Bandwagonesque

Teenage Fanclub released their debut album, A Catholic Education, in 1990 on small independent label Paperhouse, and followed it up with the God Knows It's True EP before signing with Creation Records.

Following an encounter with Don Fleming at CBGB in New York City in March 1991, Teenage Fanclub started recording at Amazon Studios in Liverpool, with Fleming as producer.{{cite web |last=Walker |first=Gary |date=28 April 2021 |title=The Genius Of… Bandwagonesque by Teenage Fanclub |url=https://guitar.com/reviews/album/the-genius-of-bandwagonesque-by-teenage-fanclub/ |access-date=20 September 2022 |website=Guitar.com}} Fleming encouraged the band to work on adding vocal harmonies, noting that not many of their contemporaries were doing so.{{cite web |last=Jonze |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Jonze |date=12 August 2019 |title=Teenage Fanclub: how we made Bandwagonesque |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/aug/12/teenage-fanclub-how-we-made-bandwagonesque |access-date=20 September 2022 |website=The Guardian}}

The album's release was preceded by that of The King, an album of covers and outtakes recorded using leftover studio time from the Bandwagonesque sessions.{{cite web |last=Pinnock |first=Tom |date=14 August 2018 |title=Teenage Fanclub on their finest albums: 'If writing songs wasn't difficult, everyone would be doing it!' |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/teenage-fanclub-finest-albums-writing-songs-wasnt-difficult-everyone-106883/ |access-date=20 September 2022 |website=Uncut}}

The cover was designed by Sharon Fitzgerald. When Kiss member Gene Simmons, who had trademarked the logo of a moneybag with dollar symbol, was made aware of the record he sent a letter to Geffen Records, who in turn gave in and sent Simmons a cheque, according to Simmons's book Sex Money Kiss.{{cite web|last=Ronnie|title=SEX MONEY KISS - book review|url=http://www.earcandymag.com/sexmoneykissbook.htm|website=Ear Candy Mag}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bandwagonesque-mw0000676662 |title=Bandwagonesque – Teenage Fanclub |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=16 November 2015 |last=Ankeny |first=Jason}}

| rev2 = Chicago Tribune

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-12-05-9104190511-story.html |title=Teenage Fanclub: Bandwagonesque (DGC) |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=5 December 1991 |access-date=16 November 2015 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = B{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1992/01/10/bandwagonesque/ |title=Bandwagonesque |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=10 January 1992 |access-date=16 November 2015 |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist)}}

| rev4 = Mojo

| rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Whatever you want |magazine=Mojo |issue=298 |date=September 2018 |last=Eccleston |first=Danny |page=100}}

| rev5 = NME

| rev5score = 9/10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000300reviews.html |title=O Stupor-Men! |magazine=NME |date=2 November 1991 |access-date=16 November 2015 |last=Brown |first=James |author-link=James Brown (editor) |page=32 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990508143818/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000300reviews.html |archive-date=8 May 1999 |url-status=dead}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 8.7/10{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/teenage-fanclub-bandwagonesque-thirteen-grand-prix-songs-from-northern-britain-howdy/ |title=Teenage Fanclub: Bandwagonesque / Thirteen / Grand Prix / Songs from Northern Britain / Howdy! |website=Pitchfork |date=11 August 2018 |access-date=11 August 2018 |last=Sodomsky |first=Sam}}

| rev7 = Q

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Untrammelled |magazine=Q |issue=63 |date=December 1991 |last=Davies |first=Paul}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/teenagefanclub/albums/album/229274/review/5945680/bandwagonesque |title=Teenage Fanclub: Bandwagonesque |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=6 February 1992 |access-date=7 September 2023 |last=Berger |first=Arion |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302001437/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/teenagefanclub/albums/album/229274/review/5945680/bandwagonesque |archive-date=2 March 2008 |url-status=dead}}

| rev9 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book |chapter=Teenage Fanclub |last=Sisario |first=Ben |author-link=Ben Sisario |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=Simon & Schuster |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/805 805]}}

| rev10 = Uncut

| rev10score = 10/10{{cite magazine |title=Teenage Fanclub: Bandwagonesque / Thirteen / Grand Prix / Songs from Northern Britain / Howdy! |magazine=Uncut |issue=256 |date=September 2018 |last=Deusner |first=Stephen |author-link=Stephen Deusner |page=51}}

