Unknown Bands

CactusmanX

Lets make a list of bands that you like but no one else has probably heard of or completely forgot about, at least they are not really commercially recognized.

I'll start with one of my favorite experimental bands, The Residents

Constantinople

Satisfaction (Rolling Stones cover)

Next is Yello, you actually probably know one of their songs, Oh Yeah, but they have much more to them than that.

Bostich

Tuxedomoon, a more accessible experimental band

Jinx

Devo, known for "Whip It" but not much else

Jocko Homo

Wall of Voodoo, this is probably their most recognizable song

Mexican Radio

Snake Finger, he played with the Residents some actually

Man in the Black Sedan

Throbbing Gristle, they grow on you

Discipline

Alien Sex Fiend, post punk, gothic, electronica goodness

She's a Killer

Last one is Greater Than One, from the great record label Wax Trax

I Don't Need God

 

So go on post 'em

Vemoi

Unknown band with some good music. I just lucked into finding them at a used album store in the 80s. Be Bop Deluxe.

Nina Hagen Don't know why she was popular. I am almost embarrassed to admit that I have have one of her albums.

Here is a couple instrumentals. Jean Micheal Jarre is my favorite. Mike Oldfield Probably better know than Jarre. If you have seen the Exorcist than you heard his music.

Wolfenpride

I have no clue what people listen to these days, i've never kept up with the trends or listen to the radio, but here's my list:

Enter Shikari song: Return to Energizer

David Usher song: Black Black Heart

Anathema song: Pulled under at 2000 metres a second

Matt and Kim song: Daylight

EverEve song: Your mine

The Postal Service song: The district sleeps alone tonight

maybe these are more well known than am I aware of, people that here my music are always like "you have weird tastes" at which point I politely give them permission to go fuck themselves

but yeah, i listen to all types of genres

tvalentine

Aside - The weakerthans

no heaven - Champion

those are the only 2 bands i think aren't very well known that i know of and listen to.

ionlyneedit

Here are a couple that might have been pretty big at one time, but have probably been forgotten about.

Pop Will Eat Itself - Bulletproof

Fuzzbox - Love is the Slug

modjoe86

Hmm, I'm not sure which musical phase I should shine light on.  How about a bit of experimental hip hop, ambient, and post-rock?

 

Experimental Hip Hop:

www.youtube.com/watch - cLOUDDEAD - Dead Dogs Two

www.youtube.com/watch - Buck 65 - Blood of a Young Wolf

www.youtube.com/watch - Why? - The Vowels Pt. 2

 

Ambient:

www.youtube.com/watch - Stars of the Lid

www.youtube.com/watch - Max Richter

 

Post Rock:

www.youtube.com/watch - Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Listen to the song in its entirety, it amazing)

Thrakk

I'd argue that Devo, Throbbing Gristle, Jean Michael Jarre, Mike Oldfield, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and The Postal Service are kinda well known at least. For the Oldfield fan watch this youtube of Kevin Ayers with him (wyatt is there too).

 

My favorite unknown bands are :

Grifters (90's alternative rock/ lo-fi/ avantgarde)

Ultra Vega (power pop)

Quasi (weezerish, but better than weezer)

Red Red Meat (90s alternative rock).. also an offshoot band Sin Ropas is pretty good

King Creosote (alt rock and pop/ acoustic rock/ some synths)

Archer Prewitt (beautiful voice / alt folk rock)  if you like him try Jim Guthrie as well

Robert Wyatt (prog rock jazz fusion - great unique vocals. Rock Bottom album is a must have)

 

Samuraisword

Well all these bands are known, to some, just less known to those with generic musical taste.

I will throw in some less known that I like.

Single Gun Theory, a now dissolved Australian band, www.youtube.com/watch

Elysian Fields,  www.youtube.com/watch

Fleming and John,  www.youtube.com/watch

Dori Hartley, she reminds me a little of Grace Jones style wise, www.youtube.com/watch

Machines of Loving Grace, a now dissolved American band, www.youtube.com/watch

Blessed Ethel www.youtube.com/watch

The Stranglers, my all time favorite band, still together since the birth of Punk, www.youtube.com/watch and more mellow later on but still great www.youtube.com/watch

 

 

CactusmanX

Second Installment

King Missile, really funny alt band from the 90s

Detachable Penis

Martin Scorsese

Kyuss, 90s stoner rock, the lead guy from QOTSA is the guitarist in Kyuss

Demon Cleaner

Aphex Twin, experimental electronica, most well known song is Come To Daddy, from the movie 8MM, but still

Ventolin

Coil, 80s industrial band, they were going to do the theme song for Hellraiser, but it was rejected

Hellraiser

Electric Hellfire Club, Satanic Techno FTW

Mr. 44

 

EDIT: I love Machines of Loving Grace I managed to find all their albums, one of my favorite industrial rock bands.

protoroc

Ghosts In The Machine - Merciless Killing Machines www.youtube.com/watch

 

clwoods

The Apples In Stereo are good if you like The Beatles.