4 Modern Bands Keeping 90s Britpop Alive

Britpop in the 1990s was reigned over by Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Suede, The Stone Roses, and more. Most notably, Oasis and Blur had that 1995 feud when their singles came out, with Blur eventually coming out on top with a No. 1. Even though the fight was basically orchestrated by record labels, it still remains a cultural touchstone for 90s Britpop. While the days of pointless feuds over No. 1 singles are behind us, Britpop is alive and well, existing through amazing contemporary bands. Here are just four of them.

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Britpop Bands Keeping the Genre Alive and Well

Sports Team

Sports Team debuted in 2020 with their album Deep Down Happy. Vocalist Alex Rice possesses an expressive baritone that travels steadily through rhythm guitarist Rob Knaggs’ image-rich lyrics, accompanied by bright guitar tones from lead guitarist Henry Young. Sports Team is expanding the Britpop genre into something more experimental on their upcoming album Boys These Days, combining standard Britpop with Japanese City Pop, Western, and bluesy elements.

The Reytons

The Reytons emerged in 2021 with their debut album Kids Off The Estate, sounding like early Arctic Monkeys reincarnated. In this way, they lean more 2000s Britpop than pure 90s, but there are still elements that link this band to the early days of Britpop. The Reytons bring to mind Oasis’ Definitely Maybe but a little bit sharper. There’s the raw guitar of “Cigarettes & Alcohol” combined with the bouncier sound of “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor,” for example.

DMA’s

DMA’s debuted in 2016, recently releasing the album How Many Dreams? in 2023. This trio leans much more pop than any of the others, but there’s the rich undercurrent of guitar that keeps it grounded in the rock elements of Britpop as well. DMA’s aren’t as purely indie-rock as The Reytons, Arctic Monkeys, or Blur, but their recent work is still holding up the standards of the 90s style.

The Blue Collars

The Blue Collars released their first EP in 2013, and dropped the full-length album Out Tonight? in 2021. Similar to The Reytons, there’s an edge of early Arctic Monkeys here in the bouncier sound of the 2000s. However, the guitar thrums with a particular rawness, bringing in another edge of Oasis and The Stone Roses.

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