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The Best of the Brits

Coldplay just released a new song, "Paradise", from their forthcoming album, Mylo Xyloto, and it's actually really good.  Leagues better than Every Teardrop is a Waterfall.  Heck, it's better than anything off of Viva la Vida except for "Viva la Vida".  Anyways, that got me thinking about all the great pop music that the Brits have come up with over the past couple years that never made it across the pond.  So, here's a list of a few of the best ones:

The Wanted - All Time Low (Genre: Pop): Boy bands and girl groups might've died in the U.S., but they're still going strong in the UK with acts like Girls Aloud, The Saturdays, JLS, and, god have mercy, Jedward.  (Seriously, if you think American music is bad, just look up Jedward.  They might be cute little kids but I want to strangle both of them at least three times over and punt them to Pluto.)  Anyways, the best song any of them has managed to put out in the past few years is The Wanted's All Time Low.  The best part is the first minute or so, with vocals backed by nothing but a tense string section.

Ed Sheeran - The A Team (Genre: Pop/Rock): An absolutely heartbreaking and brilliant song about being homeless.  Incredibly simple, with just vocals, acoustic guitar, and a bit of strings in the background.  Takes a few listens to sink in, but now I can't get enough of it.  Also, he's fucking awesome live, and he's a redhead if you're into that....

Diana Vickers - Jumping into Rivers (Genre: Pop): Vickers was a finalist on the British X-Factor with a very unique voice.  This song in particular was done with the guy who produced Britney Spears' Everytime, and you can definitely hear the similarities.  Both songs use the same muted, 80's infuenced sound to great effect.  However, unlike the stately and haunting Everytime, this record has a great bounciness and general optimism to it.

Tinie Tempah - Pass Out (Genre: Hip Hop): You might've heard of Tinie Tempah already.  He's had a minor hit with Written in the Stars in the U.S.  That song, however, is rather unremarkable.  Just a bad B.o.B ripoff.  To really understand what's great about the guy, you should listen to this song, which broke him in the UK.  It has a great drum'n'bass influenced beat that's flat out one of the best beats of the past year.  Tinie Tempah's rapping doesn't quite match up, but his flow is rather nimble, and he does come up with a great chorus.

Hurts - Stay (Genre: Pop): Stately, 80's influenced electro pop.  Sounds like Savage Garden trying to remake Tainted Love.  No wonder they're huge in Germany.  This song, in particular, is just great.  It's the best chorus they've ever managed, and it's just so damn fucking epic.

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