'A Catholic Education' was their debut album, released in 1990. The album received positive reviews from English music journalists and critics. In contrast to the group's later work, the album has a very dark, abrasive, and cynical tone and incorporated a grunge and heavy metal influenced sound. As well, the album's two title tracks are direct attacks on the Catholic Church, which are unique for an otherwise apolitical band. The opening track, "Everything Flows", is a mellow powerpop-influenced song (unlike the rest of the album) that provides a sort of blueprint for their later work.
"Everything Flows" was later included in the compilation albums 'Deep Fried Fanclub' and 'Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-Six Seconds – A Short Cut to Teenage Fanclub'. Those were released in 1995 and 2003, respectively. Teenage Fanclub's second album, 1991's 'The King', went for a shambolic, alternative rock edge that left many fans and critics cold, though the release also had strong defenders. It took their third album to kick things into high gear.
'Bandwagonesque', released in November 1991 on Creation Records, became famous by beating Nirvana's landmark album 'Nevermind' to be voted "album of the year" by popular American music magazine Spin. It also gave the band substantial U.S. success when the single "Star Sign" reached #4 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, becoming their biggest hit in that country. "What You Do to Me" and "The Concept" were also Top 20 hits on that chart. Fans greatly enjoyed the melodic yet melancholy feel of the album.
Although later works have led the group through various highs and lows throughout the 90s and 00s, they're still going strong as of 2014. Tours have been widely successful. Their latest album, 'Shadows', was their ninth studio release. They made it available on 31 May 2010 on the band's own PeMa label in Europe and on Merge Records in North America, the group promoting the single "Baby Lee". Said track shows the band still in touch with the chiming, emotional sounds of their 90s heyday.
There have been a succession of drummers, including:
- Francis MacDonald (a prime-mover in the C86 scene, later of the BMX Bandits), the drummer in the original lineup, and in a later period
- Brendan O’Hare (later of Telstar Ponies, Thrapple , Mogwai and Macrocosmica)
and
- Paul Quinn (later of The Primary 5), who was later replaced by the returning Francis MacDonald.
Keyboardist Finlay MacDonald (no relation to Francis MacDonald) has also been a member.
Cul de Sac
Teenage Fanclub Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All over this town
Among the buildings
And amid the sound
Feels like I've been wading
This whole season through
Motivation is fading too
No shadow to cast
No reputation's prepared to last
Free to just keep going
And wander on through
The sleeping streets
In the morning dew
And it's no good
Feels like I've been waiting
This whole season through
Compensation is overdue
And it's no good
The lyrics to Teenage Fanclub's "Cul de Sac" describe the feeling of being lost and directionless in a city, wandering aimlessly through the streets with no purpose or motivation. The singer contemplates whether they should keep going and exploring, but feels like they've been doing it for too long and their motivation is fading. They have no expectations or reputation to maintain, and can just keep wandering without any pressures or deadlines.
The line "Got no expectation, no shadow to cast" suggests that the singer is not trying to leave a mark or make an impression on anyone. They are content with just existing and moving through the city without any purpose. The "sleeping streets in the morning dew" imply that the singer is up early, perhaps unable to sleep due to their lack of direction and purpose.
The repeated line "And it's no good" reinforces the feeling of dissatisfaction and frustration with their current state. The final line "Compensation is overdue" suggests that the singer feels like they are owed something for their aimless wandering, but they are unsure of what that compensation could be.
Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a person who is feeling lost and disconnected from the world around them, seeking for something to give them meaning and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Should I just keep rolling
Should I just keep moving forward, without any direction or purpose?
All over this town
Am I roaming aimlessly in this city without any destination in mind?
Among the buildings
Am I lost in the concrete jungle of this city?
And amid the sound
Is the noise of this city surrounding me and making it hard to think?
Feels like I've been wading
It seems like I am struggling to progress, feeling stuck and going nowhere.
This whole season through
This state of feeling stagnant has lasted for the entire season.
Motivation is fading too
I am losing the drive to keep going or making progress.
Got no expectation
I have no specific goals or aspirations in mind.
No shadow to cast
I do not have anything of great significance to accomplish or leave behind.
No reputation's prepared to last
I am not interested in gaining any reputation or status that will last for a long time.
Free to just keep going
I am free from any specific goal or direction and can move forward without any limitations.
And wander on through
I am free to roam or move around without a set destination or direction.
The sleeping streets
The city streets are quiet and unoccupied, with nobody around to interrupt my aimless wandering.
In the morning dew
The air is cool and fresh, with dew covering the streets and making everything feel new.
And it's no good
This state of being purposeless and unmotivated is not good or desirable.
Feels like I've been waiting
It seems like I have been waiting for something to happen or to find direction for a long time.
Compensation is overdue
I deserve some reward or compensation for the time and effort I have put in, but have not received it yet.
And it's no good
The feeling of being stuck and unproductive is not a desirable situation.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GERARD LOVE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind