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.
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):
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.
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.
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.
Mdou Moctar
So many artists, but as a huge metalhead here are two who IMO deserve way more light.
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.
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
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
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)
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.
Two Man Gentlemen Band are so funny. Fancy Beer!
Mutemath is one of my favorites. Every album is different. In recent years they got more electronic sounding and the band broke up a couple of years ago.
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.
Nulberry
(Now called "The She Gulls")
Very talented mathrock artist.
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)
LĹ«N (EDM)/Lights (electropop) (same artist, different personas) has some great music if you'll like that kind of stuff. Probably most recognized in Canada, much less so in the US and rest of the world.
I also enjoy Echo Movement (reggae) but I'm not sure if they're still making music or not.
All links go to invidious.
Poets Of The Fall. They aren't too known but they are the ones behind many Remedy games soundtracks including Control and Alan Wake. Dam they're good, especially their Alexander Theatre session and live performances.
I only have one song from them in my playlist, Requiem for My Harlequin, but I quite like it. I found it while listening to KGRG.
Can definitely recommend Carnival of Rust, War, and Beyond The Horizon. Not limited to this list but these are my favorites
As a teenager I fell in love with Gong and still listen to them today. Managed to see Daevid Allen's Gong in Brighton back then. Amazing.
Not sure if Fila Brazillia are now recognised by the mainstream? Just incredible. Got to see them early 2000s at Shepherds Bush Empire. All that Pork stuff from Hull was a real scene.
And finally, just real, proper, modern Acid House.
Any questions?
Watsky!
Michael Cera isn't an artist. Cut it out.
Collective Soul (fairly popular in their heyday, less so now)
Jon Hopkins (Electronic)
Sylvan Esso (pop/electronic)
Esme Patterson (Rock/Folk)
Jason Isbell (Country)
The Watchouse (Formerly Mandolin Orange; Country)
My kids say I don't have a good grasp of how popular bands are, but I think most of these are popular? I have seen Jason Isbell, Sylvan Esso, and Bleachers in pretty big venues here.
I was thinking about "mainstream", but that could be interpreted a few ways. I think these are popular bands within their niche genres, but I don't know if I'd call them mainstream. If I'd ask most of my friends about Sylvan esso maybe one out of ten might have heard of them. But if I talk to someone that listens to a lot of electronic music they definitely would know of them. Sorry @OP: I might have misinterpreted your prompt!
Atomship. It was a blend of alternative metal and progressive rock. It's a really unique sound and they only ever did a single album.
Papadosio.
vexento
The Japanese metal band Galneryus
Idk if it's mainstream or not, but I really like Winona Fighter. Good angry punk rock.
Orbit Culture's great if you're a metalhead
Beach House
Temples
Arlo Parks
Grouplove
I’ll second Temples
I'm surprised they're not more popular given how close their music is (or at least was early on) to Tame Impala.
I think it's great psychedelic rock without going too experimental.
I'm sure some people have heard of them but I didn't see them anywhere in here. So, here ya go!
Low is super slow and very long (at least in the first couple of albums).
Charlie Parr is an amazing country blues singer.
Aesop Rock
Many... too many to list.
De Staat
I can't make sense of the reality that they're not incredibly famous.
Khruangbin, MONO, Babe Rainbow, Kikagaku Moyo.
If Khrungabin aren't well known there is no justice in the universe. They are so good. They headlined a big festival here (one so expensive I didn't go) and did those awesome collaborations with Leon Bridges so I thought they were famous?
Here's a few sludgy/doomy metal bands I've been listening to a lot lately: Froglord, Squalus, GUHTS, Grayceon, Hippie Death Cult
Also I think he's starting to breach mainstream popularity, but I'd be remiss if I didn't spread the word of Amigo the Devil (dark country/folk, "murderfolk")
Do you know Monolord's music? I really like it.
Yep definitely! I almost saw them live once with Firebreather, but there was another show the same night with The Sword. We picked The Sword, and I'm glad we did since they've called it quits and Monolord is still around.
We caught Firebreather twice on a recent tour they did, once in NYC (GUHTS, already mentioned opened) and again in SF (Snakemother opened - also worth checking out!).
Still waiting for Monolord to make a return trip to the SF Bay area to fill up my bingo card lol
I got into Amigo The Devil almost a decade ago in highschool. I used The Weight in my senior project presentation when it was a recent single.
FKJ (French Kiwi Juice)
Dude is incredible, and his Cercle set is breathtaking.
Nightly. But they are getting there.
Mallory Chipman is wonderful.
Work Drugs.
Cool as hell band who make smooth, summery, indie pop laced with synths and sax.
