Britpop from an American's Perspective: Where Do I Go From Here?
Jul 19 '05
The Bottom Line Sick of the same ol' music? Why not check out a different kind of pop--a kind you may not be entirely versed in.
It’s hard to pin down when exactly British Pop as we now know it was born. The Beatles are obviously an influence, though artists just as frequently cite T. Rex as an early inspiration for the melodic, hip take on music. I suppose that it is with that band that the seeds of Britpop were planted. From there (the 1970s primarily) it took years for the movement to explode.
Following the rise and untimely fall of Marc Bolan’s T. Rex, there were still bands out there trying new things and exploring new territory. Britpop acts also frequently cite Roxy Music, David Bowie, Adam Ant, The Smiths, Echo & the Bunnymen, and Felt as further influences. It’s fascinating to consider the roots of the movement which took off in the 1990s. There are bits of hard rock, pop, glam, psychedelia, punk, and prog found across the genre.
Had it not been for the early 1980s successes of Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, The Cure, The Jesus and Mary Chain, U2, and even Elvis Costello maybe Britpop wouldn’t have ever happened. Late 1980s bands like Happy Mondays, Primal Scream and My Bloody Valentine looked only a few years in the past for inspiration. Drawing upon shoegazing and punk, pop and rock they created a new style. Had it not been for those early innovators Britpop wouldn’t have existed.
As most music folk know, the early 1990s witnessed the coming-out party for many new kinds of music. In America, grunge had taken over rock radio. It was loud, brash, dour, and depressing. In the UK there was resistance to this decidedly dark musical direction. It didn’t take long at all before a new crop of bright, shiny, intelligent, interesting, and well-dresses blokes were thrust into the spotlight. The earliest “real” Britpop came from Paul Weller. However it didn’t really cross over entirely into the mainstream until slightly later. The name Britpop was first used in 1987 but didn’t enter common language until 1995. It was added to the dictionary around 1997.
It’s not necessary “cool” to admit that you once liked Oasis. Admit it—you did. I did, heck, I do love Oasis when they make good music. They were among the earliest Britpop bands that connected with both fans and critics with their 1994 debut Definitely Maybe. However they weren’t the first. Blur released their debut in 1991 (Leisure) and the much more impressive sophomore album Modern Life is Rubbish in 1993. Also I can’t forget the importance of Suede (who debuted in 1993) and Pulp (who had their coming out party after years of insignificance in 1994 with His n’ Hers) in the mix. Both views were slightly different than straight-forward Britpop which created some further diversity in the genre.
Come the mid-1990s there were oodles of British bands hoping to be “the next big thing.” Many of them showed great promise and many of them actually lived up to the critical expectations. The Verve, Supergrass, The Boo Radleys, Mansun, Elastica, Space, and even Radiohead many their modest debuts during this boom era. As with all musical movements, interest waxed and waned. The backlash started in part because some of the most popular bands began to waver in their craft toward the end of the nineties. Oasis dried up and Blur didn’t attract as much attention. Not all was lost though—bands like Cornershop added in a dash of something new (in this case a distinctly Middle Eastern vibe) to grab listeners’ attention.
Fortunately, in the early part of the new millennium there was a whole new crop of talented Britpop bands to take up the reigns. Coldplay, The Coral, Gomez, JJ72, Robbie Williams, Muse, Coldplay, Travis, and even most recently Franz Ferdinand and Keane have made a splash both in the UK and internationally. The future of the genre is certainly in the hands of those who make it popular. So long as there are creative and intelligent folks out there making new and interesting music, Britpop will exist. However I fear that another dry spell like that of the late 1990s will cause it to morph into something else entirely.
Britpop is an often misunderstood and often overlooked genre in the United States. We like our music predictable, with electric guitars, and radio-ready. The UK on the other hand seems to enjoy melody and band image. Britpop is indeed “pop,” but it is also so much more. If you in particular are sick of “the same ol’ thing” on the radio and MTV then I beg of you to check out the artists mentioned in this brief essay. Make your own discoveries, choose your own adventure! There’s a little something in Britpop for everybody—believe it!
BRITPOP: 25 Albums to Love & Collect
The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses (1989)
While it’s the only album on this list that I haven’t reviewed it is one of the most important. The Stone Roses made a splash years before most other Britpop bands. Technically their sound is “Madchester,” but that is only because at the time Britpop wasn’t in existence. Songs like She Bangs the Drums, I Wanna Be Adored, and Elephant Stone helped to made this album something special. It’s hip and wild—everything that the genre would grow to embrace.
