Music like The Wrecks

Imperial Teen is a San Francisco–based indie pop group made up of Roddy Bottum (Faith No More), primarily on guitar/vocals; Will Schwartz (also of Hey Willpower), primarily on guitar/vocals; Lynn Truell (née Perko, formerly of Sister Double Happiness, the Dicks, and the Wrecks), primarily on drums and backing vocals; and Jone Stebbins (previously of the Wrecks), primarily on bass and backing vocals. Imperial Teen became known for its boy–girl harmonies and for all four members switching off and on instruments during shows.

Imperial Teen first gained notice with its debut album, Seasick, in 1996, which was produced by Steve McDonald (Redd Kross). Spin magazine went on to list it as the fourth-best album of the year and in the top 50 albums of all time. Of the "queer alt-rockers Imperial Teen", one New York Times reviewer wrote that "though every song on the album is good, the best are the ones about homosexuality ('Butch'), Kurt Cobain ('You're One'), and complete nonsense ('Imperial Teen')". "You're One" was the album's breakout single, receiving heavy radio play on alternative stations; a promotional video was also produced for the song. Prior to the debut album's release, the band was called Star 69, but was forced to change the name after a band from New York threatened to sue.