Proclaimers

While in North America, Scottish duo the Proclaimers have been reduced to one-hit wonder status thanks to the success of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," but their popularity on the other side of the Atlantic has never really declined. They've even had their songs made into a musical, à la Queen and We Will Rock You, and they've continued to put out new records. Notes & Rhymes, their eighth album, could be written off as business as usual because Charlie and Craig Reid have such a distinctive sound that it's hard for them to sound like anyone but the Proclaimers. That said, the album does have an eclectic feel to it, with a bit of country twang, some rockabilly and their usual inspirational slower songs, but nobody will mistake this for anyone else, in part due to their earnest lyrics. All things considered, Notes & Rhymes is as solid an album as anybody can expect from a band after 20 years together.