Entertainment Weekly's Alt-Rock new "musts" list
 

Entertainment Weekly had an article about 2 weeks back about the return of "good" alternative rock. I've been pretty much out of music over the last few years: I get no radio reception at work and never listen in the car (only my own CDs). But, even if I could, we don't have alt-rock stations in my area. Due to this, I didn't have any previous knowledge of these bands.

Here's the list:

• Modest Mouse
• The Shins
• The Postal Service
• Death Cab For Cutie
• Franz Ferdinand
• The Killers
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs

I've listened to 6 of them so far and rate them as follows:

Good/Great----The Shins, Franz, and The Killers
Either m'eh or not quite sure yet----Modest Mouse, Death Cab
Didn't like----Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Haven't heard----Postal Service

Based on how I list them, anybody care to recommend some other artists in the same vein?

I know we've had these type of threads before, but this one's mine. :p

I think their list is pretty good. I never really heard the Killers or the Shins, but the other albums are all really good - although I find a lot of the Death Cab songs too corny for my liking. I don't know of the history of all those bands, but Modest Mouse has been around quite a while, so I'm not sure what they mean by the "return" since they've been putting out quality stuff for years and are one of my fav. bands.

Postal Service is great, but I wouldn't really consider it rock.

I'd suggest New Pornographers as another band that probably would fit in nicely with that list.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are sooo yesterday's news.

the hip new band is The 5,6,7,8's

I really like all the bands mentioned. I guess "alt rock" means "indie, or recently signed to a major label" to Entertainment. Alt rock? See: Sonic Youth

where's Metal Church?

I think the point of the article was to mention new and/or upcoming bands that are worth checking out. (Modest Mouse excluded as they've been around awhile)

I have absolutely almost destroyed (by playing it so much) the debut album by THE KILLERS called "Hot Fuss."

They are from Las Vegas but you'd swear it's Great Britain by hearing them.

They have that Ferdinand "dance-rock" thing going on and it's quite catchy.

check out the tracks (Mr. Brightside) and (Smile Like You Mean It) and (Somebody Told Me).

The album is solid all the way through. It's also fairly cheap to buy. $9.99 or less at a lot of places.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...1.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

If I recall right, I distinctly remember EW's review of the Killer's album was a C. Of course I don't care for their music reviews on the whole, so it was the British reviews I read and paid attention to, needless to say I felt they were a lot more fair to the album and band. Having not heard a single song from off of the album I bought this as a 'blind buy' and was very very surprised. I love this album.

Yeah, the 5.6.7.8's are yesterday's news after Kill Bill, volume One. I wouldn't be surprised if Indiebubblegum groups like All Girl Summer Fun Band will make a splash. Try to find a college radio somewhere or listen to WFMU online instead of waiting for a mainstream alternative station to come up.

the kill bill band?

EW is right on.

These aren't hot off the press or no-name bands, but I'd throw in Interpol, Stills, The Rapture and Secret Machines as worth seeking out.

And that New Pornographers disc... catchy goodness.

It seems like a lot of people don't like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs CD, but I love it. I have the Franz F CD and I like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs CD more.

They put on a great show too.

The Franz CD is very good also. I thought about picking up the Killers CD but I will probably wait until I hear more of it.

That's a good list. Those who haven't heard the Shins, i recommend picking up their two albums. In fact, go to Subpop.com and DL 'So Says I" from their new album Shutes to Narrow for free.

I read the article last weeek and they did name other bands (including interpol) in the article. But the above listed were a info box on the last page.

I also like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I picked up their self-titled 5 track debut at couple of years ago and really liked it. I even remember Shirley Manson quoting the song 'Bang' when i saw them before No Doubt.

I would hardly consider Modest Mouse an upcomming band. They've had decent success with their previous albums and could regulary fill clubs all over the country.

Are you kidding? The yeah yeah yeah's shit and dump all over them. Sorry.

Me too. Excellent recording.

I've still yet to hear the Killers beyond their single. My first thought was that they were already retreading the current bands that are retreading (somewhat) the 80's. I'll have to check them out though. This stuff beats anyday what was popular the past 10 years.

yep, the band playing at the house of Blue Leaves. Personally if one was interested in that kind of sound i'd recommend the Japanese band Spoozy's. Their album Astral Astronauts is a terrific surf/spy, j-pop, D&B, poppy punky, devo-ish, ultra-fast, cyber-beach onslaught of tunes filtered through the show Tron and then taken to outer space. you know how in sci-fi movies they always show wormholes as these long, amazing suction tubes where everything zips by the characters super-fast, and you think "wow! that looks pretty fun"? that's what listening to this album is like.

I would recommend !!! (actual name of band) .

VERY dancey. But there is a rock-bent to it. Their album, Louden Up Now is great.

I think I saw a video for Muse on MTV2 and they looked pretty good too. I think the lead singer played Ian Curtis in 24 Hour Party People.

Wow! I just popped over to towerrecords.com and they have the song samples from this album. They're not bad at all. It also reminded me of good 80's pop from the UK. :up:

I just started listening to the Killers about a week ago and they are impressive, they have a 80's style rock, kinda reminded me Depeche Mode. Franz F seems good and I heard Muse about a year and said I would check them out but havent done so yet. That list is pretty good.

I have to go on record saying that The Postal Service's debut album is nothing but brilliant.

I guess I'll have to check out The Killers now as well, considering that there is such positive feedback in this forum.

Ok, I'm listening to The Stills right now and am liking what I'm hearing. It's not anything groundbreaking, but still pretty good. Also picked up The Rapture. Going to try to find used copies of New Pornographers, the first Shins, and Postal Service.

Keep the suggestions flowing. :)

The Shins are high quality, but Postal Service put out maybe the best album last year.

Other suggestions:

Broken Social Scene
Metric (roommates of the YYYs in NYC - more structured)

RS

Pretty solid list IMHO.


* Modest Mouse - just picked up new CD, am digging it
* The Shins - One of my favorite bands, probably #2 behind White Stripes of current bands
* The Postal Service - Haven't really heard
* Death Cab For Cutie - What I've heard, I like
* Franz Ferdinand - Good CD, not fantastic, but I like it
* The Killers - Downloaded one song which is pretty cool
* Yeah Yeah Yeahs - I loved "Fever To Tell," love to see what they do next

AC Newman, the "Leader" of the New Pornographers new(1st?) solo album 'The Slow Wonder" is great. Fans of the Newman written pornographers songs will enjoy it.