THE TOP 50 BANDS YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF

I know how cool you feel when someone is going through your stacks of CDs or shuffling through your iTunes library and they ask “Who is this?” And you can reply, “What? You haven’t heard of these guys?” Thus, I have compiled a list of 50 bands (in no specific order) that you have either not heard of or not heard enough about. Honestly, what reason do you have not to check these bands out?

1. Minus the Bear – If you have heard of these guys, you probably only know them for their ridiculous song names (i.e., “Hey! Is That An Alien Up There?” off their latest They Make Beer Commercials Like This). Too bad that most people only know of these guys for that reason. “Indie rock” doesn’t begin to describe these guys so go out and buy any of their albums and get ready for their progressive/ rock/ electonica melodies carry you away.
2. HIM – This European metal sensation has blown away crowds of more than 60,000 in Europe since the late 1990s and yet they have struggled to escape from the dark pool which is the U.S. music store import section. Now, after recorded their latest album, Dark Light, in L.A. and releasing it last September, H.I.M. (His Infernal Majesty) is ready to take the world by storm. Their sound is dark and melodic and if you have any respect for Black Sabbath or progressive metal (which you should), check them out.
3. Death From Above 1979 – Canadian power-duo Sebastian Grainger and Jesse Keeler (formerly of Femme Fetale) have teamed up to bring us what is perhaps the greatest thing to come out of Canada since Rush. Just a bassist/keyboardist (Keeler) and a drummer/vocalist (Grainger), Death From Above 1979 brings to the table bass-fueled power riffs with enough drum beats to keep you moving towards the dance floor. It’ll flat out make you want to move to Canada…or maybe just rush out and buy their latest album You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine.
4. Circa Survive – It’s hard to go wrong with a line-up comprised completely of artists from other bands that are on the right side of amazing themselves. With members from the bands This Day Forward, Saosin and Taken, Circa Survive unleashed its debut album, Juturna, in April of last year and hasn’t looked back. With a sound much like that of Saosin and Coheed and Cambria, it is truly hard not to like.
5. The Eagles of Death Metal – Don’t let the name fool you. This band sounds nothing like The Eagles (thank God) and cannot be classified as anything close to “death metal.” Instead the Eagles of Death Metal have combined straight forward rock and blues, added a little bit of upbeat flavor and laid down some falsetto lyrics over the top. Being compared to The White Stripes, The E.O.D.M. are sure to captivate any listeners. Visit www.eaglesofdeathmetal.com for a FREE download.
6. mewithoutYou – Not much in the way of quality lyrics in recent years. Not since the days of Robert Smith and Kurt Cobain has a singer been able to capture the poetic rhapsody that lyrics should exhibit. With sometimes up and sometimes down, sometimes raspy and sometimes screaming lyrics linked together with the perfect complementing melodies, mewithoutYou captures an intensity not seen in music since the days of Nirvana.
7. Pinback – Don’t be fooled by the somewhat melancholy pop sound you will hear on the Pinback’s latest record, Summer in Abaddon. Hidden inside each track are elements of lively glee muddled with dark despair created by the overlap of instrument upon instrument and vocals pleading to be heard. Their latest album is not their first, but Summer in Abaddon is truly a hidden gem.
8. The Polyphonic Spree – Into cult music? How about a band that has about as many members as most nudist colonies? With 22 members all playing different instruments, The Polyphonic Spree is hardly a band as much as it is a full-blown orchestra. With everything from vocals and electric guitars to piccolos and a French horn, this band is able to create passionately melodic music that will keep your hippie-side blowing aimlessly in the wind.
9. Thunderbirds Are Now! – “Bursting out of Detroit's pollution-and-crime-ridden streets like Robocop after one too many Yellow Jackets, Thunderbirds are Now! deliver catchy, smart, melodic, fast, direct and danceable rock with a nod to late '70s and early '80s post-punk. Keyboards are used not as a novelty, but as a necessity, functioning as an instrument that provides everything from atmosphere to a song's main melody. Guitars are wiry and manic but still direct and not afraid of the occasional delayed part or barre chord. The bass rides an undercurrent, but also jumps out of the fray, delivering alternate melodies and power. Drums are never overcomplicated or flashy, but are instead used to generate a rhythmic pulse that carries throughout the song. Vocals dart in and out of the mix, sung with a sassy intensity.” – Thunderbirds Are Now! (taken from www.thunderbirdsarenow.com) Check it out!
