Giant Steps

Easily one of the best albums of the 90s. Oasis wish they got anywhere close to sounding as good. That's the straight ahead guitar rock stuff. Elsewhere you've got dub, sunshiney jangle pop, and Beatles-esque experimentalism. Plus the delicious wall of noise from tracks such as Lazarus, Leaves and Sand, Butterfly McQueen (the swirling feedback disintegrating into the clanking robotic beat of Rodney King is one of my favourite moments) and the gorgeous Thinking of Ways. Barney and Me is majestic, there's another Match of the day goal of the month theme, one of the best. The scope of the guitar playing from Martin Carr here is exceptional. Again, another hour long record that I love every little bit of.

Very interesting, will listen again

Really enjoyed the entire album. Now I gotta go thru their entire discography real quick. Rating: 4.8

Right up my street, a mix of psychedelic rock and Brit Pop

This is an eclectic album of rock songs. The sort of music that gives you faith in the industry to release something original and challenging from time to time.

I listened to both this and Everything’s Alright Forever and they are both absolutely amazing 10/10

There's a lot in here, but mostly let's enjoy the last flowering of indie indie, with a bald singer, a terrible band name and the pre-Oasis Creation label. Because this is in its way as great an achievement as Screamadelica, a genre-busting blend of shoegaze, powerpop and psychedelia. However, they weren't cool and would have to release a much more straightforward and less ambitious album to get into the biggish time.

This album is a mix of shoegaze and Britpop that not only works, but combines the best elements of both. The droning and overdriven wall of sound meets melody in a satisfying and ultimately successful way. There’s a lot of Beatles influence here too, especially their later more experimental work. This album will definitely be one I return to.

Forgotten gem

esse album é muito melhor do que eu esperava, a maneira como eles colocam os sons de dissonancia e barulho em canções pop meio beatles é surpreendentemente adequada. outro fator que surpreeende é a qualidade da produção, que e algo que nos anos 90 não era comum nem entre os artistas do momento. uma pena ser um album tão longo. apesar disso, não cansa, cada musica tem um toque diferente, seja com uma passagem suave ou com um som de fio desencapado do nada. a maneira como as musicas te surpreendem e como tu nunca sabe o que esperar é genial. por isso que velvet underground é foda, sem eles, esse tipo de coisa não existiria.

love it

Lovely and noisy

My favorite artists and albums are ones that explore a variety of genres and sounds with unabashed enthusiasm, but still are strong enough in themselves not to loose a core identity about them. This delivers that vibe by the bucketful, and I'm pouring it all over myself with glee. Let's fucking go.

Classicly good psychedelia infused with a lot of other fun little bits. Reminds me of this: https://www.cadbury.co.uk/products/marvellous-smashables-jelly-popping-candy-11337

Loved it then, still sounds great if a bit early Britpop production. 60s pop + psychedelia + dub + indie geetars + alt noise.

Really liked this

Really enjoyable, a mix of genres and styles, with echoes of Ooberman, Blur, Nirvana, the Clash, ELO, The Beatles, and many more from across the whole of music. I'd only heard a couple of songs before, but loved wish I was skinny, barney (and me), Lazarus, and the white noise revisited. 5 🌟

Parecidos a Belle & Sebastian y un poco a Suede suave.

I really liked them , can't entirely decide but maybe they deserve the 5 star..

Pre-note: Devo ancora iniziare a sentirlo ma la copertina è bella trash. I Hang Suspended: Cazzo non me aspettavo questo. Qua è inutile che vado avanti a commentare i pezzi, sto a metà album e non ce n'è uno che non abbia pensato fosse geniale. Ma chi so sti Boo Radleys?? Ma dove so stati fino ad ora?? In conclusione: Crisi totale. Questo album è una bomba. Il '93? Ma seriamente? Suona come gruppi che venivano considerati all'avanguardia nel 2000, alcuni che posso nominare (Death Cab for Cutie), altri che non posso nominare perché stanno in lista. È più di un'ora di disco e onestamente non c'è un pezzo che possa dire che è debole. Quello che forse m'ha colpito meno è Lazarus, ma parliamo di 1 su 17. Ci stanno pezzi che vorrei sentire in loop come Take the Time Around. Adesso il punto è: è possibile che cazzo dopo 63 album ascoltati e un solo cinque me trovo a dare tre cinque di seguito? Che m'è successo, me s'è bloccato il dito sul cinque? Tutte domande che mi sono posto. Volevo dargli meno di cinque a sto album, mi sono svegliato e ho detto "ora me lo risento a mente fredda sicuro trovo un motivo per dargli quattro". No, 4 è troppo poco. Diamo a Cesare quel che è di Cesare. (Secondo me Luca ha dato 2 e Andrea 3)

Lots of unique sounds and flair that I haven’t heard anywhere else! I need to finish listening to this.

Really good album, it was a pretty big surprise. 2 discs, so over an hour of music

Parecidos a Belle & Sebastian. Les voy a dar un 5.

Love it. Want it.

Pretty Cool big fan

Another hidden 90s alt rock gem. This was great

John Coltrane

I forgot this band existed. It's probably been 30 years since I listened to them. This was a nice trek down memory lane.

After reading the user reviews, I wasn’t excited to give this one a listen. Liked it a lot more than most users I guess. Not a new favorite or anything but I’ll listen to it again for sure.

For a while (during Everything's alright forever and Giant steps period) The Boo radleys were one of the most exiting bands of it's time. Martin Carr's songs were mixing great pop hooks, noisy guitar, trumpet leads, dub bass and psychedelia in very exciting ways. I think that Everything's alright... is their best album, but Giant steps is a great album anyway!

Love the album. 4.5 for me for sure. Nice mix of shoegaze and alternative sounds. Totally missed this band growing up, but I’ll check out more of their stuff.

I’d never really listened to The Boo Radleys before, so I was looking forward to giving Giant Steps a proper listen today. Straight away, I knew this was my kind of thing. This is a fantastic indie record, packed with great guitars, strong melodies and loads of atmosphere. It may not have huge standout hits jumping off the album, but what it does have is consistently excellent songwriting and a sound that really clicks with me. Like a few albums in this challenge, this was one I ended up listening to two or three times across the day, and it got better with each play. It’s an easy album to sink into. The songs are catchy without being obvious, and there are some brilliant melodies throughout that keep pulling you back in. What I really liked is how layered the album feels. There’s a lot going on musically, but it never feels cluttered. It balances dreamy textures with big guitar moments really well, creating an album that feels both ambitious and effortlessly enjoyable. This was a brilliant discovery and definitely one of those albums I’m glad this challenge introduced me to. Favourite tracks: There weren’t any huge standout tracks for me the strength is how consistently good the whole album is Least favourite tracks: Every song on the album earns its place. This is a great find Album artwork: I love the album cover

Interesting multi-genre soubd

I think I get it. I understand why these random bands that do some random genre are on this list. We already heard Loveless and we have a basis of shoegazes what does the Everyman think about this genre how do normal bands interpret the new genres in front of them. By making weird shit really. I love the pianos and the slow builds to the song to bring its squarely into their world. Some of these songs speak on things I felt so personal too. Lose the fear is just a perfect track this is the stone roses again. Brits really did make the best most engaging rock out of them all and I can’t get enough. They go genre to genre shoegaze to surf rock to depressed hey ya! Vibes. This is not the sign of a band who doesn’t know what they walk it’s a band who loves music and that’s why it’s here. I love for everything I enjoy this

Pretty varied and interesting album

Man. I can imagine this so clearly on mid-90's college radio stations. There's a lot of different sounds/styles here, and I like a lot of them. If this had been something in my musical journey history, I could easily see giving it a 5, but I can also see how some really don't like it. Think for a first (and second) time listen, even though it gets a little long, I can get to a 4. Nice discovery.

I read a lot of middling/polarizing reviews before listening to this, so I wasn't expecting much. Turns out this is exactly my shit. Kind of like a British equivalent of an Elephant 6 band. Shoegaze, Jangle Rock, string arrangements, brass sections, woodwinds, 90's psychedelia... Although I can contend, the album should have ended with Lazarus. Except, I like I've Lost The Reason and The White Noise Revisited. Also didn't care much for the noisiest song, Spun Around. I'm happy to be an outlier and happy to have a new album and band to spin.

