The Parlotones

While they might be the biggest South African rock band, the Parlotones haven't made much of an impression outside that continent, although some people might have caught them as part of the festivities for the 2010 World Cup. Nevertheless, they are at the point in their career where it's time for the obligatory, fan-pleasing live album. Live Design was filmed in Johannesburg at the end of 2009 and sees the band working their way through 18 songs in front of an adoring audience that knows all the words and isn't shy about singing along. It's only fitting that they perform in a stadium because that's exactly where their music belongs ― they sing big songs that hearken back to the early days of U2 and Coldplay. There isn't much in the way of subtlety in either their pedestrian rock numbers or the crowd-pleasing ballads, and the included live DVD is equally straightforward. When it comes down it, every country has bands like this: huge stars at home that never amount to much elsewhere. Chances are that's the fate awaiting the Parlotones.