Edit: I actually enjoyed this track a fair bit more watching the video. I guess there's something in the attitude that you really have to get into 🤔 It was more obvious with the live performance for me.
Lawrence had a history of near misses with success in his previous band, janglesome and beautifully precise 80s indie mavericks Felt. With Denim's debut, Lawrence set out to finally make his mark this time, but once again the the cash tills remained firmly closed. It's such a shame as this is a brilliant album and arguably the first true britpop album of them all.
The music is a dramatic makeover from Felt, with Lawrence switching to insanely catchy glitter pop/ glam rock influences overlaid with odd sounding squelchy synths, which seem to be lifted from a lost 80s novelty pop record. Produced by John Leckie and painstakingly crafted in the studio, it sounds beautiful.
Although it was released in 92, the blueprint for britpop was set here (for anyone actually listening). In a way, it is more britpop than what followed. The lyrics reminisce on Lawrence's experiences growing up in Birmingham in the 70s; they champion Middle of Road pop; mock the "classic " American rock and dispel the 80s entirely. This seems so fitting to the attitude of Britpop bands that followed but no-one ever expressed it as clearly as this.
It superbly crafted, full of great melodies that are paired beautifully with Lawrence's funny and sometimes barbed lyrics. This gives the music a bittersweet feel, sort of like the sun shining through the window of a decrepit council flat in suburban Britain. Truly outstanding.
Denim on Ice by Denim
If you like Back in Denim then this follow-up from 96 is also very good (on the whole). There is more of a new wave influence and Lawrence pushes the ungainly lyrics and novelty pop influences to the point of creating songs that are almost grotesques. It's too long, less focused and less consistent than Back in Denim, but there are still some really great songs. Synthpop pastiche "Synthesisers in the Rain" and unsettling anti-anthem "Brumburger" are both exceptional.
There was so much talk of this band sounding like the Beatles. But I knew, even then, they didnt sound like the Beatles. They looked like the Beatles...
🤣
The press surrounding this and subsequent albums was so ridiculous. The Beatles thing was partly (largely?) because the brothers wouldn't shut up about the Beatles. I think they liked the idea of being as big as the Beatles. And they were indeed huge, especially in the UK. But Blur was also blowing up at the same time, which turned into its own stupid press drama. They were constantly talking about which band was on top. Never mind that two English bands were crushing it; they had to try to pit them against each other. And that had the effect of amplifying the Beatles comparisons. How could Oasis be as big as the Beatles if Blur was right on their heels? I remember someone trying to make it into Beatles vs. Stones type of battle, which then led people to trying to decide which band, Oasis or Blur, was more like the Beatles and which was more like the Stones. (Because, if you're asking me, Oasis sounds more like the Stones than the Beatles.)
When I finally listened to the album, I was kind of underwhelmed. It was serviceable, but pretty unremarkable. Their followup was better, but still not mind-blowing. So I think you're spot-on.
The Beatles thing was absurd. Oasis went no farther back than the late 70s. If even that far. The only thing they had in common with the Beatles were their haircuts. That's about it. Like so many bands, their haircuts are the only notable thing about them. LMAO
Lawrence had a history of near misses with success in his previous band, janglesome and beautifully precise 80s indie mavericks Felt. With Denim's debut, Lawrence set out to finally make his mark this time, but once again the the cash tills remained firmly closed. It's such a shame as this is a brilliant album and arguably the first true britpop album of them all.
The music is a dramatic makeover from Felt, with Lawrence switching to insanely catchy glitter pop/ glam rock influences overlaid with odd sounding squelchy synths, which seem to be lifted from a lost 80s novelty pop record. Produced by John Leckie and painstakingly crafted in the studio, it sounds beautiful.
Although it was released in 92, the blueprint for britpop was set here (for anyone actually listening). In a way, it is more britpop than what followed. The lyrics reminisce on Lawrence's experiences growing up in Birmingham in the 70s; they champion Middle of Road pop; mock the "classic " American rock and dispel the 80s entirely. This seems so fitting to the attitude of Britpop bands that followed but no-one ever expressed it as clearly as this.
It superbly crafted, full of great melodies that are paired beautifully with Lawrence's funny and sometimes barbed lyrics. This gives the music a bittersweet feel, sort of like the sun shining through the window of a decrepit council flat in suburban Britain. Truly outstanding.
Denim on Ice by Denim
If you like Back in Denim then this follow-up from 96 is also very good (on the whole). There is more of a new wave influence and Lawrence pushes the ungainly lyrics and novelty pop influences to the point of creating songs that are almost grotesques. It's too long, less focused and less consistent than Back in Denim, but there are still some really great songs. Synthpop pastiche "Synthesisers in the Rain" and unsettling anti-anthem "Brumburger" are both exceptional.
I'm glad you turned me on to this album I liked it. The first thing I thought of when I listened to it was this band here. With all the wild and crazy synths and early New Wave rock.
This is them on Old Grey Whistle Test. That must have been an awesome show. I wish they had it here.
They didn't have shows like top of the pops and all of those in the states. I wish they did because they had EVERYBODY on them.
There was so much talk of this band sounding like the Beatles. But I knew, even then, they didnt sound like the Beatles. They looked like the Beatles...
🤣
The press surrounding this and subsequent albums was so ridiculous. The Beatles thing was partly (largely?) because the brothers wouldn't shut up about the Beatles. I think they liked the idea of being as big as the Beatles. And they were indeed huge, especially in the UK. But Blur was also blowing up at the same time, which turned into its own stupid press drama. They were constantly talking about which band was on top. Never mind that two English bands were crushing it; they had to try to pit them against each other. And that had the effect of amplifying the Beatles comparisons. How could Oasis be as big as the Beatles if Blur was right on their heels? I remember someone trying to make it into Beatles vs. Stones type of battle, which then led people to trying to decide which band, Oasis or Blur, was more like the Beatles and which was more like the Stones. (Because, if you're asking me, Oasis sounds more like the Stones than the Beatles.)
When I finally listened to the album, I was kind of underwhelmed. It was serviceable, but pretty unremarkable. Their followup was better, but still not mind-blowing. So I think you're spot-on.
Hey zdwyatt. Thanks for the feedback! Yeah, Oasis certainly could talk a good game! The press were annoying at the time (still are probably).You're right- no one cared about Blur vs Oasis-it was just hype and just shifted focus from the music. The press used to love hyping bands up and then knocking them down when a new band came along. Actually, I think it has made britpop less accessible to music fans in the long run as no-one believes you anymore when you say some britpop album is actually good 🤣
I'm glad you turned me on to this album I liked it. The first thing I thought of when I listened to it was this band here. With all the wild and crazy synths and early New Wave rock.
Yeah that song is a similar sound to Denim-particularly the squelchy synths. I wondered if that was an 80s sound but you are right its definitely here. That is one cool album cover. They should have worn the make-up on the old grey whistle test as well.
People talk about the big four of britpop being Oasis, Blur , Pulp and Suede. Seems a bit unfair to these guys...
This really holds up for me. Just total youthful energy and excitement, bottled into all these great little punk pop songs. The slower songs towards the end of the album are cool as well and Supergrass show there skill with little touches of psychedelia as well. I hear what Bobby was saying now about the guitar sound being a little bit flat compared to Life on other planets. I found it just lacking a little it of depth or definition...or something! But it was no biggy for me ultimately: the songs and energy shone through in the end. This sort of sparky punk pop thing sounds simple but it's very rarely done as well as this.
Yep, this one does sounds great-more depth of sound than the debut. It has bigger grooves than their earlier work and a couple of nice slow burners as well. Ultimately though Supergrass stuck closely to their britpop sound and cheeky personality. Though this came out in 2002 I'm thinking of classing it as post-britpop for that reason-and only a britpop band could have a song about a "lonely girl from the Brecon Beacons". If push comes to shove, I prefer the debut for it's energy, but I'm surprised this is only the 6th highest Supergrass album on BEA. I guess that speaks to this bands' consistency. They are real quality in my book.
Trying to move things on a bit: here are some thoughts on a few more I've listened to recently.
K by Kula Shaker
Thought I wouldnt like this but actually I enjoyed it. I liked it when the album first came out. Then Kula Shaker became one of the most criticised bands in the press in the late 90s. I think it had something to do with their interest in Indian spiritualism and music and the way they talked about wanting to capture something serious related to this in their own music. This doesn't add up. Not with lyrics like "I've got my stash/ I love my hash" anyway. But no matter, this album holds up for me as an accomplished and hairy 60s psych rocker.
(Edit: obviously this came out in the 90s-just sounds like 60s psychadelic rock to me)
The influence of Indian music is fine for me too. It's not deep but adds a nice quirk. I dont think the songwriting is great on the whole and it feels like a pastiche sort of album rather than adding something new. Good musicianship though and even though I'm not a big 60s psych guy, I quite like this album.
Fuzzy Logic by Super Furry Animals
The Super Furry's may have made better albums but maybe not one with more ragged energy than this. It's a little rough round the edges but Gruff Rhys' gift for melody is already obvious on this debut. With tunes as good as this, whatever direction the band took was going to be good.
There are nicely fuzzed-up glammy guitars and effortlessly light melodies seemingly infused with Californian sunshine. Super Furry Animals seemed to follow a singular path and never really looked like they wanted much to do with britpop. But this album is close enough for me and will be high on my chart!
Marchin already by Ocean Colour Scene
They seem a bit like forgotten men these days but in the mid 90s Ocean Colour Scene had two big number 1 albums. Though they seemed to be nobody's favourite band, for some they were seen as second to Oasis (not least of all, Noal Gallagher). Actually, on this evidence, I may prefer them to Oasis.
Think classic 60s rhythm and blues influences: the Stones; the Who; Traffic, with a little soul, folk-rock and psych thrown in too: Ocean Colour Scene were self-consciously mods to the point of being little more than a pastiche. And Paul Weller did this sort of thing with way more authenticity at the time on Stanley Road. That said, this is a light and breezy album with some stomping grooves and I rather enjoyed it. Something about this band remind me of sitting in a park on rare days that the sun is shining in northern England. So its a "pretty good" again on this one from me.
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zdwyatt
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