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Corrected year of breakup from 1988 to 1998.
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They approached [[Bob Mould]] to produce their next album, but he was too busy.<ref name="Thompson" /> ''[[Split (Lush album)|Split]]'', produced by [[Mike Hedges]] and mixed by [[Alan Moulder]], was released in 1994 and featured a more stripped-down sound. ''Split'' was not as successful as ''Spooky'', however. The band concentrated on the American market, under the advice of their management, but failed to make a breakthrough there, and the band suffered further setbacks when tours of Japan and the UK were cancelled.<ref name="Thompson" /> They decided to break from their management and begin work on a new album. 1996's ''[[Lovelife (album)|Lovelife]]'', the band's final album, became the biggest seller of their career as it was released on the heels of the [[Britpop]] craze, possibly due to a more up-beat production style than their earlier releases. ''Lovelife'' included the hit singles "Ladykillers" and "Single Girl," and also featured a guest appearance by [[Jarvis Cocker]] of [[Pulp (band)|Pulp]], in a duet with Miki Berenyi on "Ciao!".
They approached [[Bob Mould]] to produce their next album, but he was too busy.<ref name="Thompson" /> ''[[Split (Lush album)|Split]]'', produced by [[Mike Hedges]] and mixed by [[Alan Moulder]], was released in 1994 and featured a more stripped-down sound. ''Split'' was not as successful as ''Spooky'', however. The band concentrated on the American market, under the advice of their management, but failed to make a breakthrough there, and the band suffered further setbacks when tours of Japan and the UK were cancelled.<ref name="Thompson" /> They decided to break from their management and begin work on a new album. 1996's ''[[Lovelife (album)|Lovelife]]'', the band's final album, became the biggest seller of their career as it was released on the heels of the [[Britpop]] craze, possibly due to a more up-beat production style than their earlier releases. ''Lovelife'' included the hit singles "Ladykillers" and "Single Girl," and also featured a guest appearance by [[Jarvis Cocker]] of [[Pulp (band)|Pulp]], in a duet with Miki Berenyi on "Ciao!".


In October 1996, drummer Chris Acland hanged himself in his parents' house. While the band continued for a time, with rumours that they were working with former Scarce drummer Stephen Albert, they officially announced that they had split up in March 1988.<ref name="Thompson" /> Miki Berenyi went on to work as senior sub-editor at a major magazine publisher. In 1998 Emma Anderson formed a new group, [[Sing-Sing (band)|Sing-Sing]] with singer Lisa O'Neill. Sing-Sing released two full-length albums but in January 2008, announced they were disbanding. Emma Anderson currently resides in [[Brighton]], UK and works at a booking agency. Phil King plays bass for [[The Jesus and Mary Chain]] and works at the same company as Berenyi (though not on the same publication).
In October 1996, drummer Chris Acland hanged himself in his parents' house. While the band continued for a time, with rumours that they were working with former Scarce drummer Stephen Albert, they officially announced that they had split up in March 1998.<ref name="Thompson" /> Miki Berenyi went on to work as senior sub-editor at a major magazine publisher. In 1998 Emma Anderson formed a new group, [[Sing-Sing (band)|Sing-Sing]] with singer Lisa O'Neill. Sing-Sing released two full-length albums but in January 2008, announced they were disbanding. Emma Anderson currently resides in [[Brighton]], UK and works at a booking agency. Phil King plays bass for [[The Jesus and Mary Chain]] and works at the same company as Berenyi (though not on the same publication).


The song "Sweetness and Light" was used in a commercial by [[Volkswagen]], and the song "Ladykillers" was part of the soundtrack for [[EA Sports]]' ''[[NCAA Football 06]]'' video game. "De-Luxe" is featured as a playable track in the popular music video game ''[[List of songs in Rock Band 2|Rock Band 2]]''. "Undertow" was used in a [[Levi Strauss & Co.|Levi's]] commercial and in one of the trailers to the movie ''[[Crash (1996 film)|Crash]]''. "Light From a Dead Star" was used in the trailer for ''[[Solaris (2002 film)|Solaris]]''.
The song "Sweetness and Light" was used in a commercial by [[Volkswagen]], and the song "Ladykillers" was part of the soundtrack for [[EA Sports]]' ''[[NCAA Football 06]]'' video game. "De-Luxe" is featured as a playable track in the popular music video game ''[[List of songs in Rock Band 2|Rock Band 2]]''. "Undertow" was used in a [[Levi Strauss & Co.|Levi's]] commercial and in one of the trailers to the movie ''[[Crash (1996 film)|Crash]]''. "Light From a Dead Star" was used in the trailer for ''[[Solaris (2002 film)|Solaris]]''.

