Giant Steps

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.

This is great! The Boos are a Brit band that I should know better than I do, but beyond the hits on "Wake Up" I never really spent too much time with them. This fits perfectly into that pre-Britpop moment where shoegaze and sample based stuff like EMF was happening. BRB, about to overspend on a vinyl reissue of this

Barely felt like I listened to it it was just not good

Thinking of Me and Barney (… and me) were pretty good.

Not bad overall. 3/5

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!

Weezer but with a brass band

Pure background music that not interesting enough to merit another listen in the future. 2.4

Ok

Right on

Boring, nothing music. Sorry lads, wake up!

Just ok

Fairly strong start but became too weird and too long. Huuuuge John Steele Singers influence alert.

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

Interesting, a bit overwrought. May listen to again when less sober.

Super unique listen. They use that voice filter I hate that sounds like it goes through a fan and the breathing is all too prominent, but even that felt arty, particularly in The White Noise Revisited. When they asked me 'what's that noise, do you remember?', I half felt as though I did. The nostalgia is infused into every moment, while at once being innovative and futuristic too. It mostly sounds too 70s for its actual date but I hardly mind, I just really enjoyed listening!

A lot of this hurt my ears

I think I have to give this a 5 just from the sheer diversity and unique sounds on display. I loved it.

Was kinda cool pyschedlic pop indie vibes

Not bad but not good either. Standard 90s stuff

Not bad, but not interesting either.

I once went for a full english breakfast with Tim from The Boo Radleys, it was 1999, we were a web dev training course, and he was there to set up a website for his new recording studio. Top bloke. As for the album, it's good, but long, experimental for the time, mixing genres, but feels dated now.

I think there is probably a 4 star album in here, with the pleasant proto-Brit-pop, but I could do without the “I am the Walrus” experimentation and trim down 20mins.

As Britpop goes, this is fine. I guess I just can't hear those "giant steps" forward for the genre that this album is supposed to have. I mean, I do like it quite a bit, but I just can't get myself too hyped over it.

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

Uninteresting. If you want this kind of music, there are better musicians out there. It just goes on and on and on and on.

They're alright. I feel like they reached the appropriate level of fame.

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

This felt fairly nondescript but had a few interesting moments

I did NOT enjoy this at all. They really just let anyone put together 10-15 songs and call it an album. I felt like none of the songs went anywhere and there was no point to it.

3.5

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.

Some alright tracks but overall not an amazing album

A little lost listening to this. Nothing to hang my hat on though I can tell they're talented, of course. Just not for me.

Sure was an album

Cool album cover. Most songs were alright with some that were not very poggers.

Generic britpop sound, not particularly memorable.

I really wanted to like this more, but the bad tracks out balanced the good

A dull britpop-like beatles sound that trudged on through 17 allegedly distinct tracks

Was OK, had a few good tracks but got pretty weird

Geeat

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

Had it as background, and tried a bit in headphones towards the end. Really not memorable at all, but also tolerable with a couple of groovy riffs here and there

Nope.

Idk today is one of those days - I'm like 900+ albums in & this is fine. It's a 3, like a whole bunch of em. It didn't really have anything bad that made me dislike it. But it didn't have anything memorable or fucking awesome sounding either. Somedays I wonder did I REALLY need to hear this? But ok it's fine I'd gladly listen to it some more if you provided a compelling argument. Threeee Starrrrs

Only know one song by the Boo Radleys - Wake up Boo - and it's not on this album. The underlying 'sound' of this album is 90s Britpop/Indie - with elements of other influences including the Beatles. Not a bad album but no songs really 'hooked me'

I may have gone from 'oh no, yet another janglebritpop' to 'whoa, this is the only janglebritpop this list needs?' in under 30 seconds. With reservations, I have not spend much time with the album yet but this is good stuff.

The first song is one of the most sonically unpleasant things I have ever had the misfortune of hearing. I had to fight the nearly overwhelming urge to turn it off and set my ears on fire. Somehow I managed, and I found myself kinda liking the rest of the album, maybe. I listened again WITHOUT playing the first song and found this to be pretty good. Sounds very British 90s, which I guess is exactly what it is. So if you are into that, definitely give this a listen, beginning with track two.

A genre blurring shoegazey neo psych Brit pop masterpiece.

It’s just… dull and way too long.

Some decent parts, but some annoying ones.

Nice, but only nice.

