Hot Chip

While Hot Chip were one of many bands from the early 2000s to have adopted an electro-pop sound, they stand apart from the pack both for their melodicism and for their fully live, band-oriented approach to the genre. Shortly after emerging from their London, England, bedrooms--a delightful synth-driven sound fully formed--they were rewarded with an indie record deal in their home country (resulting in their critically lauded 2004 debut COMING ON STRONG, released in the States on the respected DFA label) and some crucial festival exposure. Their 2006 major-label follow-up, THE WARNING, charted high in the U.K. and garnered the band an enthusiastic U.S. following. MADE IN THE DARK followed in 2008 and featured the hit single "Ready for the Floor." 2010's ONE LIFE STAND moved in a mellower, more mature direction.

• pop