Stains 2004 and Rich, Steve, Kai and Ross (Aka Hard-Fi) are holed up in a nicotine stained, disused cab office making their debut album. An album that went on to sell over a million copies world-wide and receive a nomination for a Mercury Music Prize.

This episode of the XS Long Player tells the story of that albums creation, the journey the band took to get there and the influence of producer Wolsey White on the band iconic 'crunchy' sound.

You can check out the full album on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/album/49lMsHtv1i2vAaIs0lHWpD?si=138zdxqTQO2ppM66qX9M1A

More info on Hard-Fi, new music and the 20th anniversary celebrations of this album: https://www.hardfiofficial.com/

Finally... make sure you are subscribed to this podcast for future episodes. DO IT NOW.

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"Era-Defining" is one word (well, two words) to describe the album featuring on today's XS Long Player Podcast as Jim goes back to 1992 to talk about Stereo MC's iconic thrid album 'Connected'.

Rob Birch talks about how their work changed with the onset of the 'Sample Wars', being Mercury Music Prize nominated alongside Suede and New Order and what happened after this album was released, why did it take the band a decade to release another record.

You can listen back to the whole of Stereo MCs 'Connected' on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/album/3NRQnGdFznbXtP8u2O4VKB?si=8pP69HtOQ-mg20Jr_n0H2A

And find the latest tour dates for the band here: https://www.stereomcs.com/

Plus, if you want more from this podcast a couple of episodes along a similar genre are...

Jesus Jones 'Doubt' with Mike Edwards: https://pod.fo/e/2092e2

Happy Mondays 'Pills m Thrills and Bellyaches' with Gary Whelan: https://pod.fo/e/cb887

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We are back in debut album territory with The Enemy's 'We'll Live And DIe In These Towns' on this episode of the XS Long Player as Jim Salveson is joined by the Coventry band's frontman Tom Clarke.

We get all the stories behind the making of this 2007 classic including how a midnight drive to Scotland focused the bands mind, how Tom saw it as a clear choice between being an rock star and selling tumble dryers and we even get into the topic of potential new music and those Icon 2009 gigs supporting Oasis on their final ever (until next year) UK dates.

Make sure you go back and listen to the album in full either before or after you check out this episode... cos its a banger. The link to that is here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6XlVOEnkD1QVrUNSz9Y7RO?si=JSn4g78YTcSAg6ESbU1OVw

Plus, check out the back catalogue of shows to see which of your favourite albums have already been covered in the archive.

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It's been a while but it's time to get back on the classic album train and delve into the debut album from Aussie band 'Je't as Nic Cester joins Jim Salveson on the XS Long Player!

On this episode you'll hear about the early days (and early names) of the band, being thrust into the chaos of LA to record the debut and encountering "the worst Kiss tribute band ever".

Listen back to the brilliant 'Get Born' here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6NrLpQCPYrNS3kVWxDgIlg?si=sg-0Qt7hSZewubYbRWznzg

Give the XS Long Player a follow in your preferred podcasting app and never miss the inside story on your favourite albums.

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On this episode of the XS Long Player we welcome the gravel voiced Ben Ottewell onto the podcast to talk about Gomez's 1998 debut 'Bring It On'.

This conversation with Ben about the making of the album is a great reminder what a brilliant collection of songs the album is, how original and different it felt at the time of release and how meteoric the rise of the band was in the late 90s - not least winning the Mercury Music Prize over The Verve and Massive Attack.

If you want to dive into the album itself then you can do that here: https://open.spotify.com/album/0IZURGZc6VFXCbOtcRdn5z?si=qEdKCXu7S2qtBRHn9jbjFQ

Make sure you are following this podcast so you never miss an episode!

Listen to XS Manchester live via www.xsmanchester.co.uk

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In 1989 The Wonder Stuff released their seminal second album 'Hup' and that album is the topic of this episode of the XS Long Player.

Miles Hunt joins Jim Salveson to share the stories, insight and inspiration behind this classic album including how the bands US tour inspired its sound, how long-term member Martin Bell was only supposed to deliver a solo on this album but ended up joining the band and how little the band had ready to go when they stepped into the studio.

