Early 2010s Alternative Rock #1 Tracks Quiz

Answer: Pumped-Up Kicks

Originally released as a free single, "Pumped-Up Kicks" became a breakout hit for Foster the People. It tells the story of a mentally disturbed young man plotting a mass shooting. The song's title, repeated in its ironically catchy chorus, refers to the protagonist's envy of his peers' designer sneakers.

Answer: Uprising

Written by Muse singer/guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Matthew Bellamy, "Uprising" has attracted considerable critical attention as a bricolage of various influences. Some liken it to Blondie's "Call Me", with its thumping bass and guitar orientation framed in a New Age sensibility. Others compare it to the earlier Black Sabbath tune "Children of the Grave", while still others think it sounds a good deal like the venerable theme to the television series "Doctor Who".

Perhaps owing to its integration of sports chants, "Uprising" has been used as walkout music for the Sydney Roosters rugby team and Southampton Football Club.

Answer: Mumford and Sons

Formed in 2007, Mumford and Sons have enjoyed a fine reputation for quality songwriting, scoring two Grammy nominations for best alternative song in 2011 with "Little Lion Man" and "The Cave". In 2013, their collection 'Babel', on which "I Will Wait" appears, won the Grammy for Best Album.

Answer: The Black Keys

"Lonely Boy" first charted in December of 2011, but continued its run into 2012 for a string of eleven weeks in the top spot. The Black Keys, a duo of guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney, formed in 2001. They paid their dues for years, finally breaking through with number one Alternative track "Tighten Up" in 2010.

Answer: We Are Young

Though technically a trio of Nate Reuss, Andrew Dost, and Jack Antonoff, Fun travels with an extensive retinue of backing musicians for their more elaborate arrangements. In addition to Song of the Year, Fun picked up a Grammy in 2013 for Best New Artist and was nominated for Album of the Year for their collection "Some Nights".

Answer: Microsoft Internet Explorer 9

Though raised in a secular household, Clare had a religious awakening in his early 20s. An Orthodox Jew, Clare will not work on the Sabbath (which, starting on Friday at sundown as it does, makes for an interesting touring schedule).

Interestingly enough, the use of Clare's song in the IE9 advertising campaigns preceded the tune's chart success. One could say that the ads were as much for "Too Close" as they were for the ubiquitous browser.

Answer: Imagine Dragons

Formed in 2008, the Las Vegas-based Imagine Dragons released several albums independently before signing with the Interscope label in 2011. Interestingly enough, though the band does use synthesizers extensively on their recordings, they made an early penchant of leaving the digital instruments at home for live performances, relying on the band's multi-instrument proficiencies instead. For instance, regular guitarist Wayne Sermon also plays cello, while drummer Dan Platzman has been known to pick up a viola.

Answer: Cage the Elephant

Originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky (home of Western Kentucky University), Cage the Elephant scored early hits with "In One Ear", "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked", "Back Against the Wall", and "Shake Me Down". Their more retro 2013 offering "Come a Little Closer" marked a return to chart form after a three-year drought of Alternative chart-toppers.

Answer: Somebody That I Used to Know

The backing tracks for "Somebody That I Used to Know" are built around a sample from the 1967 Luiz Bonfá song "Seville". Gotye (whose more orthodox name is Wally De Backer) worked on the piece for months in 2011, finally finishing it when he added Kimbra's vocals.

The Teddie Films parody video, which made good use of the original's very effective stop-motion bodypaint visuals, made a case that the Darth Vader character had been robbed of his masculinity by the series' prequels, and mourned the apparent fact that the original films were nigh-impossible to find in their initial state given that George Lucas much preferred to release the digitally-altered versions.

Answer: The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Though the core of the band from their 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' days was still intact 20 years later (Anthony Kiedis on vocals, Flea on bass, and Chad Smith on drums), this was the band's first Alternative number one since replacing guitarist John Frusciante with new member Josh Klinghoffer. Thankfully, the band's funk sensibilities were left intact with this fine infusion of new blood.