Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Can't not hear Oasis "Pull Together" and "Streets Of Kenny" are standouts
I confess to never having heard of Shack before, much less this album. Well I have played this album a couple of times. It seems to be well-written, maybe a bit overproduced, but ultimately quite dull to my ears.
Its a nice enough sound, but at 42 minutes it still feels too long.
An album full of songs perfect for the opening credits of movies starring the Olsen twins.
It's alright. Nothing special. Everything they do has been done better before them.
To call this bottom of the barrel Britpop would be an insult to the bottom of the barrel. This is the bargain bin next to the bargain bin. This is the dollar tree CD section
Sometimes it doesn’t leave you much impression but there were some nice lush moments and some bigger moments that has potential with a different singer. Not a bad singer but not very interesting either.
I want to give this a 2 for the site- because I find it hard to argue it’s essential in any way— but it’s a low three and a half in my book. Better than decent Brit pop.
Enjoyed the album, but as far as Beatlesque Brit pop goes, there were ones better and earlier than this. Not sure why this would be deemed essential. (7.9) ★★★½
Nothing unpleasant, but nothing remarkable either. Quite bland, but not bad. 2.5 stars
Inoffensive, but bland. 3 stars.
2.5
Pleasant enough but certainly not life-affirming album from an indie folk band trying to sound like oasis most of the time. Songs are simply OK and are quickly forgotten but it is quite richly arranged most of the time with strings, horns and the odd wall of guitar noise. So most of the time it sounds good except for the chopped off ending of Streets Of Kenny and the annoying one-note trumpet solo in Re-Instated. And vocals are a bit stodge Cast as well. So yeah, the only memorable elements here are the bad parts. 2.5 stars. HMS Fable should be a shipwreck in a sea of obscurity yet has weirdly been salvaged for this 1001 series.
This is mostly a pretty pleasant but bland album. Why is this here? Nothing special and it’s way too long. 2.5 stars
Up the Scousers!
Wonderful discovery.
Middle of the road Indie. Not good, but not bad 3/5
You walk into a college party in 1997, but it's a movie. They couldn't afford to get popular bands to fill the soundtrack, so they found a close recreation, and used that instead. That's Shack. This is a compliment. It sounds like 90s poppier college rock, but on a budget.
Normally I give a rating of 2 to albums that actively irritated me. This one wasn’t exactly annoying - or even bad, really - but it was so unremarkable that I forgot it as soon as I finished listening, and I’m in a bad mood, so that’s what I’m going with.
I didn’t know this band or album - another 3 or 4, rounding up because I really liked Captain’s Table and Streets of Kenny.
I get a bit bored of the "Another British band I've never heard of OMG it's just OASIS, weak Indie rock" reviewers on here. Except this time. Go for it. I always liked the Teenage Fanclub-like "Comedy", but couldn't remember much else of these guys despite them being quite hyped at the time. Listening now this is pretty generic and I would have put British Sea Power, Cast, or even DODGY ahead of this as examples of pop-tastic UK guitar rock from 90s to 2000s. It's fine, it's wistful poppy indie guitar music, doesn't particularly sound like Oasis to me but it really is quite derivative and has not become a cult classic for good reason. I see no hits.
Probably a 3.5 star album for this list. They sounded like a muddy version of Oasis. 3 or 4 good songs though.
Another Brit pop album. This time it’s the most generic of all. No for me dawg
Pleasant bit of scouse britpop. Some more standout songs - due to quality or being different from the standard britpop formula - but generally quite a background album Not quite sure why this is one of the 1001 albums you must hear before you die
Essentially if you have a Heroin addiction & write a couple songs you have like a 50% chance of making it into this book
Why is this album on this list? It's just a nothing album, it really feels like the musical equivalent of hotel room art. I don't know what else to say. It's just a boring album released at a time when there was a million better things to listen to. WHY IS IT ON THIS LIST MAN? Every track kinda bled into the next one - there were a couple of times where I hadn't realised that two or three tracks had passed. Album sucked.
1001 britpop albums to listen to before you die by your own hand i hope the hms fable sunk with no survivors, this album was trash
Aaaaaand back to our regularly schedule britpop to make us question our reason for doing this list. I don't even want to go into detail on this, it's not something I'll listen to again, nor is it something that has had any sort of longstanding reputation. It didn't chart well on its release and the Wikipedia article basically just says 'yeah, this album exists. Also it placed in a few ranking lists. I'm not even giving this the courtesy of a 1 rating because for all the issues I had with some of the albums I have given a 1 so far, they did not leave me feeling bored or indifferent towards their existence. I don't even want this scarring the bottom of my summary page on the hall of shame. It would simply be better to just forget this and move on.
As soon as this album finished, Spotify played Doldrum by The La's next. The algorithm is too good, it can delineate meaningless FM radio Brit-slop and wanted to give me more. There are flashes of good instrumentals on a few tracks, but not enough to save it. Vocals are actually really poor on a few tracks like Re-Instated. I don't know what the point of this album was. Zero cultural resonance, why am I listening to this in current year. I tried searching through Spotify for the song from this album Since I Met You (which I enjoyed the most despite being the least streamed) and Spotify thought I meant Since I Left You by The Avalanches which is a better song by a better act. Thank you Spotify for trying to gaslight me into not listening to dull mush music.
if i ever see this robert dimery cunt in real life i will punch on with him night or day rain or shine. i do not care if hes infirm and 90 years old i will knock out the little joy left in his dead squalid brain for repeatedly subjecting me to this absolute fucking slop that some empty-skulled kiddy-fiddling self-hating guinness-drinking british slur confused with music.
