Reviews (page 4 of 9)
The perfect driving album. There are so many songs I like on this album. Its full of life and energy.
This is a weird one. Solid. But nothing really rises above. It's good all the way through. No real impact but a good enough listen. The catchiest riffs are not their own but in the end - who cares. Are we holding Led Zeppelin to this standard? The difference being LZs wholesale stealing reached incredibly lofty heights that often exceeded the humble intentions of the original - at least sonically speaking. Elastica just amble along for 16 songs. Perhaps the most solid 3 on the list - at least thusfar. And maybe there's a greatness in that.
Once again, the Britpop selections in this list come through with the goods. Being famously both Brett Anderson and Damon Albarn's girlfriend (although not at the same time...) did Justine Frischmann a massive disservice. She was a brilliant frontwoman in her own right and despite whatever musical contribution Albarn may have provided on Elastica, she absolutely knew how to deliver superb, tight, catchy 2-3 minute rock songs. It just made such an easy introduction to every review, interview and article that nobody could resist. The majority of this album is straight-up single material (and a third of it was actually released as singles); 'Stutter', 'Waking Up', 'Annie' and the excellent 'Blue', punctuating legitimate transcends-the-Britpop-genre classic 'Connection'. They also had a bit of fun trying different vibes such as the atmospheric, shoegazy 'Indian Song', the sleazy '2:1' and post-punky 'Never Here', but there's always another 2-minute bopper to bring you back. It never outlasts the attention, never drops the adrenaline and has passed the test of time convincingly.
First listen
Connection was a familiar hit, interesting 90s-esque grunge guitar driven femme rock
5 - MEDIUM
Quintessential 90's post punk
Not very outstanding. Fine for once
This is a positive 3, not a coward's 3 or a negative 3. This album is Fine. I'd like to hear it again, maybe. But nothing about it stands out - it's a bridge from the 80s post punk, a rebadging and re-sounding of something to meet that modern 90s sound! It's got some fuzz, it's got some of that 90s guitar noise (like garbage, maybe?) and a slightly hidden but still intelligible vocalist. It has all the pieces, it puts 'em to good use, and it would fit perfectly with a 90s mid-20s gen-x make-it-in-the-real-world movie. But it doesn't do anything that, looking back, makes me go, "oh whoa they did that." Sometimes I get an album like this and I go, "it's fine." This is fine, too - a little bit better than that but nothing I need anyone else to get on board with. Given the choice, I listen to Wire.
Wasn't expecting to know a song Knew connection it's the trigger happy theme Punk rocky female band Car song is cool
Mostly pop-ey sounds from this one. Not my jam though I could see how if you were raised with this band you could look at this back fondly. The post-punk tracks break up the monotony of an otherwise pretty mid experience. I see how the lyrics could be controversial and challenging for a contemporary pearl-clutching British censor, but it does not really translate to me.
I’d never heard of Elastica before but I love lady punk rock moment. Would give this a 3.5, I think this is the type of album that’s nice to listen to but that I would love if I saw it performed live. Need to see the aura of the performers to really get it! Super solid tho. Also hats off to the singer for keeping her voice pretty silky over punk sounds.
Please god no more british rock bands. 🙏Put me out of my misery. Anyway, I always love to ride for a badass group of gals making some interesting music. But this was just okay. The production of the music itself didn’t stand out much, with the exception of 2:1 and Vaseline which were a very welcome vibe shift near the end of the album. The lyrics weren’t much to write home about either. This wasn’t as bad as Paul Simon (I’m excited to see who might one day top him in disaster), but they were largely forgettable to me. Shout out for this one string of very relatable lyrics though: “I'd work very hard, but I'm lazy I've got a lot of songs but they're all in my head”
I looked up the reviews for when this dropped. They’re all like 8 out of 10 or higher. I think 30 years later I can say aside from certain aspects of the guitar playing it’s pretty Mid and both forgot I was listening to it and didn’t have much interest in finishing it.
Elastica was an interesting album - quite frankly not because of the album itself, but because of the day in which it was "dealt" to the group. As of this week (October '25), The Last Dinner Party released their second studio album "From the Pyre". Listening to these two albums back to back has been a surprising delight. You can clearly see the influences of this early britpop/alternative on a band that's making and producing music in 2025. For that alone, this was worth a listen. The album itself - I thought it was fine. I enjoyed it overall, but didn't find it particularly memorable. I take away from this an experience of listening to pioneers pave a path from which new British outfits (like The Last Dinner Party) can walk. We stand on the shoulders of giants etc etc.
Tempted to give this a 4 because i had a ton of fun listening to this.
a guitar tone i spent ages trying to recreate. one of my favorite albums of the 90s that i bought for a single and loved much of the rest of
We know by now I love a short, fun, melody filled album!!
If they didn’t sell concert t-shirts that read “Elastica Makes Me Ecstatica”, then what was point of any of it?
I really enjoyed this record. It was a great mix of sounds that made it am interesting and enjoyable listen. I will definitely be revisiting again soon.
Surprisingly good considering all the ratings. They rip off the right bands and keep on rocking
YAY
When you compare "Connection" to Wire's "Three Girl Rhumba," it does sound remarkably close. And one can only assume the band heard and were likely major fans of Wire. Their whole sound is basically Wire's "Pink Flag" sans the grit and weight of Wire's heavier tracks, which leaves us with what Elastica is: palatable post-punk power-pop (how's that for alliteration!), molded in the sound of Wire's first stuff. It's not bad. The music video for "Connection" played non-stop back in the day and likely sparked some of my high school girlfriend's lesbian inclination (she would go on to marry a woman and currently has two kids with said woman, which is great and I'm honestly very happy for her). Said girlfriend had this tape, and while I never minded it, it also never did anything for me. I feel the same now. Ashamed as I am to admit this: I didn't actually get into Wire until I was in my 30s. I know. It's fucked up. Once I actually heard Pink Flag, I knew I'd wasted years of my life fucking around not listening to Wire. Better late than never I guess, but WTF? It's one of the few bands where I seriously missed out when they should have long ago been on my top list. Weird thing too is when I was a kid, my uncle had "I Am The Fly" on 45 and we would listen to it often and I loved it. It wasn't until like I said years later that I realized it was Wire. Again, better late than never, but what the fuck. Anyways, let's finish up here... Not bad, but nothing stands out besides thinking of plagiarizing Wire and my high school girlfriend's emerging lesbianism.
