Giant Steps

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

Not usually my kind of music but I enjoyed this album quite a bit. There is a certain friendly vibe I really enjoyed. Interesting all the way through, I think it deserves a place on this list.

Cooler alt Rock, höre ich gerne wieder mal rein

This was a highly enjoyable diverse array of rock music. I was solidly entertained throughout.

This album is certainly all over the place. It kind of feels like a fever dream to me. It's great and I really enjoyed, maybe a tad overly long.

The hype around this album was genuinely cringeworthy. A shoegaze White Album by a Brian Wilson-level genius inspired by John Coltrane, etc, etc. Ignoring these pretensions and ridiculous comparisons, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's actually a really good album. No need to overhype it. Just enjoy the beautiful mess they've created.

Laatste nummer is weird man, het heeft iets weg van mezzanine

Good stuff!

Oh man I love „Upon 9th and Fairchild,“ great song!

My first genuine surprise in a while. I loved this album. It’s noisy and beautiful and lyrical. At any given time, it can give you great power pop hooks and loud, shoegazey instrumentals. Great stuff. I will listen to more from this band.

Wow a very cool album. Great melodic twists and turns, and musicians who clearly know their stuff. Some of it was like a technicolor blend of Beach Boys and Nirvana. DEFINITELY a band to explore further.

I liked this one. Felt nostalgic to me. Sounds exactly like 1993. Good variety with some good surprises.

The Boos are a very nostalgic band for me as I "found" them in the early 90s. Because of that, I probably rate them a bit higher than deserved, but I still really like them.

I really enjoyed this album, I wasn't expecting to since artists I've never heard of can be pretty hit or miss. But I was pleasantly surprised when it came to this. It was also really funny since I was just talking about "To Kill A Mockingbird" today.

This is a hugely ambitious album, and maybe a bit over-ambitious as it is a long listen and contains so many different styles and influences - I could hear nods to Moody Blues, New Order, Caravan, the Cure, the Zombies (I also wonder if they influenced the Zutons, among others?). It requires concentrated and repeated listens but after a while the songs grow on you. I particularly liked Butterfly McQueen and Best Lose the Fear. overall a nice, gentle psychedelic feel on the whole

Really good and either didn't fully realize or have forgotten quite how the BRs were/are. On the whole, this is warm and wonderful, with ample sweet and poppy melodies mixed tightly with full-on hot and barbed hooks and riffs. Loud-quiet-loud works well with sweet-hot-sweet, and the songs have texture and flow. "Barney (and Me)" and "Best Lose the Fear" (with nice keys work and a clarinet [one thinks]!) are among the best cuts. They seem to want to have some fun while indulging their ambitions, which are more arty than Oasis but less arty than (though not terribly far from) Radiohead's (see "I've Lost the Reason"); there's a clear and likably willingness to try a lot of things, most of which work, and stays just under the bar of excessively self-important '90s bombast.

I really liked this album and was shocked when I looked it up after listening and saw it was a product of the NINETIES. It makes sense to me more now as a product of 60s/70s nostalgia mixed with more recent musical influences. Cool concept, I enjoyed it. Fav song: Wish I Was Skinny

Bro is NOT John Coltrane

4.5

I enjoyed the eclectic variety of songs on this album, with the softer songs being my favorite. Maybe not one of the best, but certainly unique.

What a strange LP... a constant swing between awesome proto-Definitely-Maybe bangers and psychedelic experiments.

I honestly don't have a lot to say about this album, but it's very good, and feels very mature for 1993. I would have thought it was made a few years later. The album is very consistent and features a variety of different musical styles. Very much worth the listen 4/5

A cool album with a lot of different ideas and sounds that still feel like they fit. But few of the songs really stand out as songs I want to keep going back to. They're all just decent-good

This is one I will have to listen to a few more times. Good album.

Album foisonnant, 17 chansons, des styles différents, des rythmes différents. C'est un album assez complexe à appréhender je trouve, qui nécessite plusieurs écoutes pour commencer à trouver des points d'accroche mais j'y reviendrais souvent et je suis sûr qu'il se révèlera petit à petit.

Hadn't heard this before, but it's definitely up my alley! Shoegaze/Jangle pop type of stuff, solid af. Will be coming back to this for sure!

What is this beauty?

Súper 90's.

This was a huge surprise. I enjoyed the variety in vocals (although not always top tier), instrumentation and genre in each song. I heard lots of good guitar lines and loved the brass and woodwind moments! Wishing’ I Was Skinny really hit home. Lol

This was awesome. The perfect amount of "weirdness" in this album. I literally cant even name a song on this record I was so lost in it. There is some kick ass rockin on this album too. I dont think there was a subpar song on here. If this was a few songs shorter it might be a 5. Great 7/10

4. A very satisfying blend of 90s alt rock and other genres. Neither disjointed nor too repetitive. I debated giving this album a 3 because a few songs did lose my interest, but the rest of the album makes up for it. Overall, quite enjoyable.

So different and fun and creative

Pretty good album with a lot of variety! I didn't get into and follow every song but I thought it was still pretty good and unique. Favourite: Barney (...and Me)

I knew the name Boo Radleys (moreso from To Kill a Mockingbird though…), but never actually listened to them and wasn’t expecting them to be contemporaries to My Bloody Valentine??? It’s pretty good, but there are some notes that ring false to me, like a haphazard Rodney King “tribute”. Gonna land at a C+, but still earns that fourth star

7/10. Maybe even an 8. Not exactly sure what this album did right for me, but I liked it.

Very entertaining and I havent heard it before

Pretty groovy.

Wow! What a surprise, very very good album!

I didn't get through this the first time, but actually really enjoyed it the second time. Many of the songs I would listen to again.

This is one of those albums that makes me sad I missed it when it was new. It would have become one of my favourites, and I would have been able to sing along on a re-listen 30 years later.

2nd album I never really heard, and I listened to plenty of shoegaze/britpop. I hear so many different influences here, the Cure, dub, madchester, psychedelic. Overall better than I expected 8/10.

