Most bands don't enjoy a sustained level of success, even regionally, over the course of a career that spans more than a quarter century; and yet, here Stereophonics are, 25 years removed from their debut album and releasing their twelfth. While they are arguably far removed from their global popularity peak (depending on who you ask, somewhere in the neighbourhood of 1999-2006), in their native UK they have consistently racked up #1 albums ( Oochya! is poised to be their eighth chart topping album there, which is really quite astounding) and have amassed a king's ransom of hit singles. That said, from my purely personal and subjective point of view, Stereophonics' output has always been a bit on the spotty side; the majority of their records (especially over the past decade and change) have been neither hit nor miss, relegated instead to the cursed middle of the road, home to a few fine additions to a greatest hits playlist but ultimately lacking anything truly substant...
SOMEHOW STILL A THING