Suede – Dog Man Star (1994)
http://www.epinions.com/content_71164595844
I hesitate to call Suede’s sophomore album Britpop, but for lack of a better descriptor that is what it is. Their debut may have been more “important,” but Dog Man Star is truly the better release. It’s rich and evocative, stylish and dark. The combo of Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler was always something special and here on songs like Heroine, We Are the Pigs, and The Wild Ones they are absolutely unstoppable. This album is a necessity in any British Pop collection.
Blur – Parklife (1994)
http://www.epinions.com/content_63337565828
My relationship with Blur has always been love-hate. On one hand, I realize their importance, but on the other hand I think their albums are rather hit and miss. However, Parklife (the band’s third release) is about as “hit” as they ever got. Damon Albarn is a fabulous frontman and Blur’s spiky, chunky sound works wonderfully in the context of their chosen genre. Songs Girls & Boys, Badhead, This is a Low, and To The End are certainly worth checking out.
Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995)
http://www.epinions.com/content_59211484804
While there were many bands around prior to Oasis, it is this band led by the fiery Gallagher brothers who really brought Britpop to the United States. Their debut was truly lovely, but (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? is something special. Some may even call it a classic. It is this album that first exposed me to the genre with songs like Don’t Look Back in Anger, Wonderwall, Roll With It, and Champagne Supernova among others. Sure they are whiny, but for Oasis it worked beautifully. This is where Britpop began for me.
Radiohead – The Bends (1995)
http://www.epinions.com/content_68624748164
As with some of the other albums, I have issues calling Radiohead Britpop. It doesn’t quite fit, but then again no single title fits any of these bands. I got wind of the band with their debut, but it took until this release for them to really stick. Thom Yorke is a haunting, strange lyricist and vocalist. Radiohead is an entity unto itself and on songs High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, Just, and My Iron Lung the band is so lovely it hurts.
Elastica – Elastica (1995)
http://www.epinions.com/content_62559063684
Sure Elastica famously ripped off other artists, but what they did with the songs are what landed the band on this limited list. They were exciting and vivacious. Lead singer Justine Frischmann is cool and confident—she is the kind of person who makes a band excellent. Of course if it hadn’t been for the songs on their self-titled debut, Elastica wouldn’t be this memorable. Songs Connection, Line Up, Stutter and 2:1 are probably the best of the album but on the whole Elastica knows how to impress. Britpop? Yeah…probably…but that’s the beauty of the genre. There is much variety.
Pulp – Different Class (1995)
http://www.epinions.com/content_109840666244
Speaking of variety, Pulp has adds a touch of glam to everything they do. The band has always been about the frontman, Jarvis Cocker. He’s known for his bad attitude and musical dictatorship. However for him, it works. The band had already been around in various forms for well over a decade when Cocker and co. hit their stride with Different Class. It’s sexually charged and strange, ironic and fashionable. Common People, Sorted for E’s & Wizz, Disco 2000, and Mis-Shapes are all classic Pulp tunes but don’t stop there—listen to this whole album!
The Verve – A Northern Soul (1995)
http://www.epinions.com/content_133643341444
The Verve is best known in the United States for their hit single Bittersweet Symphony. However long before Richard Ashcroft gave the world that sweeping epic, the band was making great music. A Northern Soul is the second of but three albums from the Britpop band. They relied heavily on glam and space rock for inspiration. It works beautifully here and History, This is Music, New Decade and On Your Own all strike a chord. This is a disc not to be ignored.
Longpigs – The Sun is Often Out (1996)
http://www.epinions.com/content_90994019972
One of the lesser known bands on this list, the Longpigs made inoffensive and incredibly entertaining Britpop. The foursome even opened for U2 during their Popmart Tour. In any case, The Sun is Often Out was the short-lived band’s debut LP. While their sound wasn’t new or different, they knew exactly how to make music people would enjoy. Songs including Sally Dances, She Said, Far, and On and On are easy choice for outstanding offerings. This is a great, often forgotten album. If you love Britpop, check out the Longpigs.
