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By KRYS GRANDMOND
Staff Writer

Binders. Paper. Pens. Pencils. Calculators. Backpacks. Clothes. Shoes.

The average back to school shopping lists are all the same. But there's one thing that should always make the cut, and never does.

Music.

Where would you be during those long nights studying? Or what about mid-term papers and huge assignments? And the all-too-important college house parties? Nobody thinks about it, but music plays a large roll in your school year. And while your CD collection may grow over time, what about picking up a few new essentials before the year becomes too hectic and you find yourself reverting to old favourites rather than taking the time to find something new.

My first suggestion is probably obvious. I can't say enough about these guys, and while many people are skeptical at first, I've managed to convert many of my friends into die-hard fans.

Creek Road Crossing is a 5-piece band based out of St. Catharines. I'd suggest grabbing a copy of their full-length debut, Thick as Thieves, but unless you can find one at a used CD store, like The Beat Goes On, you're out of luck. The band sold out of their first 1000 copies, which should tell you something, and are currently waiting on a second pressing. What started out as listening to a few favourite tracks, quickly turned into knowing every second of the cd, including the agonizing 2 minutes of silence between the last song, Get It On, and the cd's hidden track, Jewel. Their music is melodic, yet hard enough at times to make you swing your hair so much, you lose your equilibrium and risk falling over. I find it addictive, in a sense, and can't seem to remove it from my car stereo for long before I need another fix. One live show, and you're hooked. And I'm serious about that.

If you're looking for that windows-down, wind-in-your-hair, cruising-down-the-highway kind of sound for the morning commute to school, then head to your nearest HMV to grab a copy of House Of Ill Fame. The Trews are an incredible group of guys, not to mention musical geniuses. More than once, I've found myself with seat tilted back, one arm out the window, flying down the QEW with Every Inhabition blasting from my speakers.

For those house parties, and raggae fans, there's a couple suggestions I have to make. The first is anything Sean Paul. That man, besides being sexy as hell, can make anybody move. His lyrics and beats are fun and up-tempo, while his jamaican "flava" makes you feel like moving to a slower, more sensual rhythm. The next, Snow. Yes, Informer was what made him who he is, but he's come a long way since the infamous 12 Inches of Snow. Take Two Hands Clapping, for instance. The cd not only comes with a bonus promotional DVD, but songs like Missing You, and Legal (which soared up the charts upon their releases) are fun, catchy and not like anything you'd hear from anyone else.

Back to rock, the root of my musical obsession. If you don't have the latest from The Tragically Hip, In Between Evolution, then there's only 2 real excuses. The first is that you're not a fan of rock music ... in which case the second excuse will work fine for you too: you are an extremely sheltered and messed up child. In either case, you need some psychological treatment ... my suggestion: Go buy it.

Quite easily the greatest thing that's come from the Hip since ... well ... ever ... the 13-track cd features the hit single, Vaccination Scar, as well as songs like, my personal favourites, Summer's Killing Us, You're Everywhere and One Night in Copenhagen. I honestly cannot put into words the quality of music that graces this album, but I can say that you absolutely need to own it. It will get you through those nights of cramming, as well as your commute to campus in the mornings, when you really need something to wake you up.

If Metallica and Nickelback were to merge and become one group, you'd have my next and final suggestion, (and one of my new favourites), Shinedown. Talent doesn't even begin to explain what these guys have ... and I'm serious. After getting hooked on the hit single, 45, and then falling in love with Simple Man, I decided to check out some of their other songs, and I must say, the music kicks ass, the lyrics have meaning, and Brent Smith's voice is easily the sexiest thing I've heard since Chad Kroeger. The album is called Leave A Whisper, and after a year of success in the US, it was finally released to Canada this summer. Go get it, lock yourself in your bedroom and listen to every track. Then, open the doors, turn the volume up all the way and invite 100 friends to your place for the party of your lives! You HAVE to love this album. These guys know how to rock.

There's many others out there that I could suggest to you. Billy Talent, Guns 'n Roses, Greenday (love the new album by the way), The Clash ... but if I went through every CD I thought you should own, I'd be here for days writing, and it'd take you a week to read it :) So take this for what it's worth, go try something new and have a great year. Hey ... you're already 2 months in ... it's time to have a little fun, stop being so serious!