The Undertones (GB)

About

Also known as: Undertones

Few bands captured the restless energy of being young quite like The Undertones. Formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, they built their sound around sharp guitar hooks, Feargal Sharkey's unmistakable quavering vocals, and a knack for songs about adolescence and heartbreak rather than the political turmoil surrounding them. John Peel famously called "Teenage Kicks" his all time favourite song, and that kind of devotion from a tastemaker like Peel helped turn the band into one of the most beloved acts to come out of Northern Ireland. Over four albums between 1978 and 1983, the band shifted from raw punk and new wave into richer territory, eventually pulling from soul and Motown on their final record, "The Sin of Pride". Sharkey departed in 1983, but the rest of the band regrouped in 1999 with Paul McLoone on vocals and kept going, releasing new material well into the 2000s. The core catalog still holds up remarkably well, and tracks like "My Perfect Cousin", "Jimmy Jimmy" and "It's Going to Happen!" remain the kind of songs that stick with you long after first listen.