JUST because your band appeals to 6Music listeners doesn’t mean you’re more than a one-hit wonder. These bands found their fans’ loyalty did not stretch to a second album:
Jet
Australian rockers with the denim and boots of far more talented bands who politely asked someone out on their only hit. That’s lasted, unlike the rest of their 70s cosplay that wore thin at record pace, along with their constant regurgitation of the only chords they ever learned. It must hurt when your song’s played at an indie night and nobody knows it’s you.
Wet Leg
Not much happens in the Isle of Wight. You might as well form a band. But while Chaise Longue was a welcome break from the rest of Radio 1’s playlist, their re-emergence as a five-piece was perhaps unwise given how many more mouths that is to feed from dwindling streaming royalties. Sorry, Wet Leg. Britain bores easily.
The Automatic
Short-lived act who made their mark with a song that’s a bit like The Gruffalo for NME readers. Monster is as irritating as you’ll recall, which makes for a better memory than their Kanye West cover version. Nobody’s giving him the songwriting money, even second-hand.
The xx
Once the incidental music behind every BBC link, each member clearly got as bored of their whispery plucks as the public did and moved on to far better solo careers. There’s only so many dinner parties you can soundtrack before realising you’re making lift muzak for the tasteful.
Electric Six
Ah the 00s, when listeners could still be briefly entertained by knob gags and men with pseudonyms singing in Scooby Doo voices. This Detroit act rode the slipstream of the White Stripes and had a hit about a gay bar which seemed provocative back then. Still tour the UK regularly. Like, twice a year at least. It would make a good occasion to drink to oblivion.
The Fratellis
Like The Krankies and The Proclaimers before them, these Scots knew that cheesy family fun could be a ticket to stardom and it f**king worked. They weren’t related, but hammed up a vague ‘Fratelli’ lore which didn’t make any sense and was completely ignored by a population that only knew Chelsea Dagger and absolutely drove it into the ground.
Supergrass
While Britpop was in-fighting inside its own arsehole, three cheeky lads popped up pretending to be the Monkees. They liked cigarettes, light hooliganism and heavy sideburns. Everything was not alright in the end. Got to open Glastonbury this year, still wearing goofy hats.
