After Murder Park

Rejecting the buoyant commercialism of the Britpop scene they helped initiate, Luke Haines steered his band into profoundly dark, misanthropic territory. Produced by Steve Albini, the record features an incredibly abrasive, claustrophobic guitar sound that perfectly matches the deeply cynical, violently themed lyrical narratives. The intensely combative recording alienated casual listeners but solidified Haines as one of the era's most brilliant, uncompromising songwriters.