The ways I stumble on to most of my now-favorite bands are so accidental, and could each be a story of their own. Example: I was reading an article in which my favorite guitarist, Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, said in a concert (he rarely speaks at all) that his favorite band was Grizzly Bear. Cue buying the Grizzly Bear album Veckatimest and being completely blown away by their tuneful freak-folk jams.

To discover this way requires an openness to good music that accidentally comes your way, and the willingness to Google anything intriguing—a friends’ suggestion (Belle and Sebastian), a review in Time magazine (Bright Eyes), even the song playing on the radio in the background when I pop into 7-Eleven to get a Coke (Dire Straits). That practice brings good luck.