10. The Arcade Fire – You know when you are putting all the info into your iPod using iTunes and you go to label the genre and there is that one option labeled, “unclassifiable?” That label would be fitting for The Arcade Fire. Is it rock? Is it alternative? Is it folk? Frankly, from track to track, it is a mixture of just about all of those. Listed as the number one album of 2004 by Pitchfork media, The Arcade Fire’s, Funeral, encompasses many traits, but disappointment is NOT one of them.
11. Panic! At the Disco – It truly is a mystery why these guys haven’t been heard of more than they have or gotten more play time on MTV2 rather than just the 3 a.m. loop. With a poppy sound mixed with a somewhat dark appearance (somewhat like The Used in many cases), you will absolutely be able to rock out to some upbeat, almost pop-like music without ever worrying about these guys signing a contract with Jive Records, shaving their chests and making a video for their latest ex-girlfriend song in the rain.
12. The Faint – The Faint’s released Media in 1998 and realized they were nothing more than the typical alternative/emo band on the scene and needed a change. Fortunately they forgot the emo scene completely, picked up a keyboard and began creating some of the most catchy, energy-filled, dance music around. Why these guys haven’t surfaced further than they have in the music scene is beyond me. Everyone from metal lovers to rap fanatics can appreciate this band’s music.
13. Island View Drive – Recently signed to Acutest Records, this up-and-coming rock/reggae group has been all over the eastern side of Michigan and has even graced the ad sections of a few national rock magazines with their albums. Although they are extremely low-key, with their latest line-up changes I wouldn’t be surprised to see them on tour outside of Michigan soon.
14. The Notwist – If there was ever a band that could keep you guessing on what instrument is coming next, it could be The Notwist. With their latest recording, Neon Golden, sorrowful vocals are backed by acoustic guitar, dub bass, flutes, a saxophone, the occasional broken beat and a banjo. It is no wonder why these guys have been called something between “post-punk rock and crisp electronica.” The Notwist is not a band to be missed.
15. The John Butler Trio – Hitting it huge in Australia with their latest album SunriseOverSea, The John Butler Trio has packed up their acoustics and come to the United States. However, they have have stayed under the radar anywhere outside of California. Headed up by John Butler’s mind-bending acoustic guitar and banjo work, the trio has set out on a world tour which is selling out arenas in France and Germany about as quick as anything sells out here in the states. If you are looking for that California style, forget putting on your Hollister shirts and go buy something genuine like this band’s album…No one in California even knows was Hollister is anyway.
16. Common – Being an MC in the same city as Kanye West probably wasn’t the best route to fame that Common could have chosen. However, as little air time as he has gotten, his rhymes focusing on love and spirituality may be pointing in a new direction for hip-hop. His latest album Be still may not be as clean as mothers might like hip-hop and rap to be, but it’s hard for anyone not to appreciate such a new sound and message in the hip-hop scene today.
17. Scary Kids Scaring Kids – If anything describes this band, it is energetic. Fast riffs backed by quickly beating drums trying to keep up – basically this band is going to try and rip your speakers apart. Although they are extremely energetic, the lyrics pull a subtle emo-quality into the music and makes each and every song on their debut album The City Sleeps In Flames mean something. Expect big things from this band.
18. Snow Patrol – You have to love a band that is able to make vocals as much an instrument to the music as anything else they use. The depth of this band is beyond explanation. Everything from the guitars to the dropped bass to the electronic background to the moody lyrics makes this band’s songs amazing. Their latest album Final Straw will be lodged in your CD player for months. Easily one of the best albums I have ever purchased.
