OK Go
The Rock Handbook is clear on this. Groups have to build a local following before attempting to conquer the world. Of course, it helps when the hometown is the third largest market in the U.S. Singer Damian Kulash (great name), guitarist Andrew Duncan, bassist Tim Norwind and drummer Dan Konopka (another great name) joined forces in '98 and soon dominated the Windy City scene.
Before Kulash immigrated from D.C., the other three band members were in something called Stanley's Joyful Noise (not a great name). Fortunately, everyone survived that misadventure.
OK Go released a series of CD singles that sold well enough to get them signed by Capitol Records in '01.
When you go with a major label you are suppose to become wildly successful. That's why you do it. But sometimes those big promotional dollars just don't do the trick. Misspent? Squandered? Bad Choices? Always easy to blame the label. Or maybe the world has one too many power-pop bands.
OK Go's debut failed to generate much excitement. Their melodic follow-up, "Oh No," released in '05, was a more serious set, yet it failed to significantly alter the group's opening act status.
OK Go's self-titled debut is hardly revolutionary or groundbreaking but they kick with little affectation or pretension and that makes for good listening. A solid effort.
"Oh No" features the cheery "Invincible" and a great little guitar-Rocker "Do What You Want." Like their debut, the album contains catchy songs with mass appeal potential. Even the mournful resignation of "The House Wins" has its charm.