Kinda good and kinda rough to listen to. It'll even out to average

I knew the name of this band from hearing the name years ago and thought, cool naming after a literary character. I knew nothing about their music. And now I know what shoe gazing means. Not a bad listen.

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.

Thoughts before listening: Oh look...more 90s British alt rock. For some reason I thought these guys were jazz fusion, but I realized I was wrong when I cheated a bit and looked at the Wikipedia before starting the album. I'm sure this will be fine. Review: Well, while this definitely isn't jazz fusion, they do use horns throughout many of the songs. Maybe I read a review 30 years ago that talked about the horns and they stuck with me (or maybe it was them stealing the title from Coltrane). Either way, this is definitely 90s alt rock. There are some cool songs here, but also a bunch of boring ones.

Another I will put as enjoyable but not sure it’s 1001 material.

9/10. I enjoyed the variety of styles throughout the album. Felt creative to me and lots of songs made the 5 star list.

All over the place. Not great not terrible. Some neat stuff, some generic stuff.

Really? The Boo Radleys? Who had one good song in the early 90s? Okaaaay. ..... And their one good song isn't even on this album! Actually listening to this. It's a mixed bag. Some of their tracks are actively unpleasant (leaves and sand, thinking of ways, spun around, run my way runway) and others are nice upbeaty pop tracks (Barney (...and me)) - but saying that, even the nice upbeat ones have way too much screeching guitar and would have been better being a minute or so shorter. Overall, I think this is far more unpleasant than pleasant. And as such, it can do one.

Truly thought I have heard of this artist but nope. Actually, thought this was a blues guitarist. Sounds like Radiohead and Stone Roses so far. Not my style.

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.

Jeez this album is long!? Felt like I’d been listening for at least an hour and I was only half way through!! Saying that, it was generally quite a good listen. Rockier than I had thought it would be. I think I did lose the plot about half way through though, possibly disheartened that I still had 8 tracks to go. Awarding it a 3 but it’s between a 2.5 and a 3.

This was a wild ride! It didn't quite fit my mood, but definitivly worth a listen.

Catchy I guess don’t love it though

first listen i liked the guitar tone

This album was so close to being a four or five star for me. It just hinged into the slightly too experimental instrumentation, but I do love the song I wish I was skinny.

Even as someone who likes shoegaze and some britpop this just falls pretty flat. Not bad, just not what I was hoping for from it.

It took giant steps to get through this album

Surprisingly nice listen!

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

The Boo Radleys 'Giant Steps' help confirm some biases for me: 1) Any album over one hour is not great 2) Shoegaze is terrible 2/5

Honestly, I don't remember much about listening to this. No strong feelings either way.

Interesting discovery for me. Between 3 and 4.... leaning 3.

This album feels like they've done all the styles that they could think of with the hope that some will stick - annoyingly it kinda works. Some of it is good and some of it isn't so when I look at it as a whole piece it's a bit average. If I could give it 2.5 stars I would.

Gives me later-Beatles vibes. Not bad to listen to, but not something I'm adding to my rotation.

I thought this was fine. Some strong moments, some weak moments. Has some grooves and some things going for it but it isn't consistent or inventive. Plays like an album older than it is. When this was released, better things were coming out.

Not into this at all (or maybe shoegaze generally?). I'd rather listen to the live dead album.

“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.

I listened to about half of this

This scratches my 90's itch in the best way. I'm surprised I've never heard of them. They fit right at home in a mix of Gin Blossoms, The Toadies and the like. I'll listen to this again.

I'd rather listen to the Coltrane album

like 80s mixed with nirvanna. It's fine. Is the band name a TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD reference?

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.

I would describe this as noise. I read a few reviews that gave me hope, but this was just not good. It just sounded sloppy. They tried too hard, and it sounds like it.

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

Ah, shoegaze. The MySpace of music genres. No one can quite believe that it was ever once a thing.

It was fine but nothing earthshaking

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

Thought this one was just ok. I only know these guys for "Wake Up, Boo!", which is a bit cheesy, but not too bad. There were some interesting sounds on here, but I found it faded into the background after a while. It also runs a bit too long. I did like the opener, "Rodney King", and " If You Want it Take it", but apart from those, nothing stood out much. Some nice fusion of shoegaze and indie pop, but not the best example of this I've heard. Stereolab for instance (who I got last week), did that much better around the same time.

Didn’t hit when I listened to it a decade ago, still isn’t now. I still think it’s good, just not amazing

started really well and just went to shit upset me :( 2.8/5

3.75. Liked a lot!

interesting...

I didn't like this at all

I like the instrumentals more than the vocals here. The individual songs are fairly good, but not good enough to merit a 64 minute runtime; I was ready to be done after half an hour.

This has never shown up on my radar and I was shocked, because it is quite good. I'm not quite sure it reaches the highs that it shoots for, but it is a good listen from start to finish.

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

Dreamy, surfy, grungy rock. Not bad, but not typically what I like to listen to. Vocals are a little shrill but it’s okay. Meh/5.

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.

Substandard mid ninetys indie dribble

Straight alternative rock.

Forgettable indie pop with occasional moments of interesting noise

This is awesome. It’s shoegazey without being entirely shoegaze. It’s a long album, sure, but the dynamics that come and go throughout keep it interesting. And multiple moments where the sound just flies high and feels transcendent. I have a weird feeling that it may ultimately not stand up to repeated listens, but on first listen, I absolutely loved it.

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.

Not a shoegaze fan

Could see myself liking this in another life but was a grind to get through

This was a pleasant surprise considering I had zero expectations.

About what I expected from an alternative 90s band

It was fine 90s alternative music but not sure how this could be considered one of 1001 albums to hear before you die. Especially jarring a day after having Born to Run to have analbum that seemingly has little impact on general culture, rather a niche has-been band. Pretty forgettable and the album was long.

Perfect mix of noise and softness

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.

I found this pretty boring. Cool album art though

A couple of interesting tracks but overall the album felt aimless

Wow another mediocre brit pop band from the 90s. 2/5

Bit weird but not bad at all. Nothing really stood out though

I did not enjoy this.

Uhh

Honestly I was a little disappointed. I had known about the Boo Radleys but never really got into them. I was excited when I opened the app and saw the album. But as I listened to it I became disillusioned. If someone played this album for me without telling who it was I would have absolutely nailed what year it came out but would have been unable to tell you the band. That’s to say it sounded like every other indie band from ‘93. It’s not a band album. I don’t dislike it. I just don’t understand why I HAD to hear this before I died.

What is good: a) The variation. From indie to trip hop to dub to noise to ska to pop, also within single songs. b) The execution of those genres is good and seamless c) No bad songs What is not so good: a) The length. You don’t need to make 1hr+ albums just because you can b) Because of the length and the diversity, it’s really hard to get a grasp of the album. After two listens, I’m still not sure what I think of it c) No real standouts (so far) I know it’s a good album, but it hasn’t «done it» for me so far, therefore only 3 stars

This album was hard to rate. Some songs are really good. Reminiscent of some banger Britpop tunes and heavy pedal shoegaze. Other songs....yikes. Just absolutely ruined with some atrocious instrumentals that just sound like high schoolers bashing around in a garage. Which is a shame, because Britpop and shoegaze are two of my absolute favorite genres. This album had the potential to be insanely good, but they got a little too full of themselves when it came to providing listeners with a bit of edge.

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.

I had never heard about this band before (and probably never will again), but they sure make a mean indie album. It has layers of instruments and effects and the most milk toast guitar riffs, nonsense lyrics and the most dramatic vocals, and also a third thing. Yeah, that basically describes the next loop of the spiral from '70s rock. Anyway, this record just sounds very sincere for some reason. The musical style is beautiful, each track has an individual identity, and whatever vague narrative the singer is spinning, it has me invested.

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

It’s okay. I liked the noisy, distorted parts better than the poppier parts. Was also a bit long, making a lot of it blend together

I remember this coming out at the time and it was praised to high heaven as a work of genius. I don’t get it. It is completely unmemorable and unremarkable to me

found this a bit of a struggle today. There are elements of it i like, but long and not as instant as other records i have reviewed from this era. its fine, its okay, but i needs more effort than i want to give it

downloaded 2,6,9,16

Pro tip for navigating this list, I call it the 4 B's rule: Imagine you're a few songs into the album, so far it's Basic, Boring and Bland. You're wondering why it's on the list. You look up the artist or band and find out they're British. Feel free to skip the rest of the album and give it the appropriate score. I'm only saying this because it's been such a common experience going through this list and more often than not, when I'm not enjoying an album, it tends to be a British artist and this rule applies. If you think I'm wrong, I want to point out that I wrote the entire paragraph above after listening to the first three tracks. Then I looked up the artist info. British. Of course. It always is. Anyways, feel free to use this rule when going through this list as I will not be patenting this system in order to help others.

