Reviews (page 5 of 8)
the worst kind of dreck. they can’t even make the cliches that i like work.
I’m confused because I have literally never heard of them before and I don’t know why this is on here. It is pleasant enough and sounds better on the headphones but nothing groundbreaking or genre defining
Un disco que me resultó olvidable. Una especie de pop rock ameno del cual no encuentro algo en particular para destacar.
Yet another so-so album by an obscure Britpop band. I love the 1001 Albums project, but inclusions like this album seem like indulgent choices by the editor.
Honestly, liked it a good bit. Not my favorite, but good.
No
I am tired of ranting about this. It is another unknown Alternative UK late 90's early 00's band that made no impact, has no lasting power, and no one remembers. However, for some reason (i.e. they are British) there are like 30 of these bands on this list and they all make the most generic music imaginable. At least some of the other bands had one single with a couple of million streams, the highest one on this album just broke 2 million and every other song is 100k-200k. This is just diet Oasis. It is fine. I don't need to listen to this. No one does. I am still upset that Lonesome Crowded West didn't make the cut. At least now I know what Oasis would sound like if they didn't have great hooks and strong melodies. Low 3.
Not into it.
Definition of mid. 2.5
all these mid british albums are starting to really annoy me
Kind of conflicted on this one. The downtempo songs are really dull and generic to me. I like the more energetic songs but they sound too much like Oasis. The production is way too bombastic and the entire thing is overproduced to hell and back. It had its moments but on the whole it's a forgettable listen with not much to make me want to come back. Opening and closing track are great though, for completely different reasons.
Not very good!
The album begins on a bland but inoffensive note. Track #3, "Pull Together," is one of the worst songs I've ever heard, and nearly every track after isn't much better. The only song on here I would even begin to call good is the quiet and eerie closer "Daniella." The vocals actually fit for once and the shitty production takes a backseat. Way too little way too fuckin late tho, this is an abomination. Actually embarrassing that something like this is in the book. One of the worst records I've ever heard.
Nice but somehow forgettable. Maybe after a few listens it could grow on me.
I'd never even heard of these guys before, but they're pretty good. The melodies are nice, and it was pretty consistent for the whole thing. Maybe it started to feel a bit more generic as it went on? Maybe. I think there's enough variation in here to make it worth a listen. I like the backing vocals and the additional violins for a bit of heightened delivery. 3.5 rounded down.
Absolutely lovely indie pop. Some really nice stuff on here! I enjoyed this, though I’ve a sneaking suspicion I’ve heard it before! Still, many worse records out there than this one!
It’s fine. Another nothing Britpop group.
2x 3.2
Good, laid-back 90's rock vibes, but no standout songs, overall a little "meh"
First song is OK, good harmonies. But overall this doesn't belong on the list.
Fun little album.
Cool album. Shades of Elbow in there.
Inoffensive yet indistinguishable britpop. Has enough good moments to earn a passing grade but there isn't enough to make it an absolute must listen.
This record was released in 1999, and is sonically very 90s-esque, but compositionally seems more like the mid-70s. And I'm judging these albums partly on context. Something so ridiculously outdated for its time does not belong on a list of the 1001 most important albums of all time. I definitely agree with the many reviewers describing this as "generic Britpop", though something about it seems even more generic and dull than your typical Britpop entry here. I do enjoy the thick, muddy textures at times, making the music seem more complex or impressive than it really is. A great deal of 21st-century pop rock and emo rock do the same thing. And usually, it seems to get some decent listening numbers. But judging by Hms Fable's popularity both then and now, it was not a commercial success. The question then has to be asked: why is Hms Fable on the list? The opening duo of Natalie's Party / Comedy is pretty promising. Natalie's Party is a poppish number with decent vocals and guitar. It's upbeat, driven – kind of sounds like something from the late 60s. A strong start, for sure. Comedy is a little heavier on the strings and has a more emotional yet foreboding feel. At five and a half minutes, a little long for my taste considering the poppy style – but it's still good. After that, the music gets less and less promising, with some of the later songs sounding like carbon copies of earlier ones. Captain's Table, Since I Met You, and Re-Instated are examples of this, though the latter tries to distinguish itself by adding some trumpet notes in strange places. This monotonicity is extremely bad for any record, let alone one in a genre with so much oversaturation (and hence competition, most of which is presumably better than Shack). To stand out amongst your peers, start with songs that are distinct from one another. 2/5 Key tracks: Natalie's Party, Comedy, Beautiful
Oof, so poppy
catchy!
Ripetitivo, le prime tre canzoni sono tutte uguali
This is a completely new band to me. Without research I would have said that they were from 2000 onwards. In fact they are a late UK 80s band. This album is lovely but not interesting enough for me to give it 4 stars pity.
Generic pop rock. Pleasant enough.
meh
Många album saknar finess och detta är ett sånt album. Bandet gick säkert sängvägen med författaren för att få sitt album på listan. Det är inte uruselt men jag skulle lätt kunna rabbla upp 1000 andra skivor som skulle platsa bättre på listan.
Average in so many ways. Nothing about this gripped me. It wasn’t bad. But not good. And certainly not one of the 1,001 best albums ever.
amazing???
not super my cup of tea. reminds me a bit of mewithoutYou and ajj. liked daniella!
Ho, hum. Pretty unremarkable but not at all offensive.
Did not enjoy this album at all, some songs were downright awful.
Modern Britpop Is Rubbish
This is forgettable and based on the reviews time HAS forgotten it. I don't think that's for the worst.
Percepisco ci sia una narrazione dietro, anche a giudicare dalla copertina Ma non ho sbatta di cercare il testo Si beccherebbe un 2 perché le musiche non sono il massimo, ma magari i testi lo alzano, quindi dai, 3
Разовое прослушивание - и не зацепился ни за что. Но и отторжения не было.
Really good, solid Britpop. Like a bowl of mashed potatoes. Could’ve used a bit more seasoning and it would’ve been a 5. 🥔🥔🥔🥔 / 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔
This album was 🔥
This was a lot more generic than I was expecting from the album title+art. Maybe I should have expected this… idk. Anyway, it was super easy listening, but not at all interesting. Plus, the lead singer’s voice isn’t very strong.
Gorgeous, Beatles-influenced anthemic rock from the 90s. Should have been bigger.
Wow detta va dritt
2.75 No clue why this is here.
listening to this on a train ride in april felt really good
Wasn't too moved by this. It's not bad but just wasn't that interesting to me. Too many mediocre British artists on this list.
3.5
It's Britpop, but it branches out at times. It's better than Oasis, but it hasn't sold me on the genre.
Pretty standard rock music, nothing stood out.
This was just another bang average Britpop album and it doesn’t really deserve a place on the list. It’s just nothing really, it’s so bland.
I hadn't come across this band before so I'm glad this album came up for me.
3/10
Not for me
Eh.
I've never heared anything of them before. They sound like different other, more prominent britpop/britrock bands. But in every facete they are always the worse copy of the originals for me. Neither fish nor meat. La-la-la..........la-la-la.......... 2,5
Not bad
Just another british pop - Album.....
As a brit born in 82, who loves britpop and music generally i couldn't be any more in the target market for this. But even i found this average. There are hundreds and thousands if albums more deserving of this list. Its not a bad album, but its certainly does not fit the brief.
This genuinely could have been any "indie" album from the late 90s absolutely nothing inspiring.
Well this is a weird one. This band/album completely passed me by, despite being released at a time when I was deep in to all sorts of music. As soon as it started I feared the worst but I was pleasantly surprised. It's such an easy, basic minded, probably American viewpoint to compare them negatively to Oasis. Good songwriting, good variety of sounds.
This was actually pretty decent. Very listenable.
1.5 - Bad
I was close a few times to liking this. What I enjoyed reminded me of other bands I like more. I also had trouble with the vocals. The instrumentation and melodies were what I enjoyed the most, and there were moments where I wondered if this album was actually really good. That would be followed by songs where I wondered if this album was just derivative and bad. Tedious, sometimes grating, occasionally compelling.
British, poppyesque, British, serviceable, British, wiped from my memory immediately after listening, British. 5/10
I liked it. Reminds me of more interesting Oasis
The feeling of being both warm and comfortable to the point of boredom can be a sign that a person is not feeling challenged or stimulated
Britpop is never beating the "boring MOR" allegations
Well here's a band that's mostly escaped my radar, aside from a single, clearly unmemorable spin in 2014 according to my Last.FM stats. This was a great album. I love Britpop, particularly bands like James, Super Furry Animals, Oasis, Stereophonics, and Shack fit right in with this mix. Lend’s Some Dough was the standout track and has been added to my playlist of faves. I will explore more of their discography.
my first DNF. Britpop with strings. bored me to tears.
7.5/10. Yet another enjoyable listen.
Terribile
sounds like every-other ~2000's brit pop band, but without the one or two good songs that make them worth listening to. I can see why this guy did heroin to make things more exciting, still not a terrible album 2/5
Had never heard of this one, and was pleasantly surprised. Not quite gripping enough to get to elite territory however. 3.5/5
Copy and paste britpop. Boooooring...
Pretty good but I already have enough of these kinds of records and this one didn't do enough to stand out.
I've never heard of Shack before, and definitely haven't heard anything from this album, so it's nice to get a new (to me) sound. It seems like a fine enough album, but honestly nothing much stood out, musically or lyrically, except that it sounds like it could have been produced 20 or 30 years earlier than it was (except maybe "Shack - reinstated"). I kind of liked the back-to-back "Captain's table" and "Streets of Kenny" a bit more than the others, but I'm not sure exactly why, and "Daniella" reminded me a bit of Gorillaz in a weird way. Sadly, the Wikipedia entry is pretty spartan, so it wasn't until I read the "1001 albums" entry that I got a glimpse of the sad and drug-ravaged story of the Head brothers and their path of will-play-for-drugs for far too long. And apparently several of the songs are all about their quest for heroin and other narcotics back in the day.
Solid jangly pop that's easy on the ears.
Брит-поп как из колледжа
Good album but nothing resonated with me. Shame.
Reminds me of something like The Proclaimers? Pretty standard alt rock sound for the era. Solid and enjoyed it.
Intersection
Good album but wasn't focus on it but most of the time really catchy especially "Beautiful" and "I Want You".
"Natalie's party" : great opener! It gives a diy, almost amateur like sound that feels very, uh, authentic? Was disappointed by the rest of the album unfortunately 2.5
i generated this album after a day of catching up on several albums i'd missed, so i was predisposed to not like it (even *more* music homework?). when i saw the album cover, i assumed it would be sea shanties, and i was even less enthused. but then i listened to it and it blew me away. i'm writing this without looking at the reviews or the wikipedia page, so i don't know what the story is or what genre you would even call this. but it was a joy to listen to. beautiful harmonies. a total surprise!
incredibly disappointed with everyone involved in the creation and production of this album for leading me to believe it would be a bunch of sea shanties, then pulling the rug out from under me with yet another lukewarm serving of 90s britpop. unreal. favorites: natalie's party, comedy, pull together, daniella
Pretty much textbook landfill UK indie pop, with the honourable exception of 'comedy', which is a beautiful track. In other words, worth a cursory listen but not very noteworthy beyond that.
And we’re back to just so-so music.
Pretty good, pretty interesting. Sounds like a pastiche of four-guy guitar bands without being derivative. It's its own thing but it's hard to describe how it's different. Worth another listen.
This is fun, but there is no range. Just forty five minutes of jolly indie rock pop. It’s fine, nothing incredible, but it works. 3/5
It's one of those bands that break and fall with the singer. He's ok, a bit to soft and mediocre for my taste. The music is OK too but it's seems that the moments where they could to progressive/experimental they chose to go for something radio friendly. Nothing wrong per se with that but, you know, it's not something that deserves to be on this list. One could even argue that this is something from the fringes of Britpop that aged badly.
Interesting, didn’t catch my attention the way I hoped it would. Natalie’s party was my favorite, a few standouts later in the album, but altogether maybe too long?
