# Best Unheard Band **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 10, 2000, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628 "2000-11-10T10:19:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HalberMensch242](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@HalberMensch242](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HalberMensch242)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/21 "2000-11-10T22:39:56Z")
I’d have to say Wolfsheim, an amazing synth-pop band, with incredibly catchy tunes and really good lyrics to boot, i think they’re pretty popular in Germany, but not a lot of people have heard of em in the states. I also agree on the Tea Party choice, but i’d also like to add another couple of semi-canadian bands, Download and Tear Garden(both of which include Cevin Key) ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/22 "2000-11-10T23:01:41Z")
HalberMensch242: I was going to say Wolfsheim or VnV Nation, but I figured people here had heard of them. Good choices! ---
**Author:** ![HalberMensch242](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@HalberMensch242](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HalberMensch242)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/23 "2000-11-10T23:07:32Z")
yeah…i was gona also say VnV, but they’ve gotten rather popular in the US, so i decided to pick a more euro-orianted synth band. VnV is doing a mini tour later this month, just 4 dates though, and like always, all the good bands seem to skip MO. ---
**Author:** ![Skwerl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Skwerl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skwerl)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/24 "2000-11-11T03:40:20Z")
Let’s see…in the realm of electro music, probably Fluke, Hybrid, and Layo and Bushwacka. In rock, Angie Aparo and the Living End. Also in rock would be the German group Die Ärzte, but, seeing as their lyrics are all German, they won’t have much appeal to most people. Their music is superb, however. Got Napster? Wanna find out more? I suggest: Fluke: V6, Stuck in the Middle with Fluke (Alternative Mix) Hybrid: Finished Symphony, Theme from Wide Angle Layo and Bushwacka: Ear Candy, Perfect Storm Angie Aparo: Cry, Hush Living End: Monday, Save the Day Die Ärzte: Wie es geht, Manchmal haben Frauen…, Rebell ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/25 "2000-11-11T04:26:59Z")
**[Hunters and Collectors](http://ubl.com/fp2.asp?layout=a_bio&artistid=004553)**. Was very big for quite a long time in Australia, but never could make it in the U.S. Some of their early stuff could be compared to Talking Heads, and mid-to later stuff… U2 maybe? They broke up in 1998 after something like 18 years. ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/26 "2000-11-11T05:50:27Z")
Well, there’s the band I’ve mentioned in about eight threads, but I’ll mention them again, the mighty **Urinals** - the greatest punk band ever. They only ever released 3 singles, but they said all that needed to be said. And if you try to look them up on the internet, you get directed to bizarre porn sites. HenrySpencer ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/27 "2000-11-11T06:02:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gazoo \* > \*\*There’s a band called **Me First and the Gimmee Gimmees** that are a lot of fun. Not sure where they’re from. The do punkish covers of classic songs like “Seasons in the Sun,” “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” and “Sweet Caroline.” It’s kinda cool because you already know the words and the tune, it’s just “rocked” up a bit. > \*\* More info on my favorite way to impress the punky kids: they are a collective sideline project of a number of guys from various punk bands, most noticably the lead singer from NOFX. Their first album, Have A Ball is adult contemporary classics like the ones mentioned above. Thier second album, Life’s a Drag are covers of Broadway musicals. Terribly amusing. MY favorite unknown band (actually, my favorite band) is Guster. They are worth whatever money it costs to see them live, just to see the percusionist. He started with a bongo set, and slowly added other percusion instuments, all of which he plays with his bare hands. AMAZING. [http://www.guster.com](http://www.guster.com) Or ask SBMB’s own Wonko the Sane, he and Billdo caught my Guster boys with me in Central Park last summer. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/28 "2000-11-11T07:35:33Z")
X was indeed a great band. Bands which are current yet relatively unnoticed: Godspeed You Black Emperor, as mentioned above. Sparklehorse. Loud Family. Mother Hips. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/29 "2000-11-11T08:59:43Z")
For the longest time, my Holy Trinity of bands has been The Replacements, Husker Du and Superchunk. Other worthies include Freedy Johnston and Buffalo Tom. **pezpunk:** Luna, an excellent choice! I particularly love the tone of “Slash Your Tires” – it’s so incredibly deadpan that you can’t really be sure what ol’ Dean Wareham is feeling. Do you know what happened to the original drummer? **betenoir:** “Under The Big Black Sun” does indeed rule. I caught the John Doe Thing recently (and I got a free ticket because I was one of the handful of people who bothered to show up for the free in-store performance earlier in the day). The last song of the encore was “The Hungry Wolf” and it was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![hightechburrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f6c823/32.png) [@hightechburrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hightechburrito)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/30 "2000-11-11T09:29:50Z")
