Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday, we offer songs from local artists. Today’s selection, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole is “Baby Lee” by Teenage Fanclub from their 2010 album Shadows on Merge Records.
Teenage Fanclub has been a red thread since 1990; from the fetal stages of grunge to the present day collage of soundscapes, they’ve been steadily producing albums. And aside from a few drummer changes, the four Scots have maintained the same lineup, muscled through the Dinosaur Jr. comparisons and developed a sound of their own.
From Shadows on Merge Records, “Baby Lee,” written by guitarist Norman Blake, is a standout favorite. The sound is a timeless, wooly and warm melody. Whatever life is lunging your way, this song is comforting to say the least. Like most of their songs, “Baby Lee” holds strong emphasis on vocals, TFC’s resurgence of Byrds-like harmonics and pop are most apparent in this song, and is as optimistic as the era it invokes with its chiming piano melodies.
Teenage Fanclub have just added multiple festival shows in the UK and Europe this summer but, nothing stateside yet. Cross your fingers for some possible U.S. dates in Fall to pop up and keep an eye on their MySpace page for news. Until then, check out this intimate live performance of today’s featured song:
