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The La's, the self titled album by The La's, was the only studio release from the Liverpudlian four piece, released in 1990, but it earned them a place in the history books of British music and inspired a generation of bands, from Oasis to The Charlatans. It included "There She Goes", the group's biggest hit and one of the most memorable anthems of the early '90s, and "Timeless Melody". 


Unlike other Britpop groups emerging around the same time, The La's took cues from '60s beat, rather than psychedelia, new wave or punk. 

On its lone album, the distinctive Liverpool quartet - which favored acoustic guitars and folky harmonies but delivered taut electric rock as well - echoes groups like the Hollies, Searchers and Beatles. Lee Mavers writes profoundly tuneful songs with thoughtful words and sings them with a skilled mixture of pop allure ("There She Goes" is an absolute gem) and pub-band sturdiness ("Failure" is an odd bit of garage punk). Beyond melodic assets, the La's make good, independent-minded use of rhythm as well. "Liberty Ship" has the seafaring tempo to match its lyrical metaphor, while "Way Out" pairs a measured drum/rhythm-guitar beat with double-time lead figures; "Freedom Song" uses the oompah swing of a Kurt Weill number. But that was all the troubled band could manage. Mavers has since made himself scarce, although "There She Goes" regularly pops up on movie soundtracks to convey the exhilaration of young love.