Obscure/non-mainstream bandsMusic 

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Klostrophobic

Klostrophobic

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Okay, so everyone knows who Nelly is, but what are some good bands that are relatively unknown? My musical taste sucks, so beware of what I post. Here are some great (good, at least) bands that are at least relatively unknown.

--Dark Disco Club - You can download two of their songs, Less Than Perfect, and Sleepwalker from their website. Awesome band!

--Burning Airlines - Another kickass rock band. I guess the only band they sound at all like are the Pixies. Check 'em out.

--Cato Salsa Experience - Think Rolling Stones and the Who fused with the Hives. Awesome. They're Nowegian too, like the Hives.

--The (International) Noise Conspiracy - Okay, so they're diehard communists, but their music is rocking. They remind me of the Stooges. They just happen to be Scandinavian too. Amazing!

That's all I got. Hopefully I posted something that you haven't heard about. Now it's your turn.

POST 'EM!

(Keep in mind that there are a few threds for just hip-hop/rap, so if you have anything like that check out one of those threads.)
 
Well, it's not that unknown around GTP (thanks to Mr. Duke!), but They Might Be Giants is relatively unknown to most people, and I obviously highly recommend them.
 
Well, keep in mind that these bands are relatively old, but:

Quicksand - Slip. One of my favorites even to this day. Good hard rock/metal.

Kyuss - Blues for a Red Sun. Haven't listened to these guys in quite some time now, but I think that I might have to dig out there CD. Again, good hard rock.

Mad Season - Lane Stanely (singer from Alice in Chains.) Came out with this album while AIC was broken up.

SAP - A single album that comprised of 4 songs. Noteable singers on this album included Lane Stanley and Chris Cornell. Mostly rock/acoustic music. Again, a favorite of mine.


Thanks Klos, bringin back some good memories. Good topic.
 
Yes, They Might Be Giants is a great band indeed.

I'll be sure to check out those bands, boom! Just one question: is Kyuss basically the guys (at least the lead singer) from Queens of the Stone Age?
 
Well I'm not sure, but after some research, Kyuss broke up in '95.
Queens of the Stone Age does however contain an old member from Kyuss which is Josh Homme who I beleive to be the guitarist for Kyuss.

Queens of the Stone Age huh, any good?
 
They're okay. I probably wouldn't buy one of their albums though.

Nick Oliveri and Josh Homme both were members of Kyuss and are now members of QOTSA. At least according to allmusic.com.

While I was checking out allmusic.com I looked up Quicksand, and they are compared to Fugazi and Tool. Cool.
 
Yeah, Quicksand rules. Or did anyway. Trying to remember what other albums they had. I know there not in print anymore. Let's see, there was Slip, Manic Compression and one other one and can't remember it.

So yes, you are correct about Nick Oliveri. He joined Kyuss in '90 and replaced Chris Cockrell as bassist.


allmusic.com, very cool indeed. 👍 👍
 
Their other album is their self entitled EP. You should check out http://allmusic.com. It's a great resource for everything music.

I forgot to mention The Mink Lungs. One word: eclectic. It's hit or mis with these guys. They're either giong to make an awesome song, or something you aren't going to want to listen to.
 
Yeah, boom, Queens Of The Stone Age is at least two guys from Kyuss, and I think three. Dave Grohl of Nrivana/Foo Fighters fame drums for them currently. The only album I have is Songs For The Deaf, which has that catchy hit single on it that you'll recognize immediately. It's an excellent album well worth buying, if only for the fake LA-radio-DJ bits between the songs. I thought I was the only person here who had heard Kyuss!

Here are some of my favorite lesser-known bands:

Camper Van Beethoven - All-American ska punk, from 10 years before ska punk was cool. And so much more. Two albums to watch for in the "used" bin are Telephone Free Landslide Victory and Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart.

Cracker - David Lowery is my hero. Anybody who can write a lyric like "I don't know what the world needs, but a V-8 engine's a good start for me; I think I'll drive around and find someplace to be surly..." has to be cool. After Camper broke up (see above) he founded Cracker, which had a little more commercial success, briefly.

Morphine - Film Noir set to music. Dark, broody, jazzy, and rocking all at the same time. The instrumentation is cool, and the sax player can play two horns at the same time. Check out Cure For Pain - highly recommended - and Like Swimming.

Southern Culture On The Skids - Hillbilly surf music. And they like cars! Rick Miller is a truly fabulous guitar player taking influence from all the American greats, and adding his own flair. Dirt Track Date is marginally their best album, but they're all good. Plenty to choose from, too.

Man... Or Astroman? - Outer space surf, compared to the hillybilly surf of SCOTS. More instrumental, with dialog and sounds lifted from B-movie science fiction of the '50s and '60s. Great stuff.

Soul Coughing - kind of like a post-hiphop Morphine. Samples, odd-tempo drumming, jangly guitar, and oblique lyrics set over a grooving upright bass line. Even a bit of freestyle thrown in but not in a wigger/wannabe way at all. These guys are a little more well-known, but still not that popular. Ruby Vroom is their first album, and very good, but you won't go wrong with any of them.

They Might Be Giants - already recommended above. Funny but very observant lyrics; very self-made music (but with good recording quality), an eye for detail and catchy songwriting. Very very thought out but completely non-pretentious. DeMuro hates them - what could be a better recomendation than that?
 
A band who've finally got round to releasing an album is SIKTH. IT's a really weird album ranging from Post-Hardcore to Piano Solos to Western to Spoken Word. they're from Watford in London and they're definitely for people with certain tastes!
 
Big fan of Cracker - love Kerosene Hat.

Personal favourite is Smog - guy named Bill Callahan, you probably heard 'Cold Blooded Old Times', which got a bit of play here. Great lyricist, music isn't what you'd call rocking, more sparse and introspective. Gotta love a guy who writes a song called 'Dress Sexy at my Funeral'.

Arches of Loaf is another one I like - only have CD of theirs, Icky Mettle.
 
Add another vote for Cracker and Camper van Beethoven. Anyone who can write and perform songs like Mao Reminisces About His Days In Southern China and Opi Rides Again - Club Med Sucks is OK in my book. Kerosene Hat has some damn fine writing, too.

Cowboy Junkies - You may have heard me mention them before. I really can't praise their work enough. Michael Timmins' writing is transcendental, and their performances are always phenomenal. Pale Sun Crescent Moon, Lay It Down, Black Eyed Man, The Trinity Session - take your pick.

October Project - Another fine band. They made two albums and that was about it. A real shame, too. They had some quality pop arrangements. Their lead, Mary Fahl, has a gorgeous alto voice that is never under-used. Might lay it on a bit thick, but that's OK. Their eponomously titled first album is the best.


Suzanne Vega - Although she has had some mainstream success, she has never been all that widely recognized. You can think of her style as a female Lou Reed (one of her many influences): an urban folk artist. Solitude Standing and Songs in Red and Gray are my personal favorites.

Tom Waits - A relatively new interest for me. His songs are absolutely unmistakable. His style can be...jarring, but never less than genuine. I Don't Want to Grow Up from Bone Machine is my current favorite.

I know none of these artists are really obscure, but that's as close as I get. ;)
 
Originally posted by Klostrophobic

--Burning Airlines - Another kickass rock band. I guess the only band they sound at all like are the Pixies. Check 'em out.
Click to expand...

The Pixies are, just freakin' awesome. Although it seems nobody has heard of them in England. Well apart from my brother.
 
J. Mascis + The Fog - Introspective, often very emotional. Singing isn't emphasized. What is, rather, is insane guitar-work.

Built to Spill - Doug Martsch is both lyrically and musically gifted. He and the latter bear a northwest kind of indie rock sound.

Pedro The Lion - What can I say about him... He's too talented. He has very introspective lyrics which often question his process of belief, and more importantly, his relationship with God. One man show, with a lot of guest artists... Could be classified as emo/hardcore. (Imagine that, the two ends of the spectrum... in one).

Jets To Brazil - Jets to Brazil is great. Just like the latter, they possess a very uncharacteristic brand of emotional music. Hard to explain what kind of sound they have.
 
Originally posted by Sage
Well, it's not that unknown around GTP (thanks to Mr. Duke!), but They Might Be Giants is relatively unknown to most people, and I obviously highly recommend them.
Click to expand...



👍 TMBJ indeed rocks. :) I also highly recommend them.
 
Originally posted by Integra Type R
👍 TMBJ indeed rocks. :) I also highly recommend them.
Click to expand...
Incidentally, right when I read your post, "Put Your Hand Inside The Puppet Head" started playing (iTunes is soooo smart!), which is one of my favorite songs ever... :) (I listened to it 3 times in a row yesterday).

[edit]: And "Cyclops Rock" just started playing, which is also a great song.
 
Originally posted by Klostrophobic


--The (International) Noise Conspiracy - Okay, so they're diehard communists, but their music is rocking. They remind me of the Stooges. They just happen to be Scandinavian too. Amazing!
Click to expand...


T(I)NC is so awesome, I really like their music...my favorite songs being "Smash It Up" and "Capitalism Stole My Virginity"


Bombshell Rocks - They're an awesome sounding punk band, If I could compare them to anybody, I'd say it's a more fast paced version of Bad Religion, with a british accent.

Hot Water Music - A very different sounding punk band, sound that I can't really describe. Just check out their songs for yourself. Good ones are "Freightliner" or "Jack Of All Trades."

Dispatch - They have a really good, mellow acoustic sound. It's music I like when I just feel like kicking back and getting away. I'd compare them to Dave Matthews Band, except for a lot better.

