It’s no secret that 1997 was a fantastic year for music, and whilst I wasn’t born yet, my mum and dad have given me a list of their favourite albums of that year. Below there is a brief description of the bands and their albums, along with my parent’s favourite songs from them.
Blur – Blur
Blur was a follow up to the band’s 1995 album The Great Escape, where they shake off their Brit Pop sound and look across the pond to the USA for inspiration from bands such as Sonic Youth and Pavement. This is possibly the best album from a band with multiple great albums. The stand out single Song 2 is still iconic today, being their biggest hit in America.
Here you can listen to my mum’s favourite song on the album:
When I Was Born For The 7th Time – Cornershop
This was the album that broke Cornershop into the mainstream scene (well at least for a little while). They landed themselves a number one single in Brimful Of Asha and although some say that’s down to Fatboy Slim’s remix, the original is arguably better. It also happens to be the first song to feature the word ‘bosom’. From the opening track Sleep On The Left Side to the Punjabi cover of Norwegian Wood it’s clear this album is a masterpiece. Tjinder Singh’s almost flat vocals give these songs such a unique sound; it’s Indie but not as you know it.
Here you can listen to my dad’s favourite song from the album:
Static And Silence – The Sundays
Static And Silence consists of a beautiful collection of songs lead by Harriet Wheeler’s sweet voice. Standout tracks include Summertime, Cry and Leave This City (which features as the theme tune for The Mary Whitehouse Experience). This has always felt like a band with a sound that if this album was released ten years later, it would have been a bigger hit.
Here you can listen to my mum’s favourite song from the album:
Curtains – Tindersticks
Nottingham misanthropes Tindersticks are immensely underrated in the UK and have clearly been more successful in Europe. Blending Nick Cave vocals, tragically funny lyrics, orchestral arrangements and the fact that there has never been anything quite like it made this a contender for their best album.
Here you can listen to my dad’s favourite song from the album:
Young Team – Mogwai
Post rock was relatively young when this album was released. Almost completely intrumental, it showcased the loud, quiet, classic Mogawai sound. Snippets of recorded speech feature over a glockenspiel, which is criminally underused in rock, and a flute. Mogwai are still one of the greatest bands on earth today, although leader Stuart Braithwaite sings a little more than he used to.
Here you can listen to my dad’s favourite song on the album:
Dots And Loops – Stereolab
The best way to describe Dots And Loops is as a sort of lush arty jazz easy listening album. It’s obvious upon hearing it that it could be released today. Despite being very retro it also sounds incredibly modern too. The standout track Miss Modular belongs on everyone’s Spotify wrapped. Many artists were also inspired by Stereolab including Common and Pharrell Williams.
Here you can listen to my dad’s favourite song on the album:
Homework – Daft Punk
The rapid mutation from Indie Lo-Fi band Darlin’ to basically inventing EDM is represented by this, their debut album. This may be their worst album, but that’s only because everything they subsequently did was incredible. The biggest clue to how their sound would evolve is Homework‘s best track Around The World, which is seven minutes of pure House joy. Are they the greatest musical act of all time? They certainly prove that no one is better than the French at dance music.
Here you can listen to my mum’s favourite song on the album:
If You’re Feeling Sinister – Belle And Sebastian
In an extraordinarily laddish and macho Brit Pop scene in 1997 came this; a band unafraid to explore and display their feelings and emotions. If You’re Feeling Sinister is a wistful bookish collection of songs with so much melody it hurts. Stuart Murdoch’s emotive and at times ambiguous lyrics include funny moments too, especially in the characters he sings about. Overall, they are band who have never made a bad album.
Here you can listen to my mum’s favourite song on the album: