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When I Was Born For The 7th Time

Cornershop

1997
When I Was Born For The 7th Time
Album Summary

When I Was Born for the 7th Time is the third studio album by the British indie rock band Cornershop, released on 8 September 1997 by Wiiija. The album received high acclaim from music critics and features the international hit single "Brimful of Asha".

Wikipedia

Rating

2.96

Votes

7116
Genres
Pop
Rock

Reviews

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Fri Oct 21 2022
3

I only know the Fatboy Slim remix of \"Brimful of Asha\", which is an absolute banger and one of the top singles of the 90s. I had tried listening to the album version before, and found it uninspiring compared to the more upbeat and energetic remix. So I was not expecting to enjoy this album much. And yet, I find it charming. I like the laid back funkiness of it all, the mixture of English and Punjabi singing, and the way that diverse elements are incorporated into a whole that feels consistent and integrated. I quite like the instrumentals (like Butter the Soul, It's Indian Tobacco My Friend, or State Troopers). Good to Be On the Road Back Home and We're in Your Corner are highlights for me. Could they have trimmed 10-12 minutes off this to make it a really tight 40-odd minutes? That would have suited me, but this is an album that isn't in a hurry so stretching out a little is OK. It doesn't outstay its welcome. Surprisingly enjoyable.

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Thu Oct 08 2020
1

So bland. This is folk rock at its worst -- toneless guitar playing pentatonics, 2 chord songs, emotionless singing. Okay, maybe I'm being a little harsh, but it's not my cup of tea and I'm not really finding anything redeeming.

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Fri Aug 12 2022
4

Funky times are indeed here again, though reconditioned in that distinctly Britpop way that sounds like listening to vinyl through Craig David headphones in a bedroom covered in posters of 60's bands. But for once the nostalgia trip is reinvigorated with purpose. Or at least with personality, which is purpose enough. The playfulness between live and sampled music, and between verbal and non-verbal communication, brings the everyday oddball at the helm to life, even when he's only talking through his record collection.

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Sun Aug 22 2021
3

Je me souviens très bien du jour de la sortie de cet album. J'avais à l'époque deux mois passés et profitais pleinement d'une vie qui totalement dépourvue d'eltrapeze, mon compagnon d'écoute, qui ne naîtra que plus tard.

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Mon Sep 12 2022
2

Nah. Liked the first two, then it just fell off for me and didn’t find anything substantial the rest of the album. 2/5

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Thu May 06 2021
5

This one came out of nowhere and surprised me. It's a british indie rock band. The two founding members are brothers, and are indian. Their music fuses rock, electronica, and indian music to make a sort of amazing blend. I really liked this one

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Mon Feb 15 2021
5

Very good album. Expected to only enjoy brimful of asha but, some very eclectic songs, great variety of sounds and rhythms mixing electronic, bass and Indian instruments to great effect.

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Mon Jun 28 2021
5

This was a really interesting Brit Pop album. Seems to epitomize what Brit Pop was all about, experimentation and making poppy Beatle inflected rock, it also added a hearty serving of the break beat stuff that was getting popular in the 90s in the UK. When it started I was like, “holy shit, the 45 song” but this album was much more. Loved the Indian lyrics and Indian tunes peppered in. This seems representative of the Indian diaspora in London. Where did this band go? Chill sounds, good break beat, classic Indy, multi-genre, even a song that sounded like Devo. And most of all, solid drumming throughout. Great album, multi-genre, experimental, solid, lots of variety, every song was good. Can’t ask for much more. Albums like this are why I’m listening to 1001!

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Fri Sep 24 2021
5

I walked into work this morning with a huge grin on my face after listening to this on my commute. This is what I've been waiting for. It started with an accordion! "Sleep on the Left Side" hooked me right in. "Brimful of Asha" had slipped away from my consciousness in the last 20 years, but was a joyful reunion. Bosom is the best word! The rest is lovely, interesting, fun, and begs to be listened to again and again. Allen Ginsberg!?! Wow! "Good Shit" needs to be my aspirational theme. And I loved the perfect Punjabi "Norwegian Wood." Happy happy!

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Fri Mar 18 2022
5

Indian Trip-hop, this is pretty goddam fantastic

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Fri Feb 19 2021
2

Pretty diverse and funky world music, but i don't really love anything here. Brimful was a song i really didn't like in the late 90's and though it may be the catchiest song on this album, i'm still not a fan.

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Wed Sep 28 2022
2

When will the British realize that smothering things in borrowed Indian flavors doesn't make up for their own boring cuisine?

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Sun Oct 02 2022
2

I heard the word cock in one of the songs and that snapped me awake in the middle of this strange-ass snoozefest that was probably procedurally generated by an AI. So damn weird. It's like seven different albums mashed into eachother.

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Thu Mar 16 2023
2

5 mins in...this is awesome I live this song 20 mins in.....ok this less awesome 30 mins in...I'm done now

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Thu Mar 16 2023
2

I don’t know if you guys heard, but… There’s a brim full of asha on the forty-five. How did it get there? Is it supposed to be there? …also, what is a “brim full of asha”? This record leaves the listener with more questions than answers.

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Fri Jul 09 2021
5

this was so cool and random. each song was completely different and I really enjoyed the range of instrumental songs and the indian influence. awesome !

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Fri May 07 2021
5

An insanely original and timeless sound, blew me the fuck away

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Fri Sep 24 2021
5

Absolutely no clue what I was in for. When the accordion on “Sleep On The Left Side” started I had a pretty good feeling this was going to work out fine. Might this be love at first listen? As “Brimful of Asha” opened I knew this was special. Love this song even though I’m not entirely sure what a Brimful of Asha is. Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow? Hell yeah! The songs get even stranger and more wonderful. “Bitter The Soul” and “Chocolate” are utterly delicious. What colorful, trippy world have I stumbled into? “Funky Days Are Back Again”? I'm ready for a pair of dungaree cords! Turkey gravy? “What Is Happening”?! (Little surprises around every corner but nothing dangerous…don’t be alarmed.) “Good Shit” more than lives up to its name. “Good To Be On the Road Back Home”… how did this country song slide right in so naturally with the rest of the album?! Really love it. They end with an incredible cover of “Norwegian Wood” and totally stuck the landing. From the opening notes to the end this was a transformative listening experience that I will come back to again and again. I feel so much better for having experienced this.

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Fri Sep 24 2021
5

I've never heard of 'em. I'm goin' in! All right! You wanna win me over quickly? Gimme accordion right from the jump! Or is it a harmonium? Either way, I am totally on board. Next song is the "everybody needs a bosom for a pillow" song! I know this one! (After looking it up, I know the Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) remix.) Yes! Love it! Love the trippy groove of We're in Yr Corner and the silliness of Funky Days are Back Again. Appreciate the reminder that, "Good shit's all around, good people." Definitely will listen to this one again and am already looking into their other albums, starting with Judy Sucks on a Lemon for Breakfast, which...is that a clarinet on the title track? Swoon!

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Fri Oct 08 2021
5

Brim full of Asher has a very solid solid place in my heart so I feel a loyalty to cornershop. I am very glad I got an opportunity to hear some of their other stuff properly. I did see them at the Godiva once and they were great but didn't get to properly appreciate the songs. Enjoyed a lot

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Sun Aug 28 2022
5

I've loved this album since the 90s

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Thu Sep 15 2022
5

Indian representation had a fleeting thing in the British music scene since the 60s yet hardly any Indians were making waves that could be considered equals to the groups that were poaching their sounds. That's were Cornership come in. Their 1997 masterstroke When I Was Born for the 7th Time sees them rise up to the now 60s fawning Britpop gauntlet and not only turn it on its head but give it new textures and shapes unmistakable in its originality. They cap it off with a faithful cover of a song that kickstarted the raga influenced craze of decades before. Hopefully people would familiarize themselves with this album when they get ahold of it, it's worth it. It'll make you feel born for the 7th time.

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Wed Nov 02 2022
5

LOVE IT, Brimful of Asha closing credits theme version

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Sun Mar 05 2023
5

I love this album. Saw them at Glasto 1997 in the new bands tent.

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Thu Mar 16 2023
5

Fuck me this was such an amazing album

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Thu Mar 23 2023
5

Je me suis prit a vraiment a8me ca, meme que j’ai reecoute, je vais mettre un 5 meme si c’est peut etre 4.85

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Tue Jun 06 2023
5

Wow complete surprise, anything that can go from vinyl scratching to sitars has my attention. first two songs great bangers, then it's very Indian but it's cool it's so clearly loves this part of the band's heritage. more experimental in the last third, got me thinking and enjoying more than the last 100 albums so it's a 5.

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Sun Sep 03 2023
5

Shhhhhiiiiiiiitttt this was cool. When I saw it was *another* "English Indie" band I was very apprehensive, but this is so fresh and original and unique. I loved the blending of rock, pop, hip hop, and classic Indian sounds. I'm more inclined toward Side B of the record, with more chill hip hop sounds, but really this whole thing is great. I'm 963 albums into this goofy journey and there are STILL nuggets of gold to find. This is what keeps me coming back to wade through all the crappy Post Punk bs

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Sun Sep 03 2023
5

Absolutely loved this. Brimful of Asha has been on rotation in my playlists for sometime but I never checked out the album. Great late 90s Brit scene tunes with culture. Saved to albums and would absolutely pick up a vinyl if I spot it

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Thu Sep 24 2020
4

I can honestly say I have never heard anything like this. Such a unique and creative album, and the eclectic mix of styles actually works pretty well.

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Thu Jan 21 2021
4

Cool album that I hadn't heard before. Bit disjointed switching between the more typical 90s electronic (albeit with the Indian influence), and some classic indie pop tunes like Brimful of Asha. Still, I enjoyed this one.

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Sun Jan 31 2021
4

i really enjoyed this album, it was a 90's brit band i had never heard of, with some insanely chill beats to game to, and found myself adding some songs to work playlists

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Thu May 27 2021
4

Great 90s rock. Brimful of Asha is a great song.

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Fri Feb 26 2021
4

Had no idea about this album. It was very hit-or-miss, but overall enjoyable!

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Wed Jan 20 2021
4

kurwa dzień dobry, zajebisty indie rock ten album brzmi jakby THE SMITHS i THE JESUS AND THE MARY CHAIN mieli dziecko I to dziecko po separacji rodzicielskiej wychowywało się z wujkiem GEORGEM HARRISONEM bo czuć tam indyjskie instrumenty etniczne

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Mon Apr 26 2021
4

Meer dan twintig jaar geleden heb ik Cornershop gezien op een festival. Het heeft toen niet echt indruk gemaakt. Nu vond ik het erg leuk. Gevarieerd met Oosterse invloeden.

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Mon Jun 28 2021
4

Without a doubt, one of the most delightful experiences grilling chicken thighs. We grill chicken thighs in bulk, sometimes up to a dozen at a time, and save them for convenient eating throughout the week. You can do a lot with pre-grilled chicken thighs. Spice em up. Roll em in a tortilla. Cube em and salad em. Gyro em. Curry em. Consistent, tasty opportunities to easily blend diverse influences onto a protein with mass appeal. Floats on through the body and comes out clean. A-

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Mon Jun 07 2021
4

interesting and eclectic 90s rock. funky rock mixed with music from the subcontinent. felt like it drug a bit in the middle but the beginning and ending were memorable

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Thu Mar 18 2021
4

Sleep on the Left Side! Conhecia 3 musicas desse album e nao fazia ideia de quem eram esses caras.

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Fri May 21 2021
4

Wicked. So much late-90s sample heavy goodness. After only knowing the Norman Cook remix of Brimful of Asha this was an awesome and welcome surprise.

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Thu May 13 2021
4

Zanie work out stoners. Pretty enjoyable listen, nice one to get spaced out to

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Tue Jun 22 2021
4

Pretty neat... uhm, I dunno what to call it really, but it's good!

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Thu Jul 29 2021
4

Dig the chill down tempo vibe. Unique and very friendly/comfy sound.

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Thu Jul 29 2021
4

I liked this, it's strange and goofy in all the right ways. I like the richness of his voice, it reminds me of Robert Pollard. A couple duds on the album but overall strong, and turned me on to a band I didn't know anything about before.

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Fri Aug 27 2021
4

Eat your hearts out, British impresarios: Here's how to actually-pleasantly combine "world"-or-what-have-you with British pop. It comes at the expense of textural depth at the front, and Singh's voice is so laid-back that it's impossible to hear it as punk. However, there's clear layering in the rhythm, clearest on the instrumental tracks: Hip-hop that's danceable and works with guitar music is hard to integrate, but it fits here without sounding at all forced. Funky. There are quite a few spots that I think would be improved by more dynamic recording or more interesting sequencing, but the toe-tapping and sheer density of music (with a taste of country, even!) convinced me of my opinion. I had already bookmarked several more of the band's recordings.

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Tue Sep 07 2021
4

I love this! It's an extremely unique, trippy, and creative album!

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Fri Oct 08 2021
4

Great album. I really like Cornershop. Often seen as a one hit wonder but they have such an individual sound and still bashing out great albums today

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Sun Oct 17 2021
4

The album of the day the day my mother passed away. Pretty chill vibes & groove overall.

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Sun Nov 21 2021
4

The only thing that let this album down was the main single, Brimful of Asha getting treated like a novelty song after the Norman Cook remix. The album is full or really interesting sound excursions, sitting somewhere inbetween an indie, big beat and Trip Hop while having its own unique sound. I remember finding the album really refreshing in the post Britpop malaise

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Sun Dec 05 2021
4

Late 90's indie rock - jangly guitars, muddy hip hop style beats. Maybe a few too many instrumentals slow the album down however, like everyone's local cornershop, it's well worth checking out. Best Tracks: Sleep on the Left Side; Brimful of Asha; Funky Days are Back Again

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Wed Jan 12 2022
4

Really interesting album that blends a lot of interesting elements. Looking forward to exploring more of this artist's work.

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Sun Feb 20 2022
4

This is a fine album mixing really great pop songs; Brimful of Asha, Sleep on the Left Side and Good to Be on the Road Back Home, in a really fluid listen. I really like their integration of Hindi language lyrics, gives it an qir of the exotic. Great stuff 4 🌟

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Thu Mar 31 2022
4

I was really expecting not to like this album but, surprise surprise, it was actually really enjoyable. Brimful of Asha was great of course. Some of it was a bit weird and seemed like filler, and maybe it went on a little too long, but overall an enjoyable listen!

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Fri Apr 22 2022
4

Good cover of Norwegian Wood. Fun. (3.7)

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Fri Apr 22 2022
4

A bit overlong, but still an interesting album. It has more in common with Beastie Boys/Money Mark than their Britpop neighbours.

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Wed Jun 08 2022
4

An album from my youth but one that I hadn't revisited for a very long time. I'm giving it a four, but mostly for the memories.

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Mon Jul 04 2022
4

I liked the mix of genres and song styles!

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Thu Jul 21 2022
4

I'm not entirely sure what I was listening to? But it was fun either way. I enjoyed the different song styles they'd weave into the album and it kept you guessing!

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Fri Oct 21 2022
4

Was there a better single released in the 90’s than Brimful Of Asha? I fell in love with it on the very first listen. And I feel the same way about this album. From the opening moments (Sleep On The Left Side) when you hear something that sounds like a piano accordion but probably isn’t, the soundscape here is intriguing. As with the instrumental Butter The Soul, which sounds like somebody whistling while trying to tune a radio. Great to hear Ginsberg on When The Light Appears Boy (he died 6 months before this album was released). His life was greatly influenced by Indian culture. Really enjoyed the duet with Paula Fraser (Good To Be On The Road Back) & the rapping by Justin Warfield on Candyman. And for me the great thing about the version of Norwegian Wood is that it reminds me of the cheesy cover of that song by The Folkswingers (sitar & all). I love this album.

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Fri Oct 21 2022
4

Now here's something really interesting, various flavours of Indian-English cultural fusion and cultural commentary, frequently funky and generally very chill. I recently got into Garaj Mahal (jazz-rock-funk-Indian fusion) and love them; I wonder if they'd cite Cornershop as influence. I enjoyed this album, though not as much as G.M. That said, I have already started looking into their other records, and I *might* come back to this one ahead of those. Solid 3.5 stars, maybe even 4?

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Fri Oct 21 2022
4

A really excellent and varied album.

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Mon Oct 31 2022
4

Hard to judge this album because it's so variable. But in the end the positive surprises are in majority.

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Wed Nov 02 2022
4

Original and interesting, still sounds good to me.

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Sun Nov 06 2022
4

It's rare to hear something after 1990 that is wholly original and also enjoyable. I really liked this a lot, and need to listen to it some more. 4 stars.

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Fri Nov 11 2022
4

Really liked this a lot! The instrumentals were awesome, and the vocals were pretty decent too. Interesting album all around. Favorite track: We're in Yr Corner

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Wed Dec 14 2022
4

Fun Anglo-Punjabi fusion, brilliantly bouncy and quirky. Everyone needs a bosom for a pillow!

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Thu Jan 05 2023
4

I wasn't overly excited about another British pop\punk album - but I really enjoyed this one. It's definitely everything I love about 90s music, but with some obvious and interesting cultural and world-music influences that makes it unique. "Cool Shit" was immediately added to my Summer BBQ playlist and was a standout track for me. But, it was all good.

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Mon Jan 16 2023
4

I enjoyed the seamless inclusion of English and Punjabi

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Wed Jan 18 2023
4

Very clear memory of a period where Brimful of Asha was dominating video and radio airplay. A fun and excellent album, though it gets into self-indulgent instrumental dicking around a couple times.

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Mon Jan 23 2023
4

So strange yet so catchy and easy to listen to. It has an almost Ween like ability to blend and hop between genres. A super fun listen.

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Thu Jan 26 2023
4

Pretty cool! “Good To Be On The Road Back Home” is a banger, and the Punjabi cover of “Norwegian Wood” is sick. Wild to think this is one of the last things Allen Ginsberg was part of.

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Fri Feb 17 2023
4

I recently revisited this album and really enjoyed it! Looking forward to listening to it again! Love that it starts off with a mixture of so many sounds! Really great way to introduce your band and their sound! I thought Brimful of Asha was a massive pop hit but I don't think that's the case! Perception plays a big part of reviewing these albums! Love the instrumental interludes! Overall this record has a lot going on and it all works really well together!

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Mon Mar 27 2023
4

Makes for chill background music. I like how they mix traditional Indian elements into a pop/R&B/hip hop framework. The nonsense lyrics are fun.

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Wed Apr 12 2023
4

very quirky pop/Indian sound fusion.

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Fri Apr 28 2023
4

Funky times are indeed here again. So easy to get caught up in the bore of Cool Britannica and forget that Britpop did actually yield some cool sounds that today feel retro rather than dated. Got on great with this.

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Wed May 17 2023
4

I still remember getting a sampler CD with “Good Ships” on it when I was in high school. And of course, “Brimful of Asha” was my jam around the same time.

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Fri May 19 2023
4

I should listen to more. Non traditional rock elements are seemless and interesting

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Fri May 26 2023
4

The only thing you can be certain of is that you're never truly sure where it's going to go. It's great in spots, but fades into the background in others. Indie, trip-hop, and even some heavy Indian influences. Very cool. Favorite tracks: "Sleep On the Left Side", "We're In Yr Corner"

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Sun Jun 04 2023
4

Really nice listen, loved the use of the sitar. Great complete album.

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Mon Jun 12 2023
4

Quite a fun listed! I'm more familiar with their later “Handcream for a Generation” album. "Brimful of Asha" was frickin' inescapable for a while so I wasn't looking forward to hearing it, but actually this album version was alright - I guess it was a sped up dance remix that got horribly overplayed for a few years. Fave track - "We're In Yr Corner" was excellent. Also enjoyed their "Norwegian Wood" cover....

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Tue Jun 13 2023
4

I have to bump this up due to Dan the Automator producing it. And the first two songs on here are infinitely replayable. It didn’t bump to a 5 for me though because I didn’t always enjoy the instrumental tracks and wanted more of the first two.

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Fri Jun 23 2023
4

22nd June 2023 Listened on the Friday not Thursday while working from home. Saw Ben and Nilisha after work Thursday evening which was great. A cool mix of hazy instrumental, dancing indie and a classic in Asha. Sound a bit like Indian Eels.

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Tue Jul 11 2023
4

Raga rock. Un megahit. Me ha gustado. Un 4.

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