Britpop?

[Pixie_Solanas]

Any other 80s-90s era Britpop devotees here or am I the only enlightened one? :D

[Ilash]

Any other 80s-90s era Britpop devotees here or am I the only enlightened one? :D

I'm pretty sure you're not. I do enjoy some Brit-pop but I do sort of feel that why should I listen to someone ripping off the Kinks when you can listen to the Kinks themselves? It's not a genre that I can ever see becoming a huge favourite of mine but it is, by and large, very much listenable.

What are your favourite bands?

[Pepsigirl]

why should I listen to someone ripping off the Kinks when you can listen to the Kinks themselves?

This is a ridiculously simplistic way of looking at things. Britpop was a distintly 90s movement, influenced as much by twenty years of post-British Invasion bands as they were by 60s pop bands. It had a lot in common with 60s British music, but it wasn't nearly as backwards-thinking as you seem to think.

Pulp and Blur are probably my favorite Britpop bands.

[leonaozaki]

This is a ridiculously simplistic way of looking at things. Britpop was a distintly 90s movement, influenced as much by twenty years of post-British Invasion bands as they were by 60s pop bands. It had a lot in common with 60s British music, but it wasn't nearly as backwards-thinking as you seem to think.

Pulp and Blur are probably my favorite Britpop bands.

Right on. I mean, I love the Kinks but I love Blur as well.

rob

[Pixie_Solanas]

This is a ridiculously simplistic way of looking at things. Britpop was a distintly 90s movement, influenced as much by twenty years of post-British Invasion bands as they were by 60s pop bands. It had a lot in common with 60s British music, but it wasn't nearly as backwards-thinking as you seem to think.

Pulp and Blur are probably my favorite Britpop bands.

Amen, brother. Yes, the Kinks influenced Britpop, but to say it's wholly derivative? Shortsighted. Should we negate Guns N Roses because Black Sabbath came first in hard rock?

As for me, Suede, Pulp and Blur are my favorites, but I hold all Britpop bands in special esteem. Yes, even Menswe@r.

[twilight]

Not really an Oasis guy but I do enjoy Supergrass and Pulp.

I should probably check out Blur's work one of these days too.

-Twi

[Rob H]

Supergrass. 'I Should Coco' and 'In it for the Money' in particular.

[Jonathan Bogart]

Blur, Pulp, Supergrass, Elastica, Denim, early Radiohead, Suede, Manic Street Preachers, even an Oasis tune or two. The genre was one of my early obsessions, along with British Invasion and new wave.

[(NO)]

(NO)'s Top 10 Britpop Bands

1. Blur
2. The Auteurs
3. Ash (Well, early Ash I guess.)
4. Saint Etienne
5. Pulp
6. Super Furry Animals
7. Elastica
8. Supergrass
9. Radiohead
10. The Divine Comedy

[howyadoin]

I'd say Manic Street Preachers, Supergrass, and a few scattered songs here and there from others. Blur never did much for me, and I think Oasis said everything they had to say (which wasn't much) on their first couple albums.

I do need to check out more Pulp, though. Always thought "Common People" was fucking brilliant.






Oh, and since this is CBR: have many of you read Phonogram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonogram_%28comic%29)?

[mattx110]

Um..... Crowded House is the closest I can come up with.

I do have an Oasis CD...

[Indigo Al]

Man, that stretch of time after grunge imploded, before the regrettable rise of boy-bands and Nu Metal? Britpop was the only thing saving music for me.

[Pepsigirl]

Oh, and since this is CBR: have many of you read Phonogram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonogram_%28comic%29)?

Yeah, I loved it!

(NO), I think it's interesting that you mentioned Radiohead, because it's always struck me as a little strange that so many Radiohead fans are so quick to disassociate even their early work from the Britpop movement.

[elheffe]

I love a few of the already mentioned ones: Blur, Pulp, Suede, early Oasis. But my favorite from the mid-to-late '90s was The Verve, but I'm not sure if they're classified as true Brit-pop.

[(NO)]

Yeah, I loved it!

(NO), I think it's interesting that you mentioned Radiohead, because it's always struck me as a little strange that so many Radiohead fans are so quick to disassociate even their early work from the Britpop movement.

Yeah, I don't quite get that either. I mean The Bends has gotta be, right?

[jessecuster3]

Any other 80s-90s era Britpop devotees here or am I the only enlightened one? :D

Huge fan, here. I spent much of that time and afterwards going to a regular Britpop night in Atlanta.

