In anticipation of the 4th of July, America's celebration of a stand against taxation without representation - here are 10 British bands that call into question if the British Invasion really ever stopped blasting out of our speakers.
Arctic Monkeys –
Worth digging deep into their discography and B-Sides, you will find lyrics that stick with you and tracks you’ll leave on repeat on the boom box by your bedside. On their mantel, the Arctic Monkeys have 2 Grammy nominations and 7 Brit Award wins. Lead by Alex Turner, this British rock band that formed in around Sheffield, England, will also be coming stateside in August when they perform at Lollapalooza.
Track to hear: “I Bet That You Look Good on the Dance Floor” – What Ever People Say I am, That’s What I’m Not
The Big Pink -
This electro-pop Londoner duo may not have released anything in the last few years, but they are a bright poppy sound that is sure to please.
Track to hear: “Rubber Necking” – Future Necking
Bombay Bicycle Club –
If you haven’t listened to the album So Long, See You Tomorrow yet – stop reading this and go listen to it now. It will be in my top 3 albums of 2014, if not number 1. Bombay Bicycle Club is a four piece indie rock group that hails from Crouch End, London. With 4 albums and 3 EPs under their belt along with an afternoon slot at Chicago’s Lollapalooza Festival, this addicting British band is only growing momentum steal our Midwestern American hearts.
Track to hear: “Home By Now” – So Long, See You Tomorrow
Coldplay –
On the threat of being called mainstream, I love Coldplay. For their newest album Ghost Stories, Coldplay hid sheets of lyrics to their songs in ghost story books in libraries in 9 different countries. People who found the hand written sheets could win other prizes. Whether this a clever ruse to get their fans to read or not is beside the point: Coldplay is a creative alternative rock English band who has invaded more than one heart stateside.
Track to hear: “Lovers in Japan” – Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
Fink –
6 albums, a live LP album and another album, Hard Believer due out later this year, Fink is a British indie folk band that holds it’s own. Often with a singer/song writer feel, Fink is perfect to listen to on a relaxing evening in.
Track to hear: “This is The Thing” – Distance and Time
Jessie J –
This Londoner has often brushed with royalty, she sang at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 as well as with the band Queen at the 2012 Olympic games. She used to write songs for artists like Miley Cyrus and Chris Brown, but now has self-preformed hits of her own.
Track to Hear: “Price Tag” – Who You Are
The Kooks -
With a new album entitled Listen due out in September 2014 so The Kooks will soon be invading radio stations on your drive home. These guys met at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, the first song they ever played was a cover of the Strokes’ “Reptillia”.
Track to Hear: “Naïve” – Inside In, Inside Out
The Staves –
The tightest harmonies from this delightful sister trio might be your newest favorite tracks for cool autumn evenings. This acoustic sister trio are from Watford, England; often using a ukulele and are definitely worth a listen.
Track to hear: “Mexico” – Dead & Born & Grown
Toploader –
With experience being the opening band for acts like Coldplay, Muse and Bon Jovi – Toploader has experience warming up a crowd. Although their debut indie pop album Onka’s Big Moka had huge success in the UK, they are mostly remembered for their cover of King Harvest’s “Dancing in the Moonlight”.
Track to hear: “Dancing in the Moonlight” – Onka’s Big Moka
The Wombats –
Bouncing out of your speakers all the way from Liverpool, the Wombats are an indie rock band that cranked out 10 EPs and 2 full length albums in the period of about 7 years. This includes the fantastically named The Hangover Sessions. With the last EP or LP released in 2011 and a new single released late 2013, fans are waiting eagerly to see if they are planning to come out with something new.
Track to hear: “School Uniforms” – A Guild to Love, Loss, and Desperation
