Favorite Band that no one has heard of!

[reflectia]

Copeland, anyone?

[jimmyzoso333]

alexisonfire
envy on the coast
bring me the horizon
the pink spiders
the bigger lights
dance gavin dance
between the buried and me
between the trees
minor threat

[parkaboy]

pink spiders as in hide?

i'll have more to contribute to this when i get home. i have acquired MUCH NEW MUSIC from bands i had previously never heard of. i have to sort through it all before i decide on favorites.

[tylerwylie]

Tool.

[5lash3r]

After reading this whole thread over, I have the following things to say!

1. It would be a lot easier to tell whether or not looking up a band would be worth the effort if people
a) posted just one band at a time, and
b) told a little bit about the band. A random name doesn't communicate much.
Just some things I have observed, not meaning to be snarkish.

2. I would like to recommend a band. Naked City is probably the most well-known project of avant-garde saxophone virtuoso John Zorn, made a MacArthur Fellow in 2006 (given a MacArthur Genius Grant, colloquially). The group fuses Zorn's shrieking sax prowess with a spastic grind influence, while still maintaining the jazz training that all of its members possess. John Zorn on sax, plus drums, bass, guitar, keys, and, on their later albums, the squeals and shouts of Yamantaka Eye, known best as the front-man of the Japanese avant-garde noise/punk/rock/tribal band Boredoms. Basically, they're a grind/thrash-jazz sextet, with creepier and ambient stuff as well - there are even some friendlier tunes on one of their later albums, 'Radio'. I, however, recommend the album "Torture Garden", if you can track it down.

[TheAmazingRando]

I, however, recommend the album "Torture Garden", if you can track it down.

Coincidentally, my friend has that on cassette tape, and we were just listening to it in his car yesterday. I really love Eye's vocals, they hardly even sound human.

[gmalivuk]

Tool.

You seem to have missed the whole second part of the subject of this thread, there...

[tylerwylie]

Tool.

You seem to have missed the whole second part of the subject of this thread, there...

Oh crap!

How about this one:

Grandaddy.

Only indietronic band I can stand because they don't suck.

[aion7]

How about favorite band that everyone thinks no one has heard of? Mine is We Are Scientists. There are all too many people who think that they are unknown.

[Renko]

Anyone heard of the Feelies? I dont wanna be a douche and be posting a band everyone knows like some of these posts, haha.
but the feelies rule, they were around in the real early 80s and the guys from REM were into em. they have a really original thing goin

[henre]

alexisonfire
envy on the coast
bring me the horizon
the pink spiders
the bigger lights
dance gavin dance
between the buried and me
between the trees
minor threat

i don't even like metal and i've heard of alexisonfire and minor threat, and listened to bring me the horizon and between the buried and me. for christ's sake, bmth are on mtv2.

[notallama]

some of these are probably known to some extent, but whatever:
diablo swing orchestra
wintersleep
illscarlett
division by zero
emilie autumn
the project hate mcmxcix
siren on
shpongle
anamanaguchi
holy fuck

[cypherspace]

No-one at all has mentioned the Youngblood Brass Band - this either means they are far more famous than I know, or that they are indeed unknown. They play funk/jazz/hip-hop played on brass band instruments. They are superb and utterly unique. I urge everyone to check them out.

http://www.myspace.com/youngbloodbrass

[wery67564]

Vampire Weekend-pretentious and talented, delicious!
Adele-wow, she is the new ella fitzgerald
Xiu Xiu- weird but good
Cold War Kids-Might be known, I don't know
British Sea Power-The new rock?
Marah-hooky as hell, similar to next band
The United States of America- /rant/ this is my favorite band out of the sixties psychedelic scene, they own, consistently, with massive amounts of power and just pure unadulterated awesomeness /endrant/
Mr. Lif- rap as it should be
Horrorpops- campy goodness

[henre]

Vampire Weekend-pretentious and talented, delicious!

:O

african influences?!

must hear!

edit; cause i'm south african, see

[apeman5291]

i just discovered this band recently. They're located very close to my hometown:

Villanova (myspace, with music samples)


for a "local band" they're really good.

Edited to clean up url.

[aleflamedyud]

I'm sorry, have I posted here before? I looked and I don't think so.

Subliminal and the Shadow. Now on iTunes. Ignore the fuck out of their album art and just listen.

[1337geek]

Robert Baldwin is the pianist at my church, and he's literally the best pianist I've ever seen or heard (that's saying something, considering I've seen Elton John play from 20 feet away). When we sing hymns, he makes up arrangements on the spot, often using almost every key on the piano. We joke that he must have four hands.

