Criminally Underrated: Doves & Elbow

You'll see that I'm not generally going to be on the "cutting edge" of music releases. There are hundreds of blogs looking to make their name as the cool place to go for brand new music no one has heard yet. ("Hey, look! I got the latest (insert name of band you've never heard of) because I blog about music and the indies send me early releases! This band is going to be huge, but never forget that I heard of them first, which shouldn't be a problem because you have no idea who they are! But they sound like (other band you may have once read about and nearly forgotten) and are from (current indie hot spot), so check it! And they're playing at (tiny, but admittedly awesome music venue nearby) next week!" And then, 90% of the time, the song/band sucks. Ok, rant over).

I just don't have the time, interest, or - frankly - access to compete. Instead, I want to try to use this forum to post bands that have generally been around for a bit and have a following, but may have flown under the average music aficionados' radar. There's so much music that gets put out and overlooked or underappreciated, but has actually stood something of a test of time, so I'd rather write about that (while still reserving the right to eventually turn into the indie-hyping d-bag I referenced above...you've been warned). So I'll be posting songs from bands old and new, hoping that you find something you may have missed, get reintroduced to something that may have fallen by the wayside or just realize that I have fantastic taste in music. There, I said it.

Today I present 2 of my favorite British bands who have generated a good deal of critical acclaim and a decent following in the US, but have not broken through to be mega-popular over here.

The first is Doves, who I have a particular affinity for because their first album, "Lost Souls" was the soundtrack to my summer in 2002. I was OBSESSED with it: literally every tune on that album was incredible. They've flirted with major mainstream success, with songs appearing in commercials for the NFL Network and a few tunes on soundtracks (Blue Crush and 500 Days of Summer, among others), but still aren't as popular as I think they should be. They consistently put out melodic, catchy, guitar-driven Brit pop/rock that oozes with atmosphere and occasionally reveals their prior existence as a house/techno band. That's not to say that most of their current music is heavily influenced by that sound, but their production most certainly is. They have 4 albums, all of which come highly recommended, and for today, I give you the song from The Last Broadcast that appeared in 500 Days of Summer. It's catchy as shit.

Doves - There Goes the Fear

The next band is Elbow. They consistently receive great reviews with their personal lyrics, gorgeous arrangements and lead singer Guy Garvey's raspy voice. Seriously, check that thing out; it's awesome. Yet somehow, they have maintained an even lower profile in the US than Doves, despite all of the critical acclaim. I think this might be due to their albums' tendency to be a little darker and more emotional/introspective, but always containing a few upbeat & rhythm-driven songs. It makes for albums that don't quite fit one mood or another, making them a little more difficult to get through in one sitting despite the great songwriting. But that doesn't stop them from being a fantastic band, and actually one of the better live acts I've seen. That's truly amazing given the hushed and mellow nature of much of their work.

In keeping with the Doves catchiness, I give you a track off Elbow's third album, Leaders of the Free World. It's about the lead singer meeting his then girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. The lyrics are pretty awesome and it's got one of the best hand-clap intros you'll ever hear.

Elbow - Mexican Standoff