Polythene

Polythene
Studio album by Feeder
Released	18 May 1997
Recorded	Mid 1996
Genre	Grunge rock, rock
Length	51:03
Label	Echo
Producer	Chris Sheldon, Feeder
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Metal Hammer Q Kerrang!
Feeder chronology
Swim EP (1996) Polythene (1997) Yesterday Went Too Soon (1999)

Polythene was the first full-length album by the UK rock band Feeder and was released 18 May 1997 on the Echo Label, and then re-issued on 28 October in the same year in an Enhanced CD version, featuring their UK top 40 breakthrough single "High" and its video. The original version of the album was deleted soon after and is relatively rare due to this reason.

After sizeable critical success, the album had moderate commercial success and was certified silver by the BPI in 2003 after the success of their breakthrough album Echo Park.^[1] The album passed the required 60,000 in 2001, but Echo applied for the award in 2003.

The album saw Feeder take on more of a grunge rock influenced sound, which wasn't seen on their other albums that followed. Many critics at the time called the band the UK's answer to the Smashing Pumpkins.^[2]

History

Prior to the release of Polythene, Feeder had already released several singles which had built up a cult following.^[2]

Reception

Although heavily received by many critics, the initial commercial response was slightly lukewarm with a chart entry position of #65 in May 1997, this wasn't however due to the publics opinion, but a lack of radio play for any of their singles, in which none of them until "High" appeared in the top 100 UK airplay. Those who heard of the album, immediately warmed to it and from here built up a cult following, which won the band a main stage appearance at the Reading festival in August 1997. Their live shows in support of the album were well received by the press, and as of now it has shipped 60,000 copies in the UK qualifying it for silver sales status. Even though this is Feeder's second smallest-selling album, it is however seen as by many fans as their best album between that and follow-up Yesterday Went Too Soon. The cult following it has mustered since then, has helped it appear at #87 in an early 2005 Kerrang! magazine vote, ranking the top 100 British rock albums of all-time.^[3]

	"Waterfall" "Waterfall" was rejected from the album for the re-issue which included breakthrough "High", but has the "grunge" sound contained in the album.
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The band's second single off Polythene, "Cement" was given a 5/5 review rating by Kerrang! (KKKKK), and their "Single of the Week" accolade.^[4] The album itself was ranked 6th in the magazine's best albums of the year chart.^[5] Metal Hammer voted it the best album of 1997 in its end of year critic's poll, which seen the album also beat the multi-million selling Urban Hymns by The Verve.^[6] The album was one of only 12 released that year to appear at the top of an individual critics list.

Track listing

All music written by Grant Nicholas.^[7]

Japanese version

1. "Polythene Girl" – 3:29
2. "My Perfect Day" – 4:25
3. "Cement" – 3:18
4. "Crash" – 4:09
5. "Radiation" – 4:39
6. "Suffocate" – 3:53
7. "Descend" – 5:20
8. "Stereo World" – 3:28
9. "Tangerine" – 3:55
10. "Waterfall" – 3:10
11. "Forgive" – 4:41
12. "20th Century Trip" – 1:56
13. "Chicken on a Bone" – 3:46
14. "Here in the Bubble" – 4:24
15. "Swim" – 3:19

Personnel

• Grant Nicholas- vocals, guitar
• Taka Hirose- bass guitar, backing vocals
• Jon Lee- drums, percussion

References