Britpop Checkup - Calling London
Posted by: bhazen on 07 March 2005
I just watched "Live Forever", the (often hilarious) movie about those glorious Cool Brittania years, Oasis, Blur, Verve, Massive Attack et al.
Do Oasis and their fellow travellers still command front-page coverage and following in the UK? Or was all that just a momentary flash in the pan, another NME-contrived rise and fall?
Do Oasis and their fellow travellers still command front-page coverage and following in the UK? Or was all that just a momentary flash in the pan, another NME-contrived rise and fall?
Posted on: 08 March 2005 by bhazen
[deafening silence]
I'll take that as the latter.
I'll take that as the latter.
Posted on: 09 March 2005 by Shayman
I would actually say the former.
Since 1995 new Oasis albums have invariably been highly anticipated, been bought by the million, trashed by the critics and when listened to retrospectively (say a year after release) are found actually to be excellent pop albums. Luckily the band themselves now have so much cash they don't give a shit about their critics.
Any new album, particularly by Oasis (although also Blur and Massive Attack as well), would absolutely be the biggest thing in UK music at the time of release still.
Jonathan
Since 1995 new Oasis albums have invariably been highly anticipated, been bought by the million, trashed by the critics and when listened to retrospectively (say a year after release) are found actually to be excellent pop albums. Luckily the band themselves now have so much cash they don't give a shit about their critics.
Any new album, particularly by Oasis (although also Blur and Massive Attack as well), would absolutely be the biggest thing in UK music at the time of release still.
Jonathan
Posted on: 09 March 2005 by bhazen
That's an interesting observation, Jonathan; I remember when Oasis were said to sound like the Beatles (this circa Definitely Maybe and Morning Glory), and I really didn't hear it. Slade, T. Rex, Pistols maybe (which is great enough!). Then, with their last two albums, their sales in the U.S. really declined; ironic, because they do sound a lot like the Beatles (and solo Lennon) now. I'm really looking forward to the new album, which I hear is due later this year.
I'd have to say that Americans generally were put off by the "arrogance" of Oasis interviews, not getting that they were a (partly) a put-on. Plus, Oasis threatened the supremacy of U.S. bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. I personally welcomed Britpop generally because a) I'm a pop Anglophile, and b) I was sick of the depressive attitude (and lack of style) of the grunge era.
I'd have to say that Americans generally were put off by the "arrogance" of Oasis interviews, not getting that they were a (partly) a put-on. Plus, Oasis threatened the supremacy of U.S. bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. I personally welcomed Britpop generally because a) I'm a pop Anglophile, and b) I was sick of the depressive attitude (and lack of style) of the grunge era.
Posted on: 09 March 2005 by AndyFelin
It seems almost to be the fashion nowadays to diss Oasis and Blur (much the same as other threads lately have had a go at PF, Yes etc). This ignores how big an impact they made at the time, they really were incredibly popular and much loved. An interesting contrast between southern middle-class Blur with Damon's faux Mockney and art school manners and the working-class swagger of Madchesters Oasis.
I'm not sure that Massive Attack were ever Britpop though, their classic album, Blue Lines came out in the early '90s.
I agree, I never got the supposed connection between Oasis and the mop tops.
Andy
I'm not sure that Massive Attack were ever Britpop though, their classic album, Blue Lines came out in the early '90s.
I agree, I never got the supposed connection between Oasis and the mop tops.
Andy
Posted on: 09 March 2005 by bhazen
Andy -
Oddly enough, Massive Attack were featured in "Live Forever", the Britpop documentary that came out recently; Verve and Supergrass (faves of mine) were only noted in passing.
Oddly enough, Massive Attack were featured in "Live Forever", the Britpop documentary that came out recently; Verve and Supergrass (faves of mine) were only noted in passing.