There’s a certain stigma attached to the word “pop” that is hard to break. The average person thinks of pop, they think of Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and whoever won American Idol that year; yet pop is not just a realm for the talentless and shallow. Often people in the metal community will flee bands with “pop” elements like they would Panzer tanks or healthy relationships, which is kind of tragic in a way. Pop doesn’t need to be meaningless and shallow, and catchiness isn’t a curse word. To prove this, here are a few awesome bands that incorporate elements of pop into their music, and still manage to be totally awesome.

#1. The Dear Hunter

The Dear Hunter was originally a solo side project of Casey Crescenzo, guitarist/vocalist for experimental rock group The Receiving End Of Sirens. Now that band is no more, and Casey’s side project has bloomed into a full-on progressive outfit. In a broad sense, The Dear Hunter combine the progressive tendencies of The Mars Volta, the epic multi-part saga of Coheed and Cambria (their latest album, Act III: Life And Death, is the third chapter of a projected six-album series), and the pop sensibilities and theatrics of Panic at the Disco, without the homosexual overtones or Beatles imitation. Their music covers plenty of genres along the way, from metal to folk to jugband swing to acapella progressive to instrumental classical music to… well, I don’t want to continue to make up genres, so just listen for yourself.

In Cauda Venenum (Act III: Life and Death)
In Cauda Venenum
Untitled 1 (Act III: Life and Death Bonus Track)
Untitled 1

#2. Closure In Moscow

Another progressive band that incorporates plenty of pop deliciousness, Closure in Moscow is an Australian band that manages to balance being ridiculously catchy and technical as any of their contemporaries in metal today. I mean, seriously, these guys can play. I’ve talked about them on this blog before, so I won’t drive them into the ground again. After all, songs like these sell themselves.

Reindeer Age (First Temple)
Reindeer Age
A Night At The Spleen (First Temple)
A Night At The Spleen

#3. Motion City Soundtrack

Alright, enough with the copouts. No more progressive bands with pop elements. Time for some straight up POWER-POP. Motion City Soundtrack are one of those bands that you have every reason to hate, and yet somehow can’t; for whatever reason, they’re just too damn good. In addition to being very strong songwriters (if there’s one thing they are awesome at, its writing melodies that stick with you for days), their songs are just plain fun to listen to, in no short part to the surprisingly witty lyrics and vocals of singer/guitarist Justin Pierre (the one with the awesome hair). His lyrics are generally quite amusing without being smothering or feeling forced. Add to that a surprisingly talented drummer, and some of the most insanely catchy moog lines you’ll ever hear, and you’ve got a recipe for… um… something awesome.

Time Turned Fragile (Commit This To Memory)
07 Time Turned Fragile
My Favorite Accident (I Am The Movie)
05 My Favorite Accident

#4. Saosin

These guys are sort of like Closure In Moscow, without the progressive elements. Much like CiM, these guys are surprisingly strong musicians. Their drummer in particular is an absolute beast behind the kit, and both guitarists more than hold their weight. Sure, they aren’t perfect (the lyrics are a little generic, and the bass is pretty inaudible throughout), but they have plenty of elements worth recommending, and some pretty damn great songs under their belt.

It’s Far Better To Learn (Saosin)
01 It’s Far Better to Learn
Sleepers (Saosin)
02 Sleepers

#5. Justin Timberlake

Hear me out.

I know for a fact there is no way in hell I will be able to convince anyone reading this that Justin Timberlake is worthy of any respect outside of his collaborations with The Lonely Island (which, by the way, if you don’t like Dick in a Box or Mother Lover, you’re a bad person). That’s fine. This is mostly just to explain why I like his music, or more specifically, his album FutureSex/LoveSounds. I guess I have two main reasons: First, he’s a damn good singer. Say what you will about his music, but that boy has some honest pipes on him.

More importantly (and this is the aspect that separates him from his contemporaries), he’s actually a pretty strong songwriter. Unlike most pop stars nowadays, he writes most of his own material, he has a keen ear for melody, and he’s pretty talented behind the piano to boot. More than that, even the worst songs on the album(let’s face it, “SexyBack” ain’t exactly “Bohemian Rhapsody”) are still fun as hell to listen to, or better yet, dance wildly to. My advice: forget about shame and embarrassment, and give yourself over to JT. You won’t regret it. Or maybe you will. I offer no refunds.

LoveStoned (FutureSex/LoveSounds)
05 Lovestoned
My Love (FutureSex/LoveSounds)
04 My Love

(This article has already gone on waaaay too long, but in terms of video games and such, the new Ratchet and Clank game is awesome, as is Infamous. BYEEEE!!!! *Zoom*)