Bands You Should Be Listening To

Hello everyone, today I have a list of 20 bands and artists that I think you should all be listening to. This list could be so long, so I set some rules for myself, every band or artist on this list has to have at least one full length album out or not be a band I’ve already written a piece about on this blog. To some of you maybe these picks are obvious, or maybe they’re bands you’ve heard of but haven’t given a listen to yet, or maybe you’ve never heard of them. Any which way that is, I just wanted to showcase some bands that I love to you guys.

If you want to know more of what I’m listening to then be sure to check out my monthly playlists that I put up on Spotify of everything that didn’t leave my head through the month, they include everything from old music to new music, massive bands and small indie artists, so if that sounds like your thing there will be a link to my Spotify below.

Anyway, here’s the list:

Amber Run

Amber Run are an alternative indie band I discovered when their second album For A Moment, I Was Lost came out, and I love it and wish that more people knew it. Hailing from Nottingham, the band have released three albums all of which I really enjoy listening to. Even through line-up changes and record company differences the band have remained strong and I am excited to see what comes next.

Isaac Gracie

Isaac Gracie is an artist I discovered through Flying Vinyl when I received a 7 inch of his songs All In My Mind and Reverie, both struck me instantly and I couldn’t wait for more. His self-titled debut album is one of my favourites; I love every song on it. I am eagerly waiting for more at the moment, but Isaac Gracie is definitely not an artist to sleep on.

Fenne Lily

I saw Fenne Lily perform at Neverworld festival in 2018 and it was another of those moments when I fell in love instantly with the music. As soon as I got home after the weekend I ordered a copy of her debut album On Hold and it’s still a record I play a lot today. Her sophomore album Breach will be out later this year and I am very much looking forward to it, especially after hearing lead single Alapathy.

Jack Garratt

Jack Garratt won the BRITs Critics Choice Award in 2016 after releasing his debut album Phase which I think definitely deserves the acclaim it had. It’s an album that made me think differently about music and I couldn’t get it out of my head. Earlier this year the sophomore album Love, Death & Dancing was released and even though it’s slightly different it still has those elements that I love about Jack Garratt’s music.

King Nun

King Nun are a band I started listening to last year with the release of their debut album Mass, which went on to be one of my favourite albums of the year. The alternative rock band are currently singed to Dirty Hit a record label that’s home to some other incredible artists, so it was no surprise to me when I loved this album as much as I did. I love the energy that radiates from King Nun’s music and their punk-y sound is something I really enjoy listening to.

Wolf Alice

Alternative rock band Wolf Alice were a band I started listening to after the release of their second album Visions Of A Life in 2017, this album received a lot of critical acclaim and also went on to win the Mercury Music Prize. I love how they blend genre in their music and how they can go between ambient sounds to punk rock without it feeling forced at all. I also really like the song-writing here and think that they are really clever with their lyrics. Please be sure to check out both Wolf Alice albums as they are definitely worth your time.

Fickle Friends

The sound of Fickle Friends was refreshing to hear for me, they create indie synth pop music but while still using real instruments. Their debut album You Are Someone Else is one that I listened to a lot on its release and I am really looking forward to their next album that has yet to be announced but we have heard a few songs already. The band also do a lot for the environment and sell pins that plant trees so be sure to check that out as well.

Nothing But Thieves

Nothing But Thieves are one of the best rock bands to come out of the last few years. I love everything they produce and I am yet to find a song I dislike. I discovered the band after my Dad bought me their debut album because he liked the artwork, neither of us knowing anything about what music it contained. I fell in love straight away with the opening of Excuse Me and haven’t looked back since. Their second album Broken Machine is another album I loved instantly, I really like how heavy some of the guitars go on that album contrasting with Conor Mason’s vocals to create a great wall of sound. I am excited to see what Moral Panic will sound like.

Holding Absence

Post-Hardcore band Holding Absence are a band I’ve known about for a while as I come from the same place as them, it’s been great to see how they’ve evolved throughout the years, I think that their debut album is incredible and they’ve achieved so much in so little time. I’m excited to see what’s next for the band, but again not another band to sleep on.

Modern Baseball

Unfortunately, Modern Baseball are not active anymore, though they have released three great albums for us to listen to. Formed in Philadelphia in 2011 the band range genres from pop punk to folk rock and with alternating lyricists and vocalists the band is one that had a lot of critical acclaim and a cult following. The band cover some really important subjects in their music and have connected with a lot of people over the years.

Boston Manor

Hailing from Blackpool, Boston Manor have three albums under their belt, the third ‘Glue’ having come out back in May. I only started listening to Boston Manor after seeing them live at Slam Dunk Festival and the Leeds Festival later in the summer. Their live show had so much energy and was captivating, so I got myself a copy of ‘Welcome To The Neighbourhood’ and the rest is history. Again I really love how the band can change between hard rock and softer pop punk on their albums, the music is always impeccable and I love the vocals a lot.

