When I Was Born For The 7th Time

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

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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

The Velvets-chug of Good to be on the Road caught me; the rest is not unpleasant, one of the better takes of the oafish rock-hip hop fusion whatevs that consumed the time, possibly because Cornership started weird, and kept enough weirdness to stay interesting. Much of this bumbled over me, rarely beckoning my ear. I even missed Allen Ginsberg, until he said “big hard cock”, and even then I immediately tuned back out, not realising it was him. Sorry, Allen! Candyman has stick, though. Final thought: currently the most popular review of this album makes a crack about covering British food with “borrowed Indian flavours”. Cornershop’s main dude is British Asian, from Wolverhampton, and I’m curious as to what kinds of music you’d prefer him to dabble in. Bit of Elgar, perhaps, or music hall? Maybe get some Morris dancing in the mix? You complete nimrod!

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.

Thank you 1,001 albums. My faith in you has been restored. This is why I’m here! Obviously knew the mega hit single (who doesn’t?) so thought at least I’ll enjoy that. But, wow! Loved the start of this album, and then the album mix of ‘Brimful’ absolutely slapped! Not heard that version before and I prefer it. I then hoped that the album wouldn’t drop off as some of these do, but no, the energy just kept coming. Indie guitars, sitars, a bit of scratching and it just had me boogieing all through. The duet with the Doris really worked too (Good to be in the Road Back Hone Again).

Genre defying genus. A glorious mess of fabulously groovy and so very different tunes. When Tjinder and Ben are on their game, there's literally nothing better. And they're on their game here. Now, let's address the (currently) top review: "smothering things in borrowed Indian flavors doesn't make up for their own boring cuisine?". Yeah sure, Cornershop are a product of anglo-India, of course they are. That's the point. It's a mess, a melting pot, a fusion which works because of Tjinder's heritage and outlook. It's just like modern Britain: a glorious mess of cultures and ideas. That's the fucking point of Cornershop - there's nothing "borrowed" here. It's why they burnt photos of Morrissey, campaigned against racism and Brexit, and remain relevant today. It's nothing to do with borrowing flavours; these are the flavours of Britain, whether we like it - and I do - or not. And if you don't, fuck off and watch GB News. You can dislike the music, but insulting the idea for cheap laughs, that's not on. This is a really good album. It's rich and diverse, and a bit weird at times, and challenging and glorious and full of soul and spirit. Just like anglo-Indian food. And that's what makes it fucking amazing. Love this. Hadn't listened to it for a while. Do yourself a favour, and go and listen to their 2009 album Judy sucks a lemon for breakfast, which is even better than this in my view, and at least Something Makes You Feel Like from 2012's Urban Turban album. Glorious. I must listen more often.

I didn't appreciate this album in my youth, and more fool me. It's a brilliant mix of desi pop, indie and hip hop that sounds like nothing else... And I griped that it didn't have the (admittedly near perfect) Fatboy Slim remix on my version 🙄.

Not sure where to start with this one but I absolutely loved it. In fact I think I may have fallen IN love with it. Quite likely the most unique album out of all 1013 I've listened to so far. It's easy to imagine Brimful of Asha as a typical 90s one hit wonder but that is absolutely not the case. An incredibly rich, intricate, diverse and perfectly composed record with Brimful as like some kind of lovely little cherry on top. Followed straight on by Butter for the Soul which is some straight up bottled funk. Same with Funky Days are Back Again which is a particularly good example of this album making me feel all types of weird and wonderful. Full of beauty creating dissocance and off tempo direction changes that leads you (and sometimes gently nudges you) down their garden path. Good ships is a perfect windows down track. Then followed on by Good to Be on the Road Back Home Again which (verified my foray into the Burns-ian Country music scene) is like a perfect country song. "Make way for a lady..." is big goosebump material. So much so I was convinced it must have been a cover of Acuff or Kristofferson - not the case. And then topped off with a Punjabi language Norwegian Wood. It really doesn't get much better than this and is especially reassuring to still be felling this type of thing so far into the journey,

6* - that is my rating, and how many times I listened to this record today. Holy Cats!!!! The mixture of pop, trip-hop, and Indian music was exactly what I needed.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Fuck me this was such an amazing album

quite good

Groovy punjab funky sounds.

Indian Trip-hop, this is pretty goddam fantastic

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.

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!

This was a refreshing change. Much better than I remember when it originally came out.

There's suprisingly quite a few albums on this list that mix traditional music of India with western pop tunes. When I Was Born for The 7th Time is abother example, and as with other cases it's a pretty good record. More traditional pop/rock rhytms with unusual instruments or melodies, and with a quite distinct vocal. And a total tune from 90s - Brimful of Asha. Until this day I had no idea what's that about, or what the actual lyrics are, but the song is pretty good.

No private session needed for Spotify. Loved the couple of hits they had in the 90s from this album, I had listened to this album in the past, but except from the hits nothing stood out to me which is probably why I never went back to it, but it's still a great album.

