Vinyl Revival: Five bands we’d like to see make a comeback

He just wants to love you baby. Image copyright of Caroline Bonarde Ucc and used under Creative Commons license

Either everyone in the music industry has hacked into The Flick’s email conversations, or there’s something in the water, for it feels as though an alarming amount of the musicians we loved in our youth suddenly decided to launch their comebacks last week. First came former britpop heavyweights Suede, followed by the legend that is David Bowie. Next, the lyrical trousersnake, Justin Timberlake, decided to stop pissing about with MySpace and return to the world of pop where he rightfully belongs. While I was writing this, Beyoncé announced that Destiny’s Child were reforming and releasing new material (nice of her to bring the old gang back together so the other members can pay their automo-bills). Hell, even bloody 5ive have decided to reform (only four (4our?) of the members decided to show up – can you not spot the problem here lads?). Has an edict gone out to the musical royalty of our youth to reform and save the charts? Just what the fuck is going on?

So, seeing as many of the musical figures of our wasted youth appear to making a reappearance, we’d thought that we’d put out the call to five other acts that we have loved and lost. Here’s hoping that if we close our eyes and cross our fingers, they’ll hear our siren call.

GENE
Gene always looked like a bunch of blokes who worked in middle management, giving us their idea of a Britpop band. Despite endless comparisons to The Smiths, they came across as something distinctly more AOR, meaning that they always played second fiddle to the hackneyed Cockney stylings of Blur and the knuckleheaded machismo of Oasis. Despite all of that, there’s still something that’s distinctly lovely about ‘Olympian’. It’s the sound of 1995 for those of us who were too busy reading Sylvia Plath in our bedrooms to care about the great Britpop wars.
If they won’t do it: Track down fellow second division britpoppers The Longpigs. If only because we want to see if Crispin Hunt’s still fit.

PAVEMENT
Responsible for what might possibly be one of the best lyrics of 90s (“what about the voice of Geddy Lee/how did it get so high/I wonder if he speaks like an ordinary guy?”) Pavement were the hugely influential kings of slacker rock. As we’re now being told, for about the 15th year running, that this year will see the “glorious” return of guitar rock, surely we should encourage them back?
If they won’t do it: Sonic Youth reform occasionally, but the tragedy is that we hear about this first via Late Review)

ANOTHER LEVEL
God bless Another Level, the band that brought Dane Bowers – a man who resembles a dancing teapot – to the world’s attention. Best known for their song where they threatened to lick a woman from head to toe as though she were a giant fleshy lollipop, one can’t help but think that such a rampant display of boy band filth would make a nice change from the shiny sexlessness of One Direction and their ilk.
If they won’t do it: Ask the overtly-sexual-considering-their-tween-fanbase, “I’ve Got A Little Something For You” hitmakers, MN8)

MIS-TEEQ
Remember when Alesha Dixon wasn’t just another identikit celebrity TV show judge, but a bad-ass rap superstar with blue hair? Mis-Teeq were one of the last gasps of UK Garage – a group of girls who sang about one night stands, slut dropped in skyscraper heels, and generally just looked and sounded badass. Getting them back together would surely save Alesha from a lifetime of performing in Weight Watchers advertisements (we forgive, but we don’t forget) and being forced to dance the cha-cha-cha on Children in Need.
If they won’t do it: Remember Cleopatra. Remember them? You do. Yes you do. Comin’ atcha.

ALL SAINTS
Ah, All Saints – the band that launched a million misguided teenage cargo pants purchases (myself included). Despite being around at the same time, they always seemed to be slightly more grown up and sophisticated than the high camp bawdiness of the Spice Girls. Their masterpiece – Never Ever – is 5 minutes and 10 seconds of unbridled, hormone-laden pathos that makes the heart broken anthems of today’s pop queens look positively juvenile.
If they won’t do it: Reform Eternal. We get the impression that Louise ‘daughter-in-law of Harry’ Redknapp may need the work…