Milk Teeth

Gloucestershire’s punk rock own Milk Teeth are another band I discovered through Flying Vinyl which contains their song Better, a song which I loved as soon as I heard it. The energy on the song is great and I loved the vocals. Throughout many line-up changes the band have released two albums the second coming out earlier this year, which I have enjoyed listening to.

Cigarettes After Sex

American dream pop band are another band I fell in love with instantly after hearing the opening to their debut album with K. I was intrigued instantly and really enjoyed the song-writing and night time feelings the album held. It’s one of those albums where you just want to lie down and look up letting the music take over. The sophomore album Cry is the same, it’s more of the music Cigarettes After Sex had you fall in love with, and I’m not complaining.

The Japanese House

I fell in love with The Japanese House at Latitude festival in 2017 after seeing them perform even though the set had some technical difficulties throughout. After that I went home and listened to the Saw You In A Dream EP on repeat for about 2 years before the debut album Good At Falling was released. That album is incredible and was one of my favourite albums of last year again; I was hoping it would be nominated for a Mercury Prize this year. The album is crafted carefully and features production by George Daniel and vocals from Matty Healy of The 1975. I think the dreamy vocals and guitar work is incredible and it’s an album I won’t get tired of for a long time.

London Grammar

Three piece band London Grammar formed in Nottingham and have released two full length albums that again have been created meticulously. The dream indie pop band has received wide critical acclaim throughout the years, especially after their very successful debut album If You Wait. Hannah Reid’s vocals are incredible and will never tire to amaze me, just listen to ‘Rooting For You’ for proof. London Grammar are another band that don’t really have many songs I dislike, and I am very much looking forward to what comes next from them. They have a new single being released later this week and I am very excited.

MUNA

MUNA were not a band I knew a lot about until the end of 2017 when their album About U was listed in Q Magazine’s list of the top 50 albums of the year. I was intrigued by their album cover and decided to give it a listen, and I am so glad I did. About U has become an album which I still listen to a lot with its pop tendencies and dance beats for dancing while crying in your bedroom, layered with Katie Gavin’s vocals on top, it only gets better over time.

Sea Girls

Sea Girls are an indie pop band for the summer who have exploded onto the music scene and are just getting bigger each year. They have catchy songs that you can sing along to in a big crowd or in small club and neither seem out of place. Their debut album just dropped and it is full of great feel good songs that we all need in our lives.

Novo Amor

Novo Amor was introduced to me by my best friend back in 2016 when we were sat outside in the sun having one of the best conversations I have ever had, I am so grateful for that summer day and the music that was a soundtrack to it. Welsh multi-instrumentalist and singer Novo Amor is an incredibly talented person who everyone needs to listen to. I love the haunting vocals and the contrasting comfort that the songs provide, it’s a unique sound and I can’t wait for more.

The Paper Kites

Australian indie rock band The Paper Kites caught my eye with their song Electric Indigo back in 2016 and after falling in love with the aesthetic of the video and sound of the band I decided to get a copy of their second album ‘twelvefour’. The album is a concept album written between the hours of twelve and four in the morning, and those of you who know me know just how much I like ‘night time’ albums, so this was right up my street. I love the dreamy sound of this album and need more people to listen to it.

Trampolene

Trampolene are Swansea’s finest, their debut album ’Swansea To Hornsey’ is an album about growing up and the tribulations that come along with it. I think it’s a unique perspective on it compared to other albums you hear about growing up and maybe that’s what drew me to it so much at first. The bands alternative rock sound is punchy but they are not afraid to switch things up with songs like Beautiful Pain and The Boy That Life Forgot. I also really like the spoken word elements to the album, they show the sarcastic hilarity in the situation and I think it’s really clever writing.

Whenyoung

Irish indie band Whenyoung are a band I started listening to last year after the release of their album Reasons To Dream. They are another band I saw at Latitude and Leeds Festivals last summer and really enjoyed their live show. I really like the song-writing on the album and some of the more introspective moments like Blow Up The World and Something Sweet. The explosive Never Let Go is the song that caught my attention originally but The Others has harrowing inspiration behind it, written after the Grenfell Tower disaster.

So, there you have it – a list of some incredible bands that I love and think you should all be listening to as well. I’d like to do more of these in the future, perhaps some with smaller artists and bands who don’t have albums out yet? Let me know what you think in the comments or on any of our social media pages, all links below.

Thank you for making it this far through the post, I know it was a long one, but it means a lot that you’ve stuck around. Until next time…

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