The Mountain Goats Drive-By Truckers Calexico The Czars The National The Waifs

yesss i love the mountain goats! i think the faint are also a little under-rated

Jim White Cooder Graw Josh Turner Don Walser

Leonard Cohen, listen to "the songs of..." unbelievably good, i'll never forget the first time i heard sisters of mercy. Yo La Tengo too, only really got into the "summer sun" album, but it is quality.

Following on from the Britpop Thread: Saint Etienne Its not like they never had praised heaped upon them, the music press adored Foxbase Alpha at the time (perhaps because it was a great album by two music journalists that it appealed to them so much) then by the third album stopped paying attention. The thing is though, Saint Etienne never stopped making good albums, you can't really say they've ever released a bad one. Saint Etienne probably aren't too worried though, they're like that really interesting interesting person in room full of noisy people who is just content to blend into the background. While a new band "life changing band TM" (copyright, NME) seems to pop up every five minutes, or others are trying to be political or controversial or throwing TVs out hotel windows, Saint Etienne just keep quietly delivering great pop music, and I don't just mean catchy tunes. Check out the lyrics to "Finisterre" sometime, from the album of the same name, it sums up what the band is all about, they are probably one of the only bands capable of producing an idealised pop music alternative reality.

Snowpatrol...oh wait..damn it. can't say that one anymore (now moved to over rated thread :) just kidding) I always thought that grandaddy deserved a bit more attention. I think that they have consistently released good albums. Also, a pet favourite of mine is Pete yorn. 2 studio albums under the belt so far and a third on the way. Much more accessible then ryan adams and jesse malin in my opinion.

Red House Painters/Mark Kozelek - such an incredible song writer and relatively unheard of. Check out 'The rollercoaster' album if you have never listened to them.

Definitely agree with SFA. How many? Seven albums? and not a dud to be found. A brilliantly talented, eclectic, self-effacing, fun, inventive band with a fantastic back catalogue and a unique identity and more classic pop tunes that you can shake a yeti at. And do their albums fly off the shelves? Of course not.

been meaning to get some SFA albums for years now, always loved their singles, are there any you would particularly recommend?

supergrass - always cast off as a brit pop band but they're one of the few thats lasted and they do have some really great tunes.

Good call on Jon Brion Stroller. Has done some exceprional work with Aimee Man and if memory serves, the excellent Evan Dando album, Baby I'm Bored. Do you know if he has any solo stuff? If anyone is looking for an absolutely top notch album well off the radar, check out Sufjan Stevens latest Illinoise, marvelous stuff.

The Wrens, Meadowlands is the best album of the millenium thusfar. Also it looks like I'll be able to see them AND Arcade Fire in the one night at CMJ next month.

Re: SFA There's a few to choose from but a good place to start is Phantom Power which showcases there eclectic abilities as well as anything in there canon.After that try: Radiator Rings Around The World Guerilla Fuzzy Logic Love Kraft(new album) Best of DVD(think its called Songbook) with all the vids and a documentary of them touring the states However,to truly get the marvel of this band they have to be seen live.It's a total multimedia experience and I GUARANTEE you won't be disappointed-5.1 surround sound,techno wigouts,yeti costumes and the tunes,the tunes....!! They play the Olympia on 27th Sept..

Re: Jon Brion He's generally known for his production work with everyone from Beck to Aimee Mann,Fiona Apple etc.He also does alot of soundtrack work for PT Anderson(Magnolia,Punch Drunk Love) and he also did the wonderful score to Eternal Sunshine of the Sotless Mind. He's got one solo release to my knowledge called Meaningless, it's not the greatest thing ever but well worth a listen nonetheless. Enjoy...

Jon Brion is also all over the new Kanye West album apparently Good call on Architecture in Helsinki - fabulous band. And i'm falling very deeply for Khonner's "Handwriting" album. Other under-rated acts: Sweetback (Sade's backing band released some cracker slow-motion cinematic releases, Zero 7 before Zero 7 ever existed) Spain (outstanding melancholic stuff) The Notwist (German alt-rock act who played one of the best live shows I ever saw about 3 years ago in Dublin. Have just a bizarre collaboration with some of the Anticon chaps which is excellent) Mary Margaret O'Hara (she only made one album but what an album! Canadian singer who out-Bjorks Bjork)

Good call by Benni on Supergrass. I was never a huge fan of them (only saw them live once and that was supporting Oasis) but their latest offering 'Road To Roeun' has me hooked. And it made me fish out 'Supergrass' and 'In It For The Money' and realise they are two excellent albums. The new one though is a big step forward for them and i hope to catch them live promoting it.

Yea I was never the biggest fan either man but my mate (long time Supergrass fanatic) got me a pass to their gig at Heiniken Green Energy in the Olympis a few years back and I was well impressed.