My TOP TEN British Indie Rock Albums Of The 1990's

Join James Hargreaves to discover his 10 personal favourite albums made by British bands in the 1990's, and three recommended tracks from each for new listeners (one album max per band).
Let me know your top 10 in the comments below!
Many images and videos in my KZbin content have been found online without any attribution or credit available. In many cases I have therefore not been able to add a credit in the videos themselves due to lack of information. If your image or video has been used and a credit is required, please email me with your details and evidence of authorship and a credit will be added into the video description.
Many thanks, JH.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi guys, just a quick PS to say - these are only my personal picks, nothing more :) I didn't want to put any band in there twice, and there are just so many albums to pick from... I could've made it a top 100 and still missed out some people's favourites. Apologies if your favourite didn't make it into the top 10 - but these are just my personal picks. Let me know what yours would have been! Cheers JH

[@simontunnicliffe2107]

Yeah there's too many albums to fit them all in, very hard to narrow it down. ;-)

[@MrWayout74]

Interesting stuff. Glad AOTGL by mansion got a mention, but what about Vanishing Point by Primal Scream or Ladies & Gentleman....by Spiritualized. Oh and for what it's worth Northern Soul by Verve knocks spots off Urban Hymns. I love Verve but that LP has not aged well for me. Only an opinion tho'. Nice one

[@theselector4733]

@@MrWayout74 I agree. Urban Hymns had 3 or 4 standout tracks but the album as a whole is a bit of a let down. The other day I put it on my car & literally almost fell asleep. Then put on PLAYLAND by Johnny Marr & came back to life LOL.

[@MrWayout74]

@@theselector4733 I'll check that one out. I'll never understand why Northern Soul is underated in comparison to Urban Hymns. I went to the mega gig at High Hall in (I think 97). Beck supported and on the day in my opinion he was better. Verve crushed it but something wasn't the same after that first break up. Glastonbury 93 will always remain my fave Verve gig.

[@davidtexmex1616]

@@simontunnicliffe2107 exactly my thoughts, weird to think back and almost take it all for granted.

[@bruceartur]

Here's my list: 1. Suede - Dog Man Star 2. Oasis - Definitely Maybe 3. Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible 4. Stone Roses - Second Coming 5. Radiohead - The Bends 6. Primal Scream - Screamadelica 7. Ride - Going Blank 8. Elastica - s/t 9. Slowdive - Souvlaki 10. Blur - the great escape

[@frullo1647]

speak when spoken to bruce mate

[@happybee7725]

@Bruce Artur How screamadelica isn’t on there I have no idea. Same with the stone roses. I’m at a complete loss as to why anyone alive and into the indie scene of that time would ommit these albums from the list.

[@andrewdevine3920]

The Great Escape? No Parklife? Modern Life Is Rubbish? I agree about Dog Man Star and the Holy Bible, though.

[@andrewdevine3920]

@@happybee7725 The first Stone Roses album came out in 1989, therefore not the 90s.

[@bruceartur]

@andrewdevine3920 my bad dude. I meant the second coming by the roses ofc 😅

[@danielgell9174]

Some other great ones: Souvlaki - Slowdive Grand Prix - Teenage Fanclub Heaven or Las Vegas - Cocteau Twins If You're Feeling Sinister - Belle and Sebastian Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space - Spiritualized Nowhere - Ride Blur - Blur Different Class - Pulp Screamadelica - Primal Scream Dots and Loops - Stereolab The Holy Bible - Manic Street Preachers Reading, Writing and Arithmetic - The Sundays Split - Lush

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Ah Spiritualized! Haven't listened to that in AGES. Good album, that one

[@MrPHILDABASS]

Sparky’s Dream by Teenage Fanclub would go on at my indie club night!

[@michaelmcgann4885]

Totally agree with Grand Prix and Screamadellica. How Screamadelicca didn't make it on the top 10 is a mystery. It's a phenomenal album and leaves embrace's the good will out (way too overrated) in its wake.

[@mcburnski]

I wouldn't have classed Spiritualized, Belle and Sebastian or a few others as Britpop. Great bands/musicians though

[@fab208athome]

Attack of the Grey Lantern - Mansun Parklife - Blur Three Piece Suite - Dodgy The IT Girl - Sleeper Different Class - Pulp Definitely Maybe - Oasis Suede - Suede Urban Hymns - The Verve The Great Escape - Blur What's the Story - Oasis Why has nobody mentioned Mansun! Came completely out of left field and went to number one 🎸 absolute classic album with so many styles delivered with passion, venom and skuzzy music hall.

[@ceebee491]

Yr spot on mate, Mansun were a band who had great songs etc. If they came out today they'd be huge! We were spoilt back then😊

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Nice! I did mention Mansun in the honourable mentions section

[@markknox1295]

Wide Open Space is probably my favourite song of that era and gets better with every listen

[@kitsilanomusician2669]

Great video James. Please do a Top 10 Albums of the 60's that have influenced Britpop. Also a Top 10 Britpop albums of the Noughties would be great as well. The 2nd wave of Britpop, if you will. Cheers!

[@metrosuez7475]

this list can’t exist without Blur or Radiohead

[@boorhaave5880]

They're both in the video, but I understand why they weren't put in the Top 10. Firstly I don't think Blur were anywhere near as influential as their sales would suggest. And Radiohead are a very different style in my opinion, they sound transatlantic from the get go but Britpop (imho) wears its Britishness on its sleeve

[@andreamarcellini230]

Agreed. But he's an Oasis freak... No wonder he left out two of the most iconic indie-rock acts of all time. Typical Oasis fan attitude. Let's be serious, Parklife is the incarnation of Britpop itself together with Different Class by Pulp.

