Ten Albums I Like from Genres I Usually Don't Like

    As those of you who have seen my previous blog post probably know, I listen to a wide range of music. Rock, country, electronic, folk, and even jazz made it on to my list of the most underrated genres. I also enjoy pop, rap, R&B, and even classical from time to time. However, there are some genres that I cannot for the life of me get into, whether it be because I find the genre formulaic, or because there's something about it that annoys me, or maybe a combination of the two. 

    That said, just because I don't like something doesn't mean it has no redeeming qualities. There are plenty of albums I like from genres I normally can't stand, and today, I'll be listing off ten such albums. These will be in no particular order. Let's get started.

    #1. Daddy Yankee - Barrio Fino (Reggaeton)

    Let me start by saying that I'm way out of my comfort zone here. I know next to nothing about Latin music outside of reggaeton. Maybe that's to my detriment, but reggaeton is bland and formulaic enough to make me skeptical of Latin music. Can you tell I'm a white boy from the midwest? 

    Anyway, despite my hatred of reggaeton, Daddy Yankee's 2004 album Barrio Fino is a lot of fun. The percussion is more varied and interesting than today's reggaeton, and Daddy Yankee has so much more passion and energy in his delivery than guys like Nicky Jam, J. Balvin, Bad Bunny, and especially Ozuna. It's nothing deep, the title of the album is Spanish for "Fine Hood," after all, but it still makes a great party album. The big hit from this album, Gasolina, is a jam, and there are several other great songs on here as well. If you're sick of today's boring Latin music scene, this is the album for you. 

    #2. Death - Scream Bloody Gore (Old School Death Metal)

    My main problem with old school death metal is the utter lack of melody, atmosphere, or catchiness. Call me a pussy if you want, but I like my songs to have something other than sheer raw brutality. However, despite my hatred of old school death metal, Death has always been an exception. Scream Bloody Gore isn't my favorite album of theirs, but it is my favorite one they released before they became a technical death metal band. 

    The album is brutal, gruesome, and ugly, sure, but it still has guitar riffs that stand out. If I hear a song from this album, I'll be able to name it. I can't say the same for some of their peers. It also stands out because the guitars aren't tuned as low and Chuck Schuldiner (RIP) has a more unique growl than most death metal bands. These guys were great...Too bad the bands copying them aren't. 

    #3. Killswitch Engage - The End of Heartache (Metalcore)

    Speaking of not great metal, metalcore. This genre bores the shit out of me. It's just so formulaic and monotonous. There are very few metalcore bands I genuinely like, and Killswitch Engage is one of them. Mostly because they have more fleshed-out melodies and much better clean vocals than most of their peers. 

    Seriously, Howard Jones may just be one of my favorite vocalists in metal. His screams are good, and his clean singing is amazing. He really stands out among other metalcore vocalists, who usually sound off-key and whiny. Before you ask, I did check out Light the Torch, and they're pretty great too. 

    I also love how positive this band usually is. It's just so inspiring to hear a band in the modern rock scene that isn't completely miserable. Even their sadder songs like the title track from this album don't sound sad. If you want something a little darker, though...

    #4. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly (Conscious Hip Hop)

    

    Let me make one thing unmistakably clear: I don't dislike conscious hip hop because of the messages. I dislike it because it's preachy and tends to place more importance on the message than it does on sounding exciting. What I love about Kendrick Lamar is that he manages to have an interesting sound in addition to interesting lyrics. The elements of jazz, funk, and soul that are integrated into these beats make for an extremely fun listen despite the serious subject matter.

    I also like how Kendrick's songs actually make me think. A lot of conscious rap has a bad habit of stating social problems without actually saying anything about them. These songs might as well be saying "we live in a society." This album, however, is genuinely deep and a lot of fun to boot. And speaking of political music...

    

    #5. Dead Kennedys - Plastic Surgery Disasters (Hardcore Punk)

    

    My problems with hardcore are similar to my problems with old school death metal. It almost always feels like the bands are trying way too hard to be brutal at the expense of any decent melody. However, Dead Kennedys have great melodies. They also have a sense of humor, which is what keeps this genre from getting tedious. 

    Seriously, these songs are hilarious. They're just so sarcastic and dark. How can a smart-ass like me not love them? Also, this album contains a Halloween song. As a psychobilly, horror punk, and dark cabaret fan, how can I not love this? 

    

    #6. Kesha - Warrior (Dance Pop)

    As much as I love underground pop, mainstream pop has never been my thing. It feels soulless to me. Kesha, however, is the opposite of soulless. Not only is her music ridiculously fun, but it's also about as sincere as pop gets. 

    Out of all of her albums, this one is probably my favorite. It's more rock-influenced than Animal, more fun than Rainbow, and better in pretty much every way than High Road. Kesha's attitude is infectious, and she doesn't get enough credit for being as intelligent as she can be. I also love that she's as much of a smart-ass as me, if not more. 

    #7. Usher - Confessions (Contemporary R&B)

    

    I like old school R&B. Contemporary R&B does nothing for me. Mostly because it has rap influence, and when you blend a genre that's supposed to be smooth with a genre that isn't smooth at all, it creates tonal whiplash. However, Usher is one of the few 21st century R&B guys I can stomach, mostly because he's extremely smooth. 

    He's so smooth he manages to make me sympathize with him in a song where he cheated (Confessions II, to be precise). His voice is great, his production is mostly free of rap influence (the exception being Yeah!, which is still a good song), and his writing is great. Seriously, America, why couldn't we have kept around this guy instead of Chris Brown?

   

    #8. Days of the New - The Yellow Album (Post-Grunge) 

    Post-Grunge actually started in the 90s, and it was pretty good. It took grunge in more experimental directions. However, Nickelback, Creed, and Puddle of Mudd just had to come along in the 2000s and ruin everything. Days of the New, meanwhile, are basically a grunge band with acoustic guitars. 

    That may not sound impressive at first, but these guys are a shining example of how great acoustic guitars can be. I also love their singer's voice. He was 18 when he recorded this, but he sounds like Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam. This is what post-grunge should be, and it's a shame Nickelback had to come along and ruin everything. 

    #9. Anthrax - Among the Living (Thrash Metal)

    I swear I don't hate extreme metal. I like melodic and technical death metal, I like some types of doom metal, and I even like the majority of black metal bands I've heard. That said, old school death metal, brutal death metal, and grindcore annoy me, and thrash metal can get really fucking tedious really fast. I say this because a lot of the bands take themselves way too seriously. 

    Anthrax, thankfully, doesn't have that problem. These guys are actually quite funny. They make songs about goofy topics such as comics and Stephen King books. Sure, they have a few political anthems, too (Indians and One World, anyone?), but even those aren't overly serious. Hot take time: Anthrax is my favorite of the big four. They also have the least annoying fanbase. 

#10. Avicii - True (Festival Progressive House) 

    I like progressive house, I really do. However, festival progressive house (Early Calvin Harris, Zedd, Swedish House Mafia, etc.) completely bores me. Avicii (RIP) was one of the few exceptions. His music has some interesting folk, country, and bluegrass elements that make it not boring. Seriously, RIP Avicii. You made mainstream EDM kind of awesome. 

    And that's my list. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the article. Take care.