Todo iba bien, encaminado a ponerle cinco estrellas, hasta que empezaron a joder en las últimas canciones con el rock psicodélico. No todo puede ser tan bueno como parece, lamentablemente. ↑: I Hang Suspended; Leaves and Sand; Rodney King (Song for Lenny Bruce); If You Want It, Take It; Lazarus; I've Lost the Reason ↓: Butterfly McQueen; Spun Around; One Is For; Run My Way Runway

Overall: 7/10 This one was a lot of fun! I liked the style of the music a lot and the vocalists voice was very pleasing, if a little generic. My biggest problem is the length, but it didn't deter me from enjoying it too much. Fav Song: Leaves and Sand

This album sure keeps you on your toes. 4 songs in an I feel like I've listened to 4 different bands. So far we've had some generic indie rock, some Smiths style britpop, some dubby reggae, and some noise rock. By then end of the album, we end up hearing some repeated genres, but they never really settle into a single sound; they're always evolving and changing slightly from track to track and it honestly works better than you'd expect. With this many genres mashed up it can sound a bit of a mess, but it remains pretty cohesive throughout. There's a few tracks on here that I really enjoyed; especially when they veered into the noisier, psychedelic, and more reggae influences. Unfortunately, I was indifferent at best towards a few of the more generic indie and britpop sounding tracks and with the long run time, it started to wear on me by the end. I feel like this could have been edited down to a really solid album, but I still had a pretty good time with this album.

So like you listen to this album and you'll find yourself muttering things like wait a minute that sounds like the cranberries hold on that part Sounds like it's from a Foo Fighters song play that again. That sounds like sublime. It's almost as if AI created some generic 90s band and then sent it back in time and here we are. It's a fun ride. It really is but definitely no hits on this. It's just like you're living the 90s through some tribute band that only plays deep cuts. For a band that I can't name a single song from this was a decent album. I probably will never listen to it again, but it wasn't a miserable experience.

Boo Radleys fell a bit between the two stools of shoegaze and Britpop. Their tunes were too sweet for the former and their tones too noisy and psychedelic for the latter. Chronologically, they fell between the two as well. So 1993 was the point when they seemed most at home and produced their best album. Another review on here compares them to early Mercury Rev and Flaming Lips, which seems appropriate: maybe those would have been better companions than anyone else in the UK.

this was actually very good reminded me a bit of belle and sebastian

Another album of modern psychedelia. Yeah, I love it. 4/5

Don’t know how I losses these guys while I was in HS and college. Squarely in the genre I loved so mush then… shoegaze fuzzy guitars and Brit indie pop. I like this, and I think it sounds like the kind of record that would just continue to grow on me. Looking forward to revisiting.

A very pleasant surprise! This is like Vampire Weekend time traveled to the early 90s!

I really liked this, I think it’s better than its sub-three rating.

joooj... izrazito sam neodlučan oko ocjene. ovo je kvalitetom bauljalo, svakako. ali me jako ugodno iznenadilo i utisak mi je sve u svemu jako dobar. dosta je raznovrstan album, premda dakako ostaje u okvirima nekog alternativnog roka. usudio bih se reći da zbog toga i zbog dinamičnosti opravdava svoju dužinu (sat i petnaest minuta). zbog toga što su mi se neke stvari jako dopale – izdvojio bih pjesme »best lose the fear« i »lazarus«, možda i završnu još – jednostavno ne mogu a da ne dam četvorku, premda je možda objektivno za trojčicu :)

Orale, muy interesante desde el inicio. La primera canción como que empezo muy locota y luego ya se me hizo normal, osea como que no escalo a lo que esperaba. La segunda me mamo. En general todo el vibe del disco me gusto bastante, como que vi mucho en línea que estaba super poco y te volaría la peluquita y creo que eso hizo que mi expectativa fuera muy alta pero pues no me obsesione como pensé que lo haría tbh. Pero si que me gusto bastante overall

yo I gotta check this out much more. How haven't I heard about them yet in my forais into shoegaze and 90s music?

The La's psychedelic cousin

Overall a good album. Some of the tracks were really fuzzy and distorted, and had a great rock sound, others were cleaner and more poppy. Some of them didn’t hold my attention as much as others, but a good listen overall.

What a pleasant album - refreshing, nice production, great vocal harmonies, interesting songs....

Wow what a nice surprise the first three songs are amazing! Overall the album was good and entertaining maybe just for one song. The video of wish i was skinny was sweet

Much better than anticipated. Still too long though.

Great album - probably my favorite so far from a band I hadn’t heard before.

Fun! Not great but I liked a good amount.

I liked it more than I thought. Maybe a little long, but pretty good.

3.75

I might go back to this one

The name was familiar but not sure if I’d recognize whatever I might have heard from them in the past. This was cool, nice mix of different alt sounds and interesting songs all around.

Inégal??

Been a fan of this since 93 and as much as I like it, I find it is 3 or 4 tracks too long. Remove Spun Around (it's always annoyed me!) and make Lazarus the last song and its a 5/5

Yeah. Before they lost it and went too poppy.

Reminds me of sunny days driving my mate Pod (RIP) to Fife so he could get his hole.

I never paid much attention to the Boo Radleys, typical American! Though to be fair, the Brits barely paid any attention to them either. I do regret my inattention, as this is one of the best unknown to me albums I've heard on the list so far. The Boos take on each major leg of the 90s BritPop invasion: Beatles worship, psychedelia, and shoegaze. And they excel at each. Unfortunately, this cafeteria of styles probably condemned them to the cutout bin. At first glance, using Giant Steps as the title is a bold move. But much like the Mats using Let It Be, it fits this record like a glove

Liked this more than some other brit pop. Sounded like Pavement, Sufjan, or even that band Cymbals Eat Guitars - at times. Leaves and Sand, Barney, If You Want it Take It, Lazarus all stood out. A solid 3.5

Bardzo fajny album. Odpowiada mi klimat.

My judgement has certainly been altered by 8 pina coloadas but this is pretty sick

I'd barely heard of the Boo Radleys before this, and I'm shocked at how much I like this. I'm not usually into this period of British alternative music, but this is different. It's like SF noise pop/indie pop or Elephant 6.

Working from memory, groundbreaking and inventive at the time

7.5/10

Really brought back some 90's alternative vibes.

Psychedelic soft-punk. Surfin’

I enjoyed this new-to-me band / album --a good mix and a good sound -- but nothing ever stuck. The songs border on obscurity but they're good enough that you want to listen to it again. I think I have to listen a few more times to really appreciate it.

Ich glaub ich bin sogar bei 4. könnte ein perfekter Soundtrack sein und mega abwechslungsreich

was alright, but damn this album is long I Hang Suspended - 5/5 Upon 9th and Fairchild - 4/5 Wish I Was Skinny - 4/5 Leaves and Sand - 3/5 Butterfly McQueen - 3/5 Rodney King (Song for Lenny Bruce) - 4/5 Thinking of Ways - 4/5 Barney (...and Me) - 5/5 Spun Around - 2/5 If You Want It, Take It - 4/5 Best Lose the Fear - 4/5 Take the Time Around - 5/5 Lazarus - 5/5 One Is For - 3/5 Run My Way Runway - 2/5 I've Lost the Reason - 4/5 The White Noise Revisited - 3/5 Average score: 3.8/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really like the mixing on this kick drum one song in. Exciting intro song in general. The second one didn't do anything for me but Wish I Was Skinny was a pretty indie tune. They're cool as hell for Leaves and Sand, that song just kept getting gnarlier. By Barney (And Me) I couldn't really tell one song from another but in a good way, their playing is pretty immersive. Honestly near the end, I've Lost the Reason speaks for itself and loses a bit of cohesion with this and weaker previous songs. 50 minutes or so with the right cuts would've made this an easy five, but man, at least The White Noise Revisited is a six on its own.

Ciekawe i odważne zagrania muzyczne. Do słuchania jeszcze raz

Pretty bold at times, overall likeable 3.6

A very good surprise, I wasn't excepting something that takes so many swings. Of course, with an album so long, some are misses, but overall I think they truly are mining for a sound that is their own and I liked most of it and was pretty impressed.

Didn't have any clue what to expect from this, but I really enjoyed it! Great vibe

Strong 3,5

After glancing at the reviews, I was a little worried. However, I was actually impressed by the album. Maybe it was the chill Saturday morning mood I was in. This is the kind of eclectic that I like. Definitely had some indie, psych, and Beatles vibes.

Great 90s sound. Hadn’t heard the whole album before

High 3? Fine enough listening but nothing grabs me and likely won't revisit

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Quite a lot of different things going on but hey I was entertained!

Yet another positive surprise. Never heard of this band before, although a relatively extensive active stretch. What surprised me thr most was the constant change of genres. Little Britons here, little shoegaze here, mixed with a splash of noise and psyche. That what was kept me attentive and interested. Although playing in the background, I had to stop to listen more carefully. It got my attention. Big plus for the name of the album. Hence John Coltrane. Four for now, if id let it sink in more it would probably be a five.

