New Wave

I am 1/3 of the way through this list. There has been no Pearl Jam, no Snoop Dogg, no Alice in Chains, no Soundgarden, no Stone Temple Pilots, no Tool and yet I have to stomach third-tier BritPop garbage that sounds like Blur on clonazepam? No, man, no.

- I really liked the Auteurs. Am I gay? - Yes, but for other reasons.

Top 5 alternative and indie rock records from 1993 which are excluded from this list that you should listen to instead of this album: 1. Yo La Tengo - Painful 2. Stereolab - Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements 3. Archers of Loaf - Icky Mettle 4. Guided By Voices - Vampire on Titus 5. Dinosaur Jr - Where You Been?

Not cool enough to be pixies. Not bare enough to be pavement. Just a bit drab. Like a quite good high school band.

This was fine. It was okay. It'll do. Like how Chole described Franz Ferdinand as 'landfill indie', this is 'landfill 90s alt-rock'

At first listen, I thought this was solidly two stars; pretty standard lackluster, uninspired, typically boring mediocre indie-filler band, but not hateful. The songwriting is mediocre at best, the playing is barely average, it's poorly recorded, and Luke Haines is a pretty shit singer. This was just forgettable proto-Britpop, overhyped at the time by the UK music weeklies (NME is especially to blame, I reckon) beyond what the actual music itself could bear. The band was runner up for the Mercury Prize (itself a marker of over-praised UK rubbish), squeezed out a few more albums and effectively disappeared, left behind by their Britpop contemporaries. A sad case of 'nearly was'. And then I started reading about Luke Haines, and I realised that I suddenly knew who this guy was. He is the pretentious bore at the party, with his slightly thinning hair and shirt unbuttoned to the waist, droning on about how great his band is (although, truth be told, he's the singer and guitarist and songwriting, so it's really all his vision), and their material is really meaningful and intelligent, not like most music these days, you know? You should really come and see us, we're playing at a dingy pub down the road on Thursday, and it'll be really amazing, you should come, Yeah, I will have another glass, thanks mate. But what was I talking about? Yeah, I'm really influenced by Rimbaud and Leonard Cohen, but I think really pick up where they left off, because they didn't really follow through on their ideas, and I really want to push the limits of what music can do, you know what I mean? Heaven forbid you actually go to the gig, because it's 8 people standing around the pub, including the band's girlfriends standing down the front trying to dance while the rest of us sip our beers and feign interest in the boring mid-tempo indie rock the band is playing, while Mr Songwriting-Genius complains about needing more vocals in his foldback. So, the generic type of pretentious git is bad enough, but Luke Haines appears to have been cursed with a fortnight of accolades, which never turned into the world-conquering success his simultaneously craved and spurned. As a result, he appears to have become twisted into a bitter, spiteful, angry, self-absorbed, troll. Pitchfork described him as "a songwriter whose shtick involves both unflagging self-admiration and utter contempt for labels, marketing, colleagues and fans." I started reading his autobiography ('Bad Vibes; Britpop and My Part in its Downfall'). He claims to be a recovering narcissist, but I really don't think he is over it (point of evidence: the album title 'Das Capital: The Songwriting Genius of Luke Haines and the Auteurs'). It's a perversely fascinating read of how much a brush with fame and subsequent failure can create ongoing challenges for a moderately-talented egotist, who loves to bite the hands that might feed him (record labels, fans, press, bandmates, anyone who could potentially help him). I return to the eternal question of how much to conflate the artist and the art. In this case, the artist is a hateful troll and the art is blandly mediocre. Hence, I consign the Auteurs to the 1 star bin.

Gotta be honest. I had never heard of this album or this band. This is a great album. It sounds like if Oasis had the creative sensibilities of Stephen Malkmus. Gritty, somewhat dark 90’s alt/brit rock. Good stuff.

I've had enough britpop for one lifetime tysm

On the first listen, I really didn't like most of the LP. I liked the  first track but then they lost me for a while but I also liked the last three tunes.  This was somewhat bizarre since the  Spotify numbers show that nobody ever listens to (read likes) those last three tracks.  I thought I should listen  to it again and the second time through most of the songs from the dreaded middle section of the LP were OK. It kinda grew on me -kinda the way you start liking the jingle in a McDonald's commercial.  Perhaps I  was thrown by the name "New Wave" and was expecting something else. 