They channel R.E.M. on a good portion of this album but to lesser results. To me, Streets of Kenny is the only standout. The rest is listenable. Not a bad album at all. 6.5/10
good
It's fairly standard easy listening rock. Starts out with Natalie's Party which is quite fun. The rest is all chill and relaxing. Except for Streets Of Kenny, which I wasn't a fan of. Best song: Natalie's Party
Listened to this while playing Endless Winter solo. I lost. This album was very much like the last album presented to me on this list by Firehose...not bad music...but i could easily replace both of these albums with 2 other albums that would be much more essential.
alright cool, nothing wrong with some british rock music. compared to some of the other britpop albums i've listen to, this one is a lot more softer and graceful in sound. blending soft rock sounds with chamber influences, this album is pretty chill. at times it makes me think of early music from R.E.M.. a true deep cut in this collection, and honestly i thought it was generally great. it's a bit controversial lately on the list, a lot of reviewers don't seem to like it but i think it's fine on its own.
Like a fake 90s band in a scooby doo prequel. Oasisy nasal whine, bland chorus, humdrum filler, rarely any thriller. Very okay
Hmm it's fine. Unremarkable but inoffensive. Had a couple of songs that made me perk up with interest, but they ultimately fizzled out without really delivering.
This is a well-crafted brit-pop album that absolutely does not need to be on this list
Was usgseht wie Seefahrer*inne Tunes isch eigentlich doch nur chli e indi-singer-songwriter mix. Het mi jetzt ned us de socke g shacked und isch au mit viel Chnote ah mir verbizgseglet. Daher nur zwei Arrrrrrrr für eu Landratte!
Hms forgetable by shrek. Das alte pirateschiff isch slso inere perfekte undercover mission a mir verbigsegglet. Weiss gar nüd meh, dh mega nervig isch au nöd gsi. Btw: Han aber hüt morge na mal driglosst und ja glaub es 3 ischs doch nöd. Darum spann ich zwei segel und düsse in dunnstig Mfg nedi
big schack on a boat big shaq on da court ich mittem boat am cruise, sailing, coasting isch ah mir verbigrasslet wie nüt anders und eher chli uf de untere site upsi zwei überlebti meutereiversüech für die "gschicht"
ahoy uf de hms fable, bitte alli an bord! eus erwartet en 47 minütigi mittelmeer rundfahrt voller mittelmässigkeit, aber obacht ungefähr ide hälfti sind durchus vereinzelti qualitätsbrisene spürbar. hebed sie sich ah dene stelle eifach ah de reeling fescht, denn cha nöd vill passiere. ganz en schöni reis wünsch ich ihne! ah und fast vergässe: iceberg straight ahead!
Very average. Simple tunes, a bit like nursery rhymes at times, lyrics a bit twee in places.
Oh damn, this is some bullshit. Not bothering to finish. Throw it in the bin.
Pretty uninteresting britpop album. I love this era of music, but this just doesn't represent it well at all. Nothing awful about this album, but it just has nothing on the likes of Blur and Supergrass.
Why though?
Ganz ok, aber nüd mitriessen. Aber ä schöni Stimm.
het heeeert noch indie garbage usgseh irgendwie. aber bin abem erste so g positiv überrascht, s isch en indierocksong mitere melodie und so. nöd meeeega geil oke d lalalas am schluss helfed had üüüberhaupt nöd. aber okay. comedy findi ehner meh. chönt am schluss vonere grey's anatomy folg laufe. pull together hani hert ghasst. beautiful tönt wie en track wo z schlecht gsi isch für oasis. lends some dough? ich check nöd. hä. was. das isch so langwiiiilig?? i want you isch etz no cool. seeeeeehr REM. oh gott es isch so fest REM. since i met you isch coool sehr beatles grossi produktion viel instrument und so. zwei. herts zwei.
uiii nei was isch das schrecklich ich merk au gad dass ich chli e pause bruch vo britpop jaa ich bin jz sicher au chli gmervt willi das andere lied nöd ussefind vo love exchange failure aber natalie's party nervt comedy isch okay? pull together herzigs giti geklimper!! beautiful het meh cheese als ich ih mim buch morn nachem fondue bide schnitzelbank what kind of ed sheeran isch das hahaha ok dass streets of kenny so abrupt uufhört isch na funny aha das sind ehemaligi bandmitglieder vonere berüehmte uk band, logisch mussmer die no daa innezwänge since I met you erinnered mich vode harmonie ah beach boy!! aber rein us nostalgie öppis "guets" z mache isch nöd guet nöd dass ihrs gfühl hend, ich wett da no (gott bewahre) lob usspreche ok s blöser outro isch auno cool gsi ahh freu mich hert morn dene es 1 innezdrucke ja daiella het kei crazy enthüllige meh bracht, ganz krass so und jz schnell öppis anders lose
After 2 songs, I thought, "Lemonheads-Lite." But later songs dragged a bit more, and became dull.
They should be sued for plagiarism for how bad they just copied an entire decade of the most basic rock imaginable. Nothing original or exciting about this, just drivel.
Bland indie british pop from the late 90s. Not worth talking about with any detail. Really glad we get more of this boring shit instead of something that people actually should listen to!
If I’m being completely honest, I zoned out entirely while trying to listen to this album. There was nothing remarkable about it in any way and it felt like a run of the mill Britpop record that probably deserved to be lost in the fold. It felt like a label’s attempt to keep up with the scene, but did nothing to separate itself from anything else
I didn’t think they made Liverpudlian musicians more Liverpool than the Fab Four but here we are I guess. Look I enjoy some damn Britpop but this is so utterly generic it’s almost impressive. The album starts pretty great with “Natalie’s Party” and I had some hopes for some good harmony. But then, my god, it just continues to dive further into mediocrity. This is like if Oasis was somehow more strung out and less coherent. And that would be a real feat considering how rough those boys had it. Please give me something better than this unseasoned chicken breast of rock.
fortunately there won’t be any other derivative pop rock albums by bands from Liverpool on this list!
Its pretty boring and monotonous to a T. All I could think of was like Mumford and Sons without the folk instruments. Its pretty bland, no edge, typical British pop rock from this time and doesnt stand out from its peers.
