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

If I Had No LootTony Toni Tone

Tony! Toni! Tone!-If I Had No Loot

It reached No.

7 in the U.

S.

in 1993.

It opens their third album, Sons of Soul.

True to their claimed influences—Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and Sly Stone—the band delivers a funky yet melodically deep sound.

It’s a classic of ’90s soul, R&B, and (perhaps) funk.

I believe the role they played in the ’90s was extremely significant.

By the way, none of the members are actually named Tony.

Handle With CareTraveling Wilburys

The Traveling Wilburys – Handle With Care

It reached No.

45 in the U.

S.

in 1988.

Their first album, “Volume 1,” hit No.

3 in the U.

S.

At the 1989 Grammy Awards, they won Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group.

They are one of the most famous masked bands and supergroups in rock history.

The lineup consisted of the Wilbury brothers—four of them (George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Bob Dylan)—plus their cousin (Tom Petty), making five members.

Although they were a “masked” band, everyone could tell who they were at a glance.

Even with so much talent gathered together, they managed to create incredible work without clashing—so they must have gotten along very well.

Changing of the SeasonsTwo Door Cinema Club

Two Door Cinema Club – Changing of the Seasons

Among recent British rock bands, you don’t really see anyone dressed in that stereotypical “punk lover” fashion.

They’re the British rock band Two Door Cinema Club.

This work features strikingly sad lyrics about how feelings for someone changed like the seasons.

People often say that when your environment changes, relationships change too.

Meanwhile, the track has their signature pop vibe, with a breezy, springlike freshness.

It feels very stylish and tasteful.

(Oh) Pretty WomanVan Halen

Van Halen – (Oh) Pretty Woman (Official Music Video)

It reached No.

12 on the U.

S.

charts in 1982.

The band was formed around the Van Halen brothers—Eddie on guitar and Alex on drums.

Adding the distinctive and popular vocalist David Lee Roth solidified their status as a leading heavy metal band.

Currently, Eddie’s son Wolfgang has taken over on bass, replacing Michael Anthony.

The vocals have alternated between Sammy Hagar and Dave, and each brings a different kind of appeal.

As you know, this song is a cover of Roy Orbison’s standard, and it’s an outstanding arrangement that makes you think, “So it can be done like this!”

Different WorldsVandenberg

Vandenberg Different Worlds (HD)

An unforgettable band from the 1980s that emerged from the Netherlands.

Thanks to Adrian Vandenberg’s expressively virtuosic guitar playing and songs with outstanding pop sensibility, they became popular in Japan as well.

Adrian later retired from the music world and became a painter.

venus in fursVelvet Underground

velvet underground – venus in furs

Quietly, deeply moved, you can’t help but murmur, “Ah, what a cool band…”—that’s The Velvet Underground.

I’m sure many will read this, nod, and relate.

The underground scene in New York in the ’70s—seen from distant Japan—was a world we longed for.

It was the ultimate, the most stylish of all.

Heads Will RollYeah Yeah Yeahs

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (Official Music Video)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs is an American rock band that began making waves in the 2000s; the pronunciation is “Yah Yah Yahs.” Their sound is undeniably cool, featuring bold use of synthesizer tones that defines their rock style.

The vocalist is a woman, and her uniquely sexy, atmospheric delivery adds even more depth to the band’s identity.

The members’ looks and fashion are also highlights, and their track “Heads Will Roll” is especially notable for its highly watchable music video.