Red Hot Chili Peppers

Single handily the best alternative rock band to come on the scene ever. This band combines the greatest elements rock, funk, punk, psychedelic, and jamming to create a sound that is solely their own. This is band that’s sound and lyrical content can't be matched or replicated by any band today. Their thirty years in the business has given us some of the best music of all time and a career equal to bands like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. However my favorite element of this band is Anthony Kiedis and his ability to pour out his soul and the hardship he has gone through into every song he sings. I could go on and on about this band but after ten studio albums, an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and busty bank account this band needs no help showing that they are extremely talented.

The early stages of the band might seem unfamiliar to people like me who started to listen to the Peppers' 90's and 2000's music. Their sound had a lot less rock and hard guitar riffs and more psychedelic sounds with a funky beat. I suggest that lovers of funk and weird psychedelic rock check their early stuff, especially their debut album.

The later stages of the RHCP are my personal favorites. This is when they fell into their iconic fast beat, hardcore songs. The later periods also seem to be the bands personal reflections on the past and the problems they are dealing with today. The band also had many spurts of deep meaning songs that people like me gravitated to. Overall the band had a shift from psychedelic and funk to a hard rock sound.

 

I give the Red Hot Chili Peppers 5 out 5 stars. This is an iconic band that continues to develop their sound and put out better music every time. You really can't ask for more than what the Red Hot Chili Peppers can produce, even for people my age their older stuff still connects to us the same as the newer songs. I suggest you take a listen to any of their albums and especially the song below.

 



Jimmy Eat World

A band I got turned on to very recently and absolutely fell in love with. I preceded immediately to get 5 out of their 7 albums and listen to them all. This Arizona band is known and loved for being able to create great punk and rock songs while not having a depressing tone. Another great thing about Jimmy Eat World is that after almost 20 years being together this band continues to create great music and hasn't been forced to change their sound to stay popular.

A look at their early albums shows their punk sound. Their songs have the great combination of a punk attitude like Green Day along with little bits of screaming. This punk sound is what got Jimmy Eat World on to the scene and unlike many punk bands their music wasn't just stupid anti norm rambling, their songs have a real meaning and message to them which I personally love.

 

 

 

Later in their career Jimmy Eat World settled into their own sound and lost a little bit of their punk sound. The band started to adopt new sounds including synthesizers and new vocal effects. Yet the band didn't lose their punk identity which can be found in their lyrics. Overall the band started to take advantage of great producing and new instruments to deliver their great music.

 



 

I give Jimmy Eat World 4 and half stars out of 5. This is just one of those bands that keeps coming out with music that captivates you and songs that you immediately fall in love with. I suggest along with these videos you listen to the albums Futures and Bleed American. Also just as a little side note, if you are in to really long songs I suggest you take a listen to Goodbye Sky Harbor which tops out at 16 minutes.



Taking Back Sunday

This has to be one of my favorite alternative rock bands of all time. Taking Back Sunday came out of a small town in Long Island and has combined influences in screamo, emo, and hardcore rock to develop their own sound. What I love about this band is that they can scream and not give you a headache because they just keep going for no reason. The band also has great lyrics, hooks, and some of the best guitar playing to come out of early 2000's bands.

The band’s sound has also evolved in their career. In the early days of the band you could really hear their influences from the powerful screams that they got from 90's screamo bands. You could also hear their emo influence in their very dark sometimes super symbolic lyrics.

 

 

Yet later in their career Taking Back Sunday started putting out a different sound. Even though the screaming and dark lyrics have stayed, they seem to be a little toned down. The band has also added songs with very catchy choruses along with more fast pace songs. Overall the band has shifted from the emo sound to more hard rock. However, I think from the early albums to the newest ones all have that great sound that got them on the charts.

 

 

I give Taking Back Sunday 4 out of 5 stars. This band is great for those seeking a middle ground between emo rock and screamo rock. However their newest album seemed to lack those heavy lyrics fans like me fell in love with. Also many of their songs have the same pattern making them sound very similar. Yet I still recommend you give this band a listen and check out their album New Again. It's the perfect middle ground of their two sounds and has some amazing songs on it.



