Tokyo Police Club

A mere 16 minutes of recorded music shot the Canadian kids in Tokyo Police Club into the indie-rock spotlight. Since the release of the seven-song EP A Lesson in Crime in 2006, Dave Monks (vocals, bass), Josh Hook (guitar), Graham Wright (keyboards), and Greg Alsop (drums) have amassed an impressive list of benchmarks: bookings at the Coachella, Lollapalooza, Bumbershoot, Glastonbury, and Reading festivals, and write-ups in Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, the New York Times, Blender, Nylon, and a bevy of other high-profile publications. While most bands are struggling to find footing outside their hometown after three years together, Monks and company sprang from their Toronto suburb, Newmarkt, and seem intent on conquering hearts and minds worldwide. The band's given a glimpse of its potential with a series of two EPs and a two-song digi-single, packed with punchy, stylish New Wave laced with sing-along choruses. The appeal of A Lesson in Crime is the band's ability to replace The Strokes' blasé, deadpan take on crackling dance rock with in-your-face fervor. The band is touring the States to stoke the fires of anticipation for its upcoming full-length debut on Saddle Creek, Elephant Shell, which is set to drop April 22. By continuing the good thing they've had going on in previous recordings, Tokyo Police Club may be able to transform their 16 minutes of fame into something much bigger.