The Weekly DiScussion: Shall we party like it's 1997 again?
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When I was a young man, the 1990s seemed like a wondrous time. There were long summers that were actually hot, friendly government faces promising to lift the greying gloom of Thatcherite oppression, lions (three of ‘em) at the old Wembley and music. Lots and lots of music.
The final decade of the 20th century, according to some bleeding-heart liberal in a newspaper article recently (I remember not who it was) was the death of music as anything important. Seemingly, it was the period when music was commoditised, subsumed into this all-encompassing notion of ‘culture’, a blanket melange of anything popular or famous or ‘cool’. Basically, some berk came up with the word ‘zeitgeist’ and ruined it for everyone. But really, that merely refers to Liam and Patsy under the duvet on the cover of Vanity Fair (thanks Toby Young) and 250,000 people at Knebworth. Scrape away at that vacuous veneer of what the people wanted (allegedly), though, and there was much to enjoy about the dying years of the millennium. Much of which, eight years on, is being highlighted again, thanks to a slew of reissues, musical re-appearances, and an almost eerie similarity in the late-decade time lines that the noughties are following when compared to said '90s.
First up, the musical reminders that come in a broad sweep of re-issues. Next month sees the repackaging of Beck’s seminal Odelay album, a record that many see as a defining musical point in the 1990s with its loving yet nonchalant brew of hip-hop, blues, trip-hop and country. Air’s Moon Safari, the Guardian reader’s coffee table CD of the decade is also back as a double disc affair. **Roni Size’s New Forms, ultimately trumped as an evening conversational point by the aforementioned French duo, is also set for reconsideration at the end of the month. All three of these are era-defining records - rightly or wrongly - and to an extent, they all stand up well.
Young Amstell: not funny
- -
It’s not just the old; fresh focus is on the re-emerging Holy Trinity of Trip-Hop – perhaps the most unique genre of music to appear in a decade awash with rehashed and reheated ideas. Portishead have returned with a stately swagger on their new record ‘Third’, while Massive Attack** will do similar not too much later this year. Perhaps most intriguing is the return of Tricky with a new record Knowle West Boy, apparently re-energised and ‘sorted out’ after heading over to LA for much of this decade, word is it may be a return to form after over a decade of miserable, slipshod output.
Interest is already surrounding new material by Jason Pierce’s Spiritualized* in May, while The Verve* are headlining festivals up and down the country this year – the clamour for said band is quite astonishing, given the dullard post-split output by its frontman Richard Ashcroft. The Prodigy* are labouring away on a new record to be released this year and are also on the Festival circuit, live popularity unabated. The renaissance of Shed Seven however, should probably not be commented upon. Other bands of course, like Super Furry Animals, *Chemical Brothers, Oasis and Radiohead** have simply kept going – the latter two after each producing albums that had massive impacts on the public and critical conscious. It’d be quite feasible to credit half the popular musical output of this decade on those two acts alone.
Perhaps given that the teenagers of 1997 are now the editors and senior writers of music publications now, it’s not too surprising that many of the favoured artists from ten years plus ago are being refocused on. But maybe it’s also because a decade soured by the hindsight of Britpop and kids in Fila tracksuits as well the bitterness of a failed government also produced some stunning and innovative music. Legacies of labels like Creation, Warp and even Mo’Wax live on, while ‘indie’ independents such as Fierce Panda paved the way for a thousand Transgressives and Dance to the Radios. The noughties, of course, had its own failed flag waving period of bloke bands (sadly still going, The Enemy et al) and the current surging of the underground punk-rock-indie-pop bands like Johnny Foreigner and Los Campesinos! draw comparisons to similar post britpop events that befuddled the NME and Melody Maker at time; just how did you fit in a feature on the Yummy Fur* or AC Acoustics? Even more, what the hell do you do with Tiger*? And why did they sign to Island records? Mad, glorious times.
Don’t shit on the '90s too hard, they were pretty awesome. Maybe wonder why you'd still rather see Radiohead headline your festival than the Kaiser Chiefs.
Are you haunted by average bands from a decade ago? Do you regret half your purchases made in 1997? Or is it an unfairly maligned decade worthy of genuine praise? Who are the best acts of that decade suriving today? Who unjustly didn't make it?
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Radiohead
Spiritualized
The Prodigy
Tricky
Massive Attack
2002 was my 1997
I've yet to go to a houseparty that hasn't had 'Hate To Say I Told You So!' on the playlist :(
A good read, nice work.
It's funny because I myself have been revisiting various late 90s records and bands that I haven't touched for virtually 8 years. Some of which I daren't mention, as it goes. I will put my hands up and admit to Mansun and the Lo-Fi Allstars though.
Haven't we done this before?
1997 onwards was fairly rubbish for music (that's not to say good music wasn't made, it was just harder to find and the vast majority of bands who were big were totally gash.
hmm
"Other bands of course, like Super Furry Animals, Chemical Brothers, Oasis and Radiohead have simply kept going – the latter two after each producing albums that had massive impacts on the public and critical conscious"
Oasis haven't had an impact on anyone since Be Here Now. And it was appauling.
otherwise you're pretty right. I was only 10 in 1997 so the fact the only record i bought was Blur's self-titled album makes me feel good.
Oasis
the keyword is 'after'.
ie post Definitely Maybe, Morning Glory, and for terms of hype only, Be Here now.
I simply said they'd 'kept going' - not necessarily been amazing..
x
is this why
I've rediscovered The Longpigs lately and been playing lots of Deftones?!
pigs might fly
the first longpigs album is an absolute cracker.
The Longpigs album was a highlight of 1998
And it was actually good
oh Mansun
how I miss thee.
