10 Rock Bands That Invented Their Own Genre

Ever since the '60s, rock has never run short on bands that had a lot more to say other than party songs. Rock is still a storyteller's genre, and from Bob Dylan onward there have been people willing to throw their hat into the ring of great rock and roll tales. While Dylan may have been speaking to you in his songs, Bruce Springsteen was speaking for you on every single record he put out.

Across albums like Born to Run or Darkness on the Edge of Town, these are the kind of songs that could have been about the friends that you knew in your hometown, either being at the end of their rope or relishing the opportunity to dream of something better behind the backroads that they lived on. This is the kind of music that has a home in the heartland, and the Boss' Jersey attitude found a home in other artists as well, with people like John Mellencamp going for a much more down to Earth style as well.

Though there are messages in these songs, you never think for a second that Bruce is speaking down to anyone at any point. You can be comfortable in your small town, or you can take the gamble on some bigger and better things, but either way, chances are that Bruce has a song for you that hits the nail on the head.