Cool Britannia

Unless you live in the U.K. you probably have no idea who Suede is, that is unless you’re an ultra cool hipster. The thing is… without Suede there would be no Oasis, no Blur, and no Britpop.

Suede formed in 1989. The original members were Mat Osman, Brett Andersen and Justine Frischmann (later of Elastica fame). Before signing to a label the band was managed by Comedian Ricky Gervais and used a drum machine for percussion. Suede was unique because they were flamboyant and Andersen’s voice was unlike anything out there.
Their first single, “The Downers” created such frenzy because it sparked interested in something other than grunge music.

In 1993 Suede released their first, self-titled album. It featured not only “The Downers,” but “Metal Mickey” and “Animal Nitrate.” The album is the U.K.’s fastest selling debut album in history.

The next year they released their sophomore album, “Dog Man Star.” This is the last album to feature guitarist, Bernard Butler. Butler left due to tensions between him and Andersen. The album had decent success and included their singles, “We are the Pigs” and “The Wild Ones.”

The most successful album of the band was released in 1996, “Coming Up.” This album contains five top ten hits including, “Trash” and “Saturday Night.” The more pop-esque album was the first to feature new guitarist, Richard Oakes and keyboardist, Neil Codling.

1999 saw the release of “Head Music.” This album was much more electronic and had a new producer. It also featured the first song not written by Andersen, “Elephant Man.” The album hit number one on U.K. charts, but only saw mild success. Fans and critics were not very warm to it.

Suede’s final album, “A New Morning,” was released in 2002. By 2002 the public lost most interest in Suede, even if the album received great reviews from critics. Andersen admitted to NME that “A New Morning” was the first Suede album not influenced by drugs.

The band dissembled in 2003 after a short tour for “A New Morning.” The members of Suede continue to work on various solo projects.

Okay, not quite… but close enough! Belle and Sebastian fans are longing for a follow-up album to 2006’s “The Life Pursuit,” but the band is not planning on recording anytime soon. Instead, Matador is releasing a two disc compilation on November 18 featuring BBC Session performances from 1996-2001.

Track listing:

Disc One - Radio Sessions:

01 The State I Am In (Mark Radcliffe Session; 07/96)
02 Like Dylan in the Movies (Mark Radcliffe Session; 07/96)
03 Judy and the Dream of Horses (Mark Radcliffe Session; 07/96)
04 The Stars of Track and Field (Mark Radcliffe Session; 07/96)
05 I Could Be Dreaming (Mark Radcliffe session; 12/96; abbreviated version)
06 Seymour Stein (Evening Session; 07/97)
07 Lazy Line Painter Jane (Evening Session; 07/97)
08 Sleep the Clock Around (Evening Session; 07/97)
09 Slow Graffiti (Evening Session; 07/97)
10 Wrong Love (later recorded as “The Wrong Girl”) (Evening Session; 07/97)
11 Shoot the Sexual Athlete (John Peel session; 05/01)
12 The Magic of a Kind Word (John Peel session; 05/01)
13 Nothing in the Silence (John Peel session; 05/01)
14 (My Girl’s Got) Miraculous Technique (John Peel session; 05/01)

Disc Two - Live in Belfast (12/21/01):

01 Here Comes the Sun
02 There’s Too Much Love
03 The Magic of a Kind Word
04 Me and the Major
05 Wandering Alone
06 The Model
07 I’m Waiting for the Man
08 The Boy With the Arab Strap
09 The Wrong Girl
10 Dirty Dream #2
11 The Boys Are Back in Town
12 Legal Man

The original members of The Bluetones are currently on their “Expecting to Fly Reunion Tour” throughout the United Kingdom. This tour deserves special attention for the main fact it is about the fans.

Singer Mark Morriss sent out a written statement saying, “After listening to the voice of our fan base we decided that now would be a good time for us to revisit our debut album in the live ‘arena,’ the record that was where most of our audience will have first become acquainted with the band.

Our intentions is to play the album chronologically with a few extra added at the end (b-sides from the time and some of our other hits) and hopefully remind people just why they fell in love with that sweet, Bluetones sound.”

This unique tour hits only a handful of locations but is a great opportunity for the original fans… or even for fans that jumped on the bandwagon too late to experience these songs live.

Wouldn’t it be grand if more bands did this?

Babyshambles’ next LP will be out next year! Drummer Adam Ficek told BBC 6 Music that the album will be released by the end of 2009.

“We’re choosing producers and then in November I think we’ll reconvene and really start kicking in to shape,” Ficek said.

Babyshamble’s last release was 2007’s “Shotter’s Nation.”

Ryan Adams is currently on tour with Oasis to promote their new album, “Dig Out Your Soul,” the singer-songwriter hits the news often with their praise.

The indie-cult leader admitted his favorite Oasis album is “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.” He feels the album was ignored and is a classic much like Led Zeppelin.

Not only is he keen to older Oasis, but he thinks “Dig Out Your Soul” is a great experimental album like Radiohead’s “Kid A.”

Adams told NME.com when he first listened to “Kid A” he thought, “I have no idea what kind of music this is, but it’s moving me. It sounds like a revolution.”

He also feels, “They [Oasis] has entered into some strange and uncanny spiritual crazy door and have just lost themselves to it and it is marvelous.”

Has Damon Albarn crossed the line? Blur’s lead singer (or former leader singer) was quoted in an Argentinian paper saying “Blur is over.”

