The beauty of music lies not in its popularity but in the personal connections and profound emotions it evokes. Finding hidden gems, like the ones below, allows you to connect with music on a deeper, more personal level, free from the influence of mainstream trends. I hope to shed a little light (and maybe garner a little listen) on some songs I love that are unique and, more likely, less known by the general public.
Sufficiently Breathless by Captain Beyond - I heard this waking up one morning to XRT. We were still living in the city (early 2000s), and Lin Brehmer (your best friend in the whole world) came on the air to introduce it. While I don’t recall what he said exactly, his words made me take notice.
The Wolf & I by Oh Land - We had the pleasure of discovering Oh Land when they opened for OMD at the Park West back in 2011. They played a remarkable set, leading me to devour their music catalog. When we saw them again years later, they kicked off their set with The Wolf & I. By then, it had played on my iTunes so many times it landed on my Top 25 Most Played playlist.
Purple Haze by Groove Armada - I can’t recall when I first heard the band, Groove Armada, but I’d be willing to wager it was on the streaming station Radio Paradise. They have such an eclectic songlist that it’s hard to pick just one song, but when Purple Haze (not to be confused with the other one) kicks in, it’s a head bouncer.
New York Morning by Elbow - This Manchester band has been a favorite for over a decade. Guy Garvey’s vocals are rich and haunting at times, and I love their anthem-like choruses. The Seldom Seen Kid is perhaps their finest album and worth a listen, but this track from The Takeoff and Landing of Everything is superb.
Birthday by the Sugarcubes - The first song I ever heard on WRSE, the Elmhurst College radio station. A place that would quickly become my home away from home, catapulting me into a career in radio, with a back catalog of alternative music I never would have discovered had it not been for my DJ friends.
Keeping it to just five songs was tough, so you’ll probably get another installment in the future.
Check out my Top 5: Uniquely Distinct Songs playlist on Spotify.
In the meantime, check out my previous Top 5: Music Artists blog for more tunes.
