TEENAGE FANCLUB
Man-Made

Sonic sister to Bandwagonesque, TFC's Man-Made is rough at the edges but sunshine sweet to the core. "It's All in My Mind" lounges then picks up, sudden yet deliciously unburdening, like remembering whre you placed the keys. There's nothing new here, wait, there's perfectly nothing new here. After all, that's what fandom is all about: unconditional love; loving what has always been there, loving the familiar, loving that old gray shirt that still fits perfectly, comfortingly, after all these years. ****

THE GUILD LEAGUE
Inner North


There's an open emotion that motion releases. "Citronella" is like staring directly at the sun, excruciatingly beautiful. Not unlike falling in love. There I said it. Pull in the overcast sky, and whistle down the sidewalk, kick a can home. Inner North is definitely not Hallmark. There's much contemplation and fear. But there's also beach towels and arched backs and Tali White singing lazy lalalas. Mostly acoustic --- except for traffic-impatient The Storm (...fear is a feeling that will never cover everything) --- mostly like freshly cut grass melodies. Hooks that stain; a smile that stays. Effortlessly one of the best. *****