Hard to believe now, but when Teenage Fanclub released their first album over a decade ago they were considered at least as likely as their contemporaries Nirvana to reach the giddy heights of stardom. By now it's clear that the Glaswegians' plans for global domination have gone a little awry - but that hasn't stopped them building up a sturdy back catalogue of infectious pop tunes. Clearly a compilation is long overdue and this one does the job nicely, even if it does have one of the most clumsy titles in living memory. And with no fewer than 17 tuneful gems from their six albums to date, along with one new track from each of their main songwriters, this represents excellent value for money as much as anything else. If there is a criticism, it's that the Fannies are so skilled at reproducing the West Coast jangle sound of the Byrds, it's sometimes hard to discern where their own characters come in. But if ever there was music designed to be enjoyed rather than analysed, this is it. And having given so much pleasure to people over the years, only a curmudgeon would deny Teenage Fanclub their day in the sun.