This has sparked outrage in former guitarist, Graham Coxon. Blur departed from the music scene in 2003 after the release of their mildly successful final album, “Think Tank.” Prior to release, Coxon was asked to leave the band due to his “attitude problem.”

In 2007 the entire band- Coxon included- met for lunch and rumors started about a possible reunion. The luncheon was a simple catch up for the band, there was no talk about reunion at all. Albarn wishes to continue to focus on his solo projects including his new band The Gorillaz.

On Blur’s message board, Coxon replied to Albarn’s strong yet simple statement. Under the name “tweedo” he said, “Damon didn’t consult anyone else before he took it into his own hands to make this comment. Therefore, I think it is nonsense. it isn’t for him to decide.”

At the same time Coxon admitted, “A good few years ago I said I could never see msyelf going back to Blur. People around me said with winks and nudges, ‘Never say never.’”

It’s an unforseen future for the band, but who knows.. a band can carry on without it’s famous lead singer?

Unlikely.

I think that I am confused. What does the video have to do at all with the lyrics the song? I know bands want to stand out and be different, but the Bloc Party only does so by leaving us thinking, “What the hell?” It reminds me of a really bad superhero movie or Sci Fi flick. I was expecting at any moment for the computers to start walking around like people. Unless there’s some underlying meaning to this song that our jobs are sluts, this video is completely irrelevant. I’m also wondering where the rest of the band is in the four minute video, unless there is only a lead singer..?

Although the video is not a good way to spend 3 minutes and 58 seconds of your day, the song is quite wicked. The lyrics are strong and the beat keeps you moving. So at the least, press play on the video and listen as you read along.. and enjoy.

Let’s rewind back to 1995/1996 at the height of America’s Britpop movement. Remember those crazy, free loving guys running across the beach singing and being goofy? Supergrass’ biggest hit, “Alright,” was all over VH1 and MTV. The fluffy, happy single was catchy and left you feeling carefree.

The song became especially popular when picked up for the soundtrack of the movie “Clueless.”

Supergrass is a not-as-well known wonder from England that stands strong post-Britpop.

The band is made up of two brothers, Gaz and Rob Coombes, Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey. The band formed in 1993 in Oxford.

They released their first single, “Caught by the Fuzz,” in 1994 and were quickly scooped up by the label, Parlophone. The first album, “I Should CoCo” hit number one for three weeks in the United Kingdom and had mild success in America.

Supergrass had continued success in the United Kingdom releases “In It For the Money” in 1997, “Supergrass” in 1999, “Life on Other Planets” in 2002 and “Road to Rouen” in 2005.

March 24, 2008 Supergrass released their sixth album, “Diamond Hoo Ha.” The album peaked at #19 on the United Kingdom’s charts.

Supergrass are currently touring to promote their newest release.

Noel and Liam Gallagher have announced their top ten bands of all times. After reading their list, I decided I wanted to sit down and make my own list. I can’t do it. I absolutely cannot come up with the ten bands I think are the best of all time. I sat for many hours and came up with three.
I have simple criteria and do not want to sound cliche. I hate these sorts of list because they are always full of the same bands (for example, The Beatles, Nirvana, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, etc… anything “classic”). Unfortunately, I could not break cliche. However, my criteria was simply this: Who has brought me the most joy and had the most influence on my life for a long period of time?
I don’t fall victim to group of “music fans” that just like what is popular. I also do not believe a band sucks after they release a sophomore album. I also will not hate a band because the line-up changes.
Despite all of this, here are my top three bands of all-time.

1. Backstreet Boys- Yes, they are not a “real band,” but they are influential in their genre and are still going. They have brought me the most joy out of anything I have ever encountered in life. Ten years later (yes, I just had my ten year concert anniversary) I still love them like I did when I was 12… I just have fewer posters on my walls. Believe it or not these men sing, dance and wear stylish pants. They harmonize like no one out there. They have staying power, too. They still draw the masses.

2. Oasis- Where to start? It’s unmistakable they are classics and they know it. Noel Gallagher should be worshiped by all for the lyrical God he is. He has the ability to write such simple, catchy tunes. They are a true Rock ‘N Roll band. They can continue to evolve from Britpop to Psychedelic Rock and still be adored by millions. (Hm… kind of like my number three?)

3. The Beatles- I told you I could not break cliche. Although I adore their happier, earlier Rock ‘N Roll, I can still appreciate the drugged out rock they ended on. I really don’t need to go further, it’s pretty explanatory.

Now… there are many bands out there that could some day grace my list. I’d like to take a moment to give a nod to those who are worthy or have potential….

1. Brand New
2. The Kooks
3. Babyshambles
4. Straylight Run
5. Phantom Planet

A breath of fresh air- April 14, 2008 The Kooks returned with their sophomore album, Konk. The album, produced by Tony Hoffer at Ray Davies’, Konk Studios, instantly hit number 1 in the United Kingdom upon its release. In America the album hit 41 on the Billboard Chart.
Konk is full of happy, bouncy tunes- you are guaranteed to bop your head along with each song. The lyrics are easily relatable for the younger crowd, a tale of growing up and dealing with adult issues. Clearly these boys fancy someone. Although the lyrics are near juvenile and basic, the catchy choruses and unique chords will have you singing these songs all day.
“Do you Wanna” will not only leave you singing, but dancing around your home and work… for days.
The Kooks are now on tour across America supporting one of the best imported albums from England.