I see lots of Facebook posts where someone will list top songs or bands or something else because someone else did it and FOMO kicked in. Or, they were coerced by a statement like “…then do the same on your page” or the like. This is not that.

Since before the pandemic, I’ve leaned on music heavily for a number of things: calm while running/exercising, agitation for getting work done, or inspiration for creativity of some sort. (I’m listening to Fu Manchu’s cover of Takin’ It To The Streets as I type this.)

Anyhow, here are the top five bands I’ve been listening to most for the past few years:

  1. Protomartyr – probably my favorite modern band. I got to see them live after a long pandemic hiatus and they were as good a live show as I’ve seen, in a small club with enthusiastic fans. Then, to hear them tear through their catalog, playing song after familiar song – just great.They are probably not for everyone – I understand that. Vocal delivery is non-traditional, but for as much as I typically pay attention to the words, I love the images they evoke. More importantly, they work perfectly with the soundtrack backing them. It’s a mix of the best parts of The Birthday Party and Interpol, but with a fresh patina.
  2. Little Dragon – more of a 1B than a 2, it’s a different kind of sound and feeling. It’s hard not to be moved listening to these rock-solid grooves. At first listen, they sound heavily produced and dance-y, but (while that may be somewhat true) they are playing real instruments and just have insane pocket presence.My cousin turned me on to them, although I had heard them backing up Gorillaz (one of my all-time favorite Gorillaz tracks) before, I hadn’t looked into their standalone catalog. It’s all great. Whereas Protomartyr could be a strong IPA, Little Dragon is Miller High Life.
  3. Hiatus Kaiyote – not as prolific as the rest (mostly due to a back-to-back pandemic and cancer bout), this is another band who defies easy labeling. Being from Australia, they don’t have a real musical legacy to fall back on, so they were free to be influenced by whoever spoke to them.Rooted in jazz, hip-hop, and soul, they put a fresh spin and created their own sound. Now Grammy winners, they’re about to release a new album, which I can’t wait to hear. They also did one of the all-time best cover songs – Dare by Gorillaz (maybe there’s a pattern emerging). Start from the beginning and work your way through their albums to date – so good.
  4. Part Chimp – bro. This band restored my faith in rock and roll. Nice fellows with one of the biggest, fullest walls o’ sound ever. Just monstrous.
  5. Shiner – what’s old is new again, and Shiner is back as if they never left. It cannot be easy to put on these shows 30 years later, but I can vouch that the energy is just as kinetic as ever. I’ve been listening to them for decades, got to open for them in a show with Hum back in the day, and recently got to meet Allen (see also: The Life and Times) and chat for a minute. I don’t typically fan out around folks, but this guy has had a pretty inordinate influence on how I appreciate music. I was also heartened to see him rocking out to both opening bands and back a few weeks later just to watch another band I (also) love at the same venue.If you’re not familiar with Shiner, get some headphones or speakers with good dynamic range and rock out to Lula Divina.