Awesome Snakes

After their group The Soviettes released their last studio album LP III in 2004, Minneapolis' Annie Holoien and Danny Henry formed a duo who took the punk sounds from their old band, made it lo-fi and mixed it in with samples from movies. With their subject matter being mostly about snakes and awesomeness, their 24-minute debut is a fun and not-so-serious release that is suitable for anyone who just wants to have a good time. I Want A Snake, which was featured in the Skate 2 soundtrack, can be heard below.

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The Automatic

It's quite amazing how the change of just one band member can totally transform a band's sound. For these Welshmen, this happened for the better. With the departure of the screeching and Marmite-esque keyboardist Alex Pennie in September 2007, their electro rock sounds of their first album Not Accepted Anywhere were practically erased from future recordings. After his former band Yourcodenameis:milo went on hiatus, guitarist Paul Mullen joined the group the month after Pennie had quit. This new member pushed the band to a more alternative rock sound than they previously had, and personally, it was a good move to have Pennie leave; Mullen brings a more geniune and varied musician to their group, rather than just stupid yelps in every track. Steve McQueen, the first example of the Mullen-era, can be heard below.

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Arctic Monkeys

Best known as a product of the MySpace generation, the Sheffield four-piece have usually fast paced tracks combined with some slower and calmer songs, although longer, more experimental works have also been made, in particular the title track of the Who Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys? EP. One of their faster tracks, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, is below.

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Archie Bronson Outfit

The West Country natives are fast becoming recognised for their blues rock sound, characterised by guitarist Sam Windett's downbeat and depressive vocals. The trio are a real change from the standard alternative rock that's being thrown around recently, with their blues aspect being the main bearing of this change. Dead Funny is below.

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Aphex Twin

Upon the release of the Analogue Bubbebath (1) EP in September 1991, nobody would have expected Richard David James to become one of the most influential figures in electronic music since Kraftwerk in the 1970s. From his early techno works to his more recent pure electronic ventures, there is no denying that Mr. James doesn't make fantastic music. Xtal, the lead track from the essential Selected Ambient Works 85-92, can be heard below.

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The All-American Rejects

First formed as a duo in 1999, the Oklahoma four-piece have become best known for their passionate and emotive songs; the best examples of which can be heard on their self-titled debut from 2002. Swing, Swing, from that album, is below.

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Air Traffic

Hailing from Bournemouth, the fourpiece are best characterised by their usage of piano in the majority of their tracks, with pianist and lead vocalist Chris Wall also using mostly melodic vocals to compliment it, although the group are more rocky at times, especially on Charlotte and Just Abuse Me. One of the more piano-based tracks, Shooting Star, can be viewed below.

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