“Bum bum bum bum-bum-bum bum bum / Bum bum-bum-bum bum bum,” sings 2nd Grade’s Peter Gill onomatopoetically on “Beat of the Drum,” the sixth track off the five-piece band’s new album, Easy Listening.

Music has increasingly become a part of modern life. Research today suggests that music can help alleviate negative emotions such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Over time, the way we consume ...