Bril - Airless Alarm (2006)

Named after the renowned Brill Building, a New York City songwriters' haven in the 1960s, Bril (who intentionally lost one "l") presents a set of Britpop-inspired indie-rock on its 2006 debut, AIRLESS ALARM. While the woozy "Love Suicide" recalls Coldplay, other tracks on the California-based band's album, particularly the snarling "Far Away," nod to moodier acts such as Doves. With a voice reminiscent of a subdued Chris Cornell, frontman Dave Starr leads the group through a guitar-heavy collection of tunes that offer a seamless (and surely bankable) mix of early-21st-century alternative styles.