Grand Prix

The adorable Fannies are in danger of becoming a 'much-loved institution' like the Kinks and XTC: great for warm-hearted feelings, but lousy for record sales. Grand Prix breaks the band's Byrdsian mould slightly, but there are enough jangly G chords to satisfy everyone. Virtually every song is a flawless gem, complete with the most precise harmonies; each rolls into the next with love and care, played, sung and produced with supreme clarity. With the fantastic boon of possessing three talented songwriters, TFC offer plenty of variety; in particular, Gerard Love's irresistible 'Sparky's Dream' achieves classic pop song status, and his 'Don't Look Back' is this accomplished album's highlight.

Q (12/99, p.84)
- Included in Q Magazine's "90 Best Albums Of The 1990s."

Q (2/96, p.63)
- Included in Q's 50 Best Albums of 1995.

NME (12/23-30/95, pp.22-23)
- Ranked #5 in NME's 'Top 50 Albums Of The Year' for 1995 - "...simple, savoury, soul-tickling tunes and sweet melancholic harmonies. If the Beach Boys had been born in Glasgow they might...have sounded this great."

Q (6/00, p.64)
- Ranked #72 in Q's "100 Greatest British Albums"

Q (7/95, p.131)
- 4 Stars - Excellent - "...the band have honed a particularly agreeable sound, chimingly melodic guitar rock replete with history but thoroughly modern....saner folk will simply revel in the abundant tunefulness, zest and melancholy of a great band."

Alternative Press (8/95, pp.99-100)
- "...a lovely record, beautifully textured, gentle, warm, and sad in turns, snatchingly humourous, engagingly derivative..."