by Adam Tensta

(Tensta, Stockholm, Sweden)

Tensta’s electro and house influenced sound has made it all the way around the world and it can be found on dance floors from Europe, to L.A. and Miami. Socially conscious lyrics are a great plus to the hyped up beats that Tensta delivers. “My Cool” is a friendly jam that will bring a smile and a head bump to anybody; turn it on and you can’t help but move.

“Feel It in My Bones”

by Tiësto ft. Tegan and Sara

(Breda, North Brabant, Nether-lands) & (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

This would be considered a great collaboration if you like techno music and Indie rock. “Feel It in My Bones” has a combination of soft lyrics and a toned down club techno beat. It’s pretty much a slow dance song for a rave. While it keeps the hype away from the extreme, it still keeps the party going.

“Back Then”

by Pegz

(Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)

Grabbing on the heartstrings of someone who misses the old days, “Back Then” is a very good song for reminiscing. It has a different sound with the heavy Australian accent all over the chorus and verses, and it might have a few words that don’t make sense to those of us not “down under.” Pegz is straight-out Australian and everything about him and this song shows that.

“She Moves in Her Own Way”

by The Kooks

(Brighton, East Sussex, England)

The Kooks are a singles based band, which means they get a lot of radio play. “She Moves in Her Own Way” has great lyrics explaining the liking of a person who does her own thing. The Kooks might remind you a bit of The Arctic Monkeys; plus they’ve got that sweet English twang that makes all the girlies scream.

“Vegas”

by Bone Thugs N’ Harmony

(Cleveland, Ohio, United States)

With a much awaited reunion, “Vegas” is probably the most mainstream song BTNH have had since “Tha’ Crossroads.” You can tell that they are testing the current hip-hop style and they do a great job for a club hit. “Vegas” has much less meaningful lyrics than you are used to with a group like BTNH. For an added plus, Bizzy Bone hits his quick lipped verse on the spot to tie the song together near the end. This one is a great must listen for any BTNH fan.

“Those Girls”

by Kinky

(Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico)

With a not-so-socially-accepted name, Kinky makes some songs that are perfect to jam out to. The bass line in this song literally kills me every single time I hear it. The electronic reverberation throughout the song keeps you hyped up throughout the whole thing. Not to forget the cute little accents these boys have, it definitely makes the song worth listening to.

Tom Waits, Editors, Beach House… Most people in the 14-18 age range have no idea who these artists are. In fact, not a whole lot of people know who they are, period. But tune into a local college station and you may find out that Tom Waits, in 2008, had the best reviewed concert tour of the year – a sold out world tour, in fact. The Editors are a Birmingham, UK Indie rock band that have two platinum records, and have sold over 2 million records worldwide. Beach House is a two-member band that crosses over five different genres, and in doing so creates their own very unique sound.

KCFS 94.5, the University of Sioux Falls radio station, sent The Nationalist a “top 10″ list of the most popular music on their radio station. Now, while there are a few popular groups such as The Black Eyed Peas and Lupe Fiasco, the popular music is equally shared with many Indie groups such as Imogen Heap (a British singer/songwriter), Filter (a once very popular, now a more “college” American rock band), and Mika (A flamboyant and fun British singer/songwriter with the voice of Freddy Mercury). All of these groups are highly successful, some with sold-out shows.

I’m sure you’re asking: If these groups are so successful, why haven’t I heard of them? Well, the answer is quite simple. You haven’t heard of them because the current owner of “corporate radio”, Clearchannel, is comprised of people who dictate what goes on popular radio stations such as Hot 104.7 and 103.7 The KRRO. Clearchannel, in a way, has brainwashed the public worldwide into listening to the same songs every two-hours on a rotating schedule for anywhere from six months to a year. College radio, the radio stations that are college/university sponsored, is an outlet away from Clearchannel and their regulations. College radio plays new and original, artistic music like Tom Waits, Editors, and Beach House.

After looking at USF’s top-10 list, it would seem, among college students, there is a respect for nearly every taste in music, from rap and hip-hop, to avant-garde art music. (If Clearchannel would allow smaller Indie groups to be heard on the radio, the country might become more respectful toward everyone’s preferences in music, thereby expanding the tastes of many people’s listening choices. This could make music in general a more successful proposition to be not only a listener, but a performer as well.

  When listening to music must you choose from just one genre? Can the mind and music wander to points of complete difference? Dig out of the shallow pits of static sameness and strap in for a journey through this collection of unknown artists. The list moves from one rhythm to another, from bass bumpers to electronic storms, acoustic ballads to emo screams…everywhere and nowhere at once. Yet, each unique sound works for different reasons. Fasten your seatbelt…enjoy the ride.