Artists Everyone Should Give a Go! (From a bit of a Biased Perspective)

By Liliana Cannizzaro

Hey, everyone! My name is Liliana and I am a chronic music listener. I spend most of my time at home in my bed crying to my favourite albums, some of which I speak about here! Today, I’m presenting you with artists everyone has to give a go listening to at least once, if you’re a weirdo like me that is. These artists blend relatability with amazing quality, which impresses me and would probably impress you too! So, without further ado, let’s get started! 

1. Weezer

Ok; call me biased but I love this band and think it can relate to anyone who has ever felt outcasted, alone or like a nerd. They made their debut album in 1994 named The Blue Album. It has some extremely deep lyrics and impactful sentiments, such as their song In the Garage, which comments on feeling like you don’t belong, and your only safe haven is a personal space of yours. It’s a good band for hopeless romantics. If you want to listen to Weezer, I recommend The Blue Album.

The Blue Album by Weezer (Credits to Wikipedia)

2. Arcade Fire

Yet again, another band that you may think I’m biased towards but hear me out! Arcade Fire is an indie rock band that started in 2001, with an impressive debut album by the name of Funeral. Arcade Fire comments on multiple different topics, such as childhood nostalgia through tracks like The Suburbs, and the distressing appearance of children attempting to fit in and be cool with tracks like Rococo. They are a perfect band for those who feel like outcasts, similar to Weezer’s target audience (but Arcade Fire fans have a better reputation). If you begin listening to Arcade Fire, I recommend The Suburbs to start with.

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire (Credits to Wikipedia)

3. My Chemical Romance

Now this one is less biased, though I did used to listen to MCR. My Chemical Romance made their debut album in 2002 which was I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love. My Chemical Romance is best known for being an emo band, which is true, but it’s not their only quirk. MCR is for teenagers who feel like they don’t fully fit in, overlapping with many fashion subcultures. This band is a great remedy for any angst or heavy emotions you may experience. If you start listening to My Chemical Romance, I recommend starting with Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, as it has a blend of all of their different types of sound, from their Emo to their Punk.

Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge by My Chemical Romance (Credits to Wikipedia)

4. Tyler, The Creator

Tyler, The Creator made his debut album in 2009 by the name of Bastard (which I highly recommend not to listen to) with powerful lyrics that I cannot say. His discography is immensely diverse and has multiple different target audiences. For example, his album IGOR is for those with unrequited loves, who find it difficult to find a steady relationship while being queer. If you decide to listen to Tyler, I would recommend listening to Flower Boy first, just to get a grasp of his sound.

Flower Boy by Tyler, the Creator (Credits to Wikipedia)

And last, but not least…

5. Jorge Rivera-Herrans

You probably don’t know who this is, but I’m sure you’ve heard at least one of his songs before. In short, Jorge Rivera-Herrans is the producer of the musical called Epic the Musical. This musical is about the journey of Odysseus, taking inspiration from the Odyssey by Homer, the ancient Greek poet. It has nine sagas (musical albums), each being a different sequence of events in Odysseus’ journey. If you wanted to start listening to his work, I’d highly recommend Epic the Musicals’ first saga, the Troy Saga.

The Troy Saga from Epic the Musical by Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Credits to Wikipedia)

Thank you so much for reading this, and if you take any of these suggestions and you want more, come find me! A quick few more are American Idiot by Green Day and Hamilton by Lin Manuel-Miranda. All in all, these are music artists that really inspire me and brighten up my days, and hopefully they’ll do the same for you. Have fun, fellow music enjoyers!

References:

The Oberlin Review

Punknews

TeachRock