Bubblegum punk? I suppose that's what I would call this wonderfully 90's affair. Favorite track: Connection
boring alternative rock that doesnt really seperate themselves from other entries on this list.
The same old alt rock. The same old yawn inducing guitar riffs. The same old album we’ve had a bunch of times already
Great, raw songs. I'm gonna admit: I was skeptical when I saw the dreaded Post Punk' tag on this album, but it's damn nice.
What others call ripping off Wire, is called referencing if all credit and dues are given. Which is what happened here. Nice blend of the shoegazy sound with a punk attitude and powerfully yelled female vocals. Reminds me of stuff like Lambrini girls and Amyl and the Sniffers. Not refined, but looking for that here is missing the point.
Fun 90s throwback punk(ish?). "Connection" was the radio hit I remember, and "Stutter".
Ok
So, why is this on the list? It's not an awful album or anything, but even in 1995 this sound was extremely dated. Nothing stands out, although I can at least say it's consistently below average.
Just a fun punk record
Great grungy brit-pop, I would put this one up there with The Breeders and PJ Harvey.
Well that’s nice enough. 3/ 5
I got this album the day after I got The Clash's first album, and I pretty much have lumped Elastica's first album into that category: This is the music I don't mind listening to between the music I want to listen to. 3.31 / 5 Interesting enough, I rated the Clash's first album at 3.33 / 5 so I find the two similar. I know that sounds sacreligious because THE CLASH, but comparing the 2 albums, it's true. The Clash got better, I've never heard anything else from Elastica, that's the difference.
Very generic.
Angsty female brit punk rock with a bit of brit pop
Solid album, not quite The Plasticines:)
good, no highlights tho
Iha jeba
Pretty generic pop punk, but it happens to be a sound I like
Nothing better than seeing if the people mad about them plagiarizing also love Led Zeppelin. Beautiful. I like this album a lot it’s fun! It reminds me of Hole more than anything.
For some reason I thought this was an Electronica band. Its not, they are a fantastic alternative rock band. Various different song styles not be bored. They remind me a lot of Garbage but not as creative. This is very high 3. 3.8
8.5/10
3.4 Connection carries this otherwise mid album. still pretty good though.
Fun brit/punk rock album. Fun and high energy, but a tad bit bland at times.
Not anything to write home about. An interesting pop-punk album that I don't totally vibe with, but I can see would have an audience. 3/5.
Great 90s alt rock
Les morceaux sont trop ressemblants
I had Wire's Pink Flag album a couple months ago and was struck by the familiar riff on Three Girl Rhumba, even though I'd never heard the album or any of the songs on it. Now I know why it was so familiar. Anyway, this is a great album, not a bad song on here. Waking Up is definitely my favorite.
I wasn’t super impressed with the first few tracks, but as the album went on it really locked into that perfect 90s punk sound. Once it hit its stride, the raw energy and punchy riffs made the whole thing come alive. What I really liked was how lean the record felt. Sixteen songs in under 40 minutes is exactly how this kind of album should be—fast, scrappy, and straight to the point. It keeps the momentum going without ever dragging. Favorite song: 2:1
It's difficult to overstate how awesome this album is. Hooks galore...a 90s pop-punk masterpiece.
i don't think women are capable of making bad punk
Aggressively, unrelentingly one note. 40 minutes has never taken so long, just not interesting at all.
I know I knew the name, but could not recall songs until I heard “connection”. This has been one of a few records from the 90s and listening to the sounds and production has been interesting. The records are professionally produced, but there is a sense of rebellion against the establishment. I didn’t notice this at the time. But on a lot of these records there are hints of the band just goofing around in the studio. Something you didn’t see before. “Smile” sounds like a cover of another artist. This is going to drive me crazy. It’s not a cover but it sounds like something else. This album is way better than “connection”. It’s a good song and was a good single, but man this whole album is really good. I think I remember “stutter”? It sounds familiar.
Elastica's debut is one of those albums whose reputation was boosted by riding the wave of the Britpop trend. It's not a bad album, but I doubt it would have been as well recognized if it had been released at another time. The album is filled with decent pop songs, but nothing that would lift them above the other brit pop 2nd tier bands. Special mention and bonus point to the pixieslike bass sound!
Not bad but so similar as so many oil this era. Album changed to other artist and I didn't even notice
I’m having a hard time understanding why this album is on this list. This is so 13-out-of-12 stuff.
Sounds like all the brit rock I've ever heard with slight variations. Not bad, mostly boring and uninteresting.
I can hear how this influenced other bands after them.
Toda mi linea, punk garage británico fácil de escuchar
Un poil trop générique à mon goût mais ça reste cool d’entendre du post-punk féminin
*Listened before the project* Never imagined I’ve got this in 1001
The whole album was a little bit meh, nothing too exciting, but definitely listenable. It was fine having it in the background though, and things weren't that bad overall.
4 star good vibes
6.4/10 very listenable. i enjoyed a handful of songs, but its just not my preferred genre. but definitely not horrible. found it interesting how short all the songs were. can’t tell if i liked that or not
I mean, sure. Why not put everything on the list. No idea what I'm meant to find here.
I really don't think this does much beyond the artists that came before. The vocals are getting stepped on. I know the song Connection, tho I don't find it exceptional.
