Formed: 1993
Disbanded: 2002

How I became a fan

I saw The Day Before Yesterday's Man on TOTP. It was such a perfect ultra-catchy pop song that I then stayed up until 1am the next night to watch it again on the repeat. And then I got the album, needing no further evidence!

Comments

Yes, I can understand what many of you are thinking. I'm sure a lot of people reading this are like-minded individuals and will be clued up every inclusion on my list except this one. Well perhaps this is your chance to get into who I'd term the great undiscovered band of the 20th century, as no other act could ever had wrote such fantastic, well-known tunes yet saw such a lack of commercial and critical success, coupled with a lack of a hardcore fan base singing their praises many years on.

Apparently their debut did sell 150,000 copies though, and they have enjoyed several top 40 hits so maybe I shouldn't be so angry when it comes to this but I'd term The Supernaturals one of the greatest pop bands of all time and their lack of massive success, particularly on their excellent final album and tour, is almost distressing.

Bad points

The lyrical subject matter of continual loserdom and cynicism may have put loads of people off, but the tunes and cleverness of delivery deflects this as a genuine flaw. It would also have been nice if they'd released more stuff, but that's the fault of those who didn't buy their records and not the band!

Ten songs you really should know before you judge this band

Everest (1998)
I Don't Think So (1997)
Instant Healing (2002)
I Wasn't Built To Get Up (1998)
Lazy Lover (1996)
Life Is A Motorway (2002)
Love Has Passed Away (1997)
Smile (1996)
The Day Before Yesterday's Man (1997)
What We Did Last Summer (2002)

Assessment

Tunes: 9/10
Accessibility: 9/10
Originality: 7/10
Diversity: 7/10
Rockability: 8/10
Balladability: 7/10
Consistency (of b-sides): 9/10
Consistency (over career): 9/10
Live show: 8/10
Influence: 6/10
Vocals: 8/10
Interestingness: 8/10
Lyrics: 9/10
Work ethic: 8/10
Image: 8/10

Final judgement: 9.0/10

The bottom line

I think just about everyone knows Smile, even if they don't realise it. Hear it again, then buy It Doesn't Matter Anymore, and then scratch your head and try to figure out why The Supernaturals never made it!