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Old 02-07-2003, 08:08 AM   #1
archmage
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Best unknown artists?

Few recent posts in "Best newer artist"-thread gave me an idea to start this thread. There is great music that doesn't get ads and airtime, and that music depends on word of mouth to get known. Many times, when I've found great music, I think "Why haven't I heard of this before?" and while listening: "This is some great music, it's a shame most people will never have the opportunity to hear this." Let's share this wealth!

I'll start with three artists that come to mind:

After Crying
This Hungarian group is probably the most unknown of these three. Grouped to the progressive rock genre, there's not much rock in this, this is more like modern classical music. With instrumentation heavily based on piano, cello and horns, at times there are more modern instruments with them, like guitar, drums and synthetizers. The skills of these musicians are just awesome, and the compositions are very beautiful. The Hungarian lyrics may need some getting used to, but most of the music is instrumental.
Good album to start with: Föld és Ég

Morphine
Pretty straightforward bluesy rock'n'roll, but with a twist: The band consists of bass, drums and baritone saxophone. That's right, no guitars. Well, not much more that can be said about them, go and listen yourself. They're great. (Or were actually, as the lead member Mark Sandman died on stage few years ago )
Good album to start with: Cure for Pain

Modern Jazz Quartet
Not that unknown to jazz freaks, but outside of the jazz freaks, not too many seems to know them, and that's a shame. With vibraphone, piano, bass and drums, they play everything from lighthearted swing to sad blues. If you haven't heard MJQ, you owe yourself a listen.
Good album to start with: The (Complete) Last Concert

Now it's your turn!
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Old 02-07-2003, 08:54 AM   #2
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Morphine - Cure for Pain
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Old 02-07-2003, 09:13 AM   #3
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Great thread!

Here's a few of my faves.

The Iguanas:
One of New Orleans most popular bands, they play a mixture of blues, latin, Tex-mex, rock, and whatever else can be worked in. One of the most fun live bands ever, you won't stop dancing. Their first 2 CDs are out of print due to a dispute with their label, but ANYTHING by them is worth owning.

The Eels:
Eclectic rock, delightfully varied. You've heard them in Disney films, but also doing songs you couldn't ever play for the kids. The most cynically optimistic group around (or would that be optimistically cynical...) Check out Daisies of the Galaxy or Souljacker for CDs, "Mr E's Beautiful Blues" for a single.

Gomez:
Different, progressive, alternative rock. Check out "In Our Gun" for a CD, or "Detroit Swing 66" for a single.

Morcheeba:
Put the headphones, light a cigar, grab a scotch, and mellow out. Great stuff when you want to relax. Charango is a great CD.

Added: I agree with both of the above, Morphine is incredibly cool.
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Old 02-07-2003, 09:21 AM   #4
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Wow, that's kinda spooky HuskerHerfer! You and I were sort of thinking in "parallell worlds" ........I was going to mention the Subdudes, a band that is intertwined with the Iquanas. Although the original band "The Subdudes" actually no longer exsists......the original band members still remain active on the music scene in one way or another.
You may want to check out www.subdudes.com it has a lot of info on the band along with extensive MP3 downloads of their music(or if you just want to sample it on-line, you can do that too)
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Old 02-07-2003, 09:42 AM   #5
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Morphine? Unknown? Wow... I wouldn't put them into that category... Most people I know are aware of them. Anyway....

Some of my list:

The Tragically Hip
If you're not in Canada you've likely not heard of them. At least around here. Straight up driving Rock'n'Roll. Good starter albums: Day for Night and Trouble in the Hen House

Komeda
Band out of Sweden. Once I start listeneing to them I can't stop for several days... Good starter album: What Makes It Go?

The Young Dubliners
Touring band out of LA that if you ever get a chance to see live, GO! They've sold out their last twenty something shows at the House of Blues in Hollywood. Celtic influenced driving rock. If you go to a show tell Keith or Bren you know Jay in Reno. Check out their web site at http://www.youngdubliners.com. Good starter album: Alive Alive O'

The Dandy Warhols
Trust me... these guys are good. Just go out and buy Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia.
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Old 02-07-2003, 09:43 AM   #6
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I have heard the Subdudes, but had no idea what they were about or where they came from. I do like them. In looking over their discography, I see the name of a guy I went to school with who is in the Iguanas.

Cool! Thanks for the link!
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Old 02-07-2003, 09:45 AM   #7
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Some of my favorites are:

Monte Montgomery
The Floating Men
Uncle Tupelo
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Old 02-07-2003, 10:10 AM   #8
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Tragically Hip Road Apples, if you don't own it you should.

I am not sure I would call Morphine "unknown", I always thought they were pretty well known. I certianly have enjoyed them for a while, but then that is not always a distinction of notariety.

An up and coming band that I really like is And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead. Catagorized as "emo", a catch all catagory for post punk. Awesome live band but not really new, they have 3 discs out but not getting airplay recently. Most recent disc is source tags and codes.

A local blues artist who has two commercial releases, is Thornetta Davis Sunday Morning Music is just a beautiful album and I recommend it. Gospel blues from the Motor City.

Finally, two defunct bands At the Drive (also catagorized as emo, obscure lyrics and intense presentation) in and Afghan Whigs (Greg Duli, lead singer, just oozes coolness imho). Defintely in heavy rotation for me.
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Old 02-07-2003, 10:21 AM   #9
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Yes, definitely Road Apples, too. "Baby eat that chicken slow..." Fully Completely is great, too. I'm not crazy about Up to Here, Phantom Power and Music @ Work, but just about everything else the Hip does is great. I'm still deciding on In Violet Light.

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Old 02-07-2003, 11:16 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheakamus
Morphine? Unknown? Wow... I wouldn't put them into that category... Most people I know are aware of them.
Well, it may be that Morphine has been greater success around there in States than here, here most people have never heard about them.

Great suggestions people, I'm going to try and get my hands on all music mentioned here, as a way of expanding my musical horizons.

Oh, and I might put one addition here as well:
White Willow
A progressive rock group from Norway, their music is very much folk oriented, with nice flutes, cello and synths on top of more traditional rock instruments. Their music vary from very beautiful folk of their first album to more rock (and more progressive) in the later albums.
Good starter album: Ignis Fatuus
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