Listen to: VOIDS, the new album from Minus The Bear

Seattle has spawned an army of good – no, great – bands over the years. It’s, no doubt, one the music capitals of the world. One of said bands is Minus The Bear, formed in 2001. VOIDS is the name of their latest full-length album, the sixth in their career. So, after all these years, have they still got it?

About The Shins’ Heartworms, introspection and familiarity.

The moment every teenage boy or young adult fell in love with the inescapable and utopically adorable Sam in Zach Braff‘s debut feature film Garden State (2004), they also fell in love with The Shins, a then underground indie folk band with catchy, significant melodies and a haunting timbre in one James Mercer‘s voice that made them ever-present and impossible to miss.

Listen to: Acceptance

Acceptance is a unique kind of band. They have only two albums… twelve years apart. Their sound certainly is nothing to lose sleep about, and nevertheless they managed to build a solid following in a very short time and are one of the few bands from the early/mid emo-punk scene to grasp a reach so broad they are practically legends in their genre.

Listen to: Groundation

I am by no means an expert in reggae music or reggae culture, but if you ask me, it’s tough to find a good American reggae band. Groundation took the essence of roots reggae, mixed with their jazz and dub influences (and education) and went with it. They have been going with it, what’s more, for nearly two decades.