The Boo Radleys - Lazarus

"When I start to look back, I feel I've spent my whole life just kicking around."

Album: Giant Steps (3rd album)
Genre: Rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Indie Rock
Recorded:  London, England
Album Release: August 16th 1993
Single Release: November 16th 1992 (lead single)
Length: 4:38
Producer: The Boo Radleys & Andy Wilkinson
Vocalist: Martin Carr
Label: Creation Records

Music Video [Radio Edit]


Full Version

Charts, Streams & Sales

Spotify: Over 900 thousand
YouTube Music: Over 200 thousand

Instruments

Bass, cello, drums, guitar [x2], trumpet

Details

• 'Lazarus' is an interesting blend of styles that mixes psychedelia with dub, brass and alternative dance. The Boo Radleys started off as a shoegaze outfit but quickly evolved as the '90s progressed and it became a case of change or die. The genre-bending approach was in a similar vein to 1991's Screamadelica by Primal Scream but was, perhaps, even more adventurous.
  
  The album was more direct lyrically than their previous efforts, singer Martin Carr has said he decided to no longer shroud his true meaning in metaphors. In shoegaze, the words typically get lost in the mix, while here it feels like a man sitting down with his heart and a pen.
  
  The lyrics are confessional and influenced by the drunk poet Charles Bukowski, "because I'm starting to lose all my faith, while those around me are beaten down each day." 
  
  Carr talks about his reclusive life "you know I never go out" and later revealed in interviews he would sit in all day playing computer games and smoking weed. He knows he needs a change and, just like the biblical figure Lazarus, he will rise from the dead.
  
  
• Bassist Tim Brown became an IT teacher after leaving the band. I imagine some snot-nosed kid saying to him "what do you know about music, old man?" Before Mr. Brown kicks over a PC, pulls out its power lead, and plugs it into a guitar he somehow has.
  
  Meanwhile, the kids are going berserk, dancing, and giving each other mohicans. Some time later, the headmaster walks in to complete silence. After a shocked second or two, he takes off his shirt to reveal a tattoo, "Glasto' '86". He starts to grin. Chaos ensues and the whole school is engulfed in the furious flames of rock and roll.
  
  Mrs. Stickler, the geography teacher, is gyrating on a table with her cracked glasses nestled between her cleavage. The dinner ladies are having a food fight. Stern-faced parents look on from outside the school gates as a news helicopter crashes into the main building. From the rubble, it's Mr. Brown's hand, holding his guitar. He emerges and starts to strum ... and then strum some more. Everyone is unscathed, they link arms and launches into a rendition of 'Heal the World.' 
  
  
• Any indie band with a black guy automatically gets two cool points. 

Artwork