Since bubblegum pop makes my head spin and my stomach ache, can anyone recommend some good bands that are still mostly unknown?
Spill it - who are they and what are they like? I'm aching for new music. Good new music.
I'll put in my two favorite unknowns: Dream Theater (a mix of Metallica, Rush, and Pink Floyd) and Soul Coughing (part reggae, part techno).
Animate.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

Answers

Those guys are not really unknown... OK then, going with the "unknown but has a real record deal" theme -

Jude - folk/rock, with the voice of a young Chris Isaak

Jump, Little Children - some of their stuff is pure rock'n'roll, some is (no kidding) hip-hop with an Irish flair.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

belle and sebastian [indie rock] ...at least it doesn't play on the radio...sheesh.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

I just ordered belle & sebastian's new box set today. I'm psyched. Also, Shelby Lynne. She's a singer songwriter who was previously known as a country singer. But her new record is being described as blues and people are saying it's awesome. She went to my high school in Alabama about 5 years before I did.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

Ani Difranco -not like anyone else folk/rock/punk
Reef - pretty big in England - try their album Glow, sounds like the rolling stones in some ways
Skunk Anansie - another English band not for the light hearted. The lead singer, Skin, is so hard and so soft at the same time. She has a wonderful voice.


Bublegum Pop is SO much worse over here. They have at least 5 of every type of pop band... I don't think 13 year olds should be allowed to buy music. If it weren't for Chirs Moyles I wouldn't listen to the radio!

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

Yes! Belle and Sebastian rule! Why the hell they get no air play, I have no idea. And Ben FUCKING Lee! Come on radio people. He hangs out at the Playboy mansion, is dating Claire Daines, and looks like a little elf. He is too cool. Make him a radio icon!

Soul Coughing had their brief little flash in the pan fame with that song "Circles" of the El Oso album, but there really was some other cool stuff on there that never got any play.

Ani DiFranco is another true Indie artist that produces all her own stuff, but doesn't get much recognition for it. She did 32 Flavors, but it took the 1 album, fly-by-nighter Alana Davis to get the song heard. Ani's version is MUCH better.

Elliott Smith! Am I alone here? Represent. I know some of these are names that we all know, but why is their stuff not played on the radio? I have NEVER heard Elliott, Ben, Ani, or Belle and Sebastian on the radio. NEVER.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

I have Belle and Sebastian's box set. it rocks. I'm going to buy their newest album come june 6th.

YES! Elliott Smith rocks too! I just bought his new album figure 8 and love it. I just realised that they don't play him on the radio either..I thought so, but nope. augh.

also, I forgot to mention Babybird [they sound sorta like radiohead] ...I don't have one of their albums but just because it is near impossible to get one that isn't an import. I might buy the greatest hits album but I swear that the song 'jesus is my girlfriend' is the funniest thing I've ever heard.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

They played Waltz #2 from XO for a while here in Austin. You gotta have the whole album though. Hearing it all the way through is better. There's something very disconcerting about hearing Limp Bizkit right after Elliot Smith. It's not right.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

Leave your house Go to a record store Purchase Guided By Voices "Bee Thousand" and Built to Spill "Keep it Like A Secret"

Have your world rocked

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

They play Elliott Smith on the radio here in Atlanta, but then again, he just did a show at the Variety Playhouse. Could be why.

Belle & Sebastian--I was just giving them a try at the record store last night, how odd that you mentioned them today. I think I'd like them, but decided to wait before splurging.

Pulp's not obscure, but I lurve Jarvis. He's the coolest.

Merrymakers--catchy pop. Think La's, Jellyfish, Beatles, ABBA. Only not twee. Kinda Mersey-beat-esque.

Rialto! Britpop with lyrics by a cinema-obsessed literate Brit guy. Yeah.

Muse--Radiohead lite, though they do get thrashy live.

Myssouri--dark Nick Cave-like stuff. Slight tinge of country, and I hate country but like this. Your call.

I had Curve recommended to me and I think it will grow on me, but right now I'm feeling iffy. Supposedly, because I like Garbage, I should love this. It's okay.

You can't go wrong with the Grandaddies of Pop like Brian Eno (Well, depends on which mood you catch him in), John Cale, etc., but they're hardly 'obscure' or 'new'. There's so much musical theft going on these days, it's nice to be able to hear the original tunes in their entirety without new (bad) lyrics and fake-y electric drums on top. :)

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

ooh. ooh. I have Built to Spill's latest. AWESOME.

Rufus Wainwright. He's like a harp with a tongue and diction.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

Amber, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on Babybird -- they bear no resemblance whatsoever to Radiohead. But they're great anyway (the new single out this week is particularly ace).