I have seen Oasis about 10 times, Blur 3 or 4, the Charlatans 5 or 6, Suede twice, and I saw Kula Shaker's first show in America.

[pauwoo]

why should I listen to someone ripping off the Kinks when you can listen to the Kinks themselves?

What where you thinking saying this, when everyone knows one of then are a beatles tribute act. :evilsmile

[Pixie_Solanas]

Yeah, I loved it!

(NO), I think it's interesting that you mentioned Radiohead, because it's always struck me as a little strange that so many Radiohead fans are so quick to disassociate even their early work from the Britpop movement.

So true, "The Bends"-era Radiohead is as Britpop as it gets, no matter what their fanbase tries to tell you. Listen to "Just" or "The Bends" and tell me that's not blueprint Britpop.

Tellingly, it's the only album of theirs that I can listen to, the rest is just trash to me.

And yeah, I read Phonogram. The only thing I really liked was the cover art takes on classic albums. The story was a bit heavyhanded and I felt it was as much a critique on the whole Britpop movement, moreso than any celebration of it. I've seen and read enough of that.

[Pixie_Solanas]

Huge fan, here. I spent much of that time and afterwards going to a regular Britpop night in Atlanta.

I have seen Oasis about 10 times, Blur 3 or 4, the Charlatans 5 or 6, Suede twice, and I saw Kula Shaker's first show in America.

Good man. And I know you know your stuff if you were able to admit going to a Kula Shaker show. Where is Crispian Mills nowadays?

Yes, every time Oasis goes on tour, it's a pilgrimmage. And yeah, I will readily admit to seeing the U2 tour in 1997 with Oasis as a support band strictly for Oasis.

And there's a monthly Britpop night called Leisure here in SF.

[howyadoin]

And yeah, I read Phonogram. The only thing I really liked was the cover art takes on classic albums. The story was a bit heavyhanded and I felt it was as much a critique on the whole Britpop movement, moreso than any celebration of it. I've seen and read enough of that.Weird. I haven't seen anybody else react to it that way.

Good man. And I know you know your stuff if you were able to admit going to a Kula Shaker show. Where is Crispian Mills nowadays?Probably still living off his mom's Disney royalties.

[Pixie_Solanas]

Weird. I haven't seen anybody else react to it that way.

.

I think the fact that I had 100 people (or so) telling me about it beforehand because of my love for Britpop, it really amped it up to be something it wasn't for me. Also, i'm as big a britpop fan as possibly could be, so I can see why non-britpop devotees may like it a bit better.

It was oooookay. The art was stunning, though.

[howyadoin]

Okay, that makes sense.

[Ilash]

OK, I was clearly being unfair writing off a whole music as Kinks-imitators because I do rather like some brit-pop and yeah, none of these guys are as good as the Kinks but the amount of bands out there that are on the level of Ray Davies and co. at their peak can be counted on one hand.

I do want to say two things though. First, to the person who said that Brit-pop was a movement that wasn't backward looking, I can't really say I agree here. Not that it's neccessarily a bad thing but it's pretty clear that brit-pop, by its very definition, looked to the past thirty or more years of British popular music as the basis for the entire sub-genre. Again, not the end of the world but being derivative was part of their whole schtick.

Second, I guess my main problem with a lot of this stuff is the 90s production. I just hate how loud everything is mixed but of course, that's a problem that still prevails today.

All in all though, I would be lying if I said that I don't get a kick out of pulling out Blur's Greatest Hits every once in a while.

[howyadoin]

First, to the person who said that Brit-pop was a movement that wasn't backward looking, I can't really say I agree here. Not that it's neccessarily a bad thing but it's pretty clear that brit-pop, by its very definition, looked to the past thirty or more years of British popular music as the basis for the entire sub-genre.I would say that Brit-pop was built on the music of the past, but isn't that true of almost every musical movement?

[Ilash]

I would say that Brit-pop was built on the music of the past, but isn't that true of almost every musical movement?

Sure but not often to the extent that Brit-pop did. Of course, this derivativeness is very much what brit-pop was really about - it was about playing with previous musical movements (60s pop and New Wave especially - to the best of my knowledge), not so much about really furthering them. Again, I don't really consider this to be too much of a problem - snide, intentionally contentious remarks about them all being second-rate Kinks imitators aside, there is a whole lot to like about brit-pop.

