Beck just blew my mind!!!

[Tenkyoken]

Wow, I just finished this anime and I loved it. In fact, its one of my top two all-time favorites with Fullmetal Alchemist. What I loved about this show was that I grew along with the characters, and grew attached with them and their stories, what also happened in FMA. I like how it was a journey, so is there any other anime out there, that does what Beck did?

[ZenErik]

Following the music theme, I will throw Nana out there. I enjoyed Nana much much more than Beck. However, it is on the more mature side and a shojo/josei drama. May not be your cup of tea, but it's certainly worth looking into.

K-On! is also about music and is slice of life, like Beck, but at the same time, it could not really be any more different. :p

[Rev. Doc]

Chance Pop Session is about three young ladies who are trying to break into the music business, each from various backgrounds.

[Moe Moe Taiga]

Some more music-centered series: Detroit Metal City, The Legend of Black Heaven, and Nodame Cantabile.

[BigPants]

Originally Posted by Tenkyoken

Wow, I just finished this anime and I loved it. In fact, its one of my top two all-time favorites with Fullmetal Alchemist. What I loved about this show was that I grew along with the characters, and grew attached with them and their stories, what also happened in FMA. I like how it was a journey, so is there any other anime out there, that does what Beck did?

I would recommend Nana as well (if you live in the United States, you can watch all of it on Hulu). It also centers around music and is very character driven. The live-action movie (not the second one :\ ) it also very well done.

I would consider another of Osamu Kobayashi's (the director) works: Paradise Kiss (also the same manga artist/writer as Nana.) It revolves around a group who is in fashion design and really about the characters (how one person influenced a group and about first love). It also has a fantastic soundtrack.

I haven't seen the Nodame Cantabile anime (which is streaming on a site called Crackle), but the live action series was really good.

[Tenkyoken]

Thanks for the recs guys.

[One Vorlon]

Something else worth a look is Aquarian Age. A twelve ep series, it follows a high school student as his garage band hits the big time - something that has implications for the local chapters of several factions of warring magical girls.

Some of the fantasy stuff is a little unsubtle (for example, its blatantly obvious that the protagonist is a latent of the Mindbreaker faction), but the focus is very much much on the band and their everyday lives. Dealing with the sudden influx of female groupies and paparazzi, keeping the girlfriend happy, a rivalry with an established musician . . .

[ccpau]

I'll definitely have to check this out