Whatever happened to all the acts that rose to prominence during the Britpop explosion of 1995? Ocean Colour Scene drove out of Moseley in a gold roller, and promptly returned there on the number 47 bus. The Bluetones came, saw, didn't like, and buggered off again. Supergrass keep trying, but the kick isn't there. And the less said about Kula Shaker the better, frankly. Only one act from that hot, crazy summer has retained its initial popularity, and grown a full career out of it.
Why have Ash been the only success story? Simple. They never were Britpop. It's pure coincidence that their rise to fame coincided with the greatest explosion of new talent seen in ages. The band had been going in its native Northern Ireland for three years before hitting the big time, and has been a consistent hitmaker since. They may only have four top ten singles to their name, but all of them are classics. As are the others, the ones that didn't sell well, but were absolutely great.
Such is the case with this new release, the group's first single since 2001's classic Free All Angels
long player. Envy
is a blistering wall of sound, pumped full of melody and energy and things that make the world a brighter, better place. From the moment the drums interrupt the opening guitar riff, it's a kaleidoscope of noise and fun.
The world needs more songs like this. Songs that just beg to be blasted out of speakers. Repeatedly. Songs that don't have a clear chorus for the first two minutes, yet when it arrives, it feels like an old friend coming back. Songs that have more key changes than the FBI building.
And the world can always use a few more songs about sex aids. Yes, Dildo has carved out quite a career for herself, and Kylie Minogue can always be relied on to plug a few butts, yet they've never sung about vibrators.
If it was thirty seconds shorter, this would be a surefire Eurovision winner, the sort that would blindside the "traditional" fans of the contest. If it was thirty seconds longer, it would be thirty seconds too long.
Back in 1994, Buffalo Tom got the gig as the house band to seminal drama series MY SO-CALLED LIFE. Their blend of angsty-yet-optimistic rock was the perfect soundtrack to the introspective, wide-eyed wonderings of the characters on the painfully real show. Since then, the mantle of introspective, wide-eyed wondering drama has been taken up by MTV's DARIA. If Lawndale featured a real house band, as opposed to the painfully rubbish one, it would have to be Ash.
Chalk up another hit, guys, the greatest hits album Intergalactic Sonic 7s
is due out in a couple of weeks. Early editions will include a bunch of B sides.