Falling between the energetic pop/rock of mod revival and the psychedelic experimentations of Traffic, Ocean Colour Scene came to be one of the leading bands of the traditionalist, post- OasisBritish rock of the mid-'90s. Although they had formed in the late '80s and had several hits during the height of Madchester in the early '90s, the band didn't earn a large following until 1996, when their second album, Moseley Shoals, became a multi-platinum success story in the U.K. Their ascent was greatly aided by Paul Wellerand Oasis' Noel Gallagher, both publicly praised Ocean Colour Scene for keeping the flame of real rock & roll burning during the '90s. And, according to one specific definition, they were right, since Ocean Colour Scene was nothing if not rock & roll traditionalists, drawing heavily from British Invasion pop, psychedelia, soul, R&B, and blues-rock to create a reverential homage to classic rock. Their devotion to trad rock may have earned them decidedly mixed reviews, but that was the very thing that earned them a sizable following.
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The house caught on fire in the winter
The bosses lay slain
And each of the workers decided to ten-fold their pay
And they saw in the mirror the sun had been shot down in flames
And nobody minded the hole in the sky or the rain
But it doesn't really matter when the judgements are said
'cause we all take our chances to find out romance is in some others bed
And you might burn your fingers hock your best rings for those
Who'd have you standing naked then publicly auction the use of a hose
All the children were laughing their faces in half at the pain
Of the girl who loved talking to walls and jumping at trains
And the words that ring true in the playground of fools will remain
And nobody minded the hole in the sky or the rain
But it doesn't really matter when the rights have been read
'cause we all take our chances to glance at the wife in the opposite bed
And i bet nero and pilate could easily explain
How policemen & pirates get stoned in glass houses just finding their way