# What is an Awesome Group/Artist That I've Never Heard Of? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 2, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846 "2004-04-02T03:30:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BlueMit11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@BlueMit11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueMit11)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/1 "2004-04-02T03:30:43Z")
Obviously there are all kinds of different music out there, so post someone that you don’t think many people have heard of and describe them. If you’re convincing enough, I might buy their CD or download some of their music. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/2 "2004-04-02T03:45:48Z")
**Thomas Nuendel** , whose debut solo CD is titled _Through Not From_. Thomas is a jazz/folk/classical violinist with a rock & roll edge. This CD includes a helluva neat version of St. James Infirmary Blues, a rock version of the folk classic Morrison’s Jig, cool versions of If I Only Had A Brain and (Simon & Garfunkel’s) Kathy’s Song, a couple originals (Nil Nisi Morte Bonum is hauntingly beautiful) and one bizarro silly spoken word track about a dancing horse with an ego problem. The CD was produced and arranged by Jerry Barry, also an outstanding musician who has worked with The Minstrels of Mayhem, Jim Hancock, and the late great Malcolm Smith. Before recording this solo CD, Thomas appeared regularly on the Renaissance Faire circuit with the Minstrels of Mayhem, and provided the show music for the Flaming Idiots and performance artist Danny Lord. He’s a really talented guy, and while his music incorporates lots of different styles, it doesn’t really fit into any particular genre. Plus he has really cool dreads for a white boy. For ordering info contact: [nappythomas@yahoo.com](mailto:nappythomas@yahoo.com) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/3 "2004-04-02T03:48:00Z")
[Steve Million](http://www.stevemillion.com/) - wonderful jazz-ish piano composer. Not avant, not fusion, not anything in particular, just wonderful, solid, melodies not repetitive or predictable enough to be pop, so it’s jazz. [Los Straitjackets](http://www.straitjackets.com/) - Ventures for the new millennium. Cashmere Jungle Lords - Dominic Carpin and whoever he’s got playing with him, it’s western jungle surf music. Not much recorded output, but “Southern Barber Supply” is pretty great. ---
**Author:** ![SanguineSpider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/4 "2004-04-02T03:50:19Z")
I’d recommemd you check out Jeff Buckley, specifically _Grace_. IMHO, he was a modern day bard with an angelic voice that could make real angels weep. He rocked, he rolled, he seduced… when I hear his voice, I know what beauty is. Unfortunately, he’s not around anymore (tragically, he drowned in the mighty Mississippi a few years back) and whenever I hear the song “Grace”, it gives me chills: - There’s the moon asking to stay Long enough for the clouds to fly me away Well it’s my time coming, I’m not afraid to die My fading voice sings of love, but she cries to the clicking of time, Oh, time. Wait in the fire… And she weeps on my arm Walking to the bright lights in sorrow Oh drink a bit of wine we both might go tomorrow Oh my love… And the rain is falling and I believe my time has come It reminds me of the pain I might leave behind… Wait in the fire And I feel them drown my name So easy to know and forget with this kiss I’m not afraid to go but it goes so slow… \* It’s very sad that he won’t be making any more amazing music. He was incredible. _sigh_ **Dead Can Dance** is haunting and soothing, they’ll take you on a journey. It’s a mix of Celtic/ Middle Eastern melodies and beats, and will move the core within you. Wonderful stuff… it’s almost magical. Only about 60% of their stuff has lyrics and each CD is a new world and style. ---
**Author:** ![hegel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cab0a1/32.png) [@hegel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hegel)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/5 "2004-04-02T03:54:07Z")
Maxtone Four. Brilliant pop. [www.maxtonefour.com](http://www.maxtonefour.com) ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/6 "2004-04-02T03:56:00Z")
Here are some of my favorite CDs at the moment: Anathema, _A Fine Day to Exit_ Arcturus, _The Sham Mirrors_ Candlemass, _Epicus Doomicus Metallicus_ Einherjer, _Odin Owns Ye All_ Emperor, _Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk_ Ephel Duath, _The Painter’s Palette_ From Zero, _One Nation Under_ Into Eternity, _Dead or Dreaming_ Haggard, _And Thou Shalt Trust…_ Kyuss, _Blues for the Red Sun_ My Dying Bride, _Turn Loose the Swans_ Norther, _Mirror of Madness_ Opeth, _Morningrise_ Paradise Lost, _Gothic_ Porcupine Tree, _In Absentia_ Queen Adreena, _Taxidermy_ Rain Fell Within, _Refuge_ Tapping the Vein, _The Damage_ Therion, _Theli_ Trail of Tears, _A New Dimension of Might_ Within Temptation, _Mother Earth_ I’d be surprised if you manage to find any songs from any of these albums on your average file-sharing service. ---
**Author:** ![gooti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gooti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gooti)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/7 "2004-04-02T05:04:17Z")
> [@hegel](#): > > Maxtone Four. > > Brilliant pop. > > [www.maxtonefour.com](http://www.maxtonefour.com) [Pinback.](http://www.pinback.com/) Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/8 "2004-04-02T05:43:23Z")
\*\*[Reason For Leaving](http://www.reasonforleaving.com) \*\* Somewhere between Reggae, Funk and 311. \*\*[Know Boundaries](http://www.know-boundaries.com) \*\* Incredible Funk/Hip-Hop Hybrid, also quite a strong Rage influence. Both out of madison. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/9 "2004-04-02T08:28:06Z")
