While working at an after-school music project to keep kids off the street, 24-year-old Barry Hyde and one-named bassist Jaff exchanged ideas on a possible punk rock band.
With the musical plans in the duos' heads eventually blossoming into actual rhythms and melodies, Hyde's younger brother, Dave Hyde joined the group along with Ross Millard, and the United Kingdom soon gave birth to the louder-than-thou punk group, The Futureheads.
On their self-titled debut album, The Futureheads attempt to make a living through stomping out hard, punk-pop rock with influences that dip back to legends such as Devo, Queen, Fugazi, Captain Beefheart and Kate Bush.
But the most interesting - and surprising - aspect of The Futureheads isn't singing in their authentic "Mackem" dialect of northeast England or the speeding guitar lines and pounding drums that grind out the group's rhythms - it's their harmonizing vocals.
Much like Girlyman, or MSU's Accafellas, The Futureheads put down the instruments and give their voices a ride around the block.
After several tracks of hard smashing, in-your-face punk rock, the track, "Danger of the Water," on the self-titled album explores The Futureheads' ability to sing a cappella.
All four members croon away on the album, and honestly, all four members have damn good voices.
But punk rock and a cappella?
The line between the two genres is blurry, but I give the boys credit for attempting to try on new shoes, and actually dancing in them.
A lot of rock and punk bands take the two-lead-vocal-singers route these days, with one person usually possessing a singing voice, and the other just a novelty back up.
But The Futureheads have four strong voices that interchange choruses, verses and vocal tag lines like Destiny's Child wishes Beyoncé would.
Two thumbs up in the vocals department for a la Futureheads.
Suggested listening: While feeling rambunctious enough to jump all over each piece of furniture in your dorm room or apartment.
If you liked this band, you might also like: Dogs Die in Hot Cars, Franz Ferdinand, The Rakes, Bloc Party, The Strokes or Hot Hot Heat.