Pretty solid britpop album

I liked it more than I expected. It has great vibes and contagious rhythm. 3.5/5

I actually bought this with my own money when it came out, although evidently got bored of it before the time came to transfer it to mp3. Listening again - how could I have left this behind? By the 5th track - oh, right, too much Odelay-wannabe meandering to keep the interest up [note - "Butter The Soul" is fantastic]. Yet, it picks up a bit towards the end, and overall was great to hear again. "Sleep On The Left Side" summons fond memories of Mark'n'Lard in the afternoon; "..Asha" is better here in the pre-Fatboy Slim version; "Norwegian Wood" is a diverting listen for my Yank friends (who are incredulous that a UK/Indian band would call themselves "Cornershop"; that's a prime UK/US difference right there). Might love it again until I get bored

Chicken korma for the soul

The good stuff is so good! A lot of kind of boring moments too. This is a tricky one to rate. Incredibly refreshing, however, to hear brit pop with a different perspective other than just white dudes

It takes about 10 seconds to fully appreciate the amazing novelty of pop music being fused with asian rhythms/instrumentation - then it dawns on you, that this example of the genre isn' actually very interesting musically. I didn't like Brimful of Asha in 1997 and I still don't like it now. I much prefer full-on bangra to this insipid hybrid. Occasionally comes close (We're in your corner) but never quite arrives. The problem with 'Funky days..' .is that it just isn't funky. It's just average pop with an Asian twist.

trying too hard to do everything

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.

OK, I admit it - I like the original Brimful of Asha better than the Norman Cook remix. Sorry! I also really like the opener (sleep on the left side), which was their follow-up to their huge number one single. The album tails off a bit, then finishes with an astounding cover.

This album really surprised me as i was only aware of the norman cook remix of brimful of asha before listening.

I had definitely never heard of Cornershop or this album (although maybe I had heard Brimful of Asha somewhere). But I found this album from 1997 refreshing. It sounds like it was made yesterday. The fusion of indie rock with Indian sitar is super unique. I enjoyed this one a lot.

Sign me up! So glad I listened to the album. Brimful of Asha is a fun song but one of those overplayed ones that kind of makes you cringe when you hear it now because you know that loop is in your ahead again even if you turn the song off right away. The rest is so much better!

Cornershop - When I Was Born for the 7th Time The onlything I knew about Cornerhsop or this album was the song "A Brimful of Asha." This song is one of my favorite 90s songs. I just never took time to actually listen to the entire album. Well, I did jus that today and I have to say that it is a really good album. It mixes alternative and Indian music to meld into an amazing sound. Lots of great songs on this album and I'm really glad that I was tasked to listen to it today. 5/5

Wow! I really liked that!

I need to listen to this album more often.

😁cool

I had somehow never heard of this band but very much enjoyed the listen!

I remember being in love with Brimful Of Asha when it was released (I would have been 7 years old). However, being a child, I had no extra thought of wanting to find the album to hear more. Also, as a silly child, I thought I had the lyrics said “Everybody needs a button or a pillow.” Not sure what situation would require a button or a pillow, but it made sense to me at the time. Songs I already knew: Brimful Of Asha Favourites: Brimful Of Asha, Funky Days Are Back Again, Norwegian Wood This album is fantastic. To start, if you’re familiar with the track title of Norwegian Wood, it is indeed a cover of the Beatles song and is a delight. I’ve found through this album listening experience that I tend to really enjoy music from India, and this album has elements of that while still having the Western familiarities that I’m used to, so is a very nice blend for me. I’d be interested to know, what is your preferred Brimful Of Asha? Cornershop or Fatboy Slim?

Incredible sampling album

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

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

LOVE IT, Brimful of Asha closing credits theme version

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.

I've loved this album since the 90s

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

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!

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

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 !

Very cool mixture of different styles and cultures, this is the stuff I enjoy finding on this project.

Enjoyed this more often than not, though it got a bit too wacky at times. Overall a solid listen, especially the uptempo pop work.

me like :)

Very good!

This is beautiful. Ive read some reviews accusing British musicians of appropriating indian music, but this is British Asian music and is authentic to its core. Im not a fan of colonialism, but one of the silver linings is the uk's history of accepting everyone and being better for it. I lived in Yorkshire for 20 years with a strong british asian community that i was very familiar with and this music shows the incredible value of mixing cultures to great something new and better. Cornershop have a really strong discography of quality indie, played through an indian viewpoint, their lyrics tell stories that resonate with vast swathes of the uk population from the last few generations and i think they deserve to be more widely known and held in higher esteem. This album has their big hit which puts it on this list but if you enjoyed this then go back and listen to everything. My favourite is 2011's Cornershop and and the 00 Groove.