Had to listen twice to get it. Again headphones make it 1000 x better

Nice surprise, potential 5-star check, almost made it.

Catchy

When I saw that this was British indie rock, my expectations were kind of low. After Elbow and PJ Harvey, I didn't think much of the genre. This album blew me away. The sheer variety of genres kept it from getting boring over its 64 minute runtime. I'll definitely revisit this one.

Loved it! Some great bass lines

Much more varied and rich than you'd perhaps expect, given this was a few years before the "big hit". A fun indie bop.

It takes a lot of guts to name your album after one of the great jazz albums in music history. The Boo Radleys' album is nothing like John Coltrane's album, but let's boil it down anyway. The Boo Radleys' pull from quite a few sounds of the 90's. One of the most prominent aspects of this record is the shoegaze, utilizing electric guitars to their fullest extent by going full reverb and volume. This is contrasted by the britpop songwriting style that keeps things light, particularly in the singing and guitar hooks. This gives Giant Steps some contrast in relation to the alternative, ethereal sound of shoegaze. Good songwriting and good sounds makes for a nice, unique blend overall. More than anything, though, this album is steeped in psychedelia. It's a fresh and fun take on the genre that always feels like it's been done to death. It also flows nicely, making for an enjoyable experience from top to bottom. My big gripe with Giant Steps is that is will feel generally unfocused as a cohesive unit. This reminds me of Radiohead's OK Computer in a few ways, which would be released a mere 4 years later. Coming close to being spectacular but falling just short, we will applaud The Boo Radleys nonetheless for this spectacular showing. Well done, lads.

Wow, I really like this album! I saw the horrific cover art and my stomach sank, because I have been known to judge an album by its cover. But this was such a pleasant surprise! It's the groovy fusion of alt rock and psychedelic pop that does it for me. Unexpected joy for today, thanks generator!

Why would they want to waste the first minute? Because I need the time to go get a beer before I settle into my barcalounger? I don't like it. But the maybe that's the catch for "I hang suspended."

This is certainly the first time a list album has reminded me of HOLYCHILD. Nothing sparkles or shines, but the entire hour-plus is tinged with a comfy glow, some kind of connective tissue holding the instrumental and stylistic and even vocal digressions. Britpop to a fault and lasts exactly as long as you expect it to given the speed of delivery. However, it's one of the most DJ-set-like guitar band albums I've heard, reminded me of a trashy pop band discovered in university, and is thoroughly unique.

Lots of little Beatles' references in this ode to psychedelia. At one stage you'd swear they're writing a new chapter of Strawberry Fields. They start off flexing their shoegaze muscles and manage to throw out some crunchy guitar and storming drums. I've Lost The Reason is an encapsulation of the whole album. Twee verse with a bit of Beach Boys harmonies, then they bust out a massive chorus that pays homage to Kurt, but with weird distorted sounds a la Sergeant Peppers. I hope they had fun making this, because I had fun listening.

Different kind of sound, not bad.

1. I'm assuming based just on the information I have before listening, that this is going to be a 60s/70s psychedelic flick 2. 90s shoe gaze rock! didn't expect this. I'm often wrong though. Squeaky guitars. A very The Bends vibe. 3. I like!

Verrassend album. Rock met wat orkestrale toevoeging vond ik zeker leuk. 'Lazarus' is een zeer goed nummer

4.3 - Look past the silly band name and questionable album name, and you've got a fantastic shoegaze record that takes you on a sprawling, mult-faceted journey. Walls of fuzzy guitar underpinned with strings (e.g. "Leaves and Sand"). Interspersed throughout are nods to different genres (reggae, Beach Boy style psychedelia, 90s Britpop).

Pretty good! Will def need to revisit at some point.

A great in-between point of shoegaze and Brit-pop.

Pretty interesting 90's rock. Stone Roses-ish.

Interesting mix of sounds and styles. I feel like it needs more than a single listen to catch up with it.

Ég þyrfti að hlusta á þessa aftur, gæti trúað því að hún vinni á. Sumt er mjög skemmtilegt prótó-Britpopp en það fer minna fyrir því í öðrum lögum. Stundum svolítið dated radd effectar og helst til mikið gítarískur, en virkar stórt séð vel. - Jú, fjarki frekar en þristur.

Never heard of these guys. Enjoyed this moment though.

Great 90s tunes

Decadeologists, I’m reliably informed, look upon the ‘3s as transitional years. The dawn of a new decade is slow to break – and it takes a year or two for the morning stars of the previous era to fade into blue sky. For that reason, and many more, this feels like a record caught between multiple different states. There are ideas here that the Boos have taken and run with from various giants of genre (MVB, Beatles especially). And then there are ideas – riffs, atmospheres, sound textures and compositional choices – that will be picked up and refined by bands throughout the 90s (by the Manics, Radiohead, Creation’s entire roster, etc.). There are even concepts that, seen in the context of the next record’s contribution to britpop cannon, feel work in progress within The Boo’s own career, too. And so it is that, on this album from the 90s own ‘3, we find our Boos still slightly shoegaze snoozy and just now rousing. While this album will mean more to many than my “a prelude to the 90s proper” allows for – it’s also exactly that. It’ll be a year or so before the stars are fully faded and they yell out “Wake up, it’s a beautiful morning.” What a thing it must be to be able to say you were there first.

-I like the guitar and the groove in the background of "Upon 9th And Fairchild" -"Leaves And Sand" has some serious jamming and drum fills -Some of the songs were pretty plain -I am interested in listening again, so I think that just barely bumps it up to a 4

Not bad, but more of a 3.5

I like this record a lot. It's wonderful to hear a record that was released during the peak of a couple movements (britpop and shoegaze) that I haven't heard. It's like a gift. This band blends gentle with noisy really well. Love it. This came out the same year as Blur's "Modern Life is Rubbish." It's better than that record, but isn't as good as any of the Blur records that came afterward. THERE REALLY AREN'T ANY WEAK POINTS ON THIS RECORD. VERY DESERVING OF ITS PLACE IN THE TOP 1001. Highlights: The controlled feedback on most songs; The refreshingly clean/poppy "Wish I Was Skinny"; "Leaves and Sand"; The fuzzed/phased out guitar at the end of "Butterfly McQueen" and how it segues into "Rodney King - Song for Lenny Bruce."