Gomez: I guess someone was trying to give them the hard sell in the US (did anyone see them at SXSW?), but they're not conventional enough for a broad American audience. They're one of my favourite bands, though; songs to check out are Rhythm & Blues Alibi, Get Myself Arrested, Whippin' Piccadilly and We Have Not Turned Around (which was on the American Beauty soundtrack, the scene where the two girls are laying on Jane's bed).

James: I heard they were popular in the US when I was in junior high, but I have no proof of that. Invest in their Greatest Hits album (best songs are Laid, She's a Star, Sit Down and Destiny Calling.

Stereophonics: If you have Napster, go download A Thousand Trees and Bartender and the Thief.

Divine Comedy: Kooky (but not in a bad, Cherry Poppin' Daddies way), clever lyrics, and Neil Hannon's voice made me fall in love with the shawty in a suit. Songs to check out include Thrillseeker, Generation Sex, Gin-Soaked Boy and Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count.

That's all for now.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

oh jackie, jackie, jackie everyone knows the best stereophonics songs are billy davey's daughter and fiddler's green =) ani difranco is absolutely awesome (my favorite song is every state line and the teeth) my friend just introduced me to this alternative band called seven mary three (they were famous for a while with their song cumbersome but they're best song is lucky)

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

Yes, yes; am seconding "Divine Comedy". Good call.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

i have to say that here in seattle, there is only *one* decent radio station, and that is the university of washington station kcmu. which by the way you can listen to live! kcmu.org folks. not only do they play belle and sebastian, they also play elliott smith, pappas fritas - a band i HIGHLY recommend indie types check out. they have a bit of funk to their sound - which is a tad retro. also you need to hear dealership if you're into pop-noise stuff. i think their website is www.dealerkids.com - they have a few clips up there. they're from... san.. fran? diego? no idea. i met them in vegas this year. supersweet people.

hhhmmmm - jeff buckley - although he's dead, his ablum 'grace' is fantabulous. oh and you know i saw rufus just last year and i was going to buy his album but after a few listens the whiny-ness just got on my nerves.

a non guitar type sound is lamb. they're a techno type outfit from england - although their latest album has a real burst of big bandish jazzy horn craziness in a few tunes. they also use a big electric double bass thang and drum stuff - i mean real drums.

oh and then there are the Old '97's - more guitar but with a ... well i guess twang is the right word.

and then when all else fails, hit the old stuff. velvet underground, joni mitchell, love (love kicks ASS), simon and garfunkel.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

Down here we have a radion station which many australians (unfortunately their demographic is 16-22) either loathe or love. Triple j. You see many of the bands that you guys are claiming to be obscure , we get on heavy rotation.......along with the limp cookie korn metal rap speedball shite. anyways obscure , nope dman fine and un-famous; smog - bill callahn sums up a lot of hatred and joy towards many things. lyrics are brilliant. sparkle horse......the bts fans should dig this railroad jerk. new york city boys bustin out some fine indie-folk-blues type stuff. stereolab....can never rave enough about them. the grifters...has been a wee while between albums but they have their shit in check so well. they claim to sing about the good things ;girls ,cars and alcohol. you am i - big in australia , but struggling to get much following overseas......fine lyrics and tunes which make you want to invite your friends around at 2am to share you last bottle of red wine with. Yola Tengo -their latest 'and then nothing turned itself inside out' is fabulous......will find heaps of their stuff on hal lartley films. ok ok now its back to work.

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2000

I think the term "obscure" is a bit relative here Trevor. We, unfortunately, live in an environment where the multitude of radio stations play Brittany and Christina and N'SYNC and drone drone drone so much, that they don't have any time left over to give any air time to the "other" artist. You, on the other hand are in Australia. The coolest continent ever. I am saying that, of course, because I have never been there. 95% of the people I have ever ask, "Where would you most like to visit?" say Australia. Therefore, you are cool. Your music is cool. In the meantime, I have to listen to that damn "hit me one more time" song. Yes... hit her is what I would like to do. Hard. In the back of the head. I don't condone violence, especially against women, but like Chris Rock says, "There's a reason to hit EVERYBODY! You JUST DON'T DO IT!"

Mmmmm...... Ben Lee. Australian? I think so!

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Oh, shit, here's a truly obscure band that y'all need to check out: Knife in the Water. They have a brilliant album out now (probably at smaller, indie-type record stores) with my favourite song at the moment, Sent You Down. I know for a fact you can't find it on Napster, but if you want a copy, drop me an email.

