By Gregg Shapiro

Contributing writer

Talk about an ambitious undertaking. Spanning a 15-year period in which UK rock and pop underwent a series of transitions, “The Brit Box: UK Indie, Shoegaze and Brit-pop Gems of the Last Millennium” (Rhino), functions as a jukebox with nearly 80 songs and a mind-blowing array of sounds and styles.

What better way to kick it off and make a statement about the genres than with “How Soon Is Now?” by The Smiths, a song that managed to tie up the dance energy that had been fuelling UK music throughout the early 1980s with a rocking curtsy. At the same token, Morrissey’s mythical sexual ambiguity also went a long way in setting the tone for years to come. The expansive set features tracks by acts still making music in this day and age, including Placebo, Saint Etienne, The Cure, Pulp, Echo & The Bunnymen, New Order, Primal Scream and Manic Street Preachers, to name a few, as well as numerous influential but no longer working artists such as The Jesus and Mary Chain, Cocteau Twins and Blur. The balance of the set is comprised of numerous bands with shorter lifespans and a range of impact including James, The Mighty Lemon Drops, The Primitives, Eugenius, The Dylans, Pale Saints, Inspiral Carpets, Happy Mondays and Lush, among others.

Following an early and mysterious tragedy involving the disappearance of a band member, the aforementioned Manic Street Preachers regrouped and moved forward, putting out “Send Away The Tigers” (Red Ink) most recently. MSP rocks out strong throughout and the disc not only features Nina Persson (of The Cardigans fame) on the track “Your Love Alone is Not Enough,” but also includes the bonus/secret track “Working Class Hero,” a cover of the John Lennon tune.

Damon Albarn, of Blur, a band also included on “The Brit Box,” has been a busy man with his various side projects, most notably his animated band Gorillaz, for which he has received heaps of praise. The eponymous disc by The Good, The Bad & The Queen (Parlophone/Virgin), yet another of Albarn’s projects, is perhaps a bit more political in tone than Gorillaz, as the name of the disc indicates. Quite fitting since Paul Simonon of The Clash is also one of the band members. Whether they’re synthesizing the Beach Boys on “80s Life,” dabbling in a bit of Gorillaz-inspired electronics as on “The Northern Whale” or “Herculean” or simply charting their own territory on “The Bunting Song,” “Nature Springs,” “A Soldier’s Tale” and the title track, this is one Brit band that has made good.

And, yes, the kids are alright, too. Take the Arctic Monkeys and Art Brut, for example. These young upstarts both caused quite a stir with their respective debut discs, and have returned with sophomore efforts that deliver on their promise. As you might guess from the title, “Famous Worst Nightmare” (Domino) by the Arctic Monkeys is a darker affair than its predecessor, which is to be expected with the potentially lethal combo of the band’s youth and the unprecedented reception that they received. One thing you can say for sure about Art Brut is that they haven’t lost their sense of humor on “It’s A Bit Complicated” (Downtown). The deadpan delivery of smirking lyrics to original tunes such as “People In Love,” “I Will Survive,” “Post Soothing Out” and “Nag Nag Nag Nag” put Art Brut in a class by themselves.

Youth also works in The Cribs’ favor. The sibling trio certainly has a distinctive sound and style, and that’s something else that plays to their advantage on the Alex Kapranos produced “Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever” (Warner Brothers).

Bolstered by three bonus tracks and two bonus videos, the domestic released of “So This Is Great Britain” (TVT) by The Holloways combines the political punch of The Good, The Bad & The Queen with the sneer of Art Brut. The Fratellis moved to the head of the class when their irresistible “Flathead,” from their full-length debut “Costello Music” (Cherry Tree/Interscope) was featured in an iPod/iTunes commercial. And, yes, the whole disc is well worth your time.

The influence of Joy Division and a “Brit Box” act such as Echo & The Bunnymen, as well as contemporaries such as Interpol and Franz Ferdinand, are what help to inform the sound of Editors on their second full-length “An End Has a Start” (Epic). While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it could potentially get in the way of the band establishing its own identity.

Travis, on the other hand, experienced both acclaim and a degree of success when they appeared some 10 years ago, but have lost some ground in recent years. “The Boy With No Name” (Epic) is an indication of a return to form—if not a complete success, it’s a step in the right direction.

Released just before the movie “Once” hit theaters and caused a stir, “The Cost” (Anti-) by The Frames, featuring “Once” star and front-man Glen Hansard, is a first-rate album by a band that has yet to find the following it so richly deserves. The disc even includes The Frames’ version of the songs “Falling Slowly” and "When Your Mind's Made Up," which can also be heard in “Once.”

Editors perform Jan. 25 at the Vic Theatre.  

The Cribs perform March 25 at the Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee.