A number of essential bands' names begin with the letter B, prompting me to point readers in the direction of just a small selection of accessible and unforgettable groups in this category.
Before beginning this selection, I would like to point out that I will be focussing on bands in the following genres: rock, metal, punk, indie and emo. As such, the omission of both The Beatles and the Beach Boys is entirely intentional, since works by these should be in every music collection already!
Brand New: One of my favourite finds of the past few years, Brand New's seminal work - 2003's Deja Entendu (French for 'Already Heard') - instantly leaped to the top of my playlist. The simplicity of the music coupled with the captivating and moving lyrical melodies of vocalist Jesse Lacey ensured that every song on the album was instantly unforgettable.
I had the opportunity of catching Brand New live at a festival in Austria and the heartfelt emotion of the performance made it the standout performance of the weekend. For fans of traditional emotional rock music - i.e. before haircuts made bands emo - Brand New should hold a special place in your music collection.
Jeff Buckley: Perhaps the greatest vocalist of his generation, the death of Jeff Buckley at just 30 ensured his legacy as a musical genius. Yet, whereas others only prospered posthumously, Buckley was held in high regard by his peers during his short career. Although only completing one full studio album, Grace was a musical masterpiece that remains unsurpassed to this day and is a must-have for anyone - and I mean anyone - with ears!
As superb as the album is, I feel that the Live At Sine recording represents a true representation of Buckley's talent, with his intimate one man performance a sad reminder of the music we could've had.
Biffy Clyro: I had the pleasure of watching Biffy Clyro play a small club in my hometown a couple of weeks before the release of their third album. At the time they were well respected by those in the know, yet the crowd at this gig seemed oblivious to who they were.
Fast-forward three years and their fourth album Puzzle could be seen at number two in the UK album charts with their singles receiving extensive airplay. For a band that has worked extremely hard to create their own sound - which at times seems somewhat dissonant yet brilliant - I for one am delighted with the growing success they are experiencing. Each and every album contains a number of memorable tunes, but the debut album Blackened Sky remains a must have.
Buckethead: One for the musos! Buckethead may well conjour up the image of a man with a bucket on his head, and you would be right. What the name doesn't tell you is that the man behind the mask and beneath the KFC bucket is one of the most phenomenally gifted guitarists of all time, and one that has trod the boards with bands such as Guns 'N Roses and played sessions with countless others. For an introduction to the world of Buckethead, the most accessible route must surely be the album Monsters and Robots. Guitarists be warned: listening to Buckethead in full flow may cause you to give up!
Bloodhound Gang: For a little light entertainment, nothing can beat a listen to the Bloodhound Gang. Some of it may be gross, some of it disgusting, but all of it funny! Plus, any band that can write a song using only phrases from The Simpsons deserves a listen!
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