How I feel being FORCED to listen to yet MORE mediocre BRIT SLOP: https://youtu.be/j_nuOyxMrMQ?si=kxYujBtkB1_HQT_E REVISION: It seems I was right to skip this album the first time. I dove to the wreck of the HMS fable and all I got was a waste of 47 minutes and the bends.
Such a nothing burger album so I'm going to give a nothing burger review. 4/10 Fav tracks - Pull Together, Streets of Kenny, Cornish Town, Daniella, Least Fav - The rest
Psalm 25:6-7 "Remember, Lord, your compassion and mercy which you showed long ago. Do not recall the sins and failings of my youth. In your mercy remember me, lord, because of your goodness." We have returned to the Paedoph Isles to hear some more LOVELY Britpop. Going to keep this short, this is a concept album. The concept being 'music for car commercials'. Competently made, inoffensive sound. Comedy was probably my favourite song on this album. This album is fine, but I will not be listening to it again.
Yet another album released at the tail end of the brit pop era… and so it sounds, Nice melodic indie pop, but nothing really standing out at this point in time that several bands had not already done in the 2-3 years before.
It's like the La's, but on a budget. So that wasn't great, and this is less interesting.
Nothing special.
Meh. S'alright
forgettable britpop, the faster tracks are okay but some of the slower ones can get really annoying
Not bad.
It really isn‘t bad quality. Also the songs differ with having a real core. But the Vanille style of uplifting Pop-Rock lacks something I can‘t put my finger on.
There seems to be no notable reason for this album to be on the list. A very ho hum brit pop release from the late 1990s that is a rehash of a sound from 5 years earlier in the decade.
Nope, not rewarded by this listen. I mean, I heard it. It penetrated my space every so often, a distraction that lasted less than a moment, then quickly shoved back to that area already occupied by all the other daylight noises… distant cars, the construction project next door, the AC fan, the damn phone ringing, the wife. It failed to deliver; join the list.
Ganske bra skate album
Mitäänsanomatonta menoa. Näin yhden kuuntelun perusteella. Laulajan ääni ei myöskään itselle toimi.
Ovaj ne nadahnuti spoj rema i oasisaje tad u britanskom tisku slavljen ko spas gitarske glazbe to više govori o britanskom tisku nego o bendu 😃btw nme je proglasio 332 najboljim albumom svih vremena 😃
a pretty decent album. nothing mind blowing though, not sure how this made the list
Enjoyed the melody of the album and the acoustic guitar
It is pleasant background music but I find it too banal for active listening
A bit Oasis, a bit Stone Roses, not as good as either and way too long, but it passed the time enjoyably.
Not every album needs to change the world, and if this album treads some familiar post-Beatles sounds then it's none the worse for it. The songwriting and arrangements are top notch, and while you might not be blown away Michael Head's gift for a nagging melody will start to worm its way into your skull. 3.5 really, but a very solid three stars.
As an indie kid of the 90s I am shocked I haven’t heard of this at all. Pretty decent yet extremely generic of some of the key acts at the time: Oasis, Stone Roses, Charlatans, Cast, Super Furry Animals, all with a healthy dose of Beatles-styles production and orchestration. When this works it is nice, when it doesn’t it sounds like Standing on the Shoulders era Oasis… Best: Captain’s Table
Generic softer rock album, nothing special.
Why is this album here?
An album that was designed for the word 'meh.' Not to be too harsh here, but I don't think you'd be missing anything crucial by skipping this album. The ideas are not new or original and have been perfected by other Britpop bands. Is it outright offensive? No. Is it memorable? Again, no. One of those albums that's no one's favourite. Not sure it inspires that much passion. C+
Interesting….
As others have pointed out, it's quite Homogenic with Oasis, like a Mezzanine within their proverbial building. Weezer very confused by the addition. I suppose there were no other albums from the 90s that could have been included instead.
Sounded like the house band at Applebees.
This was okay. I liked it but I wouldn’t listen beyond this.
For once I'm with the Americans on this, it's just bland Brit 90s with nothing new to add.
Pop Genius. A wonderful collection of lived-in songs, celebrating real life, with sharp observations and great tunes, uplifting strings and heartfelt vocals. Streets of Kenny is one of many stand-outs, a story about falling back into drug use, aching, melancholic
Sin mas
Un sin mas
8/15/24. Hectic day, but glad I received this rare album! Very REM/Jangle like with good pop quality.
Comedy is a great track. As is, I Want You. I rather like this.
I like this. Sits somewhere between The Coral and Super Furry Animals but very much their own thing. Never heard it before but will listen again.
Similar to you guys, I had no clue these guys existed. Wasn’t particularly blown away myself but it was very listenable while working. Call album cover too 😆
This is good. Sounds a bit like Ash and The Coral, and a few tracks were very Stone Roses. Definitely starts stronger than it finishes but still lots of good tracks throughout.
90s leftovers for sure. The singer is just so boring. If they had someone like Niall Quinn from The Cranberries it'd be so much more interesting.
