The Lightning Seeds - Life of Riley

[VoR]

Saw the Lightning Seeds alongside virtually every other act from Liverpool who ever grazed the top 40* at the Eurovision opening concert last night. This was a surprise highlight. I feel like Three Lions has totally overshadowed everything else they ever did, but this one's quite the banger! How did it never get higher than #28? Maybe the football heavy video repelled gay record buyers at the time. I could totally hear it as a Pet Shop Boys song...




*sans Jennifer Ellison, sadly

 

[GNL]

More of a 'Pure' girl really.

 

[Inner Smile]

Omg I loved Lucky You

This one's alright, i'll give you a generous 7

 

[lolly]

The Cloudcuckooland, Sense and Jollification albums all contain at least a few amazing tracks each. I've no recall of the Life Of Riley video, but it was frequently used in Match Of The Day for incidental music for decades, wasn't it? I preferred Sense from the second album anyway, and Pure from the first.

Jollification remains one of my favourite 90s albums. I love it from start to end, and was particularly pleased when Alison Moyet put My Best Day on to the deluxe edition of Essex, another underrated mid 90s album.

Pet Shop Boys are a pretty obvious comparison aren't they? At times I very much think it would be interesting to hear what prime PSB's blustering production could do with Lightning Seeds tracks which sometimes fall the wrong side of almost quaint.

 

[Jocasta Clun]

Their first album seemed to be TERRIBLY NICHE despite being FABULOUS. Out of step with the moment I guess



*swoons*

Their later stuff NOT SO MUCH

 

[AGinAg (37)]

The wrong side of quaint is spot on. But they/he did manage to create some classic pop tunes. This falls into 'one of several half decent Lightning Seeds songs that are all of a similar standard'. I'm not feeling especially generous so 7.

 

[lolly]

Their first album seemed to be TERRIBLY NICHE despite being FABULOUS. Out of step with the moment I guess



*swoons*

Their later stuff NOT SO MUCH

If I don't post it, VoR probably will

 

[AlgoAlex]

It's all about this one for me !

 

[lolly]

It's all about this one for me !

My interest in them dropped off for the 4th album. Looking at the tracklist I can only remember this one and You Showed Me.

 

[Soldi]

Did they give a rendition of Three Lions @Lost in VoRona?

 

[VoR]

They did not! Just this and Lucky You.

Weirdest one was Frankie Goes to Hollywood. They were essentially billed as the headliners and much was made of the fact that it was their first performance as a band in over 28 years.

They came on and performed one song, then abruptly exited.

The song? Welcome to the Pleasuredome.

There was much disgruntlement among the locals when it sank in that they weren’t doing any of the #1s…

 

[COB]

What a bunch of trolls!

 

[lolly]

The wrong side of quaint is spot on. But they/he did manage to create some classic pop tunes.

I remember reading an article, I think in the 00s, which called them the missing link between The Beautiful South and Pet Shop Boys. Which I think is a bit on the sneering side, but not entirely without merit.

 

[VoR]

Something must have gone wrong. Even Atomic Kitten got to do a second number! (Surprise crowdpleaser The Tide is High)

 

[Ellie]

They'll be timeless just for their inclusion in the Clueless soundtrack

 

[ButterTart]

Pure is one of my favourite songs of all time.