We all have that one song from a given artist that we love, but when the next track comes on, we switch over to something else. So, today I want to talk about 4 songs I think are absolutely awesome from artists I never really listen to otherwise.

First on my list is a song called Halo by Porcupine Tree. I’ve heard a fair amount of Porcupine Tree in my day, but never got into a song as much as this one. This song is a lot different from the typical melancholic sound of Porcupine tree, and the guitar riffs are sultry and rich. It sounds like there are at least 8 guitars layered on for the rhythm tracks, and the drum and bass groove that starts the song off is one that will get your head bobbing instantly.

Next on my list is called The Low Road by John Scofield. During my time at Berklee College of Music, Scofield was the hero of many students, but I just never got into his music, maybe due to the fact that so many of my peers were constantly enamored with him. Of course I’m not disrespecting Scofield’s ability, and this song really exemplifies what makes his guitar playing so unique and influential. He kind of feels like the Jimmy Page of jazz, in that the delivery of his melodies is often jumbled and dirty, but perfectly on time and expressive.

The third song on my list is called Artifice by a one man band called Sohn. Sohn is a relatively unknown English songwriter by the general public, but his music has been acclaimed by a host of music publications like Pitchfork. Artifice hits on the first beat and doesn’t let you off the train until the last second of the song, and is much more pulsing than Sohn’s other catalog of music, which can tend to be a little too experimental and sorrowful for my taste. I think I would listen to more Sohn if he released music more frequently, but he hasn’t done anything for a couple years now.

The last song on my list is called New Mistake by the early 90s power pop band JellyFish. The band’s career was short-lived, and this tune has so many cheesy elements that are so bad they’re good. The arrangement is surprisingly complex, the vocals are powerful, and the melody that carries the song will get stuck in your head. The retro 90s glam guitar harmonies will put a smile on your face, too, but this song was the only offering I cared to check into from JellyFish.

So there you have it, four songs that are on at least one iTunes playlist of mine from artists I probably otherwise am not into. If you like any of these artists, please don’t think I’m dissing your music taste, these are just my opinions. Let me know in the comments some bands with only a song or two that you’re into! Thanks for watching guys, and make sure to check out my other list videos! Cheers.