Classics 06: Britpop Part 2

To continue with my recent rediscovery of some classic Britpop, here are some bands from the fringes of the era. While never really included in the movement itself, a number of bands became vaguely associated with Britpop by means of their timing and similar musical sensibilities. Saint Etienne were seen as a pure pop foreshadowing of some of Britpop's more uplifting sounds. Manic Street Preachers started out as a grungy rock group, but evolved into a more serious complement of their peers by 1996. Travis picked up where fallen idols Oasis, Blur and Suede left off with their somber tunes, and heralded an end-of-century shift towards MOR in British music. Again, the best-of collections of each group are highly recommended pop music primers.

Manic Street Preachers, "A Design For Life" (from the album Everything Must Go and compilation Forever Delayed: The Greatest Hits)
Saint Etienne, "Nothing Can Stop Us" (from the album Foxbase Alpha and compilation Travel Edition 1990-2005)
Travis, "Driftwood" (from the album The Man Who and the compilation Singles)

***Note: Links removed***

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