It appears to have been quite a busy year for Manchester’s Courteeners.
A string of live shows, including festival slots, an incredibly intimate show at Night and Day in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, alongside a Wythenshawe Park headline and an autumn tour.
If that wasn’t enough, the band released a new compilation album “God Bless The Band” to drop at the end of August 2026.
Speaking about the release, Courteeners frontman Liam Fray says:
“In October it’s 20 years since our first gig, so with a couple of new songs fresh from the studio, the timing just seemed right for a Best Of.
“If we mean half as much to people as they have done to us over the years, then we’ve not done too bad.
We look forward to seeing you down the front… God Bless The Fans x”
“God Bless The Band” album artwork – dropping in August 2026 – Graphic Credit: Courteeners/Ignition Records
Admittedly, I’m a big Courteeners fan myself, I was buzzing for this announcement, as well as looking to see what was going to be included on the album itself.
Now, there’s the standard version and the deluxe version, looking at the standard version to start with, it has 20 tracks on it, first impressions of the track list are solid, and I’m quite pleased with the selection.
It does feel like a very healthy mix of the debut album “St Jude”, fan favourites “Falcon” and “Anna” along with some numbers from “Concrete Love” and two new singles.
It kicks off with “Are You In Love With A Notion?” – a fan favourite and if I do say so myself, one that goes absolutely off at live gigs, off the 2013 album “Anna” – it’s also the first track of that album.
It’s a high-energy, gets the blood pumping and has perfect singalong ability, the opening drumbeat is familiar and iconic and I absolutely approve of it’s inclusion!
After this, we have one of the 2008 debut album “St. Jude” in the form of “Cavorting” – another fantastic shout, it’s a bit choppier, but also a little bit slower than the initial GBTB track, it’s definitely popular at live gigs (I’ve had the bruises from the pits to prove it!) and it’s nice to see a debut album track in there early.
Next up we have, in my opinion, an underrated one in the form of “Acrylic” – funny thing is, I’ve never actually met a fellow Courteeners fan who dislikes it, but it always seems to slip through the cracks when it comes to top tracks generally, it’s fast-paced tempo carries the track selection along nicely and is just difficult not to feel pumped listening to it, so far, it is just one big Courteeners party.
Slowing it down now with “You Overdid It Doll” – I am OVER THE MOON to see this included, it’s got a lot sadder tone to it, listening to the lyrics, but it still has that consistent beat to it and is certainly thought-provoking, it’s been a relatable track to me in difficult times and if I remember rightly, I think I’ve only seen it live once, so I’m buzzing for it be included on the album.
The band have injected one of their newer offerings next, the track of the same name of the 2024 album and their last release “Pink Cactus Cafe” – I didn’t actually expect to see this in the tracklist, but I’m also not mad about it, it’s the perfect place to break it up, it’s an easy listen whilst still having a good singalong ability, there’s definitely tracks I’d rather see in it’s place, but I’m definitely not mad to see it either.
“Summer” follows and sublime, no further notes, banging track.
“Take Over The World” is track seven and my bloody god, WHAT A TRACK – I was really hoping this would be included and it is just stunning, now personally, I’m not all that emotional generally, but this is one of the few songs that does hit me in the feels (not necessarily to tears, but it makes me feel.) but the relatable lyrics on connection and this slow but euphoric backing track just makes it stunning.
Four fantastic additions follow, in the form of “Bide Your Time”, “Small Bones”, “The 17th” and “Fallowfield Hillbilly” – the 17th is easily in my top 5 Courteeners tracks, so I’d have been incredibly disappointed had it not been included, the other two are bangers, and I’m not surprised to see them included either, can you play guitar my boy? can you f*ck.
“That Kiss” – YES. emotional, relatable, gets the blood pumping in a different kind of way and it absolutely goes off live – thank you.
“Lose Control” is next and whilst I don’t dislike the track, it’s not my favourite, I’d rather have seen the likes of “One Day At A Time” or “Next Time You Call” in it’s place instead, but it’s absolutely not a bad track.
“Modern Love” follows and is one of the most relatable tracks I’ve heard in regards to my love life “I don’t need this modern love” (make of that what you will) but I’d have been disappointed if this wasn’t on there, definitely in my top 10.
Incredibly pleased to see that “Sycophant” and “Hanging Off Your Cloud” are the next tracks and bloody brilliant, “Sycophant” isn’t played live enough (*hint*) and is an incredible track, plus “Hanging Off Your Cloud” has a very significant personal meaning to me, without getting too deep, it’s been one of my go-to songs during low periods and it is just a beautiful track, well worthy of being on there.
Next is one of the newer singles, released earlier in 2026 “Luckiest Man Alive” and I was really unsure how I’d feel about it, but I actually love it, I think it’s a really nice blend of all the different eras we’ve seen the band and the lyrics are beautiful, even if there aren’t too many fans yet, I think it will grow on fans.
Naturally, the two encore tracks of any Courteeners gig, “Not Nineteen Forever” and “What Took You So Long” are on the list and are essentially on the encore part of the album, which – clever, I like it, I’d have been incredibly surprised to not see these included, even if you’re not a die-hard fan of the band, it’s the probably the two most recognised tracks and have contributed to their success massively.
And to end the standard edition, is the second newest track “Plus One Forever”.
You know what, I’ll be honest, first listen, I wasn’t keen, but the more I listened, the more I realised I didn’t really give it much of a chance initially, is it my favourite? no.
But it is a decent track and it does grow on you, especially when you listen to the lyrics and give it a proper chance.
So that’s the standard album, I was really intrigued to see what tracks were included on the deluxe version and you know what? I was VERY pleased.
The Courteeners L-R: Elina Lin, Joe Cross, Liam Fray, Daniel Moores and Michael Campbell
Photo Credit: Joshua Halling
“Sweet Surrender” featuring Brooke Combe (a queen in her own right) from their last album “Pink Cactus Cafe”, one of the best tracks of the album for sure, “Chipping Away” – not my favourite but certainly not displeased to see it included, it’s an easy listen for sure.
“Smiths Disco” is on the deluxe edition, it should absolutely be on the standard edition in my opinion, but it’s better on deluxe than not at all, it’s a banging track.
The one I am most pleased to see, is Sunflower.
This is without a doubt my favourite Courteeners song, I’m coming up seeing the band must be 15/16 times now and I’ve only ever seen it live once (after showing Liam, Moorsey and Cambo my sunflower tattoo and asking them at a signing in Manchester, not sure if that did it or not but let me have my delusions ok?) – this deserves more praise, it is a STUNNING song and if I had it my way, it would be on the standard album.
P.S play it at Wythenshawe Park and Liverpool 2026 please (or just at any live show) xo.
Surprised to see “Winter Wonderland” and “The Rest of the World has gone home” – but again, not disappointed, would have just had other tracks in there instead personally – I’m sure there will be thousands pleased to see them included mind.
Also on the deluxe version is the acoustic version of “International”, along with “Beautiful Head” and “More.Again.Forever” – for me, “Beautiful Head” – BIG tick, an unexpected but great surprise, very pleased with that, the other two, again, I have more I’d have rather had on there, but I’d have been surprised if I loved every single track.
For the final two tracks of the deluxe version, firstly a cover of Oasis’ “Cigarettes and Alcohol” live at Glastonbury for a Radio 2 Live session, a nice little surprise and honestly, not mad about it and the last track is “Here Come The Young Men” which YES! what a way to end it, deluxe version or not, a very worthy addition and I’m pleased to see it on there.
Overall, whether you have the standard or deluxe version of “God Bless The Band” you have an incredible set of tracks from the Courteeners catalogue, it’s been curated very well and I think it does have the best of the best of the band, with one or two exceptions missing, but you can’t have everything.
October 2026 marks 10 years since their first gig, two decades of incredible music, across seven brilliant albums (not including B sides and one-offs) – so I’m buzzing with the selection, hoping to see more of these included performed live across the Autumn 2026 tour (and Wythenshawe Park!) – well in.
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