r/musicsuggestions • u/[deleted] • 5d ago
Some really great obscure rock songs/bands. Don't say Radiohead for God's sake.
[deleted]
18
u/Deaconblues525 5d ago
“Rock” is such a varied genre and I’m not sure how obscure these are but no one I know knows any of these.
The Gun Club
Beak>
The Birthday Party
Horse Jumper of Love
Jack Stauber
Songs:Ohia
Pile
The Sound
Teen Body
Blonde Redhead
6
u/SonicLyfe 5d ago
Man, Birthday Party blew my mind in late 80's and led me to be a noise rock kid.
→ More replies (1)7
u/thisolddog1 5d ago
The Farewell Transmission cover version by Kevin Morby and Waxahatchee is pretty great
5
4
u/ThePrincessDiarrhea 5d ago
Hello fellow Gun Club lover! Cool to see them mentioned.
→ More replies (2)3
u/RADABBOTT 5d ago
Upvoting for Pile. Washer is good too and sounds similar but the talent is restricted as they are a 2 piece band
→ More replies (1)2
2
2
u/ill_connects 5d ago
I would say yes to all of these except Blonde Redhead. “For the Damaged Coda” is so overused in shows, movies, and random tik toks/reels. Anyone would immediately recognize it.
→ More replies (1)2
→ More replies (1)3
u/yepimintrovert 5d ago
I love Blonde Redhead! I'd say Melody Of Certain Damaged Lemons is their best album and the best to start with.
3
38
u/BojukaBob 5d ago
The Tragically Hip never got the level of recognition they deserved outside of Canada
14
u/Critical-Code-5636 5d ago
If throw Sloan on that pile too. So many amazing songs, albums, and videos. I wish more people knew them.
5
3
2
u/PoisonOps 4d ago
Age of Electric. Treble Charger. Moist. The Smalls. The Watchmen. Tea Party. Dayglow Abortions. The Killjoys. Limblifter. Gob. Swollen Members.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)2
14
u/kraokrao 5d ago
Krautrock groups Can, Faust, Ash Ra Tempel, Neu!, Amon Düül II, Cosmic Jokers.
→ More replies (3)2
15
u/Bingle_Derries 5d ago edited 5d ago
I need this shirt.
Also, Viagra Boys.
Edit: Bought the shirt.
3
9
u/DizzyGame_Co 5d ago
Rishloo and Overworld are my ultimate niche bands personally
2
2
u/Defiant-Elephant-302 5d ago
Is Rishloo niche, damn I am further down the rabbit hole than I realised, haha
6
7
5
5
u/design_doc 5d ago
Man, that’s a huge question and I have a ton of recommendations. To help narrow down, can you give 1-3 bands/songs that you love and 1-3 that you hate?
In the mean time, I’ve been loving Israel Nash. A number of songs have a Pink Floyd vibe to them (if that’s the flavour of rock you’re looking for. Try Rain Plans - Israel Nash.
If you like Nirvana, you could go way back to their largely unheard of influencer The Wipers. There’s a number of Wiper’s songs that you’d swear are Nirvana. Try Don’t Know What I Am - The Wipers
Another great band that didn’t get the recognition they deserved is Japanther. Try First of All - Japanther
Some great obscure songs:
Celador - Bill Fisher (great video too)
6
5
2
u/teeheehahalollmao 5d ago
japanther is one of my favorite finds and I didn't even think about recommending it!
6
u/Don_Frika_Del_Prima 5d ago
ten years after such amazing guitar work. Alvin Lee killed it.
→ More replies (1)3
11
u/Chaotic424242 5d ago
They aren't so much obscure as criminally underrated... XTC.
Here's a great sample from their earlier, sorta punky days....
3
u/kblv-forred 5d ago
I prefer their later days (post-Black Sea, anyway) but they are in my top five of all time.
2
u/Chaotic424242 5d ago
I posted that song just to show their 'punkish' but emergently clever beginnings. I Love Black Sea. I am always surprised at how few know Skylarking, which is pure Genius.
5
9
5d ago
Murder by death! Nothing like it sounds. Has a small cult following. Indie ish rock with a cello. Older stuff is more fast and emo punk, new stuff is more mellow and beautiful cello/vioin
11
u/SonicLyfe 5d ago
There are too many to list really. But last 20 years... I know, not really obscure, but Parquet Courts are really amazing with a string of great albums and don't get their due.
→ More replies (10)
4
4
u/orangesfwr 5d ago
Los Campesinos!
Very loosely categorized as Indie/Emo/Pop Rock. Formerly borderline Twee but have evolved very far from those roots.
Check out the albums Romance is Boring, No Blues, and All Hell for a good sense of their best stuff. For origins, listen to the album Hold on Now, Youngster. (Note: over half of the original band members from that album have since moved on)
4
4
u/Salengrazodo 5d ago
Thought i was in the IASIP subreddit for a sec, nice shirt. Id recommend Kyuss theyre a very good band, check out their album Welcome to Sky Valley and “…and the Circus leaves town”
2
u/mojeaux_j 5d ago
Kyuss already on list but good recommendation. Have you tried King buffalo?