AND... they're playing in Austin tonight, so please go check them out if you like good music. Here are the dates for their US tour (go see them!):

Fri. May 26 Austin - Emo's (w/ Gloria Record, National Skyline)
Thu. June 1 Chicago TBA
Fri. June 2 Chicago -Empty Bottle
Sat. June 3 Detroit -Magic Stick
Mon. June 5 Cleveland TBA
Tue. June 6 Pittsburgh - 31st. Street Pub
Wed. June 7 Cambridge- Middle East
Thu. June 8 New York City- Bowery Ballroom
Fri. June 9 Philadelphia- Upstage
Sat. June 10 Arlington- Iota
Sun. June 11 Chapel Hill- Room 4
Tue. June 13 Atlanta - Echo
Wed. June 14 New Orleans -Mermaid Lounge
Thu. June 15 Memphis - Hi-Tone
Fri. June 16 St.Louis- Side Door

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Triple J's been going way downhill lately, turning very mainstream. Sometimes the only thing distinguishing them from the commercial rock stations. Even a year ago they would never have given Aaliyah a second listen, now they've got her on their hit list. Yuck. But they do play (or have played in the past) a lot of stuff that people have listed here as stuff they never hear on the radio where they are, most notably Ben Lee Ani di Franco, Reef, Skunk Anansie, Elliott Smith, Guided By Voices and even a small smattering of Belle & Sebastian. The last named are getting a fair bit of airplay on a new Sydney station called FBi, which is promising to be the local indie alternative station Triple J began as (if it gets a full-time licence anyway). Personally I think they're unspeakably boring and twee, but each to their own. The most obscure bands I never hear on the air would probably be the Black Heart Procession and Godspeed You Black Emperor!, though in the latter case I suppose their propensity for half-hour instrumentals is what keeps them off radio

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Seven Mary Three - yes indeed!

Shades Apart, Powerman 5000, Splender - not really innovative or anything, but I like the beats. And theyre not really unknown, just not catch-phraseish.

ks choice! oh yes.

And Bif Naked. Bifs a bit poppy, but I like it. Its bouncy stuff. And Lucky was my obsession song for a while.

Rasputina - I dont think theyre super-spiffy or anything, I just like em.

But I like Vertical Horizon. And Godsmack. So, yknow, if you hate them, you might hate these. Im just sayin.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Holly Cole is mostly known for her jazz music (Holly Cole Trio), but she has a really good album (few years old now) called "Dark Dear Heart". She's also putting out a new one, but I don't know when. She's branching out into pop, but it's not the bubblegum variety. And it doesn't get a lot of airplay (I'm not sure why, because it's fantastic).

Damhnait Doyle is also really good (Is he out in the US yet?), as is Roberta Michelle.

Captain Tractor rocks. They're kind of a Celtic rock band, but with a prairie sound that I really like. And they do a wicked version of "The Logdriver's Waltz". I'm not kidding. Their new album, "Celebrity Traffic Jam," is really good, and they rock in concert.

These people are all Canadian, so they might not be available in the States, but I do suggest you try and get your hands on them.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Momus! (Crazy Brit with snarky lyrics; very into 'audience participation', made an entire album of made-to-order songs at a $1000 a pop to pay off a debt, which I think is hysterical.)

The Gunga Din! (Velvet Undergroundish.)

Oldies: Smithereens, Stranglers (Hugh Cornwell is still going strong), Colin Blunstone (ex. Zombies, great voice), Split Enz (speaking of Aussies)

Enjoy

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

The Nields, and the Flash Girls. The first is basically a rock band with folky roots, and the second is, well, made up of an author and a fiddle-player, and more worth it for the lyrics than for the music. I also like Boiled in Lead, which is a celticy punky folk band -- I kid you not.

I tend to like lyrics-driven music. Then again, I also have a thing for Soul Coughing, and nobody can convince me that all of their lyrics make sense.

Mwah.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Belly.

Doesn't anyone remember Tanya Donnelly and her "Feed The Trees"? It was in like '95 or so...played on college stations.

Ani ... I'm glad some others know who she is, along with Ben Lee!

and Arrogant Worms. They're a hysterical Canadian band which NO ONE has heard of here...except for like three people it seems like. I even went to Canada and couldn't find their CDs anywhere. Ugh.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

the Void - D.C. hardcore band from the early 80s.

the Monorchid - I don't know how to describe these guys, but if you find a copy of "Let Them Eat..." pick it up.

Yah Mos - fine punk-rock, Sacramento style.

Les Savy Fav - if you like good music you'll like Les Savy Fav.

the Dismemberment Plan - they played at my friend's house in Austin last year and they just rule. They used to be on a big label but now they're on DeSoto (I think) and they make some great rock. If you like Built To Spill/Pavement/Yo La Tengo, you'll like them. Their stuff isn't hard to find in record stores or on Napster.

Built to Spill is ... unbelievable. They rank high on my rotation at work with Pavement and Elvis Costello.

If I screwed any HTML up, I am going to be so pissed off.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Guster! I cannot endorse this band enough. I heard snippets of their folksy rock-pop tunes as background on Felicity and The Real World. They never get their due! They got some local airplay in Boston a lil while back with "Airport Song" and they tour relentlessly, hitting little nook-and-cranny places and colleges.