On the one hand, this is some fairly generic Britpop, and I've seen a lot of reviews about the author of the book being biased towards Britpop. Maybe, but also US bands are definitely overrepresented on this list (compared to all music worldwide), and the list will never please everyone. If I curated the list, I know that there are plenty of albums I would include on this list out of personal passion, and I hope this album was chosen for similar reasons. Looking at comments on YouTube, a lot of people love this album. (Although I have found that there are lovers of almost every album and artist on this list.) Anyway. This album slowly won me over, and once I heard Streets of Kenny I understood why it had been chosen, but that is easily the most recognisable song on the album. So are Shack a one hit wonder or an underappreciated gem? For me, this album sounded at worst like Colon, from Fast Show's Indie Club, at middling like a transitional track from Teachers, and at best like late-era Beatles or Pink Floyd - Since I Met You and Beautiful with their big celebratory sounds.
I wouldn't have this on an infinite loop for my play list but I would potentially use it as the soundtrack for my next indie film.
Good and pleasant, just a bit inconsistent. I also don't necessarily mind when artists emulate other artists, but there were a few too many times on this record where I thought they were aping someone else. 3/5
Meh
Though the second listening was kore enjoyable than the first one, each day I am trying to understand better what the criteria is to have an album listed as one of the 1001 you need to listen to? This album isn't bad, but what makes this album better than countless other bands I have not found on this list? The potpourri of styles, ranging from '60s folk through '80s alternative is okay, but nothing special... then again, I was never a fan of modern music coming from Liverpool, and seeing as this is constantly mentioned about the artist involved I say whatev's
Yeah this was a poor man's REM meets oasis. Bland
Pretty bland, but not dreadful
This was very, very good! Loved it
Captain’s Table is the only song that I cared for.
I got this exactly the day after Definitely Maybe from Oasis. I didn't really like that one. Why did we need a second one but worse?
It may be bri'ish but it doesn't hit like blur 😔
Who sucked whose to put this here? :(
I've never heard this before and it fucking ruled. It's almost chamber rock but for people who keep rosin next to their H. They clearly love the Beatles with the reverb washed, beautiful vocal harmonies and contrapuntal lines. The string arrangements elevated every song they were used on. However, they also loved The Beatles a little too much so some of the songs felt structurally derivative and unsurprising, but if "derivative of the Beatles" was a mortal sin then 90% of the music made since 1963 would have sent its creator to hell.
idk how to really explain it but they sound like a fake band in a bad movie
I don’t really know, this was fine… a couple songs that actively bothered me, some were more pleasant but it was consistently shy of satisfying me. Kinda sounded like REM but not as good… probably not the best Liverpudlian band out there…
Pretty unremarkable! Kinda nice at times
i do not understand this album or why its on this list and I wish i never heard it
Not my type of music at all.
bri ish uhuehue pop rock i feel? i like the outro to comedy too bad the rest of the song is slow why are the songs so bland nooooo it started off good my favorite song: natalies party
now I know who sings that first track-I remember only that one - not a bad listen, but nothing to write home about - decidedly dated early 90s sound to my ears..
3-4
This is fine. Some reminded me of Crowded House, some R.E.M., especially later in the album.
Very average 90’s Brit pop not sure why this needs to be on the list given how well Brit pop is already represented
Hmmmm... never actually heard of this band, but this music sounds very solid. This was back in the era of the Stone Roses, etc. Rock without too many gimmicks.
Completely fine, kinda fun, british alt-pop sound. They are a little cheeky, and have (to me) a Fountains of Wayne vibe. Nothing smashing, but a decent listen. Enjoyable.
I enjoyed this quite a bit! Like a British Fountaina of Wayne.
i am so frustrated at this album, and i am so frustrated at myself why do i give valuable time to people with a snot filled whine
This definitely wasn't a bad album, but it didn't feel different from a lot of soft british rock made in the 90's/00's. None of the songs stood out to me on an individual basis and a lot of the music just turned into background noise. Probably won't come back to this one but wouldn't care if it was played where I am.
Listening to this is like eating oatmeal with no fruit, milk, or honey. Gruel. It's not offensively bad music but it has no personality and I don't understand how it's on this list.
Yikes that was pretty awful. They can't really sing and overcompensate with dense musical arrangements that don't really work. I agree with several other reviews - what's it doing on this list?!?
A little bland and instantly forgettable attempt at Brit pop. You can easily hear the sounds of other bands of the time in the tracks, particularly The Lightning Seeds
Utter shite
Blimey. I blame Oasis, they've got a lot to answer for. Hope they're proud.
Do one.
I don't know anything about this Liverpool band, so none of my usual anecdotes. Unfortunately, it's quite a forgettable album, I enjoyed most of it while listening, then puff it's gone.
I would like this more if it were sea shanties.
Standard 90s fare. Last track is the stand out. Shifts tone quite frequently, bouncing from fast and happy to slow and sad; this was sometimes effective, sometimes startling.
This one does not deserve to be on the list, I’m afraid.
Oasis?
Nah, son.
Enjoyed this one
I listened to this yesterday, and have forgotten it already...
Maybe way too much nineties for me *now* -- Third Eye Blind like -- but I prob would have liked it in the 90s.
4.8 First experience with this band, and I really dig it.
Another Britpop band from the 80's/90's eh? This album was an alright listen, a little flat and bland at times. I found myself forgetting it was on while I was working, but all-in-all it was fine.
Hoped for sea shanties got middle of the road Brit pop. Hard to even gauge an opinion on something so middle of the road. Much like being married to me - hard to criticise but equally hard to love 2.5
Never heard of them, but I put them instantly in my library.
I dunno why HMS Fable is on here (yeah it's another one of those albums). This was recorded in 1999, well after everyone was doing this sort of thing and being interesting with it, so their particular brand of underwhelming britpop-adjacent alt rock doesn't stick. Vocals are just there without really doing anything, music is unremarkable with efforts to elevate it with poor Oasis imitation riffs and stylings. I'll give it a 2 because it's listenable enough and Comedy is a good song, but really, did we need this?
Yup, another substandard offering from the list. Very beige, gentle alternative stuff that doesn't have the oomph to qualify as rock, the fun to qualify as pop, or the tunefulness and soul to qualify as folk. 2/5.
Easy going. Not super into it, but it was good background music.
Oh my god, this is so boring
Wonderful late 90s britpop album, best enjoyed in the morning with a nice cuppa joe
- Why? Perfectly competent; completely uninteresting; so not vital. -
It was okay. A little bland.
Unremarkable and forgettable. I assumed it was from around 1994, but seeing it was made in 1999 makes its inclusion here even more confusing - this would have sounded dated already when it was first released.
Sometimes I think I'm being punked by this list. This is just adult contemporary Oasis. Is it bad? No. Would I listen to it again? Maybe (if I remembered it existed after an hour). Is there anything unique or special about it that makes it deserving of being on an all-time must listen list? Absolutely not. Vertical Horizon and Travis both put out albums just as good as this in 1999. Are they on this list? Nope. Should they be? Also nope, as much as I enjoy both bands. (Wait, what's that? Travis *is* on this list? Lol, oh boy...) The bias of this list toward British artists, particularly Britpop and electronica, continues to be incredibly frustrating when so many artists from other countries who should have a place on it are left off. 3.5 for the actual album — it's catchy, it's pleasant enough to listen to, but it's nothing special. 2/5 in terms of this list, because what the hell, man? (I won't give it a 1 because it's not unlistenable, just unworthy).
moze byc, ale po 5 utworach sie nudzi
Alright
Forgettable, no idea why it's on this list.
Ok nice listen
Wow. Wasn't expecting this. At all. First track plays like a pleasant mash up of Crowded House and Oasis. But as the album progresses it goes much much deeper and farther back. There are moments that fit into the British 60s revival of the early 90s. But never lingers there and ultimately transcends through excellent songwriting, thoughtful arrangements and some exquisite musicianship. Ultimately though all that means nothing with the melodies - the melodies and harmonies - I'm just blown away. An album and band I have absolutely no recollection of even hearing a mention of that is this damn good. Dismiss as a random forgotten britpop artifact at your own peril. This has a lot more to offer than appears at first glance.
This is not a bad album, it just should not be on a list of albums one must hear in their lifetime. It is not genre defining and not even an outstanding example of any specific genre. Like Pablo Cruise, a good band with terrific musicians and catchy songs, but not life changing. In this context I can only rate this album as a 1.
A solid 80s offering that likely will be lost over time.
Perfectly pleasant but also unremarkable and unmemorable.
Perfectly average and inoffensive. It's a 3/10 but in the top 1001 albums ever made it is not.
It's not that I hate this album, but how did it even end up on the list? It's basically the definition of a mediocre 90s britpop record. Not a single song caught my attention—that's how bland it was. I didn't necessarily mind it, but did I like it? Eh... Have there been far worse entries on this list? Absolutely! Still, including one of the many britpop records that had been around at the time just doesn't make sense. It's painfully obvious that this list was made by a British person. 2.5 stars
Not bad not great
I wouldn't call this bad but it sounds a bit generic. Sounds very 90s early 00s, but nothing is special about it.
Entirely forgettable. Brit pop sucks in my opinion, even the stuff that is catchy. If this was "number 2 on both the NME and Uncut critics' poll of the albums of the year for 1999" - good lord. 1999 was a dull year in British music.
At first I thought this album sounded like something you’d hear in early episodes of Friends, which made it feel a little behind the times for 1999. But some of the later tracks started to sound a bit more like mid-aughts bands, which would make it a bit ahead of its time. Either way, it was an easy, pleasant listen. Not earth-shattering, but good.
Not bad album started strong with first two songs for me then kind of fizzled out but I didn’t mind the listen.
I don't love it, but I don't hate it. I really liked Comedy, Streets of Kenny, Reinstated, . This might not be in my regular rotation of relistens, but I also wouldn't not relisten to it. It fits the roadtrip vibe as I drive home for Christmas.
Very listenable 90s album
This is incredibly forgettable. I can't figure out why this is on the list. Glad to hear some violins and other instruments show up a bit.
Listened through one and one third times. Some nice trumpet at times. Mostly just bland. A ghost of music past. Doubt this will ever come back around for me
At the first listen I thought, Ideal beach music listen! I googled up. Nope, they are indie Liverpoolians. Very nice yet not very memorable. I probably won’t relisten. Their earlier album, Water Pistol has a higher AllMusic rating. Shack doesn’t seem to have any further releases since 2006.
Oasis spawned some of the most lame, beige sounding Brit pop albums ever in the 90’s bro. I’ve genuinely NEVER seen this record at any store in my entire life and that’s essentially all I do in my free time. Once again, another “we have “insert name here” at home album. Just sounds like a culmination of everyone else at the time. Nothing sticks out or is memorable here. Next.
This reminds me alot of belle and sebastian. I like this very easy listening but not that much meet to it. I can hear the modern indie influence here in like Alex G or Tame Impala. It has a lot of good singing and background vocals, just a fun time. I also have to ask why is this here kinda weird how much Britpop is here and how little electronic music there is
Well Shack passed me by at the time. Damning it with faint praise it’s pleasant. Nothing radical sounding very much like the Britpop of the time with a 60’s harmony twist. 3.5/5.
