THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)
Fun Stuff => BAND => Topic started by: Jackie Blue on 19 May 2008, 10:56
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Ever since downloading the one My Dad Is Dead album from the Mediafire thread, I have been amazed at how overlooked he/they apparently are/were. Last.fm is telling me there are just over 30,000 plays total for all his recorded output. That's shocking because Jesus Christ, he's awesome. In my whole life I can only think of maybe a dozen times I've ever heard anyone mention him. It boggles the mind, especially considering the year that album came out - 1989! A near-perfect blend of Joy Division, Fugazi and a splash of Husker Du. So, so good.
Not nearly as overlooked but still seemingly pretty unknown to the younger generation: Camper Van Beethoven. Yeah, OK, a lot of people know "Take the Skinheads Bowling" but what most seem to not know is that is nowhere near the level of quality they eventually achieved on their later albums. If it's still in print, I highly recommend the incredibly-cheap 5-CD box set Cigarettes and Carrot Juice, which compiles their first 3 albums, a CD of rarities, and a live CD that is absolutely phenomenal. And if you like those, you'll probably fucking adore their last two albums, Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart and Key Lime Pie. The latter of those two is in my top 5 of the 80s, no contest. Every song on it is 100% gold, from the haunting Southern gothic "Jack Ruby" to the RAWKKKKKKING cover of "Pictures of Matchstick Men" to the shoegazy "June" and don't even get me started on "All Her Favorite Fruit", and the jagged garage punch of "(I Was Born in a) Laundromat" and the perfect closing anthem "Come On Darkness"... I'll stop now.
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Camper von Beethoven is freaking awesome. I guess he got some 'acclaim' via Cracker, but I like the Camper stuff soooo much better.
Madahoochi is my favorite "Who?" band. Been around for 11 years now, and just haven't really gotten the reception I think their talent deserves. Scott Rockwood is a phenomenal songwriter, very intricate lyrics, and very dark for a "jam band" (though I hate that label.) They pull from many different genres, and remind me in that regard of Wilco or Ween - no two songs sound alike, yet they manage to have a "distinctive sound" that ties them all together. "Nuclear Man" starts off with bluegrass rhythm and then builds into an excellent electronica song. "Cycle of Creation" sounds like a Zeppelin tune. "Consequence" has more of a prog-rock sound. "Johnny Walker" is almost country.
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The Wildhearts!!
They're fairly well known in the UK, but pretty obscure anywhere. This band should have been huge, but never were. Thankfully they still have plenty of fight left in 'em, frontman Ginger in particular.
Good ol' Ginge has gone through troubles that would've killed lesser men years ago, but he's still here, writing fucking brilliant songs and being an all-round fucking hero.
Also, it's a shame that Jason And The Scorchers are relegated to minor one-hit-wonder status, since they are really, really good. The rockinest country band, or shitkickinest rock band ever. I'm not sure which. Nevertheless, they're amazing.
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Elbow.
Seriously, those guys should be huge.
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Have A Nice Life. Those guys have got to be one of the most interesting bands I've heard, it's a shame they've stopped producing physical copies of their 'Deathconsciousness' album. I recommend them to anyone who likes Shoegaze/ Industrial/ Metal. http://www.myspace.com/haveanicelife
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I think Radical Face is fairly ingored.
They're a great band, but you can't even find someone who's heard of them at the music stores.(I'm not talking about HMV places, but the Indie stores)
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Definately agree with Elbow. Also the Bees seem to be quite overlooked as do the Flaming Lips, in the UK anyway. Quite a few of my friends have never heard of them and they don't seem to get the TV exposure over here as they seem to in America. Maybe thats a good thing, stopping them from being overplayed and subsequently hated.
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Also the Bees seem to be quite overlooked as do the Flaming Lips, in the UK anyway.
I really don't know about the Flaming Lips status in the UK, but I can pretty much guarantee that they are not under heard. They are one of the biggest names in the indie scene, so just cause your friends don't know them doesn't mean nobody else listens to them.
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Uhhh... the Flaming Lips are huge in the UK, aren't they? Didn't NME and all the other rags go batshit over The Soft Bulletin, moreso than their American counterparts?
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I think Radical Face is fairly ingored.
They're a great band, but you can't even find someone who's heard of them at the music stores.(I'm not talking about HMV places, but the Indie stores)
Seconded.
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Barenaked Ladies. Remembered for some comedy hits, but their last two or three albums have been works of beautiful, classic pop melancholia.
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WAX MANNEQUIN (http://www.myspace.com/waxmannequin)
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Uhhh... the Flaming Lips are huge in the UK, aren't they? Didn't NME and all the other rags go batshit over The Soft Bulletin, moreso than their American counterparts?
Yeah, I remember them being all over the TV when I was about nine or something. Similarly, Elbow have TV ads overhere. I don't think Elbow are criminally ignored. If anything, I think they're overhyped. You're right about MDID though.
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Almost no one listens to or even knows about The Appleseed Cast. This makes me sad b/c they're pretty great. I'd say that within their genre/style, they're one of the most underrated bands I listen to.