He's currently got only one solo album, and it's all piano instrumentals: mostly arrangements of other songs, a few originals. However, since he plays at my church, I've also got some live recordings, including a benefit concert where he sang in addition to playing, and they were all original songs. Message me if you want to hear a couple.

Click the links for samples. His style is very similar to Billy Joel or Elton John.
http://robertbaldwinmusic.com/
http://cdbaby.com/cd/robertbaldwin

[RedMaggit]

Well, I'm pretty sure they're known in these circles, but mention these band names to anyone I know and they look at you funny and go "huh?"

Broken Social Scene (most people at this point say "wow, I ddn't know you were into emo music". Then I sigh)
High on Fire
Explosion in the Sky ("That's not a band name!")
Mogwai ("Okay, now you're just making shit up.")
Pelican
Baroness (I might get lucky with these if I'm talking to a Metalhead)

though, one that might stump a few of you is The Pillows.
They're a great Jpop/rock group that I got into through FLCL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pillows

[TheAmazingRando]

Considering that Explosions in the Sky were featured extensively in a major motion picture (and subsequent television series) I don't think they really count as music nobody has heard of.

The rest, though, while not particularly obscure, are quite good.

[taptap]

Well, reading over this thread, a lot of the bands I was going to say have ironically already been mentioned. XD;

Better Than Ezra (do they count as obscure?) Late 90's band that no one seemed to listen to.

I don't think anyone remembers just how good this band was. Extraordinary is a great cruising song. Also, let's not forget about the other forgotten 90's bands... Dishwalla (counting blue cars was their hit, but check out miss emma peel, the feeder, and charlie brown's parents), Spin Doctors (they had a couple hits, but check out what time is it, somewhere in between), Republica (drop dead gorgeous, ready to go)Supergrass (thumpin' on your stereo), Spacehog (their hit was called in the meantime, but check out cool to be kind). Go. Download. Listen!!

[RedMaggit]

Considering that Explosions in the Sky were featured extensively in a major motion picture (and subsequent television series) I don't think they really count as music nobody has heard of.

The rest, though, while not particularly obscure, are quite good.

Well, they are pretty obscure when you live in Outback Australia..

Out here, everyone listens to either Lee Kernigan, or AC/DC.

And I prefer to Caribou.

It's why I try to get away as often as possible.

[TheAmazingRando]

Out here, everyone listens to either Lee Kernigan, or AC/DC.

I'm sorry.

[Unbeknown]

Considering that Explosions in the Sky were featured extensively in a major motion picture (and subsequent television series) I don't think they really count as music nobody has heard of.

The rest, though, while not particularly obscure, are quite good.

Well, they are pretty obscure when you live in Outback Australia..

Out here, everyone listens to either Lee Kernigan, or AC/DC.

And I prefer to Caribou.

It's why I try to get away as often as possible.

You missed Cold Chisel!

[RedMaggit]

ooh, yeah. and Jimmy Barnes.

I swear to God, if I hear "Working Class Man" one more time, I'm going to snap that CD and do creative things to the side of it's owner's ute.

[TheKhakinator]

Lotosoma - Australian metal band. Brilliant CD launch. However, was told by the dudes at the gig that it finished at 11, so my ride was picking me up then. Lotosoma started their half hour set at 10:50. *ANGER* Still, the two songs I heard ROCKED, and Beyond The Warpath is a great EP.

Jaguar Moon - wow. Really awesome but terrible recording quality.

[TheAmazingRando]

While we're discussing Australian bands...
Mournful Congregation my favorite. Not that I'm familiar with too many of them.

[RedMaggit]

Caught Vanishing Point a few times already this year, playing a few pub gigs.

They've really progressed since I saw them 6 months ago. Good to see a new Aussie metal act trying new things.

And, on that note, I've just recently been aurally raped by a "Hardcore" group from Wollongong called Mary Jane Kelly.

Now, normally, I can see the good side in alot of musical genres. Hardcore, when done right, can be really good. These guys just plain weren't.

Guys, screaming unintelligibly into microphones lodged halfway down your trachea, over the top of piss weak guitar and a semi-decent drummer, does not quality music make.

[davef]

Since no-one is reading the start of this thread anymore.

