Today we haul our butts across the pond to the United Kingdom--to England, to be specific. Jolly old England has a rich musical history, spawning dozens of centuries, from the folk songs of old to the rock and popular music we have today. No matter who you are or what your music taste is, this UK culture that also shares its borders with Scotland and Wales (also great centers of music) has plenty of artists and bands that are sure to delight. Here are a few of them, reviewed here and now on the Region Spotlight.
Note: I will soon be doing individual reviews of artists, but I'm still going to also review bands in the Region Spotlight. Just get used to seeing a bunch of reviews on here from now on. :P
Name: The Clash (1976-1986)
Origin: London, England
Discography: The Clash (1977), Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978), London Calling (1979), Sandinista! (1980), Combat Rock (1982), Cut The Crap (1985)
Genre(s): punk rock
Website: http://www.theclash.com/ (official)
The Clash, a product of the original wave of British punk music, was one of the most iconic and critically acclaimed bands of its day. This band is amazing in my opinion because of their musical experimentation and the fact that they weren't afraid to espouse their political views in their work, whether you agree with them or not. They were an inspiration for many English musicians associated with punk, and even some American bands credit The Clash as one of their influences. Their debut album and London Calling are perfect examples of what punk rock music is all about, and their musical style is a great one that people of past, present, and future can identify and enjoy. Though they are broken up now, and their later years saw a decline in their music, may we all remember the awesomeness of one of the best English bands of all time.
5 songs to check out: Rock the Casbah, London's Burning, Spanish Bombs, Police & Thieves, The Card Cheat
Name: Arctic Monkeys (2002- present)
Origin: Sheffield, UK (located in South Yorkshire, England)
Discography: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006), Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007), Humbug (2009)
Genre(s): alternative rock, post-punk revival, garage rock revival
Websites: http://www.arcticmonkeys.com/ (official), http://www.myspace.com/arcticmonkeys (Myspace), http://twitter.com/ARCTICMONKEYS (Twitter), http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/ArcticMonkeys (Facebook)
The Clash paved the way for bands like Arctic Monkeys, creating a song that these Sheffield boys would only expand upon two decades after the original punk wave band dissolved. Headed by vocalist and lead guitarist Alex Turner, also known for his side project band The Last Shadow Puppets, this band is fun, loud, and one of the finest acts England has to offer, both musically and in terms of their amazing lyrics, complements of Mr. Turner himself.
Their style seems to shift with each new release, but it's all for the better, as the Monkeys can deliver a good performance no matter what music and lyrics they have to work with. They're a good hip-shaking, food-stomping dance floor romp, something relaxing to listen to in an empty room, or a headbanging tune that keeps buzzing in your ears even after the final chords. And with an anticipated fourth album coming out this year and a planned apperance at the Benicàssim International Festival in Spain along the likes of The Strokes, Arcade Fire, and Scottish band Primal Scream, who knows what this English quartet will drum up for us next? Only time will tell, but I have a feeling it'll be a pleasant surprise.
5 songs to check out: Fluorescent Adolescent, Crying Lightning, Teddy Picker, A Certain Romance, Fake Tales of San Francisco
Name: The Libertines (1997-2004, 2010- present)
Origin: London, England
Discography: Up the Bracket (2002), The Libertines (2004)
Genre(s): indie rock, garage rock revival, post-punk revival
Websites: http://www.thelibertines.com/ (official), http://www.myspace.com/thelibertines (Myspace), http://twitter.com/carlbaratmusic (frontman Carl Barat's Twitter)
Though the band had its ups and downs, mostly thanks to the downward spiral of vocal and rhythm guitarist Pete Doherty (also of Babyshambles fame), there's no doubt that The Libertines, another iconic band (in the early 2000s, they helped launch the garage rock revival movement that many UK bands would later be a part of), have a wonderful thing going on. While Barat and Doherty had differing musical styles, their collaboration forms something unique and musically satisfying. A review at popmatters.com describes The Libertines and their debut album as "overbearing, loud, and abrasive", but overall "great fun to listen to". I have to agree on that. While they did get off to a rough start, London's Libertines were able to sail towards popularity with their often deep lyrics and personal relationships with fans, often playing a Guerrilla gig so fans could see them up close and personal. This band is a must-listen, and after reuniting in August 2010 where they played at England's Reading and Leeds festivals, there's no doubt that maybe, just maybe, we could hear even more tunes from these guerrilla and garage rockers.
