hmm ok
5 Mainstreamish
Absolution by Muse
Used to be heavily compared to Radiohead but personally i think Muse are better, really they are not that much a like to Radiohead, they have a lot more ambition to big, thus their music is very epic and driving, excellent rockers and their quieter ballad type moments are haunting to say the least. Absolution is a Rock Opera in the truest sense, lovely string accompaniments, while Matt Bellamy (lead singer) switches between lead guitar and his grand piano..its thrilling and beautiful ride
Best Tracks: Time is Running Out, Hysteria, Butterflies and Hurricanes
Smile by Brian Wilson
The masterpiece that was 40 years in the making...showing all of Brian Wilson's genius (formerly of The Beach Boys), glorious harmonies galore, with changed arrangements to Good Vibrations (how it was meant to sound).....really its just a beautiful album.
Beast Tracks: Good Vibrations, Surfs Up, Heroes and Villains
Supergrass selftitled
Its just a brilliantly fun album from the get go...not sure who i could compare them to...britpop they be but they survived it, just good fun, Gaz Coombes is a very cool lead singer to.
Best Tracks: Moving, Pumping on Your Stereo, Mary
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips
Psychadellic bubblegum pop..is whats comes into my head...definitey a trippy album but very well crafted songs and just , well i love it
Forever Delayed by the Manic Street Preachers
Its a best of but its all i have, but it is brilliant...some very visceral punk rock moments, to more epic grand songs...but a rockin' band they are and forever shall be..i love the Manics
5 Obscurer albums
Faded Seaside Glamour by Delays
Southampton bands debut...if you like wonderful melodies and harmonies then you will love them, they take a bit of influence from the Finn Brothers mainly Crowded House side of things, they have a cover of I Got You and they are a stomping live act...saw them in a tiny tiny venue and they blew my mind...love them and probably my favourite of the newer bands about, their keyboardist has stated that their new album will piss all over their debut...and with their last single release with the new song Lost in A Melody they look set to do so...their debut even though soon to be eclipsed is wonderfully melancholic, taking you on a cruise and trips to faraway lands.
Best Tracks: Wanderlust, Hey Girl, Nearer than Heaven
Absent Friends by The Divine Comedy
Genius this guy is pure genius....brilliant lyrics, great sense of humour, brilliant voice and Irish
oh yeh he is also smaller than Bono...basically Neil Hannon (he is The Divine Comedy) is like Frank Sinatra on drugs with a full guitar band and orchestra backing him...supreme songwriting indeed. You will love it because i say so
Best Tracks: Absent Friends, The Happy Goth, Our Mutual Friend
Kasabian self-titled
Primal Scream/Stone Roses influenced band or dance rave rock as i call it....its got real attitude and another brilliant live act, blasting away all your cares.
Best Tracks: Cut-Off, LSF (Lost Souls Forever), Reason is Treason
Welcome to the North by the Music
Not to everyones taste but a great rock band in my opinion, its what 80s hair metal should have been like...no shit solos...just great danceable rock outs (some Stone Roses influence again but rockier) so some grunge influence too....an album that sadly did not perform well when released..help it perform now.
Best Tracks: Freedom Fighters, Breakin', Bleed From Within
Sunlight Makes Me Paranoid by Elefant
If you know Interpol...well imagine Interpol in pink and you are half way there to understanding this band..same styling of music except infinitely more poppy and not in a bad way...just great music and with a guitarist named Mod well how can you resist?
Best Tracks: Make Up, Bokkie, Love