First song, I Hang Suspended, is very 90s alternative. Upon 9th and Fairchild was great, and reminded me a little of James. Wish I Was Skinny had a 50s/early 60s vibe, while Thinking of Ways would not be out of place on Sgt. Pepper. I didn't really like these tracks. The rest of the tracks fit that 90s alternative genre. The album had a mix of songs I really enjoyed, ok songs, and songs I did not like at all. For that reason, I am giving it a 3. Favorites: 9th and Fairchild; Spun Around, If You Want It Take It Least Favorite: One is For, Run My Way Runway

this was bearable for 6 or 7 songs and then I just couldn't keep on listening. sorry

Over all OK album. Nothing to write home about but also not terrible. 3/5

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.

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

Put early 90s rock in a blender. Maybe 6 too many songs.

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

Never heard of these guys... will be interesting to check them out. Really interesting Brit-Pop. I definitely like it a lot and will revisit, but the album ended and I didn't even realize. Nothing wowed me, but nothing bored me, either. 3/5

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 think there was potential, but almost every song is chaotic musically

I read a review saying the rest of us should be reviewing these albums better but I can't think of anything else to say about this album than mid. It's just all over the place. I like swaying songs like Thinking of Ways, dancy songs like Barney (and Me) but some of the other songs are just mindless. What is happening here?

Some nice moments. Feels like it's trying a bit too hard; there's too much going on. Not tight enough. But very listenable.

First off, this album cover goes so insanely hard. This record really confused me. Some songs on here are the most drab 90’s britpop. At other times though, they’re pushing very interesting experiments. Songs that sound like a leftover Spiritualized cut. Very washed out melodic passages, like the end of Butterfly McQueen, which sound like an early Hum song. So while there are some highlights on here, I have a hard time grasping and what this albums concept or vision is.

This travelled along many paths, some were sunlit most were foggy.

Generic 90s rock. I like some of the slower stuff while some of this gave me a headache

The second album to really catch me by surprise. The Boo Radleys are a local band. They're from Wallasey, where I went to school. I knew their album after this one. Wake Up Boo being a proper, bonafide hit. This was not that. The other album to catch me by surprise was MBV by My Bloody Valentine. Which was also 'shoegaze'. It turns out I bloody love a bit of shoegaze. 1 day was not enough to spend with this album. I wil be back for more and more.

Expected more. I like noise pop, but this is too much. Jarring shifts. And "noise" does not mean the volume has to increase to the point of being obnoxious. A couple good songs but most every track ends up going off the rails at some point. And just stop with the shrill saxophone please.

Yuck

ok.

The CD era takes yet another victim with an album that has every right to be a solid albeit forgettable indie album in the forty minute range, and instead drags it out another twenty-five minutes, killing any and all momentum found at the start of the second, and only finding its footing when its too late and the album has turned into a throbbing lump of 90s, with nothing to set it apart. Saving this one from going off the deep end for me particularly is that it would be solid on a song by song basis, and that final track, while derivative of its era, is very solid and catchy; a solid homage to the Beatles, better than anything Oasis ever did, any way. I really wanted to like it, but halfway through I just gave up. No one track is bad here, it just struggles to earn its length, and left me disappointed more than upset.

Not terrible, but I can't stand these hour long britpop albums that feel like they go on forever. Chop this up into a 40 minute album and you'd have some interesting stuff here. They play around with shoegaze and other styles so it would make for a decent album, but again it's just bloated, I can't wait to turn it off by the end.

Pretty middle of the road for the style. Except for a few out there tracks at the end.

I'd only ever heard one Boo Radleys song and it was very different to these and I loved it. I liked lots of this but it didn't blow me away.

This sounds like the 90s

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.

No he conectado absolutamente nada con este álbum. 2/5.

not bad stuff. could listen to more.

