As a teenager growing up in the 1990’s in the UK it was hard not to get caught up in indie music of the day. A unique blend of pop and rock churned out on what seemed like an endless conveyor belt of bands mostly originating from Manchester.
I’ll talk you through my top rated tracks and some of the feelings they evoked now and at the time.
#5 Manic Street Preachers - Motorcycle Emptiness
James Dean Bradfields voice powers through this 5 minute epic. I can’t believe it took me until 1995 to discover this. Rather than discovering this song on a motorcycle ride, I heard it on a school trip as the sun set following a long day out in Edinburgh.
#4 Ocean Colour Scene - The Circle
The reverse cymbal followed by a guitar riff with the treble turned high leads to the opening lyrics, the similie of which casts an image in my minds eye “Saturday, Afternoon the sunshine pours like wine, through your window”. I’m instantly transported back to my parents living room, summer on the horizon and that sunshine hitting my skin through the window.
#3 Supergrass - Pumping on your Stereo
As the 1990’s came to a close it felt like a number of successful band had run out of steam and the anthemic themes of the mid 90s were no longer supercharged and lacked their former lustre. Then along came and indie stalwart, Supergrass with this upbeat number and sublimely odd music video based on something Jim Henson would create. This video still brings a smile to my face today and my kids love it
#2 Blur - Song 2
Is it indie, is it rock, is it grunge? Who knows? This song came from the usually more sedate Blur. Although the song was released in 1997 this became the soundtrack to 1998 as it was used as the intro music for FIFA 1998 on the PC. I can still remember waiting for the game to load to this track.
#1 Oasis - Don’t Look Back in Anger
This isn’t everyone’s favourite indie song of the 1990’s or even their favourite Oasis song. This song gave me shivers when it was used as the exit music to the series ‘Our Friends in the North’ and it was just one of those moments where music meets TV and it feels perfect.
