Every once in a while in music, you come across an album that is so authentic, and so jam-packed with intriguing songs that you can't help but want to share it. While there are certainly mega-hit albums to be found that are chock-full of popular songs, there are always a few impressive albums that fly under the radar year in and year out. That's why we've put together this list of three of the best albums you may have never heard of, and certainly need to hear before you die.
1. $O$ (Die Antwoord, 2010) -- Die Antwoord is a South African rap-rave group, and one of the biggest internet music sensations of 2010. While Die Antwoord gained much of its popularity from the sheer absurdity of its music videos and characters, the truth is that deep down underneath the tattoos, gold teeth and next-level mullet haircuts is a truly unique sound that translates really well to a mind willing to listen. Still, it's hard to appreciate the Die Antwoord experience without watching the music videos online, so be sure to do that before even hearing the whole album. If nothing else, their debut album $O$ is a something you need to hear before you die, simply because you've never heard anything like it. "Go Ninja, go!"
Notable tracks: Enter The Ninja, Evil Boy, Beat Boy
2. Back to Black (Amy Winehouse, 2006) -- Amy Winehouse's album Back to Black is far from an album no one has ever heard of, in fact it won five awards including the much-coveted Song of The Year Award. Unfortunately, that was way back in 2006, and we're now nearly half a decade removed from Winehouse's masterpiece. There are a ton of young people today who only know Winehouse as the butt of jokes, and not as the ultra-talented female vocalist that could probably bring the music industry to its knees if she could get her act together. If there was ever an album to listen to before you die, it's most certainly Back to Black, not just because of its quality or its awards, but because of its significance in time. Amy Winehouse could very well be one of the greatest female artists of the last few generations, but if she never gets things sorted out, then this album could stand to be a memorial to her potential -- and fall -- as an artist.
Notable tracks: Valerie, Rehab, You Know I'm No Good
3. Troubadour (K'naan, 2009) -- Most people these days know K'naan as "the guy from the World Cup" after his song Wavin' Flag was adopted and adjusted to fit as the anthem for the 2010 World Cup, but his music digs much deeper than mere football patriotism. In 2009, K'naan released Troubadour, which to this day remains one of most wonderful gold mines to be found when album hunting. You know that rare album where every single song is awesome, and it seems more like a greatest-hits collection than a stand-alone product? Well, that's Troubadour in every sense. In what can only be described as a Somalian's take on Bob Marley, K'naan takes listeners on a journey through his homeland with a truly original and heartfelt sound. Although the album only received mediocre reviews from critics at the time, it's easy to sit back and listen to this album upon reflection and realize that you're on the right side of history.
Notable tracks: Fatima, Wavin' Flag, If Rap Gets Jealous, Take a Minute, 15 Minutes Away... everything else.
Author Resource:
David is a music aficionado, and can't help but love the unique sounds brought forth by Die Antwoord, Amy Winehouse and K'naan. When he's not telling you what kind of music is healthy for you, he can be found answering questions like is green tea good for you and other concerns about what is good for you on his health blog.
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