The first couple of tracks, I started thinking it was a standard alt-rock album. But then, something weird happened. Somewhere around "Streets of Kenny," I started getting in to it more. The song felt like a cross between REM and Blue Oyster Cult (in a good way). And the sudden cutoff was a pleasant surprise. The quick transition to "Re-Instated" was cool, too. But it shouldn't take halfway through the album to be like "wow, that was cool", you know? I'm not always expecting the first track to hit (although that helps), but it shouldn't take THAT long. Top tracks: "Streets of Kenny," "Re-Instated"
For a brit-pop band I've never heard of (no small feat), this is predictably unassuming, unremarkable, plain vanilla 90's alt rock record. Next.
Pretty derivative, but enjoyable enough (except I hate the end of Streets of Kenny. It ends so abruptly that every time I check my phone to see if my music was interrupted for a call. That alone is worth losing a point). Favorite tracks: Natalie's Party (really liked the chorus and the outro), Lend's Some Dough (catchy), Captain's Table.
Listened to it once, not a big impression, not bad, not all that interesting. Decided to give it another listen. Same opinion. Some parts that are a bit cool, some parts that seem fairly derivative, overall not much in the way of unique, the sound itself was either copied by other bands or it's copied itself.
Very nice!
Nineties pop rock, not too deep.
quite good, catchy, indie rock
Overrated and Underwhelming! So this is another one of those albums that got published in a book of 1001 albums to hear before you die. Only God knows how this ended up on the list, while so many other great albums were just passed up. With that being said, it wasn’t horrible music, but there wasn’t anything standout about it either. It was just a basic, middle-of-the-road Britpop album that came out about eight years too late. By 1999, all the bands from the late ’80s and early ’90s that were the flag bearers of Britpop had already moved on, forming new projects and exploring new sounds. While there’s nothing really bad about this album, so it probably doesn’t deserve to get dragged through the mud, putting it in a category of the top 1001 albums really sets a very high bar for it.
Vraiment une belle découverte! je ne connaissais pas du tout.
Interesting
Meh
Hitless BritPop.
the total opposite of fabulous
Questionable inclusion in the list for sure.
It's a good listen. It's rare for this list, but I will explore this group further.
As stated in almost all reviews, this is bland pointless rock that belongs on a list of 10,001 not 1001
Boring. Just like this review. Doesn't even illicit a joke. Unremarkable in the literal sense.
first listen nice sound at times but pretty forgettable
Me fait bcp penser à REM
A well crafted pop album.
I kind of liked this, especially the last few songs.
Some good songs, very different kind of music Slight oasis vibe
If I wanted to listen to Oasis I would just listen to Oasis (and I don't).
Reminds me of a mellower Stone Roses or a not as poppy Oasis. Surprised at how much I actually enjoyed this one.
I loved it 4 stars
I'm not going to go so far as to say that this album deserves to be on this list. It's rather unremarkable. But on second listen, it's actually rather nice in places. I like it a lot more than other albums this list is trying to ram down my throat. It actually reminded me of Oasis at first, but then I realised it actually sounds like the Stone Roses but good.
Nice! Very chill.
Yksinkertaisesti taas hyvää rockia. Vähän Oasis tulee mieleen. Parhaat: Natalie's Party, Comedy, Pull Together
Sounds like an Oasis knock off
This album was chill and easy to listen to, but I didn't find it very inspiring overall. There were some nice moments. I preferred the slower songs in the minor keys.
The end of the millenium was a pretty bleak era for music, and 1999 in particular may be one of the worst years for albums - it was the year Blink 182, Santana and Limp Bizkit ruled the radio. This album speaks to the level of extreme exhaustion in pop rock as a genre. Pretty forgettable stuff - another band that sounds like a tribute act to Oasis's worst tendencies. Despite their best efforts, no amount of orchestral swells and acoustic strumming and affirmative choruses will conjure an emotion from these bland bloated songs. If they made an Almost Famous style movie for Britpop, these would be the b-sides off the fake band's singles. It's not that it's unpleasant, it's that it's barely anything at all.
Who cares? I really didn't need to hear this before I died
This was entirely new to me. Folksy indie rock with slight edge. I liked it, but likely won't seek it out on my own.
Thoughts before listening: Never heard of this band or seen this album cover, so I have no idea what to expect. I'm sure I am way off but the cover looks like it would be like sea shanty punk or something....it'll probably be some sort of dance music though. Review: Should have known it was mostly forgotten 90s/00s British pop rock. I was ready to hate on this, and after the first few songs it got better. This started out sounding like Oasis or Blur retreads, but there are some pretty unique and cool songs on the second half of the album such as "Streets of Kenny" and "Re-Instated". Overall this probably isn't one of the 1,001 best albums I've ever heard, but I'll give it 3-stars for having some interesting moments.