Mostly fun up until "Good to Be On the Road Back Home." Had to blow past that one. Brim Full of Asha is a killer pop tune, and I LOVE the heaping scoops of Indian classical. I'll definitely be playing this again, really innovative. Danceable, brings in some Dub style production. Has some really good heaviness to it, a good sense of humor (sorry: "humour"), surprising sound design, and moves at a nice tempo. Lots of variety.

Catchy

Never heard the whole album. I really enjoyed it.

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

Pretty interesting and unique. This was fun to listen to but I probably wouldn't put it into my regular rotation. The blend of western and South Asian music is really well done, and Brimful of Asha is a classic

Like 99% of the world, I only knew one Cornershop song. This was a pleasantly surprising listen.

Loved this album. Brimful of Asha was awesome but I never knew the band. Great chill rock grooves. Sweet Indian vibes. This is a perfect example of why I did this!

3-4 Brimful of asha

Sweet and swinging. Original, though obviously a blend of things, and entertaining, especially for Indophiles and most particularly for Anglo-Indophiles. Four or five first-rate cuts and the all-time line "everybody needs a bosom for a pillow."

Some seriously funky Bhangra beats here fused with mid 90s indie energy. And, like a lot of 90s music, sounds somewhat dated now. Still well worth a listen though

Groovy

So many amazing songs what a great album, another example of mid 90's excellence / brilliance

I like this, 90s alternative but with some really creative influences!

I really dig this. Will totally listen again and seek out their other music.

An incredible slice of a collision of worlds. Indian and 90’s dance. Mesmerizing!

Quite charming

At first I was like… ok another British indie band on the list… then I recognize that Brimful of Asha from the popular remix but I never listened to these guys. It’s actually really fun and interesting, the mix of instruments and style! I dig it. 4/5

This album is so good!!

Day187 - very enjoyable. what a great album title. there’s 3 or 4 really fun songs on here

Didn’t know this band. Music thoroughly enjoyable. A few pieces were a bit long. Some unusual pierces. Easy to listen to.

4/5 - that was surprisingly fun

Put me in a good mood. I was humming "Brimful of Asha" for a long time afterwards.

This was pretty enjoyable! There was a good amount of variety on this album, and I liked the "Norweigan Wood" cover. I had never heard of Cornershop and did not know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Another one that I think is totally new to me that I'm glad I found through the project. I will have to try to remember to listen to some of their other work, these didn't all hit for me and it was maybe more of a 3.5 but it can have the extra half-star for being a nice little treat dug up by the generator.

This caught me off-guard. The description of "late 90's indie rock" had me worried. It was pretty cool!

Great album

Everyone will remember Cornershop for Brimful of Asha but I did a little more digging back in the day so I remember this album and it is a brilliant, colourful cocktail of indie rock and electronica with its British Indian influences worn very proudly throughout. It was a joy to revisit and has held up extremely well.

I'm not quite sure what a Brimful of Asha is, but I will agree that everybody needs a bosom for a pillow. I liked this one! It's a really out-there, but still grounded blend of electronica, folk rock and Indian influences that make for a neat little record. I think it loses a bit of momentum about halfway through (Candyman rips though), but it's certainly something we didn't get a lot of back in 97.

Wonderful stuff.

This is really fun! Love the mash-ups of genres and cultural influences.

What a very unique record. I love the diversity and experimentation that it carries. Funky riffs, trippy scratches, psychedelic sounds and samples compiled together to make a spaced-out beat. This record is right up my alley. Had never heard of this group but I’m definitely a fan now.

01) Sleep On The Left Side - 8,5 02) Brimful Of Asha - 9,5 03) Butter the Soul - 8,5 04) Chocolat - 7,0 05) We're in Yr Corner - 8,0 06) Funky Days Are Back Again - 7,0 07) What Is Happening? - 7,5 08) When the Light Appears Boy - 6,0 09) Coming Up - 6,5 10) Good Shit - 7,5 11) Good to Be on the Road Back Home - 7,5 12) It's Indian Tobacco My Friend - 7,0 13) Candyman - 7,5 14) State Troopers - 7,5 15) Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) - 8,0 TOTAL: 7,57 (76/100) Current ranking: 99/187 Honestly, I thought I would only like the first two songs because I knew them, and I didn't have too many expectations for the others. And then a bunch of interesting things with an Indian flair followed. Some more and some less impressive, but nevertheless very interesting.

First grill sesh of the summer, bopping to this while I watch the sunset and tend to some chicken thighs that are destined for a gourmet makes yinzer salad (leftover fries are crisping up). The wine is good and there's a brimful of Asha on the 45.

Chille cover band

3.5 stars. Pretty enjoyable 90's indie rock album. Weird interludes. Standout is the catchy and memorable "Brimful of Asha". "Good Ships" and their "Norwegian Wood" cover also good.

Pleasant but a bit boring I found. Brim full.. is a great song but was so overplayed at the time of release that it irritates me still.

cornershop massive represent even if i dont fw them heavy only 4 stars because of bias