The guys are hopelessly charming and sweet to talk to, they have a hysterical newsletter, and they have a BONGO player. Dese hometown boys dun good.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

If you're going to get a Belle & Sebastian album, go for Tigermilk... the whole thing is great, and it's a great intro to them.

If you like Belle and Sebastian, you will probably also like Looper. They are wonderful.

Don't for get about Tomorrow, by James. That song rules.

Also: Built to Spill, the Flashing Lights, the Inbreds, Thrush Hermit, Wolfie, Wilco, Plumtree, B'ehl, The Secret Goldfish, that dog (they broke up, but their CDs are still wonderful), the planet smashers, of montreal, superchunk, cinnamon...

I could go on. There is so much great stuff out there.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

lindsay - i can't believe that someone just put the flashing lights down as a band they like! see here's the deal; years ago i used to hang with this crowd in ontario -band boys and such where conversations mainly consisted of funny sounds and banging noises. anyway - i've been searching for old friends online lately - and i type in a name and what turns up but 'fan sights' for a band. a band called the flashing lights. turns out my old pal gaven is now in a band that's actually got an album out and videos on muchmusic! that's WACK! and they're touring right now! woohoo! does anyone know if their stuff is available in the states? oh and their seattle show just got cancelled. not happy since i missed them in both vancouver and winnipeg. how big are they in Canada anyway?

seriously the big thing i miss out here the northwest (the U.S. portion) is the brit and canadian music markets. they just don't exist. irritating as hell. ah well. guess that's what the internet is for.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

So, so, so happy to find that someone mentioned Jump, Little Children! And so early on, too! It's just what I was planning to do when I clicked on the forum link.

I agree on the Rasputina and Guster calls as well. Rasputina is three semi-Goth cello ladies; they have two CDs out.

Seven Days - a Jump, Little Children website

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Stretch Princess, above all else. Their song "Sorry" appeared in the movie "Teaching Mrs. Tingle," and another one "Sugar" was in "She's All That," even though there was no soundtrack.

Letters To Cleo is one of my all-time favorites. They got some good exposure in 10 Things I Hate About You, but aside from that, I can't find much on 'em. I love love love the Cleos.

Save Ferris, also. Wow. What a group.

Pop music, baybee. It da shiz-nit!

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Great Big Sea They are just fabu in concert. The Push Stars Again really good band, I just can't describe them. My favorites are "Wild Irish Rose" "Any Little Town" "Minnesota' Mike Errico He's got an amazing diversity with his voice. In concert it's just him and his guitar. My friend and I have seen him three times and talked to him after the show. He's just so nice and really talented. He also wrote the theme music to VH-1 Pop-up Video.

The last two have mp3 or Real Audio on their sites so you can listen, and both are on sale through Amazon at least.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

ditto on Jump, Little Children! A great band out of Charleston, SC! I'm listening to their second CD now, Buzz!

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

I'm with Melissa on Guster - heard them for the first time last Saturday. Bought CD Sunday morning.

Beyond they're music, they were also the coolest to their fans at the show. I mean, genuinely appreciative - and it showed. That means a lot.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Right now I'm digging Ozomalti (hip-hop/reggae/latin thang) and Me First & the Gimme Gimmes (punk cover band from members of NOFX, Lagwagon, and No Use for a Name).

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Soul Coughing: Very groovy sound. I always get happy when I hear "Super Bon Bon"

Curve: Toni Halliday has such an amazing voice. Doppleganger is a great album by them.

Emmett Swimming: My friend got me into them years ago and they are some really nice guys. I love their album "Wake" the best. They kind of sound like .. um, what's that band ... the song starts out,"It's been four weeks since I something something something" (tells you how much I pay attention).

Jeff Buckley: "Grace" is an amazing album. It's a shame we'll never hear anything new by him again.

Catherine Wheel: If I were to pick one album by them it would be "Ferment." I could listen to the song "Black Metallic" for days ...

Recoil: Alan Wilder (of Depeche Mode fame) is behind this lovely project. Each album has a different sound - and it's really hard to describe. I love "Bloodline" the best (because Toni from Curve does guest vocals on two songs).

Jude: What I've heard from him is great. He has a song on the "City of Angels" soundtrack that is amazing.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Ani DeFranco is obscure? eek.

Last I read, Soul Coughing had broken up, but they were wonderful live and their three discs are excellent, eclectic weirdo rock guitar kinda sampler-heavy jungle-y sarcastic melodic overboard goodness.

Obscure acts... let's set the way-back machine for 1964, and dig on Koerner, Ray and Glover's first effort, Blues, Rags & Hollers. You guys seem to be into rock, and baby, this is where it all came from. Spider John's tales of urban weirdness and sarcastic grinning seven-string pluckin' and strummin, with Tony Glover's incredible harp and Dave Ray janglin' that twelve string just as wild as it will go...

