Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper
Devo
Beastie Boys
King Crimson
Run-DMC
-hrh
Emmet Swimming
Tom Waits, he always makes the VH! top whatever list but when do you hear him on the radio?
Roger Waters. “Amused to Death” is one of the best albums I’ve ever bought.
Johnny Winter. Great blues guitarist. Just incredible.
The Jayhawks
Cheri Knight
Jeff Buckly
Richard Thompson, with or without his ex-wife
and of course, Rush.
Fagjunk Theology: Not just for sodomite propagandists anymore.
Oh, let’s never forget Cowboy Mouth.
I’d nominate any of the performers who did more with less, and routinely get slammed for the fact. Yes I know that, technically speaking, Dimebag Darrell could probably play circles around Carlos Santana or Robbie Krieger, but that doesn’t mean, if Pantera chose to cover Oye Como Va or Light My Fire then their interpretation is going to be more worthwhile. There’s more to music than how many notes per second you can play.
Incidentally this comment is in response to something in the concurrent “Overrated Bands” thread, in which someone said that the Doors had perhaps 5 good songs during their career which any of 250 other bands could have played better.
Admittedly, the pet shop boys are little more than a disco-dance pop band, but i think they have taken fun, intelligent pop music to new heights. i believe they have been unfairly stigmatized as a ‘gay band’ thing. what is the mark of a really great band? almost every song on every album should be good. the psb stand up to that challenge beautifully.
Another Canaidan band, the Cowboy Junkies is vastly underheard.
I also think Helmet was a little before their time. If they were just starting out today, they would be huge.
I loved the “Trinity Sessions”. Any other recommendations?
And I really like “Spiritualized” - though I admit it is a specialty interest. 
Second the vote for Big Star. I got #1 Record/Radio City a couple of weeks ago. I haven’t quite made to the 2nd half of the CD because I keep repeating the 1st half. It’s that good.
Pedro the Lion deserves more attention too.
He’s not a band. The band he was a part of can be called anything but underrated.
Supergrass
Gomez
The Melvins
Great Big Sea (another canadian band)
The Beautiful South
Kings of Convenience
Moxy Fruvous
Flogging Molly
[slight hijack]
For Moxy Fruvous the “Gulf War Song” is sadly appropriate again…
[/sH]
I would have to say that the SUPERSUCKERS don’t get half the credit they deserve. Also: The Dwarves, Screeching Weasel, the Queers, Mudhoney, The Mr. T Experience, and the super-rockin’ Redd Kross.
I’ll second Dishwalla and Great Big Sea. I would like to say Our Lady Peace - even though they are popular in Canada, I really have no idea how popular they are elsewhere.
Kathryn Williams. UK folk singer. “Little Black Numbers” is just a beautiful album. I love it to bits.
Kruder and Dorfmeister are well respected and well known in some circles, but they deserve a lot more recognition. They produce the smoothest, deepest dubbed-out electronic music
I think Ugly Duckling are starting to get the praise they deserve. They are a bunch of west coast rappers whose album “Introduckling” is very funny, very funky and very nicely put together. They are, in terms of attitude like a cross between De La Soul and Paul’s Boutique era Beastie Boys.
Roots Manuva deserves a shitload of respect. A UK rapper and producer who has totally his own style without having to ape US rappers. He the man.
Dodgy - a now defunct british indie band. Absolutely brilliant tunes, with none of the blokeish arrogance of Oasis or the art-school leanings of Blur.
Fischer Z
Kayak
Martha and the Muffins
Japan
Toad The Wet Sprocket
they’re almost perfect, in my book…
Cursive- amazing…amazing band…indie/emo/rockin good time…these guys get no recognition outside of the scene
NCC- probably the best american electro/ebm act…but they’re stuck on a small label
Pretty Girls Make Graves-…awesome…but…largely ignored…