Rocktrospectiva: The Raw And Sexy "Elastica" Turns 30

Released on 13 March 1995, "Elastica" was the debut studio self-titled album by English alternative rock band Elastica, nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, was the only album to feature the original line-up, debutating at No. 1 in 1995, this record was a neglected hidden gem from a time when band were dominating by male singer, so practically Justine Frischmann is considered the first lady of britpop, the album spawned five singles "Stutter", "Line Up", "Connection", "Waking Up", & "Car Song". 

 

Frischmann was more than just Damon Albarn’s muse, her contribution and influence can be seen in many young female artists, Justine added a hint of androgyny into the mix and became a rare but fascinating character, she emerged in a time when she was fighting for the britpop throne with Sleeper's Louis Wener and Republica's Saffron, but these two were forgettable is as memorable a record as the pretenders to Frishmann’s throne at the time – Sleeper with Louise Wener and Republica’s Saffron – were forgettable. Elastica insted had openly suggestive lyrics of groupie-bating ‘'Line Up'’ have sex in a car in ‘'Car Song'’ are as crude as nudge-nudge-wink-wink tunes get, but they are no less fun for it – ‘'Vaseline'’ yes they talking about that to give you a hand on you-know-what?.

In ‘'Connection'’, Elastica produced their blueprint for what Britpop should sound like – it was punchy, pithy and built on a massive rip-off of a Wire riff that they didn’t care about, Frischmann’s monotone voice never becomes dull during the 40-minute blast and when they finish with the uncomfortably effective poke at a boyfriend's impotence in '‘Stutter'’, so does their contribution to Britpop. She booted the door in, pouted and bitched until the drugs shut her up – for good.lastica's debut album may cop a riff here and there from Wire or the Stranglers. 

The key is context. Elastica can make the rigid artiness of Wire into a rocking, sexy single with more hooks than anything on Pink Flag, think about of "Connection" or rework the Stranglers' "No More Heroes" into a more universal anthem that loses none of its punkiness on "Waking Up". But what makes Elastica such an intoxicating record is not only the way the 16 songs speed by in 40 minutes, but that they're nearly all classics. The riffs are angular like early Adam & the Ants, the melodies tease like Blondie, and the entire band is as tough as the Clash, Justine Frischmann's detached sexuality adds an extra edge to her brief, spiky songs even if the occasional riff sounds like an old wave group, the simple fact is that hardly any new wave band made records this consistently rocking and melodic.

The album was well-received critically. several critics considered the record as a smart, sassy savagings of losers and poseurs are a refreshing advance from grunge's gloomy self-absorption. Elastica's eponymous debut ranks high", calling it "a neglected gem" and the "blueprint for what britpop should sound like". 

 

Elastica Track List: 

 

1. Line Up

2. Annie

3. Connection

4. Car Song

5. Smile

6. Hold Me Now

7. S.O.F.T.

8. Indian Song

9. Blue 

10. All-Nighter

11. Waking Up

12. 2:1

13. Vaseline

14. Never Here

15. Stutter