The New Music

Here’s a five-album guide to music that I feel is absolutely essential for everybody to listen to at least once. Doesn’t matter if you like rock, pop or rap. These five albums are what I deem to be extremely unique and what I consider to be five of the best rock(ish) albums of the past decade. Give them each a listen and I guarantee that by the end, you’ll know what I mean when I say that these are five albums that each and every person needs to know about.

Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)

Why: Emotion. People are emotional. The thing is, though, that emotions are usually only evoked when a certain event happens. There is another (less natural, yet more natural in many ways) way to feel emotion. No, you don’t need to chop onions to make you cry, but rather, just listen to some Arcade Fire, particularly their album Funeral. It’s hardcore, it’s sweet, it’s loud, it’s pretty dang beautiful. The absolute clear-cut definition of what indie rock really is.

Beach House - Teen Dream (2010)

Why: There’s all sorts of music for all sorts of situations and predicaments, right? Right. Driving on the freeway, biking downtown, cleaning the apartment, etc. Well, here’s the one that can be listened to anywhere, anytime, whenever, wherever. Beach House’s dreamy anthems are, simply put, instant delights. No matter what you’re up to, they’re a hit. It’s more than that, though. Teen Dream is an album that pretty much hasn’t been done before. It’s relaxing, sexy, motivating and spiritual all in one.

Metric - Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003)

Why: Metric does it all. Whether Emily Haines is screaming her guts out or whispering, she always gets her message across. In their songs you don’t only hear what they’re trying to say through their (mesmerizingly awing) music, you hear it loud and clear through her words. That makes sense though, right? Wrong. Nowadays, it’s definitely hard to find an artist that when you look at their lyrics, you aren’t compelled to think, “Oh, those are the label’s words right there.” Metric music’s has an beautified honesty to it; one that is far too infrequent in today’s music. “Tonight your ghost will ask my ghost: ‘Where is the love?’ Tonight your ghost will ask my ghost: ‘Who put these bodies between us?’”

Owen Pallett - Heartland (2010)

Why: What’s curious about Owen Pallett is his ability to have his music sound delicate and simple on the outside, but upon closer inspection, is gorgeously intricate. Heartland is (according to Pallett) a one-sided dialogue between a farmer named Lewis towards his creator, Owen. Heartland’s songs could be interpreted as symphonic pieces, a soundtrack to a racing video game or even an exercise playlist. No, the album isn’t all over the place, nor is it perfectly docile either. It’s whatever you want it to be.

Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (2005)

Why: This.