admin Basic Member Posts:399  
| 1/13/2006 10:14 AM |
|
|
In another thread this week there were suggestions that some board members here couldn't resist an opportunity to talk up their love for some fabulously obscure acts, and in so doing increasing their chance of (allegedly) looking real sophisticated. Or something. So it’s time, me thinks, for an explicit thread on this...
What are your fave obscure bands out there? Allow me to kick this off by offering my lurve of the following two very fine but unlikely-to-be-played-on-FM-104 bands:
Band buried in obscurity? Japancakes
Hail from? Athens, Georgia.
Music? Beautiful fusion of country instruments, cello and loose drumming that ends up creating something completely original (and that sounds a million miles away from country I might add). However they are lyrically challenged, a flaw they gloss over nicely by having no vocals.
Notable disc? "The Sleepy Strange" from 2001.
Label: WARM Electronic Recordings (http://www.thewarmsupercomputer.com/)
Discovered how? One day happened to hear one of their tracks on the online radio station www.accuradio.com
Band buried in obscurity? PineTop Seven
Hail from? Chicago.
Music? To be filed under, yes, Americana. Contemplative, textured, etc. And yeah they do occasionally mope a bit. But they got something compelling going on.
Notable disc? "Rigging the Toplights" from 1998.
Discovered how? I stumbled across some obtuse and intriguing reference to their "Rigging the Toplights" album that a journalist shoe-horned in to a review of a remastered REM re-release. Without hearing a note I went straight to eBay and picked up a 2nd hand copy of the album for a song. Was not disappointed.
Now, undoubtedly somebody will tell me that both acts above have just sold out a double-bill, three night run in Vicar Street, and that they’ve been on heavy rotation on MTV the last few months and that if think they’re obscure I should check out the Mongolian Mama Machine who are turning heads in Talinn’s underground scene, yadda, yadda, yadda. So be it.
Next?
eoghan
|
|
|
|
Unicron Veteran Member Posts:1696
| 1/13/2006 12:19 PM |
|
|
Any excuse to talk about this band, this should surprise no long time posters:
Band buried in obscurity? The Wrens
Hail from? Secaucus, NJ
Music? Depends on the album, MBV influenced dream-pop on the first, a bit more punky on the second and a mix of things on the third featuring some of the best lyrics ever.
Notable disc? "The Meadowlands" from 2003
Label: Absolutely Kosher and Lomax
Discovered how? A friend of mine went to San Francisco in early 2004 and wrote down a list of things pitchfork had given the "best new music" label to over the previous year. He picked up about 30 albums and when he got home he sifted through them and burned me copies of the 8 or so he really liked. When he gave me the copy of "The Meadowlands" he just said that I was gonna love it.
Band buried in obscurity? Final Fantasy
Hail from? Toronto, Canada
Music? Chamber music, ostensibly one man singing and playing the violin with some drums and otehr stuff in the background
Notable disc? "... has a good home" from 2005
Label: Um, I forget.
Discovered how? Owen Pallet is the string arranger and occasional touring violinist with Arcade Fire, I saw him open for them in London last May.
|
|
|
|
GarVeteran Member Posts:1676
| 1/13/2006 12:58 PM |
|
|
I can forsee an Eyebrowy cartoon about this thread.......
|
|
|
|
Norman SchwarzkopfBasic Member Posts:427
| 1/13/2006 2:47 PM |
|
|
Theyre all saying the Arcade Fire EP is actually better than Funeral but I was into them WAY before the EP. The gurgling sounds they made as foetuses are much more visceral than their more mainstream EP work.
|
|
|
|
GarVeteran Member Posts:1676
| 1/13/2006 3:13 PM |
|
|
Band buried in obscurity? The Mountain Goats
Hail from? Portland, Oregon
Music? Intelligent indie pop that leans on alt country while winding the most beautifully wry lyrics around a bittersweet vocal style.
Notable disc? 'Tallahassee' from 2002
Label? 4AD
Discovered how? Someone mentioned them on a music related forum as being the most under-rated band around. Curiosity got the better of me.
Band buried in obscurity? Silver Jews
Hail from? University of Virginia
Music? A delightful insecurity lingers in the often ironic songs of this excellent outfit that produce laid back yet intimate music, usually featuring cameo appearances from other creative musicians
Notable disc? 'Tanglewood Numbers' from 2005
Label? Drag City
Discovered how? Reading an interview with Stephen Malkmus, he mentioned David Berman (head conductor of the Silver Jews) as one of the best songwriters around.
|
|
|
|
UnaVeteran Member Posts:1721
| 1/13/2006 3:24 PM |
|
|
Band buried in obscurity? The Honeymoon
Hail from? one half England, one half Iceland
Music? gorgeous melodic pop.
Notable disc? 'Dialogue'
Label? dunno
Discovered how? from being asked to interview them, and given the album
Band buried in obscurity? Third Eye Foundation
Hail from? Bristol
Music?: shreddy, spooky electronica (hate that word) full of samples, strange, disorientated beats, oddly moving
Notable disc? Little Lost Soul
Label? dunno
Discovered how? went to a house in the middle of nowhere in France, and a mate played the Little Lost Soul album constantly. It summed up the vastness of the countryside and the claustrophobia of boredom perfectly.
|
|
|
|
stephenBasic Member Posts:201
| 1/16/2006 1:55 PM |
|
|
Band buried in obscurity? The Greenhornes
Hail from? Cincinnati
Music? Blues, Stax mixed with the brand of guitar boogie that bands from the Midwest seem to perfect. With weathered vocals reminiscent of the sadly departed Afghan Whigs, the Greenhornes have caused much consternation in the McNulty household - "will he damage himself if he continues to throw himself around the room like that?".
The band that the Kings of Leon aspire to be.
Notable disc? "The Greenhornes" from 2001 or "Dual Mono" from 2002.
Label: Telstar(
Discovered how? Believe it or not, I saw them mentioned in the Sun newspaper's music section a while ago and I've just been smitten!
|
|
|
|
Protein biscuitBasic Member Posts:364
| 1/16/2006 2:05 PM |
|
quote:
Originally posted by stephen
Band buried in obscurity? The Greenhornes
Hail from? Cincinnati
Music? Blues, Stax mixed with the brand of guitar boogie that bands from the Midwest seem to perfect. With weathered vocals reminiscent of the sadly departed Afghan Whigs, the Greenhornes have caused much consternation in the McNulty household - "will he damage himself if he continues to throw himself around the room like that?".
The band that the Kings of Leon aspire to be.
Notable disc? "The Greenhornes" from 2001 or "Dual Mono" from 2002.
Label: Telstar(
Discovered how? Believe it or not, I saw them mentioned in the Sun newspaper's music section a while ago and I've just been smitten!
I wholeheartedly agree. Picked up Sewed Soles and it's great stuff. It's amazing to think that they can mine a genre that's been done to death and make it sound fresh, earnest and rock 'n' roll. |
|
|
|
| 1/18/2006 8:30 PM |
|
|
Band buried in obscurity? 50hertz
Hail from? somewhere in england does it matter?
Music? savage rockin melodic
Discovered how? cant remember
Band buried in obscurity? The Mountain Goats
Hail from? Portland, Oregon
Music? Intelligent indie pop that leans on alt country while winding the most beautifully wry lyrics around a bittersweet vocal style.
Notable disc? 'Tallahassee' from 2002
Label? 4AD
Discovered how? Someone mentioned them on a music related forum as being the most under-rated band around. Curiosity got the better of me.
Why:they fit me like a dress
Band buried in obscurity? Action Force Music of mass destruction
Hail from? Donegal
Music? punk,metal,folk,trad
Notable disc? live in whelans(Ham Sandwich support Label? Narty Discs
Discovered how? playing a crap festival in dundalk supporting Berkeley
Why?the wear balaclavas and have a good sense of humour
|
|
|
|
ArchieBasic Member Posts:458
| 1/22/2006 8:35 PM |
|
|
Band buried in obscurity:(well artist) Jeff Lang
Hail from:Australia somewhere
MusicVery bluesy influenced singer-songwriter stuff with some absolutely gorgeous slide guitar playing. Hugely emotive, slightly off the wall and brilliant live.
Notable disc? Cedar Grove
Discovered how? Came to local arts centre a couple of years ago.
|
|
|
|
| 1/23/2006 6:54 AM |
|
quote:
Originally posted by Gar
Band buried in obscurity? The Mountain Goats
Hail from? Portland, Oregon...............
I livein Portland and I've never heard of them. Hmm, a googling I will go. |
|
|
|
QsySueBasic Member Posts:119
| 1/29/2006 4:53 AM |
|
Well, obscurity is a relative term. In the States I wouldn't called the Mountain Goats, the Wrens, or the Greenhornes obscure. But other people in the States probably would.
My vote....
Band buried in obscurity? Mammoth Volume.
Hail from? Sweden.
Music? Prog/stoner rock complete with organ. I'm not good at describing music, so here's what allmusic.com says about their album I mention below: "The album is a well-thought-out, well-constructed document of vast dynamic range, elegant mood shifts, and superb instrumentation...This disc often dips its ladle in some decidedly folksy, jazzy, even Eastern directions."
Notable disc? A Single Book of Songs by Mammoth Volume (2001).
Label: Music Cartel
Discovered how? A friend included a song of theirs on a mix cd.
Website: http://www.riffrock.com/mammothvolume
And speaking of obscure, not sure how many of you remember me, but I'm gonna try to keep tabs on this board again! |
|
|
|
Antistar Advanced Member Posts:544
| 1/29/2006 5:34 PM |
|
quote:
Originally posted by Gar
Band buried in obscurity? Silver Jews
Hail from? University of Virginia
Music? A delightful insecurity lingers in the often ironic songs of this excellent outfit that produce laid back yet intimate music, usually featuring cameo appearances from other creative musicians
Notable disc? 'Tanglewood Numbers' from 2005
Label? Drag City
Discovered how? Reading an interview with Stephen Malkmus, he mentioned David Berman (head conductor of the Silver Jews) as one of the best songwriters around.
Silver Jews? Shure they're well known! You'll have to try harder than that, Gar!!!! |
|
|
|