[@robbul2442]

Yes it can posho

[@robbul2442]

Tory alert 🚨

[@metrosuez7475]

@@robbul2442 so far off the mark it’s actually funny

[@martinlearymusic]

Can't argue with those choices - such a hard task. I'd of had OCS in there but you gave it a mention in the end! Also, cheers for adding one my tunes to your New Indie Rock & Roll Playlist, I appreciate that big time!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Martin, and you’re welcome

[@StephenCurtis63]

To me these bands of the 90's became the last of what we appreciated as true real rock n roll

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Agreed. Although the Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs did have something cool about them

[@nuao88]

Stereophonics? Muse? The darkness? White stripes? The 00s weren't that bad for guitar based music guys, plenty of great acts emerged in the UK and in USA, rock just wasn't AS prominent in the top 40 as it had been in the 90s but it didnt disappear

[@bourbon2242]

Coldplay, Stereophonics, and Travis's early albums are what I consider to be the last remnants of true British indie rock music.

[@TheHippocrocapig]

Kasabian?

[@zakthomas874]

The Strokes? The Libertines? The Coral?

[@c00p80]

We were so spoilt back then. Just look at the nominations for the best British group at the ‘98 Brit Awards... The Verve, Oasis, The Prodigy, Radiohead and (er herm) Texas. Then there were breakthrough acts like Stereophonics, Embrace and Travis. So many great bands!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Good times

[@markknox1295]

Absolutely love your channel James and I'm currently watching it everyday at the moment. The Bluetones Expecting To Fly is a great britpop album, however I think Radiohead's The Bends was very important and Suede's self titled album was maybe the first indication that Britpop had arrived. My favourite albums of that era though excluding What's The Story are The Manic Street Preachers Everything Must Go and my absolute soundtrack to my teens Stereophonics Word Gets Around which I have tattooed on my wrist as I listened to it everyday for about a year. I think a mention should go out to the female Britpop bands who often get overlooked like Elastica, Republica, Sleeper (although you had the awkward sleeper bloke, lol) and Echobelly, King of the Kerb is an absolute barnstormer of a tune. Just realised we're talking about albums and not bands, ha. You see my point though. Keep up the good work my friend, you have re- ignited my love of 90's Britpop

[@connorbiddle4703]

As an American with a love of UK music, I find it difficult sometimes to know what bands I should explore next, as nobody I know enjoys bands like The Stone Roses, The Jam, or even Pulp. So you making this list and not including Radiohead and British bands that Americans would know, is very helpful for discovering great albums. Thank you for a great video

[@RatSpetsnaz1967]

The best way to start is by doing a regional search of bands. The major music cities being london manchester liverpool Birmingham Glasgow Cardiff etc. Uk is such a small place that each area has different outlooks on life and this is what shapes the sounds. Economy,poverty,anger,drugs etc. It all adds up to a real melting pot of song topics.

[@gabix7488]

Try also Stereophonics, Kula Shaker, Ash, Supergrass and Therapy ? Don't know their newest stuff but they all released good albums in the 90's

[@CraigABuchanan]

I have to say, I would have DEFINITELY included Moseley Shoals OR Marchin’ Already in that top 10

[@simontunnicliffe2107]

I thought that and thought The Bends might be in there too and I personally would've put In It For the Money in there for Supergrass but I Should Coco good too. Oh sorry they're mentioned at the end haha!

[@KyTaundry]

Moseley Shoals just so happens to have turned 25 today aswell 😎.

[@DiRtYLaWs2007]

Moseley Shoals DEFINITELY! Perhaps not Marchin’ Already though (although it had a handful of great tunes on it)!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

I do love OCS, but for me both of those albums were a bit too folky for my taste. Don't get me wrong, they'd be in my top 20 - top 15 even. But I struggled a little with some of the non-single tracks like 'Lining Your Pockets' - just a bit lacking in edge for me. But I still love them - and that's probably my other half's favourite 90s album hahaha so she's on your side on this one...

[@KyTaundry]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Completely with you mate, my first few listens were like that but then I guess it just grew on me. The singles were massive tunes though 🤙. Steve Craddock is unreal too, people don't realise just how much he's done/how many massive artists he's played alongside.

[@jamiesenior5293]

Ride - Going Blank Again Swervedriver- Mezcal Head Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque Slowdive - Souvlaki

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Nice

[@jamesscoging6986]

Love Going Blank Again.

