Rhino Brit Box: Soundtrack to My Life

The good folks at Rhino always manage to release at least one killer box set a year, and in 2007 it looks to be The Brit Box: U.K. Indie, Shoegaze, and Brit Pop Gems of the Last Millennium. It collects the creme de la creme of British indie from the last 20 years. The label always does a good job at compiling these, but they've really outdone themselves here -- it's pretty damn complete. I could quibble with the inclusion of a few artists (Birdland, 5:30, Mansun and, most egregiously, Hurricane #1) and the omission of others (The Woodentops, House of Love, Longpigs, Slowdive, Animals That Swim.. um, Cud), or the occasional odd song choice. (If you're going to bother putting Menswe@r on here, why include anything but "Daydreamer"?) But any compilation that includes the Shop Assistants, the Family Cat, Thousand Yard Stare, and Babybird has done a pretty good job.

But if it was up to me, I would've included...

MP3: House of Love - Never

MP3: Cud - Oh No Won't Do

MP3: Animals That Swim - A Good Xmas

MP3: The Woodentops - Plenty

This would definitely be on my Christmas list if I didn't already own all the music on it. Well, all that I'd want to own, anyway. The Brit Box is out on these shores October 2. Full track list after the jump.

THE BRIT BOX: UK INDIE, SHOEGAZE, AND BRIT-POP GEMS OF THE LAST MILLENNIUM
Track Listing

Disc 1
  1. The Smiths -- "How Soon Is Now?"
  2. Cocteau Twins -- "Lorelei"
  3. Felt -- "Primitive Painters"
  4. Shop Assistants -- "Somewhere In China"
  5. The Mighty Lemon Drops -- "My Biggest Thrill"
  6. The Cure -- "Just Like Heaven"
  7. Echo & The Bunnymen -- "Lips Like Sugar"
  8. The Jesus And Mary Chain -- "April Skies"
  9. Spacemen 3 -- "Walkin' With Jesus (Sound Of Confusion)"
  10. The Primitives -- "Crash"
  11. The Wonder Stuff -- "Unbearable"
  12. The Stone Roses -- "She Bangs The Drums"
  13. The Charlatans UK -- "The Only One I Know"
  14. Happy Mondays -- "Step On"
  15. Primal Scream -- "Loaded" (single version)
  16. Inspiral Carpets -- "This Is How It Feels"
  17. The Trash Can Sinatras -- "Obscurity Knocks"
  18. The La's -- "There She Goes"
  19. The Sundays -- "Here's Where The Story Ends"

Disc 2
  1. Ride -- "Vapour Trail"
  2. Pale Saints -- "Sight Of You"
  3. My Bloody Valentine -- "Only Shallow"
  4. Lush -- "For Love"
  5. The Telescopes -- "Flying"
  6. Chapterhouse -- "Pearl"
  7. Catherine Wheel -- "I Want To Touch You"
  8. Bleach -- "Trip & Slide"
  9. Curve -- "Coast Is Clear"
  10. Five Thirty -- "You"
  11. Moose -- "This River Will Never Run Dry"
  12. The Family Cat -- "(Thought I'd Died) And Gone To Heaven"
  13. The Dylans -- "(Don't Cut Me Down) Mary Quant In Blue"
  14. Thousand Yard Stare -- "0-0 A.E.T. (No Score After Extra Time)"
  15. Ned's Atomic Dustbin -- "Grey Cell Green"
  16. Birdland -- "Shoot You Down"
  17. Manic Street Preachers -- "Stay Beautiful"
  18. Teenage Fanclub -- "Star Sign"

Disc 3
  1. Suede -- "Metal Mickey"
  2. Swervedriver -- "Duel" (radio edit)
  3. Eugenius -- "Breakfast"
  4. Superstar -- "Barfly"
  5. New Order -- "Regret"
  6. James -- "Laid"
  7. Nick Heyward -- "Kite"
  8. The Boo Radleys -- "Lazarus"
  9. Saint Etienne -- "You're In A Bad Way"
  10. Stereolab -- "Wow & Flutter"
  11. Blur -- "Tracy Jacks"
  12. Oasis -- "Live Forever"
  13. Pulp -- "Common People"
  14. These Animal Men -- "Speeed King"
  15. Mega City Four -- "Wallflower"
  16. Echobelly -- "Insomniac"
  17. Gene -- "Sleep Well Tonight"
  18. Menswear -- "Sleeping In"
  19. Supergrass -- "Alright"
  20. Cast -- "Alright"
  21. Elastica -- "Stutter"

Disc 4
  1. Dodgy -- "In A Room"
  2. Ash -- "Girl From Mars"
  3. Sleeper -- "Sale Of The Century"
  4. Marion -- "Sleep"
  5. Kula Shaker -- "Tattva"
  6. Ocean Colour Scene -- "The Riverboat Song"
  7. Babybird -- "You're Gorgeous"
  8. The Bluetones -- "Slight Return"
  9. Super Furry Animals -- "Something 4 The Weekend"
  10. The Divine Comedy -- "Something For The Weekend"
  11. Cornershop -- "Brimful Of Asha"
  12. Silver Sun -- "Service"
  13. Spiritualized -- "Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space"
  14. Mansun -- "Wide Open Space"
  15. Hurricane #1 -- "Step Into My World"
  16. The Verve -- "Lucky Man"
  17. Rialto -- "Untouchable"
  18. Catatonia -- "Mulder And Scully"
  19. Placebo -- "You Don't Care About Us"
  20. Gay Dad -- "Oh Jim"

Comments

[steve]

Ira was listening to the advance of this box last week, and I had to keep checking what decade it was whenever I went into his office.

[Matt Berlyant]

That looks like a great box set. Any set that includes The Trashcan Sinatras is OK with me!

[toby]

they coulda put on some Adorable and That Petrol Emotion too.

[SoundBitesNYC]

Yeah I was thinking about that, TPE, but I wonder at what point they say "Well, we put *this band* on the Left of the Dial set, and *this band* on Children of Nuggets" and decide they don't need to put them here.

But yes, Adorable. And Subcircus. And Space (okay, maybe not space but "Female of the Species" was a hit single there), and Strangelove, 18 Wheeler.... but it's got Moose and the Divine Comedy... and GAY DAD. Which actually isn't a bad record, though I thought it was crap at the time.

[toby]

Strangelove, yeah good one, Kitchens of Distinction too. They could have easily added a 5th disc.

[SoundBitesNYC]

Kitchens of Disctinction... major omission.

[Mattlegge]

Wow, thats like my dream compilation from my youth. These things usually have a load of ropey inclusions but they capture the 90's to a tee.

[torr]

you're saying it's okay that they included Meanswear but not Mansun?

[SoundBitesNYC]

Torr,

Yes, that is what I'm saying. I also don't want My Life Story, or Geneva on here. (And they are not) But that is my personal taste.

[fontilan]

I can't believe they actually included a song by Moose... my favorite band of all time. Still, it could use a song by Shack, perhaps "Undecided" off of "Waterpistol."

[Leather Biker Jacket]

you're saying it's okay that they included Meanswear but not Mansun?