The La's - The La's (1990)

A hidden gem of the Britpop era, Liverpool ensemble The La’s’ self-titled and only studio album remains a highly underrated slice of quintessential British guitar pop. Right from the off, frontman Lee Mavers’  distinctive voice grabs your attention and draws you into a wonderful world of Britpop lyricism and Manchester jangling guitars. Coming in 1990, just under 18 months after The Stone Roses released their groundbreaking debut, this album has become somewhat lost to the archives of British guitar pop. There was however one thing that saved this album, and The La’s from complete obscurity, and that was the hugely popular lead single ‘There She Goes’, reaching number 13 on the British singles chart. The importance of this album cannot be underestimated, as it has that distinctive Britpop sound, despite predating it by a couple of years, the inspiration this album has provided can be heard across a number of iconic works from the Britpop movement. The album’s opening number, ‘Son Of A Gun’ is a personal favourite, with a simple yet effective foot-tapping riff, vocals that feel as if they’re building throughout the song, and a sense of delicate lyricism that adds a real depth, this particular song, as well as the wider album, is a masterclass in exactly what guitar pop needs to be. It is catchy, it feels fun, and it has that unmistakable sing-along quality, without sacrificing lyrical depth and musicianship. This is an album that should be held in such high regard as releases like ‘Definitely Maybe’, or ‘Gold Mother’, yet it is so often overlooked, and that, I feel truly is an injustice, as this album well and truly deserves the time and attention of a full listen. It is so much more than its lead single, and The La’s should have been so much more than simply appearing on ‘one hit wonder’ lists. I cannot recommend a full listen and exploration of this wonderful album enough, it should have been a monumental release and you will not be disappointed...