I have so much to say, but not sure how to articulate it. First of all, great name - I'm a big To Kill a Mockingbird fan. But also - the songs on this album somehow combine all of the musical styles that came in the 20 years before them as well as what would come in the next 20 years. You can hear British Invasion, psychedelic rock, 80s metal, 90s pop/punk (Rivers Cuomo definitely heard this album), techno, indy rock, and on and on. Big fan.

Non conoscevo il gruppo e devo dire che mi ha stupito. Alcune scelte stilistiche non rispecchiano pienamente il mio gusto però ho apprezzato molto l'originalità visto anche l'anno. Mi piace il fatto che abbiano messo dentro tutto quello che gli piaceva senza farse troppi problemi nell'attenersi ad un genere. L'uso degli strumenti è spesso sperimentale ed il risultato è affascinante e psichedelico.

Haven't heard about this band before. It was a nice discovery, enjoyed the sound very much.

qué GUAPO el britpop y a la vez normal que durara menos de diez años

Better than I expected.

damn pretty fucking tight vibes first song goes hard as hell sounds like oasis but more punk rock

klinkt wel als leuke rock van goeie kwaliteit.

Eclectic. Surprising. Ambitious

I really enjoyed this album--clearly I should look at more classics of the shoegaze sub-genre

Nice, sometimes a bit proggy

Definitely caught me by surprise, good variation of songs and caught a Smiths vibe which I can always get around

Modern groovy-esque feel. Pretty good

Was totally ready to write this off, it started slow. But damn if the second half didn't totally impress.

Enjoyed this a lot. Would never have given them time of day having only previously heard Wake Up Boo, but I guess that's what this is all about.

Steve Miller band synth and psychedelic rock. I think I need to listen a few more times to get a good feel, but I liked it so far.

bra grejer

doesnt have a specific nice song but the album is pretty cool overal

Very nice!

Сначала понравилось и я не поняла о чем говорят ревью, потом поняла

I feel like I should have liked this a lot more than I did -- this is exactly my kind of music, just something didn't quite work right for me. I guess the analogy would be a slightly overcooked steak.

The band name is the best thing about the Boo Radleys... I took a dislike to Wake Up Boo and never really got back into them, even though it turns out Wake Up was not representative of the band's output at all. Although... this album did improve after a second listen, so maybe I judged them too early.

Started out strong with some good guitar rock and then it kind of devolved into some weird whiny indie rock with what sounded like flutes? The back half of this album really kind of sucked, and it was overall too long. (2.5)

I didn’t mind this album, some songs were great and others pretty lame, inconsistent. What I would say is, just because you have a bunch of effects peddles doesn’t mean you have to use them all, all of the time!! Dial it down dudes!

Lite upp och ner, men mer upp.

Okay, but not very engaging.

looking at the cover and the overall art style/visuals of the whole band, i thought i was in for a REAL treat. but because you can't jugde a book by its cover (even if positively), i was kind of underwhelmed. this is still pretty decent though, i just think the music is a bit too plain and simple COMPARED to the artwork, but that's not saying it's boring or even traditional music. i particularly liked "rodney king", but alto thought the album was a bit too long.

It's always nice when you discover a band's discography beyond their biggest hit (in this case 'Wake Up Boo') and you realise that they have a broader style, and are much more sonically diverse. This was more noisy, rough and shoegazey than I was expecting, but it does work overall. I'm kind of impressed at the experimentation on show, and the variety of different instruments and approaches. I particularly like the moments of impactful brass, but there's much on offer. Still, despite this, it feels like it's somehow lacking overall, or there's just one missing element that could take it to the next level. It might be the vocal delivery holding it back, which is just a bit soft and floaty and meandering for my liking. I'm sure it's a taste thing, but I feel like something a bit punchier would work so much better. 3.5 rounded down.

A little Flaming Lips in there somewhere.

There is some really great stuff on here, but it's also got some pretty big misses. It's just inconsistent. I'll give it a mid to high 3

If I was a better guitarist, I might’ve enjoyed this more

A 90s rock album I enjoyed but not sure I’d revisit.

Thanks for the feedback.

I liked it when they sounded Beatley.

Kinda grew on me as it went on, though it is rather long.

Spannend, produktionstechnisch teilweise etwas durcheinander.

色んな独特な音が使われているポップス。 曲ごとに変化はしているけど、根底のものは一緒なので雰囲気は意外とそんな変わらない。 まあでもポップスはなー。あきたわ

it is ok

It's fine. I don't really have time for it, but it's fine. Maybe if I heard this at the right time in the 90s I'd like it more, but having never listened to The Boo Radleys until now, it's just... it's fine.

Ein interessantes musikalisches Experiment, das am Ende so mittelmäßig herauskommt. Mir gefällt der Mix aus Psychedelia, Alternative Rock und die Shoegaze Elemente. Die Instrumentierung ist teilweise auch ganz cool. Aber wie es halt öfter so ist... es funktioniert nicht alles gleichermaßen. In einigen Songs gibt es Elemente oder Sounds, die irgendwie das Hörerlebnis stören, und insgesamt ist es viel zu lang. Viele viele Ideen. Auch einige gute dabei. Aber es hapert an der Umsetzung und ein gutes Album ist draus irgendwie nicht geworden. 2.5/5 - okay

Not bad most of the time

Kept taking me to Coltrane album giant steps

Another pretty unremarkable britpop album I'm afraid. As much as I like the genre, I'm starting to feel like it's only as good as it's three biggest bands. Favorite track: Take the Time Around

It's 3.5

I got through a couple of listens and it was starting to open up to me after a while. What seems like bland indie fare at first became more interesting with some lovely rhythm guitar lines, some space and confidence in the songs and a slow burning hook or two. I need to apwnd more time with this to see if it develops further but a nice 3 star for the day.

This rocked, easy 3.5

I'm not a fan of shoegaze apparently. It was a bit too long.

It wasnt that bad, it was just a bit nothing and all over the place. Inoffensive background noise towards the end. Nothing to write home about but not a jump for the off switch.

I wasn't expecting this based off their one known song, which reminds me of GMTV and getting up for school. This didn't seem so bad, but sadly this lacks any bangers and I'm confused as to what genre it was meant to be. It ends up just sounding '90s'. Not one to return to, but it was good enough for the hour it was on.

Aw, man, I loved A Love Supreme! That was such a great jazz album. I'm so excited to listen to more John Coltrane today.... What's that? This isn't John Coltrane's classic 1960 album, Giant Steps? This is some other thing I've never heard of before? It's another 90s British indie album that nobody cares about? Well, I can't say I'm surprised. This album list never fails to confuse me. But you know what? I'm going to be honest here. After listening to this album, I don't hate it. I actually think the Boo Radleys' 1993 album, Giant Steps, has some decent ideas behind it. I don't love it, obviously, but I think I enjoyed it a little more than I thought I would. I have complaints, for sure. It's too long and there weren't many standout moments, but there also wasn't really anything that I hated. Musically, this album blends styles like shoegaze and britpop together to create something that's somewhat unique. It's not special per se, but this doesn't feel like a lesser version of any one specific band. There's some pretty nice guitar work on here. I thought "I Hang Suspended" was a nice opener and "Lazarus" was pretty good too. The vocals aren't bad by any means, but they're not amazing either. I can't say that this is a must-listen album, but I'm definitely not upset that I listened to it. I can see someone out there really digging this band. I'm not that person, but if that person out there is reading this, I'm happy for you. Just don't be too disappointed by my score. 3/5.

I didn't hate it but I felt like I was lost in an unfamiliar supermarket for a full hour. Like all these ingredients are familiar but the vibes are off, the layout's thrown me, and I'm ready to leave now. I kept waiting to get accustomed to whatever was happening stylistically, and to the wretched volume levels – oh my God, you're so quirky and quiet-loud, we get it, enough! – but I never really did. I think I restarted the album four times over because it just kept getting away from me. It's largely not unpleasant, but it's somehow both too soft and too noisy to please me much. I weirdly feel none the wiser as to what the Boo Radleys are about, which is a bit annoying after an album with seventeen tracks on it. There's plenty of fun, catchy moments that I enjoyed, but they're often fleeting and buried in the big disjointed mélange of stuff. I also think that if you can't project your singing voice with more vigour than a consumptive Victorian child's last gasp, it's not singing and you should be stopped. Pipe the fuck up, dude! Ugh, maybe I did hate this a bit. But it's also just kind of OK and sometimes nice. Three stars, on balance? Anyway, 1001's Britpop tag stinks. Ash, The Coral, and two Doves albums but not a whiff of James? James, est. 1982? Laid? Gold Mother? Is Tim Booth nothing to you people? 😭

Well it was likened to The Beatles White album for it's variety of musical styles on Wikipedia and that's a fair comment really. It is so varied that I'm sure extra things will be heard on each play through. Quite a decent voice throughout although nothing mind-blowing and could do with dropping the fuzz effects other than once as a novelty. But with the backing of a variety of instruments and a lot of mixing this became a "wonder what comes next" album. I thought that Run My Way Runway was probably their Revolution 9! But one of the best tracks for me was Take the Time Around mainly because it reminded me of the sort of music a friend's band used to play in the '80s/'90s. In fact so many songs reminded me of various other bands that it makes me wonder if The Boo Radleys had their own defining sound at all. Not that it matters as this was good enough to keep me attentive. Another long album but one that I was happy to hear out. There must be at least something in this lot for everyone?

If i’d have heard this at a very specific time in my youth i think I would have been pretty obsessed. As ever, it’s too long but theres some nice stuff here that reminds me of better similar stuff by other bands (Gorky’s, SFA etc.)

Had some moments. But overall meh.

1993 Noise pop + Reggae Oasis+Beatles pero con instrumentación de shoegaze en vez de guitarra más clásica. Está guay pero sin canciones memorables

Not bad

I ended up liking this way more than I expected from the description! 3.4

Dad feat Oasis? Naa hørt det 3 gange nu, og jeg bliver ved med at vente på Wake up boo, som ikke er en del af dette album... Det er fint, men bliver aldrig helt godt.

Started off strong. The last few songs were… interesting..

65

There was a lot I dug here, kinda sounds made for me. Shoegaze, Britpop, noise, creation records... But this thing was veryyyyy bloated. Way to long, cut like 20 minutes and all the weird reggae rhythms and we'd be cooking. Also the dynamics in the mix are insane

Was always a distant fan of these guys based on their name alone. This was a solid listen that hit hard when it needed to and also had some other surprises that kept me in the zone. The only factor keeping me from rating higher was the length. A bit overstacked.

A nice surprise. Wasn’t expecting it to go as hard as it did in several spots. Thought about rounding up but ultimately a super solid 3*. 3.5/5

Lazarus was the standout track for me but otherwise the album was a bit too long and a bit too ‘meh’ for me. Fine but that’s all there is to say.