Gruvis Malt - This is one band that you guys can't pass up. They have a really jazzy sound with a mix of a ton of different musical styles ranging from punk to hip hop. They remind me a little bit of Sublime, except for with less punk. A good song by them would be "Even The Scars Forget The Wounds"

Rustic Overtones - Another amazing mellow band that fuses jazz, rock and hip-hop together amazingly well, they sound kind of like Gruvis Malt. Once again, a VERY unique sound. Check out "Hardest Way Possible" or "C'mon"

Well, I think that's about it. All of those bands are amazing, but if you're in the mood for something really different than the norm, check out those last two.
 
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Had a few hits but are generally unknown. Great band.

Collective Soul - Used to be popular but kind of slipped off the radar. Another awesome band.

R.E.M. - I thought these guys were popular but I was surprised at how many people have never heard of 'em.

HIM - They call their music "Love Metal." I don't care what you call it, though, it rocks!
 
A couple have already been listed:

Built to Spill
Soul Coughing (only Ruby Vroom, though)
Quicksand

And I'll add:

The Sea and Cake; experimental pop-rock incorporating rich guitar melodies, complex drumming, and layers of sythesized subtletey. Independent and dard to pin down. Check out Oui and The Biz.

Stereolab; name sounds like techno but they're not. A great fusion influenced by seventies electronica, Modern Lovers style punk, and French disco. Always the same. Always different. Extremely prolific. I recommend Emperor Tomato Kechup, Random Transient Noise Bursts with Announcements, or Low-Fi.

Mazzy Star; Imagine Johny Cash, but a woman on morphine, and depressed. Psychadelic, moody, guitar-heavy, droning folk. music. Not the happiest stuff, but great none the less. Check out So Tonight That I may See.

Cocteau Twins; Three British classical music students who decided to form what could be the original goth band, before it was called goth. No drummer (drum machine). Amazing bass, layer upon layer upon layer of heavily effected guitar, and a female singer who has got to be one of the finest vocalists I know of. Very versatile in every respect and full of suprises. Experimental sometimes. Check out Tiny Dynamite/Echoes in a Shallow Bay and Victorialand.

Ui; Drum and bass with random accent instruments including but not limited to banjo, xylophone, and old fashioned, analogue Moogs. Mathematical and structured. Mostly instrumental. Check out Sidelong.

Slowdive; Moody, rythym oriented, electric music that sounds like it's emanating from a cathedral. Acoustic and electric guitar, sparse electronica, lilting vocals. Very British. Check out Pygmalion and Souvlaki.

All for now.
 
Vavoom is a fairly unknown band from nova scotia, i've only heard a few of their songs, but they're pretty good.

the lead singer is on trailer park boys, a canadian TV show. (his name is micheal jackson, and yes, he is white.)
 
Most of these bands are just now breaking big, but are worth a listen if you're into the emocore/screamo scene.

Thursday - Paris in Flames & Understanding In a Car Crash

Taking Back Sunday - Cute Without The "E"

Coheed and Cambria - Devil in Jersey City

Thrice - Deadbolt

Glassjaw - Majour

Vendetta Red - Shatterday

List will be updated when I think of new ones.
 
aah, COOOL topic klos. Ill have my share of these bands, believe me. and I will reccomend some.

death cab for Cutie: A-WE-SO-ME indie rock band, been around for years, and are WAY better than any radiohead out there.

HEM: a COOL pop-country-folk mix with an ANGELICAL voice. impressive. get their CD rabbit songs. its one of the BEST CDs in history.

the pillows: a little known-of band here in america, they are japanese, and they ABSOLUTELY ROCK. punk-grunge, with a cool style.

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones impressive trio playing the oddest array of instruments tpo be found. If I tell you that their base is a banjo, would you get some of them?? well, GET IT!!! exotic cool stuff.

and you will know us by the trail of dead: very good punky indie rock with a bit of experimentation with electronics thrown in. their "source tags and codes" album was great.

WILCO easiy, album of the year 2001 with their "yankee hotel foxtrot" GRRRREAT indie-folky rock. you MUST check these dudes out.

Bôa brit pop-rock band that reside in japan. look for their single "duvet" in any p2p program or something like that and download it. its the opening for serial experiments lain, but it rules!! the rest of the " a race of a thousand camels" rules, too.

The disco Biscuits these dudes throw some rock to their very experimental folk music to bring up something cool and unique. definitely recommended.

afrocelt Sound system: a very exotic, very impressive array of afrocelt rythms and sounds couples with cool electronic tunes. a must-listen.

for now, that is all. Im always looking for cool unknown stuff, so Ill write in here often! cheers, and get some from this list!!

Cano
 
The Pernice Brothers - A very cool indie/pop band. They are catchy as hell and write a pretty good tune. I just found out about 'em myself on Sunday. :)
 
THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT - these guys rule. i went and saw them the other night and the place was rocking. its rock music. download take it away, crave and one second of insanity
 

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