Bloc Party

Bloc Party's tense, impassioned, guitar-addled pop has made for moments of clarity and serenity within the post-punk revisionist manifesto of 2005. The group, however stylish and fashionable, put forth an air of strong, melodic sensibleness combined with a backbeat that is quietly manic and danceable. Basically presented to the public on the backs of their friends in Franz Ferdinand, the band found an audience among people that had no right to expect anything more than a copycat band. Instead, they've been given an evolving, unique outfit that knows how to mix up euphoria and propulsive (at times convulsive) rhythms.