Issued in 2007, Rhino's BRIT BOX presents an impressively wide-ranging four-CD set that surveys the U.K. alternative pop/rock scene from 1984 to 1999. Disc One focuses on influential acts that predated the Britpop boom, offering up undisputed classics by the Smiths ("How Soon Is Now?") and the Cure ("Just Like Heaven") along with tracks by less-commercial groups such as Cocteau Twins (the majestic "Lorelei") and Felt (the shimmering "Primitive Painters," which features Cocteaus vocalist Liz Fraser). The shoegaze movement, as best exemplified by Ride's sweeping "Vapour Trail" and My Bloody Valentine's woozy "Only Shallow," gets its due on Disc Two, while the remaining CDs shine the spotlight on mid-to-late-'90s Britpop bands, nodding to both key ensembles (Oasis's ubiquitous "Live Forever" and Pulp's surging "Common People") and bit players (Menswear's driving "Sleeping In" and Sleeper's wiry "Sale of the Century"). Capping off the whole affair is a comprehensive booklet and (literally) flashy package, which makes for a bright and far-reaching overview of the era.

Rolling Stone (p.87) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "It's all here -- a slew of shoegazer fan faves, with the still-dizzying guitars of Ride, Curve, Lush and Swervedriver..."

Uncut (p.111) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "It's a curious cultural history, mixing mod, punk, indie, shoegazing, baggy and Brit-pop....Disc 1 amounts to a history of '80s indie, from The Smiths to The Sundays..."