The popular music scene is one that seems to regurgitate the same things over and over and over again. Only a few bands manage to cut through all the noise to make music that actually stand out. Here are six bands that, in my opinion, you should be listening to.
1. Catfish and the Bottlemen
Hailing from North Wales, this foursome of men have created some of the most original and piercing sounds to come out in the decade. Their first album, "The Balcony" made waves overseas as well as here in America. The album led to them winning the BRIT Breakthrough Award in 2016. The song "Cocoon" from the album is especially powerful, the song details a couple who are madly in love while their friends try to break them up from each other. The band's second album, "The Ride" was released on May 27 and features the lead single "Soundcheck"
2. Wolf Alice
Another band from across the pond, Wolf Alice is a group made up of 3 men and 1 woman, who sings and plays guitar. The band has a rough and grunge-y sound that reminds many of the golden age of grunge music in the 1990's. Their debut album "My Love Is Cool" features standout cuts such as "You're a Germ", "Bros", "Giant Peach" and "Moaning Lisa Smile". The latter earned them a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance. Their music is rough around the edges but it makes a definite impact.
3. New Politics
With a mix of members from Denmark and America, New Politics have earned a rampant following based off of a combo of an incredible live presence and a collection of hit singles. Their rise started with the high energy single "Yeah Yeah Yeah" which brought them insane amounts of buzz in the Alternative music world. Their stars only rose with hit singles "Harlem" and "Everywhere I Go (Kings and Queens)."Their latest album, "Vikings" is available everywhere now.
4. The Front Bottoms
If you are ever feeling angsty, unsure, frustrated, or just want to get a good cry in, this band is for you. Hailing from New Jersey, this band got their start in the attic of their drummer's house. They have put out singles that have elevated their status and have gained them acclaim. Those singles include "Twin Size Mattress" and "HELP." Their album, "Back on Top" is out now.
5. Fitz and the Tantrums
The Tantrums have been around a making and releasing quality music ever since 2010 with their debut album "Pickin Up the Pieces" which featured the highly popular "Moneygrabber." They followed up this impressive effort with their second album, "More Than Just a Dream" which included the singles "The Walker" and "Out of my League." They recently returned to their funky roots with their newest single, "Handclap." Their self-titled album comes out June 10th.
6. twenty one pilots
I simply couldn't resist putting these guys on this list, they have just received a major breakthrough this year with their album, "Blurryface." If you want to point to one singular point to signal their elevation into regular radio material, look no further than their smash hit "Stressed Out" which broke through because of its relatability and the idea of missing life when you were younger. Their music is much deeper than that, however, a lot of their music cover the deep topics such as self-doubt, losing motivation, sadness, the relationship that everyone has with God, and feeling alone, among other things. Songs like "Addict With a Pen", "Fall Away", and "Car Radio" showcase TØP's chops and what makes them so popular.
These bands are making music worth listening to and you should be expanding your palettes to listen to them.