I like it. I think I need to relisten as I didn't get a good once through.

Va det her det va bestilt et album som høres akkurat ut som nokka laga av menn i 1993? Ja? Værsågod, kos dæ.

I’ve learned that the set of my favorite albums is not convex. While this album is a convex combination of Neutral Milk Hotel, MBV, and Smashing Pumpkins, this doesn’t quite do it for me. Still good though.

This album once again proves that if you write a song called Lazarus, it is not allowed to suck (Bowie; Lazaretto by Jack White; etc.). I was surprised that this album was so good. It felt a little Beatles (Thinking of Ways); a little psychedelic (I’ve Lost Reasonable); a little ‘90s Alt (Barney); a little Grunge (SpunAround); a little Radiohead (If You Want it, Take It); and a whole lot of Bo Radleys. This album was all over the place, and so wanted to be in that place. I think my favorite song was Upon 9th &Fairchild. I am going to return to this album again for a better listen.

EDIT: Some of my thoughts changed after listening to this album a bit more. Here is my original review after the first listen: The opening track, "I Hang Suspended" was amazing. It marked a great start for the album so I started with a good predisposition for the rest of the album. However, I feel that Giant Steps didn't keep up the quality as I started to lose interest by the second track. I definetly like the overall sound; the compositions and interpretations are good, and the singer has a very nice voice, but I couldn't feel very invested in it. As always, this might be a matter of just needing one or two more listens to really get into it, especially considering this album is labeled as a few styles I usually like (including Britpop, which I apparently like much better than most people in this web page). I wasn't too disengaged, though. I still found the album likeable and discovered other highlights in it beyond the first track, like "If You Want It, Take It", "Lazarus"; and especially "I've Lost the Reason", which was easily my favourite. I also liked in particular the noisier parts like "Run My Way Runaway". As a final note to self, I actually quite enjoyed the second half. Maybe if I listen to the first half again soon I'll appreciate the album much more. EDIT: After listening a bit more to it I regret saying previously that this wasn't very engaging. I was right with my final note and I just needed to give it another chance. "Wish I Was Skinny", "Leaves and Sand" and "Barney (...and Me)" are great songs too. In the latter, I love the contrast between the noisier and the brighter sections. I was originally going to rate this a 3/5, but after giving it a second chance I'm rating Giant Steps a 4/5.

Pretty solid enjoyable stuff.

Another "jennell likes this genre" hit!

A remarkably ambitious album - especially so for what at the time was a jobbing indie toilet band back in 1993. And you know what? They just about get away with it. I love the New Order pastiches on Wishing I was Skinny and Barney. The cod reggae attempts are brave, if nothing else. Giant Steps offered optimism as to where toilet indie could go back in 1993. Sadly flag waving hijacked the possibilities.

I know a couple of their songs, and knew they were more than that britpop hit. Starts strong and stays strong. Bit of a revelation, though some less interesting songs. Could easily drop some, but overall impressive. 4 Heard before? 1 song Owned: No: 45/179 (25%) Will I get: Yes

A fun album. Kind of like early 2000s indie rock for its diverse approach but still rock riffs at heart

There were a couple of songs on here that felt very relevant but I fear that is only because it is January and I would have liked this less if I got it in July. Regardless, 4 stars

Dope

Heel leuk! Ook onverwacht Sommige vond ik super Andere werd ik een beetje misselijk van 🤣

Very interesting dreamlike experience

I was impressed by the number of different sounds, styles, and instruments on this album. The musicians have an impressive repertoire along with some laid back vocals.

Grade A shoegazing. I wish I was skinny is especially poignant and feels so of its time in a great way.

Alternative rock. Kind of a mix between Smashing Pumpkins and the Beatles. Pretty good.

I purchased this when it first came out and played it a lot at the time - although probably not too much in the 30 years since (!) It is an album that requires a few listens to works its charms. I think I also saw them play this album live (but it may have been the follow up that took them mainstream). Some great moments - a few patchy moments - and a bit long but overall a great nostalgia trip.

90s shoegaze done right! Even though they were moving away from pure effects-pedal-rock at this point... If you want to hear the Boos doing pure shoegaze, check out their first album, Ichabod and I, my personal favourite of theirs. Although their best song - Barney (... And Me) - is on this album. NME'S Album of the Year for 1993, which is why it's on this list. It loses a star for being 20 minutes too long, but then it was Peak CD Era when every other album was unnecessarily bloated.

Has to be the worst band name of all time. That said, I enjoyed this way more than I had expected. Kind of a more upbeat My Bloody Valentine. A lot of interesting things going on here.

Ha, The Boo Radleys! I came across this a few weeks ago, when I was playing my collection randomly on the Plex player. Having collected well over 15,000 records, I like to be surprised, as surely there are albums or artists I do not immediately recognize. As it was with The Boo Radleys -"Upon 9th and Fairchild" played, and I was intrigued. What is this loopy dub reggae with fuzzy, distorted guitars and dreamy chords? So, I decided to listen to the album as a whole, and was equally impressed. Great eclecticism, great sound - Britpop without being Britpop - and well-crafted songs. A top album! 4/5"

Excellent album. Very interesting and enjoyable with some nice variety. Sometimes moody and sometimes beautiful alt rock. I like the singer's voice. Favorites: Upon 9th and Fairchild, Wish I Was Skinny

An album I was a fan of at the time of release, due to their previous album Everythings Alright Forever being a shoegazy obsession. This one was wildly different, varied in scope and universally lauded by the music press (if largely ignored by the masses). I voluntarily listened to it a couple of times recently so this was hardly a trial, it's just really enjoyable and full of hooks ideas grooves and squalls.

I was prepared to hate this record when I saw it was seventeen songs and by a band whose name I vaguely recalled not liking the first time I heard it/them decades ago. Listen, I even managed to type this pre-review in the first 30 seconds while the backwards tape and other sampled bits built up some tension... "17 songs doesn't sound like Giant Steps to get over the '1-hour with the Radleys' mark. It sounds like too many little steps to get there. Boo!" — yeah, I was eager to announce my displeasure. But wait, here's the twist: despite all this ready-made hate, I thought it wasn't bad. Yes, a little too long, with a back-half quality dip, but I'm glad I took the leap.

Goede plaat

Digga dette, catcha oppmerksomheten min med ein gang Beste sang: I Hang Suspended

good songs, just too many!! they could have cut off 4-5

This sounded better than I expected for a band with that name. Too long probably though

I’ve heard the name but never checked these guys out. Probably because it’s corny to name a band after a book you read in high school. I was wrong to avoid em, this is very much up my alley. Probably a lesson to be learned here, but I won’t be learning it.

There was a time that all I listened to was bands that sound just like this. Indie power pop with infectious hooks, layers of guitars, creative additional instrumentation, a barely ok singer but still great melodies and harmonies. I somehow completely missed out on these guys back then, but will be digging into them now for sure!

If the word sprawling hadn’t existed before, it would have been invented to describe this 1993 outing by The Boo Radleys. Giant Steps is one of the best albums to emerge from under the broad – and itself not easily defined – umbrella of the Britpop-interwoven-with-Shoegaze era. Giant Steps is one of the best of the Brunch because it nearly bursts at the seams. Instead of choosing to focus solely on melody or texture, The Boo Radleys combined both. And that makes sense, because Britpop and shoegaze were never cleanly separated categories to begin with; both are porous, overlapping, and stylistically fluid. Where Slowdive aimed for a cohesive, enveloping sonic world, and Blur and Oasis leaned into more straightforward pop ambition, The Boo Radleys wore their influences in jazz, noise rock, and even hints of ragga/reggae openly for everyone to hear (as in the brass-tinged exuberance of “Lazarus” or the genre-blending shifts in “I Hang Suspended”). It’s a nod to their heroes, and yet they created something unmistakably their own. The record is opulent, it’s beautiful, it’s intentionally stacked - in the best possible sense - and it’s kaleidoscopic. I was skeptical at first about diving into the record again, because the recent shoegaze and dream-pop revival of the 2020s has begun to wear on me. But the abundance of ideas, the marvelous sound design, the inventive production, and the buoyancy of their multi-genre blend make it stand out even after all these years. A record to behold. Period.

Finally! Some quirky indie! This had some really dirty guitars and indie sensibilities. I was doing work while listening and felt that perhaps it didn't get my full attention. I also heard some things I would associate with that bad side of britpop. 4 stars

Genuinely surprised by how much i enjoyed thos album, having never heard of these guys before. A nice mix of tunes.

They had me at the name of the band. This was such a pleasant surprise! I really enjoyed the experimental melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, especially on Wish I was Skinny and Lazarus. I'm going to have to give this another listen before I award it an immediate five stars, but this is up there with my favourites I have heard so far.

First thought, they must like Harper Lee A lot of horns, good rifts

It’s striking listening back to Giant Steps how much the Boo Radleys influenced my subsequent listening. As a band they perfectly balanced the melodic light and shade of calm harmony and crashing explosion. In particular the use of brass is very evocative of Elbow. It’s difficult to single tracks out as this is one of those albums where it just works as a whole and perfectly captures Martin Carr’s songwriting. However Butterfly Mcqueen, Barney and me and Lazarus (obviously) are particularly wonderful. The only downside is that whilst this is genuinely a great album it is not the best Boo Radleys album. C’mon Kids definitely deserves to be on this list and should be listened to whether you enjoyed Giant steps or not

Considering I only really know The Boo Radleys through Wake Up Boo, this turned out to be altogether weirder than I ever expected. I really liked the dub baselines whenever they appeared, and the Beach Boys style harmonies, the occasional bit of Beatles influenced instrumentation. This album jumps between styles pretty much every track, which I'm sure people label as "inconsistent and muddled" but is something I really appreciate in a record. Upon 9th And Fairchild was a highlight for me, sounding quite Clash-like. I also really loved Butterfly McQueen and Thinking Of Ways. On the negative side, it's too long. I think sometimes bands forget that just because they can, doesn't mean they should - a tight 45/50 minutes is far preferable in my book. I could also have done without the chorus of Best Lose the Fear being repeated what felt like approximately 42 times at the end. Ultimately though, I really enjoyed this album so 4/5

I liked it mostly but the end of the album sort of devolved into noise and I'm not sure I liked it.

Strong and sophisticated, but also warm and fun, with considerably more depth than the polished pop facade would suggest on a first or cursory listen. One didn't quite track them in real time, not with the attention they seem to deserve anyway. The mix of shoe-gazing, Britpop, and something like straight-up (or rave-adjacent) indie rock and variations on genre (reggae, eg) works effectively and holds up quite well, easily (almost effortlessly transcending pure '90s cliches, especially bombast). There are swirling, totally hummable melodies (e.g., "Wish I Was Skinny") that add sweetness but ample distortion and spiky riffs to challenge a listenter and suggest their ambition (as do the mini-suites). The understated brass and winds (on "Best Lose the Fear") are grace notes. The sequence of "Leaves and Sand" > "Buttefly McQueen" > "Rodney King" is particularly strong. "Barney and Me" and "Lazarus" are among the other plus-plus cuts – there is more than enough quality to justify the (borderline too long) quantity here (speaking of '90s cliches). They bring to mind the Pernice Brothers, among other current indie bands. Will need to remind oneself to listen to more of them in the future (which is before one will die, assuming one has the timings worked out).

Grew on me, I ended up liking this a lot. Jazzy shoegaze, beautiful chaos at times. I get the Beatles comparisons. Reminiscent of Blur for me too at times

Some really nice moments happening here! Hovers between a 3 and a 4 for me

Never heard this before, I enjoyed it!

TERRIBLE band name. Great album. Somehow, as much as I love shoegaze and Britpop, I’ve barely even heard of these guys before, and never heard a note of their music. This goes in so many different directions….. yes there are shoegazey elements but it feels like the idea was to write a ton of great songs and let the genre sort itself out. I love it. FOUR STARS

I like this funky Brit-pop outfit.

You know what, this bangs. And it's doesn't even have wake up boo on it.

This was weirdly fun and up my alley.

I really liked this. Fascinating mix of genres, moods, styles, instruments, techniques... they were all over the place, and while I can see how that might get old for some people it just happened to work for me. Favorite tracks: Wish I Was Skinny, Rodney King (Song for Lenny Bruce), and Lazarus. 7/10, 4 stars

Definitely interesting and I got into it! It felt a bit bloated, but meh I liked it! :)

Actually quite enjoyable if a bit on the long side. I hear some elements of later bands (Radiohead, MBV) 4/5

Day 63 First listen- This album was a wonderful experience. I was initially skeptical because the album is over an hour long but I enjoyed almost all of the tracks. Gorgeous melodies and I LOVEED the psychedelic moments throughout the album. (4/5)

4.1 I've given it a couple of listens and I think I'll need quite a few more but it's time to move on. I only knew these from Wake up Boo, so I always thought they were a one hit wonder that made a very commercialised Brit pop song and nothing else. Wow was I wrong. This album has a bit of everything. Shoegaze, psychadelica, alternative rock etc. the genre often changes but it *works*, something that I lament often on here for not doing so.

Yooooo! With a name like The Boo Radleys I would’ve never expected such dope music behind the name. This album rules. Brit-rock, indie, alt-rock, dream pop with touches of shoegaze. The Boo Radleys fukin rule!

When I discovered MBV and had a shoegaze epiphany Boo Radleys were on the list of bands that I tried to dabble a bit into, but that couldn't quite recreate the beauty of Loveless for me. Pleasantly surprised then that I liked this album. Obviously nothing like a Loveless - not even that shoegazey all things considered - but a decent crop of cool songs. Fave Tracks: I Hang Suspended, Butterfly McQueen, Barney (...And Me), Lazarus 3.9/5

Vel, ganske velprodusert og en fin lytting. Shoegaze er ikke helt hva jeg elsker, men synes det fortjener en firer alt i alt.

Pretty solid. Perhaps the forgotten Britpop band? 3.5/5

loved this

Really great indie vibes the lyrics are very relatable.

New boo radleys fan

Cool and mostly great album but again why is this an hour long? Cut the fluff please guys this drags in areas. Really cool guitar work throughout though

Bern - eight Louke - eight

czy jest to dobry album? nie wiem nie udaje ze mam dobry gust dla mnie sie podoba

I did not manage to finish it but what i heard really had my interest and i definitely will listen to it fully and again

I mean, half the time I didn't have much of an idea what was going on but I enjoyed it Lord knows how many genres have been combined into this one album, yet they manage to seam them together really well. I didn't enjoy the more traditional Britpop stuff though. This album is how I'd imagine a peaceful rollercoaster to be like Standout tracks: Upon 9th And Fairchild (I love those basslines and the reggae shit) Lazarus is beautiful If You Want it, Take It (that guitar solo is class)

Muy bueno

Wow. Really unexpected. Super post punk, veering into some fairly unusual proggy sort of sounding stuff. This is unusual... never heard of these guys. I find it interesting that the hive mind wants to say they are shoegaze... OK, I see elements of that, but My Bloody Valentine it is not!

Very unique and super dynamic. Def saving this one for another listen

Incredibly creative and unique album. Indescribable mix of genres, sounds, and effects that really holds up 30 years later. Would love to return to this in the future.

In the first song, the beat was good but the lyrics did not really matching the beat. The second song was not good in my opinion I thought the lyrics were not good but the beat was okay. In the third song I liked the lyrics and beat I would only recommend the third because it was a cathi song

Interesting

Vaag album, maar ergens ook wel een vibe

Pleasant

An eclectic band moving between the different rock guitar sounds of the day (thick reverb soaked shoegaze textures, jangly indie pop strummy, nostalgic garage psych riffs and wah wah leads, crunchy britpop chords) and adding in horns and flutes and dub bass for a big hard charging sprawling record. The vocals have a Power pop melodic sensibility and a 60s harmonic sound paired with an experimental approach to recording with modulation and distortion. Opens very strongly, but a handful of slow quiet meandering tracks in the final third mean it drags on a bit too long - should've ended at Lazarus. There's so much great guitar on this, nothing flashy but perfectly delivered parts and tones.

What a joy. I had genuinely forgotten about the Boo Radleys, this is nearly as good as wake up boo a fabulous flab of pop/rock solid tunes great vocals.

A great album but probably a few songs too long. However some good sounds and a nice mix of styles. Lazarus has always been a favourite of mine but a few others I’d listen to again.

Another pleasant surprise that the list has thrown us. A really interesting mix of pop, Shoegaze and psychedelic rock that provides a few surprises. Possibly a tad too long and a bit disjointed but definitely worth another listen.

Somehow missed this one when it came out even though I was DJing British Dance music nights shortly after. love it

Another decent album that sounds like half of the other ones on this list, but they kept it weird enough to keep me interested the entire running time.

