Jad Fair & Teenage Fanclub - Words Of Wisdom And Hope (2002) Geographic Records/Epic Records
Japan bonus tracks
11. Love's Taken Over
12. Good Thing
The Fanclub have collaborated with several artists over the years, most notably Alex Chilton and Frank Black, but this is their first full-length joint project. Fair is frontman for Half Japanese as well as a solo artist and painter (he provides the cover art here). Katrina Mitchell of The Pastels provides additional vocals and Fanclub touring sidekick Finlay MacDonald joins on keyboards. All music is written and performed by Teenage Fanclub but their absence at the microphone is frustrating for anyone expecting their harmonies to appear behind Fair's monotone drawl (think Lou Reed with a touch of Conor Oberst). But in that sense it's a true collaboration, with Fair providing all the lyrics, which are far wordier than traditional Fanclub fare. For me, the novelty wears off pretty quick and as the 7 minute Crush On You comes to an end it's hard to remain enthusiastic knowing there are another nine tracks to come.
Norman Blake - guitar, bass, keyboards
Jad Fair - vocals
Gerard Love - guitar, bass, drums
Finlay MacDonald - keyboards, bass
Raymond McGinley - guitar, mandola
Katrina Mitchell - vocals, drums
Paul Quinn - drums, guitar