Polythene (album)
Encyclopedia
Polythene was the first full-length album
by the Welsh rock
band Feeder
and was released 18 May 1997 on the Echo Label, and then re-issued on 28 October in the same year in an Enhanced CD version, featuring their UK top 40 breakthrough single "High" and its video. The original version of the album was deleted soon after and is relatively rare due to this reason.
After sizeable critical success, the album had minor commercial success charting at #65 in the UK albums chart.
The album saw the group's early take on a more grunge
-influenced sound, which was not seen on their other albums that followed. Many critics at the time called the band the UK's answer to the Smashing Pumpkins.
, which won the band a main stage appearance at the Reading festival in August 1997. Their live shows in support of the album were well received by the press. Even though this is Feeder's lowest-charting album, it is however seen by many fans as one of their best albums, along with follow-up Yesterday Went Too Soon
. The cult following it has mustered since then, has helped it appear at #87 in an early 2005 Kerrang!
magazine vote, ranking the top 100 British rock albums of all-time.
The band's second single off Polythene, "Cement" was given a 5/5 review rating by Kerrang!
(KKKKK), and their "Single of the Week" accolade. The album itself was ranked 6th in the magazine's best albums of the year chart. Metal Hammer
voted it the best album of 1997 in its end of year critic's poll, which seen the album also beat the multi-million selling Urban Hymns
by The Verve
. The album was one of only 12 released that year to appear at the top of an individual critics list.
,2 May 1997.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by the Welsh rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Feeder
Feeder
-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
and was released 18 May 1997 on the Echo Label, and then re-issued on 28 October in the same year in an Enhanced CD version, featuring their UK top 40 breakthrough single "High" and its video. The original version of the album was deleted soon after and is relatively rare due to this reason.
After sizeable critical success, the album had minor commercial success charting at #65 in the UK albums chart.
The album saw the group's early take on a more grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
-influenced sound, which was not seen on their other albums that followed. Many critics at the time called the band the UK's answer to the Smashing Pumpkins.
History
Prior to the release of Polythene, Feeder had already released several singles which had built up a cult following.Reception
Although heavily received by many critics, the initial commercial response was slightly lukewarm with a chart entry position of #65 in May 1997, this was not however due to the public's opinion, but a lack of radio play for any of their singles, none of which appeared in the UK's airplay top 100 until "High". Those who heard of the album, immediately warmed to it and from here built up a cult followingCult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
, which won the band a main stage appearance at the Reading festival in August 1997. Their live shows in support of the album were well received by the press. Even though this is Feeder's lowest-charting album, it is however seen by many fans as one of their best albums, along with follow-up Yesterday Went Too Soon
Yesterday Went Too Soon
Yesterday Went Too Soon is the second full-length album by the British rock band Feeder. It was released on August 30, 1999 on The Echo Label....
. The cult following it has mustered since then, has helped it appear at #87 in an early 2005 Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
magazine vote, ranking the top 100 British rock albums of all-time.
The band's second single off Polythene, "Cement" was given a 5/5 review rating by Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
(KKKKK), and their "Single of the Week" accolade. The album itself was ranked 6th in the magazine's best albums of the year chart. Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
voted it the best album of 1997 in its end of year critic's poll, which seen the album also beat the multi-million selling Urban Hymns
Urban Hymns
Urban Hymns is the third album by English rock band The Verve, released on 29 September 1997 on Hut Recordings. It earned nearly unanimous critical praise upon its release, and went on to become the band's best-selling release and one of the biggest selling albums of the year...
by The Verve
The Verve
The Verve were an English rock band formed in 1989 in Wigan by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboardist Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space...
. The album was one of only 12 released that year to appear at the top of an individual critics list.
Accolades
| Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Hammer Metal Hammer Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music... |
UK | Top Twenty Albums of the Year | 1997 | 1 |
| Kerrang! Kerrang! Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper... |
UK | Top Twenty Albums of the Year | 1997 | 6 |
| Kerrang! | UK | Top 100 British Rock Albums of All-Time (readers vote) | 2005 | 87 |
Original version
- "Polythene Girl" – 3:29
- "My Perfect Day" (re-recorded) – 4:25
- "Cement" – 3:17
- "CrashCrash (Feeder song)"Crash" was the third single from Feeder's critically acclaimed 1997 album Polythene.It made #48 in mid August of the same year, giving Feeder their first top 50 hit despite the band still yet to appear on Radio 1's playlist at the time...
" – 4:08 - "Radiation" – 4:38
- "Suffocate" – 3:53
- "Descend" – 5:20
- "Stereo WorldStereo World"Stereo World" is a song by Feeder, released as the group's first single in 1996. It was taken from the Swim mini-album. It also appears on the later released LP debut Polythene of 1997...
" – 3:24 - "Tangerine" – 3:58
- "Waterfall" – 3:10
- "Forgive" – 4:41
- "20th Century Trip" – 1:56
Re-Issue
- "Polythene Girl" (reworked version) – 3:25
- "My Perfect Day" (re-recorded) – 4:25
- "Cement" – 3:18
- "High" – 4:33
- "Crash" – 4:09
- "Radiation" – 4:38
- "Suffocate" – 3:54
- "Descend" – 5:20
- "Stereo World" – 3:28
- "Change" – 3:23
- "Tangerine" – 3:55
- "Forgive" – 4:41
- "20th Century Trip" – 1:57
Japanese version
was released by Pony CanyonPony Canyon
is a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966 , which publishes music, DVD and VHS videos, movies and video games. It is a subsidiary of Japanese Media Group, Fujisankei Communications Group.-History:...
,2 May 1997.
- "Polythene Girl" – 3:29
- "My Perfect Day" (re-recorded) – 4:25
- "Cement" – 3:18
- "Crash" – 4:08
- "Radiation" – 4:38
- "Suffocate" – 3:53
- "Descend" – 5:20
- "Stereo World" – 3:24
- "Tangerine" – 3:57
- "Waterfall" – 3:10
- "Forgive" – 4:41
- "20th Century Trip" – 1:56
- "Chicken on a Bone" (1997 version) – 3:46
- "Here in the Bubble" – 4:24
- "Swim" – 3:19
Portuguese version
- "Polythene Girl" – 3:29
- "My Perfect Day" (re-recorded) – 4:25
- "Cement" – 3:18
- "Crash" – 4:08
- "Radiation" – 4:38
- "Suffocate" – 3:53
- "Descend" – 5:20
- "Stereo World" – 3:24
- "Tangerine" – 3:57
- "Waterfall" – 3:10
- "Forgive" – 4:41
- "20th Century Trip" – 1:56
- "Chicken on a Bone" (1997 version) – 3:46
- "Here in the Bubble" – 4:24
- "Swim" – 3:19
- Tangerine Live Version - 5:11
- Rain - 3:25
Personnel
- Grant NicholasGrant NicholasGrant Nicholas is a Welsh musician, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist of the rock band Feeder, along with bassist Taka Hirose and drummer Karl Brazil.-Early years:...
- vocals, guitar - Taka HiroseTaka HiroseTakashi "Taka" Hirose is a Japanese musician who is the current bass guitarist for the rock band, Feeder.-Biography:...
- bass guitar, backing vocals - Jon Lee- drums, percussion