Cool Western music bands. Recommended overseas bands that will get you pumped just by listening.
There are foreign bands with irresistibly captivating sounds you can hardly hear in Japan! From powerful, energetic vocals and satisfyingly heavy sound production to dynamic stage performances—there’s no way to sum it all up in a single phrase.
This time, based on reliable feedback from music fans submitted to our site, we researched popular Western bands.
Among them, we carefully selected especially well-regarded rock bands—both classic and contemporary—along with their staple songs.
If that’s your thing, be sure to check it out!
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Cool Western music bands. Recommended overseas bands that instantly hype you up just by listening (41–50)
Do You Believe In LoveHuey Lewis & The News
It reached No.
7 in the U.
S.
in 1982.
It was their first hit, breaking out from their second album, Bay Area Winds.
Huey Lewis actually spent a surprisingly long time in the trenches and struggled to catch a break.
The band members were the same, and the fact that they all got big together likely gave fans the impression of a close-knit group.
Their West Coast-style breeziness matched unexpectedly well with Huey’s powerful vocals, which I think led to the hit.
Right after this, the classic album Sports was released.
Cool Western music bands. Recommended overseas bands that will boost your mood just by listening (51–60)
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)Journey
Journey, the band that revolutionized the American rock scene, formed in San Francisco in 1973 and evolved from progressive rock to a style that incorporated pop elements.
With Steve Perry as lead vocalist from 1978, they achieved their greatest success in the 1980s.
Their signature songs are ones nearly everyone has heard at least once.
They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, and their musical range spans from album rock to soft rock.
They have sold over 100 million albums worldwide.
Known for powerful vocals and smooth melodic lines, they were ranked the fifth most popular rock band in America in a USA Today public poll.
JoannaKool and The Gang
A U.
S.
No.
1 hit in 1981.
In the dance/R&B realm, there are many solo acts and not that many truly cool bands, but among them Kool & the Gang stand out as a hugely popular and excellent band.
Their mainstay is upbeat disco sounds, and when it comes to ballad hits, songs like “Cherish” and “Too Hot” come to mind—both with a minor-key feel—but “Joanna” gives off a slightly different vibe.
It’s a good old-school R&B mid-tempo ballad.
The fact that they can pull off a song like this so well speaks to their strength as a band.
Greatful when you =’re deadKula Shaker
I still vividly remember the shock I felt when I first listened to this song.
It was so insanely cool I nearly lost my mind.
And as a side note, Crispian’s looks were like a prince’s.
I’m sure even young people today would think it’s absolutely cool—this was their debut single.
Alive And KickingSimple Minds
It reached No.
3 in the U.
S.
in 1985.
Riding the momentum of “Don’t You,” which had topped the U.
S.
charts that same year as the theme song for the film The Breakfast Club, it climbed up to No.
3.
They’re a very good band and I think Jim Kerr’s vocals are excellent, but I can’t help feeling both the merits and drawbacks of having Steve Lillywhite (who worked with U2) as producer.
It’s said that Bono of U2 and Jim are good friends, and there are rumors that the producer switch was made at Bono’s suggestion.
Maybe that’s why it kind of feels U2-like.
Supermassive Black HoleMuse
Muse, the proud British rock band, is a three-piece that spans a diverse range of sounds from alternative and progressive to electronic.
Since their 1999 debut, they have captivated audiences worldwide with Matt Bellamy’s formidable vocals and guitar work, Chris Wolstenholme’s thunderous low end, and Dominic Howard’s powerful drumming.
Boasting an illustrious list of awards—including two Grammys and two Brit Awards—they have sold over 30 million albums to date.
Renowned for their epic soundscapes and cutting-edge stage production, their live shows are breathtaking spectacles that harness the latest technology.
A must-listen for rock fans seeking innovative sound and electrifying performance.
ArabellaArctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an indie rock band from Sheffield, UK.
Formed in 2002, they released their debut album, “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,” in 2006, breaking the record for the fastest-selling debut album in UK history.
They have since released seven albums, including “AM,” and have won numerous awards such as the Brit Awards and NME Awards.
They are known as one of the first bands to gain prominence through the internet.
Centered on indie rock, their distinctive sound draws influences from various genres like R&B and hip-hop.
Their powerful, energetic tracks are guaranteed to boost your mood—highly recommended for fans of Western music.