Britpop Retro

To pass the time lately, I've started playing the Tomb Raider series again (on PS2), from the beginning. I was always a fan of these games, for the solving of puzzles and the atmospherics (nothing to do with Lara Croft's finely-animated rear-end, honest).

Also, when down in Prestwick recently, I "unearthed" some old CDs from my youth; I rediscovered such gems as the Manics' Holy Bible, an album with some of the darkest lyrics I've seen/heard, covering topics from anorexia to the Holocaust. What makes it special for me is that these miserable lyrics are accompanied by some incredible music; dark, raw, powerful, dynamic - every tune for me is quality. I've never been a fan of polished production, and the Holy Bible is certainly not that. I much prefer more natural, raw recordings. That the band's lyricist, Richey, disappeared shortly after the albums release, is testament to the authenticity of the song content.

Another old favourite is Dog Man Star by Suede. I like this because it's haunting and atmospheric, and features the sublime jangly guitar work of Bernard Butler. Brett Anderson's unusual voice suits the drama of the songs. The production here is, not raw exactly, but unique in many ways.

Finally, there was a couple of albums by the eccentric britpop group "Mansun". Although a lot of their stuff is quite unusual, they did have the ability to make catchy pop tunes.

It's quite nostalgic to listen to these albums after so many years.