STACK#127 May 2016

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COOL BRITANNIA REVISITED

Above: Pulp Left: Suede Bottom Left: Supergrass

Noel Gallagher told me hoped they’d become “a proper band, like U2” and be able to tour America (fat chance, with volatile brother Liam), but when I came home and tried to talk about Ocean Colour Scene, Shed Seven, Cast, Boo Radleys and even Suede, few people wanted to know. Black Grape were acceptable because they were mad stoners (I’d seen them in NY and can

seen nor heard them. The hype around Britpop was so great it took good bands down with it. Many groups stumbled on – nice to hear the Gallaghers may have buried their differences, they must need the money – but for every Blur

The smart ones – Radiohead, Ride, the excellent Teenage Fanclub and World Party (whose Karl Wallinger was one of the most cynical and smart men I’d ever met) – put distance between themselves and the archetypal Britpop sound grounded in the zone between Bowie, The Beatles, The Kinks and The Who. But -- if we don’t look back in anger, or indifference – great pop came from that scene which celebrated itself.

confirm that, brilliant too) but you couldn’t mention Ash in a pub conversation without being laughed at by those who’d neither

(who have a new album The Magic Whip out with guitarist Graham Coxon back on board) there were a dozen like Gene, James, Mansun (really good live) and the Longpigs who got no traction beyond a homeland fanbase.

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