Here Today...Tomorrow?

On Friday, the Guardian Unlimited (UK) published an interesting article on "firework" bands: those acts that rise quickly, flare brightly, and then descend into obscurity just as fast. Among those cited, most are still in the ascendancy period of their trajectory: the Killers, the Bravery, Magic Numbers, Franz Ferdinand, the Rapture, Kasabian, and Bloc Party. As for the bands that have already died out according to the article: the Music, the Vines, Hope of the States, and the Polyphonic Spree. In some cases these bands deserve to be forgotten, for others, fate is beyond their control.

"It takes one bad week and its like, they're all over," DJ Steve Lamacq, commenting in the article about the fickleness and impatience of the listening audience, media and music industry. "Give them a chance! A lot of people will only come good on their second album."

Read the rest of the article here.

So how many of these rising bands will survive beyond a second or third album? How many will have real career longevity? It won't be shocking if most do not last. For some, like Magic Numbers, it's too early to say. I think Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand and the Rapture have what it takes, but the quality of their respective second albums will determine much. A breakthrough third album from Interpol or the Strokes will propel either band into Coldplay territory.

No matter what happens, it will be fun to watch and listen as history unfolds.