They're not really considered underground since they have 1 million monthly listeners, but I still don't see a lot of people talking about the band Foreign Air. They are known for their hit "Free Animal", but they have so many good songs. I recommend "Your Touch", "Hello Sunshine Pt 2", "Wake Me Up", "Moving On," and "Monsters". Unsure of how to describe their genre, it certainly isn't rock nor bubbly pop...
Mission of Burma
Diiv (Although they just toured with Depeche Mode so they may be more known now)
Spot
A Minor Forest
Pretty much my whole genre is obscure - appalachian "old time" fiddle music.
The best way to experience this genre - sitting the middle of a jam, preferably with an instrument. Here's boys them buzzards are flying from that perspective.
Some more examples I like:
Here's Dan Gellert being funky on fretless banjo. Tune is black eyed susie.
Here's his daughter Rayna Gellert & co on red steer
Really obscure: I like Ramsay Midwood, Have Gun Will Travel, and Joshua Ray Walker too, so good and a class act as a person.
Somewhat known: I love Ondara, Durand Jones & the Indications and all their associated solo stuff, Charley Crockett, Toro y Moi, Phosphorescent, Josh Ritter, Arlo Parks.
Oh my God how could I forget, they are broken up now but J RODDY WALSTON AND THE BUSINESS! They are one of the best live acts I've seen and their records were also great.
Avenza
Dedline
i like SOJAs reggae beats and listen to them while welding
I love the Delgados. They broke up a long time ago and cited being dissatisfied with not obtaining much success. The most exposure they saw was one of their songs being used for an anime opening. Alun Woodward released one pretty neat solo album as "Lord Cut Glass", and Emma Pollack made (is still making?) a few solo albums afterwards that are all pretty good, too. I think their drummer was one of the most unrecognized musicians working in popular music ever. The drums on the Delgados albums go hard.
I like Will Wood, his stuff has been described as "evil jazz", but it ranges from calm and soothing singer-songwriter type stuff to a full upbeat jazz band with chaotic composition and arrangement. I find his lyrics insightful, but they are also often quite abstract.
Cute girls doing cute things have some nice tracks, but many of them feel a bit the same-y.
The Vienna Clarinet Collection has great covers of classic clarinet songs, but classical and jazz.
I couldn't choose one, so here are a few jazz bands I like: Francis Coppieters, Loftys Comet, T-Square, Micheal Lowerstern, Archie Shepp, Sons of Kemet, and Mansur Brown
For obvious reasons they haven't been so active lately.
I was miffed when, in the early 90s, grunge swooped in and wrecked powerpop's resurgence. MTV had Jellyfish in every corner, and seemingly overnight Nirvana took over.
In the search for harmonies, major key power chords, and jangly, summery guitars (not to mention hummable hooks galore) I had to dig.
The Well Wishers
Dressy Bessy
The Lolas
The Beths
The Dahlmanns
The Riffbackers
And I know I'm missing so many more feel-good bands...
Does the Gorillaz count? I know they got Tama Impala and Bad Bunny on their Cracker Island album but I never see anyone talk about them
My brother in Christ Gorillaz is so much bigger than Tame Impala or Bad Bunny
I consider Gorillaz to be mainstream. Or at least Demon Days was mainstream.
That's fair I just haven't heard anyone really talk about them since Plastic Beach
They were the only band where the merch I have of them prompted a discussion with my classmates who know almost no bands that I regularly listen to. Could also be the more mainstream genre that Gorillaz is in compared to the Deathcore or darkwave bands I also have merch of.
Greta Van Fleet I suppose, rock band that sounds like a modern led zepellin.
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.
Yes thanks.
They're pretty well-known.
I've never heard of a band called Thanks.
Jeph Jacques linked them once on Livejournal.
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
Jeph Jacques linked them once on Livejournal.
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.
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):
Bust A Move
Heavyweight
The Messenger
Cities Of The Future
And one from their 25th anniversary album
A Cookie From Space
And 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)
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
Bust A Move
Heavyweight
The Messenger
Cities Of The Future
A Cookie From Space
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.
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.
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.
Clown Core
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.
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
Worm https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/foreverglade
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.
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
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
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)
Not to be confused with the Bangles or the Buggles.
Though 1980s Yes hiring Mike Patton would've been quite a thing.
Two Man Gentlemen Band are so funny. Fancy Beer!
Mutemath is one of my favorites. Every album is different. In recent years they got more electronic sounding and the band broke up a couple of years ago.
Chaos is one of my all time favorite songs.
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)
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
Tigran Hamasyan
The Gabriel Construct
Jaggery
Noah Sias
Bent Knee
Mel Bryant
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.
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.
Nulberry
(Now called "The She Gulls")
Very talented mathrock artist.
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)
LĹ«N (EDM)/Lights (electropop) (same artist, different personas) has some great music if you'll like that kind of stuff. Probably most recognized in Canada, much less so in the US and rest of the world.
I also enjoy Echo Movement (reggae) but I'm not sure if they're still making music or not.
All links go to invidious.
Poets Of The Fall. They aren't too known but they are the ones behind many Remedy games soundtracks including Control and Alan Wake. Dam they're good, especially their Alexander Theatre session and live performances.
I only have one song from them in my playlist, Requiem for My Harlequin, but I quite like it. I found it while listening to KGRG.
Can definitely recommend Carnival of Rust, War, and Beyond The Horizon. Not limited to this list but these are my favorites
As a teenager I fell in love with Gong and still listen to them today. Managed to see Daevid Allen's Gong in Brighton back then. Amazing.
Not sure if Fila Brazillia are now recognised by the mainstream? Just incredible. Got to see them early 2000s at Shepherds Bush Empire. All that Pork stuff from Hull was a real scene.
And finally, just real, proper, modern Acid House.
Any questions?
Watsky!
Michael Cera isn't an artist. Cut it out.
Collective Soul (fairly popular in their heyday, less so now)
My kids say I don't have a good grasp of how popular bands are, but I think most of these are popular? I have seen Jason Isbell, Sylvan Esso, and Bleachers in pretty big venues here.
I was thinking about "mainstream", but that could be interpreted a few ways. I think these are popular bands within their niche genres, but I don't know if I'd call them mainstream. If I'd ask most of my friends about Sylvan esso maybe one out of ten might have heard of them. But if I talk to someone that listens to a lot of electronic music they definitely would know of them. Sorry @OP: I might have misinterpreted your prompt!
Atomship. It was a blend of alternative metal and progressive rock. It's a really unique sound and they only ever did a single album.
Papadosio.
vexento
The Japanese metal band Galneryus
Idk if it's mainstream or not, but I really like Winona Fighter. Good angry punk rock.
Orbit Culture's great if you're a metalhead
Beach House
Temples
Arlo Parks
Grouplove
I’ll second Temples
I'm surprised they're not more popular given how close their music is (or at least was early on) to Tame Impala.
I think it's great psychedelic rock without going too experimental.
Low
Charlie Parr
I'm sure some people have heard of them but I didn't see them anywhere in here. So, here ya go!
Low is super slow and very long (at least in the first couple of albums).
Charlie Parr is an amazing country blues singer.
Aesop Rock
Many... too many to list.
De Staat
I can't make sense of the reality that they're not incredibly famous.
Khruangbin, MONO, Babe Rainbow, Kikagaku Moyo.
If Khrungabin aren't well known there is no justice in the universe. They are so good. They headlined a big festival here (one so expensive I didn't go) and did those awesome collaborations with Leon Bridges so I thought they were famous?
Here's a few sludgy/doomy metal bands I've been listening to a lot lately: Froglord, Squalus, GUHTS, Grayceon, Hippie Death Cult
Also I think he's starting to breach mainstream popularity, but I'd be remiss if I didn't spread the word of Amigo the Devil (dark country/folk, "murderfolk")
Do you know Monolord's music? I really like it.
Yep definitely! I almost saw them live once with Firebreather, but there was another show the same night with The Sword. We picked The Sword, and I'm glad we did since they've called it quits and Monolord is still around.
We caught Firebreather twice on a recent tour they did, once in NYC (GUHTS, already mentioned opened) and again in SF (Snakemother opened - also worth checking out!).
Still waiting for Monolord to make a return trip to the SF Bay area to fill up my bingo card lol
I got into Amigo The Devil almost a decade ago in highschool. I used The Weight in my senior project presentation when it was a recent single.
FKJ (French Kiwi Juice)
Dude is incredible, and his Cercle set is breathtaking.
Nightly. But they are getting there.
Mallory Chipman is wonderful.
Work Drugs.
Cool as hell band who make smooth, summery, indie pop laced with synths and sax.
https://piped.video/watch?v=O3MW10iOHR0
On the hip hop side, they're growing in popularity but could be bigger: Coast Contra
One of the modern rap/hip hop groups that really holds up, and they're consistent with the quality
This was the video that got me following their stuff:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=IdNxeepSpuk
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
https://piped.video/watch?v=IdNxeepSpuk
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.
They're not really considered underground since they have 1 million monthly listeners, but I still don't see a lot of people talking about the band Foreign Air. They are known for their hit "Free Animal", but they have so many good songs. I recommend "Your Touch", "Hello Sunshine Pt 2", "Wake Me Up", "Moving On," and "Monsters". Unsure of how to describe their genre, it certainly isn't rock nor bubbly pop...
