Song of the Day: Teenage Fanclub - “Start Again”

"Start Again" is the lead track off Teenage Fanclub's Songs from Northern Britain, their sixth album from 1997. The tune is a perfect introduction of what's to come on the rest of the record: lyrically straightforward, melodically immediate songs that worm their chiming, four-chord simplicities right into your ear.

As with much power pop from Byrds to Badfinger to Big Star, the lines aren't quite as sunny as the music leads you to believe. "Start Again" is but a simple plea for one more chance at love, penned by Norman Blake, one-third of the formidable Fanclub songwriting triumvirate.

The song clocks in at 3:11, otherwise mathematically known as the perfect pop gem length. There's just enough time for three verses, four choruses and a buoyant outro guitar solo. And like many a track on Songs from Northern Britain, it'll have you reaching for the rewind button before it's even done.