You may not have heard it, but it rocks.

Some of you may know that I like music, certian music, often music that the typical person might not be familiar with.

That said, I would like to make a few recommendations of some of my favorite cds that are not well known to the general public. Of course, I listen to a lot of music that is more well known as well but you're already at least somewhat familar with that. I guess this is sort of a "best cds you haven't heard yet" list. Here's ten of them, in no particular order.

1) The December Drive - Handslikegunsandcrashingsounds: The band has a cliche name and a long title for their first album, but everything else about the band is amazing. They are from the obscure reaches of the Rio Grande Valley (McAllen). The album has ten tracks but clocks in at nearly an hour, every minute is a musical adventure. They mix intricate gutiar parts and rythums with emotion packed vocals. It is a very well put together album and they should receieve far more recognition for it, but that's how things work in the music industry sometimes.

2) American Football - American Football: The self-titled and one of only two releases (the other was a short three song EP) for Mike Kinsella's unfortuntely short lived project. Fantastic songwriting and beautiful gutiar melodies permeate the album. Each song takes on a form of it's own and blends into a mellow, yet strangely energetic musical tapestry. The climatic track of the album, "Honestly?", occurs early in the album, and it concludes with a dramatic four minute long breakdown, with leads into a softer set of songs which often have long intstrumental phases or, in the case of a couple of songs, no lyrics at all. The music is captivating and this is worth picking up as long as you have some patience for long mellow songs.

3) RX Bandits - Progress: The Bandits, from Seal Beach, California blend my favorite musical styles into a fresh and thoroughly enjoyable sound. In addition to being good musicians, their lyrics are full of thought and socially concious, the Bandits have a message but they convey it without the preachiness that flows from many "political bands". Progress is their best album to date, 14 songs that display originality and creativity. Their blend of styles ranging from ska and reggae to prog rock and some punk undertones is masterfully done and their songs have the ability to grow on the listener even after dozens of listens. I recommend that you check this album out, just be open minded, even I didn't like all of it at first, but I warmed up to it and it is now one of my all time favorites.

4) Streetlight Manifesto - Everything Goes Numb: If you like ska, then you will love this album. If you don't like ska, you might still like this album. By 3rd Wave ska standards it is a brilliant creation. Streetlight is the brainchild of former Catch 22 frontman Tomas Kalonky and they show themselves to be one of the best that the genre has ever produced. Tight and energetic live shows and well crafted songs that defy typical ska conventions.

5) Slowreader - Slowreader:

6) The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site:

7) Slick Shoes - Far From Nowhere:

8) Mewithoutyou - Catch for Us the Foxes:

9) Dogwood - Seismic:

10) Lagwagon - Blaze: