Various Popscene - From Baggy To Britpop 1989 - 1994 (4-CD Box)

(Cherry Red Records) 90 tracks, digisleeve in clamshell box, incl. booklet

4CD anthology tracing the evolution of indie music from the baggy sound of 1989 to the beginnings of the Britpop explosion in 1994.
Includes many hit singles and cult rarities.
Key artists include Blur, Pulp, Suede, The Stone Roses, Paul Weller, The La's, Primal Scream, Saint Etienne, Ocean Colour Scene, Happy Mondays, Manic Street Preachers, Supergrass, Ride, Sleeper, Gene, Echobelly, The Bluetones and Cast.
The term “Britpop” was coined by “Select” magazine in April 1993 to describe a new wave of British acts who, in their opinion, represented an alternative to the US grunge sound. These included Suede, Pulp, The Auteurs and Saint Etienne, all of whom are represented here.
This compilation traces the roots of the movement back to Baggy Madchester groups The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and Inspiral Carpets, as well as bands like The Wonder Stuff from Stourbridge, who brought the indie scene out of the underground and into the British charts, raising guitar bands' ambitions for commercial success. Included are arguably the first Britpop singles, Blur's “Popscene” from March 1992 and Suede's “The Drowners” from May of the same year, as well as early singles from Britpop acts such as Dodgy, Sleeper, Echobelly, Gene, Ocean Colour Scene and Space. Also included are demos of future hits by The Bluetones and Cast, both of whom would go on to have chart-topping albums in 1995.