Scottish foursome Teenage Fanclub got their start imitating the seminal American power-pop band Big Star. On Songs From Northern Britain, the Fanclub's sixth album, they've finally outgrown Big Star, only to fixate on the early songbook of the Byrds – it's all there, from the perfect harmonies to the wistful folk-rock guitars. Considering that Teenage Fanclub has three songwriters (Norman Blake, Gerard Lov and Raymond McGinley), it's amazing how homogeneous Songs sounds: The tracks all meld into one another, cocooned in a gauze of gentle vocals and innocuous melodies. Only. "Mount Everest" and "Ain't That Enough" stand out in any form – the first one, thanks to a majestic piano; the second with its pleasant (if very Byrds-y) use of tambourine and glockenspiel. Overall, Songs is soothing to the point of narcolepsy. What's next? The Eagles? (RS 766)

ELISABETH VINCENTELLI