[@kenny75photography2]

Great list, James and analysis on your album choices and tracks. Supergrass, I should coco is a brilliant album with great raw energy and its amazing to think Gaz was only 17 when he co-wrote those tracks. Cast are great aswell, top band who wrote so many good songs and its hard to argue with your Oasis pick. Great video.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Kenny! Yeah Gaz Coombes was amazing for his age

[@collier1915]

1 tellin stories 2 unfinished monkey business 3 urban hymns 4 the charlatans 5 Mosley shoals 6 second coming 7 Stanley road 8 definitely maybe 9 blur 10 do it yourself Obviously there are loads of great and good albums ...but those are my very bias picks 😁

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Excellent choices

[@litters5656]

With no shoes is one of the best album openers ever 😄

[@davidtexmex1616]

I was definitely more of an honourable mentions teenager back then; Everything Must Go, Parklife, The Bends plus 1977 & Expecting to Fly. I always recall the female vocalist stuff from Elastica, Sleeper, Echobelly, Kenickie too. What an era, felt like every few weeks something new was out.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

1977 - forgot to put that one in the honourable mentions! Ah well. Hell of an album that one. And the Bluetones

[@CraigABuchanan]

Love the videos! I’d love a chance to just have a chinwag about 90s music with you because we are very similar in tastes

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi Craig, if you can find me on twitter, feel free to message me there

[@leewhitfield7471]

Great vid James, I strongly agree that DO IT YOURSELF is one of the most underrated albums ever. I go back to it all the time, played in full, as there's no filler at all... but come on Moseley Shoals should defo be in the top 5... it defines indi britpop

[@Ellieandmasonmusic]

Mick head wrote 3 of the greatest albums of the 90s. Amazes me how no one knows HMS fable or waterpistol. But also love how just a handful of people appreciate him

[@tcaudiobooks737]

So good he's getting so much recognition now with Dear Scott.

[@Ellieandmasonmusic]

@@tcaudiobooks737 brilliant album, American kid 👌🏼

[@MrPHILDABASS]

I have owned and loved all of these albums except for Embrace and The La’s so I will rectify that. Big love for Kula Shaker - I listen to Knight On The Town and and it always makes me smile.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Man if you’ve not listened through to Embrace and the La’s you’ve got 2 amazing listens to come

[@MrPHILDABASS]

Today I listened to K by Kula Shaker. I originally got this Christmas 1996 and I always associate it with the snow that fell in Kent at that time. I’ve always held it in high regard and it’s as great as it ever was. Sadly the US Spotify only has the live version of the Embrace album but it was a fantastic listen and the songs I did know seemed faithfully done. I saw Embrace a few times in 2005 mostly because I really loved their song Ashes. Next up was Shed Seven Going For Gold. I’m so glad you included this compilation as it really does the York lads proud. At the time I wasn’t sure about the re-recordings of the early singles but now I think they’re as good or better than the originals. Disco Down ages like a fine wine I think. Lastly for today it was The Charlatans telling stories. I held a grudge against them at the time because One To Another beat On Standby on the ITV chart show phone poll. It was great to go back and your picks from that album sounding especially sublime. Tomorrow I’m carrying on with the mighty Urban Hymns!

[@derekgalbraith9286]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Could never get over embraces singer being tone deaf to my ears

[@ChorltonandtheWheelies]

Phil Baker , On Standby by Shed Seven - what an absolute tune!! ✌

[@ollieoleary]

Michael Head & The Strands - "The Magical World of the Strands" . The most overlooked absolute classic of UK '90s indie. It's epic yet intimate. Highly crafted yet bruisingly emotional. Has a somewhat folk, even occasionally pastoral, essence to it but in a very contemporary (90's) way. "X Hits The Spot" is probably the most immediate track, if you want a sweet hit introduction, but the entire album is a thing of majesty and mystery. Think The Verve or Doves but up significant notches in greatness. Honestly.

[@krissymarklewis1793]

in no order Oasis - Definitely maybe Stone Roses - S/T Elastica - S/T Blur - Parklife Sleeper - Smart Ash - 1977 The Verve - Urban Hymns Charleton's _ Telling Stories Suede- S/T Happy Mondays - Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches

[@krissymarklewis1793]

I'm also gonna cheat and have runners up....Travis's 2nd album, Supergrass's 2nd album, Kenickie,, Shed 7, Longpigs and how could I forget Manic Street Preacher, Gene, Senser and Space?

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Some great calls there - but Stone Roses was '89, otherwise would definitely be in my list!

[@krissymarklewis1793]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar ah you are correct...I'll have replace them with some Weller then:)

[@Birdsnestboy]

We were so spoiled for choice back then. Didn't know how lucky we were. Parklife, Mosely Shoals and Good Feeling would make my personal 10

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Nice. So many outstanding albums to choose from!

[@thirdeye147]

You could feel his presence everywhere

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

I’m telling you man...

[@thomasmacgregor5678]

Any chance you could do a mini series on live forever,love that song

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Its certainly a future possibility 👍👍

[@angrynorway]

I Should Coco is a phenomenal album that’s aged fantastically well! Their second album was maybe even a little bit better.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Both excellent albums

[@valentinch0]

Supergrass were fantastic and I Should Coco is their weakest album IMO.

[@raddimusmcchoyber3362]

I really, really enjoy Mr Hargreaves’ videos. Comes across as an utterly genuine bloke with a passion for his subject. His “Masterplan” video is a mini masterpiece itself. Cracking stuff.

[@jackfrancio]

Great video mate! I've always loved Definitely Maybe more than What's the story, but the second is probably a better and deeper album overall. K, The La's, and Telling' Stories have been the soundtrack of my teens, along with The Man Who, Parklife and Different Class. I've never properly listened to The Seahorses' album, I will do it as soon as possible! And thanks for the upload, I totally dug it!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Giacomo 👍👍🎸🎸

[@philburtonfrench]

Totally agree that albums should be considered as an "entity" that flows and tells a story, rather than separate songs. My ultimate favourite for this is Urban Hymns by the Verve. Feels like a journey through despair (Drugs don't work) to elation (Come on), via epiphany (Velvet Morning).

