I remember the video for ‘Seasons’ distinctly, it was filmed in Egypt, footage of the band playing in the desert, men in turbans riding by on horses, kinda neat video. The video for ‘War Ensemble’ was mostly concert footage if I recall correctly, though I think it was intercut with stock footage of war.
There was also a video for ‘Raining Blood’ that got played sometimes on Headbanger’s Ball, it was just concert footage though.
Thats right, I do remember the ‘Seasons’ video now. Its been so freaking long since I’d seen it, I forgot. The War Ensamble one sounds familiar, but I just can’t get a mental picture of it. I have an early live video of them, but it was pre Rain in Blood. Mostly stuff off of Hell Awaits.
Speaking of Slayer, their song “Raining Blood” was recently covered by an artist that I think also fits the description of the OP:
Tori Amos She’s received some casual airplay here and there, but nothing that’s ever constituted a hit, as far as I’m aware. Nevertheless she has an extremely strong and enthusiastic fan base.
About Tool, they’ve had a few hits: “Sober” and “Prison Sex” off of Undertow used to both receive a good deal of airplay, and then my local radio station has played “Stinkfist” and “Aenima” from Aenima religiously over the previous 5 years before Lateralus, with “Schism” came out.
I’ve heard Tool “Sober”, Phish “Down With Disease” and Placebo “Pure Morning” on the radio. Tool also has a song on the radio now that I really don’t like, “Schism” I think.
As for the OP, how about Sonic Youth? I don’t recall them having a radio hit, but in the early 90s they were a hot ticket.
Well, for me there’s always Cowboy Mouth, Mary Prankster and Emmet Swimming. Always sell out the places they play (at least around here) but can’t break through to radio properly.
Cowboy Mouth was the one I thought of also. Their concert at the New Orleans Jazz Fest last year must have had at least 150,000 people trying to claw their way to the stage.
the only phish song i find worth it to listen to is the cover of “gin & juice” by snoop doggy dogg…now that’ll make some rap fans go “what the FUCK!?”
tool is a great band, but it’s ridiculous to try and argue that they haven’t had a hit in the 90’s…i mean, “Lateralus” debuted at No. 1!
another non-hit good band = bad religion
Phish doesn’t cover that Snoop Gin&Juice song – you’re thinking of a band called “The Gourds”.
And Phish would be good if they cut their song length by 90%. Yes, they are very talented, but they are so noodle-y that it makes my head hurt and they bore me. As usual, just MHO.
Well just going to show you how diverse people are in their tastes, it’s their jams that drew me to Phish. Then again there’s a lot of jazz music I listen to (which is practically the epitomy of noodly) plus I’m a musician, so I like to listen on a “musician’s level” as well.
I have what I consider to be a healthy appreciation for jazz. I like Mingus, Some Miles, Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Thelonius Monk, Pat Martino, and many others.
So it isn’t as if Phish is “going over my head” musically.
Just don’t like it. But that’s OK – you know what they say about opinions.
For me, The Posies were the best that never got any airplay.
I would’ve said Jimmy Eat World until a couple of months ago… their new single “Bleed American” seems to be getting a lot of airplay.
And dada was fantastic, but they did have a hit with their first single “Dizz-knee-land”. Probably the worst song they ever recorded… just a rip-off of the Cure’s “Just Like Heaven”, but the rest of their material is grade A!
Personally I don’t see how Pavement didn’t wind up a radio staple. They had a minor hit with “Cut Your Hair” but they have several excellent albums, tons of radio-friendly songs, and were (IMHO) one of the best bands of the 90s. Malkmus’s solo album rules too. Has anyone heard the other guys’ solo album?
I’ll also second NOFX. Most consistent/creative punk band of all time, although their lack of radio support was more or less deliberate.
Another vote for the Eels. The above tune was from their debut album but they didn’t really hit their stride until their sophomore effort, Electro-Shock Blues. This is a minor masterpiece of dark, clangy pop/rock. Although I was disappointed by Daisies of the Galaxy I still look forward to their new release, Souljacker
Also, check out Beta Band. Their 3 EPs is an excellent mish-mash of spacey psychadelic/country/techno/funk/pop/folk. I definitely hear some Syd Barrett influence there. I hear they recently toured with Radiohead. Hopefully, this will give them some much deserved exposure to a wider audience.
Hodge
They’ve had a number of songs on movie soundtracks, and they get played at every industrial club I’ve ever been in, but I’ve never heard them on the radio.
And the show I went to was jam packed.
Bad Religion had two radio songs “Twentieth Century Digital Boy” and “American Jesus”
Dada is one great fucking band!!! It’s a shame that they will be forever known for that stupid Dizz-Knee Land song. Puzzle is an album on constant rotation in my car. Favorite song off of the album…“Here Today, Gone Tommorrow”
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Hodge *
**
I saw the Beta Band open for Radiohead in Chicago. I was not impressed at all, although I’m willing to concede that the problem was that the Beta Band might not be much of a live band. Still, I thought they in no way lived up to the hype my friends had given them.
Ooh, good ones! I was a big Wedding Present fan. David Gedge’s new band, Cinerama, is another one I’d add to the list. They sound nothing like the WP, but great all the same.
More:
Belle & Sebastian (also somewhat Smiths-like)
The Divine Comedy (not big in the U.S., at least)
The Hives
Julian Cope and The Feelies (although both started their careers before the 90s, they both released albums in that decade)
The Beautiful South (again, no hits in the U.S.)
The Aislers Set
Stereolab(though fairly well-known)
Built To Spill
Oranger
Sebadoh
Superchunk
and my perennial favorite, Bob Mould/Sugar(there wouldn’t be a Pixies without him)
i never heard 21st century digital boy on the radio…i’ve only heard american jesus once, i don’t know what radio stations you’re listening to…
has anyone ever heard “please play this song on the radio” by NOFX? that’s a classic right there…
Just because you haven’t heard it on the radio, does that mean it isn’t so? I’ll repeat again, I’ve heard both “American Jesus” and “Twentieth Century Digital Boy” on the radio.
Well, way back when I was in high school, they used to play “Juke Joint Jezebel” on Q101 in Chicago. Whether this was an isolated radio station or not, I don’t know.