I Hang Suspended - 3/5 Upon 9th and Fairchild - 3/5 Wish I Was Skinny - 3/5 Leaves and Sand - 3/5 Butterfly McQueen - 3/5 Rodney King (Song for Lenny Bruce) - 3/5 Thinking of Ways - 2.5/5 Barney (…and Me) - 3.5/5 Spun Around - 2/5 If You Want It, Take It - 3/5 Best Lose the Fear - 3/5 Take the Time Around - 3.5/5 Lazarus - 3.5/5 One is For - 2.5/5 Run My Way Runway - 2.5/5 I've Lost the Reason - 3/5 The White Noise Revisited - 3/5 Outside of a couple of decent tracks this was fairly mediocre britpop. They seemed to be throwing whatever at the wall to see what stuck. It's not terrible in any places, but it's also not great in any place either. How this got praise is beyond me. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: Barney (...and Me), Take the Time Around, Lazarus

Bastante diferente dentro de sí mismo, aún que mantiene su aire rockero

Giant Steps was certainly a weirder album than i was expecting it to be. I was expecting this to be a pretty typical 90s indie rock album with some hints of shoegaze which would justify that genre's tag in the styles section of this album but what i ended up getting was that with a whole bunch of extra weird things put on this album kinda akin to what the Super Furry Animals do. However, these guys don't do that stuff nearly as well as they did. I'm not saying it's bad but the weirder elements on this album can be very hit or miss either being interesting and unique or just being annoying. The point i'm trying to make is, When the album is good, it can be pretty good but when it is bad, it can be pretty bad. Best Song: Upon 9th And Fairchild Worst Song: Thinking of Ways

Pretty decent - nothing massively outstanding, but all good - enjoyed

What an odd little album. Although I felt like it was a touch long, I did enjoy it for the first 50 minutes or so. I don't know if I'll listen to it again, but it definitely kept my attention. I like a band that defies genre so deftly. I always wonder how such a group manages to tour a live show? Oh, you play keys, koto, marimba, guitar, vox, kazoo, stand up bass, and hammer dulcimer?

i mean it's aight part 2 (i liked this more than the last one though)

90s dream pop. Britpop.

Listened to it once, quite liked it — wasn’t as good on the second go-around. 3.5 rounded down.

Mostly I like their cheery psychedelic take on Britpop. Ahead of its time for 1993. The mixing of genres feels like they’re just messing around and experimenting musically. It was on the long side, but I didn’t really get anxious for it to end until the long final fade-out. 3.5, I wish it was a bit more focused.

Day 355 Some decent stuff, some very landfill Highlights Barney and me Take the time around Lazarus

Great name for a band! The vocals are good. Nice combination of acoustic and electric. An uneven album. Some good songs some not so good. Long intros into some songs. It has its good momentum but a little uneven. An average album. Worth a 3.

I Hang Suspended 3.5 Upon 9th and Fairchild 3.6 Wish I Was Skinny 3.3 Leaves and Sand 3.2 Butterfly McQueen 3.3 Rodney King (Song for Lenny Bruce) 3.4 Thinking Ways 3 Barney (…and Me) 3.2 Spun Around 3.3 If You Want It, Take It 3.5 Best Lose the Fear 3.4 Take the Time Around 3.2 Lazarus 3.5 One Is For 3 Run My Way Runway 3.3 I've Lost the Reason 3.4 The White Noise Revisited 3.2 Score: 3.311764706

I enjoyed this one a great deal - I tend to enjoy neo-psychedelic stuff anyway, so there was much to love here. However, unfortunately this one did suffer from the all-too-common 90s problem of lack of brevity; I was ready for it to be over about five songs before the end. So unfortunately, it won't quite reach 4 stars.

There were some really good songs mixed in, but never two in a row. It specifically followed a pattern of good-bad-good-bad-good-bad and maybe if they would’ve only kept the good ones then it would’ve been a normal length album instead of being over an hour long. Different from the other 90s British albums at least.

Hmmmm.... I like the general sound they have going on, and there are some beautiful moments scattered throughout the album. There's also a looooooot of fluff. 6/10; I probably wouldn't revisit, but I didn't dislike it. Standouts: Upon 9th And Fairchild • Wish I Was Skinny • Barney (...and Me) • The White Noise Revisited

This was so easily cruising to a 4 for me, but after the first six or so songs you realize they only have one trick and you still have an hour to go. Really liked what they were trying to do but as an album this is too much.

I really wanted to like this album. I remember hearing about the Boo Radleys back in the day, but I never real had or took the chance to explore their discography. Listening now, I was underwhelmed. I felt like most tracks started strong but became less enjoyable as I listened. The higher reviews suggest I should give them multiple listens, but I am not excited about it. Maybe I am missing something.

tänkte de skulle va jazz men, rockigt, ok!

not too bad, I liked the noise pop elements, but eeeh.. It might need another listen, but at the moment I really don't want to listen to it again

An eclectic mix of sounds. Technically not bad, but this felt like the musical equivalent of house wine or store brand goods.

Lazarus

From the Vault #25 (June 24, 2026) Cool, The Boo Radleys. I've heard of these guys before, though I've never sought out their music. If I'm not mistaken, these guys belong to a specific brand of mid-90s alternative rock which I find to be a bit stiff and stale. I guess it's no guess as to why I've avoided these guys, huh? Anyways, I'm pretty sure The Boo Radleys were one of the bigger 90s alternative acts, so I'm curious to check them out. Here goes. Hey, not bad. I was originally going to tear into this album for being kind of boring, though I feel differently about it now that I'm playing it back on shuffle as I finish off this review. It's crazy what a second listen can do for some albums. Anyways, this release is kind of difficult to put in a box. It has some meek vocals which harken back to 60s psychedelia, alternative guitars and production techniques which belong to the time and some pretty solid, breezy, intricate acoustic guitars that I more traditionally associate with the 2000s. This album is simultaneously rooted in tradition, of-the-time and ahead of the curve. I like it. The vocals are adept with some fun, wavy effects added in post and they benefit greatly from the equally competent songwriting. Most of the performances on this album are an inbetween of high-energy, upbeat songwriting and lowkey, subdued stretches. This approach really helps in making the seventeen-track, hour-four runtime go down smoothly. Overall, I can admit where I was wrong. I midjudged this album and am entertaining the idea of returning to it sometime in the future. Book time. "...a huge, kaleidoscopic record, 17 tracks that are as trippily extravagant as the acid-fried sleeve design." There's a high level of variety on this album. NME and Select named it album of the year. It's apparently a cult classic, though that's all from the book. Wikipedia says this album was well-received by critics, but only charted in the UK, where it peaked in the top 20. I respect this album and admire the ambition, so I'm content with letting it through. I cosign this inclusion.

