Nowadays, when people want to listen to music they buy subscriptions to Spotify or Pandora, they listen to music online through YouTube or other websites, they buy singles from iTunes or they find some other way to acquire music illegally. It's rare to find people who want to buy full albums to listen to them while they're driving in their car.
Most people only get to hear the popular songs that bands and artists release that get overplayed on the radio. They don't bother to listen to the B-sides, the songs that slide by mainstream media on the back-burner of these bands' and artists' albums. While you have to love the "Fix You"s, the "Apologize"s and the "Chicken Fried"s, you can't help but recognize that the best artists in the music industry don't just produce multi-hit singles on the radio, but quality and solid albums. These are 11 not widely-known songs and B-sides that I think are worth the recognition.
1. "All This Time" by OneRepublic
This song is about being lost and finding the person or thing that you run back to the most. Ryan Tedder, the lead of OneRepublic, is not only an incredible vocalist but also an accomplished songwriter for other artists too.
2. "Bittersweet" by Zac Brown Band
Zac Brown Band is known for their amazing hit songs like "Chicken Fried," "Toes," "Colder Weather" and their recent "Beautiful Drug," but "Bittersweet" hits home for those who have lost a loved one. "It's bittersweet, you see / You're not here but I can feel you / Every memory is on the tip of my tongue."
3. "Changed" by Rascal Flatts
Throughout Rascal Flatts' incredible career in the country music scene, they have produced huge mega-hits like "What Hurts the Most," "My Wish," and "I Like the Sound of That." "Changed" is a song about self-improvement that almost any person can relate to, recognizing how far you have come in your life through any obstacle or challenge.
4. "The Fighter" by The Fray
Known for "How to Save a Life" and "You Found Me," The Fray has also spun out other incredible songs and albums that weren't played on the radio. "The Fighter" is a song about never giving up, no matter the situation that you're going through.
5. "The Heat" by NEEDTOBREATHE
NEEDTOBREATHE has produced hits like "Something Beautiful," "Washed by the Water," and "Brother" that have been played on rock, country and Christian radio stations. But "The Heat" should also be recognized as a stress-reliever song that can help you see that everyone needs an escape in whatever they're going through in their lives.
6. "Hold On to What You Believe" by Mumford and Sons
There really are no other bands like Mumford and Sons that can spin out huge hits like "The Cave," "Sign No More" and "Believe" on only acoustic instruments and folk melodies. "Hold On to What You Believe" was released off of their live album, and it is about sticking strong to your beliefs and morals, even in your darkest days.
7. "I of the Storm" by Of Monsters and Men
Of Monsters and Men blew up the alternative music scene with their first album, which included songs like "Little Talks," "Your Bones" and "Dirty Paws." Their second album was just as powerful, and although "I of the Storm" was not a radio hit like "Crystals," it is still a powerful ballad about going through the hardest of times.
8. "I'm a Mess" by Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran became a major hit in the pop music scene within a matter of months with "The A Team." His album X is one of the most versatile albums of the last few years, with rock, folk, pop, rap and blues influences. "I'm a Mess" is a song about frustration and not knowing how to handle your feelings, but the lyrics and the music behind it is amazing.
9. "On My Highway" by Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean has grown to be one of the biggest tickets in the country music scene, with six huge albums and multiple hits like "Big Green Tractor," "Dirt Road Anthem" and "She's Country." "On My Highway" didn't get any play on the radio, but it definitely played an influence on my life since it's a song about how much you learn about yourself as you grow up.
10. "Swallowed in the Sea" by Coldplay
Coldplay is one of the most popular bands in today's time, and they've been successful in countries all over the world. Their seven albums have had multiple hits, with some of the most known being "Fix You," "Paradise," "Yellow" and "Viva la Vida." While all of these songs are amazing, one of my favorites by them is "Swallowed in the Sea" because it talks about our significance in the world and how we can make an impact.
11. "Where I Belong" by Switchfoot
After eight albums, Jon Foreman and Switchfoot have proved their worth in the music industry, which crosses over the rock and Christian radio stations. Their songs "Meant to Live" and "Dare You to Move" are on everyone's motivational playlist, but their recent albums have produced incredible music along with their older albums. "Where I Belong" is a song about not feeling like you belong anywhere, but realizing that we are meant for much more than what's here on Earth.
While I hope that you check out these songs and many others that these artists have to offer, my biggest goal is that you make the effort to listen to the entire albums of your favorite artists. Because even though you will always have songs you like better than others, it doesn't make sense to only listen to a few songs and not hear the album's whole story. So, what are your favorite B-sides?