Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Never tired of hearing There She Goes on the radio, but didn’t know the artists’ name. Solid album worth more listening
4 stars for There She Goes, best song about drug addiction!
i never got into it at the time (just the singles) so it's a treat to listen through the LP properly for the first time. what a DELIGHT!
Superb 👌
60s inspired upbeat
A perfect record
A love letter to the sounds of British institutions like The Who that somehow managed to also be a precursor to what would become known as Britpop. There She Goes may be their most popular song they ever released but don't sleep on the rest of this!
Now this is what I'm talking about. Irresistable rhythms, perfect melodies seemingly beamed straight from the cosmos itself, all unerpinned by and earthy, acoustic heart - The La's is as simple and straightforward as a couple of lads with guitars and a drumkit can sound. There is an energy and sense of dynamics which surpasses anything the following Britpop boom was able to muster, and it sounds every bit as fresh as it did 35 years ago. The mastermind behind it all, Lee Mavers was/is famously unhappy with this particular attempt - one of many throughought the mid-to-late-80s - to capture his clutch of compositions on magnetic tape, but an increasingly frustrated Go! Discs released it regardless. In the end, my wish would be to grant Lee the objectivity to simply stand back and see what a classic he has created. A joy from start to finish, this has been one of my favourite albums from the moment I first listened to it - the five stars were ensured as soon as I scrolled down to see that familiar green, half-tone eye staring back at me.
I've loved this album for many years.
Brilliant, love it.
Already really liked There She Goes and the rest of the album is almost as good! I’ll be listening to a lot of this again
Another new to me album and band. I just listened to the 12 tracks from the original release, at 35 minutes I played through several times. Solid Britpop with his vocals. I enjoyed this one.
¡Qué gozada este disco para un domingo insulso! The La’s, que parecían una one-hit wonder band, se quedaron en una one-album wonder band, porque yo creo que aquí hay más de un hit. A la archiconocida “There She Goes” le podemos sumar “Timeless Melody” o “Way Out”. A comienzos de los 90, este disco abrió la puerta al Britpop estando fuertemente arraigado en el rock más clásico de las islas (The Beatles, The Kinks). Un álbum con toques retro pero con unas guitarras exquisitas que forman una obra que todavía hoy es una delicia para escuchar.
Baustelle, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Tolles Album!
Um verdadeiro achado, hoje a lista me alegrou. Banda e disco incríveis. O som deles parece completamente desconectado dessa linha do tempo mundana que vivemos. Em tempos, ele remete aos sons retrôs da década de 1960, canalizando riffs de Kinks e melodias de Beatles. Em outros tempos, eles parecem traçar linhas diretas precedendo seus contemporâneos, como Oasis, Radiohead, Coldplay, R.E.M., Blur… e por aí vai. Fica claro que foi um disco gravado de maneira meticulosa. Os cortes são cirúrgicos. Faixas de curta duração que são perfeitamente balanceadas e compostas. E mesmo assim, aparentemente a banda ficou insatisfeita com o resultado final, e por isso este é o único lançamento do grupo. Uma verdadeira pena, consigo facilmente imaginar eles sendo titãs do Britpop juntos de Oasis e Blur. Ao todo, um disco que se encaixa integralmente no meu viés musical pessoal, como se tivesse sido gravado para mim. Então obrigado! Com ele, dei cinco estrelas para três discos seguidos, daqui a pouco ele gera algo terrível pra balancear. 5/5
Great vibe, play in the car on a drive sometime
9/10
Right, in a very real way - this is not a review, this is a 'They're called the La's, I'm from Liverpool, 'There She Goes' rarely leaves my Spotify rotation every summer, and this is a very servicable album. I'm giving it five stars but I'm hopelessly, hopelessly biased aren't I
An imperfect album only because one song is more perfect than the others, but if this doesn't get a 5 I'm not sure anything will! Love how you can hear their influences and who they influenced, despite having a clear and recognisable sound, even with so much variety on the album.
Amazing 60's pop jangle throwback as good as, if not better, than BJMs Take it From the Man and Thank God for Mental Illness. Really cool callback to Buddy Holly rocking too. I Can't Sleep, Doledrum, IOU and the closer Looking Glass stand out, obv besides their number 1 hit.
Legendary album. For me it's also the quintessential Liverpool album (sorry John & Paul)
A very good listen.
This is a lovely wee album. Why have I never sought this one out before? So much more than the basic Britpop some reviewers are saying. Great songs, some clever musical touches and a bit of variety thrown in. Love it
Absolute classic, one of the great british debut albums. My first 5 stars.
There she goes !
Este lo tengo en vinilo de cuando salió y fue amor directo. No me canso de escucharlo, no pierde brillo. Pop puro. Tengo en favoritas: "Son of a Gun", "Timeless Melody", "There She Goes", "Feelin'", "Way Out" y "Looking Glass".
# Album Name: The La's # Artist: The La's # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: Great album for me. Really enjoyable throughout. It has a very acoustic folksy sound for the majority of the album so i can see why some may not like it. It doesnt really move out of that gear apart from there she goes and looking glass. Theres plenty of good songs on this album though. Son of a gun, timeless melody, feelin are all crackers. The album finishes with the brilliant looking glass. # Top Tunes: Son of a gun, timeless melody, feelin, there she goes, looking glass # Would I listen to it again? Yes
You know at first I was thinking why is there so much britpop in this album generator, and then the longer I listened the more I found myself vining with it. I’m gonna go with 5 stars here, but I’m still not completely sold
Looking Glass actually > There She Goes
Loved this from start to finish
A consistent really good album. 5 stars or A-.
One of the best records of the ‘90s came just at the dawning of the decade. This is a too-brief but letter-perfect collection of songs. I remember the advance buzz and the record delivered the goods (and then some).That’s a pretty rare feat — one thinks of the Stone Roses as one of the era’s few other examples. The reprising closer is a mark of a confident (and perhaps a bit prideful) band, a rich stew, artfully pulling together all of the best elements of the record just heard. One gets skiffle-y notes of early Beatles and Stones and Kinks.
Still magnificent
Brilliant album that’s more than just the hit single There She Goes. A blueprint for indie music that followed. Timeless Melody and Looking Glass are two standout tracks but every track is strong.
That is a great album. I've never heard them before!
You clearly hear the influence a very famous Liverpool band had on The La's. I also hear some hints of The Who and strangely, Ian Drury. I only knew of "There She Goes" off this album. Which stands out like a Georgous Golden Unicorn, basking in the sunlight in an otherwise dark cavern. Just a beautiful song. Everything else(musically and lyrically) in my humble opinion just doesn't seem to match, it just sounds like a completely different album and band. It's not horrible, just different. Instead of eating a typical PB&J sandwich, it's like eating a PB& pickled sandwich, just a wierd combo, I hope that makes sense. Pickles are great, they just don't belong with peanut butter, although, I am positive somebody out there likes that... just not me.
I like this take on British island-influenced rock.
I went in expecting a one hit wonder that didn't deserve a place on the list. What I heard was a slightly unpolished gem. What a shame that these guys only ever had one album. Though judging from their 10 releases on Spotify, they gave people enough to obsess over. According to Wikipedia, they struggled to get the sound they wanted over the course of three years. I'd say that those efforts paid off pretty well, as this is a varied and interesting debut, with loads of great songs. 'There She Goes' stands out like a manicured thumb on an otherwise guitar callused hand. I suspect that it may have been there undoing. It must be hard to manage the expectations of people only want a full album of that but miss out on brilliant tracks like 'I Can't Sleep' and 'Looking Glass'. But I genuinely loved this album and think that one hit could have easily been removed, or replaced with one of the many outtake versions. Hopefully they're still getting royalty checks for all of the soundtracks that used it in the 90s though.
