In the wake of the Grammys, I was left in a mixture of both intrigue and reminiscence. But most of all, I was disappointed. Not just with the some of the Grammy performers and awards of this year, or even of 2017, but with what people call music these days.

I’m a music guy myself. My ears have bled from country to metal to K-Pop and everything else in between through the years. There are bands and artists from every genre that I would give up my soul to go see, and there are some who I’d like to slam over the head with a guitar and a full size book on the English language. That being said, I can’t help but see a disturbing trend growing inside of today’s music across the board: the lack of true meaning and talent. 

Everyone says to look on the positive side, so let’s do that first.

Personally, I’ve heard a lot of new music from places like Spotify, Pandora, the radio, or even the trending tab on YouTube. I see the rise of new bands and new artists from all over the world, from different ethnicities and backgrounds to voices and instrument skills. I hear groundbreaking words and sounds from the singers who built childhoods, and I even hear childhoods reveal singers of their own. So far in 2018, several artists that have broken out have blown my mind, even if they have been around for a while but haven’t really been discovered.

Let’s look at one of the most prominent artists of 2018: Ed Sheeran.

Yeah, he’s been around for a little while, but not like anything else before now. Divide is by far one of the best albums I’ve heard from anyone in his genre in a long time. Ed has an incredible way of weaving meaningful lyrics that hit you in the heart with the soothing sounds of an acoustic guitar. A song that struck me was “Perfect”. When I heard it for the first time, I saw a love song like no other. Ed’s voice singing softly on top of a slow instrumental piece was truly beautiful. Songs like “Perfect” are what music needs. Artists like Ed are few and far in between, but some that are amazing and love to make true music include Tom Petty, Boyce Avenue, and Five for Fighting.

Apart from the new and improved pop music scenes coming from all corners of the globe, there are also numerous amounts of country and rock stars making headway with their signature notes.

If I may go back to previous works, I’d say that new country star Kane Brown is by far one of the best when it comes to making amazing, meaningful music. His voice, coupled with outstanding songwriting, is a recipe worth taking note about in the future. Many of his songs, like “What Ifs”, are works of art that bring out more than just another country relationship song. Makes you do a little soul-searching when you’re driving down a lonely road. Personally, if you grow up in this area of PA, I recommend artists like Brad Paisley, Brett Eldridge, Keith Urban, and Rascal Flatts.

The rock world, my humble abode, has also seen newcomers and oldies put out hearty sounds and talent.

If I may, I’ll bring up Canada and not mention my boys, Nickelback (for now). I’ll be the first to point out that the other half of the Canadian rock scene, Theory of a Deadman, has recently launched a new album. Wake Up Call is their latest piece of work, and the debut song, “Rx”, is a ballad of a struggling drug addict trying to piece his life back together with his family while jamming to the tune of a western whistle and acoustic guitar. And while Theory of a Deadman can deliver on the rock product, there is also another band putting out the ballad bangers: Five Finger Death Punch. Yes, metal bands can make you feel the feels, too. In fact, FFDP is one of the best, if not the, best metal band I’ve heard in a long time when it comes to great songwriting and instrumental pairings. Their newest album, A Decade of Destruction, features the best of their career. The debut song? A beautifully crafted, and better, cover of The Offspring’s “Gone Away”. They stuck their world famous military tribute style into both the song and the emotionally ripping music video. Trust me, even though it is a cover, it had me in tears. Coming from a rock background, I seriously recommend bands like TOAD and FFDP if your looking for ballads and talented guitar skills, as well as Daughtry, Linkin Park, 3 Doors Down, Hinder, and Nickelback.

I’ll hop into the next neighborhood of music that I have recently given a second chance: rap and hip hop.

Personally, I still have a lot words for certain artists that have made me reconsider my faith in the genre. However, there are some songs that have popped up that have made me get back into ever shifting universe. For example, I just recently listened to Drake (who is also Canadian), and his song “God’s Plan”. Believe it or not, I really liked it. It had a great meaning to the lyrics, followed up by a solid beat. To me, the song is about Drake’s hardships and being calm and peaceful through it all. Also, I had a chance to jump on the very long train that is the Kendrick Lamar fan base. The first song I hit play on was “LOVE.”, and I was impressed by the sound of it. I also fell in love with “Keisha’s Song” and the heart throbbing meaning to it. The song is about a young girl who was drawn by the scene of a good relationship, but then ended up turning into a nightmare. She was on the street when she was raped and killed. The words and the beats hit you in the heart and make something real and relatable out of it all. If rap is your style, I certainly know that these songs are for you. Also, Eminem, Tupac, and Mike Shinoda can be in your ballpark for amazing rap music that is a cut above the rest.

I leave you with my enjoyment of today’s music. From the acoustics of Ed Sheeran to the beats of Kendrick Lamar, I’ve listened to so much, and I can tell you that there is a wide variety of sounds and voices out there to be discovered. All we have to do is sit back and let the lyrics take us away…