Jacknife Lee: Britpop Was a Misguided Movement Fueled by Xenophobia

Jacknife Lee boldly critiques Britpop, calling it the "Make America Great Again" of its time, highlighting its xenophobic and misogynistic undertones.

A Critical Perspective on Britpop

Jacknife Lee has sparked conversations about the Britpop era, labeling it as the "Make America Great Again of its day." In his eyes, this movement was steeped in "xenophobic shite" and misogyny, a sentiment that has reignited discussions about the music genre that defined a generation.

Who is Jacknife Lee?

The Irish producer has a rich history in the music scene, known for his work with major artists like U2, R.E.M., Taylor Swift, Snow Patrol, The Killers, and One Direction. However, his roots trace back to the '90s when he was the guitarist for the indie-punk band Compulsion.

Recently, Compulsion has re-released their two studio albums, Comforter (1994) and The Future Is Medium (1996), giving fans a chance to revisit their groundbreaking sound.

A Distaste for the Movement

In a conversation with Louder Sound, Lee reflected on the time when Compulsion was active. He noted the overwhelming presence of Britpop, which he felt represented a nostalgia for a bygone era that many viewed as Britain's “glory days.”

He explained, “It was such a nostalgic look back at an older England, like what people saw as ‘glory days’ for Britain, the 1966 World Cup, The Kinks, the Small Faces, looking back to when Britain had colonies and they didn’t complain.”

Lee criticized Britpop, expressing his disdain for the atmosphere it created. According to him, this music scene was a call to arms for individuals who thrived on outdated values. He elaborated, “And Britpop was the Make America Great Again of its day, all that Rule Britannia shit. I was pissed off at that kind of Britpop xenophobic shite, it was misogynist, it was Loaded magazine, it was TFI Friday, it was just lads asking for tits out. It was horrible, and we hated it.”

Lee positioned Compulsion as a direct counter to the Britpop movement. “We were a bit right on, with a very kind of Marxist outlook on things, and so that was fuelling our anger. We were raging lunatics with amphetamines, railing against the world. So there was no way we were going to join any of those groups, because none of it appealed. Our attitude at the time was ‘Fuck England, look to Dusseldorf.’”

After Compulsion disbanded in 1997, Lee ventured into a solo career, releasing albums like Muy Rico in 1998 and Punk Rock High Roller in 2001. His production prowess soon became his defining factor, contributing to Snow Patrol’s breakout album, Final Straw, and U2’s acclaimed How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

Recent Collaborations

In recent years, Lee has co-written and co-produced tracks on Taylor Swift’s Red, collaborating with Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody. He also worked with Lol Tolhurst of The Cure and Budgie from Siouxsie And The Banshees on their 2023 album, Los Angeles.

FAQs

• What does Jacknife Lee think about Britpop? He believes it was xenophobic and misogynistic, akin to the "Make America Great Again" sentiment.
• What band was Jacknife Lee part of in the '90s? He was the guitarist for the indie-punk group Compulsion.
• What albums has Compulsion recently re-released? Their two studio albums, Comforter (1994) and The Future Is Medium (1996), were re-released.
• What is Jacknife Lee known for besides playing guitar? He is renowned for his work as a music producer with major artists like U2 and Taylor Swift.
• What is the name of the album Jacknife Lee released in 1998? His first solo album is titled Muy Rico.

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