Crotchety critics complained that this Glaswegian quartet sounded too close to cult Memphis band Big Star for their own or anyone else's good, but Bandwagonesque proved that unapologetic homage can sometimes work. The Fanclub's mesh of yearning, ethereal melody and cranked, feed-backing guitars came together superbly on "The Concept," "Metal Baby," and the thrashing "Star Sign"--mini-blizzards of mellifluousness that yoked Alex Chilton to Crazy Horse and the Ramones. Dismiss "Alcholiday" as "record collection rock" if you must: it doesn't make the track any less sublime. --Barney Hoskyns