A good album, I liked Annie, Smile, Vaseline and Never Here the most.
Decent enough pop/post punk.
great mid 90s Britpop. A favorite album of mine for many years
Oh, of course... another 90s British alt-rock album. Who could've seen that coming? And would you look at that? It's a combination of post-punk and britpop. How surprising. Yeah, I'm being sarcastic. This is a good album, but it's certainly not the most original album on the list. In fact, it might be one of the least original albums seeing as some of this album's songs got Elastica sued for alleged plagiarism. Here's the thing. I can see why that is. Take this album's biggest song as an example. The main riff of "Connection" is literally the exact same riff as Wire's "Three Girl Rhumba." That's not even an exaggeration. It's the same riff. However, Elastica here do manage to change things up with the riffs enough to feel like different songs. While the riff may be an exact copy, the song in its entirety is not. Things are done to make "Connection" feel like a different song that some have even called better. They're kind of like Led Zeppelin in that regard and in literally no other. Anyways, I'm talking about this album like it's boring, but that's not really true. I actually like this album quite a bit. I wouldn't say I love it, but I had a good time. The instrumentation is strong, the writing does the job, and the fact that most of this band is women makes Elastica stand out from their mostly-male contemporaries. I've got to give respects their. Still, the moments of unoriginality do kind of hold this album back from a higher score. This album's alright in my eyes though. Good stuff. High 3/5.
A little bland at times but not bad. Quick poppy songs with some punk influence. Connection was immediately recognizable to me, definitely heard it a bunch before. Nothing really great to stand out here but solid at times. Not likely to revisit much, I listened through it twice.
Nope. Far too ordinary to be part of this list, in my opinion.
It is catchy. I didn't think I would like this as much as I do. It isn't anything crazy unique, but it is fun and the singles I remember.
Whiplash with this one for me. It starts as something tailor made for me. Girl led punk rock. Just fast and harsh but with some pop sensibilities. Then it sorta falls off after 5 or 6 songs. It just turns into kinda ok pop rock or like a grunge thing everyone else was doing at the time. When those tracks started I was thinking hole or garbage as an analog. And those are fine, good even but I was excited for 16 punk rock tracks and thats not what I got. I got blue balled a bit. Swollen and tight. Its still good. Just not what I was looking for. Not exactly. At the start this was an easy 5 star but maybe its only a 3. But ill probably split the difference cause I still liked the more regular of the time tracks, just not as much as the others
In every little Honda, there may lurk a Peter Fonda… the lyrical witticisms in this one… This album rocks and I was immediately transported back to high school. That’s staying power.
Liked it. But not something you MUST hear.
I really like the sound and energy of this record. I loved that Sleater Kinney album and this is like a slightly weaker but maybe vocally stronger comparison to that. The drum recording on this is so DIY yucky and I love it so much. I would happily listen to anything on here any time but I don't think it's like a masterpiece amazing record. Vaseline and Stutter are my favorite ones but it's a pretty samey album that it's hard to pick out singles. Overall a very deserved 4.
Love it. 90’s nostalgia at it’s best.
Better than most punk-inspired works on this list and I recognized one of the songs from the depths of my history but ultimately it was merely ... fine.
The britpop haters in the reviews are more annoying than getting 10 shitty britpop albums. Whatever not focusing on that swine and focusing on the 5 star album by the queen of Britpop. My opinion on Justine isn't the highest as a person from reading other's accounts but my opinion of her music is it rocks. Yeah basically Wire with 90s productions and PJ Harvey sounding vocals but what part of that sounds like a bad thing? I enjoy all but 1 of the songs and I enjoyed their follow-up album a lot more this time around. She is also a Mark E Smith fan so extra points but she also did my boy Brett Anderson wrong so minus points. Rating: 4.9
I honestly really enjoyed listening to this. It reminds me of no doubt/pulp but with more new wave. Also i loveee the vocals. Didn’t have a specific favorite the album sort of feels like one big song maybe All-Nighter?
This album has everything it needs, but somehow never really clicks and becomes really good. It’s fun to listen to in the background but nothing really comes through as very memorable. Definitely a nice break from endless 70s rock though. Honestly it probably deserves a 4. It’s totally enjoyable. I just don’t think it should be in the same category as other albums I already gave that rating. Standout tracks: Blue 1/5 deserves to be on this list
I did not expect to see a US one hit wonder listed as an album I needed to listen to before I died, but the whole album is quite good! I would classify this higher than some of the weaker albums like Suede thrown on here for no reason.
Þetta kom á óvart. Fyrstu tónarnir voru eins og ég væri að fara á hlusta á Hives-pönk en svo varð platan samt skemmtilegri við frekari hlustun. Ég er líklegur til að gleyma henni en vil samt gefa henni 3.5 sem ég toga upp í 4 af einskærri góðmennsku
Surprisingly enough, I didn't hate it, but don't really understand why it was chosen for the list when there is a lot of much more interesting britpop records
Highly influential, post-grunge electro-rock. Those singles were everywhere.
Pas mal, du rock sympa
I’m on board, but just not always. I’m giving them extra credit here because I thought this was Veruca Salt or another in the vein I’d heard before, so this is on behalf of all them.
4/5 Best Track - "Connection"
Some of this is excellent and much of it isn’t. That’s not to say it’s bad; I think it’s more a matter of taste.
Musically interesting and well-written in parts, though I’m still not totally sure why he’s held in as high regards as he is. 3.5/5
Blur crossed with No Doubt, loved!
Not what I thought britpop was supposed to sound like.
British 90s Punk I like: Cool sound design. Connection is good and catchy (Hahahah it was in the FNAF movie) Dislike: I don't like punk music, it's not my thing. The Jagged, buzzy guitar tone bothers me. "Sounds basic and not my taste, 2/5"
"Indian Song" is fucking terrible but I was pleasantly surprised by the rest.
