Recently, thoia posted a neat Geeklist on the Finnish metal band, Amorphis. I had never heard of this band before thoia’s post, and enjoyed being able to give them a listen.
I then had a clever idea (at least I think it's clever)—why not expand on thoia’s Geeklist by starting one where everyone could post an item describing his or her favorite, lesser-known musical artist or group. So, if you have a favorite band that you think deserves more exposure, post a Geeklist item extolling their virtues. Include an audio file or video of one of their best songs (if possible) for everyone to listen to. And when all is said and done, we will all have some cool new songs to add to our music collections.
Since about 2001 I've been smitten by European gothic heavy metal, featuring mezzo soprano female singers countered by male death grunts. I used to be big into American heavy but I got pretty bored with it. After a few years into American progressive metal (Queensryche and Dream Theater) I found After Forever.
Not incredibly obscure, although very few people I know seem to know of them. By far one of my all-time favorite bands: ELBOW.
Here are a couple of songs from their last album.
and... completely different is BOBBY BABY, some great low-key electronica. Kind of EBTG-flavored. You can download most everything she's done for free at her website ( http://www.bobbybaby.net/)
John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band. They did they music from Eddie & the Cruisers I and II. They sound very much like Bruce Springsteen. Perhaps the best known song of theirs is On The Darkside. I would link it from youtube on here, but I don't know how thats done.
Hmmm. It's hard to pick an artist for this thread. I listen to the musical equivalent of Settlers: too staid for those used to avant-garde, but too exotic for the mainstream listener (I remember someone asking me what I listened to for 'normal music' after I played them a Madness track).
Ed Alleyne-Johnson would probably be the one the fewest people have heard of. He's an electric violinist who apparently busks in places like Chester. He's appeared on Jools Holland. He's got a great selection of original compositions, but also has a couple of albums consisting of nothing but great covers.
(No YouTube embedding. I for one dislike the page load.)
THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT Perhaps the best upcoming band in OZ. If you miss Faith No More and like your music raw,complex,heavy, harmonic and melancholic - perhaps Joy Division crossed with The Cure , then this bands got it;unless they get all commercial. Don't you hate it when that happens. Remember Simple Minds, New Order, Sisters Of Mercy etc etc.
Not quite sure how obscure they are on a world stage. Trouble is here in Oz, its hard to get a sense of how big a band really is. I mean if you listen to the media then INXS were as big as Duran Duran or The Presets are as big as The Smashing Pumpkins. I could go on, but may offend someone.
Oh, here's one you folks will enjoy: The Darkest Of The Hillside Thickets
Charming little bunch of sick puppies who do songs with titles like "Sounds of Tindalos", "Going Down to Dunwich", "The Innsmouth Look" and "Six-Gun Gorgon Dynamo" - perfect music for playing Arkham Horror! (Or the "Spaceship Zero" RPG, which they also created as well as wrote a soundtrack to).
(The last one doesn't have the best sound quality, as it's live, but it's one of my favorites of theirs. How many other bands get to use the word "Archeteuthis" in their songs?)
There are 10 kinds of people who understand binary: Those who do, and those who don't.
Pure pop rock with excellent hooks by Adam Schlesinger of "Fountains of Wayne" fame. Drummer? Bun E. Carlos of "Cheap Trick". Throw in some James Iha of "Smashing Pumpkins" and you have a modern Supergroup.
Wow! Thirty minutes after posting and there is already a great initial selection of videos! Thanks for the rapid responses. And remember that the goal of this geeklist is to play fanboy (or fangirl) for some of your favorite music. Let's not get too bogged down in debating whether or not a posted group is obscure enough to be included.
There are 10 kinds of people who understand binary: Those who do, and those who don't.
Barticus88 wrote:
I have vaguely heard of Camber van Beethoven, Acid King, and Fu Manchu. I am not surprised there are so many I have not heard of. There are tens of thousands of bands out there who sound really good to somebody.
Camper Van Beethoven are essentially the same group as "Cracker". I went to a Cracker concert and Camper Van Beethoven "opened" for them. Quite cool. VERY loud. But quite cool...
Fort Smith
Arkansas
Perth
Western Australia
There is no other word that I can think of to describe this list.
Wow might work.
Calgary
Alberta
Camper Van Beethoven are essentially the same group as "Cracker". I went to a Cracker concert and Camper Van Beethoven "opened" for them. Quite cool. VERY loud. But quite cool...
Sandnes
I don't know if that means something.
Warminster
Pennsylvania
Dredg
Pinback
Karnivool
Didnt think I was the only one to listen to any of these dudes.