Mansun – Attack of the Grey Lantern (1996)
http://www.epinions.com/content_60290141828
Layers upon layers of orchestra instruments mixed with psychedelia make Mansun’s debut one of the most adventurous offerings of the Britpop era thus far. This is a cohesive concept album. Radio-friendly song Wide Open Spaces is a great place to start but more creative tracks including The Chad Who Loved Me, She Makes My Nose Bleed, and Take it Easy, Chicken are also compelling. Mansun is only for the open-minded, but it is still excellent.
Supergrass – In It For the Money (1997)
http://www.epinions.com/content_127915429508
Like Blur and Oasis, Supergrass is one of the first bands I remember really hearing and realizing they were Britpop. The trio made themselves famous early in their career with a chunk of popular singles. However for me the band’s real purpose became clear on their second album, In It For the Money. Energetic and emotional, Supergrass is particularly impressive on songs including Late in the Day, Sun Hits the Sky, and In it For the Money are all striking. Plus, I adore Gaz Coombes’ voice. It’s like punk meets pop meets—well—Supergrass.
Space – Spiders (1997)
http://www.epinions.com/content_129967492740
Not everything about Britpop has to be serious. Space proves this with their hilarious take on the genre. Their debut Spiders certainly has its strange moments, but overall there is so much that is immediately appealing that I can’t ignore it. Single Female of the Species was used in the first Austin Powers. Even better? Songs including Neighbourhood and Mister Psycho are at least as good if not better. While the album isn’t perfect it has enough shimmer to make me listen and to include it in this list of outstanding Britpop releases.
Cornershop – When I Was Born for the 7th Time (1997)
http://www.epinions.com/content_66858225284
I always appreciate it when bands are able to weave in new and different influences. Pop music is just that—“popular.” The fact that Cornershop was able to mix in a good deal of Indian music. Lead singer Tjinder Singh has a unique voice that lends itself well to the upbeat, odd songs on When I Was Born for the 7th Time. Most people are only aware of hit single Brimful of Asha but there is much more to this disc. Sleep on the Left Side, Funky Days Are Back Again, and Good to Be On the Road Back Home Again are all outstanding.
Gomez – Bring it On (1998)
http://www.epinions.com/content_84024790660
To my mind, Gomez is the single best band out there that most people haven’t yet heard. They were mere teenagers when they debuted with Bring It On (which went on to win the Mercury Music Prize). What really strikes me about them is their creativity and maturity. In particular, I point to the vocalist (there are two main vocalists) Ben Ottewell who wields the single most distinctive voice in Britpop. Bring It On is a classic, incredible, and magical album full of surprises and intelligence. Songs Whippin' Piccadilly, 78 Stone Wobble, Tijuana Lady, Make No Sound, and Get Miles are only the start this album’s brilliance.
Embrace – The Good Will Out (1998)
http://www.epinions.com/content_179381833348
You can pick this album up for dirt cheap online, but that’s not a reflection of its quality. Britpop by its very nature is massively appealing—if only people would listen. This is certainly the case with The Good Will Out. Embrace’s first album is not perfect, but with that said there are songs that are. Come Back to What You Know, All You Good Good People, and One Big Family are excellent. The band’s sound is sweet and innocuous at the same time it makes you actually feel. This is another reason why I enjoy Britpop in general.
James – The Best of James (1998)
http://www.epinions.com/content_57329290884
As with some of the other bands, James had already been around the block once (or a dozen times) when Britpop finally happened. Their sound had always been in the same vein, but suddenly there was a name for what they did. They were more relevant, more entertaining, and more lovely in the 1990s then ever before. This Best of collection represents all of that work and songs Say Something, Sometimes, Laid, She’s A Star, Sit Down among many others should be heard. James may not have realized it at the time, but they too would be one of the early Britpop innovators.
Travis – The Man Who (1999)
http://www.epinions.com/content_55236202116
After something of a lull in the genre, Travis made their way stateside with their sophomore album The Man Who. It is still recognized as the band’s best release for good reason—it is gorgeous. Fran Healy has a gentle way about him that was unusual in Britpop at the time but has since proliferated. Writing To Reach You, Driftwood, As You Are, and Why Does It Always Rain On Me are incredible songs but the album on the whole is much more than the sum of its parts. Travis is certainly an impressive part of Britpop.
