Why Why Why
I put in a Lightning Seeds CD tonight as background music for getting some work done, and it just made me think about how much I enjoy this one-man band. I didn’t pick up the best of when it came out in 1997, because I remember objecting to something in the selection (I have no idea what it was now).
For the unfamiliar, Ian Broudie was long ago part of an art-punk Liverpudlian outfit called Big in Japan. His bandmate, Bill Drummond, later went on to become Echo & the Bunnymen’s manager and one half of media manipulators and house music geniuses The KLF. Broudie became a producer, working with new wave and new romantic groups like The Icicle Works and The Colour Field. By the end of the 80s, he was creating solo studio works and dubbed himself The Lightning Seeds for the release of his debut, Cloudcuckooland.
And now, because I’d like a break, I’m going to put together my own Best of The Lightning Seeds. Be warned – this is wimpy, poppy, sissy music. It’s light and playful. He has a song called “Sugar Coated Iceberg.” But man, sometimes I’m just in the mood for this stuff.
1. Marvellous (from Jollification)
This one goes first because of the long intro. It was just kind of made to be a suspenseful album opener. Once it kicks into the actual song, it’s a good herald of what’s to come.
2. The Life of Riley (from Sense)
One of the two most recognizeable Lightning Seeds keeps the energy up from the opener. Supposedly written in two phases – before and after – the birth of Broudie’s first child.
3. Three Lions ’96 (single)
I have to put both versions of Three Lions on here. This was the original, from the Euro 96 tournament.
4. What If… (from Dizzy Heights)
It keeps the sort of romping-anthem quality of Three Lions going while getting back to the more traditional Lightning Seeds sound.
5. Why Why Why (from Jollification)
This was one of many collaborations with Terry Hall (The Specials, Fun Boy Three, The Colour Field), which included some co-writing and production duties over the years. The song is a little unsubstantial, but still quite nice.
6. Change (from Jollification)
One of my favorite Lightning Seeds songs. It was an obvious single and has the stand-out singalong moments of several pop songs packed into one.
7. Life’s Too Short (from Tilt)
I admittedly didn’t get too familiar with this album – it was much more of a standard four-on-the-floor house feel, as is this song, and I guess that’s just not what I was looking for from the Lightning Seeds. That said, this is a fantastic dance song.
8. You Showed Me (from Dizzy Heights)
This is a great cover of the Turtles song, and it brings us back down a little bit from a few dancier tracks.
9. Perfect (from Jollification)
When I picked up this single in 1997, this was the first Lightning Seeds song I’d heard since the Sense album. I was surprised that the project was going and that it sounded as instantly accessible as I’d remembered.
10. Pure (from Cloudcuckooland)
I’d say this is probably the most recognizeable Lightning Seeds song, and for good reason. I remember when I was a kid, I saw this video on MTV late one night and it annoyed me. This dorky British guy was singing in such a wimpy way over this cutesy music. It didn’t fit in with whatever Def Leppard or Winger video probably surrounded it. But there was something about it that, in spite of my resentment, made me feel like I was seeing something special – like it was this secret between me and MTV, as ridiculous as that sounds. Now, looking back and imagining something like this being played in the hairband heyday does seem pretty fascinating.
11. Ready or Not (from Dizzy Heights)
There were aspects of this album that were almost, dare I say, “rock.” And with Broudie’s delicate little-boy voice, it sometimes made for almost laughable moments. This song tiptoed that line, but the urgency and earnest quality to the vocal makes it work.
12. Sense (from Sense)
This title-track and one-time leadoff track is another Ian Broudie-Terry Hall collaboration with another anthemic chorus.
13. Lucky You (from Jollification)
14. Like You Do (from Dizzy Heights)
Some of these songs just deserve to be on the album.
15. Three Lions 98 (single)
I like this version more than the original, which is probably heretical if there are Lightning Seeds fans passionate enough to care about that. I know it’s my bias from “being there” when this came out for the 98 World Cup, but there’s just something about this one that seems to pack more energy.
16. All I Want (from Cloudcuckooland)
I know this was the opening track from the debut album, but there’s something about its laid back confidence that works as a closing statement for me.