The Libertines |
 |
|
Thu. March 31.2005 12:00 AM EST |
||
The Brits Are BackAll of a sudden there are loads of impressive bands from England and the Isles. We count down 10 not to be missed. by C. Bottomley |
||||
|
||||
 |
(Courtesy of RCA Records) |
|
||
For once, we should believe the hype. Franz Ferdinand was heralded by the British music press as the band that was going to change our lives. With the help of "Take Me Out," they seized 2004 and gave it a cool haircut. The suave Scotsmen aren't a
See Photos Of The Bands The Libertines From: London The Libertines are as responsible for the current Brit revival as the Franz boys. The literate sub-Clash pub rock of 2002's Up the Bracket cast them as saviors of a moribund scene. Playing al fresco "guerilla gigs" as often as legit venues, the Libs built a rabid fan-base, but singer Pete Doherty's crack habit destroyed them. Doherty's since become a tabloid regular as Kate Moss' boyfriend and leader of the riotous offshoot, Babyshambles. Try 'Em If You Like: The Clash Give It A Spin: "What Became of the Likely Lads" Muse From: Teignmouth Once dismissed as Radiohead wannabes, this power trio has made over three sprawling albums of state-of-the-art bedsit prog that surpasses that of the Oxford eggheads. Guitarist/vocalist/classical music groupie Matthew Bellamy isn't scared of the big idea -- just dig those trippy post-Floyd CD covers. Muse's Absolution anchors their fearless ambition with the biggest rock anthems this side of The Bends. Try 'Em If You Like: King Crimson Give It A Spin: "Absolution" Embrace From: Huddersfield Way back in 1998, Embrace looked like the band to steal Oasis' Britpop crown. But despite boasting two testy brothers and fashioning a brawling debut album, it didn't quite happen. Coldplay's Chris Martin rode to the rescue, donating his song "Gravity" to the cause. It helped sweep last year's Out of Nothing to No. 1 -- and suddenly the bands heart-on-sleeve balladeering is cooler than ever. Try 'Em If You Like: Oasis Give It A Spin: "Gravity" Bloc Party From: London With their interracial line-up, BP is the face as well as the sound of new young Britain. Discovered after singer/guitarist Kele Okereke sent a demo tape to Franz Ferdinand, it wasn't long before the four-piece's cubist post-punk/funk was getting them on magazine covers. New York's foul-mouthed style bible Vice loved their Silent Alarm debut so much, they released it on their own record label. Try 'Em If You Like: The Cure circa "Why Can't I Be You" Give It A Spin: "So Here We Are" Kaiser Chiefs From: Leeds Former art lecturer and Kaiser Chief boss Ricky Wilson knows that sometimes it's about who you know. This four-piece shares management with Franz Ferdinand and Blur's Graham Coxon can be heard starting his motorbike on their Employment debut. The Chiefs' lyrical acumen is as beady-eyed as Blur or the Kinks, while their power chords recreate the edgy atmosphere of inner city streets when the pubs close. Try 'Em If You Like: Blur Give It A Spin: "I Predict a Riot" Kasabian From: Leicester Regarded with a certain degree of suspicion, Kasabian have still managed to achieve Top Five pop success while posing as a revolutionary band of sonic terrorists. Their self-titled debut cribs from the druggy dance rock of Happy Mondays and Primal Scream, sweeping up slogans in an exhilarating rush. Singer Tom has also gained valuable column inches by suggesting Jet should be "tortured and killed." Try 'Em If You Like: Lo-Fidelity Allstars Give It A Spin: "Club Foot" Dogs Die in Hot Cars From: St. Andrews The silly name means that nobody takes them seriously, but this Scottish squad of art rockers doesn't seem to mind. They've mastered the craft of the Great British pop single on Please Describe Yourself, blending full-tilt whimsy with a psychedelic palette. Someone up there must like them -- singer Craig has survived electrocution while guitarist Gary bounced back after being run over by a car last year. Try 'Em If You Like: XTC Give It A Spin: "Godhopping" The Zutons From: Liverpool The city by the Mersey has undergone a musical resurgence thanks to a wave of bands that have taken up the Beatles Rickenbackers and become inspired by the music of fellow ports like San Francisco and New Orleans. There's a distinct voodoo vibe (as well as a whiff of dope smoke) around this quintet, whose Who Killed the Zutons? presents the blues with the vibrant Technicolor of a drive-in horror movie. Try 'Em If You Like: The La's Give It A Spin: "Pressure Point" The Bees From: The Isle of Wight There isn't much to do on the remote Isle of Wight, so when Paul Butler and Aaron Fletcher formed The Bees, they suddenly found themselves swamped with members -- and spreading out in all musical directions. The sextet's Free the Bees has a little of everything -- country, mod moxie and even something approximating "Do the Funky Chicken" -- all performed with deliriously contagious conviction. Try 'Em If You Like: The Small Faces Give It A Spin: "Wash in the Rain" Razorlight From: London Razorlight are the latest in the grand tradition of British bands that combine one lippy frontman with three other anonymities. But singer Johnny Borrell has ego to spare, and Up All Night drips with an abundance of Britpop-goes-beat-poetry gems. His swagger may have got the best of him, though. Their American conquest had to be postponed after Borrell suffered from a crippling attack of "stage fright." Try 'Em If You Like: The Kinks Give It A Spin: "Rip It Up" The Futureheads From: Sunderland Think a band inspired in equal measure by Devo, D.C. hardcore, modern classical music and yodeling fairy Kate Bush might sound like a sonic car crash? You're absolutely right. But what a pile-up it is. With all four members singing about first jobs and adolescent confusion, they weave a dense web of warbling harmonies over some of the chunkiest riffs heard since Interpol's debut. Try 'Em If You Like: The Buzzcocks Give It A Spin: "Different Days and Nights" |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  |
 |
The Libertines |
 |
|
|
Muse |
|
|
|
Embrace (UK) |
|
|
|
Bloc Party |
|
|
|
Kaiser Chiefs |
|
|
|
Kasabian |
|
|
|
Dogs Die in Hot Cars |
|
|
|
The Zutons |
|
|
|
The Bees |
|
|
|
Razorlight |
|
|
|
The Futureheads |
 |
Pete Doherty Squirts What May Be Blood At MTV Germany Crew |
|
Ex-Libertines Frontman Arrested For Assault |
|
Courtney Love Tame By Comparison To U.K.'s Libertines In 2004 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Receive Free Music News Daily Via Email |
|
Receive Free Artist Updates Via Email for The Libertines |
|
All news for The Libertines |
|
Breaking Music News |
 |
Add VH1 News to My Yahoo |
|