}}

The liner notes to the 2009 Big Star box set Keep an Eye on the Sky said that Bandwagonesque was "... an album so in thrall to Chilton, Bell, and company that some critics had taken to calling it 'Big Star's 4th.'"{{cite AV media notes |chapter=The Great Crusade: Birthing the Cult of Big Star |chapter-url=https://issuu.com/bobmehr/docs/bigstar_cd_bobmehr/4 |access-date=1 August 2017 |last=Mehr |first=Bob |title=Keep an Eye on the Sky |title-link=Keep an Eye on the Sky |others=Big Star |publisher=Rhino Entertainment |year=2009 |id=R2 519760 |type=liner notes}}

In 2000, Bandwagonesque was voted number 386 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.{{cite book|title=All Time Top 1000 Albums|title-link=All Time Top 1000 Albums|editor-last=Larkin|editor-first=Colin|editor-link=Colin Larkin|publisher=Virgin Books|date=2000|edition=3rd|isbn=0-7535-0493-6|page=147}} In 2013, NME ranked Bandwagonesque at number 115 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.{{cite web|last=Barker|first=Emily|date=25 October 2013|title=The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time: 200–101|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/the-500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-200-101-1426258|access-date=24 October 2021|website=NME}}

Bandwagonesque was performed live in its entirety in 2006 as part of the All Tomorrow's Parties-curated Don't Look Back series.[http://www.dontlookbackconcerts.com/dlbarchive/dlb2006archive/teenagefanclub/ Concert information on Don't Look Back website]

"The Concept" was also featured prominently in the 2011 film Young Adult.{{cite web|last=Monger|first=James Christopher|title=Young Adult [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] - Original Soundtrack {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/young-adult-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0002285944|access-date=28 September 2016|publisher=AllMusic}} "What You Do To Me" was featured in the 2013 film The World's End and on its soundtrack album.{{cite web|last=Tovar|first=Daniel|date=9 July 2013|title='The World's End' soundtrack features Pulp, Blur, Stone Roses & more|url=http://prettymuchamazing.com/news/the-worlds-end-soundtrack-features-pulp-blur-stone-roses-more|access-date=28 September 2016|website=Pretty Much Amazing}}

On July 28, 2017, Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie released Bandwagonesque, an album covering the original 1991 release. He noted that it was "[his] favorite record by [his] favorite band of all time."{{cite web|last=Kim|first=Michelle|date=13 July 2017|title=Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard Covers Teenage Fanclub's "The Concept": Listen|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/death-cab-for-cuties-ben-gibbard-covers-teenage-fanclubs-the-concept-listen/|access-date=28 July 2017|website=Pitchfork}}

{{Tracklist

| title1 = The Concept

| writer1 = Norman Blake

| length1 = 6:07

| title2 = Satan

| writer2 = Blake, Gerard Love, Raymond McGinley, Brendan O'Hare

| length2 = 1:22

| title3 = December

| writer3 = Love

| length3 = 3:03

| title4 = What You Do to Me

| writer4 = Blake

| length4 = 2:00

| title5 = I Don't Know

| writer5 = McGinley

| length5 = 4:36

| title6 = Star Sign

| writer6 = Love

| length6 = 4:53

| title7 = Metal Baby

| writer7 = Blake

| length7 = 3:39

| title8 = Pet Rock

| writer8 = Love

| length8 = 2:35

| title9 = Sidewinder

| writer9 = Love, O'Hare

| length9 = 3:03

| title10 = Alcoholiday

| writer10 = Blake

| length10 = 5:26

| title11 = Guiding Star

| writer11 = Love

| length11 = 2:48

| title12 = Is This Music?

| writer12 = Love

| length12 = 3:18

}}

;Teenage Fanclub

• Norman Blake – vocals, guitar, bass on "Is This Music?"
• Gerard Love – vocals, bass, guitar on "Is This Music?"
• Raymond McGinley – guitar, vocals on "I Don't Know"
• Brendan O'Hare – drums, vocals on "Sidewinder"

;Additional musicians

• Joseph McAlinden – brass and strings
• Don Fleming – occasional guitar and vocals
• Dave Buchanan – handclaps

;Technical

• Don Fleming – production
• Teenage Fanclub – production, arrangements
• Paul Chisholm – production, engineering
• Keith Hartley – engineer
• Dave Buchanan – assistant engineering
• George Peckham – mastering
• Sharon Fitzgerald – cover design, photography

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2000|certyear=2025|title=Bandwagonesque|artist=Teenage Fanclub|type=album|award=Silver|id=20875-2992-2|access-date=14 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | noshipments=true|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Teenage Fanclub}}

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Category:Teenage Fanclub albums

Category:1991 albums

Category:Albums produced by Don Fleming (musician)

Category:Creation Records albums