19. The Decemberists – Labeled as something along the lines of “alternative/mid-evil folk,” The Decemberists are a must listen. With a creative writing major as a lead singer, you will be impressed with the story-like lyrics of their songs. Upbeat and happy-go-lucky, The Decemberists will soon explode onto the music scene.
20. Frou Frou – If you watched the movie Gardenstate (which you should have), you were probably amazed with the soundtrack. And if you were amazed with the soundtrack, you were probably taken away by a little song called “Let Go” by some band called Frou Frou. And Frou Frou is no one-hit-wonder. Every song of their latest album Details will take you away. Buy, download, listen on Amazon.com, do whatever you have to do to hear this music.
21. The Blood Brothers – Although the name has circulated through the masses over the last few years, it is hard to find anyone who has actually sat down and listened to a Blood Brothers album. Labeled as Hardcore/Screamo/Emo-Punk, The Blood Brothers seem to be so different that many people are turned off from the get-go. Don’t let their individuality scare you away - instead embrace something different in the music world today.
22. VHS or Beta – Do you miss the ‘80s? Well pull out that Members Only jacket, strap up the L.A. Gears and throw in a VHS or Beta album. You can forget the idea of just listing a band from the 1980s as an influence, this band lives the decade and sounds nothing like anything else out there these days.
23. Autumn and the Wasp – We know the ladies love super tight jeans, super tight shirts and typically girly haircuts gelled into a cute little mohawk, but it doesn’t do much for straight, power-riff rock. Autumn and the Wasp seemingly stands for everything that the normal progressive band doesn’t. Autumn and the Wasp is in your face with power chords coming from all over the fret board and vocals coming from all different pitch levels. And you can’t argue with a hometown hero. Coming straight out of Flint, Michigan, be prepared to see these guys going all over the state (and hopefully all over the country soon) blowing people’s minds with their shows. Check these guys out on MySpace.com with a display name of “Autumn and the Wasp.”
24. Dogs Die In Hot Cars – If there is one band on this list that sounds nothing like anyone else and has a sound that deserves to be heard it is Dogs Die In Hot Cars. Here lies a happy-go-lucky sound that is not pop, it is not alternative, but somehow takes the best of what They Might Be Giants were going for and put it towards music that means something. If you can only hear one song, find someone…anyone with the album Please Describe Yourself and focus all your attention on “Godhopping.” It will change your life.
25. The Casionauts – These guys are local…and by local, I mean awesome. If you have been lucky enough to see these guys play live around the East Lansing area you know how intense a show can be. Their album Bailamos! Murimos! Juntos! is absolutely no different. Basically, you need to check these guys out as soon as possible.
26. Atmosphere – Hard to go wrong when you are being described as “a less pissy Eminem.” Pulling together a variety of different sounds ranging from hard-knock beats to old-school sounds and bass to gospel, Atmosphere leaves nothing in the studio. Releasing his fifth record within the last year Atmosphere’s “fame” has grown slightly but it still not to the level of where it should be.
27. We Are Scientists – Progressive-electronica-alternative-funk is the only description I can truly come up with for We Are Scientists. This band truly has everything a band needs to make it huge in the music world today: an amazing, intricate and catchy sound, a lead singer with looks that make the ladies come flocking and one member with a solid mustache. You simply cannot go wrong with this group.
28. Louis XIV – Imagine if John Lennon had made an album with The Rolling Stones. That is the only description I can come up with while listening to Louis XIV’s latest record The Best Little Secrets Are Kept. With a sound that brings you back decades into the past and yet ties you to the progressive nature of indie/alternative bands today, it is truly not possible to go wrong with this band.
29. Cursive – Raspy lyrics backed by pleading-to-be-heard guitar riffs and beating drums, this band has a style unlike anyone out there right now. Although on first listen you will usually find their songs hard to relate to with sounds you don’t expect and lyrics coming from all over, but Cursive is an acquired taste. Once you get into the style and come to appreciate the ways they are pushing music, it will be hard to put these guys aside.
