Maxïmo Park

One of the more enduring bands from the 2000s post-punk revival, Maxïmo Park craft smart, sharply catchy guitar pop songs. Like their friends and neighbors Field Music and the Futureheads, they took inspiration from legends like the Jam, XTC, Wire, and the Smiths. Unlike many of their peers, frontman Paul Smith's heartfelt vocals and lyrics added an emotional pull to their music, especially on their 2005 Mercury Prize-nominated debut, A Certain Trigger, and 2007's Our Earthly Pleasures. Maxïmo Park were also unafraid to share their overtly political viewpoint, even when it was...