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I do! They are fantastic, indeed! I've been contemplating uploading both albums I have by them for the mediafire thread. Shall I?
WAX MANNEQUIN (http://www.myspace.com/waxmannequin)
Him too.
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Please do, I have not heard them yet.
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I will when I get home from work and from testing out the most brutal of all distortion pedals.
EDIT - They are up now.
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I'd like to add The Pax Cecilia also, I'm sure Objects inside Clouds will agree.
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Absu. it's got a bunch of core fans but this is one of the best american metal bands since slayer and i'm tired of shouting Absu at everyone wanting some metal.
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Talking on Gabbly right now, I feel this thread will nicely illustrate the dichotomy between the North American music-listening public and those in Great Britain.
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What JC is saying is that in the UK, we're way fucking indier than you guys in North America.
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I'd like to add The Pax Cecilia also, I'm sure Objects inside Clouds will agree.
This man knows whats up.
These guys released what I thought was one of the best albums of 2007, if not the best. They are rather unnoticed, still being unsigned, but they did make a few top lists of 2007. They are still rather new as well, only starting in 2003. I wouldn't say they are criminally ignored, but more people should listen to them. Absolutely gorgeous stuff.
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Vitreous fucking Humor. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitreous_Humor_%28band%29)
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Hank Pine and Liliy Fawn
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I've found that no one really know Self at all. he's definitely one of my favourite bands and one of the first cd's I ever picked up as a kid. came out in 94.
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This man knows whats up.
These guys released what I thought was one of the best albums of 2007, if not the best. They are rather unnoticed, still being unsigned, but they did make a few top lists of 2007. They are still rather new as well, only starting in 2003. I wouldn't say they are criminally ignored, but more people should listen to them. Absolutely gorgeous stuff.
I agree, but oh how I wish I had knew about them before they stopped selling the physical copy of 'Blessed...' from their website. Also have you heard 'Nouveau'? I was quite surprised at how good it was after reading some quite bad reviews of it, not nearly as good as BATB but still very listenable.
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No, I haven't. If you could upload Nouveau to the mediafire thread I would love you forever.
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The 1900s
Yes.
Also, Earlimart.
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I never see anyone giving love to Raped! By Dolphins. Possibly the best band with random punctuation in their name. I suggest everyone who likes music try and track down their second full-length 'Rottwangler' for an idea of what they were trying to accomplish.
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They're poppier than I thought they'd be. I didn't think I'd like them. I played them for my friends after you mailed me the album, but they just started laughing when they saw the album cover and refused to take them seriously.
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I used to have a copy of "Rottwangler" but I seem to have lost it in the process of moving flat. Hopefully it's at my parents house.
If anyone does find a copy of it on the internet a PM informing me would be absolutely wonderful, it's incredibly difficult to track down, the only copy I've ever seen is my 2nd hand copy that I bought in a wee record shop in London. I bought it based pretty much solely on the name.
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I'll rip my copy and put it in the mediafire thread. Later. It's 1am and I'm going to bed.
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Also, adding to Elbow:
Spiritualized (they should be as big as Radiohead)
Why?
Junior Boys
Hercules and Love Affair
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I am also going to say that Raped! By Dolphins may well be the great unknown band of our era.
Edit: And by Raped! By Dolphins I mean Silkworm.
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If everyone listened to and loved Gogol Bordello, there would massive Gypsy Punk dance parties in the streets, in schools, at parties, at work. It would change the world.
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If everyone listened to Gogol Bordello, the world would be a better place.
THINK LOCALLY
FUCK GLOBALLY.
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If everyone listened to Raped! By Dolphins, the world would be a better place.
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Although I do love R!BD, I cannot accept the straight-up brutal apparent lack of love for Big Star that I seem to see. It seems that the kindest words anyone ever hears about them is "oh yeah, I've heard of those guys", despite them being the most talented Power-Pop band from the 70s.
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I don't know about "criminally ignored" but some of my favorite bands I suspect are moderately underrated, if not here then generally
Eulogies
Immaculate Machine
Lola Ray
Moving Units
Scissors for Lefty
The Paperbacks
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If everyone listened to Gogol Bordello, the world would start wearing purple.
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The Minutemen, Bedhead, Sugar and the Experimental Aircraft should all be household names.
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The Paperbacks
THIS
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It's understandable, considering they're more of a local presence than anything else, but Breathe Owl Breathe (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=19825279) really should be influencing more people. Idiosyncratic, minimalistic folk music.
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Pagan Altar, guys.
Absu. it's got a bunch of core fans but this is one of the best american metal bands since slayer and i'm tired of shouting Absu at everyone wanting some metal.
Best album?
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Also, Middle Distance Runner (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=9212759).
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Buck 65.
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Uhhh... the Flaming Lips are huge in the UK, aren't they? Didn't NME and all the other rags go batshit over The Soft Bulletin, moreso than their American counterparts?
I don't really read the NME, maybe thats why I think they aren't getting the attention they deserve.
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I thought Buck 65 was fairly popular, as far as "Indie" rappers go?