I’ll recommend a couple local bands in my area. [Stunt Monkey](http://www.stuntmonkey.net) is from San Jose. [Dealership](http://www.dealerkids.com) is from Berkley. ---
**Author:** ![PuRpLe\_PrIdE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c77e96/32.png) [@PuRpLe\_PrIdE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PuRpLe_PrIdE)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/31 "2000-11-11T18:55:16Z")
A local band: Manifest Jurassic 5 is a good band, that is underrated. Some of you have probably heard of them. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalMuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@DigitalMuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalMuse)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/32 "2000-11-12T02:21:32Z")
Cowboy Mouth is really good, ill agree with that I’d have to go with Switchblade Symphony, who are now defunct. But there music is really pretty and the leader singers voice is really harmonic, and I recommend them to anyone. ---
**Author:** ![lesa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/34f0e0/32.png) [@lesa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lesa)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/33 "2000-11-12T13:21:39Z")
Great Big Sea Nitzer Ebb Midge Ure David Sylvian Camouflage (still putting out CDs) Red Flag (ditto) Go into a record store. Ask if they have the new David Sylvian. Get a big smile and “I’ll check.” Watch employee turn away. Watch employee turn back, confusion slowly creeping across their face. “Who did you say?” Tell them again. Wait for them to type ‘David’ into the computer. Then get asked, “Can you spell that?” The fun part is the delayed reaction. Apparently the name sounds familiar enough they think they know it. Then, if you want to continue on: When they ask who he is say, “He was in Japan.” Blank look. “It was a band in the 80’s.” Blank look. “He’s worked with Ryuchi Sakamoto.” Blink, blink, find CD and get weird person out of the store. ---
**Author:** ![Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilgore_Trout_1)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/34 "2000-11-12T16:45:57Z")
**the inbreds** are another relatively unknown canadian band. i don’t think they are still together, though. it was 2 guys, a drummer and a bass. > **[The Inbreds - Two-Piece Indie Rock Band](http://inbredsmusic.blogspot.com/)** > > The Inbreds - A Two-Piece Indie Rock Band here is a link to the **minibosses** , as mentioned by **mojo**. [www.minibosses.com](http://www.minibosses.com) they cover old nes music. super. ---
**Author:** ![HalberMensch242](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@HalberMensch242](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HalberMensch242)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/35 "2000-11-12T20:09:51Z")
Well…i’d agree with ya on the Nitzer Ebb, if they were still around. They actually got pretty popular in the late 80’s…i think “fun to be had” was in the top 40. As far as EBM at their time goes…front242 was way better then EBB, as far as quality goes. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/36 "2000-11-12T20:16:45Z")
**Red Snapper** don’t get the recognition they deserve, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![sk8rixtx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@sk8rixtx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sk8rixtx)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/37 "2000-11-12T22:31:05Z")
Punk: Fifi The Ataris (Please don’t confuse them w/ Atari Teenage Riot) Small Town Heroes FenixTx (Been listening to them since they were called RiverFenix) A New Found Glory Boy Kicks Girl Ska: The Chinkees ECP (The group in SLC Punk, which played that hardcore punk song at that club) Rap/Metal: Linkin Park p.k.a Hybrid Theory (Listening since 1999, just exposed to the masses recently) VENT SEV Hybrid UK Rave: DJ Hixxy (is the best) ---
**Author:** ![sk8rixtx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@sk8rixtx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sk8rixtx)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2000, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/38 "2000-11-13T02:11:16Z")
Also: ReInStated ---
**Author:** ![Siddhartha\_Vicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@Siddhartha\_Vicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siddhartha_Vicious)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2000, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/39 "2000-11-13T03:39:00Z")
Reverend Horton Heat. And the Sandblasters. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628/40 "2000-11-14T10:18:44Z")
Before this post disappears forever (although I kind of like it listed as last post by Elvis) I wanna say, I’m delighted how many people are with me on the X thing. So you’ll all be there when it’s time for them to go into the rock’n’roll hall of fame!? Also, Shriekback. Wore out two copies of “Care” even before the CD. Gang of Four. The Pogues. Sonic Youth The other night I saw this “Rock and Roll” thing on PBS. They had the “Punk” segment, up till 1980 or so, followed by “…then punk broke with the advent of Nirvana”. The even talked about “The Year Punk Broke” without mentioning Sonic Youth. Like there wasn’t any punk in the eighties (thank god there was.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-unheard-band/40628.md?page=3)