3.8/kind of smells like kind gizz. i like it

Surprised, liked the sound, album was too long though, not enough variation

good listen to pass time at work or long drive. flows well

never heard of this album going into it, but i really enjoyed it!

A much more interesting album than I expected. I might try and listen to this a bit.

This hit me right in my 90s kid brain. 97x BAM! the future of rock and roll.

Really great album. I didn't think I've learned to them before really.

Solid.

Didn’t know this album, but it was pretty rad. Take a jangle pop base, mix it with it with noise/shoegaze, and sprinkle in some dub & psychedelia - and you get the Boo Radley stew going. Hooks are plentiful vocally and musically. It’s a unique and diverse, one second youre grooving to a dub bass, next you’re enjoying some poppy alt rock, and then topping it off with a noisy instrumental excursion. Good stuff.

Jedva čekam ovo čut. Ovo je kultni brtpop album meni je u devedetima bio dosadan i od tad sam ga slabo sluša

So many times I thought that this sounded like a harder Elliott smith

Love the mix of influences here, including one of my favorites, shoegaze. It doesn't get lost in the wall of sound though, but explores a lot of other areas including indie rock, jazz, and even reggae.

Just because an album doesn't "deserve" to be on this list, doesn't mean that album can't be 5 stars. This album should neither be on this list nor is it 5 stars. But, it's still a very good album. There is an eclectic mix of sounds here that make for a very interesting album. Even more interesting is how much this band reminds me of a ton of indie rock that came out 10-20 years after this one. If I didn't know this released in '93, I'd be under the impression that The Boo Radleys just take a bunch of sounds for aight indie bands and are nothing original. The reality is that indie bands likely took inspiration from The Boo Radleys, and Giant Steps is actually well before it's time. I mean, there are definitely older sounds in here (60s Brit pop vibes in "The White Noise Revisited" for example), but more often than not I'm hearing shades of Sunny Day Real Estate, the Doves, Arcade Fire, Noah and the Whale and more. My favorite song from the album "Wish I Was Skinny" with its quirky sounds in the jam/outro part might as well have been released in 2012. It's *that* spot on to that era's sound. I didn't love everything on this album, and some of the noise pop was a bit much. But, overall, this was such an enjoyable listen and there are so many tracks I not only plan to return to, I will be sharing with others like, "Have you heard this?!? They're named after To Kill a Mockingbird!"

Good varied album

Cool sound! Came out of nowhere!

never encountered this or really heard of it at all but i quite liked it ! really solid :) I liked the noise rock and kinda psych touches to what would have otherwise been a really normal britpop-y album

90S college dorm groove music. Better than I expected and worth a listen for those so inclined to like this background.

At the start of the album I was thinking this could be a potential 5, really liked the vibe and the mix of genres. As it went on it dropped to a 4, and towards the end almost to a 3 with a track of pure noise. But I'd definitely listen to more from these.

Nor a band/album that I have any history with. Found it somewhat hard to really get into but there were some surprises in here to enjoy.

It is definitely too long and some songs are bland. But there are many great moments in this.

One of the Most surprising albums so far

I am a big fan of noise rock and shoegaze, so this was a pleasant surprise. Not every song here is great and it does go on a tad too long, but I found plenty of songs I really enjoyed. Mid 4.

This was one I had never heard of and was a pleasant surprise. The stylistic blending on noise pop, indie rock, and even reggae sometimes was very enjoyable. I’m not sure I really got the vibe that this was a “shoegaze” album. Vocals are pretty good. Definitely one I will return to. Favorites songs were I Hang Suspended, Leaves And Sand, Barney (…and Me), and If Your Want It, Take It. BONUS: I also listened to the similarly titled album by John Coltrane that does not make an appearance in the book. That man is a wizard on the saxophone. The bass here is also really impressive. Just a constant sense of movement. Definitely one of my favorite jazz albums and probably the one I have listened to the most. 5/5

Shoegazie - I’m into it

This album sounds absolutely nothing like wake up boo, completely different band. Thile album was good, quirky indie rock, pretty impressive for 1993. Bit of a mash mash of sounds from that era, though reminded me most of blur I think. Really solid.

Think I'd heard of the Boo Radleys, but I could be just thinking of the character from to kill a mocking bird...... My childhood dog was called Boo too! This really surprised me. I suspected I knew what they sounded like, I clearly didn't. I'm always a bit worried when albums are longer than an hour, but this flew by, it's so eclectic, but seemingly made up only of styles that I enjoy. Rock, shoegaze, kinda reggae/dub at times. Don't think it all works completely, but largely it does. Yeah I clearly didn't know who they were, I see they sang wake up boo! Listened again, probably not quite as good as I initially thought, they are borrowing a lot of different styles here... Beatles, new order. Bit britpop too. Superfurrys? Highlights: I hadn't suspended I wish I was skinny Barney and me Lazarus I've lost the reason The white noise revisited I'm still going to say 4.5. there's enough here I really enjoyed, but not quite enough for 5

Surprisingly good.

With a terrible band name, unoriginal album title, and frankly tired artwork, this had all the makings of a classic 1001 dud. Couldnt be further. A fun, catchy but psychedelic at times record that begs listen after listen

good pop rock

I quite liked it. It was fresh, great use of unique instruments, but keeps the collage rock vibes too.

Very first though, this sounds like the "always melodic Smashing Pumpkins". It's funny... listening through it the first time, I thought I didn't like this album. But then I heard Lazarus, and I loved the heck out of this song. It made me rethink about what I just listened to and now I need to listen to the album again with a difference perspective. This is an active listening album. There's a lot of layers to these songs that just won't go appreciated when listened to in the background. For example, Run My Way Runway has this really annoying helicopter sound that I absolutely hated and I probably never want to hear again. But the feeling it gave me, of being driven insane to the point where I was getting angry, if that was the goal of that track, it 1000% succeeded. Wouldn't have appreciated the feeling it made me feel if it was in the background without headphones! The layering that happens about halfway through The White Noise Revisited was absolutely brilliant. I also liked how they did the layering. To me, it sounded like the introduced instrument or voice was loud to start to get your attention that this is not being added to this repeating rhythm. And then it faded back into the music to then be introduced by a new sound. I feel like a lot of my annoyances from this record come from some of the distorted parts. Any time it's a simple melody over a simple guitar, I love it. I also feel like this album is a great choice to be a part of listening groups, because I feel like there's so much to digest musically and you can talk about parts you loved and parts you hated while everyone having a unique opinion. Overall, I really have mixed feelings about Giant Steps. There are just parts I absolutely love and are so beautifully written and performed, and then I completely opposite feeling a few moments later. I like the ambition of the unique sound, and I believe the intention of the album is exactly what it's meant to be. I would love to listen to this album again. But I might skip a few parts. 4

Giant Steps by The Boo Radleys is why this project is so cool! While it's not a masterpiece, I found it interesting how awesome this relatively unheard of album was. It's clear there are influences all over the board here, from Jazz (as is clearly shown from the title) to reggae, britpop and psychedelia. On top of it all, I'm a sucker for albums that flow well between songs. Best Songs: Wish I Was Skinny, If You Want It Take It, Lazarus Worst Songs: Leaves and Sand

нормалек. в моем вкусе.

I really can't quite classify what I just listened to there. I enjoyed this for sure, very unique mix of styles here. I think I'll go with a 4 overall

What starts pretty conventional becomes a fuzzy masterpiece. Rusty indie with tons of ideas, catchy tunes, lovely titles and a great slacking attitude between the Longpigs and Pavement

surprisingly fresh and original

A nice surprise - lovely record albeit a bit too long. Even then it’s never tedious - love the poppy positive vibes throughout - kind of like the Wannadies and early Cardigans.

I've heard of The Boo Radleys before, but I'm completely unfamiliar with their music. After some brief reading, I see that these guys are shoegaze and also Britpop, and I tend to enjoy both of those genres, so I imagine that I'll enjoy this album. This album was pretty good, but I wouldn't say that I loved it. Giant Steps had a really good sound overall, and it nice to listen to. The Boo Radley's unique blend of shoegaze and Britpop allowed them to achieve that sense of place that Britpop strives for, but in a way that sets them apart from the likes of Blur, Oasis, and Pulp. As far as individual songs go, I really loved "Barney and Me." The main guitar melody was really great, and the flugel horn and other horn parts were outstanding. There were some really great electronic elements on this song too, and it was easily the best and most fun song on the album. "Spun Around" had some really great shoegaze elements to it, and it really left me wanting more of that type of sound on this album. The other songs on the album were really good, and there weren't any songs on the album that I had a strong dislike for. My biggest beef with this album was that its sound meandered around quite a bit, and I think the overall experience suffered from that overall lack of direction. The length of this album only exacerbated that problem in my opinion, and when it was over, I had reached my fill of it. It was a really good album, but there were too many things that held it back from being great. However, I'm definitely interested in checking out some more albums from The Boo Radleys that are more firmly cemented in shoegaze.

