The Most Important Band Of Your College Years

Neil Young (clockwise from upper left), fun., James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, early era R.E.M.

Neil Young (clockwise from upper left), fun., James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, early era R.E.M.

Courtesy of the artists

Few bands seem to matter to us as much as the ones we discover in our youth. It may be, in part, because we're the most open to new ideas and sounds when we're coming of age. But mostly it's just a time when we need the comfort and companionship of a favorite band the most - a group or artist that helps us make sense of the world and find our place in it.

If you follow our blog, you may have seen a recent post asking you to tell us about the most important band of your college years. We got a lot of great stories on the blog, and on our Soundcloud page, from people both reminiscing about their college years long gone by, and the college years they're currently living. On this edition of All Songs Considered, we share some of those stories and the bands that made a difference in people's lives when they needed it most.

The Most Important Band Of Your College Years

Cover for Seven More Wonders Of The World

The Kamikaze Hearts

  • Album: Seven More Wonders Of The World
  • Song: Beverly Hills
 
Cover for Automatic for the People

R.E.M.

  • Album: Automatic for the People
  • Song: Drive
close

Purchase Featured Music

  • "Drive"
  • Album: Automatic for the People
  • Artist: R.E.M.
  • Label: Warner Bros.
YouTube
 
Cover for After the Gold Rush

Neil Young

  • Album: After the Gold Rush
  • Song: After the Gold Rush
close

Purchase Featured Music

  • "After the Gold Rush"
  • Album: After the Gold Rush
  • Artist: Neil Young
  • Label: Reprise
YouTube
 
Cover for Rattle and Hum

U2

  • Album: Rattle and Hum
  • Song: All I Want Is You
close

Purchase Featured Music

  • "All I Want Is You"
  • Album: Rattle and Hum
  • Artist: U2
  • Label: Island
  • Released: 2008
YouTube
 
Cover for Affirmation

Savage Garden

  • Album: Affirmation
  • Song: Crash and Burn
close

Purchase Featured Music

  • "Crash and Burn"
  • Album: Affirmation
  • Artist: Savage Garden
  • Label: Columbia
  • Released: 1999
YouTube
 
Cover for This Is Happening

LCD Soundsystem

  • Album: This Is Happening
  • Song: All I Want
close

Purchase Featured Music

  • "All I Want"
  • Album: This Is Happening
  • Artist: LCD Soundsystem
  • Label: Virgin
  • Released: 2010
YouTube
 
Cover for Family That Plays Together

Spirit

  • Album: Family That Plays Together
  • Song: I Got a Line on You
close

Purchase Featured Music

  • "I Got a Line on You"
  • Album: Family That Plays Together
  • Artist: Spirit
  • Label: Sundazed
  • Released: 1968
YouTube
 
Cover for Some Nights

fun.

  • Album: Some Nights
  • Song: We Are Young
close

Purchase Featured Music

  • "We Are Young"
  • Album: Some Nights
  • Artist: Fun.
  • Label: Warner
  • Released: 2012
YouTube
 

Comments

 

Please keep your community civil. All comments must follow the NPR.org Community rules and Terms of Use. NPR reserves the right to use the comments we receive, in whole or in part, and to use the commenter's name and location, in any medium. See also the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Community FAQ.