Things That Go Bump in the Night Multiple Choice Quiz | Emotion in Songs

Answer: Spook School

Spook School formed in 2012 while attending the University of Edinburgh and released their debut album, 'Dress Up', on the Fortuna Pop! label in 2013. They followed this up with their sophomore album, 2015's 'Try To Be Hopeful', which was well-received by critics and has brought the band to a wider audience. Spook School are known for their energetic, fast-paced pop punk sound and their overtly political lyrics.

Many of the band's songs deal with issues surrounding gender and sexuality. 'The Spook School' was a group of artists from Glasgow who were particularly active at the turn of the twentieth century and who had a significant influence on the development of the distinctive 'Glasgow style'.

Answer: The Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips formed in 1983 in Oklahoma and have gathered a large international following. Their inventive alternative pop has earned them both widespread critical plaudits and significant commercial success. The band are known for their unusual sound and surreal lyrics and song and album titles.

The Flaming Lips are also well-known for their extravagant live shows which routinely feature lavish effects such as confetti, light shows and a giant perspex ball in which Wayne Coyne often travels over the audience. 'Hit to Death in the Future Head' was the band's first major label album release following the band's signing to Warner Bros. Records.

Despite the praise heaped upon almost all Flaming Lips releases, I must admit that I have been disappointed by most of their work with the notable exception of 'Hit to Death in the Future Head', which I find an exhilarating album filled with memorable psychedelic pop songs.

Answer: Fear of Men

Fear of Men formed in Brighton in 2011 and went on to release several singles over the next couple of years. The songs featured on these early singles were collected together on the EP 'Early Fragments', which was released in 2013. In 2014 the band released their debut album 'Loom' while their second album, 'Fall Forever', appeared in 2016.

The band are known for their exquisite dream pop and for their thoughtful lyrics which are often inspired by works of literature. Fear of Men have appeared at South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas and at the Indietracks festival in Derbyshire.

The band have also toured with American indiepop band The Pains of Being Pure At Heart.

Answer: The Vaselines

McKee and Kelly formed The Vaselines in Glasgow in 1986. The duo later added other musicians to the band and the line-up has changed over the years. The band released their debut EP, 'Son of a Gun' in 1987 which featured a cover of Divine's disco hit 'You Think You're A Man'.

Their next release, 1988's 'Dying for It' EP, is notable because it featured two tracks, 'Molly's Lips' and 'Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam', which were both covered by Nirvana who also covered 'Son of a Gun' from their previous EP. Kurt Cobain once referred to McKee and Kelly as his favourite songwriters and regularly cited them as a major influence.

Although The Vaselines had split up in 1989, following the release of their debut album, Cobain's championing of the band helped bring their music to a much wider international audience in the early 1990s.

In order to capitalise on the band's posthumous international popularity, influential American label Sub Pop released a compilation album entitled 'The Way of The Vaselines' in 1992.

The Vaselines reformed in 2008 and went on to play a number of live shows and to record another album. The Vaselines are known for their funny, irreverent and heartfelt lyrics and their pure pop sensibilities.

Answer: Former Ghosts

Former Ghosts are something of an alternative pop supergroup, comprising members of other alternative bands. Freddy Ruppert is a former member of This Song is a Mess But So Am I, Jamie Stewart is the frontman of intense noise pop band Xiu Xiu and Nika Roza Danilova founded the band Zola Jesus.

The band have also collaborated with several other musicians. Former Ghosts was conceived as a lighter more pop-oriented side project for the band members whose main projects tend to be darker and more intense.

However, while Former Ghosts are primarily a synthpop band, their songs often pack a considerable emotional punch; this is particularly evident on the band's second album, 2010's 'New Love'.

Answer: A Sunny Day in Glasgow

A Sunny Day in Glasgow was formed in 2006 by friends Ben Daniels and Ever Nalens who had both recently returned to Philadelphia after spending some time in the UK. Daniels asked his twin sisters, Lauren and Robin, to join the band and the group began working on recordings together.

The band released their debut EP, 'The Sunniest Day Ever', in 2006 which immediately garnered attention for the new band. The EP became a hit on college radio and was positively reviewed on the influential music website 'Pitchfork'.

The band's debut album, 'Scribble Mural Comic Journal', was released to glowing reviews in 2007 and the band began work on their second album. The recording of their sophomore album, 2009's 'Ashes Grammar', was somewhat hampered by a series of health and personal problems which led to the departure of three band members.

However, new members were recruited and the band have gone on to record several more albums, EPs and singles.

Answer: Ladytron

Ladytron formed in Liverpool in 1999 and took their name from the title of a song by Roxy Music. Ladytron have released several acclaimed albums, beginning with 2001's '604' as well as providing remixes for numerous artists including Blondie, Goldfrapp and Nine Inch Nails.

The group are known for their beautiful and austere electropop and for their lyrical themes of isolation in a digital world.

Answer: Fever Fever

Fever Fever formed in Norwich in 2006 and were originally known as Trick Babies. The band released their debut single, 'Stage Shoes', in 2009 which garnered them considerable airplay on BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music. The band went on to release a string of acclaimed singles and EPs and, in 2011, they were invited to perform at Glastonbury Festival and at South by Southwest.

The band split up in 2012 though the individual band members continue to make music with other bands.

Answer: Sky Larkin

Sky Larkin formed in Leeds in 2005 and, after three years of touring the UK extensively, they released their debut EP, 2008's 'Swit Swoo', which consisted entirely of cover versions. Sky Larkin released their debut album, 'The Golden Spike', on Wichita Records in 2009 which they followed up the next year with their second album 'Kaleide'.

The band toured extensively in Europe and America during this time, both headlining their own shows and supporting bands such as The Cribs and Frightened Rabbit. Over the next few years the band underwent several line-up changes, though they continued to tour and record new music until 2014.

In 2014 Katie Harkin joined the newly reformed American riot grrrl band Sleater-Kinney as a touring member. Sky Larkin are known for their melodic indie rock sound and their atmospheric use of keyboards as well as Harkin's soaring and expressive vocals.

Answer: Happy Fangs

Happy Fangs formed in California in 2012 and comprise lead singer Rebecca Bortman, guitarist Mike Cobra and drummer Jess Gowrie. The band released their debut album, 'Capricorn', in 2015 and have supported classic grunge band Mudhoney on tour. Happy Fangs have a fast, energetic and intense punk sound, though this is often tempered by lyrical playfulness, a trait which is conspicuous on the wonderful 'All I Want for Christmas Is Halloween'. Happy Fangs announced that they were to split in 2016 in order to allow the band members to focus on other projects.