Born Ruffians

Oh Canada there is so many things we have to thank you for- hockey, Canadian bacon, and of course the great indie rock band Born Ruffians. This band has been able to create some of the best indie rock music I have ever heard period. From the crazy artwork on many of their albums, the very rangy and somewhat weird singing style of lead singer Luke Lalonde, lyrical focuses in songs, and very southing guitar and bass playing make this band its own breed.

I give the Born Ruffians four and a half stars out five. First reason for this rate is because I haven’t heard a lead singer sing the way Luke does and the lyrics always seem to get me thinking which is always a bonus for me. Second is that they are a band that continues to evolve their sound and not just stick to the same old tunes, including their album Birthmarks that drops this year. Finally, if you’re a fan of creepy and odd music videos, this is defiantly a band to check out and highly suggest you watch I Need A Life. I also suggest you check out their albums Say It and Red, White & Blue.

Harvey Danger

One of my favorite bands from the late 90's and early 2000's. This Seattle indie rock back is one of  the few bands that can have a great almost Ramones’s pace song, calm it down for a few seconds, drop a hilarious reference in the middle of the song, and still sound perfect. Harvey Danger combines great classic rock style guitars, drums, and the great singing ability of Sean Nelson. Many American Pie fans will probably remember their hit song " Flagpole Sitta" from the first installment of the series and maybe like me watched the credits just to find this amazing band.

I give Harvey Danger 4 out of 5 stars. This rate is because some of their songs sound too similar but if you’re like me you fall in love with everyone like the one before it. Another reason for the lower than perfect rate is because this band only put out three studio albums and their last album lacked their iconic sound.  I suggest you all take a look at their albums Where Have all the Merrymakers Gone? and King James Version which contain some of my all-time favorite songs. Also if you’re in the market for some hilarious music videos I suggest you watch Save it for Later and Sad Sweetheart of the Rodeo.

Harlem Shakes

No I'm not talking about the latest flash dance crave to hit the scene. I'm talking about the amazing but short lived New York indie band. I'm quite positive that if this band wasn't to have disbanded in 2009, they would be playing on every radio station. The band has a very different sound by focusing on the use of many different instruments including saxaphones, synthesizer, video game sounds, random guitar bits, and great drums. The band also has great vocals by more than one member of the band and combines ramones like speed lyrics with Beatles style instrumentals. Yet, with the disbanding we are left with so little music by this great band with the potential to produce much more.

I give the Harlem Shakes three and a half stars out of five. The major reason for this is that the band only put out one full length album, Technicolor Health, and most likely will not be ever producing music again. Another reason for the rate is that this band is synthesizer heavy and for those who like just a rock and roll sound will be left with little to listen to. Yet even with only one album, their sound is very special and makes them stand out from the crowd. I highly suggest everyone take a look at this band for a breathe of fresh air from all the cookie cutter songs on the radio.

Louiston

I'm still amazed that Lou Dipietro and Louiston isn't a household name yet. His voice and overall sound is extremely pure and simple. Louiston has a very acustic sound along with upbeat lyrics that i can say have helped me get out of some of the most depressed ruts in my life and can surely do the same for you. I suggest you all take the time and listen to "BMX Bike Ride" and try to not think of happy thoughts and good memories.
I give Louiston 4 and half stars out of five. The only criticism i have for this extremely gifted musician is the length of his albums. Literally, all of his albums are under twenty minutes long and can be like having a small candy and wanting more of that taste all day. However, even with his albums being short in time, the impact of the songs can stay with you all day. Lou's voice along with upbeat lyrics and instrumentals that have their own distinctive acustic sound. I highly suggest you take 13 minutes out of your day and listen to Ragged Sampler, one of my all time favorite albums by any artist. Also, I suggest Fall Creak EP, even though this album has a more sad tone it is till a beautiful album.

To listen to any of his music check out his website http://www.loudipietro.com/ or look him up on Sound Cloud, which is a leader for promoting new artists.