Great opening track, wouldn’t exactly call this shoegaze based on what I normally listen to. Later in the album I realise what they mean by shoegaze is “in a lot of these songs the producer/band decide to spill beer on the pedals and recording equipment”. Shockingly, this worked really well for me. The vocals here aren’t exactly what I expect from a shoegaze/dream pop band, not necessarily a bad thing but not exactly my bag. It works well for the albums sound despite apprehension early on in my first listen. At times it seems they want to dip into slow baroque pop (which they do really well on Thinking Of Ways) and other times they go whole hog 90s shoegaze. The musical whiplash between really makes this album feel like the first time I tried black coffee. Initially I thought “who on gods grey earth likes this shit?” but that’s quickly followed by “fuck that’s not bad actually”. I really wanted to deride this album for the absolute dogshit track names here but the variety of sounds, styles and songs here really gives this album a charm as a colourful mosaic of sound (some of which is a little bit shit/an acquired taste!!!) Slightly front and middle loaded, albums slightly falls off around Run My Way Runway where the band discovered washing machine modulation. In short, expected to shit on it, loved it. Highlights: I Hang Suspended, Wish I Was Skinny, Leaves and Sand, Rodney King - Song For Lenny Bruce (begrudgingly adding this, great song with such a stupid fucking name), Barney (…and Me), Take the Time Around, Lazarus

Some pleasant songs

Alternative rock meets psychedelic rock. These guys had to have been listening to some Pink Floyd and some Jimi. The standout track for me is track two, Upon 9th and Fairchild.

21/12/24 Don't really have much to say about the album, it was an alright listen.

I am going to need to spend a lot more time with this one. I am fond of it.

weirdly enough got a good kick out of this one. elliot smith vocals + the beatles = whatever this was. a lot of annoying tracks, a lot of beautiful ones, kind of too long i think, but i liked it enough to bump it from 3 to 4

So, unlike yesterday’s 90’s Psychedelic inspired album that lasts over an hour, I actually enjoyed this one. Sure, I think Giant Steps is also too long, that it’d be better if it were cut down to about 40-50 minutes, but it also had a sense of dynamics and a decent set of lyrics, and while it blended into the background somewhat towards the end, it was an enjoyable background listen

Overall, I like it. It's chill rock, perfect for hanging out and cooking dinner, or cleaning around the house. In some ways, feels like a precursor to American Emo music. I would listen again.

I had a strong negative reaction to the first song, so I thought this would be an awful listen given its length. It ended up casting some kind of spell over me. Great melodies and thoughtful instrumentation. I could see myself revisiting it and loving it even more.

A lot of different genres all shoehorned in here, but it works. We've got rock, reggae, country, a bit of psychedelic freakout, all swirled around together. I dig it.

Album 595 of 1001 The Boo Radleys -Giant Steps (1993) Rating : 3.75 / 5 Usually when I see something that includes "Shoegaze" as part of the genre classification, I don't really expect it to be to my liking. This one bucks that trend. This was a nice listen. Shown as Rock/BritPop/Indie/Shoegaze, it does hit on each one pretty well while the Rock/Indie part stands out a bit. Good album.

I’d listen to it again

The poppier tracks tend to lose me, but the walls of sound are interesting enough to keep me engaged. Pleasant surprise. Some tracks guitar tone reminds me of Dinosaur Jr.

Would love to hear a pared down version of this album. I love what I’m hearing, it’s just that they keep interrupting their own songs. Nevertheless, I’m rounding up to 4 because it’s more than just a middler, and it started out strong.

- Noch nie vorher von gehört - Hat mir richtig gut gefallen, ich steh einfach sehr auf sowas - Klingt ein bisschen wie eine Mischung aus Pixies und Smashing Pumpkins - Diese Bläserparts fand ich absolut mega! - Werd ich mir definitiv wieder geben Rating: 4/5

While boldly sharing a title from one of the greatest albums in jazz, The Boo Radleys prove their worth with their own, gargantuan in contrast, breakthrough. A tapestry of shoegaze, psychedelia, power-pop, jazz and whatever suited their fancy, The Boos throw everything, including the kitchen sink, and come away with the most astonishing record of their career. One small step for band, one great leap for mankind. Favorites: I Hang Suspended, Upon 9th & Fairchild, Wish I Was Skinny, Butterfly McQueen, Rodney King (Song for Lenny Bruce), Thinking of Ways, Barney (...and Me), If You Want It, Take It, Take the Time Around, Lazarus, Run My Way Runaway.

Good, 1 song saved

A good album, I liked Thinking of Ways and Barney (...And Me) the most.

This is some pretty solid pop/rock, but progressive and experimental enough to keep it interesting.

No bad, I have not heard this album before. They reminded me of Catherine Wheel.

I actually really enjoyed this album.

The only exposure that I'm aware of to this band before was via a compilation album from 2009. I certainly found the album enjoyable enough to warrant another listen and found it interesting how some songs start off sounding familiar but them completely fall apart at the seams, like Spun Around. Faves: Upon 9th And Fairchild, Barney (...and Me)

Huh, definitely had these folks mixed up with someone else in my head - I was expecting something much more poppy, and definitely not anything shoegaze adjacent. This was an engaging listen - I enjoyed the different genres they dabbled in - will definitely have to revisit this in the future! Fave track - "Butterfly McQueen" - I like the dubby basslines dropping in...

The guitar tone on here was really great. For some reason Apple music has this labeled as "pop" and I did not think that made sense until I got to the second half of the album. The whole album created a vibe and I would listen again.

struggled between 3 or 4, went with 4 even though theres not a standout track, just overall good

Empieza muy bien, luego se pone muy raro, pero en general me pareció buen disco.

A weird mix between actual songs and just a lot of noise. Oddly enough I kind of dig it...

I'm doing a 3.5+ on this one... because it really hits a set of genres that I enjoy. That noisy indie neo-psyche mix...

Aiuta molto nella concentrazione. alcune canzoni mi son piaciute ma nel complesso è un bell'album.

This album really caught me off guard. I had not heard of the Boo Radleys before and wasn't expecting much, but sure enough each song had me listening intently. Seems like they had a ton of influences since nearly every song was different than the next one. I'll definitely be giving this one another listen.

Honestly? Some of the reviews got me super worried, but this was actually pretty rad. It was not nearly the most eclectic or off-putting album on the list.

An interesting discovery! In a way, I'm not sure what to think of it, it is an eclectic mish-mash. There's 60s, surf, glam rock, a bit of grunge,... but it's really well done. I need to listen to this more and see how it develops. Extra stars for creativity and musicianship, and it's made within miles from where I live!

Interesting

Been so long since I've listen to this. I either forgot how much I liked it or my tastes changed because I really enjoyed this album.

Have this CD but haven’t listened in many years. Really enjoyed it again and now I remember why I liked it, aside from the great band name 🙂

Better then i was expecting. I liked the shoe-gaze guitars.

There's a couple of songs towards the end that knock this down a bit but the start of the album is really strong and I liked it a lot.

I'm personally a big fan of that fuzz guitar sound that existed in the 90s. Some of my favorite bands have that kind of guitar sound. And honestly, it's very easy to win me over with just that. If it combines pop rock elements: even more so! So in short: I loved it!

Right on

I quite like this. Some songs drag on a bit but in general the sound really works for me. Very Elliott Smith somehow. I think I enjoyed this more when I listened to them yesterday - might've been in a better mood for it. I really like Barney and Me. Overall liked the album itself less than I thought I would but I am super interested in listening to more from the band. 4

I groove with this sort of psychedelic pop pretty decently. I'd give 4.5 but unfortunately the mix on this album is kind of atrocious in the volume department, so 4 it is.

