Stereophonics

Stereophonics formed in Cwmaman, south Wales in 1996. They immediately marked themselves out as songwriters of distinction. Language. Sex. Violence. Other? might be their fifth album, but it has the enthusiasm of a debut record. Stereophonics have toured the globe and sold in excess of 7 million records.

Bassist, Richard Jones, took time out of their busy tour schedule to make a mixtape for ARTISTdirect!

1. The Dead 60s - " You're Not the Law"
"This is an excellent track and a band to look out for!"

2. Kings Of Leon – "The Bucket"
“The intro does it all for me, it’s one to wake you in the morning! The album was very instant and perhaps was my Album of 04'.”

3. Athlete - "Wires"
"This is a really good strong song and Athlete are one of my favourite bands around at the moment!"

4. Super Furry Animals - "Hello Sunshine"
"This song never fails to make me feel good. They’re one of the best bands around!"

5. Massive Attack - "Teardrop"
" It’s a very hypnotic infectious song and I couldn’t get it out of my head for ages. "

> 6. Franz Ferdinand - "Auf Achse"
"This song has a really good vibe, reminds me of the good parts of the 80’s (there weren’t that many!)"

7. Goldfrapp - "Train"
"A good angle on the T’ Rex riff, video looks good and sounds good!"

8. Ian Brown – “F.E.A.R.”
"This song has a good play on lyrics, the way that every word in the verses starts with F.E.A.R."

9. Scissor Sisters - "Take Your Mama"
"This really gets you in a good mood and it’s a really good album."

10. The Strokes - "Reptilia"
"We got to see them play in Japan and they’re a really good band and we had a laugh with them! "

11. The Clash - "I Fought The Law"
"This is a track which reminds me of being a kid. My brother used to play The Clash/Pistols/Sham 69 all the time, and it's rubbed off on me."

12. Air – “Femme d'Argent”
"One of the best sounding albums of the last 10 years.”

A bright new noise in U.K. alternative rock in the '90s and into the new millennium, Stereophonics are comprised of vocalist/guitarist Kelly Jones, bassist Richard Jones, and drummer Stuart Cable (until the latter's replacement by Javier Weyler). They were formed in Cwmaman, South Wales, originally as the teenage cover band Tragic Love Company. Early reviews cited the Manic Street Preachers as their most obvious influence, and their initial batch of singles struggled to disabuse cynics of this notion.

Yet in Jones, Stereophonics possess an able writer as well as a singer of some distinction, a fact that was only truly acknowledged following the release of their debut LP. One of the first bands on Richard Branson's new V2 label, they were signed by chief executive Jeremy Pearce in August 1996 before the label was officially up and running. They made their debut in November with "Looks Like Chaplin" b/w "More Life in a Tramp's Vest," which later became a single in its own right. They entered the charts for the first time with "Local Boy in the Photograph" and didn't look back. Each of their subsequent singles sold progressively better, culminating in a U.K. Top Ten placing for their debut album, Word Gets Around, and Top 20 honors for "Traffic." The latter's resigned themes provided the perfect platform for Jones' plaintive vocals. A reissue of "Local Boy in the Photograph" also made the Top 20, in the same week as they received a Brit Award for Best New Group. As a singles band, they seem overburdened with riches -- "The Bartender and the Thief" duly became a British radio staple through the closing months of 1998, followed the next year by the full-length Performance and Cocktails.

The band's third studio effort, Just Enough Education to Perform was initially slated to go by the abbreviated J.E.E.P.; however, Daimler-Chrysler objected to the plan and claimed ownership of the actual word Jeep. In September 2003, Stereophonics returned with their most honest material to date on You Gotta Go There to Come Back. Not even a month after the long-player's domestic release, the band announced the departure of founding member Cable. Frontman Jones said Cable had had issues committing himself to the band ever since Just Enough Education to Perform. Stereophonics planned to carry on as duo while ex-Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman sat in on drums for several tour dates. Language. Sex. Violence. Other? appeared in 2005. It also marked the debut of drummer Javier Weyler. The band's first live album, Live from Dakota, arrived in spring 2006. After an extensive tour, including performances in Moscow and Latvia, the group returned to the UK and released three formats of their single "It Means Nothing" two weeks before Pull the Pin hit store shelves in mid-October 2007. ~ Alex Ogg, All Music Guide