Quite nice
- Das Album dürfte bisher zu den weniger gehörten Platten in dem Game hier gehören - Habe noch nie von der Band oder dem Album gehört - Ich hatte genau zero Erwartungen und es hat mich direkt abgeholt - Die Jungs haben teilweise einen krassen Oasis-Einschlag finde ich, insofern verwundert es nicht zu lesen, dass die 2006 bei Noel Gallaghers Lable gesigned haben - Ich kann das nur als richtig sympathische Mukke beschreiben. Das ist meine Empfindung dazu. Ich habe nur basierend auf der Musik das Gefühl, ich mag die Leute als Menschen dahinter, obwohl ich noch nicht Mal ein Bild von denen gesehen habe :D - Eckt nicht besonders an, aber geht dafür auch runter wie Öl. - Könnte von seiner ganzen Anmutung her auch ganz wunderbar in den Scrubs Soundtrack passen. - Es wundert mich ein bisschen, dass die mit der Art Musik 1999 nicht erfolgreicher gewesen sind, hätte man nämlich durchaus vermuten können - Hab ich sehr gern gehört und werde ich auf jeden Fall wieder drauf zurückkommen! Rating: 3,75-4/5
- Again Britpop, ABER irgendwie mit einem coolen folkigen, alternative Twist. - Hat mich ganz gut unterhalten, ist jetzt aber leider nichts spezielles hängen geblieben. 3/5
Tolles Album
It's like the Bluetones, but without the one Bluetones song that everyone loves. It's inoffensive, but it might as well be any other 90s indie/britpop album.
it's fine
Average indie from the 90s
This list of 1001 albums is very British. This album isn’t bad, but if I died before hearing it, I’d be OK with it.
Never heard of this band but I mostly enjoyed it.
This album was just "OK" and definitely doesn't belong on this list. Mediocre brit pop at best but offers nothing novel or interesting aside from 1 or 2 decent tracks. Standout Tracks: Comedy, Daniella
Ok, but I couldn’t get interested in it at all.
A lush Indie / Britpop gem The emotion comes through so clear and honest and had the entire musical development of the 90's to help push it towards something special. To be considered with Oasis and the Verve
Honestly, an album I feel like I heard 1000 times before. Some fun tracks but pretty rough. Might be a 2 or 3 if it came out 10 years earlier
I had higher expectations. I guess it's not really the type of songs i like. Cover: 5/5 favorite track: Daniella least favorite track: I want you Would listen again: no
Melodic mellow brit pop Stand out track - pull together
Thought this was going to be terrible, but it's really just unassuming britpop that doesn't say anything interesting but has a few nice songs Favorite Tracks: Comedy, Pull Together
God this is so bland. I hate Britpop. How was this ever deemed essential? Maybe the most offensive inclusion so far - this is the opposite of an album you should hear before you die. It was less horrible when I hit the folky middle section, but then straight back to C-Tier Britpop dreck
Hard to imagine anyone will hate HMS Fable but will anyone really love it? It’s a great sunny day driving album, very bright, nice melodies. It deserves more listens. 7.6/10
Never heard of this group. It was listenable, but didn't seem to merit including in this list.
Meh
Meh
Standard power pop and jangle pop at the time. I am hearing their influences, from Britpop contemporaries (mostly Oasis) to the Beatlesesque power pop artists of the 70s (e.g. Badfinger, Big Star), overlaying a modern electronic noisy background. Too many weak songs that sound too much like generic 90s alt rock. Their techniques are not articulated as well as similar sounding artists. For example, Elliot Smith would have done the lo-fi "Daniella" better, The Verve would have done the shoegaze "Streets of Kent" better, and Teenage Fanclub would do background distortion against bubblegum vocals in "I Want You" better. The first 2 tracks are a strong start. There are a few other decent tracks here, but most of it is at best ok, often junk.
Its not like its the worst album ever, just a little done with all these unimpressive albums so 1 star, even though I could probably enjoy it more.
Not memorable. Decent and standard music.
Je commence à être tanné d’avoir autant d’albums de centre dentaire, mettez moi au moins des albums weirds qui essaye de quoi de spécial
Chilled 90s vibe
I had not heard of this band or album. I didn’t dislike it or love it. To me it was average or slightly less than, mostly forgetable. I saved one track on my 1001 playlist, “Lend’s some dough”. 2.25/5
This was a solid album. Good songwriting and nice melodies make it standout amongst Brit pop/rock. Twelve songs with a total run time under 48 minutes and a good variety ranks it even higher for me. Makes perfect sense that they have label connections to the Lightning Seeds and Noel Gallagher as some moments in their songs definitely lean into that sound which is not a bad thing at all. One of a handful of bands so far on the list that I knew nothing about, but that I will be revisiting.
Overall I was mostly bored with this. A few parts that struck a chord with the emo kid in me, so rounding up from 2.
Sounds like some late 90s radio friendly rock. Like british gin blossoms. Not a bad listen but nothing really stood out.
If The Cult album we just heard was the epitome of Dad Rock, this album is the epitome of Pussy Rock. Don’t get me wrong, I can fuck with some Pussy Rock. But today is not that day my friends. I’m being generous and rounding up to 2*, but I’ll never purposefully listen to this band again. 1.75/5
How much did they pay to get on this list? 🤔
It's not bad, but not essential at all. I'm absolutely sure there's over 1000 more important records than this one. The songs remind me of Oasis and Train. As I said, not terrible, but nothing special and not trend setting. I don't understand why it's on the list. Favorite song: Streets of Kenny
3.5/5
Enjoyable enough
Cool
normal rock. nothing special
More and more I see that determining cult albums is very subjective. It was clear with so much questionable artistic expression like rap. This is very light pop, with hardly any previous or subsequent life, but I liked it, subjectively, of course.
Started out really poorly but the last 3rd was excellent. Makes it hard to rate, I'll never listen to the album again, but I'll probably pick some songs out and give them a go.
