27 Comments
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Mike Merchant's avatar

Thanks, loved that song since it was first released but never knew what it meant.

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

Awesome. The lyrics are a perfect example of how music-lovers spread the word prior to the internet. And what music means to people.

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Dan Epstein's avatar

One of my favorite singles of '97. Would have bought it on 45 at the time if I'd seen one...

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

Still sounds so great, right?! Always loved this song, and the album, but this track seems to get better with age to my ears.

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Dan Epstein's avatar

Yeah, they were a good band, but they tapped into something cosmic with this one.

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

No doubt

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Jeremy Shatan's avatar

The whole album is fantastic, a daily listen for me when it came out! The rest of their career has been mostly unsatisfying as if they often lose track of what they do best. That said, England Is A Garden from 2021 was nearly a complete return to form and an ode to the ongoing relevance of Cornershop. Give it a listen if they're still trapped in the 90s in your mind! https://open.spotify.com/album/6gHLOAoKYiuSjrZOFksGrQ?si=uRkuYUwdTQuu4cNvhfKI8A

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

Thanks! I'll go re-listen.

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Paul David Brazill's avatar

I saw Cornershop in the '90s as part of John Peel's Meltdown. (Gorky's Zygotic Mynci were also on the bill.) They did a lot of Bangra and were very much an example of British/ Asian culture of that time. Funny lads, too.

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

That sounds awesome! I only saw them once when they came thru LA behind this single. Great show.

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Paul David Brazill's avatar

I think it was the same night that England lost to Argentina is the world cup! Emotional for many. Gorky's were good, too.

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Jason Chebib's avatar

Gorky's were wonderful! Euros now plays keys with Teenage Fanclub (my favorite band of all time) - last time I saw TFC live, Euros did a solo set on keys as warm-up for TFC... cosmic evening!

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Paul David Brazill's avatar

Yes, I think they had a Welsh rap spin-off group?

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

PSST: Love Teenage Fanclub! We will have a really cool TFC essay from a talented musician and fan in the next Guitar Pop Journal.

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Justin Steiner's avatar

Can't wait for that one!

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

Squeeeeeeeee!

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Jason Chebib's avatar

Tempting though it is to 'weigh in', I just want to say I love this conversation! It's the second one I've read and I loved the first one too. This is a wonderful series. Actually, I would like to say one thing! Has Lucy listened to 'Sleep on the Left Side' by Cornershop? It's actually my favorite Cornershop song. And given the songs Lucy mentioned liking, it seems like a shoe-in. Thank you both!

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

Oh, man! Thank you so much. We're both having a blast. And I will DEFINITELY make sure to pass along the song suggestion. She'll love that. Great call.

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Bonnie Bills's avatar

This has always been one of my favorite songs, musically. I never understood what it was talking about until now. Thanks for providing the great context, and for validating my love of this song.

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

Heck yeah!

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Sonny Rane's avatar

Great read!

I saw Cornershop decades ago in Athens (Greece, not Georgia). They were on the same bill as Moby and Nick Cave and actually managed to hold their own.

It amazes me how well Brimful of Asha has aged. Loved it the moment I heard it, and continue to love it to this day!

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

I'm with you. And WOW—that Nick Cave/Moby/Cornershop bill is SOOOOOO '90s!

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Justin Steiner's avatar

Another excellent entry in this series. I've always loved "Brimful of Asha," but have never heard the whole album. Guess I have homework for the week.

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

The whole album is solid, but as other's have pointed out here—this song is a real standout, for the band AND for the era.

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jeleonard193's avatar

I tripped over Brimful a while back and added it to my Liked Songs. Just recently , I found “Lessons Learned From Rocky 1 to Rocky 3”. That is currently in heavy rotation.

Never in my wildest dreams would I conjecture that these two songs were from the same band.

Glad to see some love for Cornershop. Thanks!

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S.W. Lauden's avatar

They are an unpredictable band, in my experience…but it seems like that’s a good thing! Thanks for checking it out.

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noelly's avatar

Of course you knock Noel Gallagher, and then heap praise on Cornershop - a band he collaborated with, championed, and helped out tremendously. He even took them on tour with Oasis in 1998.

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