Why You Should Listen to New Music: My Week With Bassnectar’s Unlimited Album

I’m not someone who says “no” when told to listen to new music, especially because it’s good to venture out of your musical territory every now and then.

I spent a week listening to Bassnectar’s latest album, “Unlimited.” And while I still haven’t converted to the realm of the basshead, I learned some interesting things about music and myself along the way.

By the end of the week, I appreciated my time with Bassnectar. I learned about some artists I’d never heard of before and I might even give a future album a try. So, I thought I’d share my experience and why I think you should also try walking a mile in someone else’s music library.

1 Only time will tell.

Even if you start off not liking an album, it can still eventually sneak its way into your heart. I definitely wasn’t a Basshead then and I’m still not one now. But “Unlimited” grew on me. I found “Unlimited Combinations” to be one of the most memorable tracks on the album after a couple of listens.

2 Break away from the music snob role. You ll bond with more people over music.

Sure, you can immediately write off Taylor Swift’s music if you’re not particularly interested in pop. But why not try making some connections with people using music that’s built (literally) for you to enjoy?

Once I opened up to more possibilities, car rides and extended trips were a lot more enjoyable with my friends. We could sing along to “Star Crossed Lovers” and act out the ridiculous drama of the music video.

Being open to music other than what you listen to also makes your friends more likely to share their knowledge with you and listen to some of your recommendations. Everybody wins.

3 Did I hear: free?”

That’s right. One of the best things about living in a huge city is the sheer volume of music being created every day. In Los Angeles alone, there are at least dozens of free or cheap shows featuring bands cultivating their fledgling images.

Take note of what you like, and you might find your future favorite band at one of these low-key events.

4 Spice up your background.

Give your tired playlists a break. Similar to how Sriracha spices up your rice and scrambled eggs – that’s delicious, by the way – branching out in the music scene gives variety to your library. This comes in handy when you need some music to play in the background while you go about your life.

And this might be sacrilegious right now, but I especially enjoyed Bassnectar when I couldn’t be distracted by lyrics. The high energy in “Unlimited” also gave a boost to my bike rides. By Friday afternoon, “Paracosm,” with its extended lead upward into a bassy abyss, helped me coast up the infamous hills of East LA.