Red Hot Chili Peppers - I first heard them back in 1999 when Californication was released. I remember the Californication music video constantly played on MTV. Since then I've never stopped listening to this band and i was privileged enough to see them live in concert last year. Here's a favourite older song live - She's Only 18 - and a favourite recent song live - Annie Wants a Baby - that i recommend you watch.
Nirvana - I first heard their music back in 2000 when i was eleven. My friend's dad loudly played their music around their house and i remember him singing Where Did You Sleep Last Night to me. This was truly a beautiful discovery in music for me. When you're that young, you listen to all kinds of crap - Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera - but that music doesn't stay with you the way real authentic music does. Kurt Cobain will always be a true artist and genius in music, it's sad that we lost him so early. Check these live performances out on youtube - Drain You and Blew and a little acoustic melody with the Meat Puppets.
Relient K - I discovered this punk rock band while working at a Christian bookstore back in 2003 when i was fifteen and I instantly fell in love with them. I didn't know that Christian bands like these existed! And of course with my strict upbringing it was a relief to not have to hide it from my mother (i don't do that anymore though). Their vocalist, Matthew Thiessen, is one of the best songwriters in the world and has an amazing voice that i could listen to all day long. Their music isn't really 'gospel' per se, they're just a regular (awesome) band with some Christian beliefs. Some cool songs to check out: Pressing On (old classic), Let It All Out (a slow jam with amazing lyrics), Deathbed (most amazing song), I Need You (a song i really love) and a brand new one PTL. (Here's a cover of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun for fun!)
Hillsong United - They're a band but technically they're not. They are from a church in Sydney called Hillsong and is more of a Praise & Worship team, but i see them as a band. They've produced some of the best music you'll ever hear and have such good songwriters and musicians and singers, it's just unbelievably beautiful music. I grew up listening to them and will always continue to listen to them. Go listen to King of All Days, Yours Forever Live, Oceans (acoustic version) and What the World Will Never Take.
Showbread - I first heard them in 2006 and since then my life was changed forever. Their music is so unique and different to anything else in the rock genre that they had to come up with a brand new subgenre called Raw Rock. And that term perfectly sums up what their music sounds like (it's basically 'screamo'). I absolutely love this band, what their music means and what they stand for, plus their frontman and songwriter Josh Dies (Joshua S. Porter) is a genius. He's also a writer and writes very thought-provoking, out of this world stories. Oh and they are also classified as a Christian band. Let that sink in for a second and prepare to have your face blown off. Some songs to listen to: Journey (Nervosa Album), Dead By Dawn, Oh! Emetophobia!, Lost Connection With the Head, The Pig and You Will Not Die in a Prison (slow jam).
Underoath - Unfortunately this band broke up last year, but they're still one of my favourites. I first heard them eight years ago in 2006. It's funny how you think you'd never listen to a certain type of music and then one day you just suddenly do and you like it. Underoath is a metalcore band and pretty much the only one that i really listen to. I can't really say exactly why i like their music, because i just do and i think they are brilliant musicians, good people and write good music. And by the grace of God i got to see them live here in South Africa in 2008. Songs to check out: A Boy Brushed Red Living in Black and White, Writing On the Walls, Desperate Times, Desperate Measures and Paper Lung.
Muse - Back in either 2007 or 2008 someone recommended that i listen to this band called Muse. Again, you think you won't like a certain type of music or a certain band, but when you hear them, you just can't help it. Talk about brilliant musicians! These guys are off-the-charts good and I'm so thankful that i heard their music and can listen to it now. I really love their unique style and Matthew Bellamy's songwriting skills; not to mention his amazing voice. Go watch: Stockholm Syndrome, Undisclosed Desires, Supremacy Live, Madness and then a slow jam, Blackout Live.
Kings of Leon - Even though they've been around since 1999, i only discovered them around 2009. They have such a different sound - especially their old stuff - and Caleb has the perfect voice in my opinion. They have some of the best songs ever written as well. It's southern rock at its best and i was lucky enough to see them live back in 2011. Some cool songs are: Holy Roller Novocaine, My Party, Molly's Chambers, Closer Live and Beautiful War.
Kings of Leon - Even though they've been around since 1999, i only discovered them around 2009. They have such a different sound - especially their old stuff - and Caleb has the perfect voice in my opinion. They have some of the best songs ever written as well. It's southern rock at its best and i was lucky enough to see them live back in 2011. Some cool songs are: Holy Roller Novocaine, My Party, Molly's Chambers, Closer Live and Beautiful War.
Paramore - This is a band with a very interesting history. They started off as a small (Christian) band in 2004 and did really well. Then in 2010 two of their members (guitar and drums) left because, according to them, the lead vocalist treated the band as her solo project. So after they left, the band's popularity exploded, which means that they had decided to go more mainstream to reach more listeners. I don't think there's anything wrong with that especially when the music is still as good, if not better, as ever. I only discovered them around 2009 and love this band to death. I like the songwriting and i like her voice a lot. I would also love to see them live! Some songs i like are: Crush, crush, crush Live, Ignorance Live and Still Into You.
No Doubt - They are a recent favourite band of mine. Growing up i obviously heard their music, i mean Don't Speak was a massive hit across the world back in 1996, but i didn't really know their stuff. Then about two or three years ago, i bought a special dual pack with both Tragic Kingdom (1995) and Rock Steady (2001) albums in. When i heard all the songs (that weren't massive hits) i was just hooked. The fact that they were broken up for ten years and then reunited speaks volumes of this band. They are a timeless treasure and i hope i get to see them live! Songs: Detective, In My Head Live, Tragic Kingdom, Hey You, Looking Hot and Push and Shove
No Doubt - They are a recent favourite band of mine. Growing up i obviously heard their music, i mean Don't Speak was a massive hit across the world back in 1996, but i didn't really know their stuff. Then about two or three years ago, i bought a special dual pack with both Tragic Kingdom (1995) and Rock Steady (2001) albums in. When i heard all the songs (that weren't massive hits) i was just hooked. The fact that they were broken up for ten years and then reunited speaks volumes of this band. They are a timeless treasure and i hope i get to see them live! Songs: Detective, In My Head Live, Tragic Kingdom, Hey You, Looking Hot and Push and Shove
The White Stripes / The Raconteurs / The Dead Weather - For me all three these bands are the same thing because of Jack White and his musical genius. I totally have a crush on him and I'm into anything that he's involved in. Everything he touches turns to gold in my opinion. So much rock 'n roll in one person and the amount of music he's put out there is just phenomenal. Songs: Seven Nation Army & Icky Thump (White Stripes), Level & Blue Veins (Raconteurs), Treat Me Like Your Mother & Blue Blood Blues Live (Dead Weather)
The White Stripes
The Raconteurs
The Dead Weather
In my opinion these are some of the best bands to ever exist because of the following combined reasons: brilliant song writing, stunning vocals and unique musicians. I like bands that sound different to any other band out there; music that is original. I don't really care whether they are the best musicians in the world or not, all i want is something that i can really connect with. When i hear one of their songs, i want to feel the melody either prodding at my heart or ripping it out. When music can bring tears to your eyes, a smile to your face or goose bumps to your hair, then you know it's real and magical at the same time.
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