The Sun and the Moon (2007)

The Bravery released their 2005 neo-new-wave debut in the wake of a virtual dance-rock armada (see: the Killers, the Rapture), grafting beats onto steroidal guitar riffs. Labeled copycats, they quickly became persona non grata among the hipsterati. But The Sun and the Moon shows them weeding out the pogo-stick synth loops, favoring mid-'90s Britpop and early-'00s Strokes. The propulsive energy (and navel-gazing) is still there, channeled into stadium-size anthems and heartrending ballads. Too sappy for the cool kids, sure, but still a fine pop record. B+

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