Britpop at its most pretentious and mind-numbingly dry. If nasal whisper-singing and repetitive albeit poetic intellectual pop is your thing then this is it. The antithesis of old school, steamy soul, I suppose. In one word: boring.

I love this album but I can see why others might not. It’s eccentric and peculiarly British. The lyrics are intelligent, biting, sarcastic and witty. Luke Haines is a national treasure. He rubbed up people the wrong way, refused to play the game, and was, presumably, ostracised for it. He had success, although perhaps not the recognition he deserved. His book is a riot, as is his twitter feed. This album is one of his best and is a forgotten 90s classic

If you like the beatles but shittier in every way this album is for you.

The epitome of bland. It kind of felt like eating a plain, unsalted cracker. And can you imagine giving yourself this name? Ugh.

Great album and great that the Auteurs are included in the list. Always felt that - together with Pulp and Suede- they were playing in a different league during Britpop, both in terms of songwriting and lyrics. The successor Now I'm a Cowboy is even better.

Dynamically inventive, dark prototype of Britpop - and I love it. A perfect blend of catchy pop melodies and a wide variety of sounds (glockenspiel anyone?).

This is a great discovery. It's an interesting varied album. Vocally it's quite mellow and reminds me of The Monkees contrasted with some power pop (love the guitar sound). Some of the songs are quite moody ('Show Girl', Bailed Out') whereas others have a whimsical late sixties baroque-pop feel ('Junk Shop Clothes', 'Starstruck', 'Housebreaker', 'Valet Parking') with some musical colour from instruments like harpsichord, strings, celeste, piano, mouth harp. Others like 'How Can I Be Strong' have a heavier psychedelic edge. The lyrics are probably the weakest element but there's some nice melodies and arrangements to compensate. It's a bit of a quirky left field album ("critics favorite") and quite tellingly I was the only one in my group to give it a high rating. All in all, this is a very enjoyable album to play on spring afternoon, so I will definitely play it again when the weather is nicer than today!

Woaaah, what a gem this was. Never heard of them previously, but this is some brilliant stuff. Not far off from bands like Suede, and more specifically the album Dog Man Star.

In spite of arriving amid the Britpop boom of the early-mid 90s, this record has the feel of a lost classic. I can imagine how this might get lumped into that category at a superficial level, but the details and approach make me feel like those associations are more a coincidence of when this was released than an indication this was part of a scene. I'm hearing some Robyn Hitchcock in the melodic instincts, intricate arrangement, and sneering vocals. Nice variety between the more acoustic and fuzzy numbers on this one. Overall, I really enjoyed this introduction to a new (to me) artist. Favourite songs: "Don't Trust the Stars", "Valet Parking", and "Show Girl"

I don’t know... it was okay. But I feel like I’ve heard that record a thousand times before from other bands.

innocuous British pop. not actually new wave music. not actually auteurs. but it's fine.

Similar to how I feel about vapor air when it touches my skin, it's pleasant but fades all too quickly.

Never heard of this group before. Man there was a lot of solid Brit Pop coming out of the scene. It's inevitable that albums will slip through the cracks. This would have been something I was listening to back then. Starting my third listen and this keeps getting better. It's a grower.

Brilliant proto-britpop, which I would have adored at the time if I had been a year or two older. Not quite sure why they didn't kick on from there, as this is better than anything Blur or Oasis were doing at the same time. But they didn't build on it, and by the time I was buying music papers each week, Luke had become a bit of a lost hero and/or a bit of a punchline whenever someone was getting (over-)excited about a new band. Tl;Dr - a great (lost?) album from the start of a genre that means a lot to me. Sounds like Suede, Nirvana and Blur fell in a melting pot - in a good way.

I know there exists a 5-star Auteurs compilation - I got it from my friend back in the nineties. This particular record is strong as well but does not keep the high level throughout.

Hidden gem! I’d never heard of this, prepared myself for the worst, and then found myself playing it on repeat. Will I remember it exists in a month? Not too sure. (ntm.) (PS Update: Totally forgot it existed)

It's easy to see why a certain British music magazine lumped in The Auteurs with an emergent scene back in the early 90s, for on New Wave they exemplify the kind of intelligent, not overtly referential compositions that was a tad bit lacking in British rock. The Auteurs, as time would go on, would only get a little more fascinating after this. Favorites: Show Girl, American Guitars, Don't Trust the Stars, Starstruck, How Could I Be Wrong, Idiot Brother, Home Again.

