Brand New

They were pertinent then, and they are still pertinent now; the bands that got you through your angsty teenage years have managed to follow you into adulthood. Apparently there’s truth to the saying, “Some things never change.” But, who’s complaining when it comes to awesome music? Some of the following bands grew popular while others faded into the background, but one thing is sure, you have yet to grow out of them and probably never will.

First album released: Count Your Blessings (2006)

Key Songs: “Pray for Plagues” (2006), “Chelsea Smile” (2008), “It Never Ends” (2010), “Don’t Go” (2010), “Can You Feel My Heart” (2013), “Shadow Moses” (2013), “Drown” (2014), “Happy Song” (2015), “Throne” (2015).

Soon to be released: That’s the Spirit (2015)

First album released: Hybrid Theory (2000)

Key Songs: “In the End” (2000), “Numb” (2003), “Breaking the Habit” (2003), “What I’ve Done” (2007), “Waiting for the end” (2009).

Latest album released: The Hunting Party (2014)

First album released: Your Favorite Weapon (2001)

Key Songs: “Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don’t” (2003), “The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows” (2003), “Sowing Season” (2006), “Degausser” (2006), “At the Bottom” (2009).

Latest album released: Daisy (2009)

First album released: Tell All Your Friends (2002)

Key Songs: “Cute Without the E (Cut From the Team)” (2002), “You’re So Last Summer” (2002), “Make Damn Sure” (2006), “Liar (It Takes One to Know One)” (2008), “Flicker, Fade” (2014), “Better Homes and Gardens” (2014).

Latest album released: Happiness Is (2014)

First album released: A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out (2005)

Key Songs: “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” (2005), “Build God, Then We’ll Talk” (2005), “Lying Is The Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off” (2005), “Nine in the Afternoon” (2008), “New Perspective” (2009), “Miss Jackson” (2013).

Latest album released: To Weird to Live, To Rare to Die (2013)

First album released: I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love (2002)

Key Songs: “The Ghost of You” (2004), “Helena” (2004), “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” (2004), “Famous Last Words” (2006), “Welcome to the Black Parade” (2006), “Teenagers” (2006), “Na Na Na” (2010), “Sing” (2010).

Last album released: Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (2010)

First album released: All We Know Is Falling (2005)

Key Songs: “My Heart” (2005), “Crushcrushcrush” (2007), “That’s What You Get” (2007), Misery Business (2007), The Only Exception (2009), “Still Into You” (2013), “Ain’t It Fun” (2013).

Latest album released: Paramore (2013)

First album released: Take This to Your Grave (2003)

Key Songs: “Sugar We’re Going Down” (2005), “Dance Dance” (2005), “This Ain’t A Scene, It’s an Arms Race” (2007), “I Don’t Care” (2008), “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark” (2013), “Centuries” (2015), “Uma Thurman”(2015).

Latest album released: American Beauty/American Psycho (2015)

These bands have withstood the test of time either in terms of popularity or their ability to still remain awesome in your mind. They are bands we are still growing up with and will continue to grow up with most likely until the end.

Many people are appeased when an album has a few good songs, but not me. I prefer to be ecstatic about an artist’s ability to keep me on my toes throughout an entire album. It’s time to commend artists on their abilities to please an audience throughout their WHOLE album, not just bits and pieces of it. Sure, it is good to have one great song, but what truly makes an artist is their ability to produce a cohesive, great album. Here are a few records that are musically epic from start to finish:

1. Hell or High Water (As Cities Burn, 2009)