The 90s weren't all that bad, Part 18: Gene
I probably could keep this series going infinitely with Britpop bands that have disappeared over the years (Sleeper, Elastica, menswear, etc), but i will just stick to some personal faves.
If you know my tastes, you know Gene was right down my alley. They, of course made music that sounded like they had spent the last five years listening to nothing but Morrissey, but to be fair, when they came out, I had spent the last five years listening to nothing but Morrissey.
Even for the inescapable influence (and it was always more towards Morrissey than the Smiths, no Byrdsian jangle here), Olympian was a solid album. Yeah, it sounded like Queen is Dead outtakes, but in my mind, it was the pinnacle of Britpop.
The follow-up Drawn to the Deep End took what that band had done and really perfected it. Still Moz influenced, but setting out on a road of their own. It is one of my favorite records of that time.
Then, if you were American, you never heard from them again. I never did find 1999's Revelations in record stores (even to this day, though I have of course, since stopped looking).
I looked and looked and finally found 2002's Libertine in an Indianapolis record store (which makes me feel old, because that doesn't feel like 8 years ago).
I was hoping for something even close to Drawn, but Libertine was more miss than hit; although it spent time in my CD player (I was still a fan).
I figured the band would still be on the scene. but looking at wikipedia, the band's members have moved away from the stage. Martin Rossiter (like everyone else) has a twitter and appears to be continuing in music, waiting for that second act resurgence. Oh well, we still have the first two albums.
If you know my tastes, you know Gene was right down my alley. They, of course made music that sounded like they had spent the last five years listening to nothing but Morrissey, but to be fair, when they came out, I had spent the last five years listening to nothing but Morrissey.
Even for the inescapable influence (and it was always more towards Morrissey than the Smiths, no Byrdsian jangle here), Olympian was a solid album. Yeah, it sounded like Queen is Dead outtakes, but in my mind, it was the pinnacle of Britpop.
The follow-up Drawn to the Deep End took what that band had done and really perfected it. Still Moz influenced, but setting out on a road of their own. It is one of my favorite records of that time.
Then, if you were American, you never heard from them again. I never did find 1999's Revelations in record stores (even to this day, though I have of course, since stopped looking).
I looked and looked and finally found 2002's Libertine in an Indianapolis record store (which makes me feel old, because that doesn't feel like 8 years ago).
I was hoping for something even close to Drawn, but Libertine was more miss than hit; although it spent time in my CD player (I was still a fan).
I figured the band would still be on the scene. but looking at wikipedia, the band's members have moved away from the stage. Martin Rossiter (like everyone else) has a twitter and appears to be continuing in music, waiting for that second act resurgence. Oh well, we still have the first two albums.
Click to view