I was ready to pan this so hard but several people that I respect quite like this album so I gave it another pass just in case I was in a bad mood when I first heard it or something. I still didn't enjoy it. But I didn't loathe it like I did on the first listen-through. It's pretty generic 90s soft rock and that's never going to appeal to me. Sure, it has shades of Oasis and that's alright. And yeah, maybe a few of the songs have some clever lyrics. That's worth something. The guitar tones and production values are killer and I'm here for that. But where it falls short is that it's just... listless. The Shack boys never seem to muster enough energy behind any of these songs for me to really give a shit. And so I don't.
This was a surprise. Knew nothing about the band. A collection of well crafted songs with good harmonies.
I think this album might almost sound too good. I wouldn't say overproduced, just kinda "perfect". Just because it sounds perfect though doesn't mean the music itself is perfect. I've never heard of Shack and just by looking at their repertoire and popularity, I feel most people haven't either. With that said, they certainly sound ahead of their time in a weird way, so I wonder if there's some underlying influence with this album. This album is definitely on the poppier side of indie rock, it's called Britpop for a reason. I can see why some people may roll their eyes at how cheesy some of these songs are, and many are admittedly cheesy, but for me, I enjoy it. It feels like a consistent sail through indie rock's foundation that would later be tinkered with and built upon in the 2000s. I mean there's not a single bad song here, right? And that has to count for something. I loved the songs "Comedy" and the following "Pull Together". I can't say the instrumentation was all that adventurous across this thing but I liked the slower nature of a song like "Captain's Table" and I enjoyed the theatrical strings on "Natalie's Party". The closer "Daniella" might be my favorite song here instrumentally, I love the mellower and almost haunting acoustic guitar here. The nature themes of the album come to a head in the lyrics, I love their cryptic nature. The entire record is just so peaceful and simple. I'm shocked by how little I have to say about this thing considering how I enjoyed almost every song. I've always been a sucker for pop, growing up, and even now. Give me a catchy, simple chorus and I'm hooked, and this album is filled to the brim with them. Weirdly, it reminded me a lot of Ween's poppier songs from around this time. I think the second half is weaker than the first but overall, really dug this album.
0.5/5 - boring, generic songs with cringey lyrics and flat vocals, one of the worst albums I’ve heard in recent memory
El brit-pop está en el origen de todo lo que hace Shack, pero con un estilo propio, muy melódico y sencillo. En este sentido destacan los dos primeros temas del álbum, "Natalie's Party" y, especialmente, "Comedy". Más adelante, "Lend's Some Dough" es una alegre invitación al baile. Con destreza pop el álbum se va deslizando entre estupendas y sencillas armonías hacia un final en el que, para mí, destacan los ecos "beatles" de "I Want You" y "Since I Met You" con su sarcástico "sólo se vive dos veces".
Aggressively mediocre and would not be on the list if they were not British. Bland lyrics, fine enough music I guess. Light 3.
This was okay. Felt a little derivative of oasis
Another 90's british band I've never heard of. I did kind of like it though. Definitely felt some Oasis and Beatles coming through. Probably a 3.5 but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
Reminded me a lot of Oasis. I’m sure if I gave this more time it would grow on me but it didn’t grip me in one day.
1.5/5. Very 90s and not good.
Not objectively bad, but pretty boring. Wished i was listening to the stone roses again tbh.
напомнило (мой опыт с) элбоу: вроде местами интересно, сторителинг, музыка приятная, вокалист старается, метафоры и паны, но почему-то веет отчаянием от этого
The album was okay in that it was enjoyable and not annoying, but the significance of being on the list is somewhat lost here. In trying to stay true to the project, there is a just a bit of expectation that when an unknown album/band is encountered, that they bring something that makes sense as to why they are here. Maybe there is a piece of history in the band itself that lends to this album's inclusion, but this largely has nothing to with the band as much as the music of the album. Expectations are not believed to be unreasonably high here, but the lack of anything remarkable and the accompanying disappointment in this album calls that into question.
it’s not awful but just plain indie , i’m sure others would love this but i’d never be compelled to listen to it again .
Its what I imagine Bob Dylan would sound like if he was a Gen Xer and born in the 70s. Very vanilla 90s rock music, not indie rock, it's quite hard to describe as it has no distinguishing features. Not my thing at all, why is this anywhere near 1001 albums to hear before you die?
When I saw the album title and cover I got exciting thinking this might be an album full of sea shanties. Sadly, it is not.
One of the more normal, easy to listen to albums I've had in this entire project.
Sort of a travis and better than Ezra combo
Empty, soulless
It’s fine, it’s late 90’s Brit-pop. There it on the background and no one will complain. Will I ever revisit it? Probably not
Splendid
Competent, but typical late 90's pop. How many times do I need to hear this before I die? Daniella was interesting though. Thankfully it didn't take too long to get there.
Shades of Oasis, Spoon, R.E.M, Blur. Just a bummer that all those bands are better. 2.5/5
Another new artist for me. This was 'ok.' Doubt I would listen again. Nothing grabbed me about it.
Yuck
Boring
Never heard of 'em. But, we are here to listen to new things, so I listened. It was okay, but after a while it just got to a point where I had to stop. I also checked out a couple of there other albums, but I don't think I need to come back for any more.
Extremely mid britpop. The vocals feel amateurish which are only further contrasted by quite accomplished instrumentation. There are occasional poingant quieter moments that definitely shone brighter than the rest. A lot of it feels grabbing on the coattails of Oasis and the like. It's trying.
