As an individual who listens to a lot (and I mean a LOT) of music, I care about the bands I listen to. My favorite genres of music by far are alternative, punk and rock. Panic! At the Disco, The All-American Rejects, and Fallout Boy are just a few of the more mainstream bands I like, but their music is extremely well known by the public. I’d like to introduce a few bands that are sort of off the beaten path; bands that create amazing material, but don’t get the publicity they deserve.

Dirt Poor Robins –

The Dirt Poor Robins provide a creative mix of multiple vocals in all of their tracks. They dish out everything from rugged acoustic and electric guitar mixtures to soft and smooth lyrical craft, edging them closer to the more rock-alternative end of the spectrum. “The Great Vacation” is an amazing track and by far my favorite song by them to date. In fact, one of their albums, “The Cage” is incredible all around. It contains everything from the haunting lyrics and incredible guitar work of “Masquerade” to the cover of the highly beloved Beatles song, “Eleanor Rigby”. This band is truly a hidden treasure.

The Hush Sound –

The Hush Sound brings a plethora of upbeat lyrics and piano tracks to the table. Their music is not always hyped up and not necessarily happy, but when it is, it is a sure-fire way to improve your mood. “We Intertwined” (probably their most popular song) combines backup vocal work with expertly implemented piano and bass guitar to create a wonderfully energetic tune that never fails to put a smile on my face. The Hush Sound has plenty of good albums, but “Like Vines” would be the definite choice for a first album. This band is a great listen if you need a pick-me-up, and tracks like “Sweet Tangerine” provide just that.  But there are tracks like “Lighthouse” included, which is a great slower-paced song.

Jukebox the Ghost –

Jukebox the Ghost combines a solid mixture of alternative music with pop elements. I wouldn’t consider them to be rock at all, which would normally turn me away from a band. I was skeptical when I first bought one of their albums, but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s not often that I find an album that I like every single song in, but this was the case for me with their album, simply titled “Jukebox the Ghost”. The band’s lead vocalists each sing in separate tracks, sometimes together and they’re both fantastic. Certain amounts of techno are incorporated in every track, adding on to the percussion and keyboard work. Their generally upbeat songs are always tied together perfectly with the vocals. Everything from the initial sad song feel into fun, energetic lyrical masterpiece that is “Hollywood” to the chilled out, relaxing tones of “Long Way Home” are included in this incredible album.