|
Brit-pop retrospective cools GRTR! reviewer
For one, I can’t stand Jools Holland, and for two, Cool Britannia it isn’t.
Well first up, there’s a bonus - Jools doesn’t feature so we don’t have to stomach his smug, sanctimonious patter. The DVD is bannered under the ‘Later’ TV programme title and is, simply 34 performances culled over the decade 1993 - 2003.
There are no links, no fancy editing or other trickery, just one performance after another - a bit like watching TOTP with no presenter (hallelujah). So it simply comes down to whether the artists brigaded under the Cool Britannia banner are your idea of cool.
But to be honest, if the artists on display are the best the UK has had to offer in the last 10 years, God help us.
Of course the good thing about a DVD as extensive as this, is that you’re bound to find something to take your interest, so while I was completely turned off by the likes of Ash, Blur, Doves, Elbow, Feeder, Morrissey, Pulp, Radio Head, Suede, Supergrass, Charlatans and Travis, there were some decent moments in the shape of Catatonia, Paul Weller, The Darkness and The Verve.
According to the ‘blurb’ this is a collection of sounds that changed the face of British music forever. Who are they trying to kid? Most of what’s on offer won’t make the history books - apart to maybe explain the loosening of British world domination that emerged in the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Blur and Oasis are given top billing. But frankly they were never anything more than disposable pop - they certainly weren’t revolutionary. And the Oasis effort is summed up by a cover of the Beatles’ I Am The Walrus. Enuff said.
And that’s why this DVD just isn’t going to sell. It’s too diverse. Something for everyone, but not everything for anyone. But look on the bright side - at least we didn’t get Jools playing with his ivories.
Related>> 10 Years Later...
Related>> Later...Louder
Related>> Later...Giants
Related>> Later...Hootenanny
***
Review by Pete Whalley
|