This album used to be on my regular rotation during the 90s, it's been a while since I'd listened to it. It's difficult for me to listen subjectively, to separate the nostalgia from the album - being (a tiny) part of the Liverpool music scene in the 90s, The La's meant something to all of us. While I didn't know any of them personally, (realistically there was a decade between us gigging), I had mates who did know them and we played the same venues, (Phil Hayes once told me to get the fuck out of his office!), so I felt close enough connection. As for the album itself, I've really enjoyed re-listening to it today, so many great songs! But the album does feel like a thrown together collection of songs, rather than a coherently flowing track list. I've read the stories that the record company were exhausted of waiting for Lee Mavers' approval, so released the album anyway. Whatever Mavers uncompromisingly envisaged as the sound of the album, I'm glad that a version of it did see the light of day.
Hoy toca banda desconocida, de un subgénero que me gusta mucho como es el britpop (ahora estoy cayendo que he escuchado mil veces "There she goes" pero no sabía que era de ellos). Desde el primer tema ya se nota la tonada sucia y particular de Manchester y de bandas como The Stone Roses, además de algunas sutilezas en la música de los Beatles. Tiene en principio un sonido más crudo que bandas como Blur u Oasis pero con canciones igual de pegadizas y bailables/colgadas. Suena a rock viejo. Algo que vuelve a las raíces. Muy muy buena banda
Total delight! I used to find there she goes way over played and slightly annoying. Why’s it taken me so long to listen to an entire album by The La’s. Brilliant. 4.6
This was quite interesting. Wasn't exactly what I was expecting. Lately I've been so scared of any assignment from the 90s thinking it'll be electronic music that I've grown tired of. So this was delightful. Some of it was nice and short and sweet. Some of it went on and on kind of repetitive. But some of it was genuinely really interesting to me. I liked it. A lot.
There she goes again
Loved it, didn’t know they were the first to record “There she goes”.
Oh, they wrote that song??? Cool vocals, great instrumentation, some good songs aside from "There She Goes," but does not resonate much with me overall.
I adore this album. Of course, everyone knows the big one off of this, but I think the rest of it is excellent as well. The songwriting is top notch and catchy. The whole album, to me, is like the Beatles meets the Who, meets the Violent Femmes. Just a great time front to back.
Tremendous pop album. Once again a delightful diversity of sound. I keep being surprised by the range of breakout 90's pop-rock bands.
Classic
I love this album and the whole Lee Mavers thing. Firstly great pop songs, not a bad tune on it and secondly the band play it straight which makes for a great listen, with the melodies to the fore at all times. So listen Dimery death freaks and Jennifer Egan fans, pop this one on in the car for a decent road trip and let the whole thing just wash over you. As the 21st century would say, its like, you know, like, awesome. The thing I love about Lee is that he knew he had one shot in the locker, fired it, and checked his weapon. Of the other stuff, Open Your Heart is fabulous, but the rest is pretty basic, this album is the one that works. Lee did it all, went weird in the studio, wanted 1960's dust in his eight track, all that batshit crazy pop songwriter stuff we love, and then retired to live on his There She Goes royalties (About 4,000 pound a month if you are interested synchronized swimming fans). Great pop record.
My mate, Peter from Scratches, put me onto this album when it came out. he loved it with a passion, and I loved it too. Is it possibly the album the Beatles might have made in 1965 if they hadn't made it big? The tunes are all first rate, and There She Goes is one of those all-time classic, can't-be-improved, \"play it again\" pop songs. Apparently, Lee Mavers kept re-recording and remixing and polishing the album, and the record company finally took over the tapes and had Steve Lillywhite do a (quite sympathetic) mix for release. Lee immediately disowned the record as not meeting what he heard in his head, and he never recorded again. That left this as one of the perfect one-album bands. (If you look at a list of great single-album bands, many of them are artists who were fairly prolific, but only released a single album in a particular line-up. I mean, Blind Faith and Derrick and the Dominoes often appear in those kinds of list, but you could hardly accuse the members of those bands of being \"single album\" artists). In this case, he NEVER did anything else, leaving this perfect (but possibly imperfect?) single document. It's a massive \"what if\" scenario... I mean, Noel Gallagher took this formula and ran with it to great success. The songs are great, the playing has a charming mid-60s British invasion sound (early Beatles, Byrds, etc) and you can sing along to every song on the record. I have played this album a lot over the past 30 years. I keep a spare copy, just in case one gets damaged. There is never a time that I wouldn't happily throw it on the turntable. This is one of my all-time favourite records, and I find it hard to think of any way to improve it. Five stars.
Pensé que se trataba de un disco de los 60,70, pero no es así porque pertenece al 1990. También me esperaba algo diferente, ya que apuntaba escuchar pop/brit pop/etc, pero tiene un sentido de pertenencia en el folk, lo que hace a este disco hermoso. Es uno de esos proyectos que después de escucharlo decís mierda, que musica hermosa. No entendí las reviews/críticas de que se parece a un disco de los beatles o de oasis cuando los dos son grupos mucho más rockeros. Este disco si se pareciera a algo es a una variación con gran influencia de los beatles en sus discos más experimentales, pero esto sucede principalmente en pocas de las últimas canciones. Lo acústico predomina y por más de que no sea folk es una especie de folk progresivo. Escuché en este disco un poco de harry styles, Radiohead y blur, por lo que enteiendo que la actitud y algunas de las ideas de este grupo influenciaron estos entes musicales. No me aburrió en ningún momento, es más, me conmovió y debo reconocer que es un gran disco. La útima canción no se me hizo pesada y me gustaría qeu esto estuviera en Spotify. Un disco que cierra y dan ganas de tirarse simplemente a escuchar música, las letras en partes defraudan, pero la psicodelia propuesta, la manera en que las melodías que ya escuché no me cansan y la cantidad inmensa de buenos estribillos o frases que se te quedan/llaman la atención para bien hacen que este disco sea una experiencia, una vez más, de música hermosa 9/10.
love it
I had no idea this was the group that did "There She Goes" - I've always wondered who did that song! And the rest of the album was great too!
Great album - takes me back to my salad days!
Probably my favorite that I've gotten so far. I was completely unfamiliar with this album before listening, and it blew me away! Great variety in music and really captures a unique sound that fits right in between 80s pop rock and the onset of grunge.
Really enjoyed this, only knew one song well, but it wasn't even the one I liked most. My favourites were son of a gun, doledrum, timeless melody, and the absolute best was looking glass. Just wish they had done more, but better one 5 🌟 album than five 1 🌟 ones
it was remarkable
For one album with one main hit i was surpirsed how much i enjoyed basically all the songs from this album. it's got a lot to enjoy 1) Strong start. Vibey, captivating lyrically and audio wise. 2) head nodder, a song you can feel in your body, vibey amping up 3) Good 4) funky def a bop 5) There she goes. a classic. its not suprising that its a one hit wonder song. its just interesting that it is considering that its half way into the album and the songs before definitely were good. This song is basically repetitive vibes which i guess fits the people can learn it quickly and obsess over it pipeline. 6) slack jaw groovey 6/10 7) i like it. relateable. almost that surfer rock guitar? 8) a little bit harder and rougher vocally, in a good way, more of a rock and roll influence 9) more rock. def a top 10) ooh i love the vibe switch up. darker, slower pace. love death vibes 11) might be my favorite. full on rockabilly. picking up the pace. 12) its interesting how many of these albums end with an extra long song. this is a good one
I first heard ‘There She Goes’ while watching the movie ‘So I Married an Ax Murderer’ in 1993. Thought it was great. Moved on with my life. Then a few years later my great friend Marianne reintroduced me to the band. I borrowed the CD from her and did not want to give it back. Eventually I did after many requests and gentle threats. All of the songs are my favorites!
Every single song is a winner. I love love love this album so much and remember a time pre-Internet when I kept looking for more The La's. I realized I've been rating albums against Sgt. Pepper. Like I rarely give a 5 b/c how can anything come close to Pepper. But I'm seeing that as a mistake and trying to be pure to the question, "is this an album to listen to before you die." The La's is indeed such an album. Simply perfect.
This a great opportunity to review a good friend and chat a little! A favorite!
This was a big surprise. I thought they were a one hit wonder with There She Goes. But this sounds more at home on 2022 Indie Rock radio than 1990
Worth owning the album just for of the greatest songs ever written, plus a few other solid tracks. Great Brit Pop.
Very fun and 60s vibe
An old favorite of mine, that song way out always improves my mood
Tidy, la.
Going in I only knew their hit. The album was really nice. Despite never having heard it, it gave me a pang of nostalgia. And the last song on the album hit me like a ton of bricks. Very glad to have listened.
I have a real soft spot for this album. It has some fantastic songs on it.
Great album
I actually am disappointed this group ended after this, because the album was really strong and punchy. I think if they had written another album they might have become massive successes.
There she goes.... Great record
Wow! I've never heard of this band. This was such an amazing experience! This is why I signed up for this generator. A solid 5/5 a British delight! I can definitely see the influence this band had on other bands I've listened to like The Clinic. Thanks!
Rubbing my chubby cock on the curtains after dribbling down my ball sack. What a seminal record this is and for me, what a semenal record too. In case if haven't realised, I jizzed and then wiped it on the curtains.
I really liked this album. I had to turn on the lyrics to understand him but was glad I did. They were rilly gud
You would never ever believe this was an album where the lead singer was such a perfectionist over that it drove the rest of the band insane. That being said this shit is great, timeless melody, freedom song and looking glass would be my ‘must listens’ because everyone knows there she goes right. You also have to attribute this (and the stone roses first album) for basically being ‘proto britpop’. As wether you like that kinda music or not (I love it) the la’s could be seen as the earliest starting point. The album lacks filler but the songs are so short it wouldn’t matter if there was 5/5
Brilliant album. Well worth a listen!
Fuck this shit. 5 star. Best album yet.
Love this album - especially Doledrum.
Very good stuff
A record in my sweet spot, a high water mark of my college radio prime. I still have the vinyl shared promotionally by the record co. Every cut works well on its terms, and the record is the antithesis of the one-hit-wonder in that sense, but it’s hard to believe they never made another album – sound like the perfect got to be the enemy of the good. The final track still amazes, pulling together the records many to build something new; the whole is very much more the sum of its parts, which might also be said of the record a whole.
Really the only question is do you like this style of music...early Kinks, mersey beat, brit jangle pop? Because if you do...this album is quite nearly perfect. Song after song pure pop perfection. Gorgeous melodies, tasteful, beautiful arrangements, sweet ringing guitars. For my sensibilities it is, as said...nearly perfect. 5 🌟
Never heard this before but it’s quite good! Awesome early 90s alt rock. Bit of a “one hit wonder” with There She Goes, but honestly every song on this album could have been a massive hit.
What a fantastic album, captures the spirit and feel of classic 60s British pop (is it Mersybeat) better than any British pop album I can think of. It manages to sound both fresh and nostalgic at the same time. And every song is a winner. Of course the omnipresent There She Gies is the hilight, the song everyone knows but no one knows who sings it. I love this album for its sound, its gorgeous and utterly tasteful production but mostly for its fantastic songs. 5 🌟
muito bom salvei lá
There she goes again!!!
It’s some good Brit pop. And has “there she goes” on it.
This album surprised me with being better than I thought it would be. Listened to it almost three times in a day. The songs are interesting, and they didn't all sound the same.
Love it... first 5 star album. Always loved "There She Goes", hadn't heard the rest, and am glad that I did!
Really enjoyed this, only knew one song well, but it wasn't even the one I liked most. My favourites were son of a gun, doledrum, timeless melody, and the absolute best was looking glass. Just wish they had done more, but better one 5 🌟 album than five 1 🌟 ones!
All I knew ahead of time is There She Goes, mostly from So I Married an Axe Murderer (which I watched again this summer and it has held up pretty well). I like this album! Different songs remind me of different bands --- lots of REM sounds, a bit of U2 and The Beatles, British Invasion era Rolling Stones and The Kinks, and even an iota of The Monkees. None of that is bad. The song Feelin' has me feelin' pretty darn good. (It's just too short!) Would have rated it a 4 after the first listen. Rounding up to 5 after the second.
One of the greatest songs ever written and some other great songs. I own this on vinyl and couldn't hit the 5 button faster!
This album fuckin rules.
Probably heard this a 100 times and is still awesome.
banger pretty fucking good i like yep
It's brilliant. I think I know every note. The most famous song is probably the worst in it. Like The Stone Roses, just so frustrating they didn't make more at their peak.
This was a good album. I really liked it. The last track was exceptionally great imo. That is all.
Good album this. There's a smash hit which is not at all representative of the rest, which is a good thing
This is fucking awesome.
The definitive scouse album. Cosmic stuff!
This was a great album! Ironically Failure was probably my favorite
A really enjoyable album, if you didn't know better you'd think it came out during the 90s Britpop wave, instead this might be the album that inspired it. A solid 3.75* rounded up to 4*
This was a very pleasant, unexpected surprise. I loved the retro feel. Other than “There She Goes” I was not familiar with the band.
I really enjoyed this album some well written pop tunes. Reminded me of the 60s
7.5/10
7/10
4/5
Great proto-britpop, coming out years before Oasis, Blur or even the Stone Roses did. Whilst none of it does sounds particularly innovatoive with a 2026 ear, the songs and tunes are pretty timeless - the Sixpence None the Richer cover of There She Goes amplifies this for me. Lee Maver's voice doesn't really do much for me, and I'm not entirely convinced the music landscape would be any different had the La's made any follow-up work, but they;re pretty remarkable as a one-album wonder
Not sure how this got past me. Incredible early jangle pop album that influenced so many other artists I would love in the following decade. This will get played many more times.
I like it a lot as an album, definitely would relisten but mo song stands out
I didn't know anything about this band or this album, but I really enjoyed listening to this.
A sneaky good album. If the Pixies came from the UK, they would sound something like this.
Vraiment sympa !! There She Goes et Feelin' gros bangers
This has a very underground feel to it. Like an album that is your favourite band's favourite album. Or like those limited releases or small shows where everybody who listened to it started a band. It sounds like that. I mean it seems like they disintegrated after one album, so it has be one of THOSE bands. Lots of the album has has punk rock-lengthed songs, only deviation from that is the slow-burner 7-nearly-8 minute long song at the end. Even though a lot can be described musically as jangle-pop, the mentality is clearly punk. I mean the idea of this was rejecting contemporary British rock and going back to 60s British rock, so it has inherent punk qualities. One last thing that stands out to me, is that the singer sounds like Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) combined with a bit of Liam Gallagher's (Oasis) rasp. I know Oasis was influenced by this band, so saying the La's sound like Oasis is a bit weird, but I can't think of another singer with a similar rasp at this point. I would say it has earned it's place on this huge list. Highlight Song/s: "I Can't Sleep" and "There She Goes"
Like I said in our group chat, it turns out I might have an affinity for 90s to mid 2000s indie rock. This is easily one of the best 90s albums we've heard in my opinion. It didn't sound very dated at all, which is more than many others could say. I mostly enjoyed the singing, especially on"There She Goes," which was a very pretty and catchy song. There was a lot of variety, and the instrumentation was well executed. For me this sits somewhere on the edge between three and four.
High 3 or a low 4. More Brit bias, although this one is better than most, and furthermore is a band I've long been (somewhat) curious about, so glad for a chance to listen to this album. Pretty much only know them because of the great "There She Goes," which was played (still is) on WXRT (although I realize I also occasionally hear the good but not great "Feelin," too), and which is on an excellent collection of power pop that I have -- leads off that CD, in fact. (Power pop was/is one of my favorite genres, esp. when I was around your ages - which was also my age when this album came out.) I think I'll give this one a (low) 4 stars. Pretty good overall quality and variety, even though nothing else is nearly as good as the excellent "There She Goes." The long closing track is good, too, though, and all of the songs were pretty good, as far as I can recall (if not super memorable). I noted that it was produced by Steve Lillywhite, who has produced a LOT of records for many "new wave" (and other beyond) artists I've enjoyed, over the years. Apparently, this was the only album The La's ever made.
This is a 3.5. But, since there are no others like it on this list and it was pleasant to listen to, I’ll round up.
Big fan of an album full of 2 1/2 minute catchy-as-hell songs. You can really hear their influence on the British pop-rock bands to come. Masterpiece? Hmmm, maybe not so much, but I do see and hear its influential impact in music at the time and to come.
Really good, started out sounding like REM, then more acoustic northey venezuala vibes. "There she goes" was obviously a huge hit, but other solid tunes abound. Sprawling, this is a real album.
Solid
Great
Really pleasant album to listen through. Its easy to have on in the background while still bopping along without thinking about it. While there are some stand out songs even the "worse" songs are good, the albums quality floor is really high. It feels kind of sad that the band only got one album and disappeared when they make music like this.
Perhaps included as an early britpop foundational influence. I liked the jangly upbeat feel of it, better than some our recent offerings imo
Muy interesante. No lo conocía
Was nice!
Such a 90’s time capsule. Great British pop prior to the Oasis onslaught. Adorable.
Not sure I liked this one as much as Gideon unfortch but it’s still great! The last song is an awesome closer and the album as a whole has an awesome unique sound.
Iconic 90s. 8/10
There She Goes doesn't fit in on this. The album would have worked better as a more coherent whole without it.
I like this one. I had only heard There She Goes before, and thought the other songs would sound alike. That's not the case. I could get into them deeper with more listens. 4/5
Quite amusing
A belated review for an album that took me by surprise. Up until now I thought The La’s were victims of the one-hit-wonder phenomenon with the anthem of There She Goes. As the generator brought this album up for me, I thought hey at least there’s that feel good song that arguably all women love. But to my pleasant surprise, this album has variety!!!! It reminds me of REM, the Smiths, Simon and Garfunkel, Beatles, some influence of psychedelic rock, at times some of the early 50s jive rock. That’s to say, very enjoyable, although perhaps not revolutionary. Again, an album I’ll be coming back to, probably when I’m dancing around my kitchen.
It might not be the most exciting thing I’ve ever heard but goddamnit I liked it. Sure it’s a bit derivative. Hearing a lot of The Who and The Beatles. But it was good fun pop rock song writing.
Noel Gallagher said that Oasis’ mission was "to finish what The La's started”. Until today I only knew The La’s from “There She Goes”, and listening to the rest of this album, it's not the best representation of them at all. They're a lot grittier and more raw than their biggest hit indicates. Not that it's a bad song, but I'm very (happily) surprised by the sound of the rest of the album. Just compare “There She Goes” to the song that follows directly afterwards, “Doledrum” (possibly my favourite song on the album). Proper early-Beatles acoustic guitar mixed with Kinks style riffs? Yes please. Throughout this album, I hear The Kinks in every song. I also hear a lot of the Beatles’ influence (particularly in songs like “Feelin’”). But along with the influence the 60s brought to The La’s, I can also hear their downstream influence. I hear snippets of Liam Gallagher’s voice (especially in “Way Out”) and the building blocks of Noel’s rhythm guitar in most songs. Say what you like about Britpop, but I grew up with it and loved it. It introduced me to a whole spectrum that makes up the majority of the music I love today, from the likes of The Beatles and The Stones to more contemporary bands like The Beta Band and Beck. I somehow never knew how influential The La’s were to the whole Britpop movement, but hearing this album feels like finding that last jigsaw piece that had been lodged in the corner of the box all this time.
brilliant album. i wish i would have found this 15 years ago
A very deserving inclusion on this list, I don't care what the haters say. I mean, it's absolute pop perfection! Short and sweet with great writing start to finish. Shame they only ever had the one album
I liked this! They have a fun and unique style.
I wish this wasn't their only album. At least their discography is near perfect this way. Favourite track: I Can't Sleep
This album is really enjoyable. I've loved listening to it. There are some nice songs, nice melodies. What else can I ask for? There is also some variety too. Although, honestly, nothing really sticks in me. As much, some songs that I've truly loved. However, overall, it's just a bunch of songs that come and go, very volatile. They enter, last a few minutes, and end. Yes, the album flows so quickly, and there are pretty good tracks, but at times it didn't feel like listening to an album. Some songs start as they end, and, honestly, I've liked listening to it, but I don't feel like most of the songs have been interesting. For sure, I see the potential here, and this album could have been much better... just that it hasn't been more. And with more I mean I feel this album isn't developed. It lacks of more consistent stuff. Not just short tracks that don't go anywhere and a last song that is enlarged until it becomes bland and meaningless. So, there are some not that nice things here but, overall, it's a pretty decent album.
It was okay! Very vibesly
Probably closer to 3.5 but much better than I was expecting. Very 90’s.
I listened to this CD on repeat in high school. So happy to revisit it in its entirety. Nothing complicated about the music… just catchy as hell and so melodic. A great one album phenom.
Sparkling indie pop, desperate to find the magic dust from 1964
The author is clearly biased towards this type of music... but so am I! I love it!
I enjoyed it. Nice
sinceramente me encanto, es un album que escucharía completo de nuevo, ademas de “there she goes” que ya la conocia, me gusto mucho “looking glass”
I cant tell if this is a classic because its always been held up as one for my generation or if it actually is. I was born jn 82 and this was venerated by the britpop generation that filled my teenage ears. It bridged the gap back to the Beatles and was a foundation stone for 90's guitar music. The tragedy that followed only serves to mythologize this even more. A relisten was immensely pleasurable. The voice is strong, the guitars are jangly and lovely and the songs are strong. There is a slight bit of padding toward the end but thats ok.
This is lovely. Bought it back then, and can still listen to this today.
Better than I remembered it being. The last few tracks in particular really elevate the album as it did risk drifting a bit. Obviously, the standout track is "There She Goes", but there's plenty to enjoy here.
A pretty good rock album.
