Britpop is something that is ingrained in not just music history, but British cultural history in general. When you think of that word, I’m sure you don’t just think of Jarvis Cocker mooning the crowd at a Michael Jackson performance, or the Gallagher brothers giving it large at the BRITS. You probably think about lads in England tops getting ready for Euro 96, or even the (much) bigger cans of lager that were being consumed to a variety of tunes that embodied the spirit of British youth culture and what it meant to be young and free again. Well, this box set is sure to transport those of you who lived through that straight back there.

The first disc has some names that are instantly recognisable, along with the tunes they created. Take Pulp’s ‘Mis-Shapes’ for example, a brilliant anthem for the different people, the ones that didn’t get absolutely shitfaced and start fights. Instead, it celebrated those that were more eclectic but still wanted to go out to town. With it’s almost hippy tones, “Brothers, sisters can’t you see/The future’s owned by you and me/There won’t be fighting in the street.” It still resonates for people now who don’t seem to ‘fit in’, and it’s got such an uplifting tone you can’t help but feel motivated to take on the world after listening to it. Radiohead’s ‘Fake Plastic Trees’ makes an appearance too, which shows the other side to this era, the deeper thinking and self-reflective parts of the late 90s music. Majority of the disc is uplifting, capturing that feel good spirit of Britpop, Paul Weller’s ‘The Changingman’ and The Boo Radleys’ ‘Find the Answer Within’ to pick a couple.

Disc two turns up the amps a bit, with some more heavy tunes that scream “we’re going on the terraces for a bust up”, which in this instance means more good music. Shaun Ryder’s unbeatable swagger comes out on the Black Grape hit ‘Kelly’s Heroes’, a heavy, loud tune that is sure to raise the atmosphere at the gaff, before or after the night is done. Ocean Colour Scene’s ‘The Riverboat Song’ has that iconic riff that just bounces along the track in such a satisfying way. ‘Going Out’ by Supergrass is on this one too, and my God it is spectacular, that organ in particular. It just feels like a super anthem, something that could have come out the 60s but amped up with that 90s electric sound. Even Lush make and appearance with ‘Ladykillers’, safe to say by 1996 they changed that shoegaze sound to suit the Britpop atmosphere, but it works and it’s loud and catchy.

Disc three keeps some of the heavy, distorted tunes and mixes them with some of the more chill out tracks of the era. The Supernaturals’ ‘Smile’ is one of the standouts, the vocals with that echo effect, and the distortion riding high, it’s a classic. In contrast, ‘Your Woman’ by White Town takes a more relaxed approach, the piano and even more iconic violin sample. The background vocals from Jyoti Mishra, the whole track is just recognisable. James’ ‘She’s A Star’ needs no introduction. Iconic band, iconic track. That chorus will always lift you up from the floor to the roof. ‘Burning Wheel’ by Primal Scream is one of the lesser known tracks of the era, but it is still an amazing piece of psychedelic indie music. It sends you into a hypnotised state.

Disc four is a mixed bag, covering some of the acoustic songs that feel like a soundtrack to coming down from the euphoria of the late 90s. It also still has some of the high energy tracks of the era too, such as the Toploader’s ‘Achilles Heel’. “For there’s a child in your eyes and the child never dies/To keep the dream alive” is an amazing pair of lines. It’s a shame that their cover of ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ takes all the spotlight for them, because this track is a good one. Echo & the Bunnymen are also here with ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’, which sees the band go completely Britpop, they even give off a Verve vibe. Clint Boon joins in the fun with The Clint Boon Experience’s ‘White No Sugar’, a super catchy synth fuelled tune (what else did you expect from Boon?).

Overall, All You Good People – Britpop and Beyond 1995-1999 covers a huge variety of British indie, indie pop and indie rock from the era that spawned so many amazing anthems for the generation. It doesn’t just cover the big hitters either, quite a few of the tracks are lesser known but still hidden gems that sound great. And it might be one of the only times I’ve seen Britpop be mentioned without the use of the big two bands (sorry to Liam, Noel and Damon, but you didn’t make the cut) which is even more impressive. If you are looking for some brilliant tunes that can bring a positive vibe to the day and bring back some great memories for some, then this is a surefire way to listen to them.

Various: All You Good People – Britpop and Beyond 1995-1999 – Out 24 April 2026 (Cherry Red)