Various Artists - Shine Four (21 New Blazing Indie Hits)

Shine Four (subtitled 21 New Blazing Indie Hits) is a definitive 1996 Britpop and UK indie rock compilation album released by PolyGram TV. Serving as the fourth installment in the popular Shine series, the album perfectly captured the height of the mid-90s Cool Britannia music phenomenon. The record brought together an energetic mix of established scene leaders and rising guitar bands, making it a staple release for alternative music fans tracking the weekly UK singles charts during a legendary era for British rock.

The album's 21-track playlist functions as an authentic sonic time capsule, balancing massive chart anthems with cult indie classics. It features cornerstone tracks from major era heavyweights, including Pulp’s "Mis-Shapes", Cast's "Sandstorm", and Ocean Colour Scene's blues-driven "The Riverboat Song". Alongside these hits, the compilation highlights the full breadth of the scene with contributions from influential acts like Supergrass, The Stone Roses, Shed Seven, and Menswear, preserving the distinct melodic guitar sound that defined mid-90s youth culture.

Released in early 1996, Shine Four stands as a triumphant, high-octane snapshot of British guitar music at its absolute commercial and cultural peak. As the Britpop movement dominated European airwaves, this 21-track compilation curated by PolyGram TV expertly filtered the era's chaotic energy into a single, cohesive listening experience. By moving past the underground exclusivity of early indie rock, the album serves up a celebratory, unapologetic victory lap for a subculture that had successfully overtaken the mainstream pop charts.

The pacing of the record is exceptionally executed, leading with a relentless barrage of anthemic openers. Cast’s roaring guitar-driven track "Sandstorm" establishes an immediate, optimistic momentum that sets a high bar for the rest of the compilation. This energy is seamlessly sustained by Pulp’s sharp, class-conscious misfit anthem "Mis-Shapes" and the frantic, youthful swagger of Supergrass’s "Mansize Rooster". These opening tracks encapsulate the melodic sensibilities and driving rhythms that made mid-90s British rock so universally infectious.

Beyond the foundational chart-toppers, the compilation derives its deeper strength from its impressive stylistic variety and inclusion of cult favourites. The brooding, rhythm-heavy groove of Ocean Colour Scene's "The Riverboat Song" injects a gritty, blues-infused texture into the tracklist, while Skunk Anansie’s "Weak" offers a welcome burst of fierce, heavy alternative rock. Lesser-known gems from Marion ("Time"), Longpigs ("Far"), and Northern Uproar ("From a Window") provide valuable context to the era, illustrating that the 90s indie boom was sustained by a vast, talented ecosystem of bands rather than just a handful of famous poster child acts.

The compilation draws to a fascinating, historically significant close by leaning into the communal, charity-driven spirit of the decade. The final stretch shifts focus to the legendary Help album sessions for War Child, featuring the stellar All-Star collaboration of The Smokin' Mojo Filters (featuring Paul Weller) covering The Beatles’ "Come Together," followed by Oasis and Friends’ explosive rendition of "Fade Away". Ultimately, Shine Four transcends the label of a simple cash-in commercial sampler; it remains a masterfully sequenced, highly nostalgic time capsule that mirrors the unmatched optimism, communal pride, and creative synergy of the Cool Britannia era.

Ripped to MP3

1. Cast – "Sandstorm"

2. Pulp – "Mis-Shapes"

3. Supergrass – "Mansize Rooster"

4. Menswear – "Sleeping In"

5. Shed Seven – "Getting Better"

6. Northern Uproar – "From A Window"

7. Ocean Colour Scene – "The Riverboat Song"

8. Skunk Anansie – "Weak"

9. Number One Cup – "Divebomb"

10. Marion – "Time"

11. Longpigs – "Far"

12. Blur – "The Universal"

13. Echobelly – "Dark Therapy"

14. Gene – "For The Dead"

15. The Stone Roses – "Ten Storey Love Song"

16. Radiohead – "Just"

17. The Lightning Seeds – "Lucky You"

18. The Cardigans – "Carnival"

19. Dubstar – "Anywhere"

20. The Smokin' Mojo Filters – "Come Together" (Charity supergroup featuring Paul Weller, Paul McCartney, and Noel Gallagher)

21. Oasis & Friends – "Fade Away"