The UK's Art Brut continue to tour behind their critically acclaimed debut set, "Bang Bang Rock and Roll," which was issued overseas last year. A US version of the set, which contains three bonus tracks, was released in June.

Art Brut was formed in 2003 after singer Eddie Argos left his previous band, The Art Goblins ("Their stage show would see him 'playing a vacuum cleaner' and escaping from a sack," notes the band's official biography), and moved to London. He met the band's original guitarist, Chris Chinchilla, at a party, and the nucleus of Art Brut was formed, as the band's first single for the Rough Trade label, "Formed a Band," relates in minimalist fashion.

Chinchilla departed the band last August and was replaced by Jasper Future, one of Argos' former mates in The Art Goblins.

Brooklyn-based We Are Scientists issued their debut album for Virgin, "With Love and Squalor," in January. The set was recorded last spring with producer Ariel Rechtshaid (Foreign Born, Dirty Little Secret) and followed three self-released EPs.

Comprised of guitarist/vocalist Keith Murray, bassist Chris Cain and drummer Michael Tapper, We Are Scientists has drawn enthusiastic reviews for its live shows over the last few years, especially from the British press.