Fairly vanilla Brit pop. 2 stars. 2 stars
How many terrible Brit bands are on this list anyways? Forgettable. Knock off of Oasis.
Why is this here? The '90s was a great decade for music, but not EVERY ALBUM was amazing. This is a nothingburger. So many artists were doing this type of music during the period too, and it's not like Shack did anything amazing with the sound. Why is this album here?
This album is absolutely great. Loved every song!
Good LP, enjoyed it and would be happy to heat again.
tapped out not me
Bit boring
OK. Sounds like a lot of other stuff from the time.
To me this album sounds like really easy listening 90s radio music. I'm a bit confused why this album out of all albums made it on the 1001 albums list. It sounds very basic and like all the other music in the genre that came out around this time. It's crazy that this artist only has 18k monthly listeners on spotify too. Streets of Kenny was a pretty cool song though. Probably my favorite on the album except the ending of that song was so abrupt and terrible. Like why did they end it like that?????? Since I Met You was also a decent song. The psychedelic nature of it was kind of a surprise.
Not sure how this one snuck in... Its good, its fine. I like the songs, some songs were better than others. I probably won't revisit, but I wouldn't be mad if it was on. I guess it was somewhat forgettable?
Really really good! Surprised I’ve not heard of them as this was definitely my sort of thing back at that time! I guess the charts were full of similar artists and seeing as this lot didn’t have a lot of commercial chart success, they escaped me. Decent songs, vocals and variety. Reminds of ‘World Party’ and ‘Dodgy’ but with a little hint of ‘Waterboys’ folky business. Liked it!
This was a nice surprise! Never heard of them (although I'd heard of the Pale Fountains). You could tell there was a link to Cast which was more than just geographical. Nice guitar textures and some good tunes. I'll be giving this lot another listen soon. A low 4.
Nice album, pleasant melodies that only reveal themselves after repeated listening.
Never head of them. This needs a relisten.
I don't know what it is supposed to be. As a slow shant album it gets there.
pleasantly surprised
Pretty good.
Didn’t change my life, but wasn’t bad.
This was such an easy listen. It really reminded me of like Gin Blossoms, Toad the Wet Sprocket, those real easy listening vibes.
Escuchable. Sin más.
Brit pop assez générique, plutôt agréable sans être transcendante. L’impression d’avoir déjà entendu ça plein de fois. Ce genre de musique marche aujourd’hui principalement avec la nostalgie de ceux qui l’ont aimé à l’époque. “Beautiful” est celle qui me reste. C'est du pré JJ72. “The Streets of Kenny”, “Natalie's Party”... “Cornish town” est cheesy à souhait. Après c’est toujours plus soutenable que tout le hip-hop que je me tape à côté, donc 3. Ca n’a pas grand chose à faire dans cette liste mais ça devait faire une bonne première partie pour Oasis.
This album is incredibly "meh". I'm very surprised that it's included on this list. It didn't seem to ever get much commercial success, and the album doesn't do anything creative, musically.
Not offensively bad... just why? Did the guy who made this list know someone in the band? Just no context as to why this would be included.
Watered down Spin Doctors. Might be simply mediocre, but doubly offensive for even being on this list.
I really like the instrumental compositions for the most part. I'm not sure why, but I'm not feeling the vocals. Maybe it's the mixing on some of the tracks.
Britpop. Ni fu ni fa.
Escuchable. Sin más. Un 3.
Good 90s British Rock. A la Oasis and Hootie & the Blowfish
Completely forgettable. Not bad, mind, but I see no reason why it is on this list.
It was just OK.
Never heard of this but it is brilliant
Melodic but kind of annoying Britpop.
Sub-LAs stuff I'd never heard of, and I liked this stuff
Melodic but generic rock. Nothing jumps out impresses. Ok for background music, I guess
Gefällt mir nicht.
Should have just put another Oasis album on the thing, because at least Oasis can get credit for sounding like Oasis back during the days when Oasis was putting out bigtime Oasis albums. This one's just derivative, completely uninteresting
1800s British sailors but if they make music that was boring to listen to
okay
It was fine, which is about all I can say for it. Nothing outstanding, and just an odd selection for the top 1001 albums. Very much a product of its time, although does sound a little like Ted Leo before Ted Leo.
I wasn't big fan of the first half - the vocals seemed very monotonic and uninspired, and had a generic feel throughout. But wow the second half was amazing ...
Mediocre britpop, did not enjoy it, plus I don't like the cover art
would like to revisit this is the good kind of indie unlike that yucky The Smiths
i like this
Awful…generic Brit pop
From the name and album cover I thought this would be Irish jigs or something. This album is nice, it has a calming feel-good rock vibe. Definitely that late 90’s alt feel
That I haven’t heard of this is foreboding. And I listen. And it’s not bad. But must listen? Not even close.
I enjoyed this. They're not The La’s, but there’s plenty here to keep you listening. Natalie’s Party recalls Oasis somehow; Streets Of Kenny reminds me so much of The Moody Blues; Reinstated begins with a brass intro straight from the Burt Bacharach songbook; and in Cornish Town, Michael Head sounds so much like James Taylor. The band can be poppy or folky. The songwriting is stylish. Never heard of them before.
I am underwhelmed.
Decent pop/alterative. Not really my thing
Borders on yelling (not singing). I like the album cover! Reminds me of Traffic's John Barleycorn album cover
Britpop. Ni fu ni fa.