The Brilliant Corners

British jangle pop outfit The Brilliant Corners belonged to a wave of 1980s British acts that never secured mainstream listeners despite sustained effort. Their initial releases brimmed with finger-snapping hooks that resonated chiefly with a loyal cult audience. David Woodward handled vocals and guitars, Chris Calvin played bass, and Bob Morris sat behind the drums when the trio formed in Bristol, England, in 1984. SS20 Records put out the debut album Growing up Absurd in September 1985. The group reached its highest critical standing with the 1988 McQueen Records album Somebody up There Likes Me. Even with melodic numbers such as "Brian Rix" and "Your Feet Never Touch the Ground," commercial success stayed out of reach. On the 1990 album Hooked the band abandoned its buoyant blend of jangling guitars and trumpet to pursue the shoegazer sound, a move that left many longtime fans dissatisfied. A History of White Trash restored the original approach in 1993, yet the record proved to be the final release before The Brilliant Corners disbanded. Woodward later became a member of Experimental Pop Band.