Kinda nice in the middle. Nothing bad to say about it.

Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Up 9th And Fairchild I hear the genre fusions the most on the reggae-adjacent tracks. There are some pretty good guitar licks across a number of songs, and I am on board with all of the distortions, but the whole album is also sort of uninspiring. I look at the 17 tracks - over an hour of music - and couldn't recall any of them after 2 listens. What else is there to say? It's pretty mid.

Het is Britpop, dat is al snel duidelijk, met de vervormde gitaren, het blije orgeltje en de niet erg geslaagde pogingen tot samenzang. De wat nondescripte zang is het zwakke punt, alsof men zich het liefste wil verstoppen achter de luidsprekerboxen in plaats pontificaal in het midden te gaan staan, zoals bepaalde Britpoppers dat wél maar al te graag deden. Er is niks wat er heel positief uitspringt, ze slaan wat zijwegen in maar het vult de ruimte terwijl je wat anders aan het doen bent. Het laatste nummer is een schaamteloze Beatles-ripoff, ook al niet erg goed gedaan. Kortom, in deze lijst staan veel betere representanten van het genre. Nice guys finish last.

Een band uit de 90s, waar ik volgens mij ooit vaag wel eens van heb gehoord. Ik zie niet zo 1 2 3 een bekend hitje, althans niet op dit album, dat blijkbaar wel een cultklassieker is (geworden). De muziek is een beetje een rare mix van allerlei stijlen, weliswaar veel met elektrische gitaar. Er komt britpop voorbij, shoegaze, grunge, en maf alternatief geexperiment. Een allegaartje, een ratjetoe. Daarmee zitten er aardige nummers bij, maar uiteraard ook hele matige. Als album kom ik er niet echt lekker in, ik wil dan toch meer dat het lekker loopt ipv dat alle tempo er ineens uit gehaald wordt door een maf experiment. Nee, ik zou dit niet zomaar nog een keer opzetten, het is redelijk vergeetbaar verder. Meer dan een magere 3 levert dit niet op, zeker niet omdat het een half uur te lang is.

2.75 for The Boo Radleys who thought it would be good to borrow from english literature and one of the best Coltrane albums ever for their entry. I had never heard of this group before this list, so I looked at the Wikipedia entry and saw "Britpop" and immediately realized why they're on this list. Anything, anyone 90's Britpop = ALBUM YOU MUST HEAR BEFORE YOU DIE. Nope. I highly disagree. I gave this a 2.75 because there are some interesting riffs and pop hooks, but mostly it's loud annoying guitar wailing. Go away.

Hate the lead vocal, love the accompaniments

Better than expected. Worth another listen

Amazing band name. Average music. 3

Not a big dan of BR, but this isn't bad. Not overly familiar with anything but their main hits. Relatively good fun, maybe a bit long mind you. Down the middle for me.

Ok I like this more than I thought I was gonna. It’s nice. Just kinda meh. Sounds old for 90s. Ok this is definitely very solid but also it’s just so long. Like I don’t think they really needed this many songs on the album to be honest. Interesting. Weird. Fun. Too long. Favourite: Leaves and Sand Least favourite: Run My Way Runway

Fine

At surface level this album was okay/better than expected, but nothing really resonated with me otherwise.

Sadly, it was kind of boring, despite having potential. Perfectly fine, if unnoteworthy, indie with an excessive runtime. Favorites: Wish I Was Skinny; Leaves and Sand 3

one of those 90s bands i always heard good things about but that i never had a chance to check out. it's noisy rock (but not noise rock) and is lots of fun. they infuse punk, some metal, pop, and a touch of reggae into an album that is a little long but that doesn't overstay its welcome too much. i can hear myself listening to this again

I hate the feeling when a band has all the elements of what I say I like, but the album just doesn’t connect with me. This is the sort of thing I wouldn’t mind in the background but can’t imagine playing again.

not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue

Based on the song titles, here’s another example of an English band that is familiar with American events and culture. There are times throughout the album where the band has a Beatles vibe. Overall the music is pretty decent for a 90s group.

Have I heard of this band before or have I just read To Kill a Mockingbird? It's unclear*. Well, anyway, they don't infuriate me, so that's something, but the sound is pretty snoozy and noisy all at once. Snoisey. Just when you think you're listening to a pleasant-if-boring lullaby, the blasting kazoos and dissonant horns crash in. I will round up to a 3 because it's at least better than the last few albums we had. *Aha - Steve Hewitt from Placebo used to be a member (prior to this album)! I bet I had heard of them 'cause of that. Highlight: 'The White Noise Revisited' Backwords Lortap: There's a reversed 1-2-3-4 in 'Spun Around'.

first off, this record has absolutely no idea what it is- which is my exact reaction after seeing this cover. And it kinda all makes sense. I can’t believe I’m the guy defending the genre stew album that includes a shit ton of Brit pop and shoegaze elements. I genuinely don’t know what everyone is bitching about on here. This was a fun listen with a ton of different ideas. Yeah yeah some more generic than others. But would you rather listen to oasis make the same song 10 times over on an album?

It is an okay album, but a little dull in places. 3 stars or C.

Pretty good sound, though kind of long and a bit monotonous. There were few songs that really made me sit up and pay attention and there were a couple of times I looked just to see if I was done with the album and into a second+ listen. It was fine in the background.

-1 star for the critic on Wikipedia who compares it to the White Album. +1 star for a few interesting moments. Waffled a bit between a 2 and 3, but will round up because I didn't dislike it, but I'm still pretty sure it doesn't need to be on this list.

