[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen I die, my tombstone will read simply “Here lies Kayley Kravitz. She really liked Britpop.” I discovered Oasis at the tender age of 11 and from there, my Britpop obsession snowballed. I’ve traveled extensively seeing bands across the United States and in London. Those who follow my work for the Huffington Post can see a definite theme: I write a lot about Britpop. So you didn’t honestly think that Buzzfeed could publish its “Official Britpop Album Ranking, 1993-1997” and not have me respond in some way!
Of course I take issue with Buzzfeed’s ranking — there’s not enough Suede love (where the hell is Coming Up?). Where the heck is Mansun? Where oh where is the Auteurs’ New Wave, the album that essentially kickstarted Britpop?
I do however appreciate the inclusion of Kenickie’s At the Club and Sleeper’s Smart. But I digress. Allow me now to introduce @britpopgirl’s Definitive Britpop Album Ranking. Just as Buzzfeed’s Matthew Perpetua did, I am staying within the 1993-1997 guidelines and limiting myself to 33 albums. I am ranking albums not only by their influence and commercial success, but also by my own personal taste. But like all lists, “definitive” is subjective.
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33. Against Perfection, Adorable
Before Britpop ruled the UK music charts, shoegaze was in. While My Bloody Valentine masked melodies behind a wall of feedback, Adorable married pop and shoegaze in a way that makes it the perfect bridge between the two genres. Their home on Creation Records made them label mates with both Ride and Oasis. Notable tracks include “Favorite Fallen Idol” and “Homeboy.”
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32. On, Echobelly
Echobelly’s sophomore album On solidified the band’s place in Britpop and earned the critics’ approval. This 1995 release gave us two strong pop singles, “Great Things” and “King of the Kerb.”
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31. The Sun Is Often Out, Longpigs
Six singles were taken from the Longpigs’ 1996 debut and they were all solid, and American audiences were treated to Crispin Hunt’s jagged pop when they ‘Pigs opened for Suede’s ’97 Coming Up tour. Listen to “Jesus Christ,” “She Said,” and “Far.”
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30. Drink Me, Salad
Dutch songstress Marjine van der Vlugt fronted Salad giving Sleeper’s Louise Wener and Elastica’s Justine Frischmann a run for their money. Salad never achieved the commercial success of Sleeper or Elastica, but cool singles “Motorbike to Heaven” and “Granite Statue” still sound fresh.
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29. (Come On Join) The High Society, These Animal Men
Touted as leaders of “the new wave of new wave,” These Animal Men fused Britpop with glam-punk. High-octane standouts from The High Society include “Too Sussed?,” “This Is the Sound of Youth,” and “Flawed Is Beautiful.”
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28. Hurricane #1, Hurricane #1
After Ride split in 1996, Andy Bell formed Hurricane #1 on Creation Records. The band enjoyed moderate success with the singles “Step Into My World” and “Chain Reaction.”
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27. Modern Life Is Rubbish, Blur
Released in 1993, Modern Life Is Rubbish was one of the first Britpop albums. Having abandoned the heavy shoegaze influence found on their 1991 debut Leisure, Blur embraced Britpop with poppy guitars (“Advert”) and incredibly British lyrics (“For Tomorrow,” “Sunday Sunday”).
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26. The It Girl, Sleeper
Sleeper’s most commercially successful album is a fine example of the Britpop sound. Many of The It Girl’s singles became ’90s UK anthems, including “Sale of the Century” and “What Do I Do Now.”
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25. A Northern Soul, The Verve
Like Blur and Lush, the Verve were a shoegaze act before settling into Britpop. A Northern Soul sounds little like the Verve’s 1993 debut A Storm In Heaven. “History” is the precursor to “Bittersweet Symphony,” and other notable tracks include “On Your Own” and “This Is Music.”
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24. Expecting To Fly, The Bluetones
Thought it isn’t my favorite Bluetones album (that honor goes to Return to the Last Chance Saloon), Expecting To Fly’s singles are undeniable Britpop staples. The Bluetones gave us certified hits with “Bluetonic,” “Cut Some Rug,” and “Slight Return.”
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23. A Maximum High, Shed Seven
You can’t compile a list of Britpop albums and leave out Shed Seven (though I will admit that I left Cast off of my list because quite frankly, I’m not a huge Cast fan). Love them or hate them, Shed Seven typified the Britpop sound. A Maximum High was a commercial success seeing five of its singles (including “Where Have You Been Tonight,” “Going For Gold,” and “Bully Boy”) in the UK top 40.
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