OK, that’s a lie – it’s early July within the UK in 2025 so it just about is all about Oasis with regards to British indie-rock, even in a summer time when fellow 90s survivors Pulp placed on some triumphant comeback performances of their very own. However there are some Britpop bands who’ve been left behind, whether or not it’s resulting from acrimonious splits, drug troubles, or simply plain previous unhealthy luck, some acts by no means obtained that second probability within the highlight. There’s a complete raft of teams on the market who may need been outlined on the time as second-tier Britpop bands however who are actually basking in glory throughout their second chew of the cherry – Solid, as an illustration, on a artistic roll and supporting Oasis in the course of the reunion exhibits, or Shed Seven, who’ve had two Quantity One albums in recent times. However this isn’t an inventory of these guys, these are those ever-so-slightly forgotten who’ve a number of songs of their arsenal price getting caught into.
Longpigs
One of many extra high-profile bands on this listing, Longpigs had been beset by issues from the off. Firstly, frontman Crispin Hunt was critically injured in a automotive accident and in a coma for 3 days simply earlier than the discharge of their debut single. Then their document label folded, leaving them and their music homeless. In got here U2’s label Mom to the rescue, releasing their glorious debut album The Solar Is Typically Out in 1996. It had extra in widespread with the epic anguish of Radiohead’s The Bends than sunny Britpop optimism – She Stated a very snarling spotlight. However they took too lengthy to make a follow-up and their probability handed. Guitarist Richard Hawley went on to have an illustrious solo profession and Hunt went into politics earlier than changing into a profitable songwriter and producer.
Denim
The giddy glam-pop of Denim was meant to be the second of chart triumph that the band’s maverick svengali Lawrence had all the time dreamed of. With the atmospheric, dreamy guitar-pop of his earlier band Felt, he’d had important acclaim however now he was after industrial success too. It heading his manner with the E quantity indie of Summer season Smash however its scheduled launch coincided with the dying of Princess Diana in a automotive crash, after which the track was shelved. They by no means recovered from it, Lawrence emboldening his cult hero standing with releases below the deal with of Go Kart Mozart and Mozart Property however by no means getting wherever close to chart victory once more.
Echobelly
Echobelly had been nice – they usually may nonetheless be nice, the core duo of Sonya Madan and guitarist Glenn Johansson are nonetheless at it, heading out on tour once more later this 12 months. That they had some sensible singalong anthems the place Madan’s indelible manner with a melody disguised the darker themes working via her lyrics however well being points within the mid-90s slowed them down and momentum was totally stalled after they went on a four-year hiatus. Nonetheless, although, the tunes communicate for themselves. That is considered one of their finest:
Strangelove
Goth-tinged Bristol indie-rockers Strangelove had a charismatic, magnetic singer in Patrick Duff and a handful of dynamically thrilling rock songs, a band who match into the Kohl-eyed aspect of issues alongside Suede and the Manics. Nevertheless it by no means fairly occurred, even if their second document Love And Different Demons has among the finest openers of the period and its second track Lovely Alone is a gripping, Smiths-y misplaced basic. However Duff’s drug dependancy derailed them they usually break up in 1998.
Silver Solar
There was nothing moody about Silver Solar, although. The band, led by late frontman James Broad, had been extra like a British Weezer, all tight-as-a-nut harmonies, rollercoaster power-pop riffs and large enjoyable choruses. Their self-titled debut was produced by Nigel Godrich in the identical 12 months that he additionally helmed Radiohead’s OK Pc.
Scarfo
There was a rattling lo-fi allure to Andover-formed, London-based trio Scarfo, whose progress was halted when drummer Al Saunders was injured in a highway collision. They break up up in 1999, abandoning two data of tightly-wound post-punk, a sound frontman Jamie Hince would hone and evolve to nice success in his subsequent band The Kills.
The Supernaturals
A grinning chimpanzee on the quilt of their 1997 debut album It Doesn’t Matter Anymore summed up the chirpy vibe of Glasgow quintet, as did the buoyant bounciness of their most well-known track Smile. Their subsequent output didn’t fairly match as much as that explosive starting however they’re nonetheless going and launched a brand new document titled Present Tunes earlier this 12 months.
Geneva
The occasion was starting to die out by 1997, the 12 months that suave Scottish crew Geneva launched their debut album. Perhaps it will’ve been higher if Additional had come out a number of years later as a result of it will’ve held its personal within the route one period of the brand new millennium with its erudite, windswept indie missives.
Marion
Managed by former Smiths supervisor Joe Moss, Manchester’s Marion had a clutch of stressed, ragged and infectiously catchy songs however by no means fairly managed to grab their second. Sleep, Time and Let’s All Go Collectively are darkish arts anthems that must be as well-known as Animal Nitrate, Lenny or Connection, however they don’t seem to be. Frontman Jaime Harding’s heroin dependancy may need had one thing to do with that and shortly after the discharge of their second document The Program, different band members began trying round for brand new strains of labor, with considered one of them ending up in New Order.
Earl Brutus
Earl Brutus would in all probability be outraged to be on an inventory of Britpop bands, however right here we’re. It’s their fault for being a British indie band and releasing a debut album in 1996, subsequently falling into the Britpop black gap. They got here together with their lurching, experimental, glammy rock’n’roll at some extent when most new bands had been aping the larger teams with out doing any of the issues that made them attention-grabbing.
