Is there a name for that genre of turn-of-the-90s pop-rock with the positive vibes, huge guitar leads, and gated drums?

I like the careful wording of "what they considered to be poor food".

It is interesting that the left not just the South, but the U.S., to record their big Southern Mythos album.

(I actually don't think I knew, or at least remembered, that – I think I assumed Joe Boyd came to the U.S. for the sessions.)

How influential was REM on British bands of this era?
That's an interesting question. There are tantalizing bits of evidence scattered around the web. It seems that they weren't very well known in the UK until their breakthrough hit 'The One I Love', which went top 20 in the UK, though not for lack of trying.

It only became a hit *after* they'd broken through with Out of Time. It was re-released in either 1991 or 1992. Their first hit was Orange Crush - not massive, but definitely top 40 because they got on Top of the Pops.

Yes, I remember that one: "Nice and cool on a hot summer day, that was REM with ORANGE CRUSH!!"

1) That's not what the song was about
2) Even if it was, did it need that level of explanation?

I forget the presenter, but I don't think he was on much after that.

The One I Love was taken from the non-US Best Of which IRS released on the back of Out of Time - top 20 in the autumn of '91

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLCobKFPxQk

Never heard the Fatboy Slim remix of that Mock Turtles song but the Steve Proctor piano / breakbeat / house mix is pure sweet MDMA. Nothing to do with the genre in question except the ridiculously positive vibes.

It only became a hit *after* they'd broken through with Out of Time.

Interesting. So I guess that's another point in favor of them having little influence on UK bands in the 80s.

R.E.M. were big UK sellers the faster their American popularity waned.

Even though it’s more on the enigma/proto-trip hop side of thing, for some reason I keep thinking of moodfood by moodswings (feat the cover of “state of independence” with Chrissy Hynde). there’s some big sampled drums on there though. and I get major “paisley shirt of synthetic fabric” vibes from it. Feel like “worldbeat” (ugh) stuff runs parallel to this thread’s remit… the vague we are all one people, love the planet vibes, idk

So I guess that's another point in favor of them having little influence on UK bands in the 80s.

I mean, they were definitely known in Britain in the 80s by the kind of people that would have been in indie guitar groups. But they wouldn't have been known by, say, your aunt until 1991/92.

Direct from tonight's TwitchStream:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9TsXzOkoMc

Ian McCulloch: "Honey Drip"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o20_aSVM9Rk

Baby Animals: "Painless" (1992, singer is/was married to Nuno Bettencourt)

never heard that before! what an amazing '1992' combination of elements.

I remember them - when I was doing more music business work, I somehow ended up on the promo list of their US agent when their first album was released. IIRC the singer was on the short list to take over vocals in INXS.

Last time I listened to the Mock Turtles' Can You Dig It? it struck me that it probably isn't all that different from, idk, the Primitives or (at a push) Transvision Vamp. Maybe baggy, and Ian Brown in particular, opened up a new place for that specific brand of bright UK guitar pop could hide once it stopped being so popular. Or maybe I'm making that up.

CTRL+F isn't turning up any mention of James' Sit Down, Chesney Hawkes' The One and Only, or anything by Voice of the Beehive. Are they took UK-specific?

US here: Don't know any of those save "Sit Down" ... which I only know via a mixtape from my first girlfriend (who was British). Nice song! I'd buy that it shares some DNA with this thread and certainly with the Mock Turtles wing, tho that whole area is more enveloping and organic-sounding than the compressed, hyper-punchy "uptempo rhythm machines" that make up the core.

Would this be a bit closer? This was the main VOTB song I was thinking of and it has something of a late 80s overhang feel. The crunchy drums do most of the work and the guitars decorate. Although the guitar leads aren't really that big.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m3C1K5b5VI

The Chesney song might be a bit too 'organic' sounding, although not in the indie way - it's more AOR power ballad (albeit a very uptempo one). But it feels like it has similar make-up.

Feargal Sharkey - A Good Heart ticks most of the boxes too?

The only reason I have heard Voice of the Beehive and Transvision Vamp are because of the radio station I listened to throughout high school. IDK what to call it but my friends & I made a playlist and it's an accurate simulation of listening to the station bitd if you put it on shuffle.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5xdq8zS6zbJDGlC8yHu1Pq?si=93f98317da074cb5