The Best Music You’ve (Probably) Never Heard: Four Cool Albums

Everyone’s music tastes are different, of course. You might not like all these albums. But their sound is undeniably cool. And if you’re a music fan there’s a good chance that at least one of these picks will delight your ears and make its way onto your iPod.

Genre: World fusion

Best tracks: Empty House (#3), This Is My Life (#4), Big Storm (#12)

Wow! This album is a stunning musical achievement -- except for track #5, Human Condition, which is so inexplicably horrible that we think it was included on the album and made the title track as the result of some sort of lost wager. With that one exception, all the tunes on this album are rich tapestry of global sounds. Lead singer Olga Helm (pictured above) is from France, but sings in English, sets her songs to Middle Eastern beats and makes heavy use of Celtic instruments. We didn’t like this album on the first listen mostly because we didn’t know what to make of it. Who in their right mind, we initially asked, puts bagpipes to Arabic riffs as Shai No Shai does in Big Storm? Countless listens later we still find our appreciation growing for this, one of our all-time favorite albums. Except for track #5.

Genre: Vocal (Swedish)

Genre: Pop / alternative

Best tracks: Every Poet Wants To Murder Shakespeare (#1), A Mindless Pop Song (#11)

We have to think that this band never made it big in part because they are a bad example of what to name a band. The tracks on this album, though, are fabulous. Fun harmonies and catchy rhythms combine on tunes that build from a base. The songs’ hooks pull you in from the first cords, the lyrics then keep you listening. Who would have thought that a tune called A Mindless Pop Song could make a profound and ironic statement on the state of modern music? Sadly, none of The Bad Examples’ other albums match the music genius of Kisses 50 Cents. Even more sadly, The Bad Examples don’t tour much anymore. Absolutely go and see them if they do play a gig near you -- they put on quite the lively show.

Genre: New age, hindu fusion

Best tracks: Namah Shivaya (#1), Jaya Jagatambe (#9), Devi ‘Rave’ (#11)

If you are the sort who can’t stand Enya and wouldn’t be caught dead in a yoga studio you still might be memorized by the more raucous tunes on Pilgrim Heart. If you are a yoga regular, or are drawn to new age music, then be prepared for Krishna Das to shoot towards the top of your list of favorite artists. The songs on Pilgrim Heart are all based on traditional Hindu devotionals, heavy on chanting and classical Indian instruments. To those are added some modern musical influences, though not so many that you would guess that Krishna Das is actually Long Island, New York native Jeffrey Kagel. Kagel, now Das, was a rock ‘n’ roll loving school bus driver when a chance visit with Indian guru Ram Das set him on his current spiritually-driven musical path. For more upbeat tracks give a listen to Devi ‘Rave’ or Namah Shivaya.

Do you have a favorite album that most people haven't heard yet? Let us know in the comments.

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