The Americas
The sound of United States
The default against which every other entry here is a variation, which makes "the American sound" an unanswerable question. The regional traditions are the real subject: tejano, Midwest emo, go-go, and a hundred more.
13,690 artists in the catalog.
Most common in United States
Nothing here is unusual by global standards — this is a catalog large enough to set the standard. These are simply the biggest traditions.
Five records to start with
Not a canon — a way in. Each one links to what it is, who it's for and where to go next.
American artists worth walking into
Ordered by how much we can tell you, not just by how well-known they are.
Lady Gaga
art pop · dance-pop
Where to start →Lil Wayne
Southern hip-hop · bounce music
Where to start →Madonna
adult contemporary music · contemporary R&B
Where to start →Megadeth
heavy metal · speed metal
Where to start →Kanye West
art pop · chipmunk soul
Where to start →Metallica
heavy metal · thrash metal
Where to start →Korn
alternative metal · nu metal
Where to start →Moby
alternative rock · ambient music
Where to start →Beck
alternative hip-hop · alternative rock
Where to start →Cher
dance music · disco
Where to start →Bruce Springsteen
rock music
Where to start →Miles Davis
bebop · cool jazz
Where to start →