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Nice. Grace by Jeff Buckley is one of the best for this

[@jamesscoging6986]

Thanks James for giving us an opportunity to ponder and share our thoughts on this very important question. This also offers us a great chance to learn about some gems which may have passed us by during those hazy daze. These are my picks, in order of affection. 1. The La's - The La's 2. The Charlatans - Some Friendly 3. Happy Mondays - Pills n' thrills and bellyaches. 4. Blur - Leisure 5. Ride - Going Blank Again 6. Radiohead - The Bends 7. The Stone Roses- Second Coming ( I liked it!) 8. Oasis - Definately Maybe 9. Supergrass - I Should Coco 10. Morrissey - Your Arsenal. Cheers.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Excellent choices all round!

[@dye5915]

you like the La's but no mention of Cast?

[@semajdis]

A few 'honourable' mentions. Longpigs - The Sun Is Often Out. Richard Hawley steps upto the plate as a bona fide guitar maestro. From a time where albums were becoming 2 singles and 30 minutes of fluff, this one certainly bucked that trend and needs to be listened to from start to end. Lush - Lovelife. Something a bit poppier than those listed in this video. Their first 3 albums were 4AD shoegazer fodder but their last album certainly tapped into the mid-90s Britpop zeitgeist. Electronic - Electronic. Bernard Sumner (New Order) and Johnny Marr (The Smiths)? Would be rude not to. Super Furry Animals - Radiator. Their second album smoothed out the rough edges of Fuzzy Logic, their first album, and stands as a decent listen.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Longpigs are epic. I had that album in the 90s.

[@awesomeguy1029]

Loved the video man! Can you do a video on your thoughts of guitar music/rock and roll? Do you think guitar has been around for too long to be revived?

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi Nikhil - way ahead of you buddy Check out - kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3TPk4emZ9VspcU And - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gorLgpatecdrgcU

[@andrewoliver8930]

Verve - A Storm in Heaven is their best album before they started writing more conventional stuff (which was still great). It slowly erupts and still gives me tingles like it did when I first heard it live in 1993.

[@damianstenberg3761]

The bassline on lifes an icean👌🏻great album...this list is way too safe and dull...the weaker side of 90s indie albums

[@tcaudiobooks737]

36 minutes that flew by! Top picks man, need to give some of those a relisten. I always had a suspicion that Hello on the Seahorses album was actually written by John Squire to Ian Brown, but he bottled it and put it out with a Chris Helme credit.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Huh that's a very interesting suggestion about 'Hello'. Squire wrote one or two for Ian Brown in his solo era I think as well, 'I miss you' and another one I forget the name of now

[@allmodcons6570]

Hoping The La's is on here. My favourite 90s album

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

But of course. Bloody masterpiece

[@simontunnicliffe2107]

Thanks for mentioning the Discord. Good list. Tellin' Stories and All Change are particular favourites on that list.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Simon - All Change is something else. What an album

[@MrPHILDABASS]

I had Shed Seven Maximum High and Cast All Change on a TDK C90. Had to buy both on CD because the final tracks on both albums cut out. Looking forward to revisiting Cast. I thought Flying and Free Me were fantastic singles too.

[@craign2565]

Your analysis of the The Verve was absolutely incredible and I understood every word you said! My best ever gig experience was when I went to see The Verve at the Glasgow SECC I think possibly around 2010(?). I think they had only recently reformed and Rchard Ashcroft came out looking like Johnny Bravo on Meth with his bright bleach hair an sunglasses. Anyway, me and my mate got tickets for £12.00 each. TWELVE POUNDS!!!! And we smoked a couple j's in the car before going into the arena. My god, I was taken to another plane of existence that night. Exacly how you described it in your video. All the songs were amazing, they sound absolutely monumental live. Absolute class gig.

[@andrewoliver8930]

They were great supporting Smashing Pumpkins in 1993 with just the first album. Best gig I've been to.

[@MaquiladoraIII]

Some other favourites (replete with the bands' 'USP'): Dodgy - Homegrown (Hooky, pop-laden) Levellers - Zeitgeist (Folk/rock hybrid) Blur - Modern Life is Rubbish (No one particular style, but the Albarn/Coxon partnership is amazing) Gomez - Bring It On (Heavily blues-influenced) The Verve - A Northern Soul (A lot, lot darker than Urban Hymns, with very powerful songs & lyrics)

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Nice choices 👍👍

[@PantheonLincoln]

A Northern Soul is an excellent call. Nick McCabe at his best.

[@michaelmcgann4885]

Bring it on is an amazing album, and one of the best from the 1990s. But not British indie at all, more like an American indie album. That said, Gomez are one of the best live bands going. I've seen them six or seven times now and they are incredible musicians

[@MaquiladoraIII]

@@michaelmcgann4885 But they're still ostensibly a British-based band playing indie music. Seen them a couple of times myself, and they really are excellent.