5 songs to check out: Time For Heroes, Can't Stand Me Now, What Became of the Likely Lads, The Man Who Would Be King, Vertigo
Ah, Canada. Ten provinces, three territories, and an overall population of 34,295,000 according to the 2010 census. Known for maple syrup, hockey, free healthcare, and those Canadian accents Americans love to mock.
Canada is also known for its thriving music scene, which boasts many famous artists from hip hop/rap artist Drake to pop diva Céline Dion. But in addition to these individual artists, there are a variety of bands, some well-known, others indie, dominating the Canadian music scene. I have quite a few favorites, but this post will list merely three of them, primarily from the indie side of the spectrum because honestly, I'm a huge indie lover. So eat some poutine , adjust your mountie hat, and enjoy.
Name: Arcade Fire (2003- present)
Origin: Montreal, Quebec
Discography: Arcade Fire EP (2003), Funeral (2004), Neon Bible (2007), The Suburbs (2010)
Genre(s): indie rock, baroque pop, art rock
Websites: http://www.arcadefire.com/ (official), http://www.myspace.com/arcadefireofficial (Myspace), http://twitter.com/arcadefire (Twitter)
Touting numerous music awards and critical acclaim for their albums, this multi-instrumentalist band is, arguably, one of the best bands to emerge from the Canadian indie scene. Arcade Fire has a unique sound that can't be specifically described in one word or labeled under just one genre. They create lyrics that are sometimes poetry, sometimes a love letter, other times just something to open your ears to and enjoy. In any case, this is a band that should definitely be listened to because while they might not always have a hit with their songs, they put passion into their music and can instantly become the newest band you're sure to adore.
5 songs to check out: Neighborhood # 1 (Tunnels), My Body Is A Cage, The Suburbs, Modern Man, Neon Bible
Name: Tokyo Police Club (2005 - present)
Origin: Newmarket, Ontario
Discography: A Lesson In Crime EP (2006), Smith EP (2007), Elephant Shell (2008), Champ (2010)
Genre(s): indie rock, garage rock, post-punk revival
Websites: http://tokyopoliceclub.com/home/ (official), http://www.myspace.com/tokyopoliceclub (Myspace), http://twitter.com/tokyopoliceclub (Twitter)
Tokyo Police Club is, in my words, a collection of different aspects of awesome that have been combined and mixed in a blender, served in a tall glass with one of those cool little umbrella straws in it. In short, these guys are pure unadulterated fun, whether it's through their music, Twitter posts, or video blogs. This youthful band often creates bouncy, enjoyable tunes (an example being "Wait Up (Boots of Danger)" but collections like A Lesson In Crime also bring out their garage rock roots. Their lyrics are often quirky but understandable, and quite catchy...I warn you that certain songs will be stuck in your head for a while. All of their albums and the Lesson In Crime EP are showcases of their genius and how a bunch of early twentysomething boys can jam together and make wonderful music.
5 Songs to Check Out: Citizens of Tomorrow, The Nature of the Experiment, Breakneck Speed, Wait Up (Boots of Danger), Tessellate
Name: Tegan and Sara (1995 - present)
Origin: Calgary, Alberta
Discography: Under Feet Like Ours (1999), This Business Like Art (2000), If It Was You (2002), So Jealous (2004), The Con (2007), Sainthood (2009)
Genre(s): indie rock, indie pop, New Wave
Websites: http://teganandsara.com/ (official), http://www.myspace.com/teganandsara (Myspace), http://twitter.com/TEGANandSARA (Twitter)
This softspoken (or rather, soft-sung) duo comprised of identical twins Tegan and Sara Quin has been making wonderful music together since their teen days at age fifteen, though they didn't professionally record until 1999 when they released their debut album, Under Feet Like Ours. They often switch on who's singing lead and backup voices, but figuring out which twin sings what part in a particular song just might be part of the fun of listening to them. Their songs are great easy listening with beautiful lyrics and often contain an infectious background beat that will have you bopping your head in time with the music. They are a truly creative force in the world of music, with unique music videos as well as songs to establish them as great artists. All in all, the Quin sisters are double the fun, creativity, and listening pleasure for any music fan.
5 Songs to Listen to: Back In Your Head, Hell, Where Does the Good Go, Underwater, Alligator
Whew, that was a boatload of words to write and probably even more to say out loud. Hopefully you've seen some artists you want to check out, or gotten another person's perspective of artists you do like. And if you have any other Canadian favorites not on the list, feel free to rave about them in the comments. :)
