Teenage Fanclub
's
Deep Fried Fanclub
is a 1995 collection of songs recorded during the band's short stay at
Paperhouse
records in 1990. It also picks up their 1992 release on
K
. 1990 was an incredible year for
the Fannies
. They released two amazing singles, the guitar-hero glory of
"Everything Flows"
and the melodic juggernaut
"God Knows It's True,"
and the promising debut album
A Catholic Education
. They also released a rollicking, loose cover of
the Beatles
'
"The Ballad of John and Yoko"
and a handful of B-sides that aren't exactly essential but are a lot of fun. Only
"Weedbreak"
is a complete throwaway. The demo version of
"Primary Education"
is a laugh, as
the Fannies'
attempt to get funky at the end of the track will have you in a stitch or two. Their cover of
Neil Young
"Don't Cry No Tears"
is charmingly ragged and
Gerry Love
"So Far Gone"
is a powerful
pop
slice reminiscent of
Huesker Due
. The
single is a real kick. Their covers of
Alex Chilton
"Free Again"
and
Beat Happening
"Bad Seed"
are the sound of a band having a blast and there's nothing wrong with that. Devoted
fans are likely to have all the tracks already, but it is nice to have the tracks all together. Everything flows very well and the collection is a revealing snapshot of a band just beginning their journey to the top of the
alt rock
heap. ~ Tim Sendra