I heard 'Showgirl' on The Chart Show (remember that?) At the time, my natural music buying habitat was Woolworths. To be fair, they did usually carry the top 100 albums. New Wave was not, and so they did not. Neither did Our Price. (There were two on Wood Green High St. I never quite understood why. But that's not the point. Imagine two record shops on a suburban high street.) Back then, discovering new music involved (1) listening to the radio, (2) hanging round the record shops on Berwick Street and being nice to the chaps (they were always chaps) behind the counter if you heard something nice, (3) reading a review in the NME or Q, liking what was promised and buying (metaphorically) sight unseen. A few years later, Virgin on Piccadilly Circus put in a load of digital listening stations. You scanned the barcode and got 30 seconds of each song on the album, (from 15 to 45 seconds in). I used to spend hours there. I don't really have any truck with the people complaining about Spotify ruining their music discovery vibe. I guess it is true, up to a point, but then you can listen to virtually anything you want on Spotify, your choice absolutely. All you need to do is to cough up a tenner a month and follow your own instincts. In any case, gatekeepers have, and will always exist. The nice thing about living in a democracy is that one has no obligation to pay them the slightest bit of attention. There is so much fucking great music out there, beginning to be listened to. Do the final mile and seek it out, at least occasionally. Oh. New Wave. Found the CD second hand in a charity shop in 1995, I think. I was a bit disappointed by the time – the actuality did not live up to the mythology I'd built up in my head. But I kept it, and I listen to it every now and again, and the thought of going out hunting for it (and discovering a few other unexpected pleasures along the way) still makes me smile. And now, older and a little bit wiser, I think I can say that it isn't half bad.

I bought this album aged 13. Thought it would make me look edgy and cool and intellectual and all the babes would want a piece as a result. It didn't achieve any of those goals. But it did soundtrack the beginning of years of rejection from the local female-folk. sad times.

Very good album, a little surprised at how much I liked it. Took me a couple listens to fully appreciate the album but glad I spent a little more time on it, definitely worth it Saved: Show Girl, How Could I Be Wrong, Idiot Brother

Is this Brit pop? Could have easily been a Blur album... Musically ok, but did it grab me, no.

3 stars. So mid. Hard to believe this made the list, it's just so average and cliche. - *sigh* more rock. Not a terrible opening but so plain - That punk-rock thing where the chorus is just the same line over and over gets pretty old - 'Junk Shop Clothes' is a nice sound, but the lyrics are a bit... off I guess? They just don't connect. - Repetitiveness is causing skips in the 2nd half of the album

Duller than most Britpop’s beige B-sides and glam rock with no glam. Two stars might seem a bit harsh, but I just can't bring myself to stretch it to three

I don't hate it, but I think this album could have been so much better if the arrangements and production were simplified. I often find myself asking "did this song really need a cello or a harmonica or a xylophone?" In contrast to the instrumentation, the vocals are a bit generic and lacking a punch that would lift this above the other bands of the day. Not sure I'd come back to this album again, but "American Guitars" is a good tune that I hadn't heard before. I also liked "Housebreaker" and "Idiot Brother"

The most 1993 album I’ve maybe ever heard. That’s not a compliment, but it’s also not derogatory. It’s…..fine, I guess. Long-winded ramblings from a flamboyantly queer Brit are cool on paper, and it was a vibe while it was on, but none of it really stuck with me after it was over. There wasn’t really any point where I was latched on to anything going on, even when it was good and aesthetically something I could see myself liking.The problem is it’s so distinctly ✨of its time✨ that it lacks flavor. It’s already post-shoegaze, post-college rock explosion, and especially post-grunge, so simply writing those genres in a British font doesn’t make it special. You could call it proto-Britpop, but Britpop is more of a timestamp than a sound, and even if The Auteurs count because they’re early to the party, they didn’t send out the invites. There’s an over-exaggerated coolness that comes with proclaiming the value of this record that doesn’t correspond with its actual value. Leave it in 1993.

