Song of the Day: Teenage Fanclub - Hold On

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. Today’s song, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Hold On″ by Teenage Fanclub, from their eleventh studio album, Here, on Merge Records.

Teenage Fanclub - Hold On (MP3)The illustrious Scottish alternative outfit Teenage Fanclub have been cranking out hits, topping music charts, and enamoring ears for well over two decades now. When the band was first getting started, any levies that were holding back Teenage Fanclub from their ultimate recognition were broken through via their 1991 magnum opus, Bandwagonesque, which showcased Beach Boys-colored vocal harmonies blended with mellow, guitar-riffing American rock. Having been six years since they've released their last studio album, now in 2016 their daze-pop opus is Here, which recently dropped September 9 as their eleventh studio album.

On Here, the ever-evolving Teenage Fanclub demonstrates their affinity and dexterity for writing whimsical dream rock while still incorporating their coveted sound through moments that seems to capture euphoric and existential nuggets in songs like "I Was Beautiful When I Was Alive," "Steady State," "Connected to Life," and "Hold On." Positioned as the third track on the album, "Hold On" functions as one of the more uptempo jams while maintaining their whispering guitar and vocal timbres.

The aphoristic refrain in "Hold On" goes,"Hold on to your life, to your dreams /don't get lost in their schemes / just hold on to your dreams. Hold on to your head, to your heart... just hold on to your heart." This sanguine sentiment brings to mind a Nelson Mandela quote that similarly pulls one's heartstrings regarding the human experience, "I realized that they could take everything from me except my mind and my heart. They could not take those things. Those things I still had control over. And I decided not to give them away." That being said to appreciate the prickly depth of ethos and pathos that a lot of the songs off Here delve into despite their comfortably warm and soft-sung nature. Here is an album for all walks of music listeners and appreciators.

Teenage Fanclub have several US dates slated for the rest of October and worldwide dates through the rest of the year. Check out their tour dates and other news on their