On reddit this was always bait for people who don’t know what “mainstream” or “underrated” means. Like I don’t know if you’ve heard of this obscure niche ragtag band… Supertramp? Compare Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man treating every cultural touchstone from prior to 2000 as lost knowledge found in ancient manuscripts.
So I’m gonna say Kingston Wall, a Finnish progressive rock band, and risk finding out that they were a household name for the dozens of people who gave a shit about prog in the 90s. “We Cannot Move” sounds like the pinnacle of 70s production. It just came out while Yes was doing synth-pop and Pink Floyd was doing a Moody Blues album. If it turns out everyone who’s heard of Porcupine Tree already knows about them… good.
If we’re talking mass appeal that’s missing, I’d say The Cinematics. Two and a half albums of energetic alternative rock. Broadly anti-consumerist messages throughout. Guest work from We Are Scientists and Beck. Broke up for unspecified reasons. They deserve to be one of those “oh yeah, those guys” kind of bands. Not mindblowing… but remembered.
Off the list:
The Caretaker, after Everywhere At The End Of Time was a devastating realization of what they’d been doing the whole time, and superlative-obsessed reviewers took notice.
Frightened Rabbit, whose recognition was unfortunately well-demonstrated when their lead singer jumped off a bridge. Honestly, it was the world’s least surprising suicide. The man wrote a song about it. Same bridge and everything.
My Morning Jacket, a psychedelic rock act well-known enough to make a McSweeney’s list of “what your favorite Sad Dad Band says about you.” (Viz: “you know how to cook an eel.”) The album Z absolutely rules, and you have to remove the skin and rinse out the blood.
I understand most of your words.
TL;DR - listen to Midnight Organ Fight, listen to Z, stick with salmon.
Listen to An Empty Bliss Beyond This World if you want to get real sad and not know why.
Some that I think should be wayy more popular than they currently are:
- Jukebox the ghost
- aimee mann
- V.A.S.T
- Prefab sprout
- Ivy
- Passion pit
- Placebo
- The war on drugs
- tokyo police club
- Stars
- The dismemberment plan
Is Placebo niche now?
Probably, I don’t know how I found them but I grew up in the 90s and 00s and never heard of them.
I’m not familiar with most of these but I drove 2 hours to see Jukebox the Ghost play in the second story of a church when I was like 19, and Stars is probably my number one favorite band, so I may have to check out some of your other entries here.
Edit: The Jukebox the Ghost show was really cool btw, they wouldn’t let them do an encore in the upstairs part of the venue but they agreed to let the keyboardist do a solo encore on the church’s organ on the first floor.
I saw them twice live, they’re so good. Not many bands have the same optimism and energy as they do.
Yes thanks.
They’re pretty well-known.
I’ve never heard of a band called Thanks.
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Me too thanks.
In case my posting history (and in fact user name lol) doesn’t make it obvious - Infected Mushroom
It’s impossible to pick a single example or a favourite track, since they vary so widely in style and it depends on what mood your in! But some of the better known classics are (best heard on headphones, unless you have a really incredible audio system):
And one from their 25th anniversary album
A Cookie From SpaceAnd many many more in between, but I’ll leave it at that lol (E: the links are each from the full album playlist, so that’s a good place to start)
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Days N Daze
Love DnD, wish they put out more music like Rogue Taxidermy. I’ve listened to plenty of folk punk before, but I’ve still never heard anything quite like them. The Taxpayers comes close but are too soft to be a real replacement.
Mdou Moctar
So many artists, but as a huge metalhead here are two who IMO deserve way more light.
Ruins of Beverast https://theruinsofbeverast.bandcamp.com/album/exuvia
I’ve been big on MUTEMATH since highschool. Unfortunately, I think they’ve broken up, but I still love their music.
Very good band. Odd soul is a great album.
Their song “Computers” is the best way to musically describe working a shitty job and then hitting that glorious weekend only to have to do it all over again.
Umphrey’s McGee
Fuckin love umph, got to see them twice so far. Once with sts9, which I also love.
Umphreys, Lotus, and STS9 have always been kind of a trifecta for me. I’ve also always liked Papadosio and it feels like they’re just getting better every time I see them.
Potentially less widely known, a Michigan band called Chirp. I also recently discovered Kendall Street Company and their interpretation of Eyes of the World is so good it haunts me.
The longest johns
Fun answer, seeing them in May on their US tour next year and I’m hyped
Sleep Token. They’re not as obscure as they used to be. They kind of blew up this year but only in the metal scene. Not quite mainstream yet but I think they’ll get there.
Tigran Hamasyan (Armenian piano jazz-metal)
The Gabriel Construct (self-described as art music iirc, but basically just some experimental rock)
Jaggery (avant-rock, cool harp sounds)
Noah Sias (deathcore? Just so fucking heavy idk)
Bent Knee (experimental rock, just an absolutely gorgeous song)
Mel Bryant (indie rock, great hook, cool breakdown)
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Cari Cari (just discovered them, psychedelic jams)
Bargain Music (reggae/ska, similar to sublime)
Secret Chiefs 3 (schitzo alternative/middle eastern, many members of Mr. Bungle)
TR/ST (darkwave)
The Two Man Gentleman Band (old timey barbershop banjo)
Superorganism (psychedelic)
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (punk covers)
St. Vincent (indie/alternative)Two Man Gentlemen Band are so funny. Fancy Beer!
many members of Mr. Bungle
Not to be confused with the Bangles or the Buggles.
Though 1980s Yes hiring Mike Patton would’ve been quite a thing.
AURORA, although I guess she’s gaining increased mainstream recognition now?
Since I’m very hurdy gurdy focused atm, Patty Gurdy and Michalina Malisz (as well as her band LYRRE)