Revision as of 20:24, 21 July 2009

Lush

Lush were an English alternative rock band, formed in 1987 and disbanded in 1996. They were one of the first bands to attract the "shoegazing" label, later moving towards Britpop.

History

The band formed in 1987, initially named The Baby Machines, with a line-up of Meriel Barham (vocals), Emma Anderson (guitar), Miki Berenyi (guitar), Steve Rippon (bass), and Chris Acland (drums).[1] Anderson and Berenyi had been freiends since the early 1980s, and published the Alphabet Soup fanzine together. In 1986 Anderson joined The Rover Girls as bassist and Berenyi The Bugs as guitarist; Neither band lasted long, and in 1987 they joined Barham and Acland in The Baby Machines.[1] Rippon joined, and the band members decided on a change of name to Lush, making their live debut at the Camden Falcon in March 1988.[1] Barham was sacked (she later joined Pale Saints), the rest of the band deciding she lacked commitment, with Anderson and Berenyi taking on vocals.[1]. In 1989 the band signed to 4AD Records and released Scar, a 6-track mini-album. Critical praise for Scar and a wildly popular live show established Lush as one of the most written about groups of the early 1990s U.K. indie scene. Not long after, the British music press tagged them with the "shoegazing" title. The following year, the EP Mad Love, produced by Robin Guthrie, and single "Sweetness and Light" (produced by Tim Friese-Greene) were released. All three releases were eventually combined into the Gala album which was produced mainly for the US and Japanese markets. The abnd also recorded a session for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show that year and contributed a cover version of "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" to the anti-poll tax album Alvin Lives (in Leeds).[1]

The band's profile was raised by extensive touring, including an appearance at the Glastonbury Festival and tours of Japan and the United States (with Ride).[1] Lush's first full-length album made up of completely new material was Spooky in 1992. Again produced by Guthrie, Spooky featured a sound very similar to Guthrie's band Cocteau Twins, with walls of sound and a great deal of guitar effects. Reviews were mixed and critics of the album hold that Guthrie's production brought the sound away from the band's original creative vision, although the album sold well, reaching number 7 in the UK Albums Chart.[1] The album was preceded by the band's first UK top 40 single, "For Love".[1] Rippon left the band during the final mixing of the album in order to concentrate on writing, though his book Cold Turkey Sandwich—a fictionalized chronicle of his time touring—was rejected by publishers. He was replaced by Phil King. Also in 1992, Lush toured America as part of the Lollapalooza festival.[1]

They approached Bob Mould to produce their next album, but he was too busy.[1] Split, produced by Mike Hedges and mixed by Alan Moulder, was released in 1994 and featured a more stripped-down sound. Split was not as successful as Spooky, however. The band concentrated on the American market, under the advice of their management, but failed to make a breakthrough there, and the band suffered further setbacks when tours of Japan and the UK were cancelled.[1] They decided to break from their management and begin work on a new album. 1996's Lovelife, the band's final album, became the biggest seller of their career as it was released on the heels of the Britpop craze, possibly due to a more up-beat production style than their earlier releases. Lovelife included the hit singles "Ladykillers" and "Single Girl," and also featured a guest appearance by Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, in a duet with Miki Berenyi on "Ciao!".

In October 1996, drummer Chris Acland hanged himself in his parents' house. While the band continued for a time, with rumours that they were working with former Scarce drummer Stephen Albert, they officially announced that they had split up in March 1998.[1] Miki Berenyi went on to work as senior sub-editor at a major magazine publisher. In 1998 Emma Anderson formed a new group, Sing-Sing with singer Lisa O'Neill. Sing-Sing released two full-length albums but in January 2008, announced they were disbanding. Emma Anderson currently resides in Brighton, UK and works at a booking agency. Phil King plays bass for The Jesus and Mary Chain and works at the same company as Berenyi (though not on the same publication).

The song "Sweetness and Light" was used in a commercial by Volkswagen, and the song "Ladykillers" was part of the soundtrack for EA Sports' NCAA Football 06 video game. "De-Luxe" is featured as a playable track in the popular music video game Rock Band 2. "Undertow" was used in a Levi's commercial and in one of the trailers to the movie Crash. "Light From a Dead Star" was used in the trailer for Solaris.

