For example, Coldplay, I think they win my personal award for most over-rated band (well, Dave Matthews Band takes that one, but for the articles sake, Coldplay). Coldplay tries real hard to be that Radiohead sound America actually does appreciate, yet, they don't try hard enough, because a carbon-copy of our favorite band is not what we want. Coldplay is simple radio pop mimmicing the finest band on both sides of the pond, and it doesn't do it for me. Americans fall into the trap, "hey, this is what British music sounds like,wow!". Sorry, but it's not that great, at all.
I don't consider bands like Radiohead and Oasis part of the British scene really; because they've conquered our market here already. They've got nothing to prove anymore, as they are the best bands in the world. But what about the rest of the royal rockers? How come we don't get to hear them? Who is next to blow us away with a catchy pop tune written in the land of accents? Well, now I can safely say, that there is a new member of the club of rocking that only Radiohead and Oasis are members of. Starsailor.
Starsailor is Brit-pop at its finest. They don't sound like any band that's made it here from England (ah-hem, Coldplay?), and there new single "Goodsouls" is a delightful mellow rock tune with a great chorus "And I turn to you and say/Thank goodness for the goodsouls", accompanied by singer/guitarist James Walsh's soft yet assuring voice, that actually doesn't sound like a copy of Thom Yorke's.
Walsh, the 21-year-old songwriter of Starsailor, comes from the mean streets near Manchester, yet he doesn't manage to copy the sound of Oasis. Again, this is a British rock band who is bringing their own sound to the coasts of our country, and their doing it there way. Welsh, along with fellow members James Stelfox, Barry Westhead, and Ben Byrne, bring their new album "Love Is Here", filled with guitar and piano/keyboard-driven songs, testifying confessionals in lyrics which only the Goodsouls will understand. Forget that other shit you've heard, Starsailor is the real deal.
-Pete D.
