Blur

Blur, a band that exploded out of London in the late '80s, basically rewrote the rules for British rock in the '90s. They started off with this Madchester-inspired vibe on their first album, Leisure, which honestly just screams early '90s. But then, out of nowhere, they did a hard left turn. Suddenly, they were channeling all these classic British guitar bands—think the Kinks, a bit of Beatles swagger, and even some XTC weirdness. That shift led to Modern Life Is Rubbish, which, let’s be honest, is pretty much a love letter to British pop, but with their own cheeky twist. Things really went off the rails (in a good way) when they dropped Parklife. That album is just pure Britpop energy—quirky, catchy, and way too relatable if you’ve ever taken a miserable commute on the Tube. The Great Escape followed, and, yeah, maybe it was a bit over the top, but it cemented Blur as the kings of the scene. And you can't really talk about Blur without mentioning the wild rivalry with Oasis. That whole Battle of Britpop in ’95? It was less about music and more like some weird soap opera the whole country was obsessed with. Blur came out of it massive, with the UK totally hooked on their sound, their attitude, and, honestly, their drama. They ended up being more than just a band—they were the sound and face of an entire era.