Lush's version of The Rubinoos song, "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," (retitled "I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend" for Lush's authorized version) was cited in a 2007 lawsuit filed by the Rubinoos against Avril Lavigne, whose song "Girlfriend" bore similarities to the Lush cover of the Rubinoos song.

Discography

All releases by 4AD Records, catalogue numbers in brackets.

Studio albums

Release Date Title Format Code UK Albums Chart[2] UK Indie[3] U.S. Billboard 200
October 1989 Scar mini-LP LP/CD JAD 911 – 3 –
January 1992 Spooky LP/CD/Double-10"/C GAD 2002 7 – –
June 1994 Split LP/CD/C GAD 4011 19 – 195
March 1996 Lovelife LP/CD/C GAD 6004 8 – 189

Compilations

Release Date Title Format Release Code
December 1990 Gala LP/CD/C CAD 0017
1994 Cookie CD Japanese
1997 Topolino CD Japanese/Canadian 276862
2001 Ciao! The Best of Lush CD GAD 2K22CD

Singles and EPs

Release Date Title Format Code UK Singles Chart[2] U.S. Modern Rock
February 1990 Mad Love EP 12"/CD/C BAD 0003 55 –
October 1990 "Sweetness and Light" 7"/12"/CD/C BAD 0013 47 4
March 1991 "De-Luxe" Radio Promo not for sale – 14
March 1991 "Nothing Natural"/Black Spring EP 7"/C//12"/CD BAD 1016 43 –
December 1991 For Love EP 10"/12"/CD/C BAD 2001 35 9
1992 "Superblast" CD ¹ – –
1992 "Nothing Natural" Radio Promo CD not for sale – 22
May 1994 "Hypocrite" 7"/12"/CD BAD 4008 52 –
May 1994 "Desire Lines" 7"/12"/CD BAD 4010 60 –
January 1996 "Single Girl" 7"/2*CD 2 BAD 6001 21 –
February 1996 "Ladykillers" 7"/2*CD 2 BAD 6002 22 18
July 1996 "500 (Shake Baby Shake)" 7"/2*CD 2 BAD 6009 21 –

¹ Japanese release
2 The two CD releases for Single Girl, Ladykillers and 500 had different bonus tracks on them.

[4]

Other appearances

  • "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" appears on Alvin Lives (In Leeds) Anti Poll Tax Trax (1990, CD, Midnight Music CLANG 4CD)
  • A live version of "Starlust" recorded on the NME Stage, Glastonbury on 27 June 1992 appears on In a Field of Their Own (1992, CD)
  • "Tiny Smiles" appears on Volume Two (1991, CD)
  • A demo version of "Desire Lines" appears on The 13 Year Itch (1993, CD, 4AD Cat. No. SHUFFLE)
  • An alternative version of "The Childcatcher" appears on All Virgos Are Mad (1994, CD, 4AD Cat. No. 45789)
  • A demo version of "Tinkerbell" appears on Volume Ten (1994, CD, RTM/Pinnacle 10VCD10)
  • "Undertow (The Spooky Mix)" appears on the Doom Generation soundtrack (1995, CD, Warner Bros / Wea B000002MAG)
  • "All This Useless Beauty", an Elvis Costello cover, appears on the Elvis Costello & The Attractions maxi-single for "You Bowed Down" (1996, CD, Warner Bros. Records)
  • "I Have the Moon" appears on the Nowhere soundtrack (1997, CD, Polygram Records B000001ERO)
  • "Sweetness & Light (The Orange Squash Mix)" remixed by My Bloody Valentine appears on the Splendor soundtrack (1999, CD, Astralwerks ASW6282-2)
  • Lush's song "De-Luxe" is a playable track in the video games, Rock Band 2 and Rock Band Unplugged.
  • Lush's song "Sweetness and Light" is a playable track made available for download for the video games "Rock Band" and "Rock Band 2"

Band images

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Thompson, Dave (2000) Alternative Rock, Miller Freeman, ISBN 0-87930-607-6, p. 478-9
  2. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 333/4. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ Lazell, Barry (1997) Indie Hits 1980-1989, Cherry Red Books, ISBN 0-95172-06-9-4, p.138
  4. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, p.849
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