The Minutemen
Fuck yeah this.
P.S; cos of this thread I finally downloaded "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" and holy crap it is so good.
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Hmmm, outside the US, probably.
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If everyone listened to and loved Gogol Bordello, there would massive Gypsy Punk dance parties in the streets, in schools, at parties, at work. It would change the world.
I dunno if things are different in the states, but Gogol Bordello are pretty big in the UK. They've played loads of major festivals (Glastonbury, Bestival, Reading, Leeds) and are a pretty firm favourite of the NME crowd, and of many other folk. I like Gogol Bordello. My girlfriend likes Gogol Bordello. My little sister likes Gogol Bordello. My MUM likes Gogol Bordello.
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I agree, they're hardly overlooked. Neither are the Minutemen. I love that band more than any other but they're hardly overlooked in terms of punk and hardcore. The band from that time that I do think are all too often overlooked are The Dicks. They were doing something brave and unique, I can't think of a single band since who've tried to pick up and run with what the Dicks started and for me they ought to be up there with the likes of Minor Threat. Void as well, but to a lesser extent since being on Dischord has given them greater exposure given that label's incredible track record of releases and staying power. Nobody came close to their unhinged intensity at the time and it took years until you got bands like Rorschach with their sound that calls to mind a collision between Black Flag and Void who even tried.
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The Angelic Process are clearly the best band ever, (and the main songwriter just died, LAME) and it's a real shame they aren't more known, not to mention that it's just totally perplexing as to WHY their last album didn't chart at number one, and why there aren't a million copycat bands.
Yeah, so The Angelic Process. Somewhere between metal and shoegaze (but none of that wussy Alcest/Amesoures shite), and with easily the best guitar tone ever. Criminally underrated.
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The Spinto Band, just amazing sounds on Nice and nicely done, their releasing a new album - Moonwink - soon too!
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No, I haven't. If you could upload Nouveau to the mediaf!re thread I would love you forever.
No problem, it'll be up soon.
EDIT: It's up.
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I think its a good thing that quite a few bands are criminally underrrated. This stops them from being overplayed on radio/tv/clubs to the point where they get annoying. Having said that, if some bands were more popular, maybe they would be more likely to play a gig near where I live.
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Do Bitter:Sweet and Mocean Worker count or are they too well-known?
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Post some links to some of this stuff, someone. Would love to hear it and haven't had time to look at / figure out Mediafire yet.
Click my sig for some rockin' tunes out of St. Louis - I'd recommend starting with "Consequence."
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Spiritualized should be bigger than Radiohead by miles. Ladies and Gentlemen, We are Floating in Space is one of the best records ever created.
Truth. Although, they're not that similar of bands.
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They're a good deal better then Radiohead, though.
..but then again I guess most bands are.
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Oh good, I'm not the only one here that is totally underwhelmed by Radiohead.
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Meh. They're nothing revolutionary or amazing, but they certanily deserve some of their acclaim. OK Computer is a masterpiece. They've continually reinvented themselves (with surprising success) numerous times. They're one of the few bands around that could switch from making an album like The Bends to one like Kid A.
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Radiohead's albums, other than OK Computer, have failed to really wow me. However, from what I hear, their live show is absolutely amazing, if only due to their ability to play their complicated songs flawlessly.
They are also another band through whom I have discovered a lot of music I might not have given a chance otherwise (well, via Pandora.com that is.)
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Criminally overlooked, eh?
earthlings?
DJ Frane
Moccasin
Colour Haze (overlooked in the US at least)
Bigelf
Jakob
Sons of Otis
Masters of Reality
Jack Rose
Of these, 7 have seen time on the Mediafire thread. At some point soon I plan on completing the list. Expect earthlings?'s self-titled and at least one Jakob album soon.
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Jakob
Yes!!
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Also, Middle Distance Runner (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=9212759).
That reminds me: Sea Wolf.
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earthlings?
True dat.
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Anyone who likes pop music should know about the Exploding Hearts. They're not totally obscure or anything, but more people should have their record.
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http://www.spintoband.com/ (http://www.spintoband.com/)The spinto band site
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=2655201 (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=2655201)The spinto Band myspace
check it out, they are awesome
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Oh, and VAST. I've heard three songs by him and I love them all.
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Silkworm
Kitchens of Distinction
Seam
Arcwelder
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I agree, they're hardly overlooked. Neither are the Minutemen. I love that band more than any other but they're hardly overlooked in terms of punk and hardcore. The band from that time that I do think are all too often overlooked are The Dicks. They were doing something brave and unique, I can't think of a single band since who've tried to pick up and run with what the Dicks started and for me they ought to be up there with the likes of Minor Threat. Void as well, but to a lesser extent since being on Dischord has given them greater exposure given that label's incredible track record of releases and staying power. Nobody came close to their unhinged intensity at the time and it took years until you got bands like Rorschach with their sound that calls to mind a collision between Black Flag and Void who even tried.
I think a lot of Austin hardcore bands aren't given their due. For as little recognition as the Dicks get, the Big Boys are pretty much forgotten, at least in most circles. Some of their stuff can be hit or miss, but they were probably one of the most adventurous early-80's hardcore bands. They produced a lot of material between '79-'84 and it's all over the map: skatepunk, funk, early indie, swamp boogie, the list goes on.
Other Austinites, Butthole Surfers were way way out there and deserve some respect - despite the name. Even their commercial stuff is worthy of praise, "Goofy's Concern" is a truely great rock song.
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Jakob
Yes!!
I just downloaded an album by Jakob last night. I take it this means I should stop whatever I'm doing and listen to them immediately?
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Yes.
Also, which is it? Later tonight I'm going to upload at least one of their albums and if you've already got one I'd want to up a different one.
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I have the album Solace.
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I think a lot of Austin hardcore bands aren't given their due. For as little recognition as the Dicks get, the Big Boys are pretty much forgotten, at least in most circles. Some of their stuff can be hit or miss, but they were probably one of the most adventurous early-80's hardcore bands. They produced a lot of material between '79-'84 and it's all over the map: skatepunk, funk, early indie, swamp boogie, the list goes on.
Definitely. I managed to get hold of the Dicks collection Alternative Tentacles released but I've never seen a Big Boys record, just heard a few tracks here and there. Sadly the main way the Big Boys are remembered seems to be through the grief Biscuit got from Bad Brains due to their horrible homophobia. A real shame, particularly since Biscuit and Gary Floyd both died too soon.
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Morphine man, Dana Colley bringa a whole new outlook to the saxaphone. I play sax man maybe its just me
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I think a lot of Austin hardcore bands aren't given their due. For as little recognition as the Dicks get, the Big Boys are pretty much forgotten, at least in most circles. Some of their stuff can be hit or miss, but they were probably one of the most adventurous early-80's hardcore bands. They produced a lot of material between '79-'84 and it's all over the map: skatepunk, funk, early indie, swamp boogie, the list goes on.
Definitely. I managed to get hold of the Dicks collection Alternative Tentacles released but I've never seen a Big Boys record, just heard a few tracks here and there. Sadly the main way the Big Boys are remembered seems to be through the grief Biscuit got from Bad Brains due to their horrible homophobia. A real shame, particularly since Biscuit and Gary Floyd both died too soon.
Glen Taylor, their guitarist died, Gary's still kicking. You scared the shit out of me for a second, but fortunately the internet, as usual came to the rescue.
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Morphine man, Dana Colley bringa a whole new outlook to the saxaphone. I play sax man maybe its just me
Any suggestions of particular songs I should check out? Watched "Honey White" and "Shame" live on YouTube, kinda minimilist. Reminds me a bit of Jon Spencer's Blues Explosion.
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Sea Wolf.
Second
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Morphine man, Dana Colley bringa a whole new outlook to the saxaphone. I play sax man maybe its just me
Any suggestions of particular songs I should check out? Watched "Honey White" and "Shame" live on YouTube, kinda minimilist. Reminds me a bit of Jon Spencer's Blues Explosion.
listen to cure for pain, souvenir, or the night to me they're morphines signature pieces
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Glen Taylor, their guitarist died, Gary's still kicking. You scared the shit out of me for a second, but fortunately the internet, as usual came to the rescue.
I have never been happier to be wrong. I'm going to kill whoever it was that told me he died a couple of years ago.
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The Stevenson Ranch Davidians
Rebreather
www.myspace.com/rebreather (http://www.myspace.com/rebreather)
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Well, my initial prediction about the direction of this thread was right, but it turns out that there are actually two inherent problems with it.
I dunno if things are different in the states
Pretty much constantly.
I agree, they're hardly overlooked. Neither are the Minutemen. I love that band more than any other but they're hardly overlooked in terms of punk and hardcore.
So okay, they're not overlooked in their niche, but outside of their niche nobody listens to them - and quite frankly a lot of younger listeners within the niche don't listen to them. I had to stop a dude at a local punk record store from launching into a lecture on SST when I bought a copy of Double Nickels On The Dime from him after I commented on how cheap it was. At first he thought I was being dismissive but, no, unlike apparently a bunch of his customers I a) knew my punk history and b) gave enough of a shit about The Minutemen to actually buy one of their records.
Point is, most of these bands are greatly overlooked by someone somewhere. Which actually makes it kind of a bad thread, if only because nobody's really explaining anything outside of each band's name.
Wax Mannequin, for the record, is probably tremendously overlooked because barely anyone outside Canada even knows him, and even within Canada he's actually got such a low fanbase that when he played a show in my friend's basement it was actually a step up from the venues he'd been playing in town. It's a shame because he's really great.
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Man, playing anywhere that isn't Hamilton is a step up for most people.
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Ok, maybe this band is not "criminally ignored," but it is damn near close to being so. Every time I mention them, people go "The fuck are you talking about? Is that even a real band...are you high?"
Oh, right. Yeah, the band.
Soul Coughing. Any of you heard of them? They only lasted for 3 albums and a few live recordings.