[The Confessor]

And I know you know your stuff if you were able to admit going to a Kula Shaker show. Where is Crispian Mills nowadays?

Well, he's actually in Kula Shaker again! After forming another band called The Jeevas who released two rather good albums, Kula Shaker reunited in 2006. They released an EP called Revenge Of The King, followed by a full length album last year called Strange Folk.

Strange Folk isn't too bad I suppose but it's not a patch on their earlier stuff in my opinion. I wrote a review for it a while back, check it out here (http://www.dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=5184) if you're interested.

[beetlebum]

You're not the only Brit Pop nut here! I love the genre, and discovering it made me the Anglo-phile I am today. Hence the way I spell things (I live in California, I've been an American all of my life.)

But as for me, my favourite bands are, in no particular order:

Menswear: Yeah, I like them. :P

Elastica

The Divine Comedy

The Verve

The Longpigs

Oasis: Yeah, yeah, mediocre, derivative, but damn catchy! ;)

Black Grape: Shaun Ryder may have been a train wreck (thus, he predates the spectacle that is Pete Doherty ;p) but in addition to his music being brilliant, some of his song lyrics were funny as hell; "Jesus was a black man, Jesus was Batman, no that was Bruce Wayne!"

Oh, and of course, those likely lads from Colchester.....:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrKbofmE3ps

They're all right, or something or other.....

[beetlebum]

Yeah, I loved it!

(NO), I think it's interesting that you mentioned Radiohead, because it's always struck me as a little strange that so many Radiohead fans are so quick to disassociate even their early work from the Britpop movement.

Yeah, I don't get that either. Does anyone know why they don't consider "The Bends" Brit Pop? Oh, and btw, good job on defining what Brit Pop is and defending it against the mere "Kinks derivatives" dismissals. :)

[jesse_custer]

I need to listen to some bands from this movement that aren't the obvious choices like Blur and Oasis. Because the obvious choices haven't been too impressive. And oddly enough, they don't strike me as catchy enough. Anyone have suggestions?

[Pixie_Solanas]

You're not the only Brit Pop nut here! I love the genre, and discovering it made me the Anglo-phile I am today. Hence the way I spell things (I live in California, I've been an American all of my life.)

But as for me, my favourite bands are, in no particular order:

Menswear: Yeah, I like them. :P

Elastica

The Divine Comedy

The Verve

The Longpigs

Oasis: Yeah, yeah, mediocre, derivative, but damn catchy! ;)

Black Grape: Shaun Ryder may have been a train wreck (thus, he predates the spectacle that is Pete Doherty ;p) but in addition to his music being brilliant, some of his song lyrics were funny as hell; "Jesus was a black man, Jesus was Batman, no that was Bruce Wayne!"

Oh, and of course, those likely lads from Colchester.....:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrKbofmE3ps

They're all right, or something or other.....

I'll put Oasis' first three (and four, if you count the Masterplan) against anyone's elses' output. Those albums are non-stop greatness (and yes, even Be Here Now, which gets unfairly maligned for coming after Morning Glory and in the tail-end of the Britpop phenomenon).

EDIT: "Something for the Weekend" by The Divine Comedy just came on the iTunes shuffle. Karmic.

[Domo Goddess]

I used to listen to Gene Loves Jezebel (thanks to Mom) and Suede a lot.
I loved Suede's song ''Lazy.''

[jessecuster3]

I need to listen to some bands from this movement that aren't the obvious choices like Blur and Oasis. Because the obvious choices haven't been too impressive. And oddly enough, they don't strike me as catchy enough. Anyone have suggestions?

Suede (s/t, Dog Man Star, Coming Up, Head Music)
Pulp (Different Class, This is Hardcore)
The Charlatans (Between 10th and 11th, s/t, Tellin' Stories)
Hurricane #1 (s/t)
Supergrass (I Should Coco, In It For The Money)
The Stone Roses (s/t and Second Coming)
Seahorses (Do It Yourself) guitar player from first two Suede albums.
Black Grape(Its Great When You're Straight, yeah...)

And then a number of assorted singles check out:
Live Forever(soundtrack to a documentary about Britpop) (http://www.amazon.com/Live-Forever-Britpop-Various-Artists/dp/B000088E39/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1203520757&sr=8-3)
Rhino's Brit Box (http://rhino.com/store/ProductDetail.lasso?Number=159804&p=RHfpg)

You could also watch the Live Forever documentary or even 24 Hour Party People, which is a very slight fictionalization of the birth of Britpop.