[@markknox1295]

My band The Tenemants supported Dodgy at PJ Molloy's in Dunfermline and they played Good Enough and Staying out for the Summer twice each, put me off them slightly and we actually got a better reaction from the crowd that night. They seemed to be there for a quick smash and grab, went on early, left straight after they played and left us to steal the limelight and headline the event. This was in the early 2010's, so they were passed their best, but got us all excited to be on the bill with them. True story

[@richfromtheligerz4922]

Great video love Oasis and so many good albums in there❤️

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

👍👍👍🎸🎸🎸🤘🤘🤘

[@johnmorrison8324]

Good video mate, enjoyed it. I know its ur personal picks but as a guitar player and u mentioned how much u love the seahorses album, where do u rank the stone roses debut album and the band themselves? For me they are the best and most influential band to come out of Britain in past 40 years

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi John I love the Stone Roses, mainly their first album. I also love the Complete Stone Roses album. I didn’t include them in this list however as the debut album came out in ‘89

[@johnmorrison8324]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Hi James. Thanks for the reply. So just some small technicalities that stopped u putting them in lol. Turns into stone was released in the 90s but not an official album and the debut album was 89. What do u think of the second coming?

[@theneash2965]

Great list! I Love Shed Seven. Is there any way to submit songs for your playlist? My band is heavily influenced by many of the bands on this list. I feel like we’d fit the vibe of it :)

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi Liam, you can email me a link to your stuff if you want. [e-mail]

[@boorhaave5880]

I think the spiritual core of Britpop is the same as Merseybeat and the Smiths and will cycle back around the block to treat us in yet another incarnation if we are patient. Thankyou for the great video, I have most of these albums but loved watching you talk about them, especially seeing the passion

[@theotroop]

Hi James, completely unrelated to the video but do you have any recommendations for amps for about £300-£500 as it's just been my birthday and have a bit of free cash. Thanks

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi Theo. I'm a big fan of the Blackstar Silverline series. I think they're brilliant, and perfect for recording. But - the best advice I can give you is trust your ears. Try out different amps as much as you can (now that shops are gradually opening again) and go with what sounds the best to you

[@braddazztravels6004]

Great selection there, the only one I haven't listened to in full is Embrace. What was your thoughts on Spiders by Space? One of my faves 😁

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks! Embrace is awesome. Legendary album. I like Space alot. Saw them live at V96 when they debuted 'Me And You Against The World'

[@braddazztravels6004]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Yeah, I listened to Embrace in full yesterday, awesome 👍

[@MrPHILDABASS]

I got Spiders by Space the same Christmas as Kula Shaker K. I still really enjoy it! They dropped a bollock with that Tom Jones song sadly.

[@braddazztravels6004]

@@MrPHILDABASS Yeah, second album was disappointing, apart from Avenging Angels.

[@robertedwards2527]

Thanks James, great top 10, I might have swapped Embrace for Dodgy - Free Peace Sweet, a personal favourite of mine. However, I do remember seeing Embrace at Hull Uni around this time, they were another great Yorkshire band. Ps, if you like The Rolling People take 5mins to listen to Aphrodite’s Child - The Four Horsemen (especially the outro), see what you think.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Robert, thanks for watching. I'll check out that song

[@ChorltonandtheWheelies]

Robert Edwards. Dodgy - what a great band! I'd forgotten about them! They seemed to just disappear but yeah Free Peace Sweet is a to pun and more importantly a top album. Thank you for reminding me of Dodgy ❤

[@callechristiernsson5007]

Great list! But I would never put Shed Seven or Cast before Screamadelica or Suede. Also missing Modern Life by Blur and To Bring You My Love by PJ Harvey.

[@elliotbevan7641]

In it for the money is an amazing album!! I personally think it’s better than I should coco

[@cmm3921]

Great list, I'm a big fan of The La's - BBC in Session IMO most of these live versions are better than the album recordings that Lee Mavers famously disowned.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah The La's were something else

[@philburtonfrench]

On John Squire solos - personally I prefer the subtly of his outro solo on Where Angels Play :)

[@Paulie1974]

Brilliant breakdown of some of my favourite albums of all tim I think I owned most of these but not listened to almost all of them in years, I could add quite a few to your list but then it would be my list lol nice one James

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Paulie! Yeah I've mentioned to a few people on here, I could easily have made this a top 100 hahaha so much excellent material to choose from

[@Paulie1974]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Very true unlike most of today's garbage I'm glad I was around when all these bands where big was lucky to have seen some of them live, I searched cast on KZbin was a huge fan back in the day man they still sound brilliant they look very different but man do they still rock, I wonder how of these bands are still together and still touring

[@chesterpollard1851]

Team Morning Glory for the win! That seems to be a big divide within the Oasis fans. Good list! Just wondering, what do you think about Badly Badly by Smaller?

[@cornflakesyuh3235]

Morning Glory is their best for sure

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi Chester - Smaller are excellent!

[@tastemaker_87]

I would have added 1977 by Ash to this! Simple but flawless pop punk

[@craig7810]

Nice one James, I was hoping to see Marching already in there. Also the 2nd coming is a masterpiece I'd have that in my list.

[@DiRtYLaWs2007]

The Second Coming really divided fans and critics at the time. I really liked it a lot, but nothing ever came close to their debut album for me.

[@craig7810]

@@DiRtYLaWs2007 for me it sounds like albums made by two different bands. I like each one equally. Love spreads, tightrope and ten storey love song are as good as any Roses song in my opinion. The only reason I said this over their debut however is because the video specifies albums of the 90's.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah Second Coming was divisive! Good album but takes a while to really appreciate

[@nightdangerband]

Oasis - Definitely Maybe Oasis - WTSMG Pulp - Different Class The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (technically ‘89 but whatever) Elastica - Elastica (phenomenal album!) The Verve - A Storm In Heaven (severally under-rated) Radiohead - OK Computer Primal Scream - XTRMNTR (technically ‘00 but whatever) The La’s - The La’s

[@nightdangerband]

@@bwpm1467 yet, here we are... If you don’t like that, you’ll hate that I also included an album from ‘00 in my list. And if you want to nitpick, the album didn’t do much upon its release. It was only at the very end of ‘89 when it started to do really well and ‘90 was when it really took off.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Nice! All good choices. For some reason I never really clicked with OK Computer though. I know I'm in the minority there, and I don't know why, but it just never spoke to me

[@nightdangerband]

For years OK Computer didn’t do much for me. I liked it, but I didn’t really get the hype. I always preferred The Bends. But with time, I’ve really come to “get” OK Computer and The Bends just sounds a bit dated. It’s still a great album too, but just hasn’t stood the test to time as well.

[@andrewoliver8930]

That Verve album is bloody lovely. A hidden gem.

[@nightdangerband]

@@andrewoliver8930 totally different vibe from any of their other stuff, but probably their best. Dark, loud and spacey…a killer combo. Great for night drives on the highway.

[@gbvfan9630]

I'd recommend The Auteurs, can't go wrong with any of the four albums. Often overlooked and under appreciated, Haines is a genius.

[@berlinocelot]

Nice idea for a vid. Despite its massive flaws I still think Second Coming blows half this list out of the water. Very surprised it's not on there.

[@johnmorrison8324]

Couldn't agree more mate and not having the debut album on the list is criminal

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Second Coming is a good album, but it is a divisive one! I like the album, but for me it doesn’t touch the Stone Roses debut... and that was out in ‘89, so isn’t a 90s album

[@johnmorrison8324]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar It is isn't it. As u might have guessed I'm a stone roses fanatic lol. They were the first guitar band I got into at 13 years old and I've not came across a band that's made the same impact on me since. 3 amazing musicians and an iconic front man with great lyrics same he can't sing live though lol. Pink floyd is probably the closest

[@benwilkinson815]

The La’s self titled album is easily my favourite of all time. Mavers is a genius

[@benwilkinson815]

@3rd Ear it’s on this list and this list is just 90s not britpop

[@berlinocelot]

@@benwilkinson815 I love that album. So underrated when you consider the quality of the tunes on it.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

The La's debut is a masterpiece. Never get's old

[@rebelno9737]

Mavers is a fake..a genius would do anything to get his work out there..

[@leothomp1362]

different class- pulp endtroducing- dj shadow blue lines- massive attack the low end theory- a tribe called quest loveless- my bloody valentine screamadelica- primal scream dots and loops- stereolab enter the wu tang- wu tang clan dummy- portishead dog man star- suede

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Nice. MBV & screamadelica - awesome

[@MaquiladoraIII]

Excellent call on including the underrated Good Will Out. The standout for me is the beautiful "Fireworks" which still gets me to this day.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

It’s an amazing album

[@markknox1295]

Need to chip in here and agree, absolute classic, my personal favourite track is the title track The Good Will Out, its a masterpiece which brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear it

[@markheywood5626]

Great video and I have all the album's in the top 10. Can't believe you left Pulp out though.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Ha yeah well I could have made this a top 100, there’s just too many great albums out there! Pulp made it into the ‘honourable mentions’ section tho...

[@TubzNook]

Supergrass - I Should Coco should defo be there, amazing album

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Brilliant album

[@spashgroupe7412]

No order Oasis - Definitely Maybe Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister The La's - self titled Radiohead - OK Computer Teenage Fanclub - Grand Prix Pulp - This Is Hardcore Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Barafundle Primal Scream - Scremadelica Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space The Verve - Urban Hymns Bonus: My Bloody Valentine - Loveless. Half the band is british but the band was formed in Dublin and the main songwriter is american/irish, so that's debatable if they could get into the list ahah

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Loveless - that album is so odd to me. I just don't get it. I know so many people love it, but to me its the most introspective, weird, navelgazing thing ever. Can only listen to a few tunes from it, and then only occasionally.

[@spashgroupe7412]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar I love the sound of it, I actually find it almost comforting to listen to. A bit like Bryter Layter by Nick Drake, even though it's a totally different kind of album. There's a lot of melancholy (which is a thing I love in Oasis songs btw, even though it's sometimes hidden by the bravado and Liam's great snarl) in there but the album doesn't feel depressive or morbid, at least imo 😁

[@colourlessbluethings]

Nice to see Tellin' Stories. When I was in school, I was the only one in my circle who liked The Charlatans and got quite a bit of stick. Can't pretend I've listened to any of their albums in a long time but still think that, along with The Bluetones, they were among the most under appreciated bands of the era.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah. Everyone seems to be annoyed I left out the Bluetones hahaha I do love that album

[@ianmcphee5650]

Good job James . I would have to say my favourite two are urban hymns and the embrace album . Your right about the album moving you emotionally. Retread is amazing as is that’s all changed forever . I loved the bluetones album ‘expecting to fly’ though. Great choices though

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Ian. Yeah loads of people have objected to me leaving out the Bluetones haha It is an excellent album though

[@GT380man]

Thank you, James. Keeping me sane, here, in what’s turning out to be yet another annus horribilis. Love your love of the period / genre & the home-grown talent that was dubbed “Britpop”. Some might say that every decade is filled with talented musicians & songs, and all time passing does is to distil the greats from the good, leaving the dross behind. In the moment, were the 1990s really that special? I cannot tell. The stories we tell ourselves now about each of those decades are not necessarily accurate. I listened to a lot more music in the 70s & 90s than any other periods of my life (born 1960). The kid in me will never see the 70s beaten, musically. Yet invited to pick just one decade from which to furnish the only playlist I was to be permitted, it would be the 1990s all day. Thanks again, James, you’re doing cracking work atm. More power to you. Ps: I’d definitely have had “Way Out” on my three track selection from The Las.