Any of you listen to Alex Patterson, The Orb? Dunno if that counts as obscure, but it sure is good... and how about Air? If y'all can call Ani obscure, I guess those count.

Take care -Trey

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Air and the ORb aren't obscure, but I'll second them as good choices.

The Arrogant Worms have a website:http://www.cyberus.ca/~jeffmay/worms/worms.htm
Ran across it en route to someplace else...which is how I find most amusing websites.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

OK, here goes. If you want to hear some funny-but-oh-so-offensive music, try giving a listen to The Frogs. They are a band from Milwaukee and they are very, very, (ahem) VERY forthright about the fact that they are gay. In fact, these guys are so funny and cool that I am glad they are relatively unknown, because someone would try to ban them I think. The most famous thing that has happened to them is that they were sampled on a Beck song. The sample went like this: "That was a good drum break." The next line to that song is "Feel like makin' love to all the men tonight!" Another cool band is Brujeria. They are a Satanic death metal band that sings only in Spanish, and they are composed of some of the members of Faith No More and maybe Fear Factory. They are only a parody band, so people shouldn't take them too seriously, but BOY can they pull off the serious thing! Finally, you might have to travel to Austin and find their albums by asking around (I don't know if any of them are still in print), but everyone should check out Twang Twang Shocka Boom. They were a three piece band (acoustic guitar, stand-up bass, and very minimal drumset) that broke up shortly after their first anniversary. They are possibly one of the greatest bands in history, and they are gone. Sorry, folks. Oh, and Ani DeFranco can kiss my ass. Just because she is indie doesn't mean she can write a single listenable note of music.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Also, the Chickasaw Mudd Puppies absolutely fucking RULE! Two guys, one with a guitar and the other sitting in a rocking chair percussion stuff duct-taped to the armrests. The guy in the rocking chair also plays harmonica into a separate microphone which is almost entirely wrapped in duct tape. The main percussion is supplied by the rocking chair guy stomping his feet. With just that, it is amazing what a large soung they can produce. Think swamp porch rock and you will have a good hold on the Chickasaw Mudd Puppies. Next, you MUST listen to Don Walser out of Austin. Good ole yodelin' country music in the style of those country greats who roamed the earth over 40 years ago. This ain't no bullshit country like we have today (which might as well be rock). No sir, this is one of the purest voices EVER being backed by some of the best musicians in the business. Check 'em out.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

well i am a big They Might Be Giants fan, and at thier last concert, You Were Spiraling opened. they are damn good. they come from jersey and tom brislin the lead singer is meatloaf's piano player. but don't hold that against him :) they do a kick ass cover of take on me!

Caitlyn

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

chito loves don walser. now i've heard everything. i can't believe this is the same guy who tried to trash his office with me while listening to "firestarter."

punking instigator, indeed.

-- Anonymous, May 26, 2000

Damn! Someone beat me to The Dismemberment Plan! But I second it, wholeheartedly. They're just... crazy. Chaotic, slightly emo-y (their latest CD is, at least) pop. Awesome. Burning Airlines (also on DeSoto) are also very, very good.

For more poppy stuff: The Mr. T Experience -- If Blink 182 was good, they might sound like The Mr. T Experience did. If they were lucky.

Peter Parker -- Poppy, punky Seattle band. They get props for doing a cover of They Might Be Giants' "Don't Let's Start"

Dirt Bike Annie -- If you like Peter Parker, you'll like these guys, too. Poppy punk with a little Moog action thrown in for good measure.

Let's see... others... Sunset Valley (Pixies-ish pop/rock-- "Jackass Crusher" is a great song), Sweet Water (now broken up-- and reformed as the Parc Boys), The Hi-Fives, and Boris The Sprinkler (respect is due to any band who writes a song called "My Radio Is Telling Me To Kill (The Guys On My Radio)"). Ooh, and The Makers-- "Rock Star God" is just awesome.

-- Anonymous, May 27, 2000

I just had to comment on the band erin was thinking of...barenaked ladies. the song is "one week"...catchy. ah.

I guess I could mention a few more that could be considered obscure to some:

spiritualized
catatonia [I love that I am the mob song...I got it on a mixtape once]
the get up kids [yeah...I hear most don't like them that much, but I find it very catchy]

-- Anonymous, May 27, 2000

ooops. I forgot bran van 3000. yeah, they did play that one rappish sounding one on the radio before but the whole album is very very ecleptic. I have it. it has some rock, some rap, and other diff sounds..even reggae mixed in there. I wonder what happened to them..haven't heard much in awhile.

-- Anonymous, May 27, 2000

K's Choice... they do have concerts and stuff, and many fans, but they do not play on the radio and are rather unknown... most people only know of one album of theirs, while they have 3, not including many participations in other albums and a collection.

They are some sort of a alternative-rock band.