Generic as FRICK! I wanted to give it a 1 because I really disliked listening to it but “Captain’s Table” was pretty great and bumped it up a star. If the author of this list wasn’t British there is zero chance this album would be on it. Just completely forgettable in every way. If you’ve heard British pop rock you’ve heard this album. Literally brings nothing to the table. This album sucks ass. It’s a piece of shit. Fuck this album and fuck you
Never heard of this band, but wasn't a big fan of this. I don't know exactly what it is, but it just feels very generic to me and lacking of anything to pique your interest. No real song stood out, and the sound wasn't particularly interesting or revolutionary. Just pretty bland pop rock from the late 90s. No idea why I would recommend this to anyone.
Ugh, was really not in the mood for this. I find the vocals incredibly annoying for some reason. It felt bland and so easygoing i get angry. It's like a watered down "Oasis", or "Fleet Foxes". Generic, bland and uninspired. 1 star.
Favorite Track: Captain’s Table
Natalie’s Party // Comedy //
if i were paid for every mid british album in this playlist i would alredy be millionaire. there's so little variety, so little albums that are non english or non american, really just those are good enough for this list??? for me is just gringo bullshit behaviour
Lijkt op REM Niks voor mij
This is so mid. And truly the definition of the word. not bad, not good. just okay. I half expect these songs to play in an episode of Scrubs or something. 2000s sitcom written allll over them. Moody, sad, right before the voiceover kicks in.
Ei oikein sytyttänyt 2/5
ja lisää melko laimeaksi jäävää pop-rockia. myös tälle kakkonen.
jävligt bra, behöver lyssna igen.
Not bad but this is a very odd pick.
very nice Manchester/Britpop album (yes, I know they are from Liverpool)
Never heard of them before, but nice vibe. Feeling in between Oasis and Angus and Julia Stone. Pull Together an Streets of Kenny but the entire album flows well
Overall: 5/10 It's not bad but it's soooo generic and boring and sounds like every post-Oasis british band from the 90s. I liked the vocals I guess. Fav Song: Beautiful Least Fav Song: Captain's Table
Thought this would be more heavy/punky based on the cover (just shows you shouldn't judge) but this was still pretty pleasant. Very 90s, almost like early Elbow?! Feel like my Dad would enjoy this
Comedy
Never heard of this band ever. Sounds like the 70s more than the 90s. So far I like this. Ok. I’m halfway through and I really like this. The sounds capture me. Great album. 4 stars
Forgettable, over produced, I will never think about this record again as long as I live
It was okay. Nothing really grabbed me. Mid 2s.
Brit-Pop where the dash location represents the quality of the music, mid.
P basic, some REM vibes on the better tracks
This sank.
This is “we have Oasis at home” that really shouldn’t be here because the entire time I was thinking about how I could be listening to Oasis. Like it’s not technically bad, but I’m not itching to relisten. Favorite song was Natalie’s Party.
Niet slecht, luistert lekker weg maar verder helemaal niks bijzonders en verdient geen plekje op deze lijst.
i'm not gen x enough for this record. but i listened to it end to end.
Reminds me of Oasis, but better. 3.5
They know they're not harmonising in tune right? Feels a lot earlier than 1999 which I guess makes this feel a little.... Stale. Sounds like a high school band who got to record a demo as part of a competition. No bueno.
Pass... the first song was good... the rest you can give it a miss
Boah, nicht noch eine "Ich-segel-mal-hinter-Oasis-hinterher-Band". Bin inzwischen sehr beeindruckt wieviele 90er Jahre Britpop Bands der Autor der Liste kennt.
Plain old music. Inoffensive, fine in the background, nothing essential. I did enjoy listening to it.
It was aight. Listened twice
This was alright The problem I had with it though, was that it sounds like many other British bands of the time. Nothing was unique, memorable, or stood out to me. Sounded ok, but just a bit meh 3 ⭐️
This one feels pretty unimportant. Will I listen to again: 0%
I definitely didn't expect to enjoy this one as much as I did. A surprisingly beautiful album. Favorites: Pull Together, Re-Instated, Lend's Some Dough, Daniella
Not familiar with the band, though some songs ring a bell but I think I might be confusing them for something else. Still, I wasn't expecting a lot going un, but there's some very pretty parts throughout
It was okay, not my favorite.
good
not very good
Weer eens volledig verrast met een band uit contreien waar je van zou denken dat je er wel eens van had gehoord. Maar niets is minder waar. En helaas, zoals wel vaker met die verrassingsaanvallen van de 1001 albums generator: je vraagt je sterk af of het woord random niet staat voor het willekeurig selecteren van platen bij het opstellen van de lijst. Wat een oersaaie meuk. Afgezien van korte momentjes van typisch Britpop-plezier (refrein 'Pull Together') is het immens voorspelbaar en weinig doortastend. Als je leest over z'n connecties met 'The Pale Fountains' verwacht je ietsjes meer, want die maakten nog best leuke jangle pop in de 80s. Zoals dat was bij ingang van gisteren, ga ik vandaag ook weer door het leven zonder de band 'Shack' in mijn mentale music catalog. 4,5/10
Niet slecht, maar is ten opzichte van dingen waar het op lijkt best wel saai. Heeft wat weg van het vroege werk van Bright Eyes en is echt en classic album dat klinkt als de millenium-overgang. Het rauwe van vroege jaren 90 is er wel af en het werd hoogtijd dat er weer een indie-boom zou komen. Ik ben op een gegeven moment overgeschakeld naar Primaat. Meer bangers. 6/10 Highlights Lend's Som Dough
alright
Good music and a good voice.
Borderline unlistenable. Boring pub rock. I hate seeing reviews saying the list is biased towards British bands because US BRITS HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THESE BANDS EITHER! The list is biased towards the shite that Robert Dimery listened to at university, and some other random shit bands that his friends, neighbours and the local homeless happened to be in at the time. THERES SO MANY BETTER ALBUMS THAT COULD BE ON THIS LIST INSTEAD OF THIS SHIT FFFFFFFFFFFFFF
I had never heard of this before. Went to wikipedia and it really has nothing significant on the album. So I don't really think this should be on this list at all. Upon listening, definitely reminded me of Oasis a little bit and thought it was way to generic for the first few songs and didn't hear anything groundbreaking. However, it did get a little better as the album went on. Really liked the Captain's Table song. Couple songs in the middle were pretty good. Overall, I'd give it 2.8 and round up to 3
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug for this list maker. 2.4
This album made me utter something I never thought I would say. "I would prefer to listen to another Blur album." Beyond mediocre, not sure why this was on the list at all. Personal enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list: 1/5
Truly have no clue why I just had to hear this album. Not even the one I would say sounded the worst so far, just detestably generic britpop slop. It was the first album i just couldn't wait for the end of. So. Boring.
Very generic 90's folk rock.
Felt like I was going to enjoy this after the first fee tracks, but then began to drag. This album doesn't do anything that wasn't done better dozens of times in the decade that preceded it
This is normally not my genre, so I was surprised that I generally liked this one.
I found this easy to listen to, and enjoyable.
Sort of fine. New to me band. Nothing I didn't like but didn't hit me as something I want to hear over and over. Not quite sure what the significance that brought this album to the 1001 list.
I suppose this was fine. Could listen to it again but nothing stood out as fantastic. (5 known / 9 new)
It sounds like the beatles did a lot of drugs. not bad, just boring. 50 seamen lol. 3.
There is some good in this album, but there is also a lot of mundane alongside it. It's a blend and it often strays into almost amazing. Some or maybe most of the lyrics aren't great and some of the effects are pretty meh. But some of the guitar is excellent and innovative and the drums are reliable and enforcing.
Seeing how I'm not much a fan of Blur, I don't know how I could manage to like this album. Maybe there's a little more acoustic and harmonizing stuff there, but otherwise I don't see how this is any different.
While bland Britpop, “HMS Fable” didn’t bother me too much until “Beautiful.” And the more the following songs annoyed me, the more so too did the title and cover. This Shack album doesn’t seem to have anything to do with anything nautical, and barely anything one could call a fable. That album cover brings to mind The Decemberists, a band that warrants inclusion on the list far more than Shack. It evokes “The Mariner’s Revenge Song” from “Picaresque” or other shanty-esque Decemberists songs, or the cover of “Castaways and Cutouts.” The Decemberists come off as far more genuine than Shack, and have a vibe that is wonderfully and thoroughly developed. I think it might be “The Crane Wife” that I would put on the list, but you really can’t go wrong with anything in a super consistent decade of work from 2002-2011.
This is 90s Britpop I can appreciate. Most of the songs are enjoyable enough, although as a background setting. Shack saved the best for last with Daniella, which is a great song that I wish more of the album resembled.
Twangy nothingness.
2.7
It was forgettable pop rock tunes, it's like what you hear in the background of the mall lol so mid I can't even think of what it's like?? But I won't prob ever listen to it again
Giving it 2.75 / 5 so I’ll round up to 3 stars. Nothing special. Idk what makes this one of the greatest albums of all time. It’s fine… but I wasn’t blown away by any of the tracks.
New to me. I wasn't put off, but not especially pulled in either. Deserves another chance.
Boring
Favourite songs: Beautiful, Comedy, Natalie's Party, Cornish Town Least favourite songs: Streets of Kenny 3/5
Really nice and pleasant music to listen to. It's a nice Britpop album. I thought that there would be pirate vibes based on the album cover.
Not my mood this morning but fun nonetheless
A new find
Some really good songs, but a bit unforgettable
Sounds at first like it might turn into something but never quite makes it.
Never even heard of the band before. Really great British 90’s rock. Can definitely hear the Oasis influence.
Voice forward. Too much the same “sound”
Not hard to listen to, but not memorable either.
I disagree with those saying that it's just another shitty Britpop album and whilst I'd be inclined to agree with them, as I hate Britpop as a genre and through browsing the list of albums it seems that the afore mentioned tend to make up a fair portion of the albums, I think lumping this with the others doesn't do it justice. It clearly has the Oasis-fueled Britpop elements that I've heavily grown to hate living in a town just outside Manchester, but it also holds some pretty cool prog and psychedelic rock inspirations that I think elevates this album a fair bit. Plus I like the vocals on most of the tracks I was pretty far from enjoying everything on this one, but some tracks I'll definitely be coming back to, like Pull Together and Daniella. A high 3.
Some of the songs are too poppy and some sound like Irish folk music, which I don't enjoy, but when they play actual Britpop, it's pretty fun. I also really liked the final track, which sounds like it was inspired by Led Zeppelin.
3.5
Hey, they weren’t bad. Nothing special, just nice inoffensive music
kinda cute at times leaning more towards a 4 than a 2
Never heard if them before this. Enjoyed it.
Like a mix of Uncle Tupelo, Idlewild and REM, but not as good as any of them. Still, okay as background music with a few moments.
This one's a pleasant surprise. Never heard of Shack before but I enjoyed this a lot. I'll probably check out the rest of their catalog. Thanks generator.
Skilled, upbeat, pretty Britpop, but deeply lacking in the excitement department.
I liked this, and with it coming out in 99 they were just slightly ahead of their time. But it reminds me very much of Starsailor or Travis, where it’s good but nothing is great or special enough to endure
Well call you boring oasis
Bland.
An absolute no-name for me, still i enjoyed this a lot
There weren't any songs on this album that truly compelled or surprised me, but they were all fine. I guess that means this lands at a solid 2. I thought the first half of the album was better, with Comedy, Captain's Table, and Streets of Kenny being the songs I liked best.
meh, didn't grab me, not my thing right now
This is alright, but not really notable for any reason. Likely on the list because of the author’s British bias.
it was FINE
Muzyka w tle bez wyrazu. Ani to rock, ani to pop, takie nudne plumkanie. Fajnie, że jest dużo smyczków w tle, szanuję to, ale nie pomagają w żaden sposób temu albumowi. Nie wiem, czy to kwestia stylu czy produkcji, ale cały dźwięk tej płyty wydaje mi się przytłumiony, jakbym słuchał czegoś przez gazę. Druga połowa albumu ciutek lepsza, przy "Streets of Kenny" miałem nadzieję, że może będzie nieco lepiej ogólnie, ale mój zapał szybko opadł. Ładna okładka, spójny album, który nie irytował mnie jakoś aktywnie, ale też nie wzbudził najmniejszego zainteresowania.
I thought that I was clever. I thought that I saw the cover and I was already preparing for some witty comment about boats and hipsters. Oh boy, was I wrong. The album is aggresive with its blandness and mediocrity. I had to check if this band really existed and it's not created by AI labeled as a 'human music'.
Hipsterskie szanty, not my thing.
Aw, I really liked this one. Moved a bit sluggishly at first, but it grew on me by the end.
I grew up in NY so I’m used to folks casually saying things like “duh” for “the” but if I had to listen to this “vocalist” do it one more time I would scream. I understand dialects and all, but if you’re going to use your voice for a living learn to annunciate, please.
+: Natalie's Party, Captain's Table, Daniella +-: Beautiful, I Want You, Cornish Town, Since I Met You -: Comedy, Lend's Some Dough, Streets of Kenny, Reinstated --: Pull Together 3,7/10
At first I'm like, "Meh, I like Toad the Wet Sprocket better." Then I keep exploring the layers and variety of this music. I am stunned by Streets of Kenny and Beautiful. Okay, this is a great album, worthy of many more listens. 4.5/5
Pretty decent 3.5/5
At times it's painfully clear that this list was created by an Englishman - 2
"HMS Fable" do Shack é um álbum que fica aquém de grandes momentos memoráveis. Apesar de suas faixas não se destacarem ou deixarem uma impressão duradoura, ele consegue se manter agradável ao longo da audição. As músicas não possuem um grande impacto, e é o tipo de álbum que, mesmo sendo repetidamente ouvido, tende a ser esquecido facilmente. No entanto, não é uma experiência ruim – é apenas uma produção que se mantém na média.
I had never heard of this and after listening to it once I’m going to try and forget it
nothing special imo
Glimpses of interest but generally quite bland - tried quite a few times to get into it but something about it was off. It’s kind of part Britpop part sea shanties and part indie and it feels like it doesn’t know what it wants to be. It gets better as it progresses but not enough to win me over.
01) Natalie's Party - 6,0 02) Comedy - 6,5 03) Pull Together - 6,5 04) Beautiful - 6,5 05) Lend's Some Dough - 6,0 06) Captain's Table - 6,5 07) Streets of Kenny - 6,5 08) Reinstated - 6,5 09) I Want You - 6,0 10) Cornish Town - 6.0 11) Since I Met You - 6,0 12) Daniella - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,29 (63/100) Current ranking: 296/386
One of this albums I thought I could suffer through, but by the last couple of songs I just wanted it over - couldn't get into it at all
Oh damn, this is some bullshit. Not bothering to finish. Throw it in the bin.
British bias showing through again. It's alright, but nothing special. Sounded very Brit-pop meets jangle-pop.
In-Depth Review of H.M.S. Fable by Shack Shack's H.M.S. Fable, released in 1999, stands as a significant work in the landscape of British music, particularly within the jangle pop and alternative rock genres. The album is often lauded for its lyrical depth, musical craftsmanship, and production quality, all of which contribute to its enduring legacy. This review will explore the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence while also addressing its pros and cons. Lyrics The lyrics of H.M.S. Fable are a poignant reflection of Michael Head's personal struggles, particularly his battles with addiction. The songwriting showcases a blend of raw honesty and poetic imagery that captures both despair and beauty. Themes of Addiction: Tracks like "Lend's Some Dough" and "Streets of Kenny" delve into the harsh realities of drug use. For instance, "Lend's Some Dough" vividly portrays the physical symptoms of withdrawal, using lines like "I've got a sore back and I'm itching," which starkly depict the struggles associated with addiction13. The song does not romanticize drug use but rather presents it as a painful reality. Narrative Quality: The storytelling aspect is prominent throughout the album. "Streets of Kenny," for example, juxtaposes a quest for drugs with the imagery of searching for joy, encapsulating a sense of desperation intertwined with hope34. This duality in the lyrics enhances their emotional impact. Cultural References: The album is rich with references to Liverpool's cultural landscape, grounding its narratives in a specific geographical and social context. Such references not only enrich the storytelling but also resonate deeply with listeners familiar with the region. Music Musically, H.M.S. Fable showcases Shack's ability to blend various influences while maintaining a distinct sound. Melodic Craftsmanship: The album features catchy melodies and harmonies that are hallmarks of jangle pop. Tracks like "I Want You" exhibit lush guitar work reminiscent of bands like The La’s and Echo & the Bunnymen, creating an engaging sonic experience14. Diverse Influences: Shack incorporates elements from various musical styles, including psychedelia and folk. For instance, "Daniella" presents a darker folk sensibility that contrasts with the more upbeat tracks, showcasing the band's versatility4. This ability to traverse genres without losing coherence is one of the album's strengths. Production Quality: The production on H.M.S. Fable is polished yet retains an organic feel that complements the songwriting. The instrumentation is layered effectively, allowing each element to shine without overshadowing others. This balance enhances the listening experience, making it both rich and accessible. Themes The overarching themes in H.M.S. Fable revolve around struggle, redemption, and the search for meaning amidst chaos. Personal Struggle: Michael Head’s experiences with addiction inform much of the album's emotional weight. The lyrics serve as a cathartic outlet for his pain and confusion, transforming personal turmoil into universal themes that resonate with many listeners35. Hope and Redemption: Despite its darker moments, there is an underlying current of hope throughout the album. Songs often oscillate between despair and moments of clarity or joy, reflecting the complex nature of human experience3. This duality invites listeners to find beauty even in difficult circumstances. Cultural Identity: The album also serves as a homage to Liverpool's rich musical heritage. By weaving local references into their narratives, Shack not only roots their music in a specific place but also connects with broader themes of identity and belonging13. Influence H.M.S. Fable has left a lasting impact on both fans and musicians alike. Critical Acclaim: Upon its release, it received significant acclaim from critics who recognized Michael Head as one of Britain's finest songwriters3. Its inclusion in various best-of lists solidified its status as a cult classic within alternative rock circles. Legacy: Over time, H.M.S. Fable has influenced subsequent generations of musicians who draw inspiration from its lyrical depth and melodic structure. Bands within the jangle pop genre often cite Shack as an inspiration for their own work45. Cultural Resonance: The album continues to resonate with listeners who appreciate its authentic portrayal of struggle and resilience. Its themes remain relevant in contemporary discussions about mental health and addiction. Pros and Cons Pros Lyrical Depth: The honesty and poetic nature of the lyrics provide profound insights into personal struggles while maintaining relatability. Musical Diversity: The blend of various musical styles keeps the album fresh and engaging throughout its duration. Production Quality: High production values ensure that each track is polished while retaining an organic feel. Cons Niche Appeal: While critically acclaimed, its themes may not resonate with all audiences due to their heavy nature. Commercial Performance: Despite its quality, H.M.S. Fable did not achieve significant commercial success upon release, which may have limited its exposure to wider audiences34. Dark Themes: Some listeners may find the subject matter too bleak or heavy for casual listening. Conclusion In summary, H.M.S. Fable by Shack is a remarkable album that combines lyrical brilliance with musical innovation. Its exploration of addiction through heartfelt storytelling set against a backdrop of rich melodies creates an immersive listening experience. While it may not have achieved mainstream success during its initial release, its critical acclaim and lasting influence underscore its importance in the annals of British music history. As listeners continue to discover or revisit this album, they are met with a profound reflection on human experience—one that resonates deeply across time and space.
Lame
I don't... I don't get it
Esta fue una pérdida de tiempo, honestamente.
Another britpop album? I'm nearly half done with this list and it really feels like the UK has a stranglehold on the people who wrote this book.
H.M.S. Fable is the third album by Shack, originally released in 1999. Never heard of this group before. This is some pretty solid power pop/britpop. Definitely indie-influenced. A lot of this is acoustic-guitar driven which is pretty dope. The hooks are very catchy and have that 90s indie pop vibe. I wouldn't necessarily call it a must-hear, but it was a nice listen.
19/11/24 It was an okay album. Not too bad.
Best Song: Comedy. Sounds like two friends singing at an open mic at a local pub. In a good way. Worst Song: Lend's Some Dough. They tried to get too cute with the lyrics here. Overall: Fully meh. Does not belong on any list of 1001 anythings. Also, even if individual songs are okay the album is made worse than the sum of its parts through some truly baffling song order decisions. The transition (or lack thereof) between "Streets of Kenny" and "Re-Instated" was so ugly that I assumed that either my headphones or Spotify itself had broken.
A lot of these English bands from the 90s sound very similar, maybe I just don't have an ear for it but they all sound like different versions of Oasis to me.
Kinda generic. Easy to put on & forget you're even listening to music.
pretty nice vibes but some songs are repetitive.
79% Best: Natalie's Party; Comedy; Beautiful; Streets of Kenny; Re-Instated; Must-Hear? Not quite
Kinda bubblegum poppy for the most part. Nothing bad, but nothing really stuck for me either.
Meh. As the other reviewers have noted, nothing special, very 90s, very generic. Why is this on the list??
Tuneful and well-crafted – right up one's alley, though one finds it's somewhat hard to believe never knew this band in real time. The strings add depth and attractive flourishes (if pushing toward too-much at times). The restrained little '70s trumpet on the opening of "Re-Instated" is delightful, as is the nifty skittering synth effect (plus the understated strings). One's sorry to hear what hard drug addicts were the Shacksters, but at least they retained a high degree of soul and feeling – they weren't zombies, in other words. One is astonished to come across a band from one's sweet-spot genre and era that one has never heard of. One digs fully, picking up the notes of Elbow and Crowded House.
I liked how this album wastes no time and dives straight into the music—several great and lighthearted songs.
I listened to the album. It was playing in the background and nothing stuck with me. So it didn't bother me, but it didn't impress me either. A certain feeling of boredom remains. 3/5
¿Britpop antes del Britpop? No los conocía, parece que fueron casi un one-hit wonder y yo en esa época solo miraba hacia Manchester y no Liverpool. No suena mal, me ha recordado a Elbow y cosas así. No creo que sea algo imprescindible.
Identi-kit Pop Rock. Indistinguishable from dozens of other late 90's bands.
More uninteresting mid English pop rock.
Confusing choice. There is plenty of more interesting britpop albums from late 90s, what is so special about this one? I didn't really feel the atmosphere or even the point of this record. Everything was average at best. I can't recall any song even couple hours after listening to this lp. I'd say it's a miss.
Bleh, boring. The age old question on this site - did I really need to hear this before I die? No, no I did not. 2/5
Album 580 of 1001 Shack - H.M.S. Fable (1999) Rating : 3 / 5 Another group of lads from Liverpool and some more Brit Pop that is ok but not sure why it is on this list. Another band who sounds a lot like Oasis. Not bad but nothing necessarily noteworthy.
Thought from the cover art it would be a slog of a thing but what a fun little 90s Britpop album.
pre: to the best of my knowledge I have never heard of this group before. I don't mind this, it's perfectly fine background music, but I'm not really sure what made this get included on a great album list. It's like the arithmetic mean of 100 other bands in this genre.
I am hear a ton of Beatles influence, which is fine, but doesn’t do much for me. It’s very non offensive, but not very inspiring in my opinion.
Well, someone’s listened to a lot of Beatles and then wanted to start a band…it’s fine, nothing offensive, but I wouldn’t seek more out based on this album.
Pre: Never heard of this band or album. After a couple of songs I am realizing that I was expecting something way more upbeat, Flogging Molly-like, for some reason. The album cover really fooled me, so far I am absolutely not impressed. What in the living hell was that modern adult contemporary jazz interlude "Re-instated". This took a turn for the worse quick. Do not recommend.
It was pretty sweet. I don't really like how it's recorded for some reason but with a bit of bass boosting it sounds on point, tho tbh I'm against doing that
Cool cover! Another just fine UK album that didn’t really need to be on here. But I didn’t hate this one.
Extremely British album, this one taught me that a band from Liverpool is called "Liverpudlian," what the hell? Only the Brits, I tell ya. Anyway, I liked when this leaned into the more folksy sound, other than that, fairly generic. Favorite tracks: Comedy, Daniella, Streets of Kenny. Album art: A little drawing of a ship superimposed on a burlap sack or something. Not much going on here. 3/5
Listenable but feels like i'll forget this one pretty quick. 2.5
Sounds like romcom rock. Not a bad thing and has its place. It’s a good album with good songs but in the britpop vein it’s rather average.
Nicht meine Richtung
I like 90's Britpop, but this felt uniquely bland and stale.
You’d be better off listening to Aaron Carter’s seminal work Aaron’s Party which has the hit single That’s How I Beat Shaq, which should have been titled That’s How I Best Shack. Because it’s a better and more important and impactful album than this, full stop.
Hadn't heard of Shack before today. Not bad, but hardly essential.
Cannot believe this is not one of the albums out of the list by now. It really is nothing. It could be 2 stars but being it so irrelevant it gets
It’s just alright. Nothing special. 2/5.
Vanilla oasis
# Playlist track - Natalie's Party # Notes - This is mediocre britpop, at best. - Doesn't start out that bad (that's probably why I chose the first song to add to my playlist). - There are interesting instrumentals and a very full, rich sound in many tracks. - Those are one of the best features in the album, but they are overdone a number of times. - Crescendos grow forever, and more and more instruments are added before the silly fade out ends your suffering. - The vocals are appalling. The first minute in "Comedy" has some of the worst phrases ever sung in a mic. - Not going to revisit this, and I like britpop a little less after that.
Based on the album cover I was really hoping for some Celtic influenced maritime shanties, unfortunately all I got was run of the mill 90’s British alt rock. That’s not to say that it’s a terrible album in my eyes, but the album art really raised my expectations. The title track, I suppose, was vaguely in the direction I had hoped, but not in any way that I could get excited about. I liked the folky timbre of “Daniella” but the vocals did absolutely nothing for me. This album felt a little all over the place within that 90’s alt rock genre, and not in any particularly good way either. It sort of felt like a group of people throwing shit at the wall to see if they could get a hit single. I honestly haven’t looked to see if they got one, but I wouldn’t bet money on it. 2 stars.
In what world is this essential listening? Asinine album from a band no one remembers 25 years later. This is a ridiculous inclusion on this list. “Daniella” is the only enjoyable track on what sounds like a demo from a pub cover band. Ugh. 2/10
Just another run of the mill Britpop album. Of course the music magazines ate it up. One song is The Verve's "Sonnet" with some Oasis mixed in. "H.M.S. Fable" was outdated when it released in 1999. The year when many new, exciting and better albums were made. 2 stars for "H.M.S. Fable".
Just a disclaimer: My ratings are a reflection of my own personal taste and nothing more. I didn’t mind this one, but there was really nothing special about it either. I’m not sure I understand all the vitriol in a lot of the reviews, but I do agree with the notion about its relevance and placement on this list of 1001 Albums. Probably won’t listen to it again.
Eh, better bands were doing better stuff at the same time this came out. It's not bad, it's just nothing really special or defining about it.
Very accessible, but you can tell there's no substance
Creo que he escuchado pocos discos tan genéricos como este. Si la intención del autor de esta lista era destacar la muerte y decadencia de lo que en algún momento fue el Britpop, muy bien, es lo que logró hacer. El segundo (sí segundo, porque al parecer no bastó con uno solo) de Shack es un pastiche terrible de todas las tendencias y sonidos explorados anteriormente por Oasis, Pulp, Suede, etc, etc. Nada que destacar acá, sálteselo. No merece para nada estar en la lista.
Not a bad listen, but a very generic one. There wasn't much to distinguish between all of the tracks. Daniella was a nice change of pace but, again, wasn't anything really memorable. "Pull Together" was the catchiest of the bunch and is the one I'm most likely to listen to again.
Never heard of this but so far sounds like some Canadian 90s folk alt-rock, like the Corner Gas theme song. (Liverpool, ah close enough) Really liking it.
Terrible.
i love music created only for licensing!
Not heard of these before. I liked it. Jangly 90's poppiness
Annoying vocals. Wanted to turn this off quickly.
Sounds like a bad Coldplay cover band. It’s not miserable but wouldn’t pay the cover charge.
It was an easy listen but no standouts and nothing particularly great about it. Put it on the three side of a 2.5 but just barely.
"Mom, can we listen to Oasis?" "No, we have Oasis at home." Oasis at home:
3.75
Alright! Weirdly reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel.
I had never heard of this band. Some good stuff here. I like the synth strings and the harmonies. Good guitar playing and overall production. I really like Streets of Kenny. Also Lend’s Some Dough, Comedy and Captain’s Table are standouts. There a few tracks that could have been cut and it would have made for a stronger release but this was the CD age where everyone thought they needed at least 12 tracks on every album. Cornish Town is a clunker for me. If this band would have released a video for Comedy on MTV they would have been huge in the U.S. Sounds like they never really got big outside the UK. Shame.
Kann man gut hören.
Interesting. Had never of them. Not my favorite and not bad. May listen again.
It was ok. 3
Not entirely sure how this passed me by at the time, but I'm all the better for hearing it now
Sort of mid, but that's not always a bad thing.
This aint it
Meh.
I feel like this is another one of those “gotta get the numbers up on the 1001 albums list” entries. The whole britpop movement of the 90’s/early 2000’s is full of memorable bands and album releases. Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Supergrass, Suede etc. I don’t think the band Shack was ever part of that conversation, never mind this LP. In fact, this list appears to be the only mention of it in any sort of ‘best of’ capacity. Is it a bad record? No. Not at all. It’s actually fairly pleasant. But it is fairly derivative of works that came before it, it lacks any form of originality to separate it from its influences, and is overall pretty forgettable. If you want a description of what ‘H.M.S. Fable’ sounds like: imagine the band Shack got together and couldn’t decide if they wanted to sound like Oasis, Blur, or The Verve and after much deliberation they ultimately went with all 3. You’d do better to listen to the masters, rather than a master of none, y’know? I give it a fairly generous 2/5. Because it isn’t bad. However, it doesn’t particularly belong here. You could easily find a plethora of britpop albums from this era that are vastly superior that were probably omitted from the 1001 albums list.
Didn't give the whole album a full listen cause I kinda got the cut of their jib after a few songs. Not for me
I’d fuck to this album
Pretty, jangly, poppy, Mersey. I'm not feeling open to this due to the clean production and conventional poppiness. But Michael Head's tenderness comes through the sheen, enough so that I'll revisit this when the hype around the reunion of clear reference point Oasis has died down and I need a good song to get me through something. The three stars are subject to change.
midnight icecream
It was... fine... it seemed like a bit of a random pick instead of a must-listen. Of all the albums, it was definitely one of them.