Big turnaround from a rather slow start to get up to a 4. I think everything from Track 5 and onward on this album is pretty damn good; solid vocals, solid lyrics, solid topics for the songs, and really nice instrumentation that doesn’t intrude too much with the general “spirit” of each song – they’re just there to provide the melody, and they don’t make the recording space feel like an instrument by itself. You can see where this is going, I hope. 3 of those first 4 tracks are severely muddled and ruined by their production choices, which is utterly baffling to me. I get it, I get it; 1993, loud = new, new = good, and it clearly worked to the critics of the time, but the audio mixing and sudden jump in volume among instruments was all over the place in a way that wasn’t creatively satisfying or sonically pleasing, but just annoying to my ears as the listener. Thankfully, the album learns its lesson, and that’s how it’s getting a 4, but if those other 3 tracks were cleaned up, without having their walls of sound in them, it would be really close to (if not possibly) a 5. It’s a solid album that really shoots itself in the foot when it comes to a first impression, but it ultimately ends up pretty good. I still think some of the outros are a little long and some of the songs a little too generic to really bump it into 5 territory, but given that I enjoyed most of the album, it’s definitely deserving of a 4, and probably no less than like, a 3.5.

What an album! Showing lots of styles and influences in their songs.

-noisy yet melodic guitars -psychedelic music, just how I like it -a great album for summertime -I can also hear some electronics on this thing -also it has a great album cover -a bit longer than it should be, but I'll take it -I would spin some tracks often, sure -favorite songs: I Hang Suspended, Upon 9th and Fairchild, Wish I Was Skinny, Leaves And Sand (<3), Rodney King, Barney, If You Want It , Take It (<3), Lazarus -least favorite song: One Is For

A good album! Liked the singer's vocal manner. Could have been shorter but liked it overall.

I liked this more than I expected. I think if this was a 30-45 minute album it would be a solid 4, but the last few tracks feel like a drag. It can have a 3.5.

Geeat

I thought it loud and overlong, but the last track had me humming along. I'll revisit this.

Wtf was this? So much going on. I think I enjoyed it though. So damn weird

An enjoyable album and ahead of its time in many ways.

This was awesome. A very enjoyable album

A wonderful gem of the yesteryear gone by.

Ah. The Boos were always my Britpop/Shoegaze band and i loved them though I felt the previous album Everything's Alright Forever was their masterpiece. This however is very good though it may suffer from the usual double album issues. Imaginative pop.

I had no idea The Boo Radleys were anything other than a one-hit-wonder indie pop band, but this, their third album, instantly proves that wrong. A bold and ambitious mix of genres and styles, you can hear the influence on other 90s bands pouring out of the speakers. This is an engaging, interesting and often glorious 64 minutes that makes me want to come back for more. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Lazarus Date listened: 13/05/24

“I hang suspended” is great in the same way “if you want it, take it” is. The chord progression is interesting and made me want to listen to it a few times to really get it. “Leaves and Sand” is super 90s, just an overall great sound with hard dynamic switches and a not very apparent chorus and verse structure at first. The last set of lines has that dreamy distortion that’s so prevalent in 90s rock albums and I love it. “Barney (...and me)” is a good example of the parts of the album I find confusing. You can tell the band is trying some new, weird stuff but it kinda takes away from an otherwise really solid pop sound. I can’t hate on it because I get the artistic intent but it sounds forced. The flute, ok, but what is with the rest of the synth’d out glitch sounds? Weird for weirds sake. I guess that’s quintessentially of the era. Half of this album is pure strained radio rock of my teenage years, and the other half is the kind of experimental stuff that record labels were “allowing” at that time. I kinda love it. What a nice little surprise from his whole experiment, I had never heard of these guys and I thoroughly enjoyed this.

The Boo Radleys' album "Giant Steps" is a seminal work in the shoegaze and Britpop genres, released in 1993. Comprising a blend of dreamy melodies, intricate instrumentation, and introspective lyrics, the album stands as a testament to the band's experimentalism and musical prowess. Here's an in-depth review focusing on lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with the pros and cons of the album. **Lyrics:** The lyrics on "Giant Steps" often delve into themes of introspection, nostalgia, and existentialism. Tracks like "I Hang Suspended" and "Lazarus" showcase the band's penchant for crafting poignant, introspective narratives, exploring themes of longing and self-discovery. Meanwhile, songs like "Wish I Was Skinny" and "Barney (...And Me)" tackle societal pressures and personal insecurities with a blend of wit and vulnerability. Overall, the lyrics on "Giant Steps" are introspective and evocative, offering listeners a window into the complexities of the human experience. **Music:** Musically, "Giant Steps" is a tour de force, blending elements of shoegaze, Britpop, and alternative rock to create a sound that is both ethereal and dynamic. The album is characterized by lush layers of guitars, swirling synths, and intricate rhythms, creating a sonic landscape that is rich and immersive. Tracks like "Leaves and Sand" and "Lazarus" exemplify the band's mastery of melody and texture, while songs like "Thinking of Ways" and "Butterfly McQueen" showcase their ability to craft catchy hooks and infectious grooves. Overall, the music on "Giant Steps" is inventive and engaging, showcasing the band's willingness to push the boundaries of conventional songwriting. **Production:** The production on "Giant Steps" is top-notch, with the band working with renowned producer Andy Wilkinson to capture their expansive sound. The album's lush instrumentation and rich sonic palette are expertly balanced, allowing each instrument to shine while still contributing to the overall texture of the music. From the shimmering guitars to the atmospheric synths, every element of the production feels meticulously crafted and thoughtfully arranged. Overall, the production on "Giant Steps" is polished and immersive, enhancing the listening experience and elevating the band's creative vision. **Themes:** Thematically, "Giant Steps" explores a wide range of existential and emotional themes, from the complexities of identity and self-discovery to the fleeting nature of time and memory. The album's lyrics often grapple with questions of purpose and belonging, inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences and emotions. Tracks like "Lazarus" and "Wish I Was Skinny" delve into issues of self-esteem and societal expectations, while songs like "Thinking of Ways" and "Barney (...And Me)" explore themes of nostalgia and longing. Overall, the themes on "Giant Steps" are profound and thought-provoking, adding depth and resonance to the album's lyrical content. **Influence:** "Giant Steps" has had a significant influence on the shoegaze and Britpop genres, inspiring countless bands and artists with its innovative sound and introspective lyrics. The album's lush instrumentation and ethereal melodies have been cited as a major influence by bands like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, and Ride, helping to shape the sonic landscape of alternative rock in the 1990s and beyond. Additionally, the album's introspective lyrics and thematic depth have resonated with listeners across generations, cementing its status as a classic of the genre. **Pros:** 1. Innovative blend of shoegaze, Britpop, and alternative rock. 2. Poignant and introspective lyrics exploring themes of identity, nostalgia, and existentialism. 3. Lush production and immersive soundscapes. 4. Catchy hooks and infectious melodies. 5. Lasting influence on the shoegaze and Britpop genres. **Cons:** 1. Some tracks may feel overly experimental or inaccessible to listeners unfamiliar with the shoegaze genre. 2. The album's introspective lyrics and thematic depth may not resonate with all listeners. 3. Limited mainstream success compared to other albums of the era. In conclusion, "Giant Steps" by The Boo Radleys is a masterful work of shoegaze and Britpop, showcasing the band's innovative sound and introspective lyricism. With its lush production, ethereal melodies, and thought-provoking themes, the album stands as a timeless classic of the genre, influencing countless bands and artists in its wake. While it may not have achieved the same mainstream success as some of its contemporaries, its impact on alternative rock music is undeniable, solidifying its place in the pantheon of iconic albums.

This should be a total mess, but somehow it works by virtue of moving fast and not hanging around. Loved the surprising psych-dub bits.

Not particularly memorable but agreeable

Some great tracks. Too long overall. Best tracks: Upon 9th and Fairchild Leaves and Sand Thinking of Ways If you Want it, Take it Lazareth I've Lost the Reason

3.75. Liked a lot!

A blast of the raw elements of the 2000s indie rock. Pieces of Sufjan and Elliot Smith. Beautiful

A stylistically very varied album with a lot of different influences (britpop, shoegaze, pychedelic etc.). I listened to this band before but they sounded different, a lot more rock'n'rollish than this album. It is a good album, the highs are really good though it is a bit too long & because of the varied styled it doesn't sound a very cohesive album. Still enjoyed it quite a bit, was considering a 3 but I'd rather give it a 4.

I'm not familiar with this band at all, and when it started, I feared it was another obscure turn-of-the-century UK bar band's collection of middling rock numbers, as we've seen from a few of the author's personal nostalgic picks. But there was some serious inventiveness across this album, spanning as many genres as it did. While I can't say any tracks were catchy enough on first listen to remain stuck in my head the next day (when I'm writing this), it caught my attention enough that I'm curious to listen again. I'm a sucker for psychedelic pop, and an early 90's exploration of it mixed with shoegaze suits me quite well.

It's like a britpop Pet Sounds. Cutting this down to ten tight tracks would have made it a contender for the Five Star Club. Oh, well. It's a 4+ for me.