What is that you say? Want to hear them? Ok!
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=378288890 (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=378288890)
Yeah, it is a myspace page. Made by some random fan. Best I could find on short notice.
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I also like Soul Coughing. Doughty is actually still doing good stuff on his own.
Criminally ignored from the 90s as well: Marcy Playground. Sex and Candy was a hit, but the rest of their great self-titled album went unnoticed (Poppies and Saint Joe on the School Bus are especially good).
And anybody into Dick Dale/surf rock in general would do well to check out Johnny and the Hurricanes.
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If everyone listened to and loved Gogol Bordello, there would massive Gypsy Punk dance parties in the streets, in schools, at parties, at work. It would change the world.
there's already a group of self-styled "gypsy punks" that hang around in Chicago. They make the crust punks look well-groomed in comparison. Also said gypsy punks insist on playing their drums/guitar/etc really loudly and it is not fun times.
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Awwww, ain't that cute, they think they're a subculture now!
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How Like A Winter may possibly be better than Agalloch, and yet their most listened song only has 55 plays this week.
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I know they have some fans on the forum but almost no one I know/talk to has listened to or even heard of Wintersleep. It's a shame since they make far more interesting and better crafted music than, say, The National who have, in my opinion, an undeserved level of recognition/favor in the music media.
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^^^agreed
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Wow, a lot of these bands being listed are really far from being ignored. Morphine? Soul Coughing? Both were in heavy rotation on MTV in the 90s and had pretty devoted fanbases.
There's a difference between a band being forgotten (see above) and never had enough attention paid to them in the first place (My Dad Is Dead, Camper Van Beethoven).
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A near-perfect blend of Joy Division, Fugazi and a splash of Husker Du.
Ah--- 1989. I was 16 and living in D.C.
Ok, technically I lived in Falls Church, VA but that's inside the beltway. In retrospect, '89 was an awesome year for music, though at the time I vividly remember thinking that good music was dead. I probably saw Fugazi a dozen times in 89 alone. They played non-stop around here and even though I enjoyed their music we'd always go "Damn, that wasn't as good as Minor Threat" or "Shit, Embrace was better than this". That still didn't stop me from picking up 7 songs on vinyl as soon as it was released. I watched Fugazi play everywhere from church halls, to a park across the street from the white house. It was like "Hey, you wanna go see the Toasters on Tuesday, Fugazi on Saturday and Token Entry on Sunday?"
"Yeah cool, but I only got like fifteen bucks, so let's skip the Toasters, I just saw them like three weeks ago."
"Yeah, ok."
Sunday afternoon meant going to the hardcore matinee at the Safari Club. I think I saw every single band signed to Revelation Records that year. We also did the Fall Brawl, the Superbowl of Ska, and various Dischord bands were playing all the freaking time. One of the guys from Iron Cross worked at Tower records, the guys from Scream lived close by, and you'd be talking to someone at a show and realize "Oh shit, you're in Government Issue aren't you? I saw you guys not too long ago. Good show man."
In retrospect, it was an incredible time to be in the area and at the age I was at. I only wish I had appreciated it more at the time and been less of an angst ridden dick. Come to think of it, I'm still an angst ridden dick, only a middle aged one now.
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Wow, a lot of these bands being listed are really far from being ignored. Morphine? Soul Coughing? Both were in heavy rotation on MTV in the 90s and had pretty devoted fanbases.
Well, whether ignored then or ignored now, it's still ignored. Mind you, it's your thread so I guess you can define it however you want to. Still, Morphine, at least, deserve to be rediscovered by the kids today.
I can never understand why the Silver Jews aren't more appreciated. It's not like nobody's ever heard of them: everyone with an interest in the "indie scene" know about them, but very few of them seem to listen to them. Perplexing and disappointing!
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A near-perfect blend of Joy Division, Fugazi and a splash of Husker Du.
Ah--- 1989. I was 16 and living in D.C.
Ok, technically I lived in Falls Church, VA but that's inside the beltway. In retrospect, '89 was an awesome year for music, though at the time I vividly remember thinking that good music was dead. I probably saw Fugazi a dozen times in 89 alone. They played non-stop around here and even though I enjoyed their music we'd always go "Damn, that wasn't as good as Minor Threat" or "Shit, Embrace was better than this". That still didn't stop me from picking up 7 songs on vinyl as soon as it was released. I watched Fugazi play everywhere from church halls, to a park across the street from the white house. It was like "Hey, you wanna go see the Toasters on Tuesday, Fugazi on Saturday and Token Entry on Sunday?"
"Yeah cool, but I only got like fifteen bucks, so let's skip the Toasters, I just saw them like three weeks ago."
"Yeah, ok."
Sunday afternoon meant going to the hardcore matinee at the Safari Club. I think I saw every single band signed to Revelation Records that year. We also did the Fall Brawl, the Superbowl of Ska, and various Dischord bands were playing all the freaking time. One of the guys from Iron Cross worked at Tower records, the guys from Scream lived close by, and you'd be talking to someone at a show and realize "Oh shit, you're in Government Issue aren't you? I saw you guys not too long ago. Good show man."
