You probably have at least one friend who always knows the newest and most amazing music. Said friend likely has headphone hair and takes more pride in her sound system than in anything else she might own. You try to be like her, Googling your way to new music. But by the time you think you've scored, you discover she's had it in her library for a week. Well, you can stop all that now, because we've got our hands on some secret sonic weapons. And we're ready to share.
Sometimes, reading Pitchfork is like flipping through Vogue. You get a filtered breakdown of what's happening in the music industry that's not a generic Top 40 rundown, but it's not the be all, end all of music blogging, either. So, these sites we're about to drop on you are the deep cuts of music blogs. They're that cool, indie kid in high school who no one really knew, but everyone seemed to respect.
Plug in your headphones, turn up your volume, and escape into something other than Spotify for a couple of minutes. You deserve it.
This NPR blog is perfect for anyone who wants to impress their friends not just by finding the perfect new song, but also by providing a bit of background on the artist, and maybe even where they got their inspiration for the piece.
Photo: Courtesy of NPR Music.
This Tumblr blog promises to bring you the best covers and remixes of your favorite songs. It has a good mix of classic rock, as well as new pop songs.
Photo: Courtesy of Copy Cats.
Listen to This on Reddit
You'll find music of all genres on this subreddit, all crowdsourced and up-voted by Reddit users. And you don't have to worry about encountering Top 40 hits. The thread has a strict policy — "bots will remove mainstream music submissions."
Photo: Courtesy of Reddit.
For U.K. music fans, The Line of Best Fit promises to stay positive with its content, explaining, "We write about the bands we like, not the bands we hate, championing the best new music from the U.K. and beyond. "
As for its authority to deem new music the best, Style of Sound named the site the Most Influential Music Blog in the U.K. in 2014.
Photo: Courtesy of The Line of Best Fit.
A blog run by music enthusiast David Esquivel, this site promises to introduce you to the best new artists first, and boasts an impressive collection of remixes of your favorite songs.
Photo: Courtesy of Pop On And On.
This is Pitchfork without the pretension. The folks behind this blog continue to curate a solid library of new and niche artists that, whether you know it or not, are influencing the music you're hearing on the radio today. This is where you go to "hear it first."
Photo: Courtesy of Gorilla vs. Bear.
There's nothing better than kicking back to some good tunes and having a solid book to get lost in for a while, and that's where the heart of largehearted boy lives. It's where literature and music come together in wonderful harmony.
Photo: Courtesy of largehearted boy.
The name says it all, really. Earmilk is your daily dose of sonic calcium. Consume it all. Your ears will thank you.
Photo: Courtesy of EARMILK.
Based out of New York and L.A., this unassuming, under-the-radar site features some of the best remixes and emerging DJs out there. Think EDM music that won't give you a headache. They do things a little differently here, too. It's not just about the music, it's about how the music affects you, what the nuances are, and why you should dig it. Life inspiration paired with some great beats? We'll take it.
Photo: Courtesy of Et Musique Pour Tous.
Based in L.A., Aquarium Drunkard has managed to fly low despite being around for a while. It doesn't just give a voice to eclectic musicians, it lets the musicians themselves proudly show off. The interviews are as good for the mind as the sounds are for the ears.
Photo: Courtesy of Aquarium Drunkard.
Hype Machine is the Twitter of music. It's constantly updated with what's trending in the sonic sphere as it's trending (hence the title). This is where you go to stay relevant. This is where you go to show off. You can thank us later for the ego boost.
Photo: Courtesy of THE HYPE MACHINE.
Cruel Rhythm is the little Tumblr that could. Who ever said that having a tumblr.com URL lessens your credibility needs to check out the archive Cruel Rhythm has racked up, stat. They let the track do the explaining and hardly write anything — which is refreshing in its simplicity. Sometimes, all you want to do is dance, and that's where Cruel Rhythm comes to your aid.
Photo: Courtesy of Cruel Rhythm.
Ad Hoc is like a little online commune for people who love good tunes without the brainwashing. It's made up of 10 blogs sharing the ethos that the world can be built better through great sounds.
Photo: Courtesy of Ad Hoc.
Like EMPT, Indie Shuffle prides itself on good writing. They don't care if you might not like a song, they merely want you to consider it, and that's an endearing thing to ask of an audience — one that we wholeheartedly respect.
Photo: Courtesy of Indie Shuffle.
Hey! Canada has great taste, and that's all this website aims to prove (which they do in stunning fashion).
Photo: Courtesy of weird canada.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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