We are now firmly into the BRITPOP YEARS on Popular, oh yes, so it’s time to consider its musical legacy in the only language we truly understand, viz. a ticky-box poll.
We have selected 32 bands who someone, somewhere, might possibly have once described as Britpop. Tick all the ones you like and by science we will be able to finally, once and for all, define terms like “Britpop D-List” and “second divison Britpop”. Isn’t that a noble endeavour? I thought so.
Which of these Britpop bands were Any Good At All?
- Pulp 8%
- Blur 7%
- Kenickie 6%
- Suede 6%
- Supergrass 5%
- Elastica 5%
- Super Furry Animals 5%
- Ash 5%
- The Divine Comedy 4%
- Oasis 4%
- Boo Radleys 3%
- Lush 3%
- Bluetones 3%
- Catatonia 3%
- Mansun 3%
- Sleeper 3%
- Black Grape 3%
- Lightning Seeds 2%
- Gene 2%
- Longpigs 2%
- Echobelly 2%
- Shed Seven 2%
- Space 2%
- Ocean Colour Scene 2%
- WELLER 2%
- Kula Shaker 1%
- Cast 1%
- Menswear 1%
- My Life Story 1%
- Marion 1%
- Seahorses 1%
- Northern Uproar 0%
Total Voters: 1,496
Poll closes: No Expiry

Good collection. I was expecting vol 3 to be chuck-yourself-off-a-bridge material accompanied by dour, er, ‘sleevenotes’ but the positive turn you took with Earl Brutus, Helen Love and David Devant was a pleasant surprise. Arguably a splash of Romo and maybe even something from Bis or Urusei Yatsura could’ve been included as part of this forward-looking aspect but that’d feck up the ‘cursed Scots’ line ;-)
Which I’d largely agree with. The Gyres might as well have come from Bolton, Whiteout were Bandwagonesque-jumpers a couple of years too late while Octopus’ (subconscious?) attempt at the ultimate mockney Loaded gesture in recruiting the son of a Great Train Robber looks seriously desperate in this context. Still have some fondness for the latter two, mind.
Yes, I diverted from the main thrust at the end to move into commentary (which also gave it a nice symmetry with Denim & Auteurs) but basically wanted to avoid the Glasgow scene entirely as it was conspicuously *a different thing* and also possibly my favourite scene of all time and deserving of its own separate, probably superior compilation, which I might get around to in another couple of years.
Cracking piece of writing, Weej. Made me quite nostalgic. Will throw a few thoughts up about specific bands here shortly. I also read the linked interview with Jamie Harding. Christ, drugs are not good for you.
So, the question on all of our minds, do we think Skinny White Thing by Shampoo is about Brett Anderson?
https://youtu.be/Ylk9yQ-vTdo
@210, weej. Thanks so much for your Britpop Nuggets cds. I’m really enjoying them. At least 70% of the tracks are new to me, underlining that if you were in the US at the time (and say following a mixture of MTV and college radio) you only heard the top-tier of Britpop (whereas, e.g., you ended up completely familiar with 4th or 5th tier grunge and industrial acts).
Didn’t mind Marion actually, so would have them higher in the list; however I would agree with Northern Uproar at the bottom of the poll.