30. Some By Sea – I highly doubt anyone out there has heard of these guys. When my group of friends first heard these guys play, we immediately went out to Best Buy to find their album and…nothing. We went on Amazon.com to find their album…nothing. Finally we resorted to getting it off their website and what we got in the mail some five business days later was a hand-addressed package from the band themselves - shipped from their house! It sickens me that Some By Sea is low key. If you have ever laid on your back floating on water at night staring up at the stars, think about that feeling in music form. That is Some By Sea.
31. Head Automatica – Think back to 8th or 9th grade when it was the coolest thing in the world to tell everyone you listened to Glassjaw and wear their t-shirts and whatnot. Well those days are over and we can now move on to an ex-Glassjaw member who has basically gone pop. Head Automatica is the perfect music for the upcoming spring and summer seasons with their “northern soul/pop” sound. Get ready to roll down your windows, throw on the aviators and most likely dance at every stop light.
32. The Honorary Title – I’m sure you have at least one album in your collection that just does not get old. Get ready to add another one, because The Honorary Title’s latest masterpiece Anything Else But The Truth is truly one of those albums that just never seems to come out of your car’s CD player or off your “Most Recently Played” playlist in iTunes. Easy to listen to, filled with emotion, subtle but driven instruments, there is nothing that The Honorary Title lacks in its music.
33. Portugal The Man – "Prepare to bear witness to the aurora borealis of electronic sound that is Portugal. The man. Hailing from the arctic wastelands of Alaska and the mountiany mountains of Oregon, these glacial hike hardened warriors craft a musical tundra unlike that heard in the sonic botulism of everyday life. With this arsenal of sound, they trek forward not unlike the future writing members of the Starship Enterprise. Having met Jesus in upstate New York in the month of June of nineteen sixty-nine, this quintet now knows future. now lives the future. now is the future. where the mule learned his name and was forced to become the goat." – www.portugaltheman.net
34. Pretty Girls Make Graves – This band will literally hook you about five seconds into any song you choose to listen to first. They are labeled punk rock but this band blows “punk rock” out of the water in every way imaginable. With what sounds like a plethora of instruments backing beautiful female vocalization and some male screamo, any and every song this bands puts out there is tantalizing. With a new album due out in 2006, this is not the last time you will hear of Pretty Girls Make Graves.
35. Dope – Are you sick of bands comprised of boys with girls’ haircuts, tight pants and whiny voices? How about some pissed off guys with dreads and lowly-tuned guitars who play them really hard, really fast and throw in a little bit of electronica just to mix it all up? Dope has been around since the late ‘90s; however, they have not been able to get much radio attention with their sound. If you are looking for a straight forward metal album with some electronic funk for a twist, go pick up a Dope record.
36. The Format – If you are a fan of PureVolume, then you have probably run across The Format. Their acoustic melodies are not to be missed and they can captivate all listeners with their catchy alternative/indie/rock sound. Amazon.com labels them as “Triumphant” and “Revolutionary.” What reason do you have not to go check them out?
37. Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah! – “Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! sold nearly 20,000 copies of its self-titled, self-released debut through the mail--and got nearly as many raves from enthusiastic MP3 bloggers, leading to an entry on Rolling Stone magazine's coveted Hot List. It's easy to feel skeptical, especially of an album that opens with a carnival barker imploring you to 'Clap Your Hands!; But anyone that's felt the lure of bands such as the Arcade Fire and Interpol will want to keep listening. In vocalist Alec Ounsworth, this Brooklyn five-piece has found its own Jonathan Richman, a yelping madman that can sing things like "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth" with a straight face. Meanwhile, the music itself is typically unhinged and under-produced, taking an anything-goes approach that coasts on sheer exuberance and results in moments of profound clarity such as ‘Let the Cool Goddess Rust Away’ and ‘Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood.’ A promising start but hold the applause.” –Aidin Vaziri (Amazon.com)
38. Javelins – Straight out of Detroit and standing for everything that Eminem isn’t. Not that Eminem isn’t any good, but he is for sure not progressive/alternative/indie rock that will absolutely blow your mind. If you are lucky enough to catch these guys when they play East Lansing, you will want to grab a copy of their album No Plants Just Animals and carry it with you to the show. Check them out on MySpace.com – display name “Javelins.”
