Life - Bands and artists with songs for the soul!

I listen to a lot of music.

There are many groups that sing so much but say so little. And once in awhile, there comes a song that just leaps out of your Ipod/Zune/Radio and tugs at your heart in the slightest way, but enough for you to notice.

You know.... those songs that makes you wish you were in high school again with your friends,songs that make you think about your first-kiss and brings back those other memories along with the nostalgic side-effect to boost.

Those are the songs I search for.

It's true, there are times where I just want to headbang my frustration out to some good punk track or some wild yet soft scream-o ,but mostly, I prefer the songs that make your eyes water a bit.

Tracks that seem more like a therapist that hypnotizes you. Transporting you to that exact moment in life, that you treasure so much.

Here are some bands and artists that do have the uncanny ability of this (at least for me):

1) Nickelback - these guys sing 2 type of songs - a) the ones that make you wish you were them (i.e. "Man I wish I could've done that")
b) songs that have you reminisce about your past.

2) Relient K - over the years there sound has changed, but they still keep the good'ol fashioned punk riffs coming. They've gone from "Life blows!" to "GET ME OUTTA COLLEGE!" to "I OWE IT ALL TO YOU LORD!", great group to listen to both when you're in a happy mood or when you're down on the ground....these dudes can really pick you up.

3) Switchfoot - they're a special group, because when their first album came out it gave you a sense of a man vs man conflict. It confronted you and yet, in a subtle way, managed to lift you up and give you hope....great pick me up songs with great vocals and nice riffs make for one well-blended group!

4) Emery - Don't be fooled by their occasional screaming, because it's not meaningless. With dueling lyrics and melodic magic, this group can make a song out of any situation that will have you head-bobbing, headbanging, crying or screaming in a span of 4 minutes. They're not a group to just listen to, but a group to pay close attention to, as they confront their listeners with the hard issues not usually addressed by any bands or groups and just throws it in your face. One of my personal favorite bands.

5) Anberlin - Great alternative rock group, with a mix of conflicting lyrics accompanied with soft yet aggressive music to happy and upbeat songs with great high-tempo drumming. The lead singer & main songwriter Stephen Christian has an unusually high voice that delivers the message in the way necessary. Love songs and memories told in the first-person takes you into Stephens life in a roller coaster of emotions and with lessons to learn as well. Another personal favorite of mine.

6) John Mayer - For some, this guy needs no introduction. For those who don't know......you don't know what you're missing. What defines John Mayer is not only his skill and mastery of his instrument (guitar) or his strangely whispery voice; it is his song-writing gift that he is able to get you to feel exactly the way John Mayer felt when writing that specific song. You can relate to his lyrics and so making him accessible and ordinary just like the rest of us. Top musician and great song-writer....makes him my number one music man.

Comment and tell me who speaks to you through the speakers of your car/room/ipod....wherever!

GBY!!