Cool Western music bands. Recommended overseas bands that will get you pumped just by listening.

BabeStyx

Styx – Babe 1980

Reached No.

1 in the U.

S.

in 1979.

The band was formed around brothers Chuck and John Panozzo.

Dennis DeYoung was also a member from the early days.

James Young joined in 1970, and in 1975 Tommy Shaw—who would stand alongside Dennis DeYoung as a frontman—came on board, sending their popularity soaring in the late ’70s.

In 1979, they finally hit No.

1 with Babe.

Since then, there have been frequent lineup changes and various ups and downs.

Currently, Dennis is no longer a member.

AlrightSupergrass

Supergrass – Alright (Official HD Video)

Supergrass is one of the quintessential rock bands of the British Britpop movement, represented by groups like Oasis in the 1990s.

For fans of ’90s rock bands, they’re simply unavoidable.

Their songs embody alternative rock and capture the atmosphere of the ’90s.

The track “Alright,” built on a simple eighth-note piano pattern layered with a satisfying rock sound, is an incredibly feel-good song that also carries a hint of surf rock.

Hold The LineTOTO

Toto – Hold The Line (Official Video)

In 1979, their debut album “Toto” and debut single “Hold the Line” quickly climbed the charts, with the album reaching No.

9 and the single hitting No.

5 in the U.

S.

Formed primarily by keyboardist David Paich and drummer Jeff Porcaro, the group’s core duo had participated in the recording and tour for Boz Scaggs’ landmark AOR classic “Silk Degrees,” released in 1976.

After this song, fans would have to wait until “Rosanna” for their next Top 10 hit.

Sixty Eight GunsThe Alarm

The Alarm – Sixty Eight Guns

They debuted in 1983.

While retaining a hint of the punk atmosphere that had already waned by then, their socially conscious lyrics resonated, and they broke through in the UK as the “U2 of Wales.” They didn’t become as big as U2, but they remain an unforgettable band from the ’80s with a devoted cult following to this day.

The WeightThe Band

The Weight – The Band (lyrics)

It reached No.

63 on the U.

S.

charts in 1968.

Apparently it was originally the B-side to “I Shall Be Released.” There’s nothing new to say about The Band at this point, but the moment the guitar in this song’s intro rings out, you’re pulled straight into their world.

It was featured in the film Easy Rider, wasn’t it? Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize in Literature, but The Band’s lyrics are profound as well.

Each listen brings a different kind of emotion.

Levon Helm handles the lead vocals, but the part where Rick Danko steps in for a solo adds a special flavor.

Lo/HiThe Black Keys

The Black Keys – Lo/Hi [Official Audio]

The Black Keys are an American rock band and a popular group that has won Grammy Awards.

Though the song is short, the fuzzy distortion and languid vocals are as great as ever.

Their last release was the 2014 album Turn Blue.

This is their first new song in five years, raising expectations for a new album.

They’re a band that’s highly acclaimed across various fields.

However, there’s a rumor that Jack White of The White Stripes dislikes them, saying they copied his style.

Hanging GardenThe Cure

The Cure – The Hanging Garden

I think Robert Smith—the core of The Cure and practically the godfather of goth—had makeup, hair, and fashion that were incredibly cool.

What’s amazing about him is that over many years he kept that look, even as the band’s sound kept evolving, yet no matter where you cut it, it was always unmistakably The Cure.