-- Anonymous, May 27, 2000

If by the term "new" you mean new to you then some of these might tickle your fancy: Galaxie 500, Wilco, Uncle Tupelo (Uncle Tupelo's albums are great- a little country, but mostly punk),Tom Waits for your quiet, introspective moments/if you spend a lot of your time drunk, anything by Kate Bush (although I don't know if she qualifies for obscure/new), Sloan's Navy Blues rocks AND they're Canadian, Stereolab, Gusto del Sol, Bongwater, Mazzy Star, Lambchop, Sugar, Luna and you can never fail with the Pixies (again, not quite obscure).

-- Anonymous, May 27, 2000

I like Catatonia, too, Amber; I Am the Mob is a good song, but also check out Mulder and Scully, Road Rage, Karaoke Queen, Dead from the Waist Down and Londinium.

Speaking of Welsh bands, Super Furry Animals are excellent and have just released a Welsh language album, Mwng, which is so easy to sing along to that it'll make you want to do a Berlitz course in Welsh.

Also check out theaudience (I Know Enough, Boutique in My Backyard and If You Can't Do It When You're Young (When Can You Do It?) being their best tracks) and Kula Shaker's Shower Your Love, Tattva and Sound of Drums (the lead singer, Crispian Mills, is Hayley Mills's son).

-- Anonymous, May 27, 2000

There's a band called MULDER AND SCULLY? Hehe!!! That's awsome.

Oh, and the Barenaked Ladies are so NOT obscure. But if you're looking for something from them... their first album, Gordon, is by far the best.

-- Anonymous, May 27, 2000

Well people have already mentioned the ones I was going to so I'll just second some nominations. I, too, thought of Jump, Little Children when I first saw this thread. I've seen them live 4 times this year, 5 times in my life, they're sooooo awesome. Whoever said they're out of Charleston: I thought they were out of Winston-Salem, NC. (I could be wrong, just thought I'd mention it.) Also Guster, who I recently saw open for JLC. Before that I'd not heard of them but they're also great, hope to hear lots more of them. Soul Coughing is very cool, I have "Bus to Beelzebub" or whatever it's called on my mp3 playlist. Oh and Ani DiFranco is a great musician but I wouldn't consider her obscure by any means.

-- Anonymous, May 28, 2000

Oh yeah one more that's kinda obscure in that most of the time when I mention it amongst my friends they've not heard of it. Anyway, it's a group called Apocalyptica, four guys on cello who cover stuff like Metallica. Very very cool.

-- Anonymous, May 28, 2000

I guess I am lucky. There is a really good public radio station here (www.wncw.org) that plays just about EVERYTHING from big band to reggae to blues to all of those groups previously mentioned here. You might try and see if there is a public radio station like this in your area.

Some good, not very mainstream groups and singers:

-VAST -Southern Culture on the Skids -BR549 -Ben Harper -Cool for August -Caroline's Spine -Indigo Girls -K's Choice

Or you could just have radio habits like me: listen to public radio for a week then listen to rock/alternative for a week, then top 40/pop then country then start the whole cycle over again.

-- Anonymous, May 28, 2000

No, Lindsay, Mulder and Scully is a song by a band called Catatonia.

-- Anonymous, May 28, 2000

Word to the people who mentioned Rasputina. Their music is just soo interesting.

I also love the Cubbies, Sister Machine Gun, Savage Aural Hotbed whom I have already mentioned in other threads. Ooo and Spoon. Any band whose name is a homage to The Tick is cool in my book. ;)

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2000

If anyone's in the mood to just sit down and cry, I recommend Ralph Covert and the Bad Examples. Alot of their stuff is pop-y and not all that original (although still fun), but Adam McCarthy and Cold Shivers are possibly the 2 saddest songs ever recorded. The only place I was ever able to find any stuff by them was an alternative- type place in Chicago, but if you can find their CD's, they're definitely worth checking out.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2000

Oh, "Mulder and Scully" is just a song name? Well... it's still cool.

I just got about 10 GUSTER MP3s from Napster and I just wanted to get on here and second the motion for Guster discovery. They're GREAT GREAT GREAT. If you want a first song to search for (they are ALL good, but...) "Barrel of a Gun" is fab. Their drums sound a lot like Jacob Two Two's stuff and their vocals remind me of a mix between GBS and the Barenaked Ladies. Marvy.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2000

If Indigo Girls have fallen into the realm of "obscure bands," this world is surely headed in the wrong direction. Ay carumba.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2000

Yes, I know Indigo Girls are far from being obscure, but they still are not exactly mainstream. You will probably not hear them on the same station you hear bubble-gum pop I figured I'd point them out in case someone overlooked them.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2000

James... Trevor... you forgot to mention that you can listen to TripleJ online (www.abc.net.au/triplej). Whilst I agree that it has become horribly mainstreamish over the last few years, I reckon there's probably a lot of quality Australian bands on there that would be unknown to Pamie. And that's gotta be better than Britany Spears-esque music any time (and it's still not "we rock!" TripleM).

