North Atlantic Drift is a 2003 album by Ocean Colour Scene

Ocean Colour Scene

Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...

The title track is political commentary on American cultural imperialism and its support by the UK government, particularly the then impending US-led invasion of Iraq

2003 invasion of Iraq

The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...

, which was opposed by the majority of the British public. (OCS had shown their anti-war tendencies with the previous protest song

Protest song

A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...

 Profit in Peace and associated with Paul Weller). "Meanwhile Rome burns" appears to be a reference to the September 11 Attacks, analogy with the Sacking of Rome, "Between the Euphrates and the other river now the home of the Devil

Devil

The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...

 and the liar

Dodgy Dossier

Iraq: Its Infrastructure of Concealment, Deception and Intimidation was a 2003 briefing document for the Blair Labour government...

" is a reference to Iraq and US President George W. Bush

George W. Bush

George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....

 and British Prime Minister Tony Blair

Tony Blair

Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...

, respectively.

The first track, I Just Need Myself was played by Virgin Radio

Virgin Radio

Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...

 and reached #13 in the charts, though the other two singles did less well but still charted inside the top 40. The folky Second Hand Car was released as a single in Germany and Holland. She's Been Writing is dedicated to Sandy Denny

Sandy Denny

Sandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...

, one of Fowler's favourite bands being Fairport Convention

Fairport Convention

Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...

The U.S. version was released on August 19, 2003, and contained four bonus tracks, all of which were b-sides to the U.K. single releases of "I Just Need Myself."

It was the last album released with the original line up after Damon Minchella left the band in late 2003.

Track listing

1. "I Just Need Myself
   I Just Need Myself
   "I Just Need Myself" is a rock song by Ocean Colour Scene .The song was released in 2003 and reached number 13 in the UK Singles Chart, making it the highest charting Ocean Colour Scene song since "Profit in Peace" from 1999...
   
   "
2. "Oh Collector"
3. "North Atlantic Drift"
4. "Golden Gate Bridge
   Golden Gate Bridge (song)
   "Golden Gate Bridge" is a rock song by Ocean Colour Scene .The song was released in 2003 and reached number 40 in the UK Singles Chart. It is taken from their 2003 album North Atlantic Drift and was the third and final single to be released from the album, after "I Just Need Myself" and "Make the...
   
   "
5. "Make the Deal
   Make the Deal
   "Make the Deal" is a rock song by Ocean Colour Scene from their 2003 album North Atlantic Drift. It was released as the follow-up single to "I Just Need Myself" and reached number 35 in the UK Singles Chart.- Track listing :CD 1...
   
   "
6. "For Every Corner"
7. "On My Way"
8. "Second Hand Car"
9. "She's Been Writing"
10. "The Song Goes On"
11. "When Evil Comes"

U.S. Track Listing

1. "I Just Need Myself
   I Just Need Myself
   "I Just Need Myself" is a rock song by Ocean Colour Scene .The song was released in 2003 and reached number 13 in the UK Singles Chart, making it the highest charting Ocean Colour Scene song since "Profit in Peace" from 1999...
   
   "
2. "Oh Collector"
3. "North Atlantic Drift"
4. "Golden Gate Bridge
   Golden Gate Bridge (song)
   "Golden Gate Bridge" is a rock song by Ocean Colour Scene .The song was released in 2003 and reached number 40 in the UK Singles Chart. It is taken from their 2003 album North Atlantic Drift and was the third and final single to be released from the album, after "I Just Need Myself" and "Make the...
   
   "
5. "Make the Deal
   Make the Deal
   "Make the Deal" is a rock song by Ocean Colour Scene from their 2003 album North Atlantic Drift. It was released as the follow-up single to "I Just Need Myself" and reached number 35 in the UK Singles Chart.- Track listing :CD 1...
   
   "
6. "For Every Corner"
7. "On My Way"
8. "Second Hand Car"
9. "She's Been Writing"
10. "The Song Goes On"
11. "When Evil Comes"
12. "Will You Take Her Love"
13. "Me, I'm Left Unsure"
14. "Questions"
15. "I Want To See The Bright Lights"