It’s a shame I can’t stand his voice because there’s definitely some great tunes here and lots of ingredients I’d otherwise like. The guitar work is really good and interesting in a lot of places. Apparently this was one of the founding Britpop albums so I do respect that about it but I can’t see myself wanting to return to it particularly regularly. First track is great though.

Solid album with some great songwriting that recalls bands like The Smiths.

I'm not sure how to rate this one. Good background music but I don't even really remember any specific part of any songs on the album. everything is so samey that it just sort of moves along without registering anything in my head. ok

Could've fallen asleep and gotten the same experience. People who don't like 80's/90's britpop (which I do) point to uninspired shit like this for their reasoning, and they're kind of right

I always saw this lot as a sub par Suede. I still do. Enjoyable enough, but just no spark.

's all right. Didn't do much for me. 'not unpleasant'

Sounds like half the other albums I've heard on this list, but the singer this time sounds like a bad George Harrison impersonation. This list was obviously made by a bunch of middle aged British dudes.

You know when you go to a medium sized festival and there’s the second stage for the b-list bands? Well, the Auteurs would be a solid act for some time late on Saturday afternoon as you are getting ready to meet your friends by the main stage to see the headliners. Musically they are 90s left field indie Britpop, with slightly (but not too) quirky vocals and the occasional burst of enthusiastic guitar work. Perfectly fine but nothing to write home about.

It's not a bad album, but I just can't seem to put my finger on why I didn't like it. The songs were well-crafted, but I couldn't find anything that really set them apart from the other bands emerging into the new "Adult Alternative" genre that began to take form around this time. Bands like Live, Matchbox 20, Third Eye Blind, and Candlebox easily surpassed the Auteurs with equally toothless music. I would have much preferred this spot go to the debut albums from Toad the Wet Sprocket, Gin Blossoms, Death Cab for Cutie, or Elliott Smith. Two stars, plus a half-star for the oh-so-90's practice of tacking on a hidden track at the end of the CD.

Uneventful, forgettable, in fact, I can barely remember it a day later.

A little like Belle and Sebastian, but not as good.

Boring

Not nearly enough synth or fun to call itself new wave

Somehow I've managed to not know about this band but half way through the first song I'm loving it... although I've definitely heard this song before. I'm hearing Blur pretty strongly in here. Looking at it, it's the same year as Modern Life, makes sense. Problem is the album quickly settles into Britpop mediocrity. It's OK but it feels quite by-the-numbers. I was looking forward to later tracks because other reviews called up some of those as great tracks but they didn't break through the tedium to me. By the end of the album I just wanted it to be over. Yawn!

I couldn't tell you what songs were on this album and I just listened to it. How is that even possible? Trying to think back, it is just fog. No outlines. No impressions. Not even the curvy, fluffy edges of a cloud. Just greyish non.

Forgettable

WHO MADE THIS LIST

Loved the wit.

Didn’t like it the first time through. Listened again and it instantly clicked. Gonna stick with this band a while and see what other surprises they have in store.

I really liked this.

1993 UK. Alternative rock, indie pop

Very good.

Endlich mal wieder für mich neue, hörenswerte Musik. Ideal für Schreibtischarbeit!

This was a lot of fun to listen to

5/5

This one surprised me. I liked almost all the songs. I am probably in the minority for liking all the Britpop on this list. Definitely gonna go through the rest of their stuff to see if it’s as good. Rating: 4.8

I love Luke Haines voice. And knowing he was in Black Box Recording may color this rating in a good way. I liked it a lot. I'll be coming back

This is why I’m doing the challenge: finding artists and albums that are totally new to me that click. This has a bit of a Sunday morning vibe to it that’s nice. Songwriting stands out; and while I hear a bit of George Harrison in the vocals and even the songwriting, it’s not a copy and stands out as unique. Based on this album, I’m looking forward to learning more about this group, for sure.

Didn't know them and am happy about this find. Great album.

I was adding song after song to my "Songs I liked from 1001 Albums" playlist. Eventually it became undeniable - I fucking love this album. Plan to return to it often. Who knows if I'll actually do it, but I really want to, and that's the sign of a great album for me.

I loved this! Like a cross between David Bowie and Weezer. The power guitars and the toy piano were great. Junk Shop Clothes and Valet Parking lyrics were awesome. I've already listened to the whole album twice.