Not my jam

This album checked a lot of boxes for me. It has a very 90’s sound while also harkening back to 60’s pop like the Beatles. It was somewhat experimental but rarely at the cost of staying catchy and fun to listen to. It had some psychedelic and shoe gazy influences, and even some dub/reggae, but they were all flavors added to the sound and never overwhelmed it. This is a very good album that should be better known than I think it is.

Boasts a wide range of genres under a pretty British rock sound. The jangly guitars throughout this album make each song similar to each other. The opening track did give it some oomph but the momentum died out by like the 4th song.

Čakal som od nich viac.

This was okay. I guess I understand why it's on the list. Didn't love it, but also didn't hate it. Most songs were pretty forgettable aside from "The White Noise Revisited," which I quite liked. This is more of a 2.5 if I'm being honest, but I didn't rating this 2 stars just seems too low so I'm rounding up.

Couple things. First, the name The Boo Radleys is a terrible band name, and I'm not surprised I've never heard of them before. When you kneecap yourself with a terrible name, shouldn't be surprised. Second, while I'm enjoying this album quite a bit, it being over an hour long is a bit much. I know the 90's were a time of inflated album lengths, but come on guys, cut it down to a trim 45. Thirdly, I get this is a highly regarded shoegaze(ish - It's more more on the indie alt rock side with some songs verging on shoegaze), 25th on Pitchfork's 50 greatest shoegaze albums, but lets be honest, My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, and Ride are probably the picks from the genre for the list (Already have them on the list, and already have too many MBV albums, and no Slowdive, which is a crime). But yeah, pretty solid alt-rock that verges on shoegaze at times. Really dig the tracks I Hang Suspended and Wish I Was Skinny. Kinda has a britpop thing going on that I'm not quite enjoying though (Best Lose the Fear - very Beatles/Oasis-esque). Overall, the album could use some pruning down and focusing. It's a little all over the place with sounds and styles.

Pretty fine for the most part. It's a pretty eclectic batch of rock songs that draw from psychedelia and britpop with a touch of shoegaze, especially in the single "Lazarus". My main gripe is that it's really long, and it kinda fizzles out without much fanfare imo. The closing track got pretty annoying. Still had plenty of good tracks up to the end.

No fav song

I'm trying to judge this based on the year as 1993 was not about much experimentation. I would put this up there with OK Computer (not for content) for ambition and it was a number of years before. I gave it 2 listens and even though only 1 or 2 songs stuck with me (the Beach Boys riff might be the best knockoff Wilson I've heard) I think I'm at a 3.5 which could go higher. It's very listenable, but not sure how influential it really has been.

Fuzzy guitars... would have been more impressed if there was some melody in it.

This is a solid rock outing w a band that has its own style - the vocals are low in the mix, which can be frustrating, but interesting musicianship here

3.5 I reckon there's a much better 40ish minute album here but some of the songs either just didn't really work for me or were a bit boring

Appreciate when there is some element of creativity. But otherwise the sound is mid. Not a revelation or exciting for me. A 3.

I dug the first song on this one but it was kind of downhill from there unfortunately; just kind of in one ear and out the other after a somewhat promising start.

471/1089 - Some cool texture stuff and the vocalist kinda sounds like Elliott Smith. I think if the songs were tighter and there were less "stock" sounds and stepwise melodies, it'd be more memorable.

If I was a teenager in the UK in the ‘90s then I probably would have loooooved this back then. But I wasn’t. Now it’s fine. The noisier parts were fun but made me want to listen to MBV or JAMC.

This album was pretty interesting as it introduced me to other Brit Pop bands. I enjoyed this album quite a bit I wasn’t expecting thrashing guitars at all! But it elevated my listening to experience :) Rating: 3.4/5 GEMV (02.05.2026)

Mostly fine, but has some really annoying songs.

6/10

As much as I would’ve liked this sort of genre-hodgepodge indie experiment if it had gone right, I think this is really just too overambitious and inconsistent for me to recommend (that, and it hits my biggest musical pet-peeve of going on for way too long). That said, I can’t say I’ve listened to psychedelic-noise-orchestral-punk-ska-jazz-britpop-shoegaze before, so I for sure see why this was included; I’ll also give it that this was probably insane for ‘93, considering this is the type of album you’d find after scrolling Bandcamp for too long in 2026.

A far more interesting shoe gaze album than I was expecting. And a bit more emo, that fully plants this album in the early 90s. Highlights: "Barney (...and Me)" and "Lazarus"

3.5

ok basic 90s sound

Certainly a sound that reflects a time and place, and perhaps if I’d have gotten in to this as a 25 year old I might love it. It’s another not terrible album. I quite enjoyed the sound, especially towards the start. But the album is 25 minutes too long and definitely starts to ramble at about the 50 minutes mark. The curse of the CD and a lack of discipline on the part of the band.

I liked that the Boo Radleys pulled from lots of different influences with this album. The singer wasn't my favorite, however. I don't know that I would listen to the whole album again.

The Boo Radley's Giant Steps is a super weird record. It's like a jangly pop record that also sometimes works with some reggae backbeats and bass lines. Now, I loathe reggae, but I actually love the instrumentation on this record and the choices made with guitar tones and arrangement. On those points, this record hits all the right notes for me, as unorthodox as it is. Where the struggle comes with this record is that none of the melodies on it are all that interesting to me. This record feels like a case of "so close, yet so far." I'm glad I listened, cause they were a band that I always wanted to check out due to their work on the So I Married an Axe Murderer soundtrack, but it ultimately falls a little flat for me. 6.5/10

Bunte Mischung aus Rock/Pop & angrenzenden Genres. 3/5

Wasn't sure what to expect here but pretty neat record. Psychedelic, noisy, and dreamy all throughout and its done quite well. Nothing too mind blowing here, but some great work throughout. Kinda drags a bit with the long length, but never found myself wanting it off.

