Music You NEED to hear, but Probably havent.

I don't think I've ever written about music before; at least not as DS-Tech Meida.

But music IS media, so here it goes

YOU CAN SKIP THIS INTRO AND GO STRAIGHT TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS IF YOU LIKE: I will TRY to make this a list that anyone can enjoy. Not simply tied to a single genre.

I've loved music since I was a toddler.
Early on it was my mother's taste in music that probably had the most influence on me.

My mother listened to music that wasn't typical for other parents I knew.
Pearl Jam was probably her favorite band, and Nirvana was another big one.
I remember her buying the CD Americana by The Offspring, and that was probably my introduction to punk rock.
Some other music my mother listened to frequently:

• Green Day
• Rob Zombie before and after White Zombie
• Smashing Pumpkins
• Dave Matthews Band
• Stone Temple Pilots
• The Cult
• Rammstein

My mother often bought albums, and only listened to one or two songs; usually the hits/singles.
When I was about 13 I bought Take Off Your Pants And Jacket by Blink-182, and my mother HATED it. From then on she'd usually despise my musical tastes.
But I found that I usually listened to the entire album.
And I prefer to listen to entire albums because they are like the entire picture/painting.
The album is the work of art, and that's why I usually recommend entire albums.

If You've Never Heard These Albums:LISTEN TO THEM.

If I'm wrong come back here and tell me I led you astray.

---

Broken Social Scene - "You Forgot It In People"

I recommend starting off with the song "Almost Crimes".
This is their first full-length album.
BSS is an "indie-rock" band from Canada, but don't let that description fool you.
They are so much more than a rock band.
I've had the pleasure of seeing them live, and they were easily one of the top 3 live bands I've ever seen; And I've seen quite a few great bands live.
There were as many as 12 musicians on stage for some songs, and they have both male & female vocalists. Piano, guitar, horns, and even a tremoloa.

Broken Social Scene = "Broken Social Scene"

Their second full-length album.
This one and the one before it are so good that I couldn't pick just one.
From this album I'd recommend starting with "7/4(Shoreline)" OR "Windsurfing Nation".

Cold War Kids:

This band hails from California, and I've also managed to see them live.
They also burn the house down with their performances.
It's a very blues-inspired style of soul rock.
Heavy on piano, bass, guitar, and drums.
The vocalist is very distinctive.
Once again I couldn't pick one album from this band so here goes:

"Robbers & Cowards"

Their first full-length album. This was where I started listening to them.
Best songs to start with are:

• "Saint John"
• "We Used To Vacation"
• "Hospital Beds"
• "Robbers"

"Dear Miss Lonelyhearts"

Their fourth album, and probably their first "popular" album.
Tracks to start with:

• "Miracle Mile"
• "Lost That Easy"
• "Loner Phase"

"Hold My Home"

Follow-up to Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, and their 5th album.
The song "First" was featured in a Budweiser commercial, I think.
Tracks to start with:

• "First"
• "Drive Desperate"

Arcade Fire

This band is possibly the most popular on this list, and they are also from Canada. They are also considered "indie-rock", and once again I don't think that label really describes them at all.
There is a bit of similarity with Broken Social Scene here, but they also sound NOTHING alike.
You may have even heard their songs on television in commercials, series, or shows.
However, I specifically recommend their first two albums which are less well-known.

"Funeral"

Tracks to start with:

• "Wake Up"
• "Rebellion(Lies)"

"Neon Bible"

Trackss to start with:

• "Black Mirror"
• "Intervention"

Glassjaw

This is easily the "hardest" rock band on the list, and I'm recommending a short EP rather than a full album because I think it's probably their best work.
Glassjaw is often described as hardcore/post-hardcore, but they aren't the sound you'd expect with those genre-labels.
You might like every other album on this list, and you could listen to this one and hate it.
Either way, I think this is an excellent band with A LOT of great songs, but this EP is easily my favorite thing they've put out.

"Coloring Book EP"

Tracks to start with:

• "Vanilla Poltergeist Snake"
• "Black Nurse"
• "Gold"
• "Miracles In Inches"

Brand New

This band had a couple songs that were in constant-rotation on MTV at one point, and they routinely performed sold-out tours around the world.
They've made an extreme progression of music over their career.
Their first album was solidly considered pop-punk. Their second album was more radio-friendly and mature, but still considered "emo".
For me to pick one album from this band is pretty much impossible, but I'm going to recommend the two that I think are most-accessible for new listeners.
These two albums are extremely different, but you should listen to BOTH of them. If you like it you should listen to everything they've ever put out as they are one of my favorite bands.
Don't let the labels I've mentioned deceive you, this is an extremely talented group of musicians.

"Deja Entendu"

This album was a major hit when I was a teenager.
I didn't want to like this band because I was a "punk rocker" and hardcore kid, but this made me realize that music couldn't be judged by genres.
I can remember buying it, and listening to it all the way through so many times.
Start with:

• "The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows"
• "Sic Transit Glora...Glory Fades"
• "Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't"

"The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me"

When this album came out it was like it was an entirely different band. This album is so much more intense & dark than the radio-friendly release before it.
Despite the change, this is considered by most to be their best album.
Starting tracks to listen to:

• "Sowing Season"
• "Millstone"
• "Degausser"

There you have it!

Go listen to some of these albums right now, and I guarantee you'll have a new band you love.
The first 3 bands are music I think just about anyone can like, and the last two are more of a niche-genre.

Please, if I did a great job and made you a fan of any of these bands let me know.
I love music, and I love sharing music with people who haven't heard it before.