Teenage Fanclub Album: “A Catholic Education”

No one I know who listened to "Bandwagonesque",Teenage Fanclub's first widely released CD, before "A Catholic Education", their first release, have a lot of love for the raw production values and aggressive, punchy structure of many of the songs contained on their inaugural CD with the exception of "Everything Flows" and "Eternal Light". Most of the tracks don't have the fluid progression that cuts on later releases have (again, comparisons to "Bandwagonesque" are the first one my friends reference), and a murky sound, rather than a crystalline one.

Nevertheless, this CD is full of hook-laden material, even in its primitive setting. "Heavy Metal II" "Everybody's Fool", "Every Picture I Paint", and "Too Involved" require a few listen-throughs to sift out superficial discordancy, but they're well- constructed songs. In fact, "A Catholic Ecuation" is worth getting just to trace the genesis of the band's sound, which I feel was firmly in place on this CD, though the lower-grade production doesn't lend itself toward showcasing this. Personally, I think every fan of Teenage Fanclub should receive "A Catholic Education".

Not a great album, but you it definetly laid the ground work for the future. Sounds to me like they were hanging out with Pavement while they made the record. Definetly a late 80's/early 90's feel. Critical Mass is an underrated song, I'm sure most only know Everything Flows, but there are a few other great songs on here. I'm glad it was re-issued as I lost my original copy. I would say if you own several Teenage Fanclub albums but not this you owe it to yourself to pick it up just to see the bands progression. For firstimers, I would probably stay away from it for now and start with Bandwagoneque or Grand Prix.

But give them a break. They were broke. This is what started it all. "Every Picture I Paint" and "Everything Flows" are probably my 2 favorite Fanclub songs of all time. A lot of the stuff sounds samey, i'll admit, but it doesn't really bother me that much. The production is very very lo-fi, but that's what makes it so unique, in my opinion. If you are a Fanclub fan and don't have this album. Get it. You won't be disappointed. If you are looking for something more like "What You Do To Me", then look elsewhere. I suggest "Thirteen", or "Grand Prix".

This is Teenage Fanclub's first album, and it suffers from muddy production, half-realized melodies, and somewhat ragged musicianship. Still, it is mildly interesting in its own unpolished way, and it hints at greater things to come.

this is the ONLY teenage fanclub i'm proud to own, and i don't give my 5 stars out liberally. catholic ed is full of swirling dreamy guitars and melancholy pop melodies - like clinically depressed dinosaur (and for the record, it predates loveless for all you my bloody valentine fans). after this, they seemed to concentrate more on production and being alt-stars, and the music becomes more painfully derivative accordingly. i just wish they'd followed up on this quietly brilliant debut with something other than a regurgitation of big star.

other good stuff i own: tipsy, cat power, god speed you black emperor, young gods. check 'em out