1997 was a great year for british albums
OK Computer, Ladies and Gentleman We Are Floating in Space, Attack of the Grey Lantern, all classics.
Even Be Here Now and Urban Hymns, which looking back on it aren't that great, were great fun at the time whilst being a teenager, new government and all.
Generally speaking, 1993-1997 was an amazing time for british guitar albums, and I'm not sure this era often gets looked down upon by critics.
That said, I'm not that interested in revisiting it through reissues and live appearances from 90's bands past their best, I'm more interested in the now.
that should have read
not sure why this era often gets looked down upon
I can't wait till 2010
when I fully expect Gareth's 'JJ72' retrospective to feature as a DiS exclusive.
1997 Was A Great Year
I can only concur. 1997 was a memorable year for music. Air, Radiohead, Spiritualized and The Verve released great albums that would still grace my anally collated best albums ever list.
The only years since to compete are 2004 - 05 when Bloc Party, Maximo Park, Libertines, Killers, Dears and many others were releasing so many good albums.
Very nice, Gareth
Other than a few notables, this was the worst period of music ever on the American side of things (hello! nu-metal).
Slap on
some B.R.A!
Nu Metal? In '97? Bit early...
Try these:
Foo Fighters - Colour and the Shape
Elliott Smith - Either/Or
Ben Folds - Whatever and Ever Amen
Faith no More - Album of the Year
Dandy Warhols - Come Down
Bob Dylan - Time out of Mind
i think Primal Scream relessed Vanishing Point that year
an album whose awesomeness has eluded most people
that and Mezzanine
I was listening to Mezzanine the other day, mad loud, with the bass pushed up to a pointlessly high level.
It sounds incredible.
I actually hate
the 90's and 90's music. It seemed the 'emo' decade, with an upsurge or sadness and depression even in pop music. Air and Tricky are alright-ish though.
agreed!
'97 was awesome - i mean, aside from OK Computer you have
Bjork - Homogenic
Yo La Tengo - I Can Feel the Heart Beating as One
Mogwai - Young Team
Daft Punk - Homework
and Elliot Smith - Either/Or !!!
also, Deftones - Around the Fur - man did i ever loooove that one
xyz
urban hymns, ladies and gentleman...,radiator, when i was born for the 7th time, tellin stories, attack of the grey lanthern, ok computer, in it for the money... 8 genius(ok 6 genius & 2 very good) albums made that year. you just can not compare that to contemporary indie noncenses. somebody mentioned the killers. stop joking, please.
i think
you must have been listening to the wrong records
Homework was 1996
and Homogenic was 1998 I think.
Good call on Yo La Tengo and Mogwai though.
Mezzanine is 1998 I think
great album anyway.
I'm going to disagree
with you. Obviously if you don't LIKE metal records, then there's a gulf of understanding that will never be crossed, but it's sad that such critique is usually aimed at the corporatised late Bizkit albums, Linkin Park etc., conveniently forgetting incredible records like 'Slipknot', 'System Of A Down', '3 Dollar Bill' and 'Follow The Leader'. For non metal fans it was probably hell, but from my point of view it was a time of progression and experimentation.... metal now is comparatively regressive and directionless.
^^YES, BLOODY YES^^
I was reading this article thinking where's the Vanishing Point comments, I'll have to do one, then read this one. Well done. An absolute classic of an album and one that was ranked alonside Ladies & Gentlemen and OK Computer at the time. People neglect the impact Primal Scream had with that and the later XTRMNTR album. Genius in a word.
A great year:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_in_music
my memories are steeped in music though. I've never been good at listening objectively when it comes to my music memories. I was 15, happy and this music was the soundtrack to those great times.
1997 - being 25yrs old
I was travelling between 1996 and 1997 but recall picking up Vanishing Point on cassette in Jakata. Listened to it on headphones overlooking a bustling alleyway full of aromas and exotic goings on and thought "what the fuck, the Scream are back!!".
The rest of that 96-97 travelling period was cassettes on Walkmans or stereos. Ah, the pre-ipod days!
What year was Dig Your Own Hole? That got good coverage in Australia and Bali. The Aussies went nuts for Prodigy around that time as well.
Good times.
good (vanishing) point
I think people forget what a great album vanishing point is, probably my favourite primal scream album. Maybe it suffers from coming out in the sam year as ok computer and ladies and gentlemen etc...
I think its interesting to note the tone of those records. A lot of big, dark and expansive albums came out that year, almost like a response to the chirpyness of britpop. I think that 1997 kind of parallels 1968 in that sense.
^^^
Oh yeah we did. I started High school in 1997 and The Fat of the Land was huge. All the year 12's played it in the common room. It was also the year that our town got a decent radio antennae so I started listening to music, so from a nostalgic standpoint it was an amazing year. So... yeah.
Emo
sir, cannot in any way be associated with the same year as tubthumping by Chumbawumba.
yep.
bring back: Pusherman, Mansun, Marion, Strangelove, Mainstream, and Longpigs!
really?
Yeah. Let's bring back the late 90s. I've been really missing nu-metal.
:/
I second that!
Mansun, Pulp, Kula Shaker, Supergrass and Dodgy were epic. None of which seem to get a great deal of love thesedays. When they are compared to some of today's myriad of mediocre, 75% of current artists/band pale into insignificance.
Here here
Around the Fur, 1997, one of the greatest albums ever. This is a very UK focused piece - and fair enough - but in no way reflects MY '97 which was all about Aenima (late '96), still my fave record to this day. Aah, the memories.
richard d james album
from under the western freeway
cherry peel
brighten the corners
great year
The Cribs - In the Belly of the Brazen Bull
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless (remastered)
My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything (remastered)
Actress - R.I.P.
Chromatics - Kill for Love
Death Grips - The Money Store
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