Part two of our series on discovering new music is focused solely on providing listeners with an “in” to the alternative/alt-rock genre, giving you a way to explore new artists if you’re old stuff is getting a bit boring. You may have heard of some of these artists, or all of them. But maybe there’s just one of their songs you put on repeat (or just one album), instead of exploring some of their other songs more in-depth.  Most of these bands deserve to have a lot more listeners and a lot more credit for the music they produce. Without further ado, let’s get started.

The first band we’ll explore formed in New York City in 2001. Known as The Kin, the group includes Australian brothers Isaac and Thorald Koren, (followed later on by their present-day drummer Shakerleg).  They have just over one thousand followers on Spotify, just a little over seven thousand on Twitter, and have released a few albums and EP’s (Rise and Fall, 2007; THE UPside 2009; Get On It EP, 2013). Their style has changed quite a bit from their earlier albums, and their talent continues to grow. Shakerleg has a unique style of drumming —he plays his instrument without the sticks. The Kin isn’t really like any other band; they are very unique, and that’s what makes them so much better.  If you like Neon Trees or Coldplay, check out these songs: “Get on It” and “Boy You’re a Pretty Girl” (if you like more upbeat tracks) or “Time” and “Diamonds” (if you prefer slower songs).

The next band on the list is a quartet—made up of Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Tomson, and Chris Baio. Based out of New York City and formed in 2006.  Vampire Weekend released their debut album, Vampire Weekend in 2008, two years after coming together. This album has eleven tracks, including several singles (“A-Punk,” “Oxford Comma,” and “Mansard Roof”). This band is half alt-rock and half indie rock, and they have a lot of devoted listeners who enjoy their upbeat, pulsing music. Their most recent album (Modern Vampires of the City, 2013) debuted at number one on the Billboard charts, marking the second time they reached this spot (the first time being with their second album, Contra). If you like Arctic Monkeys, The Vaccines, or Arcade Fire, listen to these songs: “Diane Young” and  “Oxford Comma” or “Step.”

Next up is yet another quartet, including Nicholas Pettricca, Kevin Ray, Sean Waugaman, and Eli Maiman, formed in 2008 in Cincinnati and going through several member changes before settling in as Walk the Moon (stylized as WALK THE MOON). They had two self-released albums, The Other Side: B-Sides and Rarities in 2009 and I Want! I Want! in 2010, after which they were signed. They released their first “official” album, Walk the Moon, in 2012 and Tightrope EP in 2013. They are an extremely energetic band, never lacking a good beat and great vocals. They have completed something called 7in7 on their VEVO channel, when they crafted seven music videos in seven days for the album Walk The Moon while on tour. Some of these songs include “Tightrop,” “Jenny,” and “Shiver Shiver.” If you enjoy listening to Grouplove, Fun, or Neon Trees, try listening to these songs: “Anna Sun,” “Shiver Shiver,” and “Jenny,” or if you like slower music, try “Iscariot.”

The final band in our alternative category is a duo, made up of Tyler Joseph and Joshua Dun, based out of Columbus, Ohio and formed in 2009. Considered a breakthrough band of this year, Twenty One Pilots (stylized as twenty one pilots) released Twenty One Pilots in 2009 and Regional at Best in 2011 before they were signed by Fueled by Ramen. They released their first full-length album, Vessel, in 2013, and their song “Holding On To You” reached number eleven on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. Twenty One Pilots is very much alternative-rock, but they also manage to throw a hint of hip hop and electronica into their music. They are an interesting duo, not exactly like any other band, since their music combines so many different talents and genres. If you like New Politics, Walk the Moon, or Panic! at the Disco, try giving these songs a quick listen: “Holding onto You,” “House of Gold,” and “The Run and Go.” If you have the time, go through each of the songs on Vessel. In this alternative-indie junkie’s opinion, yes, they are that good.