Ash - For those of you who like (or at any point used to like) the pop-punk genre and have since got extremely tired of it's repetitiveness or lack of intrigue or diverse mood, you will smile at the soaring chords and vocals of Ireland's Tim Wheeler and Charlotte Heatherley, the singers of Ash. If you have already seen the movie "Shaun of the Dead" (and if you haven't, you should), then you have already heard at least two songs by Ash (three if you watch all the credits). Most record stores that I know of still have copies of their 2004 release of "Meltdown", their fifth LP, but I would not reccommend this CD (even if their single "Clones" may just be the best song they've ever written). Instead, do a little more searching for their second LP "1977", as it, in my opinion, is infinitely suprerior to "Meltdown" as it has a much more diverse style and soundscape, from the Star Wars-sampling guitar-gnashing (even if Wheeler sings really softly) opener "Lose Control", to the mid-record, almost theatrical composition "Innocent Smile" (also written by their bassist), to the closer "Darkside Lightside", which is an appropriate title considering it changes almost completely halfway through the song, and ends with a little "bonus track" of the band's "conversation" after a show, though it is not for the faint of stomach. I guarantee you will absolutely adore these guitar-torching (yes, they do that at their shows) Irishmen (and woman), but if you hate most styles of punk rock (especially the jumpier, more popular style), well, these guys are definetely not for you.
(Rob) Overseer - This guy did what I could not imagine possible, he fused two genres that I otherwise dislike (or downright hate) and made them into the most amazing combination imaginable. This England-based techno-geek/rapper somehow managed to combine the moody raps of fellow countrymen Massive Attack and the intrumental rainbows of Moby and made an LP. Everything from club dance music ("Stompbox") to a growling rap ("Never") to a jazz lounge number ("Aquaplane") to a torch song ("Sparks") is available on his record debut "Wreckage". If you have any love at all for the glowing soundscapes of techno, or the awesome music present in the movie "Snatch", you will like "Wreckage".
Plastilina Mosh - I am not exaggerating in the least when I say that these two boys from Monterrey, Mexico, have done almost absoluetely everything. From the three LPs that Alejandro Rosso and Jonaz (last name unknown) has released to the US, you could identify almost any genre available from the songs that they have written. Jazz, disco, techno, indie, hip-hop, lounge, even a few more comedic tracks. It's all there, and (most of) it's in Spanish. Even if you can't understand, the language, you will probably enjoy the sheer number of styles these guys explore on their three albums "Aquamosh", "Juan Manuel", and "Hola Chicuelos". "Aquamosh" features most of their more rock-oriented, relaxed styles of music, "Juan Manuel" explores their perverse and playful infatuation with disco, and "Hola Chicuelos" is their most mocking and out-there album, with more styles and jokes than I can even begin to describe without writing a novel. In my opinion, you will like these guys at least a little. I don't see how it is possible not to.
Curve - Although not exactly "current", they did just break up his year, and they have been around since 1990, so I think they are worth mentioning. The infamous and haunting band fronted by Toni Halliday and Dean Garcia explores the most base feelings of humanity, love, hate, and innocence. With Garcia's ingeniously-tuned and altered guitar and Halliday's creeping and theatrical voice, The team cuts the human heart to pieces and explores it's every nuance in meticulous detail with their own unique style of techno-rock, present since the early nineties. Curve are nothing short of pioneers of an amazing style of amazing and emotional style of rock music, and I think everyone should hear at least some of their music if they will, in fact, cease to exist after this year.
That was a little longer than I would have liked, but I guess whatever it takes to get the description across.