In 2024 'Hup' celebrates its 35th anniversary and the band are heading out to play the album in full. All the tour details and tickets can be found at: https://thewonderstuff.co.uk/tour/

Plus, if you want to get stuck into this classic album then here is the link to the LP in Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1MkOF5F1r0HEjPi1WxEuj8?si=pCq2YOAqRUOnAePgTOnPAA

The XS Long Player is originally aired on the XS Manchester Evening Show where you can hear BIG indie anthems, classic MANCHESTER tunes and brand NEW music Mon-Thursday 6pm-10pm via www.xsmanchester.co.uk

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We’ve been waiting to do this one for a while!

On this episode of the XS Long Player we go back to 1993 and talk to seminal Manchester band James about their classic album ‘Laid’.

Taking a rare (for the band) moment to look at the back catalogue is Saul Davies (violin, guitar in the album) who talks to Jim Salveson about working with Brian Eno, why the album was so different to the one that proceeded it and how their most popular song, and the title track of the album, almost never made the cut.

Plus, as a bonus, Saul also answers some questions about the bands brand new album ‘Yummy’ as submitted by XS Manchester listeners.

Listen to the classic album ‘Laid’ here: https://open.spotify.com/album/5pALyxshOPc8LLKggzNvQe?si=_gnEbJJmQOGRd9k1pQaotg

And check out the STUNNING new album ‘Yummy’ here: https://open.spotify.com/album/1r2lI54enVHBTHDdFS2DUY?si=qAF0D9qQSjyPLP-SliUdaQ

If you love indie/rock music then you can listen to XS Manchester live via: www.xsmanchester.co.uk or via the XS Manchester App (available in Apple and Google Play stores) plus you can follow Jim on X via @Mr_Jimbob

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It's another 90s classic on the turntable for this weeks XS Long Player as Jim chats to Saffron Sprackling about the debut, self-titled album from her band Repiblica.

Despite looking back into the archives for this podcast and talking about some 90s classics like "Ready To Go" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous" (and how Saffron received a personal phone call from Wes Craven asking for permission to use it in the Scream movie), Republica are right now preparing for the release of their NEW album 'Damaged Gods' which is slated to arrive Spring 2024.

If this chat makes you nostalgic for the album then you can listen back to it in all it's glory via: https://open.spotify.com/album/7GSMMsVZatrRySHVLlrJ2h?si=X4Ga37_mTZ6VSrVO_lzd9A

If you love indie/rock music then you can listen to XS Manchester live via: www.xsmanchester.co.uk or via the XS Manchester App (available in Apple and Google Play stores) plus you can follow Jim on X via @Mr_Jimbob

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This episode of the XS Long Player focus' on a cornerstone of the British Alternative Dance Movement... Jesus Jones' 'Doubt'.

Mike Edwards joins Jim to talk about the boundary pushing album released on 21st January 1991.

Mike talks about the bands concerns about trying to make a hit record, the geo-political inspiration behind some of the songs and why one of the biggest songs on the album, in his mind, remains unfinshied!

Listen to the album in full here: https://open.spotify.com/album/7hKst6QIxeAcpOx3o2y6mi?si=Yzjij0wPQs2JLevy1FSrZw

Further listening! If you like this you also like the XS Long Player on The Farm 'Sparticus': https://pod.fo/e/17ee4b

The XS Long player Podcast is taken from the XS Long player radio show on XS Manchester: A classic album played in full - listen live via www.xsmanchester.co.uk - where Jim also hosts the XS Evening Show.

Follow XS on Twitter: @XSManchester

Follow Jim on Twitter: @Mr_Jimbob

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On this episode of the XS Long Plater we go into "Wee Bam Mode" with the 2021 debut album from The Snuts!

Bassist Callum Wilson is taking Jim through the story of the album which on its release made the boys the first Scottish band since Then View to bag a debut No1 album!

Callum talks about working with legendary producer Inflo in LA, how Covid may have actually HELPED the band (despite delaying the album) and which of the songs on the LP is "Powered by Buckfast".

If you've not listened to the album in a while (and you really should) check the whole thing out here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6dakS3ouiZyccOIdrBBKcu?si=7SU1SSfBTGS8cHgUORYW5g

And if you fancy listening to an interview about the previously mentioned 'Hats off to the Buskers' then you can hear Kyle from The View chatting thought it here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2kFBmb9TkgWN2bjI4nLKS0?si=706a82f5634548aa

The XS Long player Podcast is taken from the XS Long player radio show on XS Manchester: A classic album played in full - listen live via www.xsmanchester.co.uk - where Jim also hosts the XS Evening Show.

Follow XS on Twitter: @XSManchester

Follow Jim on Twitter: @Mr_Jimbob

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