The Boo Radleys In-depth Biography
Formed in Liverpool in 1988, the English guitar pop} group the Boo Radleys} developed a dedicated cult following in the early '90s before crossing over into the mainstream in the middle of the decade. Originally, the Radleys} were one of the lesser lights of the loud, noisy My Bloody Valentine}-inspired psychedelic} trance pop} bands labeled "shoegazers}" by the British weekly music press. By the mid-'90s the Boo Radleys} had developed into a more straightforward pop} band who didn't use noise} and extended guitar workouts as a way of fleshing out their songs, instead using it as the basis of their music.
The Boo Radleys} originally consisted of guitarist/songwriter Martin Carr}, vocalist/guitarist Sice}, bassist Timothy Brown}, and drummer Steve Hewitt}. The band released their first album, Ichabod and I}, on a local independent record label in 1990; Hewitt} was replaced by Rob Cieka} after the release of the record. With the support of influential British disc jockey John Peel}, the band signed with Rough Trade Records}. The group released the EP Every Heaven} in 1991; the record made it into the lower regions of the U.K. charts.
Rough Trade} folded shortly after the release of Every Heaven}, and the Boo Radleys} moved to Creation Records}, releasing Everything's Alright Forever} in 1992. Everything's Alright Forever} was released in the U.S. through Creation}'s association with Columbia Records}, but it didn't gain much attention in America. In England, it received favorable reviews and the group began to build a fan base. Topping several Best-of-the-Year lists, including Melody Maker}'s, 1993's Giant Steps} was a critical success in England and sold respectably. In America, the record launched the minor alternative rock} hit "Lazarus"} and led to second-stage spot on Lollapalooza '94}.
Released in England in the spring of 1995, the more pop}-oriented Wake Up!} was the band's commercial breakthrough, debuting at number one. The bright, horn-driven single "Wake Up Boo"} entered in the Top Ten and stayed on the charts until the early summer, preventing the follow-up single, "Find the Answer Within,"} from charting higher than the Top 30. Wake Up!} was released in America in the fall of 1995 with no promotional push from Columbia}, who dropped the band early the following year.
The Boo Radleys} returned in the fall of 1996 with C'Mon Kids}, a self-consciously loud and arty album designed to shake off the band's newfound pop} fans. It worked -- the album debuted in the Top Ten but it soon fell off the charts, despite overwhelmingly positive reviews. Early in 1997, the band finalized an American contract with Mercury}, and C'Mon Kids} was released in March, a half a year after its initial British release. Kingsize} followed in late 1998, though the group officially broke up just months later. Carr went on to form Brave Captain}. In 2005 the Boo Radleys issued Find the Way Out}, an extensive two-disc retrospective complete with exhuastive liner notes and memories from the band. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Read More
Close