U2. Take That. The Killers. Snow Patrol. It turns out that the dawn of spring isn’t just about the appearance of snowdrops and cuckoos: it also marks the return of the world’s biggest bands. Hot new videos below.
U2 — Put Your Boots On
Should any band this well established still manage to come back in such aggressive style? Put Your Boots On is U2 sounding more 20 than 50, a juggernaut beat over which Bono pogos incandescently. It is, of course, brilliant.
Take That — Up All Night
When Gary Barlow hands over the songwriting duties to Mark Owen, a song like Up All Night is invariably the result, a gleefully ramshackle London lament that sounds more East London pub than Wembley Stadium filler. He remains the band’s secret weapon.
Snow Patrol — If There’s A Rocket Tie Me To It
One of the more propulsive tracks from the band’s recent One Hundred Million Suns album, this finds singer Gary Lightbody in finely emotive voice. It’s a clunking title, maybe, but he sings it as if it tastes of chocolate.
The Killers — Spaceman
The biggest British band to ever come out of Las Vegas, the Anglo-obsessed Killers continue to plough their 1980s vein, this time with the sparkling Spaceman. It’s Pet Shop Boys by way of David Bowie.
Gary Go — Wonderful
Born in Wembley (as Gary Baker) to a father who once produced The Muppets, this singer songwriter has been plucked from nowhere to support Take That this summer. Perhaps Wonderful is his sweetly doleful response to the news.
Chris Cornell with Timbaland — Part Of Me
Formerly of Soundgarden, Chris Cornell is a grunge legend who refuses to die. Now under the production aegis of Timbaland, he continues to sound leonine and feral. Part Of Me is a bottle of tequila with a live worm in it.
The All-American Rejects — Gives You Hell
Formed in their native Oklahoma at the turn of this century, The All-American Rejects are actually wannabe all-American heroes with their college boy rock. What makes Gives You Hell, a US Top 10 hit, so memorable is its brilliant call-and-response chorus.