[jesse_custer]

Ah, now I've listened to the Stone Roses, but I didn't realize they were part of this specific movement. They're really good.

[jessecuster3]

Ah, now I've listened to the Stone Roses, but I didn't realize they were part of this specific movement. They're really good.

They were pretty much the progenitors of the movement, them and Happy Mondays.

[jessecuster3]

It has gotten me thinking, what do you think is the beginning and "end" of Britpop?


I have read that it started with Stone Roses at Spike Island and ended with Oasis at Knebworth. I am a bit hesitant with it, because then you coudn't include Travis or Embrace, for sure.

[The Confessor]

Seahorses (Do It Yourself) guitar player from first two Suede albums.

*cough, cough* Stone Roses.*cough* Guitar player from The Stone Roses.*cough, cough*


The Seahorses featured John Squire on guitar not Bernard Butler of Suede. Suede's original guitarist went on to form McAlmont & Butler after he left the band and then later released a couple of solo albums.

In 2005 he reunited with Brett Anderson of Suede to form a new band called The Tears. They released just one album called 'Here Come The Tears'.

[Pixie_Solanas]

Suede (s/t, Dog Man Star, Coming Up, Head Music)
Pulp (Different Class, This is Hardcore)
The Charlatans (Between 10th and 11th, s/t, Tellin' Stories)
Hurricane #1 (s/t)
Supergrass (I Should Coco, In It For The Money)
The Stone Roses (s/t and Second Coming)
Seahorses (Do It Yourself) guitar player from first two Suede albums.
Black Grape(Its Great When You're Straight, yeah...)

And then a number of assorted singles check out:
Live Forever(soundtrack to a documentary about Britpop) (http://www.amazon.com/Live-Forever-Britpop-Various-Artists/dp/B000088E39/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1203520757&sr=8-3)
Rhino's Brit Box (http://rhino.com/store/ProductDetail.lasso?Number=159804&p=RHfpg)

You could also watch the Live Forever documentary or even 24 Hour Party People, which is a very slight fictionalization of the birth of Britpop.

Small addendum to the Seahorses, I think Liam Gallagher has a small co-writing credit on one of the songs on their first album. Yeah, Squire's second band, still nowhere near as good as the Roses at their peak. What an immense band that was.

And as it was pointed out, the Seahorses were John Squire's band (from Stone Roses), not Suede.

That being said, Suede's original guitarist Bernard Butler, did strike out on his own, but with much-less favorable results (McAlmont & Butler anyone? Yeeeesh.)

And as everyone probably already knows, Hurricane #1 was Andy Bell's second band (first was a nice little shoegazer group called Ride, if you haven't any of their albums, download 'em NOW) and had a minor hit with "Step Into My World" - before he replaced Guigsy on bass in Oasis, ver 2.

[Pixie_Solanas]

It has gotten me thinking, what do you think is the beginning and "end" of Britpop?


I have read that it started with Stone Roses at Spike Island and ended with Oasis at Knebworth. I am a bit hesitant with it, because then you coudn't include Travis or Embrace, for sure.

I think the height of Britpop was surely Knebworth, and anything subsequent could never match up. So it was also the beginning of the end of the movement.

And if Travis, Coldplay or Embrace were the new vanguard, then yeah, Britpop died. I never could get into either of those bands (although Embrace were all over the map in terms of style).

[beetlebum]

I get confused by all of the Jesse Custers! :confused:

Agent Torpor: I agree with you for the most part on Oasis, except for Be Here Now. I think it was Liam who once referred to it as "Two gobshites and a bag of Charlie". That sums up what went wrong with the album.

As for Brit Pop, it ended in the year 1998. It's pre-genesis however, began the moment Noel Gallagher went to 10 Downing Street. Although I do harbor some sympathy for Tony Blair, Q Magazine stated that was the moment when they stopped being the "people's band". I tend to agree with them, though I'm not sure I agree with the statement that they stopped "sharing our hopes and dreams."

As for Brit Pop acts you should try:

I can't believe I forgot Suede!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkRW8kBdgzg

You don't think about it, cos you're beautiful!

Elastica:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwpKYnQaZnU

Contains the best insult ever, "drivelhead"' heh heh.

The Verve:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlRhs1Wb7wo

An incredibly gorgeous song, filled with ringing guitar chords which sound like New England bells and feedback which serves only to make the song's melancholy lyrics even more resonating; that the feeling of loneliness is over powering.