[@ceebee491]

10- Songs of faith and devotion - Depeche Mode 9- Modern life is rubbish - Blur 8- Suede -Suede 7- Everything must go -Manic street preachers 6- In it for the money - Supergrass 5- C'mon Kids - Boo Radleys 4- Ok Computer - Radiohead 3- Mezzanine - Massive Attack 2- Portishead - Portishead 1- Pills, Thrills and bellyache - Happy Mondays

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Good choices

[@ceebee491]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar nice one James, could have done a top 20, 50 even. Best decade for music imo. Though the 80's can get overlooked a bit...have you done an 80's list?

[@FLAVCO]

Dammit I forgot about Depeche Modes SOFAD such a great album. Mercy in you my fave song! 😀

[@ceebee491]

@@FLAVCO it is a fantastic song. Martin and Dave have great voices and harmonise well.

[@FLAVCO]

@@ceebee491 yes amazing! They deserve too be huge!

[@michaeltownsend8990]

Great Top 10 James and some of these would be on mine also but Blurs Parklife deserves more than a honourable mention and should be up near the top. The big Blur v Oasis thing didn't include me . I liked them in equal measure and I consider Damon Albarn the best all round musician amongst them. Stylistically they're worlds apart but equally great . What's your spin on Blur because you hardly mention them ?

[@reillywalker195]

The legal dispute surrounding "Bitter Sweet Symphony" is quite a complicated one but, in short: The Verve *had* permission from Decca Records to use the six-note sample featured in the song but *not* the permission of former Rolling Stones manager Allen Klein. The band gave in after Klein sued by relinquishing rights to the song only for another former Rolling Stones manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, to sue for royalties. In 2019, though, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards both agreed to relinquish their claims to the song, so now Richard Ashcroft has sole credit and receives all royalties for it.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah I knew there was something or other that had happened that meant they could actually be paid now. I'm happy for them. As if the Rolling Stones even needed the money anyway

[@WoodyGamesUK]

Secretly pleased that you didn't include Pulp or Suede, or Blur (even though I think Blur does deserve to be in, even though I've never been a fan).

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hahahahahaha nothing wrong with those guys, just my personal tastes really!

[@jaydelaney645]

Enjoyed this, nice work..........if you like that Scouse thing please check out Waterpistol and HMS Fable by Shack, 2 of the 90’s’ finest albums right there. Also, can you edit the pronunciation of Mavers? It’s doing my head in😂

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hahahahaha I couldn't find any audio of him saying his own name, but his brother is in showbiz and pronounces it May-vers, so I assumed that was the way his family say it and went with that

[@autywizja]

Glad you mention Govinda speaking about "K". To me Noel copied it in acoustic part of "Fade in-out" just one year later

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah he was a massive pincher of other people's stuff hahaha

[@stupidnicks]

James, what's your opinion about Hurricane #1?

[@j.p.4152]

Thanks James. I am now on a listening journey. As an American Midwesterner I had no idea about most of these.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

No worries Joseph, thanks for the question!

[@ianblackmore-allen163]

You're in for a right treat mate

[@almitchell634]

Good list. Where are Ride tho? Going blank again

[@mr1zog]

I knew There she goes, always loved the song but never gave the album a go.. The cd had always been around the house but I was more wrapped up in the grunge and hip hop scenes at the time.. Recently watched an amplitude documentary and now your vid finally broke the camel.😊 Thanks for your content and passion 🤘

[@mr1zog]

I’m getting awesome, next Kinks vibes. It’s great 👍

[@mr1zog]

Noel nicked one of the guitar licks off Looking Glass too! 💪😄🤘

[@thomaswalsh1064]

Great video mate. And i know it's all so subjective, but i would add Blur to the list for sure. Honourable mention to OCS.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Ah interesting! The Blur self-titled one? Or Parklife?

[@thomaswalsh1064]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar i got a lot of love for parklife, but Blur self titled is such a leap forward for them, and some amazing guitar work from the criminally underrated Coxon.

[@Dalesi]

Ill add these to my playlist, i called it ‘this is britpop’ for those who need your britpop suggestions for when they are not on youtube 😉

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cool sounds good

[@johnlyons2257]

if you are looking for a good new british rock n roll band, then check out the snuts from glasgow. their star is on the rise.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Just had a listen on Spotify. Very nice!

[@TheMisterMonkeyman]

Great video. I always thought I was pretty tuned-in to British indie/Britpop music from the 90's, for an American at least. But you turned me on to a couple of bands that I didn't know about, AND you caused me to check out the Seahorses. I love John Squire's guitar work in the Roses, but for some reason I never even checked into the Seahorses before. I have now...thank you. I enjoyed Cast before I knew John Power had been in the La's, super talented guy. Thanks for making this, I now have some more music to check out. Peace.

