Brit Bands. Part II.

Who doesn't love Winston?

After watching the Olympics in London and having new additions, I've decided to add to my list of British men that make listening to music such an enjoyable experience. The ones on this list aren't all bands, but that's just a technicality.

Ed Sheeran
So he may be a little goofy-looking, but I love a lot of his stuff. Really love it. My favorite is Small Bump. If you click on only one link from this post, LET IT BE THIS ONE. (My favorite YouTube comment about this song is "Gingers don't have souls because God gave them all to Ed Sheeran." So true.) Other ones worth a detour are: The A Team, Wayfaring Stranger, and Lego House (don't be fooled by Rupert Grint in this music video).


Calvin Harris
He's a DJ primarily, but who cares. I first encountered Mr. Harris in Just Dance 1 with his Acceptable in the 80s. This song is about me. Well, anyone born in the 80s really, but I fit in that demographic, thus this song is about me. I don't appreciate his collaboration with Rihanna. I actually don't appreciate anything with Rihanna, but I digress. He has some other good ones like the recently popular Feel So Close, and I'm Not Alone. I didn't give you the links to his music videos for your own sanity. They are freakin' weird.


One Direction
You can judge me all you like. There's just something about these boys. Harry, Zayn, Niall, Liam, and Louis. I know they don't sing that well and they can't dance and most of them are still teenagers and that they are pretty much just pretty faces, but dang. They sure are good at being pretty faces. And their songs are so catchy. One Thing, What Makes You Beautiful, and Gotta Be You. You can't help but be a fan.


Keane
This one requires revisiting. Keane came to Salt Lake this summer and I got to see them. Amazing. Reasons why they are making another appearance requires a little list-ception.
          1. Tom's voice is even more incredible live.

          2. They sang every single song I recommended in the last post as well as some additions to the aforementioned greats: Silenced By The Night, Strangeland, and Disconnected.

          3. There were really weird people there, but I didn't even care.

          4. They said Salt Lake was the favorite concert they've ever done. Probably because Kameron and I were there. Definitely because of us.

And to leave you with a parting gift:

Brit Bands.

I have a minor fetish with British bands. Maybe it's because their accents are hot, or they are hot. Probably both. Some Brit bands that I recommend that you listen to because, well, they are just fabulous are:

Coldplay

Yeah, yeah. They may seem an obvious choice, but I have been a fan of Coldplay for a decade.

Favourites (British spelling for a British post, duh): Don't Panic, Crests of Waves, Everything's Not Lost, Lovers In Japan, Paradise, A Message, and Strawberry Swing (greatly enhanced by the music video...The Scientist falls into that category as well).

Franz Ferdinand

When I listen to their music, it makes me want to dance. Or punch someone, but in a fun way. Take Me Out was picked up for both Guitar Hero and Just Dance 2. Their other classics are This Fire, The Dark of the Matinée, and Do You Want To.

Radiohead

These guys are straight up weird. Weird. But their music is incredibly soothing and strangely addicting. Creep, Karma Police, House of Cards, and Lotus Flower are a random sampling. They are the more popular songs of theirs, so maybe they won't weird you out as much as others would...

BBMak

They, uh, don't have a website. Don't judge me for loving them, even after all this time. I can't help it. Really, I can't. How could you resist those faces?! Please return with me to the golden age of boy bands. Back Here, Unpredictable, I'm Not In Love, and a cover of More Than Words.

Keane

I'm keen on them. Tom Chaplin's voice is lovely. Seriously, that is the perfect word to describe it. Lovely. Winnie the Pooh recently reminded everyone of the gem Somewhere Only We Know, but there are other precious ones in This Is The Last Time, Everybody's Changing, Bend and Break, and Nothing In My Way.

and then there was

Travis

I love these men above all others. Who can't love a man named Fran? Under-appreciated, I tell you. That's what they are. Why Does It Always Rain On Me, Writing to Reach You, Driftwood, Turn, Hit Me Baby One More Time, and my favourite: Selfish Jean.

Honorable Mentions: The Feeling's Sewn, The Libertines' Can't Stand Me Know, Muse with Starlight (they've got a bunch of great ones, but this best tickles my fancy), Damien Rice's The Blower's Daughter, The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony, Oasis' Wonderwall, and of course, PoP's PoP Goes My Heart. Gets me every time.