Transatlantic Tidal Wave: The British Music Scene With A Vengeance

2007 is a very exciting year for fans of the British sound. And we're not even halfway there yet.

This year, Britpop fans were treated to new rising stars - and I don't use the term loosely - The Feeling and The Fratellis, among other emerging sounds. These names have already made it for themselves: The Feeling was set to tour with Of A Revolution until a hospitalization got in the way, while the Fratellis were the new poster boys for iTunes.

If that's not enough (and when is it ever?), new favorites and Britpop standbys flooded the stores. New heroes Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, and Arctic Monkeys each provided their sophomore sets, lead-off singles not disappointing fans or critics. Rising band Maximo Park added to the mix in April with "Our Earthly Pressures". Seminal acts Manic Street Preachers and Travis each break long silences (3 and 4 years, respectively) to release new material, both released within the past two weeks. (Look for a review of Travis' "The Boy With No Name" soon.) Old school Britpop band Super Furry Animals dropped an album early on this year. Stereophonics are planning a new album, "Pull The Pin," for release later this year. Radiohead, South, and Franz Ferdinand are also shooting for 2007 releases.

Even current Britpop posterboys Snow Patrol made it big this year, landing the lead-off single for the Spiderman 3 soundtrack, "Signal Fire".

But wait! There's more. Starsailor are in the studio, with 18 skeletons of songs vying for tracklisting and more to come. The Charlatans are currently working on their 10th album, and Oasis is popping into the studio halfway through the year with recent drummer Zak Starkey (yes, Ringo's son). Embrace is currently hammering together a new album. Even Blur - yes, you heard me right - is trying to piece together a new album. They're not sure it'll work, but at least they can admit that. Unlike some bands (lookin' at you, Guns 'N Roses).

This was a lot of information. To recap:
In 2007,
Released
Arctic Monkeys - "Favourite Worst Nightmare"
Bloc Party - "A Weekend In The City"
The Feeling - "12 Stops And Home" (American release 2007)
The Fratellis - "Costello Music" (American release 2007)
Kaiser Chiefs - "Yours Truly, Angry Mob"
Manic Street Preachers - "Send Away The Tigers"
Maximo Park - "Our Earthly Pleasures"
Snow Patrol - "Signal Fire" (single)
Super Furry Animals - "Candylion"
Travis - "A Boy With No Name"

Going to be Released
Franz Ferdinand - TBA (2007/2008)
Radiohead - TBA
South - TBA
Stereophonics - "Pull The Pin"

In The Studio
Blur
The Charlatans
Embrace
Oasis
Starsailor

I'll let you feast on that for now. StayTuned for more!