The Temper Trap

 

The Temper Trap are an Australian Alt-pop band who were all over the radio in 2009 with the songs "Sweet Disposition" and "Love Lost". They've just returned with a new album after a decade away.

Stone Temple Pilots

 

STP started in San Diego, far away from the clouds and gray of Seattle. But they got thrown into the Grunge zeitgeist anyway. They were a damn good hard rock band, though, and it's too bad Scott Weiland got caught in the all-too-familiar R'n'R cycle of addiction.

The (English) Beat

 

The (English) Beat were a successful ska band from England. When they broke up, the 2 frontmen went on to form General Public, while the rhythm section went on to form Fine Young Cannibals. After General Public ended, Ranking Roger continued The Beat in the UK, while Dave Wakeling continued The English Beat in America. Roger died in 2019, but Wakeling continues on in the US.

Man Or Astro-Man?

 

Instrumental surf rock will always draw from legends like Dick Dale and The Ventures, but these guys also owe a big debt to "Cecilia Ann" by Pixies. Their first few albums follow the sci-fi surf rock vibe, while later material turned into sound collages of varying interest.

Tears For Fears

I could see how Tears For Fears might be on a lot of people's "overplayed" list, as they produced songs so tied to the '80s they've almost certainly gotten more airplay since that decade ended than during. But that shouldn't stop "Songs From The Big Chair" being heard as the masterpiece it is.

Screaming Blue Messiahs

Quirky with a kick. That's how I would describe this three-piece from the UK. Bowie was a big enough fan to request they open for him on tour in the mid-80s. One of their songs was used as the theme music for MTV's "120 Minutes" show. The great Vic Maile (The Godfathers, Motorhead) produced their first two proper albums, "Gun Shy" and "Bikini Red," which spawned the novelty almost-hit "I Wanna Be A Flintstone." Despite that song, there's nothing cute about the propulsive opening track "Sweet Water Pools," which sounds like driving a dual-carb muscle car through a desert highway at 120 mph after a sleepless 3-day bender.

You, too?

Probably no other artist have I ever had as nasty a break-up with than U2. Our relationship was full of such passion but we diverged on  totally different paths in 2000. {sigh} Ah, well, we'll always have the music, eh?