A very good album with some catchy tunes, but by 1995 this was pretty well-worn territory. It does get some bonus points for the bass tone 👌
Some grand tunes here, but overall probably a "you had to be there" kind of situation.
What sucks about this album: it has too many songs. What's good: the songs are short. Some of them are good. btw Waking Up really sounds like No More Heroes
Surprised with how much I enjoyed that
This was actually pretty cool. Nothing super special but I enjoyed it. Solid alt-rock album and I’m a sucker for female vocals. Guitar work in this was great too, it just got a bit generic too be on here
This album could be the soundtrack for a Buffy episode that is set in Bronze, which I’m not mad about. It’s quite a mix bag, and certainly an interesting listen. Some songs are super bland and forgettable, and feel half finish (Annie, All nighter, Blue) but some are really awesome and I really enjoyed, like Car Song, Smile, Waking up, 2:1. I think there is a all-time great record in there, but its not quite, cause it’s tight enough and I liked 9 out of 16 song. In terms of pace, the middle in particular drags a little, but only one song is really messing me up. Biggest grip is that See that animal is really weak and uninspired, it should not be there IMO especially within the end of the record, which is otherwise very very strong. That leads to my main point, which is that it feels unpolished to really be to my liking, but I guess it’s the “punk” edge to be messy. I don’t really mind it in the end, it is mostly a fun listen, not tedious in the least since the meh songs are so short (and inconsequential for the most part). The fun part really stand out and it is overall solid.
It was alright, but unfortunately I don't remember anything else from listening to the album. Maybe that's because I had a busy day and didn't pay enough attention, or maybe it just didn't leave a strong impression other than it was generally alright. Standouts - 3/5
Man you want rock you got it. Man you want a good time you got it. Man you want to maybe remember what it was like to play Rock Band at your grade 6 birthday party you got it. The vibes are really nice
no, it's not reinventing the wheel, but it doesn't have to be cutting edge to be a good time. just a plain fun listen.
This album was fun, but looking back I can’t remember a single song off of it aside from Connection, which I already knew going in. An overall alright post punk album, and a decent intro to the genre, but not one I’d seek out again.
I wish they leaned more into a harder punk sound rather than trying to sound like no doubt lite
🤘♀️ FUCK. YES. One of those albums that shaped me. I got it as a gift from my mom for my 16th birthday. It was so much more than an album. It was acceptance and unconditional love. This will forever be on my personal list of greatest albums of all time. 🌈🖤 Oh, and Justine Frischmann is such a fucking babe! Effortless swagger, razor-sharp charm, and that beautifully blasé androgyny? YES PLEASE AND THANK YOU. 🥵🔥 While everyone was listening to BLEH and Oasis, I was listening to Elastica.
Now this is a good one! I knew the singles, but I can't believe I never listened to the album fully. It totally fits in my 90's wheelhouse. I liked it a lot, but at this point, I'm going with 3 stars, with a solid chance at it going higher with re-listens. Good stuff!
This one grew on me
Wire did it better
Decent. Enjoyed it for what it was.
Not my cup of tea but can absolutely see their influence on later music. Seems to me they must have inspired acts like Metric, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, etc.
Love the raw sound. Feels like a throwback and a precursor to postpunk garage revival.
Memories! Heard this one at Sam’s a lot. Bangers!
I find it a bit odd that some people classify this as Britpop. While nice, it's more punk and misses the certain light way of dealing with things. There are some bangers on this that are good fun, but overall it's not my cup of tea.
Honestly pretty good. Prefer female led punk to male led punk I think
Fine
3 1/2 Stars: Honestly, I don't know if this is an album you MUST listen to before you die, but by the time you hit 'Connection' queues up, I'm glad it kinda is. Tight little 2.5 minute pop-punk ditties. Great vocals and tight production. A one-hit wonder with an album full of other gems.
I remember this album. I didn't realize I knew them until I started listening and remembering a party I was at so many years ago. This is a weird description of the album as well. It doesn't stick with you. Once it's over you vaguely remember it but not enough to want to listen again. It's not terrible, I think it's well done, it's just not memorable.
4/5. 90s alternative brit-punk rock. Would listen again.
Nope
When I saw the genre listing, wasn't thinking much of it. Surprised me to find this album has more in common with the Seattle riot grrrl/punk scene compared to bands I'd more associate with brit pop and post-punk. The bass work is fantastic, and between that and the guitar, its got a deep and weird Sleater-Kinney vibe to it. Really liking stuff like Car Song, S.O.F.T., and Hold Me Now. Didn't think the British had PNW grunge/punk in them, yet here we are.
Elastica is a sharp, hooky blast of Britpop energy that does not hang around longer than it needs to. Most tracks are under three minutes, built on jagged guitar riffs, clipped rhythms, and Justine Frischmann’s cool, detached vocals. Songs like “Connection” and “Stutter” still sound immediate, with choruses that stick after one listen. There is a nervy swagger to the whole record, and it nails that mid-90s mix of punk bite and pop accessibility. The downside is that the minimalism can start to feel a bit samey by the end. The band rarely lets the songs breathe, and while the brevity keeps things punchy, it also means some tracks blur together. It is a fun, tightly wound album that captures its moment well, but it does not always offer much beyond the initial rush.
Why the bloody hell have I never heard this? It's like the pixies and sonic youth. Dead fun and jagged
I never heard Elastica back in the day and didn't know their "hits." Some tunes were pretty good, but I doubt I'll listen to it again
This is a record so naughty nineties that part of me can’t look at it directly. Like a dog-eared copy of the novel Come Together, a late night repeat of an episode of Bottom or practically any film starring Keanu, I half expect to be moved along promptly by an adult who wants me out the way pronto. As no parental authority materialises to mush me along – though listening is interrupted by my own children; the more things change… – I’m finally left alone to enjoy this buoyant collection of pleasure principle-friendly indie and pop punk songs. And enjoy I do. There’s a classic on here – “Connection” – and plenty of interesting songs besides (“Line up”, “Never Here”, “See That Animal”) … but all told I struggle to fully get on aboard. Just as many songs (“All nighter”, “Car song”) feel disposable; perhaps by design. It was the 90s. Fabulous, absolutely. But perhaps part of it will always be withheld from me.
