Alternative Music

Cassidy Locke

 

People are always complaining how they listen to the same six songs until they get old and then they have to find something new to listen to and the cycle repeats. Or some complain how all the music sounds the same and they need something new.

There is so much new alternative music that is made for young adults and teenagers today. You would be surprised that you probably already know some alternative songs. Such as, “Unsteady” by X Ambassadors is considered to be alternative, they are sometimes played on the bigger stations as well. So here is a list of artists and some of their most popular songs. The next time you feel the need to switch up your music or want something different than what you are listening to look up these artists and songs.

Previously mentioned was X Ambassadors they also have a hit called “Renegades”. Their newest hit “Unsteady” is a slower song but it still being played on radio stations everywhere. They have called themselves more rock with some influences of indie rock. Their Idols are the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Incubus so they use some of their flares in their song. They have also been linked to Imagine Dragons.

Another band is Cage the Elephant who is coming to the Mann on May 12th on their tour for their newest album Tell Me I’m Pretty. They have hits like “Cigarette Daydreams” and “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked”. They started out as more of a punk rock band, they were compared to the Pixies and Nirvana. They now have assimilated into the modern alternative genre. They are still labeled as alternative rock and blues rock. The lead singer Matthew Shultz has a distinctive raspy voice; the guitar is a main component in each of their songs.

Catfish and the Bottlemen are a just emerging band, they are coming to the BB&T pavilion on June 11th for the radio 104.5 birthday show with headliner Twenty-One Pilots. Catfish and the Bottlemen are an indie rock band from North Wales. Their most popular song is “Kathleen” but they just recently released a new single titled “Sound Check” in anticipation for their new album. Some have compared the lead vocalist’s voice to the lead man of The Kooks.

Foster the People has been around for quite a while; they have a smash hit in the alternative world “Pumped Up Kicks” it reached three on the billboard hot 100. They released their second album in March 2014. My personal favorite from them is “I Would do Anything for you” which is from the same album as “Pumped Up Kicks”, Torches. They are labeled as an indie pop band.

Hozier is one of the most famous on this list, a few years back he had a single “Take me to Church” which was played everywhere you went. He then followed that up with “From Eden” and “Someone New”. His distinctive low and soothing voice can move anyone. He is labeled as alternative, Blues and soul. He just released his fourth single from his album “Cherry Wine” from which all proceeds will go towards stopping domestic violence. He is played occasionally on 104.5, not overplayed like most songs nowadays that are played on the radio.

Most people have heard some of these songs listed because they were hits and played a lot. But maybe now you can do more research on these bands and artists and find other related artists and start to develop more of a diverse music taste.