Definitely an original sound. Very modern structure with the quiet then loud parts. I enjoyed many tracks on this album. There are a few throw away songs as well, I couldn't stand the ones with the shaky voice at the end.

Some good songs on this album. I've never heard of the artist before. It felt like a slightly heavier radiohead album.

Pretty great. A very well instrumented record, I felt the general decoration and production was a little more powerful than the actual songs, even though the whole product is greatly enjoyable.

I loved this album and was pleasantly surprised. Some great sounds and texturing happening here.

Never listened to these guys before. Pretty good straight ahead rock n roll.

Absolutely chock full of surprises. Just when you feel like you've got it figured out, you really don't. Like a (somehow) more deranged Flaming Lips I don't think everything on here works, but when it clicks, I really enjoy it. Favorite tracks: "Wish I Was Skinny", "Barney", "The White Noise Revisited"

I've never even heard of this band, and I'm honestly blown away that this is from 1993. I'll come back to this one.

not bad stuff. could listen to more.

Man I thought I was gonna hate this, but it’s actually some solid britpop/shoegaze/indie. I especially loved the dub inspired tracks. The bass lines throughout are so groovy. This record would be so much better if they cut out some tracks to make it shorter. It’s way too long as-is.

Pretty good

I couldn't help but bob my head for most of this album.

I Hang Suspended opens on a psychedelic note with some vocal samples over a wandering, spacious instrumental. Gives way after a minute to a driven brit-pop-rock song. Makes for a pretty jarring switch. The song itself is fine. Reminds me of some middle of the pack Blur. Some serious dubby vibes coming through on Upon 9th And Fairchild. Made to sound like a rough cut with the fuzzed out mic and wandering guitar. Fine enough song. Butterfly McQueen is another standout for me. Love the loping bassline with the horns and psych effects. Reminds me in a sense of Flaming Lips. (Also the bassline reminds me a lot of the song EPAR by Earl Sweatshirt). I like the industrial electronic plonk backing Rodney King and the shoegazey vocals that nest into the wall of sound. Thinking of Ways is a lopsided but pretty number that sort of floats; reminds vaguely of Eels. Take the Time Around is another strong one for me that bleeds directly into a psych-infused Lazarus. Seems to be a common approach they take: start out loose and psychedelic and then punch in with a standard song structure. Its effective, but I would love if they would just space out for an extended period -- they are quite good at building the atmosphere. Run My Way Runway must have been listening to what I was just saying.. this is the psychedelic song I was looking for. Getting some serious Fuck Button vibes (Surf Solar) from the skittering synth. I'm sure this isn't everybody's thing, but I'm into it. These last three songs are among my favorites on the album. The White Noise Revisited oscillates between bright and sunny sections and trippy off-kilter and unsettling section, and a I love the contrast. This album has been a wonderful surprise. I was worried going in it was going to be straight brit-pop-rock, which, don't get me wrong, can be great, but often isn't my cup of tea. Instead I am met with a highly diverse album sampling psychedelia influences, as well as straight pop-rock, dub, and shoegaze. This was a very enjoyable listen and something I'll pull back out in the summer for beach listening. Strong 4 / 5. - Thinking of Ways (Sunny-vibes) - Run My Way Runway (Take Me to Space)

This album is all over the place. Not a terrible thing just a little strange. Butterfly McQueen is legit and loved the transition into Rodney King. Didn't keep track to a T too much as I was running and doing housework. I definitely heard a range from Beatles, to Flaming Lips, to Animal Collective, to Oasis. Sometimes it was really interesting others not so much. Either way it kept me pretty damn engaged for the whole album. Looking forward to giving this another listen.

Bij het zien van de hoes en het lezen van de omschrijving hief ik meteen mijn schild, klaar om m'n mentale gesteldheid te beschermen tegen een snobistisch CKV album waar alleen de echte fanaat van kan genieten, maar ik moet eerlijk zeggen dat ik dit een enorm leuk album vind. Vrij experimenteel en een beetje gek, maar wel op zo'n manier dat het allemaal leuk is in plaats van vervelend. Ondanks het experimentele hoef je geen doorgewinterde snob te zijn om een leuke tijd te hebben. Het kunstzinnige broertje van Blur, die als kind regelmatig op Magical Mystery Tour is geweest. Natuurlijk wordt het af en toe vervelend en iets te schel (Spun Around), maar daardoor zijn de fijne momenten ook wel weer extra fijn. Ik geef een 4 omdat het richting het einde wat inkakt, het is wellicht net wat te lang. Maar een enorme verrassing en een goede aanwinst voor deze lijst.

I was not expecting this. Not just an indie album by any accounts. More experimental than MOR with moments of indie pop but them being the exception rather than the norm. Knowing Boo Radeleys for their smash hit lead me to put off listening to this one but I’m glad I came back around. I’ll listen again. It’s very good.

Kannte ich nicht - finde ich cool!

Wow, it's really varied and whole I only liked half of it, I respect the everything and the kitchen cabinet approach they've taken. Will definitely be going back to this one in future.

Excelente me recordó a mi época de estudiante

Denna var svår. Tycker att det bitvis är mycket bra men jag skulle behöva mer tid att lyssna in mig. Tyvärr är ju ordningen så obönhörlig att man måste bestämma sig. Jag sätter en fyra för att jag tror att skivan kommer att växa vid fler lyssningar. (man borde få komma tillbaka och ändra egentligen).

Bara lyssnat en gång. Men det var mycket bra. Lång skiva, men varierad. Gillar musiken rakt av. Det finns definitivt på kartan att jag kan lyssna mer (eller ha lyssnat, men detta band har jag helt missat). Hann lyssna lite till på kvällen. Gillar skivan!

January 8, 2024 HL: “Butterfly McQueen”, “Thinking of Ways”, “The White Noise Revisited”, “Wish I Was Skinny”, “Barney”, “One is For” Hey this isn’t Coltrane… But the Boo Radley’s Giant Steps excels in the noisy shoegaze and psychedelic pop… though I’m not as sold on the reggae/ska parts, and the album starts slow imo but builds to something more interesting by the midpoint. That first verse of the last song hit especially hard tonight, even if I’m on the job hunt as opposed to “killing myself” at work for “nothing at all” right at this moment. I admire the Radleys for trying so much here, even if not all of it sticks. The MBV-isms and Beatle-isms are also nice, while never feeling quite like a knockoff. A mess to be sure but a welcome one

I liked it! Fun!

Geile Gitarre nach kurzem Intro. Dann klingt es ziemlich Indie-Rockig. Geht auf jeden Fall klar, schön gitarrenlastig, schöner Gesang. Eine Stunde ist natürlich mal wieder eine Ansage. Es ist mir tatsächlich ein bisschen zu lang und damit zu viel. Aber man muss sowas ja nicht immer total intensiv hören.

A bit messy at the start but I do want to go back and listen again I had not heard them before and for a 90's band they sound interesting remind me of Archers of Loaf. Will give 4 because I hope some songs and other albums grow on me

ihaj, reko da si pustim nešta malo 'sem božićnih u ovo vrijeme, i bome mogu reći da je dost iznenađujuće. jako, catchy at times, shoegazy isto i definitivno melodično za moje uši. naziv albuma po coltraneovom albumu što je isto odličan (osjeti se nekad u nekim pjesmama taj jazz influence).

I've never heard of these guys - this was a cool listen. Experimental indie pop rock vibes - I could easily believe this was a band from the 2000s. Catchy and interesting tunes - definitely some major Beatles influence going on here in addition to post punk indie vibes. Some songs were more memorable than others, but it was in general a very pleasant listen with a lot of bright spots. Made me think at different times of Ben Folds, Flaming Lips, and Polyphonic Spree and a lot of other different groups - wild.

I love this 4

Interesting sound. ENjoyed the album throughout.

Definitely my kind of sound.

Liked this, it was catchy!

What in the hell kind of experimental, tripped out, multi-genre, wonderful album is this?! And where was it when I was coming up? You know, a lot of times I think to myself, music in the 90s was more or less in a stagnant place because with technology limitations, a lot of bands would be able to experiment new sounds and ideas until the late 90s-early 2000s. Then I hear a record like this. And I realize, that’s all bullshit. I never listened to this band, having only heard of them in passing before. But I can confidently say this is one of the most creative pop rock albums I’ve ever heard. There are so many genres blending together here, and for the most part, very well. I think it’s too long, but even with that it doesn’t get too stale.

Kinda long but not bad. 3.5 stars

90a alt rock ska vibe