All the songs were easy to listen to, my favorite was “Best Lose the Fear”

Mind blowing that this came out in '93 - while it doesn't sound "modern", it sounds like at the earliest, it would have been mid-2000s. The use of the "studio-as-an-instrument" throughout this album is breathtaking. There are so many seemingly disparate sounds and styles, unrestrained noise rock elements that are joyously melded together with solid songwriting. I was a little skeptical that this would be anything but a 3 star "sure, I guess it is a good listen and some people probably love it, but I won't revisit". That quickly changed with "Upon 9th and Fairchild", the noisy feedback heavy guitar, paired with the reggae/dub drum and basslines really grabbed my attention. From that point the rest of the album maintained it through a really great combination of sonic textures.

Too ragged and noisy to properly shoegaze and too up its own butthole to actually rock, this album was a let down on pretty much every level. There's not much more to say. It's just an hour-long let down.

Meh. Kind of a bland sounding album.

Good instrumentals. Overall not for me

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

This album is the capitulation of ‘Oooh This sounds like something I’d like! Oh…oh no… they've lost me… I’m bored’

Fairly varied, and open for experimentation with different genres- some work out better than others. Overall solid album but didn't blow me away

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

The greatest band of all time! Custodians to the single greatest banger ever written. Also owners to this largely forgettable 90s indie classic. 2.4

Decent albeit uneven affair. Starts strong but loses momentum. Still, enough good stuff to make it passable. Some grunginess but also some tenderness. Prefer the grunge. Very 90s album.

This what Britpop/Shoegaze should be, fun and unpretentious. This one is definitely all over the place and eccentric, which I loved, but that also means their is gonna be a few misses when the album is 17 tracks long.

I saw the title of this album and thought, “Is this some sort of John Coltrane cover album?” I was about as far off as I possibly could be. I feel like these early 90’s shoegaze albums can be very hit or miss. Granted, Loveless came out in 1991, but that is most definitely an exception. This one though? Still pretty hit or miss. The track list is very back and forth between proper creative shoegaze bangers to these experimental psychedelic dream pop songs. And the latter tend to be far less interesting. But I can respect what they were going for. Plus I can definitely hear the influence in other albums in the same vain that I love, like Velocity : Design : Comfort. The vocalist reminds me of Elliott Smith. Like a lot. But I think most would agree that Elliott conveys far more emotion through his voice than this guy does. When this album is at its best, it highlights the best parts of shoegaze and dream pop music. Which, to me, is always the chord progressions. The way the melodies move in exactly the way I want them too, and move to the perfect notes is always so satisfying. The lowlights of this album are mostly underbaked ideas that didn’t get enough time. Ideas that I find their contemporaries pull off far better. There are good things to take away from this, just not really the album as a whole. Rating: 6/10

I don’t tend to like the uuuuurgh britpop shit reviews on this site but this album really didn’t deserve its place on the list, it’s just waaay too long to be fully enjoyable 3/5

Decent solid 2*

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)

Starts out a bit all over the place with some scratchy garage rock, some of that reggae guitar sound, into an emo/whimsical tune in I Wish I Was Skinny, which happened to be a standout. This album definitely doesn't sound the same throughout with all the random instruments they throw in, I have to give it points there. Thinking of Ways is another standout that starts and finishes with a cacophony of new instruments. I'm at Spun Around and I don't really know what to make of this album. It is unexpected at every turn and there are times I think it hits, and other times it misses. I'm happy, at least, that it's not just bland from start to finish. Back to the reggae sound with Lazarus. Also happened to be a standout for me. This one fluctuated between a 2 and 3 throughout. So I'll split it down the middle and round up for their arsenal of random instruments that they employed.

Pretty unoffensive and nothing special. Another band that sounds too much like Oasis from the early 90s. Was happy when that was over because it was way too long

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.

Another reason the music of the 90s was soooo boring. There was nothing original here.

Wow, I don't remember this music from 1993 but I love it!

BL: A complete blind listen AL: An awesome dream pop / noise rock record. Some absolute shriekers on this one, also some incredibly melodic and beautifully quiet stuff too, topped off with Boards of Canada esque sampling in interludes. Just about everything I want from an album. Absolutely glad I listened to this one. FT: "Wish I Was Skinny", "Rodney King", "Barney (...And Me)", "Take the Time Around", "Lazarus" 5/5

This was good. I was crocheting while listening to this album, so I can say this is a nice album to just kind of vibe to if you want something playing in the background while working. I do have to agree with some of the more negative reviews on this album, however, when I say that this album is way too long. If this album had been pruned down to be about... a 10 track album, I think I would have rated this higher.

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.

3.5

There were some highlights, but overall I found the album boring.

