Hitting the local industry for six, Brisbane-based george became the 10th Aussie band to ever debut at No. 1 on the charts with their first album. That album was 2002’s melodic surprise, Polyserena, which followed three self-released EPs to go platinum within weeks and eventually double platinum. Forming the core of the group, singer/songwriter siblings Katie and Tyrone Noonan translated their background in classical music—their mother Maggie was an opera singer—to this blend of rock, jazz and operatic elements overlaid by the Noonans’ contrasting vocals and keyboard work. Dark and light, they keep listeners guessing from track to track: will it be a jagged-edge Tyrone cutting loose on “Bastard Son” or Katie’s lilting introspection on “Breathe In Now”? This angsty push-and-pull nevertheless manages to create a cohesive listening experience, possibly due to the able work of guitarist Nick Stewart, drummer Geoff Green and bassist Paulie Bromley keeping things rolling along beneath the lyrics. George followed this up with Unity in 2004, before going on hiatus so its members could explore their own projects. This break would wind up lasting until 2016, when they played together for the first time in more than a decade.