# Musicians that should be mega-superstars, but aren't. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 9, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183 "2009-06-09T03:33:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/61 "2009-06-12T11:54:40Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Linky broke. Me fix: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD02PU28NNw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD02PU28NNw) Surprisingly good song - the lead is great! **Argent Towers** - I am pretty sure I’ve heard Rhodes some years ago, but have heard that story. That’s what’s weird about the Beatles myth - so many power-pop geniuses find tragedy along the way while trying to follow in their footsteps. Harry Nilsson, Badfinger, Big Star, Emmitt Rhodes, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/62 "2009-06-12T13:31:33Z")
> [@maplekiwi](#): > > & whoever recommended Vienna Teng - thank you. I have checked out a couple of her tracks & they are lovely. Exactly the sort of music I like to listen to. 🙂 Awesome. Glad you liked her. You might also want to try Charlotte Martin. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/63 "2009-06-12T19:54:50Z")
Well, Big Star was mentioned earlier. Along a similar (but later) musical vein - [Loud Family](http://web.piczo.com/zone/item/As6NkAADDoIAAAAZqKiJxHgo) This is off their greatest album, Interbabe Concern. Their albums previous to this were stunning as well. This is one of those bands, or at least artists (Scott Miller is basically Loud Family with a revolving cast of different musicians), that other musicians listen to. Anyone who likes very literate and smart power pop owes it to themselves to check this out. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/64 "2009-06-12T20:04:37Z")
> [@Purd\_Werfect](#): > > Well, Big Star was mentioned earlier. Along a similar (but later) musical vein - [Loud Family](http://web.piczo.com/zone/item/As6NkAADDoIAAAAZqKiJxHgo) > > This is off their greatest album, Interbabe Concern. Their albums previous to this were stunning as well. This is one of those bands, or at least artists (Scott Miller is basically Loud Family with a revolving cast of different musicians), that other musicians listen to. Anyone who likes very literate and smart power pop owes it to themselves to check this out. By the way, the drummer in the Loud Family video originally drummed for another great unknown band - [Thin White Rope](http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=4220928) out of Davis, CA. They had a desert psychedelic sound and a stunning twin guitar attack. They should have been fuckin’ huge. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen was them at the Berkeley Square. They ripped it up. ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/65 "2009-06-12T20:05:01Z")
Ok, on this message board of all places and no one has mentioned Yell County ---
**Author:** ![The\_Falling\_Reverend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@The\_Falling\_Reverend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Falling_Reverend)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/66 "2009-06-12T20:35:11Z")
No love for Joe Strummer yet? I know that the Clash is a fairly well known band but people seem to sell Strummer’s solo work short. The Mescalero’s were a great band that played wonderfully and liked to mix it up in terms of types of music. Streetcore should have been a top 10 record but instead it was released and no on noticed. Plus there is all the work he has done for various film scores. I’m talking about movies where he did the original music, like Grosse Point Blank. Then you have songs from the Mescalero’s in movies like Blackhawk Down and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Even going back to his original band, The 101’ers, he already had the talent and songwriting skills that would serve him later in life. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/67 "2009-06-12T20:41:32Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Awesome. Glad you liked her. You might also want to try Charlotte Martin. I’m heading up to Auckland shortly, but next week I’m going to work my way through this thread.. You tube wouldn’t load for me before, but I’ll try to see if I can get a hit for Charlotte Martin. **Anya Marie.** I get the feeling Neil Finn has been as successful as he wants to be. I always thought Tim hungered for more. Another ex Split Enzer is the tortured genius that is Phil Judd. I don’t like most of his stuff (my tastes are usually pretty commercial) but check out “Counting the Beat” by his group The Swingers. I read a recent interview with Judd where he said one of his biggest regrets is not pushing for a release outside of Australasia. It could have been a huge hit. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/68 "2009-06-12T20:59:56Z")
Joe Strummer was the uncrowned King of Rock ‘n’ Roll from the 101ers through the Mescaleros, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Falling\_Reverend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@The\_Falling\_Reverend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Falling_Reverend)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/69 "2009-06-12T21:09:11Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > Joe Strummer was the uncrowned King of Rock ‘n’ Roll from the 101ers through the Mescaleros, IMHO. Preach it brotherman! He’s also a fine actor, just watch his stunning performance in Straight To Hell. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/70 "2009-06-12T22:58:51Z")
> [@maplekiwi](#): > > I’m heading up to Auckland shortly, but next week I’m going to work my way through this thread.. You tube wouldn’t load for me before, but I’ll try to see if I can get a hit for Charlotte Martin. > **[Charlotte Martin](https://www.youtube.com/user/charlottemartinmusic)** > > Charlotte Martin is a must-follow artist whose journey is as captivating as her music. > > With a remarkable start at Beck's Bongload Records, a million-dollar RCA contract, and a publishing deal with Dreamworks, she quickly made her mark in the early... 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/71 "2009-06-12T23:59:02Z")
[Pomplamoose](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oJgqbgvInk) [Pomplamoose](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_Gy4vzS4U8&feature=related) [Pomplamoose does a Christmas song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvYZMqQffQE&feature=channel_page) [Pomplamoose](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jM2YwhaNCc&feature=channel) Pomplamoose is made up of [Nataly Dawn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYuoVBZcpjM&feature=channel_page) [Nataly Dawn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azckryO07-I&feature=channel_page) [Nataly Dawn blows my mind singing Row Row Row Your Boat](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsWmtPV1Tx0&feature=channel_page) and [Jack Conte](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Reb5IwMHzoE&feature=channel_page) [Jack Conte](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRdPnMAnX94&feature=channel_page) [Jack Conte does a Christmas tune](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aINFvGESX8I&feature=channel_page) [Jack Conte does the James Bond Theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2fBIUUWRb8&feature=channel_page) ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/72 "2009-06-13T11:14:48Z")
[Shriekback](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaTsdLcE8Zk) ought to have been huge: they had a unique, unclassifiable sound {goth? funk? proto-techno? post-post-punk?}, and have probably dated the least of all 80’s acts. Alas, they were relegated to cult appeal while tedious guitar-mongers like U2 went on to fame and fortune. Plus playing “Nemesis” was banned at my {Catholic, boys} school for being “satanic” _and_ you can dance to them: result! ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/73 "2009-06-13T11:21:11Z")
dupe ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/74 "2009-06-13T11:23:09Z")
> [@Purd\_Werfect](#): > > Well, Big Star was mentioned earlier. Along a similar (but later) musical vein - [Loud Family](http://web.piczo.com/zone/item/As6NkAADDoIAAAAZqKiJxHgo) > > This is off their greatest album, Interbabe Concern. Their albums previous to this were stunning as well. This is one of those bands, or at least artists (Scott Miller is basically Loud Family with a revolving cast of different musicians), that other musicians listen to. Anyone who likes very literate and smart power pop owes it to themselves to check this out. Big, big fave of mine, Game Theory, too! Scott Miller is awesome! ETA: akira5822…thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/75 "2009-06-13T11:36:19Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > [Shriekback](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaTsdLcE8Zk) ought to have been huge: they had a unique, unclassifiable sound {goth? funk? proto-techno? post-post-punk?}, and have probably dated the least of all 80’s acts. Alas, they were relegated to cult appeal while tedious guitar-mongers like U2 went on to fame and fortune. Plus playing “Nemesis” was banned at my {Catholic, boys} school for being “satanic” _and_ you can dance to them: result! Ah, the band responsible for “This Big Hush” from the movie _Manhunter._ Amazing song, amazing sequence in the film that it’s used in; that movie kicked all kinds of ass. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/76 "2009-06-13T18:03:41Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > [Shriekback](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaTsdLcE8Zk) ought to have been huge: they had a unique, unclassifiable sound {goth? funk? proto-techno? post-post-punk?}, and have probably dated the least of all 80’s acts. Speaking of which: [Chrome](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXhqz88tcJA). ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/77 "2009-06-14T02:51:39Z")
My personal “under-rated Musicians” Adrian Belew [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/j5BZ8l8CBhg/hqdefault.jpg "Adrian Belew - Ampersand") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5BZ8l8CBhg) FM (the Canadian band) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVT5BQn_hvw) Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/78 "2009-06-14T04:53:17Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/user/charlottemartinmusic](http://www.youtube.com/user/charlottemartinmusic) Wow, the “galaxy rehearsal” clip was impressive. Damn! ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/79 "2009-06-14T17:59:16Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > I’m so out of touch with the modern world over here in Okinawa that I don’t know what’s mainstream and what isn’t anymore, so Andrew Bird may be a superstar for all I know. But he’s awesome. [Fake Palindromes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV-IDVdDx78)is one of my favorite songs. > > Thanks for starting this thread, OP. I’m especially loving Mika–extremely catchy. Andrew Bird is one of my favorite musicians, and his live shows are insane in how many different things he’s doing at once (in a given song he sometimes plays up to 3 instruments, while using foot pedals for his gadgets, and whistling). However, while I think he COULD become a super megastar, his lyrics may be a bit too esoteric for people. Very few straight love songs or other similarly simple themes. Though songs like Fake Palindromes and Plasticities I could easily see becoming runaway hits just out of sheer catchiness. ---
**Author:** ![mailman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@mailman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mailman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/80 "2009-06-21T13:24:36Z")
Here’s somebody most of you have never heard of, and he’ll blow your minds. But, will he get played on the radio? …uh…I don’t think so… Ed Hammel is smart, funny, articulate, musical, political…so, no, you won’t be hearing him on the radio. [www.hamellontrial.com](http://www.hamellontrial.com) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183.md?page=5)