Bandsplain

We’re unpacking the battle of Britpop as well as the war of words between Blur and Oasis. Did the art school icons or the working class heroes ultimately prevail? Who won over the critics? Who laughed all the way to the bank? Which band’s legacy is stronger today? In this episode, we’re going to answer those questions and more as we rehash the great feud between two Britpop giants: Oasis and Blur. Join us as Yasi and Miranda Sawyer, journalist and author of Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 Songs (2024), declare a winner through a five-category contest: public insults, commercial success, critical acclaim, American or British audiences, and legacy. Plus, Miranda dishes exclusive goss about her infamous interview with Noel Gallagher, and she shares her boots-on-the-ground POV about the musical and political scenes surrounding the bands’ respective reigns.  CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Miranda Sawyer @msmirandasawyer  Producer: Liz Sánchez  Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In honor of the holidays, we have a very special bonus episode for our fanatics. Yasi talks all things British slang with Arctic Monkeys drummer and former Kappa tracksuit-wearing lad, Matt Helders. Do you know the difference between a lad, a chav, a bloke, a bird and a geezer? Listen along as Matt quizzes Yasi on all the ways you can say “proper bladdered.” We think you’ll be dead chuffed with this one, mate.  CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Matt Helders @matthelders Producer: Liz Sánchez  Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As one of the first Britpop bands, these college blokes from Colchester started out making shoegaze and baggy jams in the Scene that Celebrates Itself before writing a genre-defining album that romanticized British life and paved the way for an indie explosion. They were the UK’s favorite band, that is, until they weren’t. They may have lost the Britpop war, but their third act was brilliant nonetheless. The Ringer’s Chris Ryan joins us to talk about the band who turned toward Britain and solidified a scene, and the ways they ultimately broke out of their own (Brit) box. Follow along as we trace the band’s breakups and makeups, while exploring their sonic evolution from shoegaze to Britpop to alt-rock.  SKIP AHEAD: 7:22 – Band formation 45:51 – Sign to Food Records; ‘She’s So High’ single 1:03:59 – Leisure 1:31:04 – Modern Life is Rubbish 1:45:19 – ‘Girls & Boys’ single 1:54:27 – Parklife 2:25:40  – Chart Battle 2:36:25 – The Great Escape 2:51:14 – Blur (self-titled album) 3:04:01 – Britpop dies 3:05:40 – 13  3:15:49 – Think Tank 3:24:19 – The Magic Whip 3:28:03 – The Ballad of Darren  EPISODE PLAYLIST: Listen to songs we detail in the episode ⁠HERE⁠ CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guests: Chris Ryan @crashactivated  Producer: Liz Sánchez @lizbetsanch  Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ok, Yasi and the Scots are back for Madchester part two. We last saw The Stone Roses after they released their celebrated EP Sally Cinnamon, on the brink of a make-or-break decision: should they sign to Jive or Rough Trade? Meanwhile, the Happy Mondays were riding the wave of their debut album Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out), and guess what? They have a new friend: Ecstasy. They’re now starting to make music influenced by its heart-opening potency. This is when the rave scene starts to bubble up from the dark Manchester clubs, like the Hacienda. Listen as we trace the back half of both bands’ short but very sweet catalog, from Madchester Rave On to the Second Coming. SKIP AHEAD: 22:05 - Happy Mondays release ‘Wrote For Luck’ single and later Bummed (1988) 1:04:28 - The Stone Roses drop their self-titled debut album (1989) 1:23:27 - Happy Mondays release Madchester Rave On EP (1989) (featured on Bummed Collector’s Edition: Hallelujah / Holy Ghost / Clap Your Hands / Rave On) 1:30:30 - Madchester and “Rave” Origins 2:10:53 - Happy Mondays release Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches (1990) 2:36:00 - Happy Mondays record …Yes Please (1992) 2:47:34 - Happy Mondays break up (1993) 2:51:21 - The Stone Roses release their last album Second Coming (1994) 3:13:05 - The Stone Roses break up (1996) EPISODE PLAYLIST: Listen to songs we detail in the episode ⁠HERE⁠ CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek Guests: John Niven, Chlöe Walsh Producer: Liz Sánchez Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices