Prodigal Magazine

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If you’re like me, every time you turn on the radio you notice all they play are the same eight songs over and over and over again. Its either Britney’s new auto-tune-heavy “Womanizer”, some version of auto-tuned rap over a generic and un-original beat, Taylor Swift singing about yet another completely unrealistic love story that makes girls melt and guys want to gag, Kanye West being ridiculously over the top, Zac Brown singing about fried chicken and blue jeans, or Fall Out Boy with the latest installment of their flavor of blasé hyper-produced alt-rock. All of this mediocre top 40 makes you wish there was still good music to he heard. I am going to make your wish come true.

Here are five bands you have never heard before.

#1 – Levi Smith (pop-rock/acoustic)

 This Lubbock, TX native twists and turns lyrically through creative guitar work and equally-inspired melodies. With topics ranging from new love (“I’d Like To Think So”) to breakups (“Bitterness Is Sexy”), Levi Smith is a smart listen that you’ll catch yourself humming weeks after you first listen.  Levi Smith on MySpace.com

#2 – Celebrity (rock/alt)

Hailing from rock-saturated Nashville, TN, Celebrity has taken the “wall of sound” idea to a whole new level. With ethereal guitar work, and a team of bothers on drums and bass, Celebrity crafts sonically inspiring music. Their full-length CD released on Doghouse Records in 2003 titled Lovesick is a must-have for any rock-aficionado’s collection.  Celebrity on MySpace.com

#3 – Iris (electronica/powerpop)

Fans of synthesizers and programmed dums will instantly love this band, as will anyone that listened to The Echoing Green back in the 90′s. With clean and crisp rhythms, driving bass, catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics, Iris promises to be around for a long while. The song “Sorrow Expert” is a must-listen. 

Iris on MySpace.com

#4 – Zilch (rock/alt)

The nineties were good to music. We had bands such as dc Talk, Audio Adrenaline, Fuel, Perl Jam, Creed, and many others. Among those “many others” was the band Zilch. Originally conceived as a side-project of the band for the aforementioned dc Talk, Zilch was able to take on a life of its own – albeit a short life. Guitarist/vocalist Mark Townsend, bassist and vocalist Otto Price, keys man Jason Halbert and drummer Rick May wrote and recorded eleven excellent feel-good summertime songs for their debut and farewell album Platinum. Eventually enlisting the vocal abilities of a certain Jeff Deyo and shifting away from summer-rock to worship, Zilch became the progenitor of one of Christian music’s most well known bands today: SONICFLOOd. Rumor has it Zilch is making a comeback.  Zilch on MySpace.com

#5 – Reality Check (rock/alt/rap)

Another good nineties band. Originally called “Colorblind”, Reality Check blends rock and rap in a way that only they can and years before bands such as Pillar, Trapt and Linkin Park ever became famous. Although no longer together, Reality Check represents everything that was good about 90′s music: catchy vocals, thick guitars, and wacky wardrobes. The members have since moved on to other endeavors. Chris now works for Third Coast Artist Agency, a respected talent/booking agency. Nathan is the front man and guitarist for the band Luna Halo, and Rod was last heard as half of the project titled Fleau. Their only nationally released self-titled CD Reality Check was released by Sparrow Records in 1997 and can still be found from time to time in the bargain bins at you local Christian music store. Reality Check on MySpace.com