[UK Music] A Britpop masterpiece. One recommended album.

Rock ‘n’ Roll StarOasis

Rock ‘n’ Roll Star (Remastered)

Oasis is a band representing Britpop, formed around the Gallagher brothers, Noel and Liam.

Even people who aren’t well-versed in Western music might at least know their name.

If you listen to their debut album Definitely Maybe (released in Japan as “Oasis”), which opens boldly with Rock ‘n’ Roll Star—a song that all but prophesied their rise to rock stardom—you can feel the momentum they had at the time.

Combining the rebellious spirit emblematic of rock bands, a hard-hitting sound in the lineage of hard rock, and melodies that could be called a direct descendant of The Beatles, it’s a historic masterpiece that dramatically changed the course of rock history.

ParklifeBlur

Blur – Parklife (Official 4K Music Video)

Blur, a band positioned as rivals to Oasis.

Their worldview—steeped in satire and irony in the tradition of The Kinks—stands in stark contrast to the rough, rowdy image that often defined Oasis.

Their third studio album, Parklife, released in 1994, is packed with signature tracks, not only the title track Parklife but also Girls & Boys.

For anyone wanting to understand Britpop, this album is an unmissable milestone.

DemonsSuper Furry Animals

Demons (2017 Remaster)

Super Furry Animals, a band from Cardiff, Wales, are indispensable when talking about Britpop.

Their appeal lies in their Welsh identity, their sound rooted in psychedelic rock, and their unique blend of intelligence with a pastoral atmosphere.

Their second studio album, Radiator, released in 1997, reached No.

8 on the UK Albums Chart despite being released around the same time as an Oasis album.

It remains a highly popular record to this day.

The BendsRadiohead

The Bends

Radiohead, the mavericks of Britpop formed around vocalist and guitarist Thom Yorke, are among the few bands that continued to survive by evolving in their own way even after the Britpop movement ended.

On their 1995 album The Bends, their first collaboration with renowned producer Nigel Godrich, they achieved a striking fusion of a dark, shoegaze-like atmosphere and powerful guitar rock.

Following this album, their third studio album OK Computer, produced once again by Nigel Godrich and released in 1997, has endured as a landmark not only of Britpop but of rock history itself.

The Wild OnesSuede

The Wild Ones (Remastered)

Suede are a rock band from London.

Known for their strengths in alternative rock, indie rock, and glam rock, they are regarded as one of the defining bands of the Britpop movement.

When it comes to their masterpieces, many people would probably think of Dog Man Star.

After releasing their first album, they fell into a kind of creative rut and struggled to write new material.

Perhaps because the album was made after overcoming various hardships, every track is extraordinarily well crafted, and it received extremely high praise from American critics.

Common PeoplePulp

Common People (Full Length Version)

Formed around vocalist Jarvis Cocker, Pulp is a band known in the Britpop scene for its distinctly quirky, off-kilter character.

Common People, included on their 1995 album Different Class (Japanese title: Common People), is one of Pulp’s signature songs, brimming with irony as it sings about upper-class and wealthy people who claim they want to be “just common people.” The track was a major hit and propelled Pulp to stardom.

Everything Must GoManic Street Preachers

Manic Street Preachers – Everything Must Go (Official Video)

In the midst of churning out hit songs, the band’s linchpin guitarist suddenly disappeared without a trace—turning what sounds like a TV drama into a real-life tragedy for Manic Street Preachers.

The guitarist was never found, and the band briefly faced the prospect of breaking up.

However, the remaining three members chose to carry on.

Their 1996 album, Everything Must Go, conveys their strong resolve to move forward despite the painful loss of a close companion.

Blending pop melodies with a sweeping rock sound, it stands as a landmark masterpiece in the music history of the 1990s.