Interesting music, very 90s!
Was never that bothered by Elastica. Connected, waking up and 2:1 all good tracks but they still fail to really excite and i struggle to pinpoint why.
I didn’t mind this, even though I knew that it wouldn’t really be my thing. Bonus points for sharp, non-rambly songs that show you can get to the point in under 3mins should you desire.
If you played this album for someone with no knowledge of Elastica and asked them the nationality of the artist and era of release, there's not a cat in hell's chance they'd get it wrong. It's extremely of it's place and time... But then so am I. I surprised myself by knowing more of this than I expected, and weird Kula Shakerish song aside, the tracks I didn't know did not sound particularly different. I expected to like but not love it, and I like but don't love it. Perfectly pleasant. 3/5
This is like the fluff you add to an essay you're writing for a class you don't care about - you have 400 words and you need 600 more, so you add this and hope for the best. British bias of the author coming in again. Made me wonder - was this book written for a British or an international audience? If the former, 1001 albums you (as a Brit) must listen to before you die would explain the inclusions on this list a lot better. The Brits make great music, but there's a whole world of music out there that seems to be overlooked in this list because of the need to include all his local favourites. Oh well.
Kratke jednostavne pjesme, opet. Ali unutar ovog ograničenog raspona dosta zanimljivo i kvalitetno.
Eigentlich ganz cool rockig, aber manche Lieder leicht nervig
I love the swagger and there's some of the best songs of the era on here, but too much filler
Wire rip off
Bla
A little over stuffed but really solid
good but the songs are quite short and none of them have REALLY stuck out to me yet. Doesn’t mean it’s not good but maybe not just for me.
As generic as generic rock gets
Yeah, it's good alt rock.
Caught me in the right mood for this
Always loved this album
Really dug this.
I’ve been very familiar with this album since it came out, but I somehow did not anticipate giving it a five. Love it when this stupid list makes me reevaluate something I know so well.
Pleasant album, nothing I'm like crazy about but it has the kind of fun energy I look for in britpop
The introduction was pretty ass to start off the album. It got better though but not nearly enough that it changed my perception of this. There are some decent tracks on here but the listening experience as a whole just felt forgettable. I liked the vocals, the production was fine, and the lyrics did nothing for me. I wish it had more to offer in terms of variety because at least then I wouldn't have been so bored listening to this. Top 3: Car Song, S.O.F.T, and Stutter Worst: Line Up and lots of mid to top it off 2.25-2.50/5
This was one of my favourite albums in the '90s and I listened to it so much that the entire album is like a pop symphony. It's an extremely good piece of Britpop, especially because Elastica stole some of their best bits from Wire (very punk)
Actually really good.
Could've enjoyed it in another mindstate, feels similar to Siouxsie & the banshees, has a little dream pop vibe. Just maybe not the right time.
Ehh, didn't really do it for me.
i have heard of elastica before but have never listened, i was pleasantly surprised. wanted to rate this a 3.5 but after a few more listens might upgrade to a 4
Just a damn good rock album
Very good! 3.5/5
This is the first album given to me that I thought I'd take to very quickly. I knew the era, the I knew a little about the band, I thought I had an idea of what the band would sound like... However, this album didn't really do much for me on the first listen. The guitar sound felt like I'd heard it a hundred times before, the bass sound identical to a hundred punk records I'd listened to years before. I have since read a review that claimed it could be the 'blueprint for Britpop albums going forward'. Halfway through the album, I was disappointed, struggling to find a groove it. Yes, there is attitude! I can see why it would have been popular at the time, but the flame didn't burn particularly bright for me. I could often predict the chord changes, a lot of songs sounded like I'd heard them before by other bands. I enjoyed the 'Indian Song' (not sure if we would still be able to call a song with a sitar vibe with that title). 'Vaseline' was a jaunty way to end the album. 'Connection' felt like a staple of Britpop, and probably my takeaway from the album. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate it. But, it while a solid album, it didn't make me want to explore the band further or add it to my permanent rotation. 3 Stars
This album is like remembering the time you drove to work last week, to a job that you feel indifferent about. You woke on a cold morning and didn’t really want to get out of your cozy bed. Still half asleep, you knock back a black coffee to jolt yourself awake before brushing your teeth. Still bleary-eyed and drowsy, you set off. Nothing really unique or memorable happened on the drive, but you did get to work.
A very enjoyable album
3.5
4,5
generalnie EHHH zas posiada kilka calkiem milych momentow
I did not really ever pick up the name of this group back in the day but I am glad I know it now. Fun is the way I would most describe this electronic pop style. It has good energy and a few memorable songs. They have enough uniqueness not to throw them into the "crowd" of alternative college rock of the time, but I think they may have fell victim to the crowding as a few of their songs "almost" made it and ended up edged out by a lot of competition. It is odd that we go into musical "lull" periods where not too much is really great and we have periods where "too much" is really great that decent to good bands get rather more overlooked. At least now I have a name with the tunes I remember!
3.5/5
Never heard of this one. A bit too much punk for me, I have to pass on this one.
Just good fun rock from the 90s
not super into it
it’s got some bangers, but i’m not crazy about it? not sure why. still a good album though 3.5
++: Line Up, Car Song, Hold Me Now, Indian Song, Stutter +: Connection, Smile, Waking Up, 2:1, Vaseline +-: Annie, Blue, All-Nighter, Never Here -: S.O.F.T. 5,0/10
Very nice
very solid debut i wonder why they weren't bigger in the US 4/5
decent
Brings back those grunge-pop memories hard.
sounded decent, but it’s kinda just generic britpop, songs were catchy but it wasn’t very distinct and lacked personality in aspects
Not sure why I hadn’t listened to this until now. Really good
Track three is the trigger happy tv theme?
Eh.
Kind of fun if not a bit dated.
It's a mix of British Pop, and Punk Rock, and it's just...bleh. I couldn't get into it, as much as I tried, but it wasn't the worst thing in world either. Favorite Track: "Indian Song".
Oh so good. Thought it’d be a sort of britpop trash but actually it had more depth.
I'm a sucker for music at the crossroads of edgy and commercial, and this is exactly where this album lives. Justine Frischmann's casual vocals balance out the unabashed pop hooks, and the excellent rhythm section drives the whole thing along.
Nice! Hard to categorise it, its punk sounding, grunge tones, somewhat poppy. Connection was the big hit off this one but Line Up and Waking up are familiar too. I enjoy Elastica far more than its genesis, Suede.
This could be about five songs shorter & a whole lot stronger. The best songs are great ("Connection," "Stutter," "Never Here") but there's plenty of forgettable stuff on here. And they only wrote "Connection" by shamelessly ripping off Wire's "Three Girl Rhumba," then having to pay that band for doing so. FUN STORY: I bought this in the summer of 1995 at Best Buy with Sponge's Rotting Piñata. When the clerk looked at my ID (I must've paid by check?), she goes, "You used to be so cute. What happened?" Then proceeded to talk to me about Jesus.
A $2.99 used rack classic.
I absolutely did not "need" to listen to this album before I die. It's fine. But like....come on. 2/5
Not so bad
Connection is a banger, otherwise just ok really
How had I never listened to them before? Very Blur like Britpop but different and cool
Not punk enough, not pop enough, not rock enough.
Can someone tell the 90s there are more instruments than the guitar? More punk slop - this list's bias for mid guitar albums will be the death of me!
- catcht mich mal wieder nicht so richtig, klingt an sich aber relativ moody. Weiß immer nicht, was ich solchen Alben geben soll. Für mich irgendwo zwischen 2-3 / 5 eher aber in der Nähe der 2/5
Excellent.
This is an over-produced pop-punk album and I've always loved it.
british and unimaginative
decent post punk album, kinda one note
A great album that definitely got my attention back in the day. A little slow on the back end except for “Stutter,”but still a great vibe.
Punk music. Not my exact taste. I am indifferent to this genre. Good background noise.
pretty good, got that 90s angst sound
I think the only elastica song I know is from the Trainspotting soundtrack. So we will see how this goes but first track sounds good so far. Mid nineties sound which is where I live. I’m sad I’ve never listened to this before because this is right up my alley. I like this a lot. There’s the Trainspotting song. 2:1 While I really enjoyed this, I think if I listened to a few more times I would rate it higher than a 3. It’s a 3 Im sure would improve.
brit pop but girl version
Una especie de Britpop más agresivo, o una especie de Grunge más pop. Aunque la duración tan corta de los temas le llega a dar un aire punk. Una amalgama a priori interesante, pero que cumple menos de lo que promete. Al final no deja de ser otro álbum de "rock rápido" (por llamarlo de alguna manera) de los 90. Un álbum que además, por lo visto, plagia bastante a otros grupos de la época como Wire, y que llegó tarde a la ola de popularidad del Grunge y el Britpop. Además, las letras dan vergüenza ajena a veces. "You need to go siesta in your Ford Fiesta"? lol. Pues lo de siempre. ¿Es un mal álbum? No, para nada. De hecho me ha gustado bastante. ¿Hay que escucharlo antes de morir? Solo si crees que Robert Dimery es el mismísimo San Pedro.
When I was a teenager, I used to wear my Oasis t-shirt like it was a football team shirt, and all the other Britpop bands were my "rivals". Blur? Enemies! And then one day someone came up to me and said "This band called Elastica, has surpassed Oasis in fastest-selling debut albums", and I was like "Noooo waaaayyy..." Thank God for maturity! hahahaha Although, as I thought back then, I still think this band sounds like a female version of Blur, but there's no denying that this album is spectacular. Top-notch Britpop!
Enjoyed this album. I don't know if I'd actively seek it out, but I'd be happy to hear it again.
Ech fends emmer loschtig wenn e Band basicly eis albom usebrengt ond das grad e Hit werd, sie aber nochär nüd gross meh usebrenged. Musikalisch esches äbe eigentlech no relativ guet, tönt eifach ned so noch metti 90er johr. Es esch rächt guet gsonge ond au t Rockgitarre guet gspellt. Obwohl sie relativ velsiitig igsetzt werd, esch sie au de Ponkt woni ned so fühle. Dör das, dass es eigentlech emmer Rockgitarre, Schlagzüg ond Gsang esch, werd schnell es bez langwiilig. Osserdem geds vel stelle vo de Rockgitarre wo sie ohni wörk e Melodie oder öppis gspelt werd ond das vel z luut. Das öberdeckt alles andere was mega schad esch.
I only needed 3 songs - nothing was making this any better than a 2
Pretty good.
I don't know how I feel about the vomit sounds in the first song (I do, I'm just being polite)
Way better than expected
Average pop/rock with a grungy vibe from the mid-'90s. While I acknowledge this is a standard record from that age (it could have been OST of a FIFA game, you know what I'm talking about), there's something super cool about this record. And I think it's the punk-ish approach, with short songs, energetic vibe, and a nice crunchy guitar tone. Cool! Straight to my "Discos para conducir" playlist, yeehaaaa! Also, I don't mind if one of the songs is plagiarism; I like this one better than the original, and I was not familiar with either.
