On reddit this was always bait for people who don’t know what “mainstream” or “underrated” means. Like I don’t know if you’ve heard of this obscure niche ragtag band… Supertramp? Compare Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man treating every cultural touchstone from prior to 2000 as lost knowledge found in ancient manuscripts.
So I’m gonna say Kingston Wall, a Finnish progressive rock band, and risk finding out that they were a household name for the dozens of people who gave a shit about prog in the 90s. “We Cannot Move” sounds like the pinnacle of 70s production. It just came out while Yes was doing synth-pop and Pink Floyd was doing a Moody Blues album. If it turns out everyone who’s heard of Porcupine Tree already knows about them… good.
If we’re talking mass appeal that’s missing, I’d say The Cinematics. Two and a half albums of energetic alternative rock. Broadly anti-consumerist messages throughout. Guest work from We Are Scientists and Beck. Broke up for unspecified reasons. They deserve to be one of those “oh yeah, those guys” kind of bands. Not mindblowing… but remembered.
Off the list:
The Caretaker, after Everywhere At The End Of Time was a devastating realization of what they’d been doing the whole time, and superlative-obsessed reviewers took notice.
Frightened Rabbit, whose recognition was unfortunately well-demonstrated when their lead singer jumped off a bridge. Honestly, it was the world’s least surprising suicide. The man wrote a song about it. Same bridge and everything.
My Morning Jacket, a psychedelic rock act well-known enough to make a McSweeney’s list of “what your favorite Sad Dad Band says about you.” (Viz: “you know how to cook an eel.”) The album Z absolutely rules, and you have to remove the skin and rinse out the blood.
I understand most of your words.
TL;DR - listen to Midnight Organ Fight, listen to Z, stick with salmon.
Listen to An Empty Bliss Beyond This World if you want to get real sad and not know why.
In case my posting history (and in fact user name lol) doesn’t make it obvious - Infected Mushroom
It’s impossible to pick a single example or a favourite track, since they vary so widely in style and it depends on what mood your in! But some of the better known classics are (best heard on headphones, unless you have a really incredible audio system):
And one from their 25th anniversary album
A Cookie From SpaceAnd many many more in between, but I’ll leave it at that lol (E: the links are each from the full album playlist, so that’s a good place to start)
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Days N Daze
Love DnD, wish they put out more music like Rogue Taxidermy. I’ve listened to plenty of folk punk before, but I’ve still never heard anything quite like them. The Taxpayers comes close but are too soft to be a real replacement.
Mdou Moctar
So many artists, but as a huge metalhead here are two who IMO deserve way more light.
Ruins of Beverast https://theruinsofbeverast.bandcamp.com/album/exuvia
Umphrey’s McGee
Umphreys, Lotus, and STS9 have always been kind of a trifecta for me. I’ve also always liked Papadosio and it feels like they’re just getting better every time I see them.
Potentially less widely known, a Michigan band called Chirp. I also recently discovered Kendall Street Company and their interpretation of Eyes of the World is so good it haunts me.
Fuckin love umph, got to see them twice so far. Once with sts9, which I also love.
I’ve been big on MUTEMATH since highschool. Unfortunately, I think they’ve broken up, but I still love their music.
Sleep Token. They’re not as obscure as they used to be. They kind of blew up this year but only in the metal scene. Not quite mainstream yet but I think they’ll get there.
Tigran Hamasyan (Armenian piano jazz-metal)
The Gabriel Construct (self-described as art music iirc, but basically just some experimental rock)
Jaggery (avant-rock, cool harp sounds)
Noah Sias (deathcore? Just so fucking heavy idk)
Bent Knee (experimental rock, just an absolutely gorgeous song)
Mel Bryant (indie rock, great hook, cool breakdown)
AURORA, although I guess she’s gaining increased mainstream recognition now?
Since I’m very hurdy gurdy focused atm, Patty Gurdy and Michalina Malisz (as well as her band LYRRE)
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
Mutemath is one of my favorites. Every album is different. In recent years they got more electronic sounding and the band broke up a couple of years ago.
Chaos is one of my all time favorite songs.
Cari Cari (just discovered them, psychedelic jams)
Bargain Music (reggae/ska, similar to sublime)
Secret Chiefs 3 (schitzo alternative/middle eastern, many members of Mr. Bungle)
TR/ST (darkwave)
The Two Man Gentleman Band (old timey barbershop banjo)
Superorganism (psychedelic)
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (punk covers)
St. Vincent (indie/alternative)Two Man Gentlemen Band are so funny. Fancy Beer!
many members of Mr. Bungle
Not to be confused with the Bangles or the Buggles.
Though 1980s Yes hiring Mike Patton would’ve been quite a thing.
Poets Of The Fall. They aren’t too known but they are the ones behind many Remedy games soundtracks including Control and Alan Wake. Dam they’re good, especially their Alexander Theatre session and live performances.
As a teenager I fell in love with Gong and still listen to them today. Managed to see Daevid Allen’s Gong in Brighton back then. Amazing.
Not sure if Fila Brazillia are now recognised by the mainstream? Just incredible. Got to see them early 2000s at Shepherds Bush Empire. All that Pork stuff from Hull was a real scene.
And finally, just real, proper, modern Acid House.
Any questions?