Première fois que j'entends parler de ce groupe dont c'est le seul album. C'était franchement sympathique. J'ai trouvé ça riche, plein d'énergie et varié. J'étais pas sûr de ce que ça foutais dans la liste, puis je me suis rendu compte que cet album que je croyais être sorti au début des années 2000 était en réalité daté de 1990 ! Un recherche rapide m'indique que c'est en effet un précurseur de la grosse vague de pop rock anglais des années 90/2000 à la Oasis. Ce qui fait en passer cet album pour un random album de britpop plutôt cool pour le genre, noté 3/5 à un album visionnaire et très influent qui mérite largement son 4/5. Ce qui montre encore une fois que le contexte est très important pour juger de la qualité d'un album.
tough album, still needs to grow on me I think but can see a bright future for this album
Not half bad
I think it’s not bad. There she goes doesn’t blend in this album very well but it’s also not too jarring. Still a solid +1 star for this classic song!
Singer voice reminds me of mix between Michael Stipe and Joe Strummer. Heard a lot of The Clash and Rolling Stones influence in the music. Good shit.
fun fav song: There She Goes
This is a Britpop album that seems to be rooted more in the "Hard Days Night" spangly guitar era Beatles sound. The massive hit here is "There She Goes" which was absolutely everywhere in the 90s. However it has been a while since I have listened to that song and it is easy to see why it was so popular. Its just so catchy and nostalgic without being maudlin. There is a rich sound from the other tracks with warm rich rhythm guitar and upbeat drums. But there are also interesting additions like tambourine, wooden and block. So the overall feeling is bit of a mix between Baggy and Folk rock. I can see why this was always promoted by HMV as one of those albums that you should buy. (3.800)
me encantó. a mitad del disco los sonidos cambian un montón? casi hasta el punto de no parecer el mismo grupo. Parece qie trataban de encontrar su identidad a través de estas canciones. No sabía que There She goes era suya. Creo que Looking glass ha sido la que más me ha gustado.
Increíble que este álbum tenga el temazo que es "There she goes". Las otras canciones son disfrutables, es un buen disco para poner de fondo.
What a pleasant surprise: Behind the pleasant but played-to-death US hit single “There She Goes” was this UK gem produced by my favorite producer, Steve Lillywhite.
solid album through not too many notes on it. kept me interested throughout I'd probably go a 7/10
Eiginlega nokkuð ágætt, ætla bara að skella fjórum á þessa.
This is yet another example of this list's curators putting personal favorites on here independent of any sort of musical or cultural significance. There is nothing overtly wrong with this album, in fact despite assuming I'd hate it for being a late 80s/early 90s album from an obscure British rock band, I quite enjoyed it. But the inclusion in 1001 albums you must hear before you die is a head-scratching one. I imagine this would be like me making a list and including something like Django Django's self-titled debut. Fantastic album, somewhat obscure, one radio "hit" on alternative rock stations, a little odd. And definitely not for everyone. Albeit "There She Goes" is infinitely more well known than Django's "Default" but the former is likely more due to the Six Pence None the Richer cover than it is the original. Either way, my point remains: a solid, yet unremarkable album should not be a "must listen" unless we're purely talking personal recommendations, and I don't think any of us signed up for this to get exposed to what British music nerds were listening to in the 90s...maybe write a different book for that. But, despite my not understanding why I had to listen to this, I at least really dug it and am going to rate it based on my personal taste and not whether or not it is "worthy" of being here. I felt the first half of the album was stronger than the second. I could easily hear how a band like this influenced 90s bands like The Cranberries and even later bands such as The Shins and artists like Courtney Barnett. I really hate that we don't half more nuanced scoring, at least to the half point because this an album that fits squarely in the 3.5 spot for me. 3 is too low because I typically reserve that for albums I recognize as good but I'm not a big fan of and will likely never listen to again. It's not a 4 because those are albums I love but something causes them to fall short of the coveted 5-star "nearly perfect" album. So the question is, once again, do I round up or round down, and what's my justification? I'm going 4 because a) I really liked it and b) it was probably more influential on music, especially British alt rock than my ignorant self is aware of.
Tem ouro e tem neutro
Some great songs in there, surprised how different it sounded now as well.
Easy bitlai. Labai minkšta, labai vibes. Keista, kad taip patiko UK pop
A cute little album! The #1 banger off of it, of course, is There She Goes, but I liked the rest of the tracks as well
Apparently this album was a gigantic influence on Oasis. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
I don't usually go for Brit pop but these guys had a distinct 60s sound that I liked
I own this CD but haven't listened to it for many years so this listen was almost like hearing it for the first time. I enjoyed this album and would have welcomed more from The La's. Too bad they didn't work out.
Very REMesq. Good vibes though. 4 stars.
Nice
I had heard There She Goes many times before, but I didn’t realize that The La’s sang that song. Other than that I had never heard of this band before. I enjoyed this album! Favorite songs: Liberty Ship, Doledrum, Feelin’ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
call me really fucking stupid but i thought this was perfectly good fun
Feels like The Rolling Stones in 1990. I dig it.
How did I not know about these guys? Like a amped-up version of REM. Love it. 4.3
Golmore girls song
Sometimes it’s good to remember that what is happening is the point. A jangly guitar pop doopdeedoop is the point. I enjoyed reading about how one of the guys is an obsessive perfectionist, given these songs all sound pretty loose.
Always loved the story of his quest to track down recording equipment used by the Beatles, after a huge struggle finally getting it, then having a mental breakdown because someone cleaned all the dust off it and therefore ruining it. It’s like a fable on man’s hubris in trying to capture the past.
A great little UK rock album I knew nothing about.
Would love ot know the backstory of this band. Sounds like the singer might have been a dick. The one song shoula coulda propelled them to megastardom and it didn't. Album has some highlights other than the hit.
Another nice album, there’s enough variety in this album that it doesn’t feel overly boring and there’s not too much variety that it becomes weird. Of course, there’s an iconic song that I knew despite never hearing of the band before. All in all, this album is fun and has the excitement when it has it, I might listen to it again.
“There She Goes” is their big hit but every song on the album is just as good.
Classic
I like this. It’s kind of garagey and catchy. Nice rhythms. Nice hooks. All of the songs are short and sweet. The Black Album would never.
New band and enjoyed listening
I don't know if I would have given this a 4 under my old grading system, but under the new one, the rules are the rules, so I must. It kept my interest all the way through. It's decent. It's like, sweet acoustic-based pop songs with a tiny bit of gristle. I even liked There She Goes (which I previously would have dismissed as "that annoying song from So I Married an Axe Murderer") better than I remember liking it.
This was a nice listen. And now I know who sang There She Goes, which song I did not really "know", but which was instantly familiar when it came on. I wondered about this band, since I knew nothing of them. Sounds like they essentially tanked their prospects by fiddling endlessly with their first album, and then tried a comeback in the aughts and tanked that by fiddling endlessly with whatever they were working on. Bummer. I liked this album enough that I would have loved to hear another (as opposed to an endless collection of outtakes and b-sides). Favorite track was Failure.
Ровный рок-альбом с одним хитом. Вполне можно послушать. Ближайший референс - REM
Excelente
This album was great. It’s very reminiscent of REM. I didn’t realize this band is the band who sings that song “There sheeeee goes! There she goes again!” That song is very different from the rest of the album. But it’s a welcomed departure.
Not a Brit pop fan, but this so much better than the other Brit pop albums in this list
Suburb discovery!
Wow it’s so good and they use the same chords every song. Doldrum, Looking Glass and of course There She Goes are peak. The twinkly guitars are almost midwest emo and the acoustic power chords are almost folk punk. How futuristic, and how near to my heart! It can get a bit dull at some points because the songs are similar. Some songs feel aimless; the record thrives in big moments like the chorus for Doldrum.
I liked this record. I knew “There She Goes”, but the rest of the album was great too.
Catchy brit-pop that echoes back to the Beatles and Kinks but with that late 80s sound. There She Goes is a 10/10 song. Overall an enjoyable listen and a good find.
