Reach for the stars

Using the arrival of the Spice Girls as a jumping-off point, this book explores, celebrates and contextualises the thus-far-uncharted period of British pop that flourished between 1996 and 2006. A double-denim-loving time before the glare of social media and the accession of streaming, it was the era in which we embraced Cool Britannia, tiptoed into a new millennium, and unleashed the full force of reality TV and talent shows across the world. Throughout all these cultural shifts, the bastions of '00s pop - armed with buoyant, immaculately crafted, carefree anthems - provided entertainment, escapism and fun for millions. Now, music writer Michael Cragg aims to redress that balance.