[The Negro Problem](http://www.negroproblem.com/). A very talented group, led by a big black guy named Stew. Excellent lyricist… some of the wittiest lines you’ll ever hear. The music can sound like rock, blues, pop, and gets some hints of jazz. A very offbeat band. Oh, and if you haven’t picked up David Byrne’s latest CD, _Grown Backwards_, you need to. You’ll never be a real boy until you do. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/10 "2004-04-02T09:07:52Z")
The God Machine - Scenes from the second storey, although it might be hard to track down Shellac - 1000 hurts, At Action Park, Terraform Minimal rock music, in that it rocks like a motherfucker and nobody plays guitar like Steve Albini. [a whisper in the noise](http://www.awhisperinthenoise.com/) A bit like Shellac but with a string quartet Tortoise, or any of the bands on the Thrill Jockey label Converge - super heavy rock ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/11 "2004-04-02T13:25:27Z")
**David "Dudu Fisher** –Israeli singer who made his stage debut as Jean ValJean in the London Les Miz. This man’s voice is absolutely amazing. I cannot begin to describe it! The best singer I’ve ever heard. If you run into anyone from Israel, ask them about Dudu Fisher. I once ran into someone who served in the Israeli Army with him. He has recorded two songs from Phantom in Hebrew, and one of my dreams is to have him do the whole show. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/12 "2004-04-02T13:35:52Z")
Well, if haven’t listened to **Big Star** , you must buy their 2-albums-on-one-CD collection (#1 Record + Radio City) immediately. Very, very influential power-pop band from the early '70’s that never went anywhere due to record company problems. Those who know of them, love them. If there are better, more beautiful, catchy songs in the rock canon than _September Gurls_, _Back of a Car_, _Thirteen_, and _Give Me One More Chance_, I don’t know of them. ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/13 "2004-04-02T13:54:57Z")
Try [The Cynics](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDSUB040401221521482938&sql=B3dd5vwxva9xk) newest one [Living Is The Best Revenge](http://www.gethip.com), a perfect blend of jangly Byrds style pop (Ballad of JC Holmes) and raging fuzzed out garage punk psychedelia(Shine) to awesome 60s covers like Roky Erickson’s classic "She Lives In A Time Of Her Own). THe Cynics have been Pittsburgh’s greatest band for almost twenty years now, and they’re still as great as ever. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/14 "2004-04-02T15:03:00Z")
Augie March. They are a band from Melbourne, Australia who make stunning, literary music. Their lyrics are breathtaking, and verge on the poetic, and tend to be very different to usual rock lyrics. For instance, _There Is No Such Place_ begins: “There is no such place, o, yes, I have seen it too Just a little different from how you do. A river winding blue among the dunes and a marble bed And a sun that doesn’t set, but settles” _The Hole In Your Roof_: “What do the men say to the women when they lay down at night all naked of arms from the old imagined fight? And how do the women hear? In kind and in likeness of light - “In kindness you needn’t and neither do I, we are both of us capable of flight”. And as if to give proof She jumped through the hole in the roof.” Their music tends to range from Jeff Buckley-esque guitar atmospherics, to rollicking blues and banjo-picked folk songs. It’s very ambitious, but such is their talent that their output not only matches their ambition, it seems as if they fulfil their ambitions with ease. If they had the distribution, I’m sure they would be held in as high esteem as bands such as Radiohead are. You should get either of their albums, _Sunset Studies_ or _Strange Bird_. If you wish to listen to some tracks first, see if you can hunt down either of the aforementioned _The Hole in Your Roof_ or _There Is No Such Place_, or try _Heartbeat and Sails_, _This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers_ or _Sunstroke House_. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/15 "2004-04-02T16:55:37Z")
[Bond](http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/communicate/bond.shtml) is a classically trained string quartet who play electrified instruments in front of what can best be termed a rock orchestra. The music is fun, upbeat, driving, and superbly played. I don’t understand why they seem to be completely unknown in the U.S. after two hit worldwide albums. ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/16 "2004-04-02T17:46:13Z")
M Ward ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/17 "2004-04-02T17:48:19Z")
[I’ve been listening to Denver Harbor recently.](http://www.denverharbormusic.com/) They’re the Band Formerly Known as Fenix TX. A bit punky, but decently good. They’ve been playing them quite a bit on The Edge 103.9 here in Phoenix, and I dig 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/18 "2004-04-02T17:59:31Z")
Not completely obscure but they don’t get regular air play (except in Ohio) so maybe you haven’t heard of [Over the Rhine](http://overtherhine.com/home.html). They are somewhat folksie with an edge. Karen has a beautiful voice. They do some covers and a lot of original material. There are some MP3’s on their site. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/19 "2004-04-02T17:59:57Z")
You may not have heard of Mars Volta. ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846/20 "2004-04-02T23:57:40Z")
**Iron and Wine** **Pinetop Seven** **Wylie and the Wild West** **The Creek Dippers** **Scott H. Biram** **Freakwater** **The New Pornographers** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-awesome-group-artist-that-ive-never-heard-of/237846.md?page=2)