Very my vibe. Can’t believe I’ve always heard the one song and never listened more
Great prebritpop classic, very influential record filled with catchy tunes. Great! 8/10
I'd love to imagine what Lee wanted this to sound like since this is pretty good. 4/5
This is pretty good. Energy pretty solid all the way through. You can hear a lot influence from uk pop amd classic rock scene.
i might have been blinded by nostalgia but anyway i loved it.
There's a lot of unnecessary Britpop on here, but this one deserves to be here. Liked it a lot. At times it sounds like it was made in the 60's, but with 90's flare. Pretty unique.
would listen again!
I fear that any britpop is an automatic 4 for me
A few classic tracks (Timeless Melody, There She Goes) and some solid other stuff makes a good 90s album for me. A shame we never got to hear more from Lee, really
A pleasant surprise! A killer indie jangle-pop album by a band I’d never listened to before. Good songwriting, interesting arrangements, and catchy as all hell. It even made me love “There She Goes”, a song that used to annoy the piss out of me because the radio would over play the Sixpence None The Richer version. Will DEFINITELY be rocking this album again, and probably look further into their discography. Good job The La’s🙌
Quite piratey sounding, I like it. Obviously has the big song which doesn't sound like anything else on here.
I was listening to music as a teen in the 90s, and I had no idea how influential the La's were on many of the bands that formed my musical tastes.
Muy agradable. Sonido limpio pop-rock. Está muy bien que sea su único disco.
Pretty average Britpop/alternative rock album Bumping up to 4 because of There She Goes, tho.
Solid showing. Something about it. Didn't tip into the five-star category for me.
Gotta give this a relisten but I quite liked what I heard. Nice whimsical British rock. Probs more like a 3.5 off first listen but i think I’ll enjoy giving this a couple more spins
Very nice record; certainly some early 90s alt rock. I really like There She Goes.
A solid 3, but I will give it a 4 just for the one single (it's that good). There She Goes is a truly fantastic sing-along anthem - it is a once-in-a-lifetime gem. The rest of the album doesn't really come close. Still this jangly raspy sound is an important milestone in pop music and is kind of the template so many other bands tried to follow in the 90's. Glad for the listen.
Great pop. Well constructed songs. There She Goes is a beautiful tune. I enjoyed this album immensely.
I enjoyed this! Big fan of '90s Britpop and '60s British Invasion music and this is a really solid album, I was kind of surprised how good it is because "There She Goes" is the big hit from it but that's like the worst song on this album? Way cool. Only not giving it a five because some of the songs felt like filler but a genuinely great and well-written album, shame it was their only album
there she goes is a certified BANGER! it’s in the gilmore girls pilot which is iconic. i enjoyed the rest of the album as well
Really enjoyed this. Good tunes and arrangements.
I have never listened to the La's outside of "There She Goes" which is a pure pop MASTERPIECE. This is a really good album and sadly their only one.
Ik heb dit eigenlijk blind aangezet en dacht te horen dat dit een gezellig 60's album was, maar het komt uit 1990. Dat vind ik wel geinig eigenlijk. Sowieso is dit een heel prettig album om aan te hebben staan. Gewoon leuke liedjes met tussendoor ook nog eens een bekende hit. Ik ga hier 4 sterren voor geven. Het is compact (35 minuten), lekker ongecompliceerd, heeft een fijn geluid en ik word er wel vrolijk van. Veel meer hoeft het niet altijd te zijn.
Surprised how retro it is
Good stuff
Ah, the fabled post-punk band...beloved by the music magazines owing to their tortured creative processes. But is this album great? I can hear shades of influences from the past, and shades of influence on bands to come, particularly in the britpop boom bands. Overall, this is a fine album, with one or two truly great songs. One wonders what might have been,
There She Goes is a banger and I enjoyed the rest. Simpsons: No. Gilmore Girls though
Very well put together can hear the britpop sound that is due to come soon after 4*
# The La's – *The La's* (1990) **Label:** Go! Discs (UK) | London (US) **Producer:** Steve Lillywhite (final mix completed without the band) **Core line-up:** Lee Mavers (vox, guitar), John Power (bass), Peter Cammell (guitar on release), Neil Mavers (drums) --- ## 1. **Lyrics – Liverpudlian mysticism in three-minute doses** - **Economy & ambiguity:** Mavers writes in haiku-sized couplets (“I never say what I want to say” / “She calls my name, pulls my train”) that feel instantly memorable yet refuse to nail down a single meaning. - **Recurring images:** trains, mirrors, time, veins, glass, rain – everyday objects turned into existential symbols. - **Emotional palette:** romantic wonder (“There She Goes”), social claustrophobia (“Doledrum”), self-lacerating doubt (“I Can’t Sleep”), psychedelic quest (“Looking Glass”). - **Read-through:** the words can be heard as love songs, hymns to heroin, or metaphysical diaries; Mavers’ refusal to explain keeps them porous and alive . --- ## 2. **Music – 1966 in 1990** - **Chordal DNA:** Byrds-ian 12-string jangle, Merseybeat bounce, skiffle-ish shuffle drums, punk-level brevity. - **Hooks per minute:** almost every track under 3:30; choruses arrive within 25 seconds. - **Hidden sophistication:** descending chromatic lines (“Timeless Melody”), modal bridges (“Feelin’”), Indian-tinged drone on the 8-min “Looking Glass”. - **Dynamic range:** the band tracked live, so bass, guitars and vocals “breathe” together rather than being multi-layered – a large part of the record’s kinetic spark . --- ## 3. **Production – the great accident** - **Legendary back-story:** 3 years, 7 producers, 12 sessions, Mavers’ obsession with vintage dust-covered gear. The group finally walked out; Lillywhite stitched together the best takes overnight . - **Sound aesthetic:** dry, almost demo-like. Guitars are mic’d close, drums are tight, little reverb – which paradoxically makes the songs feel luminous and radio-ready. - **Mavers’ verdict:** “It’s terrible… don’t buy it.” Most listeners disagree; the apparent flatness is part of the charm, letting the songwriting shine without 80s gloss . --- ## 4. **Themes – a manifesto for escape** - **Urban ennui vs. transcendence:** tracks like “Doledrum” portray benefit-queue boredom; “Looking Glass” proposes inner flight. - **Time & memory:** the refrain “the melody always finds me” suggests music itself as a time machine, brushing “the sand of time away” . - **Unspoken faith:** spiritual but not doctrinal – closer to Arthur Lee’s Love than to Oasis-style lad-anthems. --- ## 5. **Influence – the seed of Britpop & beyond** - **Direct lineage:** Noel Gallagher calls the record “the one that started it all” and placed it in his personal Top 5; Oasis, Cast, The Libertines, The 1975, The Courteeners and Pearl Jam have all name-checked or covered it . - **Canon status:** NME “500 Greatest Albums” (#153), Rolling Stone “40 Greatest One-Album Wonders” (#13), 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . - **Cover life:** “There She Goes” (Sixpence None the Richer, Robbie Williams) became a global standard; “Looking Glass” is a cult psych touchstone. --- ## 6. **Pros & Cons at a glance** | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | • Twelve near-perfect three-minute pop songs – zero filler | • Only twelve songs; 35-min runtime leaves you hungry | | • Lyrics that feel personal yet open to endless interpretation | • Lee Mavers’ slurred delivery occasionally buries words | | • Organic, live-band sound untouched by 80s digital sheen | • Purposely “flat” mix lacks low-end punch on some systems | | • Guitar tones that defined jangle-pop for the next decade | • No second album – the story ends in frustration | | • Influenced entire Britpop generation & still sounds fresh | • Band disowned it, so no official deeper “deluxe” vision | --- ## **Verdict** *The La’s* is the great might-have-been that nevertheless became a cornerstone. The songs are miniature miracles of melody and mystery; the production flaws are part of their human charm. If you love the Beatles, the Byrds, or any band that believes a great tune can save your life, this half-hour of chiming Liverpool Zen belongs in your collection – even if its creator still insists he can do better.