Mission of Burma
Diiv (Although they just toured with Depeche Mode so they may be more known now)
Spot
A Minor Forest
Pretty much my whole genre is obscure - appalachian "old time" fiddle music.
The best way to experience this genre - sitting the middle of a jam, preferably with an instrument. Here's boys them buzzards are flying from that perspective.
Some more examples I like:
Here's Dan Gellert being funky on fretless banjo. Tune is black eyed susie.
Here's his daughter Rayna Gellert & co on red steer
Here's Jon Bekoff on rabbit in the pea patch.
Here's some cool dual fiddles on grub springs
Really obscure: I like Ramsay Midwood, Have Gun Will Travel, and Joshua Ray Walker too, so good and a class act as a person.
Somewhat known: I love Ondara, Durand Jones & the Indications and all their associated solo stuff, Charley Crockett, Toro y Moi, Phosphorescent, Josh Ritter, Arlo Parks.
Oh my God how could I forget, they are broken up now but J RODDY WALSTON AND THE BUSINESS! They are one of the best live acts I've seen and their records were also great.
Avenza
Dedline
i like SOJAs reggae beats and listen to them while welding
Kaleo
Vincenzo Salvia -
For example: The pineapple pizza slayer https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mc-B6w7GNMw
Dry The River (British, now disbanded)
Turboweekend (Danish, now disbanded)
Dizzy Mizz Lizzy (Danish, re-formed)
The Beths (New Zealand)
Bonus edit: Priestess (Canada, hiatus)
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
Dry The River
Turboweekend
Dizzy Mizz Lizzy
The Beths
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.
I love the Delgados. They broke up a long time ago and cited being dissatisfied with not obtaining much success. The most exposure they saw was one of their songs being used for an anime opening. Alun Woodward released one pretty neat solo album as "Lord Cut Glass", and Emma Pollack made (is still making?) a few solo albums afterwards that are all pretty good, too. I think their drummer was one of the most unrecognized musicians working in popular music ever. The drums on the Delgados albums go hard.
I like Will Wood, his stuff has been described as "evil jazz", but it ranges from calm and soothing singer-songwriter type stuff to a full upbeat jazz band with chaotic composition and arrangement. I find his lyrics insightful, but they are also often quite abstract.
Cute girls doing cute things have some nice tracks, but many of them feel a bit the same-y.
The Vienna Clarinet Collection has great covers of classic clarinet songs, but classical and jazz.
I couldn't choose one, so here are a few jazz bands I like: Francis Coppieters, Loftys Comet, T-Square, Micheal Lowerstern, Archie Shepp, Sons of Kemet, and Mansur Brown
Hello Meteor: https://hellometeor.bandcamp.com
Exodrifter: https://exodrifter.bandcamp.com (discovered his/her work with Radio Free Fedi)
Deadbolt
Professor Kliq - Coming up on 10 years and these are still some of my favourite tunes.
All that matters
Community Service Album
All tunes are: CC BY-NC-SA
Brunettes Shoot Blondes (Ukrainian synth pop).
For obvious reasons they haven't been so active lately.
I was miffed when, in the early 90s, grunge swooped in and wrecked powerpop's resurgence. MTV had Jellyfish in every corner, and seemingly overnight Nirvana took over.
In the search for harmonies, major key power chords, and jangly, summery guitars (not to mention hummable hooks galore) I had to dig.
The Well Wishers Dressy Bessy The Lolas The Beths The Dahlmanns The Riffbackers
And I know I'm missing so many more feel-good bands...
Does the Gorillaz count? I know they got Tama Impala and Bad Bunny on their Cracker Island album but I never see anyone talk about them
My brother in Christ Gorillaz is so much bigger than Tame Impala or Bad Bunny
I consider Gorillaz to be mainstream. Or at least Demon Days was mainstream.
That's fair I just haven't heard anyone really talk about them since Plastic Beach
They were the only band where the merch I have of them prompted a discussion with my classmates who know almost no bands that I regularly listen to. Could also be the more mainstream genre that Gorillaz is in compared to the Deathcore or darkwave bands I also have merch of.
Greta Van Fleet I suppose, rock band that sounds like a modern led zepellin.
https://youtu.be/s0y2EzfpPXg?feature=shared
Piped bot do your thing.
I mean they were nominated four times at the grammy's of which they won one, can't get more recognized by the mainstream than that...
Ok I didnt want to pick em bc of that, but i've also never met a single person whos heard of em in real life
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
https://piped.video/s0y2EzfpPXg?feature=shared
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.
They literally played an arena here.