The Bluetones

Emerging to occupy the space vacated by the Stone Roses, the Bluetones delivered elegant yet powerful guitar-driven pop infused with subtle psychedelic elements. Their arrival coincided with the decline of the Brit-pop era, which brought them substantial media attention and propelled their first full-length record to the summit of the album rankings shortly after its appearance at the beginning of 1996.

The band, initially known as the Bottlegarden, came together in Hounslow, England during 1994. It featured Adam Devlin on guitar, Eds Chester handling drums, Mark Morriss as lead singer, and his sibling Scott on bass. Prior to uniting as the Bluetones, each participant had experience performing with various local groups.

In 1995, they issued a pair of singles through their own Superior Quality Recordings imprint—"Are You Blue or Are You Blind?" along with "Bluetonic"—both of which earned favorable notices from the UK music press. By autumn of that year, observers positioned them as the upcoming sensation within Brit-pop circles, noting a style that bridged the gap between the Stone Roses and Oasis.

The release of "Slight Return" in the first months of 1996 sent it climbing to the second spot on the charts just weeks ahead of the debut album Expecting to Fly hitting stores. While critics offered divided opinions on Expecting to Fly, it entered the UK listings at the top position and achieved notable commercial success.

The group struggled to gain traction across the Atlantic despite their domestic achievements. They also faced a swift critical turn against them, with some reviewers viewing the Bluetones as representative of Brit-pop's more traditional leanings. The standalone single "Marblehead Johnson," which appeared in the autumn, met with lukewarm responses and managed only a minor chart entry. Work commenced on the follow-up Return to the Last Chance Saloon in the early part of 1997. Science & Nature arrived in the middle of 2000. A compilation called The Singles appeared during spring 2002, with Luxembourg emerging in 2004.