Rabbit Junk (YouTube link)
(note that I’m doing bands obscure in the US and to people I’ve talked too, they could be #1 best sellers in their native country for all I care/know and I think a few are)
Pain
They are a punkish band with a horn section, a keyboardist, and a violin at times for good measure. They’re similar to Third Wave Ska, but they deny the label, and in fact they’re not QUITE there. Some of their songs have an interesting sense of humour, but overall their music is just really damn good.
They were semi-mainstream in the mid 90s I heard, but they’re incredibly obscure now.
Another somewhat obscure band (but nowhere near as much as the last one) is Barenaked Ladies. There are two hits (One Week and If I Had $1,000,000) everyone recognizes instantly, but overall most people give a “huh?” When you mention them. They’re not really afraid to use random instruments when it suits them (a flute in Who Needs Sleep, a nice violin intro to Upside Down, and some trumpet stuff in Bull in a China Shop to name a few). They also tend to have fun with their songs and don’t take everything they write too seriously. Yeah, I know I’m stretching the limits adding them, but I felt they qualify, if only barely.
The Pillows. They did the music for the anime FLCL.
L’Arc-en-Ciel - Another obscure Japanese band, they did Ready, Steady, Go (the opening for Fullmetal Alchemist) if anyone knows that song. These guys and the Pillows are actually known a bit in “geek” (more “Otaku” really, but who’s counting) circles I think, but for the most part they’re unheard of in America.
I tried to like a band called “The GO! Team” but, I just can’t I only barely like a couple of their songs, so I’ll put it here and let it sit. They have two drummers if anyone wants to check how that works out.
Die Wise Guys - a German a capella band. Their music is good, but a LOT of the appeal is their humour, so if you don’t speak German you may miss out.
Die Prinzen - a more rock/pop sort of ordeal, but otherwise the same deal as above, if you don’t speak the language you may not enjoy the music as much.
Cloud Cult. Steve of The Sneeze is friends with Craig Minowa (the lead singer-songwriter of the band) and got him to write a theme song for the site. It’s fun experimental indie-pop with some darker themes.
Here’s more:
Linija Mass (Russian noise—awesome!)
Propergol (Warning: Disturbing…May scare children)
FIrst Law (Cold)
Diamanda Galas (Screaming as art…)
**Vetrophonia ** (Homemade instruments and more)
Rapoon (Zoviet France successor)
**Atrax Morgue ** (Doesn’t get harsher than AM)
Autopsia (Dark Ambient at its finest)
**Bardoseneticcube ** (Lot’s of fun)
**Brighter Death Now ** (Warning: Disturbing…May scare adults)
I’ve been listening to a lot of lyrically rich music lately, so I was pleasantly surprised when I heard Eric Taylor do an interview on The Folk Show one night. He’s a brilliant singer/songwriter from Texas who has, in addition to his own music, written songs for Lyle Lovett and Nanci Griffith (who also happens to be his ex-wife).
On checking his website, I found that most of his current tour consists of coffee shops and private parties. :eek: And the only thing on YouTube is this duet with Nanci Griffith.
That a songwriter of his caliber can barely fill up a Starbucks is a crime.
Seconded. Another Austin legend everyone should hear – though not as “obscure” as he used to be – is Alejandro Escovedo; his new record may be his best yet.
Talk about a diverse collection! This is great - keep them coming! 
We recently went to go see Rogue Wave at the Fillmore, and a band called Grand Ole Party opened for them. Their opening was just as good as the main show (if not better).
Uncle Bonsai - More musical than Tom Lehrer, but not quite as lyrically literate.
Moxy Früvous - I checked them out after I read someone describe them as the canadian They Might Be Giants.
The Bobs - The only a cappella group I know of that can pull off a Hendrix cover.
Thea Gilmore - Folk and blues flavors dominate, with a Warren Zevon finish.
Common Rotation - Alternative folk, fronted by a celebrity you’ve never heard of.
Wir Sind Helden - Just good old, german rock and roll.
I’ve seen them in concert a number of times. I think they had a Top 20 hit in the UK in 1988 or thereabouts, ‘51st State’ IIRC. They have some great songs.
I’ve mentioned some of these local acts before but I think they’re worth checking out.
So Cow - Indie pop from the west of Ireland, via Korea.
Spook Of The Thirteenth Lock - Moody mix of traditional Irish and prog rock. Check Out the track ‘The Hare’.
http://www.myspace.com/thespookofthethirteenthlock
and then of course there’s cough me . :eek:
What a great list. I can’t believe there are other people in the world who know about the Flying Lizards. Realitychuck are you my college roomie?
These are probably too mainstream for y’all’s eclectic tastes, but, rather than risk not mentioning them:
Rasputina (cello based punk / goth)
Me First and the Gimmee gimmees (punk covers of classic rock)
Everyone in the world should love Big Star. Actually, they probably already do and don’t even know it.
Welp, time to throw on #1 Record 
“I believe in Justice, I believe in Vengeance, I believe in getting the bastards, getting the bastards!!!”
What a tune! 
I read quite recently that Fourth Wall is finally coming out on CD.
I love the Gimmes! It’s not just classic rock, though, they have an album of showtunes and an album of country, too. They both rock.
I’m a big fan of Morphine. Really cool bluesy/jazzy/rock band. Lots of saxophone and bass. Here’s some of my favorites:
Morphine and MOFRO seconded. I’ve seen MOFRO a couple of times.
Does Ween count? I don’t think they’re very well known outside of the dirty hippie/stoner rock sorts, but I could be wrong.
I like Minimal Techno, not a very popular brand of electronic music by any means. But once a taste for this type of music is acquired it is difficult to go back to other types of electronic music. It is so different yet complex, its quite cool really.
Dusty Kid
Gui Boratto
Alex Dolby
All these are Minimalist DJ’s, betcha havent heard of them. Well, if anyone is remotley interested, you can go to beatport.com and listen in on the demo’s.
Does Michelle Shocked count as obscure?
Morphine is my favorite band! I use “Super Sex” for the SO’s ringtone… Also check out Treat Her Right, which was Mark Sandman’s band before Morphine. More of a blues/swamp rock sound with harmonica instead of sax. Very hard to find, and the first album isn’t currently available on CD (although you can get used ones for too much on Amazon) which sucks because the Razor & Tie Anthology doesn’t have some of the best tracks on it. Grump. Also, if you don’t have “Sandbox” you should go get it, because it’s worthy.
Rasputina is weird as snake suspenders, but good.
Not too sure how obscure Five Horse Johnson is but I like it, especially when I’m in a gritty mood.
Oy, An Gadai! Your linky no worky!