Pretty standard stuff from the 90s.

not really that interested in ambient music. Aunque me da rabia cuando me gustan las populares y justo me gustaron las 2 más escuchadas

Didn't leave an impression on me

Meh. 3

Pretty good though somewhat generic shoegaze-ish alt album, fun to listen too and some genuinely really good instrumentals/vocals and some interesting experimental stuff

I enjoyed this, never heard it before.

A few unpleasant noises, but generally I like it. Could have been shorter.

This was very 90s yet somehow also 60s/Beatles-esque.

Typical. Nothin special

The only thing the 1001 curators like more than 70’s AOR seems to be 90’s alt.

Je vais l’oublier illico mais certaines étaient plutôt sympas !

This was very solid — Super Furry Animals, Dandy Warhol vibes — but not very memorable.

6/10 Favorite: If You Want It, Take It

Haven’t listened to these folks. Seems to straddle a bunch of different genres. I’m not sure if I’m loving it, but it did grow on me. Won’t be listening again.

A fine 90s indie album. I listened to it twice, but it’s just kinda there. Nothing really stands out, but it’s also not bad.

Too much weird noises.

Enough bright spots to get a three. A bit of junk, too.

5/10

Mystifying that Oasis are global megastars and these guys are a Brit pop footnote.

Another group with the pasta theory. This time we hear lots of forms of rock: pop, psychedelic, experimental, ethereal, whisper, etc. some pretty good sounds and some rather annoying.

Przyjemne i bardzo nieskomplikowane. Lekka muzyka która wprawia w dobry humor, ale jest zbyt prosta, aby w pełni ją docenić. 6.5/10 równane w dół.

First couple of songs were a disappointment. Wish I was Skinny and Leaves and Sand were tasteful shoegaze Cant say I love them trying reggae shoegaze, but they really went for it all on this album

Alright. Elliot Smith vibes at times.

I enjoyed most of the songs well enough. A high 3 stars, for sure.

This probably requires multiple listens for it to "click." I liked it, but probably won't be listening again.

Not bad. More varied than your typical Brit pop fare including elements of shoegaze and more jangly sounds. A lot too long though.

I kinda liked it Will I listen to again: 22%

Its fine

3.5 Enjoyed the listen but never really latched on to anything, I will try the pina colada angle next time

Again another album that starts with a cool opening track; the first 15 seconds should've probably been its own track so the other 3 quarters of the track can be allowed to shine on its own. Wish I Was Skinny is a bop, incredible instrumentation and the sappy delivery of the lyrics really sells the emotion. The sappyness doesn't hit the same on Leaves and Sand Butterfly McQueen is that real heat

i get some of the feedback of the varied styles on this album -- and the length. however, after listening to it a few runs through there were a number of songs that resonated with me... but as a % of the total album its lower, otherwise this would get a 4

Fun britpop

I didn’t hate it or love it.

My only familiarity with the Boo Radleys was from their cover of "There She Goes" on the So I Married an Axe Murderer soundtrack. I like this! It seems kind of weird to me that these guys are labeled "shoegaze" - this doesn't sound like what I consider shoegaze at all. It seems poppier, more melodic, and janglier, which I like. But I guess maybe not all shoegaze is My Bloody Valentine. It also seems kind of weird to me that a British band would name themselves after a character from To Kill A Mockingbird, but I like it. OK, "Leaves and Sand" I can see being called shoegaze. I get it now. "Thinking of Ways" is beautiful. "Best Lose the Fear" reminded me a LOT of Elliott Smith. I think I would have really loved this if I had listened to it back in 1993-94. I can't quite bring myself to give it 4 stars in 2026, so let's call it a 3.9

OK, but nothing to brag about.

cant remember shit but didn't bother me either

It's always nice to get a complete unknown in today's album selection (with full apologies to those across the pond who revere The Boo Radleys). Although I'm not sure this will become a cult classic for me as it apparently has for many others, I appreciated the larger than expected range in some of the tracks, from fairly straightforward tracks like "Wish I was skinny" (with a decent video) or "Barney (...and me)" (with a decidedly *un*interesting video) to a variety of sonic assaults (like "Leaves and sand", the Beatles-inspired "Thinking of ways", or "Run my way runway"), culminating in their (relatively) big single "Lazarus". I didn't have too many favorites on the too-long album, but I enjoyed "Upon 9th and Fairchild" and "Best lose the fear" more than most. It seems a shame that their label didn't show them much love or attention with this album, but perhaps the executives felt what I did: they're seemingly doing all the right things to have a well-rounded album, but it lacks...something? Maybe it just lacks a soul, although that sounds harsher than I intend (on the other hand, I was particularly disappointed by how vapid a song like "Rodney King" ended up being, and it seemed pretty insulting to name their album after Coltrane's much more famous album, so maybe not *that* harsh).

It’s fine like I like it It’s good but not great 3.3

3.5

ok

Love the cover pretty cool

Högt och lågt

much longer than I wanted, but pretty enjoyable listening overall

had a fun time with this. deeper cut in brit pop. learned a bit about the beatles influence on this genre and now motivated to read more pitchfork and rolling stone album reviews.

This band got by me in 90’s. I would imagine if you attended any engineering school during that time period you listened to this band on college radio. Singer puts me in the mind of Elliot Smith, however this is not that.

Very Britpoppy, but not very catchy. Some nice moments, but overall it lacks interesting melodies and progressions if you ask me. I think the British bias of this list shows in albums like this. Faves: I Hang Suspended, Wish I Was Skinny, Barney (...and Me)

Think this was pretty good? I kinda forgot since I listened.

Me ha gustado y no estaban en mi radar. Distorsión con algo más.

This was interesting, I only know the Boo Radleys for the summery pop song 'Wake Up Boo' but this has quite a different sound considering it only came out 2 years prior to that hit. Much more of a shoegaze / noise rock type vibe with distorted guitars and more lo-fi vocals. Not sure there are enough good tunes to sustain a 64 minute run-time but it's pretty good

I enjoyed this album, although not sure why it deserves a spot on the list.

There’s a really good 35-40 minute album here. This fucker is 64 minutes long, though.