Polythene (album)

Polythene
Studio album by Feeder
Released 19 May 1997
Recorded Mid 1996
Genre Alternative rock, Grunge, Post-hardcore
Length 51:03
Label Echo
Producer Chris Sheldon, Feeder
Feeder chronology
Swim
(1996)		 Polythene
(1997)		 Yesterday Went Too Soon
(1999)
Singles from Polythene
  1. "Tangerine"
    Released: 24 February 1997
  2. "Cement"
    Released: 28 April 1997
  3. "Crash"
    Released: 11 August 1997
  4. "High"
    Released: 6 October 1997
  5. "Suffocate"
    Released: 16 February 1998

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.[1]

Contents

History

Prior to the release of Polythene, Feeder had already released several singles which had built up a cult following.[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Metal Hammer
Q
Kerrang!

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 following, 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.[2]

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.[3] The album itself was ranked 6th in the magazine's best albums of the year chart.[4] 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.[5] 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 UK Top Twenty Albums of the Year 1997 1
Kerrang! UK Top Twenty Albums of the Year 1997 6
Kerrang! UK Top 100 British Rock Albums of All-Time (readers vote) 2005 87

Track listing

All songs written by Grant Nicholas.[6]

Original version

  1. "Polythene Girl" – 3:29
  2. "My Perfect Day" (re-recorded) – 4:25
  3. "Cement" – 3:17
  4. "Crash" – 4:08
  5. "Radiation" – 4:38
  6. "Suffocate" – 3:53
  7. "Descend" – 5:20
  8. "Stereo World" – 3:24
  9. "Tangerine" – 3:58
  10. "Waterfall" – 3:10
  11. "Forgive" – 4:41
  12. "20th Century Trip" – 1:56

Re-Issue

  1. "Polythene Girl" (reworked version) – 3:25
  2. "My Perfect Day" (re-recorded) – 4:25
  3. "Cement" – 3:18
  4. "High" – 4:33
  5. "Crash" – 4:09
  6. "Radiation" – 4:38
  7. "Suffocate" – 3:54
  8. "Descend" – 5:20
  9. "Stereo World" – 3:28
  10. "Change" – 3:23
  11. "Tangerine" – 3:55
  12. "Forgive" – 4:41
  13. "20th Century Trip" – 1:57

Japanese version

was released by Pony Canyon,2 May 1997.

  1. "Polythene Girl" – 3:29
  2. "My Perfect Day" (re-recorded) – 4:25
  3. "Cement" – 3:18
  4. "Crash" – 4:08
  5. "Radiation" – 4:38
  6. "Suffocate" – 3:53
  7. "Descend" – 5:20
  8. "Stereo World" – 3:24
  9. "Tangerine" – 3:57
  10. "Waterfall" – 3:10
  11. "Forgive" – 4:41
  12. "20th Century Trip" – 1:56
  13. "Chicken on a Bone" (1997 version) – 3:46
  14. "Here in the Bubble" – 4:24
  15. "Swim" – 3:19

Portuguese version

  1. "Polythene Girl" – 3:29
  2. "My Perfect Day" (re-recorded) – 4:25
  3. "Cement" – 3:18
  4. "Crash" – 4:08
  5. "Radiation" – 4:38
  6. "Suffocate" – 3:53
  7. "Descend" – 5:20
  8. "Stereo World" – 3:24
  9. "Tangerine" – 3:57
  10. "Waterfall" – 3:10
  11. "Forgive" – 4:41
  12. "20th Century Trip" – 1:56
  13. "Chicken on a Bone" (1997 version) – 3:46
  14. "Here in the Bubble" – 4:24
  15. "Swim" – 3:19
  16. Tangerine Live Version - 5:11
  17. Rain - 3:25

Personnel

References

  1. ^ a b Tom Demalon. "Polythene - Overview". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r313161. Retrieved 2008-07-15. 
  2. ^ Tom Demalon. "Top 100 British Rock Albums of All Time". Kerrang!. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/kerrang.html. Retrieved 2008-07-15. 
  3. ^ Kerrang! "Cement" review
  4. ^ Kerrang!'s Top 20 albums of 1997
  5. ^ Metal Hammers Top 20 Albums of 1997
  6. ^ "Polythene > Overview". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r313161. Retrieved 2008-07-11. 
Feeder
Albums
Polythene (1997) · Yesterday Went Too Soon (1999) · Echo Park (2001) · Comfort in Sound (2002) · Pushing the Senses (2005) · Silent Cry (2008) · Renegades (2010) · Generation Freakshow (2012)
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Singles
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Metal Hammer Album of the Year