They say if you remember the 60s you weren’t there, but the 90s is a different story. You remember everything don’t you? The fashion, the parties, and the hangovers; let’s be brutally honest, it was the best decade.

And what was the best part about it all (apart from the fact that we were all 30 years younger)? The music. At a time when American music was trying to take over the UK charts, British bands decided to turn everything on its head and do their own thing, creating a style that felt homegrown, quirky, and kickass. Its name was Britpop.

Now let's cut the bull: the 90s was a bloody brilliant time for British music. Britpop exploded onto a pop scene that desperately needed a makeover, if not a grenade, Blur and Oasis swung their handbags in the tabloids, and bands weren't afraid to be witty, weird, and working class. These albums aren't just background noise—they're the real deal, packed with wacky lyrics, and melodies, and with their roots firmly planted in British soil.

So, let's dive in and finally crown the greatest British album of the 1990s.

Contender #1: Pulp – ^∗Different Class^∗ (1995)

This album is a sonic middle finger to the establishment, and for many, this was their introduction to the Sheffield popsters, despite this being Pulp’s fifth studio album. Jarvis Cocker's tales of misfit love, awkward fumbles, and class resentment are sharp, witty, and romantic. It's got your compulsory 90’s anthems like "Common People", and slow burners like "Something Changed". Yeah, there’s something for everyone. The album is packed with quirky pop songs that need to be played and sung loudly, especially after a few beers.

Contender #2: Blur – ^∗Parklife^∗ (1994)

Let’s face it, this is the album that defined the era. Blur put Britpop firmly on the map by ditching their American grunge influences for a proper British sound; a chim-chimney, character-driven look at life in suburbia. Songs like "Girls & Boys" and "Parklife" are catchy classics, while "This is a Low" is surely the “cigarette lighter in the air” tune of the decade.

### Contender #3: The Verve – ^∗Urban Hymns^∗ (1997)

Let's not forget these blokes from Wigan. ^∗Urban Hymns^∗ was massive, propelled by the inescapable ballad "Bitter Sweet Symphony”; a song that somehome got to number one in the UK singles charts, blasting all the boy bands out of the water.  It's almost too much, but f ^∗∗∗ me, those choruses still soar. And Richard Ashcroft, with his swagger and cheekbones, was the ultimate 90s rock frontman. Proper music. So take that, erm… Take That!

### The Verdict: Oasis – ^∗Definitely Maybe^∗ (1994)

While art-school boys Pulp and Blur were being a bit too up-their-own-arse clever, Oasis took a louder and more punchy tone, sometimes literally. ^∗Definitely Maybe^∗ is classic, unadulterated rock and roll swagger. From the opening riff of "Rock 'n' Roll Star" to the singalong chorus of "Live Forever," this album is the 90s Britpop fan’s wet dream.

Yes, it had its critics, but as far as 90s rock goes, man does it hit the spot. ^∗Definitely Maybe^∗ captures that youthful desire to break free from your small-town existence, to be somebody, to find your tribe. It's cocky, anthemic, and just a bit rough around the edges, much like the decade it defined.

^∗Definitely Maybe^∗ punches up and captures the raw energy and boundless optimism that defined the 90s at its best. They weren't reinventing the wheel (Alex James of Blur famously nicknamed them Oasis Quo), but Oasis tapped into something primal—the need for music that somehow makes you feel both good and bad at the same time. And they didn’t need the hype. Liam and Noel Gallagher genuinely despised each other on stage with tantrums and brawls aplenty. And despite the denials, you just know they’re going to reform soon.

So, go dig out your parka, stick on those worn-out headphones, and let the Gallagher brothers transport you back to a time when everything felt possible. Even if that feeling only lasted until your hangover kicked in.