Fun, punkish album. Needed to hear before dying? I'm not so sure. Highlights: connection, indian song
Good Album !
tava achando mediano ai só passei a achar ruim....
bem all over the place, as vezes parece uma evolução natural do new wave nos anos 90, outras parece qualquer coisa noventista tambem mas tem algumas bem post punk bacaninhas d+ tome 3 estrelas. mediano mas tem potencial!
A pretty weak alt rock/post punk album. Some OK moments but generally this was not an ultra enjoyable listen. 2/5
A regular album in my catalogue!
New age Wire
Rarely does an album jump up and tell you, “we showed up and we’re ready to kick ass!” I had never heard of Elastica, but they were going to be a summer project now! They reminded me of a combo of the Interruptors and the Go-Go’s, with some homage of the Bangles and Bananarama mixed in. Edgier. Swankier. Cooler. Sheila Chipperfield’s bass tone is sick! Key songs are Vaseline (a classic punk anthem), SOFT with that awesome break in the middle, and Smile’s Ramones-style-power-and-fade format, though special shout out to Indian Song, which seems misplaced with its Norwegian Wood feel, but once you get into it seems right in the mix. If this came out in ‘95, why am I just hearing them in 2025? Something seems wrong in the world…aside from everything political….
Random thoughts: * I was surprised to see this album on this list to begin with. I don’t think anybody ever told me you gotta listen to the Elastica album. * the songs are generally only 1-2 minutes long which gave it more of a punk aesthetic. I was definitely surprised by that. * I wanted the songs to be longer when listening and then they had a longer song and I realized the shorter songs were better. Good job producer. * it wasn’t a bad album but nothing really stuck out. Even “Connection” is a hit because of that “booooouuuuu” guitar chord. The hook or lyrics really don’t grab you like that unique guitar chord/sound.
Rubbish
Really liked this one, it’s fun
Feels influential. I’ve heard a lot of later bands that sound pretty directly like this (in a good way). In the interest of being less of a hater I’m inclined to round up to a 4… but also the big single on this song sounds so much like it would have been menu music on an NHL video game, that I will instead round it down. Maybe it WAS. It’s got the familiarity of a riffy pump up song that I’ve passively heard a thousand times. I’m not going to look it up.
Yeah it's alright.
Fun, energetic female lead 90s alt rock with punk roots. I enjoyed it!
Not a significant album but still enjoyable. Boy do I love me some punk rock women.
Straight up 90s. I liked it then and now.
Some really fun drums (here and there) and occasionally good singing. Very “stale beer in a basement in the 90s.” Otherwise, completely forgettable. Maybe im missing something, but id rather listen to a million other things. Tg for this project for educating me to not fall for this one. TWO!
Only ever heard Connection before from its heavy rotation on 90s FM radio, but the rest of the album is similarly good.
Enjoyable, would listen again. Fav tracks - Waking Up, Stutter
Derivative as they may be, this band knows its sources and knows exactly how it wants to take it in a pop direction. Gone are the Situationist takes, in are tongue-in-cheek innuendo. It’s a strikingly good album, if a little bit too similar to its references.
another typical boring british punk album
Surprise album. Really great, and my favorite of the ones I had listened to that day.
Not a ton to say about this one. I’m glad there’s a female-fronted rock group. The shape of the vocal melody in “Smile” might be my favorite part of the record, very catchy, very memorable. “Waking Up” is really well-performed, I could see this being a lot of people’s pick from the album. “Stutter” as a closer is perfect, I love when albums end on a fun, explosive note. Another record that I could see being huge and impactful if you were an impressionable age upon its release. Tight performances, good vocals, and the right amount of (post)punk to (brit)pop. 3/5
nicht gehört
A lot of the buzz when this came out seemed to be that Justine Frischmann was Damon Albarn’s other half. I didn’t think much of it at the time, and not much has changed really, although it’s better than I remember. It’s not quite punk enough, and is a bit smug but it’s ok.
“Connection” is an excellent song, the rest is eh
It was ok. I can see how it was liked during its time but it’s not my cup of tea.
The album was okay, I can feel the grunge era of when this album came out. Great album just not my cup of tea personally.
I listened to this this morning and I have since entirely forgotten it
All-Nighter 2:1 Never Really Here
I really enjoyed this! I didn't know what to expect but I've listened to it twice through. Some of the songs admittedly did sound the same, but I still liked the album as a whole
Halfway between Blondie and Bikini Kill.
Even if you're the biggest fan of this sort of music, surely even you cannot justify why this album is on this list. It's so generic, so samey, and so incredibly boring. Listen to the first two or three songs, you'll get the gist of it
Standout Songs: Annie Connection Smile S.O.F.T. Blue Waking Up Never Here Stutter Absolutely incredible album, super fun and upbeat. Just about every song is a pure joy to listen to, gets me pumped up.
Pretty generic 90's music... not horrible, but a lot of the same. Maybe a 2.5? Round down to a 2, because I don't really get why its on this list.
Cool!
Pretty decent!
Fine
Almost perfect indie-rock album. Rips through a flurry of great songs in 38 minutes. Mean girls with guitars.
Very girl power rock liked it a lot
Punky viby
Pleasantly surprised by this one. It did feel like some of the songs were a bit similar to each other, but on the whole I really enjoyed this album. I liked the vocals, she sounded almost bored sometimes but it suited the music. I think this is one I will listen to again. Fav song: Waking Up Least fav: Vaseline
Nah
Not a bad album at all but just wasn’t that into it really. Nice sound but didn’t take much away from it Specific rating - 3.6 Fav song - line up Least fav - stutter
Found the music itself super interesting and fun even when the lyrics didn't live up to them (thinking of Vaseline especially) . A lot of songs that I will definitely be coming back to listen to again! Favourite: Connection or Car Song Least: Hold Me Now
solid rock, kinda punky
Good stuff! It's amazing how much better rock gets when you add, like, women.
Boring
Bad
Very solid punk album, sounds like it came from the 80's more than 1995 though. Mid 4.