Tightly crafted and hook-laden w a distinctive style. Not just one song, it’s a consistently good album.
Gilmore Girls!!
Very good indie jangle pop. Some great harmonies and melody's.
Until know I only knew "there she goes" from this album. I was positively surprised by the whole thing.
Twangy guitar but not country Slightly whiny nasally voice like Tim minchin playing Judas in Jesus Christ superstar Sounds like the Beatles There she goes is on this!!! Like if the Beatles were being sung by oasis Goes a bit more 2000s-y at some points Way out goes a bit pirate-y in my opinion Freedom song sounds a bit like a spell but it’s a banger Suddenly slower, softer and more melancholy for looking glass They quite like their little naturals and sharps where you don’t think they’ll be A little disharmony, a little unpredictability
We enjoyed and knew way more songs on here than we realised.
This is the hazily-remembered UK thing I want to hear. See also Stone Roses
Great album just wish it was more cohesive
"There She Goes" stands up really well, and the album holds together well. Plus, I've given a lot of "3"s in a row, so good timing for The La's.
Liked this much more than expected, excellent guitar work, tight production.
Very familiar with There She Goes but didn’t know the band name. The rest of the album is a lot cooler than that song, wish they would have led with a different single.
Best Track - "There She Goes"
I really enjoyed this - only really listened to there she goes by the La's but the whole album is pretty good.
4/5
Good Autumn vibes, the big hit was actually probably my least favorite moment here, although it's still a pop gem. I recently rewatched "So I Married an Axe Murderer" and 'There She Goes' plays, no joke, at least 5 times during that movie. Top notch '90s content there!
So apparently Lee Mavers was such a perfectionist that he worked on this tirelessly until the label got fed up and decided to release the version they deemed to be definitive. Dude just went mad and (almost) never made music again. So there's some kind of a myth surrounding this album and I don't know what Mavers had in mind for the final product but to me this sounds like a solid proto-britpop album, with a jangly vibe taken from the early REM records and a nonchalent approach that can remind us of Liam from Oasis. Good stuff
This sounds like REM, but if they were good. A pretty nice discovery!
Very nice album! Beatles-infused jangle pop with an incredible delivery from the musicians and singer!
I only came in knowing “There She Goes,” but the rest of the record reveals a band with a surprisingly deep melodic instinct. It’s a tour of tight songwriting, jangly guitars, and a kind of effortless charm that feels like the missing evolutionary step between ’60s British pop and the more modern Britpop wave that followed in the 90's. Wikipedia mentions The La’s as an influence on Oasis, and you can hear that lineage immediately, with the La’s refinement of the Beatles’ tunefulness into something lean and contemporary, and Oasis later take that same DNA and blow it up stadium-wide. This album sits right in that transition point: concise, melodic.
Great sound, could have been recorded in the late 60s, but not in the way that it's nice and warm, with songwriting similar to that age without sounding exactly like one band.
A great listen of indie 90's with a 60's groove. I likes it. 4/5
Fun. Lightweight, but fun.
Fabulous album, 1960's love and appreciation in the modern era with modern sounds and influence. Sounds fresh today, production value kinda high. I dig it alot. A friend always told me to listen to the La's. Now I see why.
Don’t judge an album by its single. Not that There She Goes is a bad song, but after a thousand listens over the 90s including that saccharine cover by Sixpence None the Richer I expected the album to be the soundtrack to a Freddie Prince Jr movie. Instead I got a quirky Britpop album that feels like it’s out of place in time. While the US was ramping up on grunge this band was doubling down on the Beatles and Kinks. No filler just great classic sounding music from beginning to end.
If you have talent (which I don’t!), music is not complicated. Find some good songwriters, make some catchy songs and release an album. So many bands get caught up trying too hard to make something “epic” and they end up sounding pretentious and ultimately, boring. These guys simplified the process and the result is excellent. Simple, effective, enjoyable, still holds up 35 years later. A job well done 👍
Favorite Track: There She Goes
Familiar with the single but not this album. Pretty impressed. the album falls off a bit towards the end, but a nice mix of like Kinks/REM/acoustic-heavy alternative. On the borderline between 4 and 5–if it had another solid single I’d bump it up easy.
Knew I’d like it from the first note. Shame Oasis is the famous 90’s band from the UK
Not great but still very solid. Not much to complain about, just a very good record. High 4.
The first listen was decent, by the second listen I enjoyed each song enough to save them. I can see why many see this as a precursor to Britpop. Still, I was more ambivalent towards most of the songs and not really in love with them. Rating: 4.4
If you're only ever going to release one album then it helps if it's this good. A lot of people in the reviews are putting this album into a very different context in America to how it's viewed in Britain and it puts me in mind of that old saying about two countries separated by a common language. I know that's an oversimplification but it's an album that's the cornerstone of the UK indie scene so for an Englishman who has lived with this album for such a long time to see the La's described as one hit wonders and sub-Oasis indie that's been overhyped by the music press is hard to reconcile.
Brit pop innit?!? 4
they made a couple of great bangers
So... If The Beatles are the starting point and Oasis is the ending point, this band and this album are in the exact middle. It's a fun listen with a legendary song in it. Not the best album I've heard, but it's not bad at all. 4/5
This has nothing to do with the album but they got a really nice eye model
Rating: 7.5/10 Unusually catchy melodies throughout the album, the longer songs bring it down.
Cool pop rock album, definitely has it's moments like i can't sleep, there she goes and looking glass.
Classic album, although not perfect it was very influential. Timeless Melody needs more radio airplay as its far superior to There She Goes
64/1001. File under "missed when it came out which is too bad I would have enjoyed it quite a lot sounds quite nice but it might be too late to fall in love with this band anymore definitely worth a few more listens sounds like Britpop of the 90s which it is rather than timeless I don't have anything against the bassist James Joyce's skills but I still prefer his books". Or did I write this kind of review already?
A lot different then what I normally listened to but super good, sounds a lot more authentic if that makes sence. Added to my playlist!!
I had never heard of this band before now, and I’m glad I did because it’s great!
One hit wonder. 90s sounding rock. Not bad. Some interesting tracks.
Rock Noventero
Fendi cool wies eifach so es glöcklechs Albom esch. Halt, obwohl relativ spot, emmer no es zemlech typisches 80er Albom, starch beiflosst vob de Beatles. The La's Zeigt I dem Albom Songs wo guet Werked. So esch es med Nome guet gsoelt und gsonge, es passt au emmer no rächt guet ofenand ond es he'd einigi grossi Riffs. Eis Lied wo förestecht esch "There she goes" ond das zeigt au was ech a dem Album chli beduure. Meischtens esches entweder e Geili Melodie oder t Stemm esch guet. Das heisst entweder hesch e huere Güte instrumentale teil aber de Sänger sengt öppis ned work Kohärenz vor sech he oder es werd emmer öppe s gliiche met ein oder zwei instromänt deför e baba Stemm velecht sogar im Kanon. "There she goes" kombiniert bedi wases Zone rechtige Banger macht. Die andere send scho au guet, aber halt nie e rechtige Banger. Zudem Hess es paar rächt wierdi Songs wo t Stemmig au nömm so guet each. Im allgemeine aber emmer rächt guet und e super Stemmig.
