STAND AND DELIVER

1994 was a year of delivery. The hype and hopes of the past two years manifested themselves in epically entrancing albums from Suede and Oasis, while Blur thoroughly deserved their million sales for the wonderful Parklife, a past, present and futuristic trawl through the basic template of English Pop.

The veterans weren’t lagging too far behind the pouting Pop pups either, with Neil Young, Elvis Costello, REM, Morrissey and Grant McLennan all coming up with goods. And what about Johnny Cash? A thousand years old and with American Recordings he created a craggy, granite-edged edifice with consummate ease.

Elsewhere, Something Happens maintained their status as Ireland’s best band with Planet Fabulous and managed to dish up no less than fifteen fascinating extra tracks over the course of three singles. The late-night left-field belonged to Stina Nordenstam and Portishead with And She Closed Her Eyes and Dummy respectively; moody and mournful without ever being maudlin . . . spooky stuff.

The Singles: Oasis, Blur, Suede, Something Happens, Oasis,Suede, Oasis, Blur, Something Happens, Shampoo, Sack, Oasis, Morrissey, Ash, Boyzone and, er, Oasis again. I think there’s a lesson in commercial and credible compositional skills lurking in there somewhere.

On a more serious note, the suicide of Kurt Cobain cast a shadow over the year. While any death in such circumstances is tragic in itself, should any idiot start haranguing you along the lines of ‘Kurt died for us, man, we’re all responsible’ just tell them to fuck right off with themselves. Basically, if you don’t want to face fame and public examination then the last thing you should do is form a band and stand on a stage pouring your heart out. Eddie Fucking Vedder please take note.

Gigs Of The Year : Oasis, Manic Street Preachers and Something Happens at The Tivoli. Aimee Mann at The Gaiety. The Revenants and Something Happens in Whelan’s. Aslan at The Olympia. Elvis Costello & The Attractions at The Point.

Best Jokes Of The Year : The albums from Sinead O’Connor and The Cranberries.

Personal Highlights : Getting to meet Nick Kent, Suede and REM (again). Oh, and on the subject of delivery there was the small matter of a certain team in green-and-white jersies scooping the Bord Gais National League title in cavalier fashion. Keep on Hooping!

George Byrne