The singer is Okay but in combination with the instruments it's somehow not a good match for me. It's also kinda boring album.

I hit play. I leave my room. I return a few minutes later - by then I had already forgotten that this was playing. As I open the door, a very loud and strange sound welcomes me - it was around 0:51 of "Upon 9th and Fairchild". I was very confused for a second. This earns this album at least one more star.

Another new band for me. I liked the mix of differnt influences throughout the album, overall pretty good

Two songs in and I’m painfully bored. This is the kind of band I wouldn’t listen to back in the 90s. There’s nothing going on here. It’s copies of other artists. A lot of trying and not succeeding. The guitar on Barney and Me is a rip off of The Cure’s Close to Me. And then they piled a bunch of shit on top of it. Can’t get through a full song. This is very boring.

This is very 90s in ways both good and bad. Easy to see why someone would love it and why someone would hate it. I'm in between. I can't see coming back to it though. Also it's too long. Would give 2.5 if I could.

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.

Nějak mě to moc nechytlo a nezaujalo. Byl to jakýsi mix indie a psychadelického rocku, lowkey jazzu a orchestry? Možná mi to svým způsobem připomnělo The United States of America, ale ti mě asi bavili o něco víc. Tohle nebylo tolik experimentální, i když to mělo své momenty a lítalo to všude možně (např. Run My Way Runway, Spun Around). Ale že to je experimentální ještě neznamená, že to je dobrý. Nevím moc ani, co o tomto albu říct. Přijde mi, že se to hodně snažilo být quirky, cool a jiný než všechno ostatní, ale působilo to trochu samolibě a ve výsledku docela nudný poslech. Některé melodie byly hodně basic a nicneříkající Některý věci měly možná docela potenciál, ale tak nějak se to ztratilo v kvantu písniček. Poslechnout vše na jeden zátah bylo docela únavné a náročné. Vracet se nebudu. Nejlepší: Rodney King (víc zajímavých samples pls, i když pak už to trochu drhlo), Run My Way Runway (dekonstrukce vědomí) Nejhorší: Wish I Was Skinny, Butterfly McQueen a další, co si ani nepamatuju (moc basic, nuda, zzzzzzzz) Verdikt: 5/10 (not bad, not good)

An OK album overall but nothing to write home about there wasn't really a standout song, but the overall sound was pleasant enough even though it was a really long album. Best: Lazarus Worst: Run My Way Runway

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.

I liked this album but it felt a little disjointed, and not in an endearing Broken Social Scene kind of way but more in a "fuck it let's see what this petal does" way. Not a bad thing but made the listening experience pretty uneven over the course of an hour. Funny enough, the more straightforward songs ended up standing out the most.

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.

To drawn out and distorted on some songs. When not distorted beyond belief there are some fun songs

The softness of the lyrics doesn't hit with me, but the instrumentals are a mix of soft rock and almost grunge.

Very interesting, will listen again

1/5. I don't know what it is about shoegaze but it just isn't for me. The mix of quiet vocals and sudden bursts of sound feels so jarring, and the high pitched feedback doesn't help either. This honestly just hurt to listen to. Even the slow songs without loud sounds was just boring. Maybe I'm getting old but this was not enjoyable, I don't even remember most of the songs, I was just annoyed and waiting for it to be over.

Their songs are weird in a bad way, like they are trying to fail. There could be a good, melodic album here if not for the added sounds and shrieks.

For Shoegaze this was better than I expected.

On ressort de cet album avec une réelle impression de s'être fait shoegazer la gueule, ce qui n'est pas nécessairement une mauvaise chose. Par souci d'objectivité je suis malheureusement obligé d'enlever une étoile par rapport à la note que j'aurais accordée en temps normal, l'album précédent étant Kollaps d'Einstürzende Neubauten.

Les Beatles pas en super forme aujourd'hui, j'espère qu'ils ne nous couvent rien de grave,

Meh. Thought the music was pretty ordinary and the lyrics weren't captivating.

Haven’t heard of them - Pop album from 1993. Not bad, not great. 3.

Excelente me recordó a mi época de estudiante

Some good songs. Not impressed.

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!