Muse – Showbiz (1999)
http://www.epinions.com/content_130359987844
Muse was very young when they debuted with Showbiz. This zest, energy, and freedom are what really helped their sound to mature in new directions. Matthew Bellamy has a lovely voice reminiscent of American Grant-Lee Phillips. However set aside the sounds of Britpop it takes on new dimension. Showbiz is by no means a perfect album, but I think it helped to set the stage for new bands and to inspire young musicians. Sunburn, Muscle Museum, Cave, and Escape are unforgettable.
Robbie Williams – The Ego Has Landed (1999)
http://www.epinions.com/content_61398027908
Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Robbie Williams may have a history in boy bands, but he is an incredibly talented songwriter and performer. His smooth, sexy style lures in the ladies but his musical talents still attract critical attention. Williams is one of those special people—there are very few artists as talented as him out there today. The Ego Has Landed was actually a compilation of his first two albums and his debut in American markets. Strangely enough, it works. The album is relatively complete feeling and with songs Win Some, Lose Some, Let Me Entertain You, Millennium, and the modern classic Angels are only the tip of the Williams iceberg.
JJ72 – JJ72 (2000)
http://www.epinions.com/content_93955460740
The simple black cover with white text on JJ72’s debut is ironic. The album itself is incredibly touching and beautiful. The young band managed to put together one of the best albums of the year musically, however lyrically they are sometimes lacking. With that said, I still can’t possibly ignore them. Undercover Angel, Willow, October Swimmer, and Not Like You are outstanding, but the album on the whole is an enriching (though not educational) experience. Highly recommended fare.
Spiritualized – Let it Come Down (2001)
http://www.epinions.com/content_120647290500
Theatrical and gorgeous, Spiritualized swept me away with their distinctively Britpop album Let it Come Down. The band isn’t necessarily known for being of this genre, but there is little doubt of such things when you listen to this disc. It is by far my favorite from them. It’s immediately appealing and holds my attention even when on repeat. Don’t Just Do Something is my favorite song, but there is much more here to be had including The Straight and the Narrow, Stop Your Crying and Lord Can You Hear Me. If you haven’t yet, pick this one up.
Coldplay - Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
http://www.epinions.com/content_107595599492
Possibly the most cliché choice, Coldplay’s second album Rush of Blood to the Head is still a necessary part of any Britpop collection. They have received raves on both sides of the pond for their releases, but this one in particular is outstanding. The four-man-band knows how to put together a melodic and compelling song as evidenced by my favorite song The Scientist. However there is so much more to Coldplay than one song. Others like Clocks, In My Place, Politik and Daylight should also be tried on for size.
Athlete – Vehicles and Animals (2003)
http://www.epinions.com/content_147533172356
As with some others on this list, Athlete should not be listened to for deep lyrical meaning. Their concentration is on melody. On their tidy first album, Vehicles and Animals, I can’t help but be impressed. The effort is obvious even if it doesn’t make me think or cry or really feel much at all. However, pop has always been about the melody and excitement. Athlete certainly accomplishes what they set out to. El Salvador, Shake Those Windows, Vehicles and Animals, and You Got the Style are chock full of great sounds and memorable lyrics.
Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand (2004)
http://www.epinions.com/content_136761347716
Recently, Britpop has morphed into a more dance oriented (ala Pulp) genre. Franz Ferdinand is at the forefront of this movement with their confident swagger and hip songs. It’s surprising how long the band’s songs took to break in the US, but when they did it was immediate. Songs Dark of the Matinee, Take Me Out and This Fire are incredible. What’s even more impressive though is that the feverish energy is carried throughout the entire album. “Wow” just about covers my thoughts about Franz Ferdinand.
Snow Patrol – Final Straw (2004)
http://www.epinions.com/content_176325693060
The final album of note thus far in my Britpop exploration is from Snow Patrol. Led by Gary Lightbody, the band focuses on making sparkly, acoustic, gentle, and emotional pop. They are usually successful and with tracks including Run, Spitting Games, How to Be Dead, and Tiny Little Fractures Snow Patrol is successful in assembling a nice album. While it is still flawed, I can’t discount Final Straw. It is definitely a gem.
There is so much about Britpop that I’ve been left to my own devices to learn about. Bands, songs, albums—these are all things which I’ve had to find out about on my own as a citizen of the US. I wish that radio would pick up on Britpop, but that’s a pipe-dream. Hopefully this little (cough-cough) essay will help other prospective fans to make their own discoveries.
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Member: Shelly T.
Location: Metro Detroit, Michigan
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Bye-bye CL hat. Hopefully I'll write some new reviews some time soon!
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