Back in 2005, a friend of mine, who’s accompanied me to many gigs and made many recommendations texted me: ‘You’re not going to believe this…but the new Stereophonics’ single is really good!’

‘You’re right,’ I responded. ‘I’m not.’

It wasn’t always this way. I’d loved the Stereophonics around the release of their first album Word Gets Around, and had seen them supporting James in late 1998, around the time of the ‘Bartender and the Thief’ single (within a matter of months it might have seemed surprising it was that way round). The early songs, particularly the sad ‘Local Boy In The Photograph’ about a suicide was great.

Then somehow, from second album Performance and Cocktails onwards, as Sterophonics started to sell a lot of records, I found their music increasingly dreary. By the time of their third album Just Enough Education To Perform I’d started saying I hated them. Like Travis, I didn’t hate them for becoming successful, I’d gone off them because they were no longer any good, and it was bands like them that were making ‘indie’ seem synonymous with dull, trad rock, rather than out of the mainstream innovation.

So when ‘Dakota’ got to no.1 in 2005, it was a bolt from the blue. I can’t say that I’ve started buying their records again, nor am I likely to, but this is a great song. Posted here with one from when I really liked ’em.

Stereophonics -‘Local Boy In The Photograph.’ mp3

Stereophonics -‘Dakota.’ mp3