Det är var en typisk sån skiva som växte på mig efter ett par lyssningar. 2-3 låtar sticker ut och är riktigt bra. Den här skivan hade helt klart tjänat på att kortas ned med runt en tredjedel och då hade det blivit ett högre betyg, men nu landar den på en stark trea. Dock hade den behövt kortats ned med åtminstone en tredjedel för att nå ett högre betyg. 2-3 låtar är riktigt bra, men tyvärr är

Nice surprise! Really like the trumpet and reggae parts that pop up over the droning guitars, def listen again!

no es mi rollo pero alguna estaba bn

I just don't get Shoegaze, and I don't remember the early 1990s being that depressing.

booooring

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

Perhaps not as giant a step as the title would have you believe. Still, an alright listen.

Definitely one of the albums on this list that isn't good or memorable, but really nails the vibe of a certain point in time. It's got this DIY edginess that's very evocative of '90s alternative, but doesnt really do muck for me bsides give a hit of nostalgia.

I'm a bit surprised that I haven't listened to these guys before. Good writing and musicianship. Not really a fan of the genre but didn't find this unlistenable.

I liked it! Fun!

Nicht meine Richtung

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.

Too indie for my taste.

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

I’m a bit mixed on this one. Some songs are actually very good, but they usually have certain elements that ruin them for me. Lots of highs and lows, pretty average album. There’s one song I have to mention, although it’s not on my top 3, the closing track “The White Noise Revisited”. It’s got such an amazing ending, a perfect closer. But the first half is just so weird and off-putting that I can’t consider it one of my favourites. But it deserves a mention here anyway. 6/10 Top 3: 1. I’ve Lost the Reason 2. If You Want It, Take It 3. I Hang Suspended

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 wanna give 2.5

Fun, light, not very complex. A few of the riffs grabbed me at times but overall did not pique much interest in my brain.

Play Wake Up Boo! Wait, what? Different album. Not very good

Just okay, but I wanted this to be over so I could listen to something else

ive listened to this before, but it sounds kinda all over the place although good. theres a mix o 90s genres here, sounding kinda beatles even sometimes. nothing that catchy tho

These guys have great sense for melodic songwriting, if this was shorter and more focused it would really be something! I appreciate the use of wind instruments too

Inte så dåligt som jag var rädd att de sku va men lite långt nog. Fricka rätt heavy me flera låtar dock.

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.

Prima 2/5

Wish I Was Skinny Lazarus

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

3/5. The clear cut best song for me was Lazarus, while some songs just made no sense nor added any value to the album. Very interesting blend of music.

Sometimes beautiful and reminiscent of the Beatles, sometimes kinda empty and immitative of its era... Or maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance

I love this 4

Interesting sound. ENjoyed the album throughout.

My Bloody Valentine meets Head on the Door era Cure and take-your-pick of mid 90s alt-pop bands. Not bad, but not particularly memorable.

A totally fine and adequate album. Can hear the Beatles influence. Did they have to go so heavy on the effects, especially on the vocals though?

Cool album. Loved the shout out to Lenny Bruce

Mmm

This is one of those albums that I ended not really knowing what to think. It's eclectic, which meant there were some elements I disliked and some I liked, which leaves me conflicted. I think it got better as it went on, so I'm gonna give it a three. My favourite song was I've Lost The Reason, I think.

Another one of those ADHD albums where they threw together every single genre popular at the time into one album. Not the best thing ever made, but surprisingly coherent and not boring. I don't think I'll ever listen to the entire hour-long album again, but there were some playlist-worthy songs here, like "Lazarus".

Definitely my kind of sound.

Enjoyed this surprisingly, some psychedelic sounds in there

2/5 - was okay

I thought I knew the boo radleys but this sounds completely different to the stuff I've heard previously. The songs jump from genre to genre but they're all great, Lazarus was a late highlight. Not sure whether to be impressed that they pumped so many genres into an album or complain about the whiplash. Low 3.

Exciting. Groundbreaking Innovative Scintillating Trailblazing These are all words that don’t come to mind to describe this album. Perfectly pleasant Fine Love their name Beats me why it’s on this list That’s what comes to mind. I did really like Wake Up Boo, but it’s not even on this album.