Very Big Star with a Smiths and Britpop edge

I wish I would have know them in the 90. Great album, going to listen to it again.

omg amazing

LOVED IT SO MUCH.

I love 90s rock so much, this album did not disappoint!

A band I never picked up on in the 90's so these were my first time listening to them. At my first listen, I really thought after the first two songs (and especially "Bailed Out") I found a new favourite band, but after that the album dropped off. Listening to this album a few more times and also the songs further up in the album started to shine, like "Idiot Brother" and "How Could I Be Wrong." Now after my 5th listen I can see how this would be classed as a 'forgotten masterpiece.' All songs are incredibly well written, superbly melodic - there's not a sound out of place - but there's a lot of rough edges. Or 'spiky' as a friend of mine would call it. Reading up on it, this debut is apparently not even their best album. I'll be looking into the rest! 4,5*

9/10 incredibly fun I love the way it almost feels like alt-rock with its mixing and bass-heavy feel

Great 90s rock album

Loved this album.

This was amazing - never heard of the auteurs, but such a fun variety of upbeat rockin melodies.

Tästä oli tosi helppo tykätä. Soittolistalle päätyivät ainakin Bailed Out, Junk Shop Clothes, Starstruck, How Could I Be Wrong ja Housebreaker.

Awesome! Love the first track

"How Could I Be Wrong" came in and slapped me in the face for some reason. The whole album was really great. I didn't want to stop listening. I think this type of music is one of my favorite sounds of this project, to be honest.

Never heard of this band but they are a new favorite. Death Cabbish but slightly grungier.

Absolutely loved it, every song is great. Also, the singer's voice sounds familiar, even though I have never heard anything from the band

Lowkey great vibes. Big fan of the Beatles-vocals.

I loved their sound! Reminded me of the Kooks. I will return to this album again in the future.

Enjoyed.

Hadn’t heard the auteurs before was pleasantly surprised by it. Although wasn’t sure what to expect will listen again

afgaande op cover en naam vreesde ik het ergste... bleek het zeer goed mee te vallen... soort kruising van Bauhaus, Magazine en Suede... mooi plaatje

adri: 8'5, rock depresivo, es como un dia de lluvia, me encanta. mar: 7, de fondo está guay.

I would go see this band if it was playing at the local, their ilk has been playing there since the seventies

Well done, laid back style.

7/10… brit pop / madchester

72/100. A solid indie pop album. While it doesn’t break any new ground, it offers a consistent and enjoyable listen. The instrumentation tends to stay in the same lane throughout, and a bit more variation could have elevated the record.

Pop, rock, early indie, melodic, fuzzy and very British, I like it a lot

I really liked this one and I may revisit it soon as I feel that I can't rank it fairly at the moment. The lyrics are witty, sarcastic and open to interpretation. They also feel deeply personal. The singing has quite a bite to it and reminds me of George Harrison. The guitars are jangly, distorted, melodic and at times a bit gritty.

Never heard of them before. Sounded actually a little more modern. Liked it more than I thought, their voice in some of the songs were a bit painful.

I have listened to the album two times.... Oo Idiot brother - guitar melody ... Early years How could I be wrong (But what are all these songs about?)

On first listen I found it a bit forgettable, but when I listened again I really enjoyed it (and then I listened a 3rd time and liked it even more) Fav song: Showgirl, I also really enjoyed Housebreaking and Home Again. Least fav: Junk Shop Clothes

Decent album this. Really like the first half but tapered off a bit for me towards the end. I did find it funny that the main guy refused to be associated with Brit pop Specific rating - 4.1 Fav song - show girl Least fav- housebreaker

Another one in the not groundbreaking, but good music id never heard of group.

Lots of lovely songs. Some really good tunes and if I had owned this on CD I think I'd have grown to love many of these But while they try, this is not as fun as Belle and Sebastian, not as catchy as Oasis and not as bitingly clever as Pulp. Reading about Luke Haines is also quite amusing. He's clearly a complete arse. In his autobiography "...Haines reserves spectacular bile for Auteurs cellist James Banbury – referring to him only as "The Cellist"" (from a Guardian article). Best songs: Show Girl Bailed out How Could I be Wrong? Early Years

Cool very mellow. Maybe needs a few times to catch on

Good stuff