Beginning their career as the most popular surf band in the nation, the Beach Boys finally emerged by 1966 as America's pre-eminent pop group, the only act able to challenge (for a brief time) the overarching success of the Beatles with both mainstream listeners and the critical community. From their

Baroque, Bright, Cartoonish, Charming, Clean, Contemplative, Cool, Dreamy, Elegant, Funny, Ironic, Joyful, Lush, Lyrical, Melancholy, Polychromatic, Pop, Pristine, Psychedelic, Sincere, Smarty arty pop, Sublime

Retrofitted pop band the Clientele had obvious roots in the hazy, autumnal glare of Galaxie 500 and Felt. Just as those bands took their Velvet Underground and Television records to heart without being derivative, the Clientele were able to chalk up an extensive discography riddled with lush melodies

Baroque, Clever, Contemplative, Dreamy, Elegant, Enigmatic, Hypnotic, Intimate, Lush, Lyrical, Melancholy, Pop, Quiet, Self-reflection, Sensual, Serene, Smarty arty pop, Spectral, Surreal

Phoenix formed in 1991 in the semi-affluent Parisian suburb of Versailles, in the same culture that produced late-90s bands such as Air and Daft Punk; Laurent Brancowitz was actually part of Darlin' with Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, who eventually became Daft Punk. The name of th

Bubblicious, Clean, Composed, Cool, Joyful, Playful, Pop, Rhythmic, Sexy, Slangy, Smart, Smarty arty pop, Subtle, Witty

The Strokes are an American rock band formed in 1998 in New York City who rose to fame in the early 2000's as a leading group in the garage rock revival. The band consists of Julian Casablancas (lead vocals, songwriting), Nick Valensi (lead guitar), Albert Hammond Jr. (rhythm guitar), Nikolai Fraitur

Garage/surf, Smarty arty pop