This was an interesting album — first time I heard of the band. I thought the songwriting was inventive, I'd say the band has staked its own territory, and good on them for it. That does work both ways, though, as one listen isn't enough to really get my brain wrapped around the songs, and as they ping-pong around a bit in terms of style, I was at a solid 3.5 and wondering whether to bump it up or down. That was ultimately determined by the old mid-90s curse of putting too many tracks on the album. The last four songs seemed imminently less excellent than the 13 that preceded them, so that suppressed the rating. They're better than a 3, but that's all I got.

i had the hardest time getting into this one. I think the mix was really throwing me off. Also, it sounded very disjointed. but by the end, it was starting to click. I even went back and re-listened to a few tracks and songs that i had previously struggled with started making more sense. so perhaps this would creep up to a four for me if I revisited it at a later date, but I'm unsure when that might be. Anyway, i was glad to have checked this out, even if i wasn't in the right frame of mind for it.

I listened to this without reading the song list or being familiar with the band. Some songs blew me away and other songs were like huh? I'll likely revisit this with more attention paid to what I was hearing.

Fine album. Great guitar work.

Favorite Song: Wish I Was Skinny A very solid album overall. 3.6/5

listened 2x, not really my thing 2.4

Liked this, it was catchy!

Not hugely into this, but suspect it's a grower. Favourite tracks: Butterfly McQueen, The White Noise Revisited

For '93, this sounds like a very ambitious album. I kind of like shoegazey music but in small doses. After reading up on this band, they were primarily a shoegaze band but for this album they wanted to expand their sound. And I think they achieved what they wanted because there are some really cool elements introduced. The vocalists, I assume it's just one vocalist, his voice often changes, at times it was similar to Billy Joel Armstrong, and at other times it sounded like Chester Bennington's soft vocals. His voice was pretty great throughout the record. His lyrics were... Meh. I can't help but be disappointed when good singers don't have good lyrics. It feels like talent is wasted. On the flip side, I appreciate a bad singer with good lyrics to the other. Artists like Daniel Johnston, for example... Which may be me just being picky.. But I can be. Just like you can too! Music was pretty great. This album sounds good too. I appreciate a well produced record. Apparently a 30 year anniversary of this record is coming this year? I'd like to see a comparison of each. Maybe I'd give that re-release a go. Overall, a good album. Not soemthing I'd pull out and be excited to show someone it.. But a good listen.

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.

Points for eclecticism, but this one’s a bit more “Boo” than “Rad” for me.

Interesting. Punky at times, Beatles-ish at times, Pink Floyd-ish at times. Not bad.

Calling this mediocre might be generous.

Kinda long but not bad. 3.5 stars

For some reason I expected something better than this.

A bit long to keep me fully engaged, and while some of the stylings are not my favourite, this seems like a pretty strong record through and through and if I was more inclined to this vibe it might be a favourite. Three and a half. Fave track: Best Lose the Fear

Fine music, at times pretty interesting, but I really don’t think this stuck with me much. Don’t think it’ll be on my rotation again. Fave track: Wish I Was Skinny

So bad.

It’s kind of fun and impressive because it feels like listening to a kind of boring 90s radio station with the mishmashing and all, but even then you’re still listening to a kind of boring 90s radio station.

Should I expect to see Treble Charger on this list?

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

Fuzzy, loud/quiet music that didn’t really excite.

Run My Way Runway by itself lost this album a star. Other than that it was not good

90a alt rock ska vibe

well. I don't really know what this was.

Pick a lane guys. It's not bad, but not great either. And a 1 hour album to boot. What is with the author of this book just randomly adding these obscure 90s rock-ish waffles of albums to the 1001 book?

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.

Like a twee pop band with occasional demonic possession by Sonic Youth. And not in a good way. Their inspirations and shout-outs seemed completely random (Butterfly McQueen?) and the cuts and insertions distracted from otherwise competent (if not overly memorable) songwriting. Is this on the list of 1001 Things Not to do in the Studio?

Ok.

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.

did not really listen bc was busy but the couple songs I listened to were meh lots of brit rock on this list survived first purge day, also submitted umich, rutgers, twin cities for EA!

Cooler alt Rock, höre ich gerne wieder mal rein

There is so much going on in this album, it is hard to narrow down just what this album is...this is part indie rock, part Britpop, part shoegaze, part psychedelic, with a little country, reggae, noise pop and orchestral in there. Standouts: Upon 9th and Fairchild, Leaves and Sand, Barney (...and Me), Lazarus

Another middle of the road Britpop album? And it's an hour long? Great, throw it in the book. Can't have too few of those can we now? Just another run of the mill album. Nothing special. Not bad. Too long like all 90s Britpop crap

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

The first song was really good, but the rest was kinda meh

3-