[@MadeOfStone02]

I would have put second coming in mine although it takes several listens to really get it. Tears gives me goosebumps every time

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

It's a good album - definitely takes a bit of work to access it though. I love Breaking Into Heaven and Love Spreads though, both awesome tracks

[@CupidStunt72]

Tears is an amazing song !

[@jukeboxcowboy]

Let's hear it for the ladies! Elastica! My Bloody Valentine! Helen Love! Bis!....

[@FLAVCO]

My albums are (in no silly list order) - suede - Suede Prodigy - Music for the jilted generation Primal Scream - Screamadelica Oasis - What’s the Story Morning Glory The Verve - Urban Hyms Radiohead - The Bends Leftfield - Leftism Morrissey - Vauxhall & I Blur - Modern Life is Rubbish Happy Mondays - Pils n thrills and Bellyaches

[@FrettedFlipper]

Liked this list! Lots to check out for a Norwegian millennial like myself. Would be great if you could just make a list of all the songs you mentioned!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks for watching

[@mancavejammer4376]

Hi James Great video again ! Just one on the charlatans , they’ve got a great documentary. Mountain Picnic Blues bout the run up and making Telling Stories well worth a watch m8 👍also canny believe u missed Ure name sake “James” deserve a mention lol Didn’t realise u liked the seahorses so much I do suicide drive and love me and leave me guitar cover on my channel give it a wee look 🙈

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah I love Suicide Drive, it’s a brilliant tune The band James are cool, but there’s only so many great bands I can fit into a top 10 though haha... Could have easily made this a top 100, there’s so many excellent albums from this era

[@mancavejammer4376]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar yeah was a great time for guitar music 👍

[@davesharp7315]

Everyone seems to miss out Embrace.... The Good Will Out is a fantastic album....

[@ianblackmore-allen163]

Lovely video. Agree with the whole darn thing. What an amazing decade. Would also suggest This world and body by Marion as well as Expecting to fly by The Bluetones 👌

[@ianblackmore-allen163]

And Ash 1977

[@RaphaelZajac]

For long years I would have agree with you but now I have understand that The La’s album is even higher than « what’s the story? Morning glory »

[@RayJones-zd5fn]

That last one was Technical list. My Percy list goes... 1.Be Here Now 2.Second Coming 3.Paul Weller 1st 4.Mosley Shoals 5.D.M 6.K 7.WTSMG 8.Expecting To Fly 9.Heavy Soul 10.Californiacation

[@bosco7837]

I remember when most of these albums were "new". Shite, I'm getting old...

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hahahahahahaha I feel you

[@markshort5187]

When you were speaking at the start I quickly thought of top 10 and the Charlatans Tellin Stories was definitely one id have picked, the singles and title track are brilliant.... I wouldnt have included K by Kula Shaker or I should Coco by Supergrass, I have both albums but for me K hasnt aged well and Supergrass next 2 albums were better. I didnt think of Embrace but im glad you included it because it was brilliant and I will revisit this, tracks 2 through to 5 top class!, Do it Yourself was a great album and I can remember being so excited that Squire was back (your video on the Seahorses was one of your best!) I genuinely think its one of those few albums you can listen to all the way through. Shed 7 are so under rated, seen them live and they are brilliant, they have a couple of great studio albums Maximum High is probably the most famous but Let It Ride for me is my personal favourite, to include a Greatest Hits opens you up to so many other albums but a very good compilation. Cast were the first gig I went to at Livi Forum in 1996, All Change was a great album but it hasnt aged that well, still a good album but I listened to it not that long ago and couldnt believe that I used to listen to this so often when it first came out (defo deserves a honourable mention tho) everybody's

[@Gravedigger2024]

I agreed with much of what you said in this video. I own all ten of the albums you listed. Though I’d probably shift the order around a bit, and I’d definitely exclude Kula Shaker and add Black Grape. Glad you like Embrace by the way. I’d say they’re in my top five favourite bands of all time. Got all the albums and met the band three times. They’re still producing great stuff by the way. You probably know that yourself, but many people are missing out.

[@nicjones7102]

Great list. I would have put Moseley Shoals by Ocean Colour Scene and Different Class by Pulp in there somewhere

[@j9186]

Definitely Maybe should be in top 10 also by Irish band Oasis btw Gallagher Mother and Father and all their relations are Irish.

[@haryakruz5893]

duuuuuddeee very niiiice vidoeooooooo, congraats

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks Harya 👍👍👍🎸🎸🎸

[@lewisclark1122]

One thing I notice about all of the albums and singles featured here - they all have proper artwork.

[@fanwenzan]

This is a great video. I'm a Chinese Fan of British indie music and, believe it or not, there are a lot of us in China! One of my favorite is What on the outside by the real people.

[@britpopbuzz8564]

Another good video. Nice top ten 👍

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks 👍

[@b1ueroom]

Expecting to Fly by The Bluetones

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cracking album

[@GergelAni]

"All Change" was released on 16th October 1995, mate. I remember Noel putting it down on Melody Maker.

[@ChubbyChecker182]

I enjoy your content, particularly the recent Seahorses documentary, but I hope you don't mind me saying that I find you looking away from the camera every 2 seconds really hard to watch. I guess you are looking at notes, but even if you placed them nearer the camera rather than turning nearly 60 degrees to read them. (Commented with good intentions, really enjoying your content ✌️)