Great record by a criminally underrated band.
"The La's" is the only studio album by English rock band the La's. Alternative rock, jangle pop and skiffle are the Wiki-listed genres. Skiffle is a genre of folk music. OK, they hit all three. The album took some time to release and went through multiple producers and musicians due to principle songwriter, lead singer and guitarist Lee Mavers' exacting expectations. The album that was released had Steve Lillywhite do the final mix. The band did not like the final version and disowned it. Besides Mavers, the other core bandmembers included John Power (bass, backing vocals), Peter Camell (lead guitars) and Neil Mavers (drums, tambourine). The album received substantial critical acclaim for its 60's influenced sound, reminiscent of the British invasion and different than other acts at the time. It is also credited as an important precursor to Britpop. Commercially, the album reached #30 in the UK and #196 in the US. "Son of a Gun" opens the album with acoustic and electric guitars. There's a funky beat with the percussion and jangle to the music. It's about a man who still lives in the past with his best years behind him. Alright, off to a decent start. "Timeless Melody" layers the guitars. An off-kilter beat. There's a dual guitar solo. I hear jangle and shoegaze and a harder edge. It's about writing a song. "There She Goes" has a wonderful guitar melody. Mavers and his falsetto. Nice backing vocals. A great, great song. Mavers said later this was not about drugs although the lyrics fit really well. Alright, a girl then. The final of the four released singles is "Feelin'." A strumming acoustic guitar and here's your 60's sounding electric guitar. A bouncy beat and the guitars become layered. What's he feeling? Drugs? A girl? Morning Glory? Wow, they get a twang thing going in "Way Out." Dare I say Grateful Dead-ish? Yes, I just did. Another song that could interpreted about being about drugs or girls or both. This is a solid album. The songs are mostly short and enjoyable. I agree with some of the reviews I read; the musical style is somewhat hard the pinpoint. I heard jangle, shoegaze, folk, blues and even country. I also did hear shades of what would influence Britpop. Anyway, "There She Goes" is one of the best songs from that late 80's/early 90's time frame and this an album is worth a listen from all.
Was initially planning on a 3 thinking this would be another generic British pop album, but it grew on me the more I listened, so I'm bumping to a 4.
Great Britpop bursting with personality and fun musical choices. Strong songwriting and confident style in equal measure. It’s a fast-paced album too. I want to go back and listen again because one listen wasn’t enough. Oh and it has the original version of “There She Goes” — it sounds just as good with that English drawl.
Very enjoyable album. I wasn't familiar with The La's but definitely knew the song "There She Goes".
Ordentliche 90er Jahre Musik die gut zu hören ist auch durch die Country Einschläge. Überdurchschnittlich ist aber nur „There She Goes“
Психоделия возвращается, снова ...
Almost like the Beatles with an early 90's vibe.
There She Goes is a 5 star track I’ll never tire of. The rest hold up to repeat listening with all the classic references to garage rock, Bowie and The Kinkd
When "There She Goes" came on, this album clicked for me.. I was trying to figure out the familiarity but couldn't place it. Definitely has that "American Pie" vibe to it which was basically my bread and butter as a pre-teen so this album really played to the nostalgia factor.
This was even better than I expected
Lovely little nuggets of guitar driven pop. I really appreciate the lack of musical cynicism in Brit-pop.
I (generally) like jangle and britpop from the late 80s/early 90s, so this was right up my alley. Enjoyed the deeper cuts more than There She Goes, actually. Just wish the sound were a bit more varied.
loved this
Pretty good
These reviewers are (to put it lightly) a bit delusional. The sound on this album is fresh, bright, and energetic. It takes influence from areas of folk rock and country, seen as early as the opening number, Son of a Gun. That song is a great choice for starting the album and hits pretty dang hard on a sunny morning in the countryside. (That's where I listened to it.) There are definitely no "misses" here and plenty of "hits" to justify a 4-plus-star rating, including the hit single There She Goes. The singing is particularly strong on here, supporting a memorable falsetto melody during the chorus. I'm not a huge fan of the singer's voice, but (unlike a great deal of punk, post-punk, Britpop, and alt-rock) it isn't nearly bad enough so as to completely sabotage the sound. Well done, Robert Dimery – you've outdone yourself! Doledrum sounds like something off a Stones album, complete with the gently messy backing harmonies and aggressive guitar riffs. I'm a fan of the similarly lively lead-bass interaction in Feelin'. Speaking of guitars: they're definitely the instrument highlight on the album, especially in the midst of so many tracks that omit drums and use the harsh strumming as makeshift percussion. That's another element that really reminds me of folk music being released around the same time. Maybe there's one "miss" track: the sluggish album closer, Looking Glass. We can just ignore that one, right? (But then the record would run for only 27 minutes. Scratch that idea.) 4/5 Key tracks: Son of a Gun, There She Goes, Feelin'
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background This is the type of album that keeps me going through the list. A gem I would likely never discover otherwise. Heavily drawing from its 60s influences with a jangly pop sheen over the top....what's not to like? Not solid enough top to bottom to rate a 5, but a definite 4+.
pa fora je ovo, neki momenti podsjećaju na kinkse, dvoumim se između trojke i četvorke i eto dajem četvorku
Pretty classic 4-piece Brit sound. Think I must be a sucker for it. I skipped 'There She Goes' every listen because it's the only song by the La's I knew. The rest of their sound keeps growing on me. Great find despite already knowing their one big hit.
Laaa-vely stuff
I wasn’t familiar with this band besides the hit song that was overused in the 90’s. What a fun album of songs that all had character and melody. It’s not a perfect album, but it is above average with its range of unique songs played in a fun manner. This is what good music should have, style, soul, and conviction.
Blije Britpop, altijd leuk. Is het retro of z'n tijd vooruit? Ik vond het in ieder geval totaal niet klinken als eind jaren tachtig. Op een bepaalde manier tijdloos dus. Het luistert lekker weg en d'r staat een hitje op. Prima hoor.
Easy listening
This was such a pleasant surprise, I’d not heard anything other than There She Goes before, but such a rich album that I can’t wait to go back to.
Y ever heard They're She Goes. Also didn't realise how old this was! Very much enjoyed.
Not necessarily a ground breaking album but enjoyable start to finish. A cohesive soundscape with enough variation between tracks that I didn't get bored. Due to a lot of overplay (through gilmore girls rewatches and my own teenage obsession) "there she goes" felt really out of place on an album that otherwise had a very 70s vibe, but that's my own fault and I stand by teenage me
This was very good. Lots of 60s and 70s elements. You could hear a lot of more recent bands influences, especially the coral I felt. I enjoyed it and will listen again.
This 1001 album challenge really makes me think a lot about history/context -- maybe thats not the point of the exercise, but the collective history of music is really surfaced when you constantly read through the wikis of these albums. In my strong opinion, the most particularly wild eras are so clearly the late 60s/early70s and early 90s. Like most folks, I didn't know the La's other than There She Goes (which is a 90s staple). This listen was entertaining and hits a lot of the targets that I love in an album - less than an hour, entertaining backstory, no fluff, (at least) 1 giant hit and deep cuts that keep you coming back. This album hits all of that. I love the tracks Feelin', Looking Glass, Son Of A Gun and There She Goes. Rounding up to 4 stars and really looking forward to listening to this again.
Seemingly og britpop that outshines most of its progeny. Will revisit.
Great jangly pop-rock, hard to find a bad tune on it.
Very nice. Didn't know it before.