The first thing that always catches my attention when listening to a band for the first time is the vocals. I’m pretty sure that’s the case for most people. The combination of voice, melody, harmony, and lyrics are traits we connect with on a deeper level than any other part of the music. That’s why I’ve made a short list of bands who will surely make you reexamine your life, or bring up feelings in you that you can’t explain, and accomplish this with beautiful voices.
1. Dawes
American folk-rock at its finest, Dawes’s ability to blend emotion and talent into their songwriting sets them apart from the mainstream music being produced today. The vocal harmonies on each track set the scene for listeners to get lost in the tracks and connect with each song as if they personally wrote them.
2. The Avett Brothers
Describing the music of the Avett Brothers is fairly impossible to accomplish through words. The only way to truly appreciate the uniqueness of these gentlemen is to give them a listen. Though their voices are distinctively different, the combination of them together creates a harmony that can only be heard from two brothers growing up creating music.
3. Punch Brothers
Everything Chris Thile (The lead singer/mandolin player for this outfit) touches turns into musical gold. Recently releasing a new album titled The Phosphorescent Blues, the Punch Brothers continue on the path to folk stardom. Their combination of harmony, technicality in their playing, and a unique blend of classical music with bluegrass truly makes them a joy to listen to.
4. Head and the Heart
The three things I love most about Seattle, Washington are: mountains/nature, their coffee, and Head and the Heart. The vocals that come out of this group are by far the best part of their songs. I don’t know whether to call them indie, folk, or some combination of the two, but whatever the genre the melding of male and female vocals over unique compositions make this band a must-listen to anyone who appreciates beauty in music.
5. The Lumineers
The majority of Colorado may be stoned most of time these days, but it’s also home to one of the best bands to combine simplicity with raw emotion, creating a vintage sound that just isn’t common in today’s music industry: The Lumineers. The fact that it took seven years for these folks to be discovered is mind-blowing, but I’m certainly happy that they were.