4.0/5.0: Great
nothing mind blowing but still solid
really good album, 5*
Better than 90% of britpop
No private session used for Spotify. I have listened to the album before, got some great songs and I can recall when the album came out and some of the songs got airplay, it was a nice change from the male grunge that was usually on the radio.
It was ok, won't listen to the band or the album again, but it sounded fine, just not really for me.
This was fun. I didn't realize I had ever heard this band before, but I was familiar with and quite enjoyed Connection. I enjoyed the rest as well. Not perfect but I would definitely listen again.
Didn't really know about Elastica, but had heard "Connection." Angular and melodic, poppy British (?) post-punk.
God made this. Love this album, each and every track.
3.5 decent post punk
connection is the stand out track - everyone would get behind the sentiment of waking up - worth a listen in its entirety
I like this album, but in no way, would I include it in this list. It's just kind of a fun brit pop album, but it was never as important as the others.
Postpunk with a female singer. Pretty much generic.
Awfully generic
3.5
Not bad. Post punk, earky pop punk is what it sounds like to me.
This is #day273 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I've seen the album artwork many times, but this was my first time listening to it front to back. I like to think of Elastica as a kind of black sheep within Britpop, but also as a band that coalesced into the scene with one of the fastest-selling UK debuts, holding the record for over a decade. I'm saying "black sheep" because, unlike other Britpop bands' influences, it's fun to observe Elastica's diversity: punk and post-punk abrasiveness, along with that arty, angular new wave energy. No wonder they were dubbed the "New Wave of New Wave." Also, I didn't know that Justine Frischmann dated Brett Anderson, played the guitar for Suede, and then dated Damon Albarn... Or, maybe I just haven't been paying attention. Yeah, definitely maybe. Anyway, this is a fun record, and it still sounds great 30 years on. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day274.
Tiene un hit y buen rollo
Post-Punk Brit-Pop from a mainly female group. Vocal style on some songs reminded me of Fuzzbox. Most of the tracks are less than 3 minutes in length. Nothing special.
High 2 Some good songs (soft, waking up, never here) But a lack of diversity
i like it
Not as exciting as I remembered from the time. Solid record though
👍
i like it :)
Бодрый и доходчивый альтернативный рок.
Some nice nostalgia hits. Don't think I ever heard the entire album before; glad I now have.
I remember listening to this at time of release because music press were going barmy about them and this album. Just sounded like late 70’s punk and certainly not to the same standard of Britpop around at the same time. So I quickly dismissed it back then as I do today after today’s listen. 2/5 28/4/25
Connection is a banger. I used to have a slight thing for Justine back in the day, as I did for a few ladies who play guitar.
2,5
Damn the vocals on Indian Song, blew me away. Knew Connection and Stutter before hearing the album, but not much else by the band. The american version of the album has an extra track cowritten by Suede frontman Brett Anderson and shuffles Stutter and Vaseline. It's an album from the UK rock scene in the 90's, funny how we have got 3 different projects with Damon Albarn in it, think that that ranking goes, Gorillaz > Elastica > Blur this album is a 7/10
6/10 im sory women
This was cool. I hadn't heard of them before, but found that I actually had heard Strutter, just didn't know the band. I liked the sounds and I could see myself listening again.
decent
I remember finding this in the $1 bin at a record store back in the 90's and became really proud of my purchase after listening. Connection vs. Three Girl Rhumbah, by Wire. Both great. Hard to believe that this came from Suede, a band that I have such little tolerance for. Also, very happy to support anything that is anti Damon Albarn / Blur.
“Connections” may have been their biggest hit, but it’s my least favorite song on the album. I’m glad to say that the rest of “Elastica” is not as poppy or radio-friendly, and I really dug the album.
After slogging my way through a bunch of folk music, this album was such a breath of fresh air. Fun, female fronted post-punk that I somehow missed in the 90s when it is right in my wheelhouse and should have been the soundtrack to my high school years. Happy to have found it now, even if I am a few decades late to the party.
Love me some Elastica and I still listen to Stutter on the regular, but it’s not quite a five for me.
What a difference getting rid of a shitty singer can do! Goodbye Suede and Brett Anderson’s frog croaking!! Hello Justine Frischmann and Donna Matthews!!! The most ironic part is that Suede could have kicked Brett out, turned the vocals over to Justine, vastly improved, and split their earnings one less way. This album cooks. 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Da Da Da
I am looking forward to listening to this album. Elastica for me are a fun, female-led indie/post-punk band known for their tight musicianship and punchy 2–3 minute tracks so this album should be a belter!! I liked this album, Their sound is aggressive, energetic, and full of attitude. While they might not be reinventing the wheel with theis album, they definitely know how to deliver a good time and fun tracks. Waking Up instantly took me back to my early 2000s indie nightclub days—what a tune! It’s the kind of track that gets you moving and sets the tone for a night out. I’ve always loved that one. Beyond the big hit, there are some absolute belters here—Car Song, Line Up, and Hold Me Now all stand out as highlights. The whole album keeps a strong momentum and delivers consistent energy from start to finish. Favourite songs: Waking Up and Car Song take the top spots, but honestly, I enjoyed every track. Least favourite: None—there’s not a bad song on the album. Album artwork: Pretty standard cover—nothing too exciting visually, but the music more than makes up for it.
Elastica is certainly an enjoyable album. I am always in the mood for a good punk album and this album certainly delivered on that. I did not think it was perfect with the vocals feeling weak at times but when it comes to the music, that was handled pretty well for the most part. Every part of the music manages to steal the show in all of these songs with the trifecta of the guitars, bass and drums. They were all very good and could often be at their best during very different points of the album. The melodies here were also very infectious and catchy in a lot of these songs too. This isn't a perfect album but for what it does, it still is very good. Best Song: S.O.F.T. Worst Song: Indian Song
Ok 2/5