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2000

Yeah, Soul Coughing did break up, but Doughty is touring solo now, and Mark has his own solo album out already.

Other new suggestions... Travis, Self, The Virgin-Whore Complex, The Eels, Fluid Ounces and On.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2000

James, Trevor, Mogs- How about Triple R? I'm in Melbourne, I don't know if other states have it, though. Good music, and the talky bits are refreshingly free of bullshit.

Weepboy- I am giggling insanely at your assertion that Australians are cool. But thanks.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2000

Amber, are you talking about Bran Van 3000's Drinking in LA (at age 26) song? I love that one, can't resist it.

I've heard about 50% of these bands/groups. Didn't know they were considered "obsecure", though. Then again, I mentioned Mazzy Star to a friend who went to ISU, and he said, "You know about them? I thought they were famous only in Ames [Iowa]?"

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

Unwound. You should be able to find their cds in any indie-type music store. The label is Kill Rock Stars.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

BUCKETHEAD,the CD Colma. Listen to it you will like it. Instremental, amazing stuff, other CD, Robots and Monsters is way different but also wild and wonderful guitar based weirdness. Its like freeform jazz on electric guitar played by a man raised in a chicken coop.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

Shiner, on O&O Records are amazing. Highly recommend them. Also, Chavez, on Matador Records. Killer math rock, both bands.

paul

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

For pure pop sounds try: The Connells Promise Ring The Jayhawks Spinanes Continental Drifters

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

The War Against Silence, a music review site that favors unknowns, should keep anyone going for months. And I was pleasantly surprised to find samples of even the really obscure bands on The Application That Shall Not Be Named.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

"morcheeba" is one of my favorite lesser known bands. female lead singer, very mood-inspiring music.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

Not enough Ska plugs here, let me alleviate that situation.

For feel-good ska experiances, may I recommend The Toasters: Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down, The Aquabats and Save Ferris: It Means Everything. All garunteed to put a bounce in your heels and a skank in your step. You may get poo-poohed on by "core" ska fans for such blatently happy music, but I recommend a good strong rasberry and a break north.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

Ultimate Fakebook - www.ultimatefakebook.com the Creature Comforts - www.noisome.com/cc

a couple of great (sorta) new pop bands from Kansas. Ultimate Fakebook just got signed by Epic, so if you get a chance to see them soon, do it. Do it now before they get too huge to enjoy that intimate club setting. Creature Comforts are right on their heels, too. Just good, clean fun!

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

In an alt-country mood? Neko Case and Her Boyfriends. The Old 97s (get Too Far to Care).

Electronic? Autechre. Salaryman. Spring Heel Jack.

Pop/punk/"wall of sound"? The Poster Children. I can not plug them enough. They are so cool. Their live shows are frenetic.

If they are not already your friends: Bob Mould, XTC (who are finally coming out with new stuff), and Robyn Hitchcock.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

extremely cool intrumental umm...something: Fila Brazilia.

Vic Chesnutt, the cranky underappreciated genius.

Tortoise: for music to fall through space to.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

Huggy Bear. brilliant band. girl-boy-revolution-tease.

Lamb - beat music, vocals, a voice from heaven

speaking of, The Cocteau Twins.....

Don Caballero -instrumental guitar braincandy

and some Boston greats of the present: Tips Fourteens, The Bismarck, and others whose names I forget right now..

I think "obscure" here means (in US terms) "played on college radio"

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

the nicene creeders

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

I recommend:

-God's Holy Frito (L.A.) -Three Stupid Spoons and A Fork (Milwaukee) -Vercengetorix (French....weird) -Timothy Appelbaum and the Concussions (Portland) -Earth Central (Seattle) -The Sprocketheads (Boston punk...they do a cover of 'Eep Opp Ork Aa-Aa' from the 60s animated teevee show 'The Jetsons')

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

Lili, Triple R is only in Melbourne. There's a 2RRR (Ryde Regional Radio) in Sydney, but it's not connected to the Melbourne one. I hear a lot of good things about community radio in Melbourne which makes me regret not having any in Sydney (we have 2SER, who I work for, but they play dance music almost exclusively which is no good for me).

Mogs is right, we did forget to mention that JJJ can be heard online. 6RTR in Perth (about whom I hear several good things) apparently can be heard on the Net too.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

not really obscure but Supergrass have some of the best music i've heard. AIR as well. they have heaps of clips at: http://www.caroline.com/associated/source/air/

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

Supergrass! YES, download Moving from Napster -- it'll make you want to buy their new album, which is amazing. Pure musical perfection. In it for the Money and I Should Coco are terrific, too (Caught by the Fuzz is a favourite of mine, and Alright ('We are young...") was on the Clueless soundtrack.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

Little plug here for an alternative (I cringe at the term, but whatever) band that no one at all besides me that I've ever met has heard of. I'm not sure that they even still exist. I found a promotional cd of theirs in a bin in a store once.