39. Broken Social Scene – Depending on what recording you listen to or what day you see this amazing band play live, you will see somewhere between 5 and 17 members on stage at once – but that is not necessarily the point. What is amazing is the mini-symphony this band is able to create. With too many instruments to rattle off, this band is perfect for anyone who wants to break out of the disgusting rut that most mainstream music finds itself in today.
40. Matisyahu – Jewish reggae. No, I am not kidding. I am also not kidding when I say this is probably the most straight forward reggae material to come out in the last few decades. Go out and pick up Matisyahu’sLive At Stubb’s; it is nothing short of amazing.
41. Belle and Sebastian – It is hard to pitch this band. Not that they aren’t any good - they are amazing. But it is hard to say what they are like. It is kind of moody blues but with a twist leaning towards soft, melodramatic pop. Either way, whether you are having a rough day or a great day and you just need to wind down, Bella and Sebastian have all that you could want.
42. Badly Drawn Boy – Damon Gough has released what is probably his best work since his debut…and no one has heard of it. Sick, I know. Something that is able to be labeled as “techno-folk” would at first confuse most first-timers; however, these first-timers soon become all-the-timers as this music will cling to you and not let go. The best thing to do is forget about the confusing classification and find a way to hear this.
43. Albert Reacts – Very hard to find a good find when you do. Although simple acoustic musicians are a dime-a-dozen and radio will never pick them up, there is something special about someone who combines heartfelt lyrics with great guitar work and leaves it at that. I haven’t found much about Albert Reacts anywhere outside of www.podbop.org.
44. Klezmeroke - An electric guitar, a drummer, a violinist, a saxophone, and a 5-string, fretless bass all coming together to perform flawless, mesmerizing, vocal less, upbeat, jazz. Need I say anymore?
45. Saosin – Father band to their drummer’s side project Circa Survive, Saosin is extremely promising. With a sound somewhat like that of a screaming Coheed and Cambria, it is bound to turn heads from not just rock-lovers but people all arcross the music spectrum. After 36 reviews on Amazon.com, Saosin has managed to maintain an average rating of five stars. I would say that is worth checking out.
46. Spoon – “Spoon make some of the catchiest, most confident rock 'n' roll of any group around. Their fifth full-length is nothing short of a dizzying, soulful masterpiece, easily the most expansive work in their career. 'Gimme Fiction' is a sprawling, exhilarating, filler-free album of keenly focused artistic vision and ambition.” –Amazon.com
47. Obie Trice – Most everyone knows Eminem found 50cent. What most people don’t know is Eminem also found Obie Trice. With comical lyrics and catchy beats much like that of his founder, it is hard to fathom why Obie has fallen so under the radar. If you are one of those people who easily allow songs to get stuck in your head for days upon days, I recommend you don’t get your hands on Obie Trice’s song “Got Some Teeth” off of his latest album Cheers.
48. Versus The World – Radio rock bands have become about a dime-a-dozen and are typically a sickening shame that only makes rock music look bad. Versus The World is not this kind of band. With heartfelt acoustic gems accompanied by a mass of Headbanger’s Ball worthy tunes, anything this band puts out is nothing short of great.
49. Her Space Holiday – Extreme isolation usually leads to something original. Marc Bianchi of Her Space Holiday did just that when he bought a little shack of a home in Somewhere-No-One-Has-Heard-Of, California and began contemplating the latest release, The Past Presents The Future. Sounding something along the lines of Bright Eyes’ Digital Ash you will not be disappointed with the latest album or anything prior to it.
50. Longview – You have to love a band that creates that sense of passion within you when you hear their music. Mellow, weeping guitar work intertwined with ambitious yet haunting lyrics; a nearly flawless combination. Their latest albumMercury will be one of those albums you find yourself coming back to over and over again for the next few years…or until their next masterpiece hits the shelves.