In retrospect, it was an incredible time to be in the area and at the age I was at. I only wish I had appreciated it more at the time and been less of an angst ridden dick. Come to think of it, I'm still an angst ridden dick, only a middle aged one now.
I've had a similar experience, though not as epochal. In High School, I was 15 minutes outside Providence when Fort Thunder was still up and going strong, but all I remember doing is wishing Boston was closer. When I went away to college I realized that Boston was kind of bullshit and finally began to appreciate the homegrown scene Providence had. Saw Lightning Bolt a bunch, The White Mice, Tiny Hawks like 7 times and had Alec K. Redfearn stay at my house.
Now I have the same feeling living in Baltimore and wishing it was Providence. It's probably just a matter of time, but so many of the more-nationally-renown Baltimore bands have an aesthetic that literally gives me a headache.
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Ah--- 1989. I was 16 and living in D.C.
Ok, technically I lived in Falls Church, VA but that's inside the beltway. In retrospect, '89 was an awesome year for music, though at the time I vividly remember thinking that good music was dead. I probably saw Fugazi a dozen times in 89 alone. They played non-stop around here and even though I enjoyed their music we'd always go "Damn, that wasn't as good as Minor Threat" or "Shit, Embrace was better than this". That still didn't stop me from picking up 7 songs on vinyl as soon as it was released. I watched Fugazi play everywhere from church halls, to a park across the street from the white house. It was like "Hey, you wanna go see the Toasters on Tuesday, Fugazi on Saturday and Token Entry on Sunday?"
"Yeah cool, but I only got like fifteen bucks, so let's skip the Toasters, I just saw them like three weeks ago."
"Yeah, ok."
Sunday afternoon meant going to the hardcore matinee at the Safari Club. I think I saw every single band signed to Revelation Records that year. We also did the Fall Brawl, the Superbowl of Ska, and various Dischord bands were playing all the freaking time. One of the guys from Iron Cross worked at Tower records, the guys from Scream lived close by, and you'd be talking to someone at a show and realize "Oh shit, you're in Government Issue aren't you? I saw you guys not too long ago. Good show man."
In retrospect, it was an incredible time to be in the area and at the age I was at. I only wish I had appreciated it more at the time and been less of an angst ridden dick. Come to think of it, I'm still an angst ridden dick, only a middle aged one now.
If only your teenaged grandchildren could appreciate what you had.
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I know they have some fans on the forum but almost no one I know/talk to has listened to or even heard of Wintersleep. It's a shame since they make far more interesting and better crafted music than, say, The National who have, in my opinion, an undeserved level of recognition/favor in the music media.
Umm well they did win "Best new Artist" at the Junos so people know them here in Canada.
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I can never understand why the Silver Jews aren't more appreciated. It's not like nobody's ever heard of them: everyone with an interest in the "indie scene" know about them, but very few of them seem to listen to them. Perplexing and disappointing!
I wonder if it has anything to do with the severe lack of touring up until recently.
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I know they have some fans on the forum but almost no one I know/talk to has listened to or even heard of Wintersleep. It's a shame since they make far more interesting and better crafted music than, say, The National who have, in my opinion, an undeserved level of recognition/favor in the music media.
Umm well they did win "Best new Artist" at the Junos so people know them here in Canada.
I'm well aware that they won. I can't comment on their popularity in Canada but here in the states it's pretty much nonexistent. None of my friends/people I know from home or at college know about them. Literally, none.
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About 14 people actually watch the Junos.
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I can never understand why the Silver Jews aren't more appreciated. It's not like nobody's ever heard of them: everyone with an interest in the "indie scene" know about them, but very few of them seem to listen to them. Perplexing and disappointing!
I listened to some Silver Jews. I even heard 'em live at Pitchfork! However, they do not excite me. I don't understand what the deal is.
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I guess it depends on how much you like wryness.
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Ladyhawk definitely needs more love
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Oh wait, do they have good lyrics then? Cus when I first hear a band I don't necessarily listen to the lyrics, and I also have a really terrible memory. I mean, after hearing the fuss again I intended to give them another try anyway, but now I know what to look for.
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David Berman is one of my favourite lyricists. His poetry is pretty great too.
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Somehow, the two may just be interrelated.
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Ladyhawk are so incredibly great.
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Yeah, the guys and gals at Jagjaguar really know how to pick 'em.
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I am firmly convinced that Jagjaguwar are the best label currently operating.
- Okkervil River
- Ladyhawk
- Black Mountain
- Julie Doiron
- Daniel Johnston
- Sunset Rubdown
- Parts & Labor
Honestly, if you pick up a record and it says "Jagjaguwar" on the back, you're almost guaranteed it'll be good.
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Have A Nice Life. Those guys have got to be one of the most interesting bands I've heard, it's a shame they've stopped producing physical copies of their 'Deathconsciousness' album. I recommend them to anyone who likes Shoegaze/ Industrial/ Metal. http://www.myspace.com/haveanicelife
It doesn't happen often that a band wows me at the first listen.