Black Grape:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkGDPjmJsSg

Jesus was a black man, no Jesus was Batman, no that was Bruce Wayne! :D

Ocean Colour Scene, Better Day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSeTB-c2jPY

And finally, The Boo Radleys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Rff9UPbrJk

My favourite song by them. :)

So there you go. As for not liking Blur, I guess good music (& taste) is not for everyone. :p (;

[elheffe]

I get confused by all of the Jesse Custers! :confused:
You're not the only one!


The Verve:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlRhs1Wb7wo

An incredibly gorgeous song, filled with ringing guitar chords which sound like New England bells and feedback which serves only to make the song's melancholy lyrics even more resonating; that the feeling of loneliness is over powering.


I love that song! But my favorite off of Urban Hymns has to be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiQgEn5ibYg&feature=related
The whole 'Sinking fast within a boat without a hull /My lord
Dreaming about the day when I can see you there /My side'
Is strangely optimistic for The Verve.

[jessecuster3]

*cough, cough* Stone Roses.*cough* Guitar player from The Stone Roses.*cough, cough*


The Seahorses featured John Squire on guitar not Bernard Butler of Suede. Suede's original guitarist went on to form McAlmont & Butler after he left the band and then later released a couple of solo albums.

In 2005 he reunited with Brett Anderson of Suede to form a new band called The Tears. They released just one album called 'Here Come The Tears'.


Dammit, you are totally right, I have The Tears album, too. My mistake.

[jessecuster3]

I think the height of Britpop was surely Knebworth, and anything subsequent could never match up. So it was also the beginning of the end of the movement.

And if Travis, Coldplay or Embrace were the new vanguard, then yeah, Britpop died. I never could get into either of those bands (although Embrace were all over the map in terms of style).

Hmm I agree on Coldplay, but go back and listen to Travis' album Good Feeling and tell me that is not a Britpop album?



Also, Embrace really are just aping Oasis, between the Good Will Out and Drawn from Memory, those are definitely both Britpop albums.


One I did forget that should be included is Space. I still listen to their album Spiders frequently, today, most people know it only for their single Female of The Species.

[twilight]

I Should Coco by Supergrass is a great Britpop album Jesse.

Especially when you consider how relatively young they were when they recorded it.

-Twi

[jessecuster3]

I Should Coco by Supergrass is a great Britpop album Jesse.

Especially when you consider how relatively young they were when they recorded it.

-Twi

They have a new album! I love it already.

I do not think they will ever top I Should Coco.

[twilight]

They have a new album! I love it already.

I do not think they will ever top I Should Coco.

Diamond Hoo Ha is out already?

I Should Coco is definately one of the best debut albums ever.

-Twi

[Pixie_Solanas]

They have a new album! I love it already.

I do not think they will ever top I Should Coco.

"In It for the Money" was better. Better songcraft. Tell me Richard III isn't one of the greatest songs of the era.

[Pixie_Solanas]

Hmm I agree on Coldplay, but go back and listen to Travis' album Good Feeling and tell me that is not a Britpop album?



Also, Embrace really are just aping Oasis, between the Good Will Out and Drawn from Memory, those are definitely both Britpop albums.


One I did forget that should be included is Space. I still listen to their album Spiders frequently, today, most people know it only for their single Female of The Species.

I forgot about "Good Feeling". It's "The Man Who" that really grates on my nerves. :D

And Embrace's "All You Good Good People" is Oasis as if penned by Noel Gallagher himself.

[jessecuster3]

"In It for the Money" was better. Better songcraft. Tell me Richard III isn't one of the greatest songs of the era.

Yeah that is a great album, it sjust doesn;t have that raw energy of Coco, however.

I forgot about "Good Feeling". It's "The Man Who" that really grates on my nerves. :D

And Embrace's "All You Good Good People" is Oasis as if penned by Noel Gallagher himself.

The Man Who was a good album just drastically overplayed, Writing To Reach You completely stole from Wonderwall, though, Fran has admitted that.

[Pixie_Solanas]

Yeah that is a great album, it sjust doesn;t have that raw energy of Coco, however.



The Man Who was a good album just drastically overplayed, Writing To Reach You completely stole from Wonderwall, though, Fran has admitted that.

Minor bit of trivia, one of the Travis-eers is married to the bird from "Trainspotting".