[DayTripper47]

Liquid Tension Experiment
If you're a Dream Theater fan, you already know this band. They are the side project of 3/5 of Dream Theater's members (Petrucci, Portnoy, and Ruddess) and Tony Levin from King Crimson. I guess I would classify them as instrumental metal, but they also have a lot of chill songs.
Listen to Paradigm Shift - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jeva6nuzElA

Electric Light Orchestra
A Progressive Pop-Rock band from the 70s. Pop vocal melodies over a triplet feel rhythm and a orchestra. Sounds awesome.
Turn To Stone - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNTzEGMTzaU

Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso
My favorite Italian Symphonic Prog band
http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=36

[taptap]

Electric Light Orchestra
A Progressive Pop-Rock band from the 70s.

Very cool band. I remember their "Four Little Diamonds" being my favorite some time ago...

[AdrianPsy]

Not my favourite band but they're awesome.

Terranova.


Anyone?

[Apemeat]

Anyone here heard of Mark Farina?

He creates Mushroom Jazz. And it is fantastic.

[Detritus]

I said it in the "Recommend One Artist" thread, but 20 Minute Loop is a great band not enough people listen to.

[crowey]

Robots in disguise.

Loud girly electro pop rock, if such a genre exists.

[Aleril]

Well, I'm pretty sure they're known in these circles, but mention these band names to anyone I know and they look at you funny and go "huh?"

Broken Social Scene (most people at this point say "wow, I ddn't know you were into emo music". Then I sigh)
High on Fire
Explosion in the Sky ("That's not a band name!")
Mogwai ("Okay, now you're just making shit up.")
Pelican
Baroness (I might get lucky with these if I'm talking to a Metalhead)

though, one that might stump a few of you is The Pillows.
They're a great Jpop/rock group that I got into through FLCL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pillows

`



Those arent that odd compared to bands like "Let's Get Out Of This Terrible Sandwich Shop"

[pinkgothic]

Wow. I recognise none of these - but am tempted to check some of them out.*

I'm very fond of Luxuria, which is what I would call genuinely psychotic music, a niche I have found isn't really filled by anything. Yes, sure, you have heavy metal aspiring to be loud and frightening, but that's just... well, loud, mainly. In fact, I think I would have called some plainly loud music psychotic... before I knew Luxuria.

It's the voice of Howard Devoto (most prominently known via Buzzcocks and perhaps Magazine), mixed with the music of Noko (best known for later being the guitarrist of Apollo Four Forty). It's far removed from being everyone's music, so I must warn anyone who may be interested in them that the music is very much rooted into the time the band existed (late 80's), if strangely timeless, despite that... and it's very obvious that it was done mainly by a mere two people.

As a sample, there's this Youtube video I found: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0VmUE3A0g4 - it's not a full song, just a one minute and forty snippet from it, with the actual 'movie' being utterly inappropriately bright and cheerful images in a slideshow, but the song (Celebrity) illustrates Luxuria's music well, even if it is not nearly as dark as Flesh, Public Highway, Pound, or some others. [Later edit: I forgot about their myspace page. Pardon.]

The lyrics are of the sort that at first glance seem to make sense, at second glance seem a mere string of poetic words with no meaning, and at third glance reveal a meaning that's deeply disturbing. One of my favourite songs, Flesh, has these lyrics: "Your husband lies unconscious / on Samuda's precipice / I drink in the dead night air / and your astringent kiss."

*shivers*

Matched with Devoto's... unique... voice, I find Luxuria darkly enchanting. For me, it really lives up to its name (latin for "lust").

It also forces me to sing along - it takes will power not to do so. I assume even among the miniscule fan crowd of Luxuria, this is a rare symptom to show, but it serves to underline just the amount of power this music has over me. It's quite frightening, in all the good ways.

* Edit: It seems I lied. I know Better Than Ezra, though to my shame only from the X-Files Fight The Future soundtrack (which is awesome in itself). I never tried to get to know them better. I now think I really ought to.
Also, I know Autechre, and thus want to second that they're worth listening to, even if they miss my kind of style by an inch and thus aren't currently featured in any of my playlists.

[Plastic Soul]

Not particularly obscure, but I love everything Jim Thirlwell has ever done- foetus, wiseblood, steroid maximus, manorexia, everything.

The man's a musical genius, and I fear that he won't reach a wider audience until he's gone. How can someone so influential to so many types of music be talked about so little?

[cypherspace]

Robots in disguise.

Loud girly electro pop rock, if such a genre exists.

They're great fun. I love the video of them in the giant robot - can't remember which song it is though.

[wery67564]

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band

So good, god bless our dead marines is one of my favorite "listening in the middle of winter on a military base drunk" songs

plus the many variations of a silver mt zion are all good IMO