When a musician has lived through real heartache and reconciled their missteps, or at the very least tried, it gives their words a resolve and a credibility that can immediately resonate with listeners hunting songs of substance.
I will memorize the lyrics, start following the band members on social media (in the least stalker-ish way possible) and start obsessing over tour schedules as I impatiently wait for them to make a visit to the Twin Cities.