BRITPOP

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‘The Sixties are our heritage’: How the Jam invented Britpop’s ethos

Critics couldn't take the Jam seriously at first, claiming they were just a bunch of gimmicks. But their ‘hail your heroes’ ethos was entirely authentic, setting the blueprint for Britpop two decades later.

by David Rea

20 September 2025

Three men sitting at a table in a diner, drinking coffee, with condiments and utensils on the table, and a plant in a pot on the window behind them.

30th ANNIVERARY REVIEW

Definitely Maybe

Oasis

Listening to the band's rudimentary and derivative moving parts thirty years later then, it is easy to conclude that the tumult surrounding the band lent the music something which simply isn't there on the master tape.

Words: David Rea

30 August 2024

A group of five young men in a cozy living room with wooden floors, sitting and lying around while one plays guitar. One man stands near the window, gesturing, and another sits watching a TV. There are posters, framed photos, a globe, a flamingo lamp, and a shelf with various items. The room is brightly lit by natural light.

ALBUM REVIEW

Liam Gallagher John Squire

This is very much in one of Britpop's key registers: cocksure optimism. Almost front to back it is tuneful, guitar-driven pop-rock, which wouldn't have sounded out of place in 1995.

Words: David Rea

2 March 2024

A collection of various health and lifestyle products, including soap, hand sanitizer, toothpaste, and possibly medication or supplements, arranged in a circular pile with some app posters or note cards visible.

WATCH STATE OF SOUND TV

The Smiths, The Stone Roses and The La’s: 7 guitar riffs that changed my life with Shapes Like People

Watch Shapes Like People’s Carl Mann play the riffs that changed his life. Inspired by everybody from John Squire to Johnny Marr, Carl explains the secret behind a classic riff and why simplicity is always best.

14 March 2026