No Alcoholiday?!



Still a great collection



The odd edited track from Howdy! but I think this is a good place to begin for the band



Their best remains Bandwagonesque, so maybe pick that up. All of their albums are worth checking out, although Man Made (aside from the opening track Its all in my mind) hasn't really grabbed me



A superb band, and a superb compilation. Well worth checking out! And the new songs (particularly "Empty Space") are fantastic as well



I understand they're still recording, which can only be a good thing. Irresistible pop, really. Check out "I don't want control of you", or "Ain't That enough" Or perhaps even "Start Again" (about divorce, apparently!)



Real good band. VERY highly recommended"