They're called the Hollowbodies. I think they're native to the New York area, and they are/were really good, but no one's ever heard of them.

A higher number of people have heard of the Refreshments. They did the theme song to King of the Hill, and "that everybody knows the world is full of stupid people song". The latter, "Banditos," is part of their album "Fizzy Fuzzy Big and Buzzy," which is an amazing album. Find it if you can.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

I love the Refreshments. "Una mas Cerveza, por favor."
Whoever it was that mentioned Reef, I have a bit of a thing against them that has nothing to do with the band at all - their 'enhanced CD' for Glow made my computer lose its mind. Ugh.
I thought of some more good ones that can be found on Napster - Buckwheat Zydeco (for those who appreciate this stuff) and Cowboy Mouth.(reminds me of the Refreshments, somehow.)
There's a community radio station around here - WMNF, complete with a real-audio connection, that plays practically every kind of music you can imagine. From gospel to techno. NPR news. Lots of good things. Go look.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

I'm pretty sure no one mentioned these two:

Neutral Milk Hotel Sea and Cake

You'll be happy. Very, very happy.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

You said: "I think "obscure" here means (in US terms) "played on college radio" ..."

Actually, "obscure" means "not played on a station that also has "Mandatory Metallica" on the playlist. I used to be able to see some genuine enthusiasm from the deejays re: some of the new stuff coming out. Now they seem to have to really force themselves to give a crap about most of the new stuff. I can't blame them, generally speaking...

"Obscure" means that Best Buy and Blockbuster and Turtles (etc) don't carry it, you have to special order it.

"Obscure" means that you rarely see some dork wearing a tee-shirt with the band's logo or artwork on it. Unless the dork is you.

"Obscure" means that the demographic that ONLY listens to Britty/Chrissy/Jessy et al will probably have no clue they exist.

"Obscure" means that the lyrics might have taken longer than five minutes to write and that they might--heaven forbid--MEAN SOMETHING. Not that this is a prerequisite for a good pop song, but multisyllabic lyrics generally don't play well to the masses.

"Obscure" means that cool older people were probably into them, and they will be amused when you 'discover' them. ;)

"Obscure" means that the band might not have bothered to make a video for MTV/VH1.

IMHO, of course. YMMV.

M

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

I am a "core" ska fan, and I will now proceed to "poo poo" on Bryan's post in favor of some true ska fans that feature good musicians playing authentic music, not the pop slop that is called ska in america.

the slackers: jamaican ska as well as soul, rocksteady, dub, boogaloo and more played by some fabulous men from brooklyn. Pick up their new live CD or any of their studio albums on Hellcat records (epitaph subsidary).
the lead singer/keyboard player of the slackers, vic ruggerio, also has a new solo album (living in sin/understanding new jersey) that is amazing folky acoustic punky pop stuff. Sounds like if Ben Weasel and Jonathan Richman were locked in a room together. Um, yeah, and check out screeching weasel, though they're not obscure at all in the punk world.

Another great jazzy ska band is Jump With Joey. Pick up anything you can find by them. They were selling out shows before the rest of the world decided to make swing, lounge and ska cool again. Great musicians, again.

if you like jazz, pick up anything featuring gilbert castellanos. great trumpet player, amazing skill and sound.

on the weird/innovative/they might be giants/dead milkmen tip, check out atom and his package. punky, poppy, synthesizer songs to bop around to while playing "name that sample."

The Faint have a new album out, blank wave arcade, that is simply amazing. Sounds of new order, devo, and other 80's synth acts combined with 90's gabber and hardcore techno breakdowns and standard indie rock guitar and drum work is combined to create a sound that is futuristic and elegantly constructed while still human and above all danceable. buy it and thank my later.

who just finished subnitting her record reviews to her friend's magazine? gee, lemme guess...

Allison

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

The Presidents of the United States of America! Belle and Sebastian definitely,Heather Nova and Lisa Loeb.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

Rich Hardesty, Aphex Twin, Blur (are they considered obscure?), The Wannadies, and The Pixies (are they that obscure either?).

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Sean, Cake is good. Definitely.

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Someone already mentioned The Eels, but I wanted to mention them anyway. Merrill Bainbridge and Fountains of Wayne are cool too.

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Most of my recommendations have been given repeatedly here, but I'll also throw in Mary Timony and Moxy Fruvous as bonuses.

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

FYI Most of the band members of JLC went to school in the Winston Salem area but they moved to Charleston and picked up Jonathan and basically started up there.

A couple of my favorite up-and-coming bands are Collapsis and
-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000