sidebloom

The Bends (1995)

★★★★ Jun 28, 2026

This is the kind of album where the energy lands first and the deeper stuff shows up later. The guitars are huge, the choruses stick fast, and even when Radiohead sounds frustrated there is still a lot of movement in the music. I know people usually place it below the more ambitious records that came after, but that is almost unfair because this one does its own job really well. It is sharp, melodic, and direct. Fake Plastic Trees still gets me, but honestly the whole record has a really strong pull.

Songs From The Big Chair (1985)

Songs From The Big Chair | 1985 | UK | Mercury | MERH 58 | Vinyl LP, Album

★★★★ Jun 28, 2026

This is such a huge step up in scale from the darker inward feel of The Hurting. The songs are still full of nerves and pressure, but now everything is built to fill a room. That is why the big singles still work, because they sound massive without losing the hurt underneath them. A lot of people write about how polished this album is, but I think the polish helps because the emotions are already intense enough. This UK Mercury pressing suits it well. Big choruses, strong production, and more heart in it than people give it credit for.

Travelling Without Moving (1996)

Travelling Without Moving | 1996 | Europe | Sony Soho Square | 483999 2 | CD Album

★★★★ Jun 28, 2026

This album makes total sense as a huge seller because it is friendly right away without being lazy. The funk is polished, but the rhythm section still has real movement, and I like that so much of it sounds played rather than assembled. One review pointed out how much of the record leans on vintage analog instruments and you really can hear that warmth. Even on the Europe CD release the album keeps a bright physical feel instead of going flat. Virtual Insanity is still the giant draw, but the full record has that same good time energy people always talk about when they defend Jamiroquai at their best.