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Ever since downloading the one My Dad Is Dead album from the mediaf!re thread, I have been amazed at how overlooked he/they apparently are/were. Last.fm is telling me there are just over 30,000 plays total for all his recorded output. That's shocking because Jesus Christ, he's awesome. In my whole life I can only think of maybe a dozen times I've ever heard anyone mention him. It boggles the mind, especially considering the year that album came out - 1989! A near-perfect blend of Joy Division, Fugazi and a splash of Husker Du. So, so good.
Nice to finally find someone else who's heard of Husker Dü, but you forgot the umlaut(s).
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Everyone I know has heard Husker Du. :?
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Unborn babies know Hüsker Dü, man.
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Well "here" wouldn't exactly be a fair representation on the general populous, seeing that almost everybody here is well-versed in indie/fringe music.
Whereas most poeple just like whatever they hear on 92 PROFM >.<
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I am firmly convinced that Jagjaguwar are the best label currently operating.
- Okkervil River
- Ladyhawk
- Black Mountain
- Julie Doiron
- Daniel Johnston
- Sunset Rubdown
- Parts & Labor
Honestly, if you pick up a record and it says "Jagjaguwar" on the back, you're almost guaranteed it'll be good.
I love Jagjagwar, it's by far my favorite label, though there are still a number of bands on the label I've yet to listen to.
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I can never understand why the Silver Jews aren't more appreciated. It's not like nobody's ever heard of them: everyone with an interest in the "indie scene" know about them, but very few of them seem to listen to them. Perplexing and disappointing!
Seriously? My friends and I make fun of the Silver Jews ALL the time. In fact I was introduced to them by my friend saying
"Hey Phill, let me introduce you to the worst band in the world."
"Worse than H.I.M.?" (But I still kind of like H.I.M)
"..........yes."
Honestly, I don't like them at all. I tried listening for the music.....which I found to be terrible, and then I tried listening to the lyrics, which I didn't find poetic at all.
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Things don't have to rhyme in order to be poetic.
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Well "here" wouldn't exactly be a fair representation on the general populous, seeing that almost everybody here is well-versed in indie/fringe music.
Whereas most poeple just like whatever they hear on 92 PROFM >.<
I know you're a new chap, but customarily we don't have images in our sigs round these parts.
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Well "here" wouldn't exactly be a fair representation on the general populous, seeing that almost everybody here is well-versed in indie/fringe music.
Whereas most poeple just like whatever they hear on 92 PROFM >.<
I know you're a new chap, but customarily we don't have images in our sigs round these parts.
..And why would that be?
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It hogs bandwidth. They're also really obnoxious.
No 'fence.
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It hogs bandwidth. They're also really obnoxious.
No 'fence.
Is this better now?
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Things don't have to rhyme in order to be poetic.
I know that, I'm aware of what poetry is. I just didn't like the Silver Jews at all.
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itsrabid your sig is still rather obnoxious, at least I think. Try just having it with a normal size and color. Keep it simple. If you notice, nobody has an extravagant sig 'round these parts.
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Link-heavy sometimes, but never extravagant. Your avatar can be extravagant though but within limits.
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Basically I'd liike to think the rule of thumb is; if your sig is distracting from the actual content of your post, tone it down there sonny jim.
On topic, there's an MC, on Rhymesayers, named Eyedea, and he occasionally raps under the name Oliver Hart. In my opinion he's a ridiculously gifted MC with flow to spare and a mean freestyle who writes incredible, heartfelt, darkly funny introspective raps.
Tell me someone else here has at least heard of him?
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another overwhelmingly ignored band: the shaky hands from portland oregon
they really are effing amazing, especially live
if you haven't get their self titled album, you'll be listening to it nonstop for a week gaurunteed
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Just re-discovered another "criminally ignored band" - Clutch.
Caught them this weekend at Summercamp. They had completely fallen off my radar.
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Monotype. They're this local act from somewhere in the UK that I discovered by putting random words into the MySpace music search. My personal favorite song of theirs is "Beauty That Exists". I guarantee that none of you have heard of them.
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..And why would that be?
This is a question I've never understood, when I've been on or moderated forums or half life servers. The answer only needs to be 'because it's the rules!'
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On topic, there's an MC, on Rhymesayers, named Eyedea, and he occasionally raps under the name Oliver Hart. In my opinion he's a ridiculously gifted MC with flow to spare and a mean freestyle who writes incredible, heartfelt, darkly funny introspective raps.
Tell me someone else here has at least heard of him?
I know dat sucka! I have the Eyedea & Abilities album E&A. It's super fly.
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the dB's. their first 2 albums stands for deciBels (1981) and repercussion (1982) are powerpop genius, yet nobody seems to know who they are. they moved from north carolina to NYC in the '70s and hung out with television; the frontman chris stamey started up a record label (Car Records) and released Chris Bell of Big Star's "I Am the Cosmos" single; and Chris Stamey recently (well, I think in 2005) did an album with Yo La Tengo. the dB's definitely deserve recognition as being probably the best powerpop band of the 1980s.
