Many people might not care for Britpop, and that is fine. What they need to know is that the rock subgenre has a misleading label. Oasis is a great example of the subgenre, while Manic Street Preachers often get grouped in with bands like Oasis, and they shouldn't.
Not everything about Britpop is great rock, either. There were pop artists involved as well, and many of them are quite forgettable.
The songs below are far from that, though, and they weren't even singles from the albums on which they appear. They add depth to the albums themselves, which makes not only the tracks that follow but their albums worthy of multiple listens.
These Britpop deep cuts should not be forgotten
Blur - "Badhead" (Parklife)
This track just kind of meanders about, never trying to sound much more than like a lazy Sunday afternoon, but that's the magic of it. Plus, the chorus is extremely lovely and sing-along worthy. The song was never going to be a chart-topper as it feels too personal.
"Badhead" is a great example of why Parklife is so fantastic. There are certainly more single-ready tunes on the record, but none arguably have the weight of this track.
The Verve - "Velvet Morning" (Urban Hymns)
Britpop at its most psychedelic. The lyrics appear intentionally one-half step behind the music, which makes the feel all the more sluggish, but in the best sense of that word. But then, just when you think you might be lulled to sleep with the beauty, the chorus kicks in and lifts the spirit.
The words are what make the song continuously listenable, however. One might feel as if the vocalist is speaking directly to them, or simply funneling the words we want to say. Either way, we are a winner.
Stereophonics - "Last of the Big Time Drinkers" (Word Gets Around)
Going in a completely different direction here, this song is a full-on rager. There are moments in the tune that it seems as if the band is about to completely fall into chaos, and the tune goes off the tracks. It never happens.
Perhaps that is because there is a fitting piano solo in the middle of it all. Not a dramatic solo, mind you, but a dancehall-type feel. It gives the listener needed time to breathe. Stereophonics might not be pure Britpop, but they get roped into the subgenre because of when they began, which only enriches Britpop further.
Placebo - "I Know" (self-titled debut)
Placebo has always had a knack for creating minidramas that last about four minutes. They can rock out as needed, but their spacier songs are quite close to their fans' hearts, as they should be. "I Know" is a great example of that.
There is a nod to the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Sleeps," possibly, but there is little doubt this track sounds like the band. The lyrics are bittersweet and simple, but the impact with which they are delivered gives them more meaning.