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I remember the dB's! They were indeed great.
Which reminds me of another band - Young Fresh Fellows. (There's a great They Might Be Giants song on Flood that references both bands. It's called "Twisting". It rocks.)
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I remember the dB's! They were indeed great.
Which reminds me of another band - Young Fresh Fellows. (There's a great They Might Be Giants song on Flood that references both bands. It's called "Twisting". It rocks.)
Nice, I had no idea the Young Fresh Fellows line was an actual band. I'll have to check them out.
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Morphine
who would have thought slide bass was such a good idea?
Wax Mannequin
McCarthy
The Sonics The Sonics The Sonics The Sonics The Sonics The Sonics The Sonics The Sonics The Sonics The Sonics The Sonics The Sonics
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NORTEC COLLECTIVE
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Munly. I only know a handful of people who have ever heard of him, but the music is a creepy-crawly jaunt through the deep south at night kind of thing.
So Many Dynamos: Went to college with the singer of this band and have seen them play live more times than I've seen my girlfriend naked, but unless you're at one of their shows it's hard to find someone who has heard of them.
Menomena. Their albums should be mailed to everyone once they turn 18. Edit: Just realized that Menomena was up for a Grammy for Friend and Foe. D'oh!
Additionally, and these guys are really new but whatever: Foals. Think a more easily accessible Battles.
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I really can't see the Foals/Battles comparisons save for the French Open and Balloons, they've always sounded more like Bloc Party to me.
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I dunno. I definitely hear it in several of the songs. The guitar tone and rhythms especially.
Oh, and I wanted to mention Maps and Atlases.
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I know I've either seen So Many Dynamos, or seen them on the lineup for some venue or festival I've been to...
They ever play St. Louis, or any of the bigger festivals?
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They're a St. Louis band. Based out of Edwardsville, Il right now. I just saw them at the Riverfront Times Festival on Sunday. They're radical to the maxx.
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They're a St. Louis band. Based out of Edwardsville, Il right now. I just saw them at the Riverfront Times Festival on Sunday. They're radical to the maxx.
That would definitely explain why I'd heard the name at least :D
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Beulah
seriously, if you've never heard When Your Heartstrings Break you're missing out
lush as fuck
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I agree times eight thousand.
I bought the actual album just a couple weeks ago! I was listening to "Emma Blowgun's Last Stand" and then I just... impulsively decided to buy it. By mail-order directly from the band. I don't think it's available new from anywhere else.
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Beulah
Wait, really? I remember listening to their first couple albums around '98 and thinking they were like Elf Power, only not nearly as good.
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I don't hear nearly enough folks talking about Windmill around here.
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Jason Collett (http://youtube.com/watch?v=nYdeNlnLyoI)
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Wait, really? I remember listening to their first couple albums around '98 and thinking they were like Elf Power, only not nearly as good.
If Elf Power are half as good as Beulah, then I'd be impressed. So I guess I'll get off my ass and finally listen to some Elf Power.
The One AM Radio is easy to get into and everyone should love him. I posted one album, A Name Write in Water, ages and ages ago, but it's probably gone becaue of the restructuring that occurred in the mediafire thread.
Also: although by no means are Pere Ubu little known, more people should know about them.
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Elf Power have a couple dodgy albums (the two before the latest one, and arguably bits of the one before that) but they also have some absolutely brilliant ones (especially the first four and the most recent). I'd rate them in this order (keeping in mind I never listened to the VERY first album which only got a proper release after the fact):
The Winter Is Coming
When the Red King Comes
In a Cave
A Dream In Sound
Creatures
Back to the Web
Walking With the Beggar Boys
Honestly even die-hard fans of the band don't need to hear the worst two. They're totally forgettable and watered-down versions of their other albums.
In a Cave should still be in the Mediafire thread, and if The Winter Is Coming isn't I can upload it.
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Porcupine Tree should've been huge if "Lazarus" was their single back in 2005.
Also, Pure Reason Revolution needs some love.
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Man, does that guy's music make little sense.
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Grammatics.
For those who are underwhelmed by Foals. They're relatively new, and therefore still have time to earn recognition, but given that they're on Dance to the Radio records, I can't seem them getting superstellar any time soon...
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Beulah is good, but I think they're fairly well known. I am not sure why porcupine tree are so highly regarded though.
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Because they're amazing.
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Beulah is good, but I think they're fairly well known. I am not sure why porcupine tree are so highly regarded though.
I really don't think they're all that well-known. I mean, they probably have a fair amount of recognition since they were/are part of the Elephant Six Collective, and therefore associated with Neutral Milk Hotel. They are pretty damn awesome, though. "Emma Blowgun's Last Stand" is now one of my favorite songs to listen to in the summertime.
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they probably have a fair amount of recognition since they were/are part of the Elephant Six Collective, and therefore associated with Neutral Milk Hotel.
Wow, I feel old. I remember when being "associated with Elephant 6" meant "associated with Olivia Tremor Control" more than anything else.
And really, back then Beulah was more well-known than, say, Essex Green.