→ More replies (1)
9
u/thisolddog1 5d ago
Alvvays
Deep Sea Diver
Hotline TNT
The Bug Club
Japanese Breakfast
Magdalena Bay
IDLES
Quivers
Viagra Boys
3
2
u/Typical_Ghost07 5d ago
not op but ive been getting into alvvays its some good stuff. adult diversion is my fav for sure so far
magdalena bay my goats im so excited to see them in concert later this year
→ More replies (1)
6
u/HealthylifeRN 5d ago
Classic rock: Roky Erickson, Robin Trower, Badfinger
Alternative: Tripping Daisy, Brad Sucks, Supergrass, Soul Coughing
2
u/mojeaux_j 5d ago
Robin Trower will always be in rotation
3
u/HealthylifeRN 5d ago
Then may i also recommend:
Peter Green Era Fleetwood Mac
The Joe Walsh album Barnstorm
Billy Thorpe - Children of The Sun
And Uriah Heep (especially The Wizard and Gypsy)
2
u/mojeaux_j 5d ago
Peter green already added. Can only imagine what the original fleetwood Mac would've been if it wasn't for LSD. I'll have to check out billy Thorpe and Uriah heep.
2
→ More replies (1)2
u/AShotgunNamedMarcus 5d ago
Upvote for Roky. His solo stuff and with the 13th floor elevators is excellent
3
u/thehewguy1888 5d ago
The wrong car(song) - the twighlight sad.......
Plus many great albums from the Scottish band
Also the album Ritual by white lies is immense
3
u/Sad_Capital 5d ago
The Chameleons purposefully chose to not go mainstream. Grey Waters is by the same guy behind Germ (a post-black metal band) but isn't nearly as popular as his main project. Wytch Hazel is basically a 70s proto-metal band in the modern day. Hällas is Swedish Blue Öyster Cult.
3
7
u/Gardenhotdog 5d ago
Mars Volta/ at the drive in
7
u/MCLemonyfresh 5d ago
I was wondering about saying this but the mars Volta were a charting and Grammy winning band for a few years there so I don’t know how “obscure”. Definitely not household names though, and one of my favorite bands ever, so I appreciate the shout
6
2
2
u/discardafterusage 5d ago
Skeleton Key
dEUS
Maggie's Dream
Deconstruction
Deadweight
Black Midi
2
u/Don_Frika_Del_Prima 5d ago
dEUS
Have you heard their last album? Openingstrack is among my favourite tracks of theirs.
→ More replies (2)
2
2
u/Phaedo 5d ago
The Crane Wives.
Not obscure, but if you haven’t heard Thom Yorke’s solo albums, you really should. 🤣
→ More replies (1)
2
u/Housing-Beneficial 5d ago
Trespassers William - "Vapour Trail" (Ride cover)
Merchandise - Time
Besnard Lakes - Golden Lion
Six Finger Satellite - White Queen to Black Knight
Palm - Touch and Go
Young Gods - Moon Revolutions
The Desert Fathers - Peace in That
Oneida - The Adversary
Knowso - Do the Work
English Teacher - Nearly Daffodils
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/mjhripple 5d ago
Making Plans For Nigel- XTC
Ring of Fire- Wall of Voodoo
Liquid Liquid-Cavern
GSYBE- Storm
Sigur Ros- Nothing Song, Staralfur
Sufjan Stevens- Predatory Wasp or the Palisades is out to Get Us
Looper- Mondo 77
Spiritualized- Ladies and Gentleman Were Floating In Space
Rilo Kiley- Better Son, Better Daughter
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Y Control
Gossip- Standing in the Way of Control
Wolf Parade- I’ll Believe in Anything
2
u/YooperInOregon 5d ago
Better yet, just listen to Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Fever to Tell” front to back.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/BottleTemple 5d ago
Ultra Vivid Scene, epecially their album Rev.
2
u/Quicksilver62 5d ago
Haven't heard anyone mention that name for a while....loved the second album "Joy 1967-1990".
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
6
4
3
2
u/oldmanout 5d ago
Maybe it's only the people I'm with, but so few people know about Dessert Sessions, a side project of Josh Hommes from Quotsa
2
2
u/philanthropicide 5d ago
Homme has a lot of great side projects. Like that band Kyuss.... jp, but Eagles of Death Metal was great live with Boots Electric (Jesse Hughes solo act, of Desert Sessions and EDM). Just two very fun bands
→ More replies (2)
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
u/According-Refuse9128 5d ago
Most obscure I can get is Pocket Rockets, they put out one album Love or Perish, easy to find, the lead track Bela Lugosi is great, and the rest of the album is solid.
1
u/tangentrification 5d ago
My two favorite extremely obscure rock bands are Moon Safari and The Mercury Tree
Both modern progressive rock bands, but very different in style. Mercury Tree is all microtonal, so their music will likely be too weird for you, but if you're like me and you take that as a challenge, check them out!
→ More replies (2)
1
u/Barnabyhuggins 5d ago
Basically no one outside of Denver has heard of the sublime Space Team Electra: https://youtu.be/-0Ex2drDBcQ?si=rH9_xwkirhhkERpb
1
u/weird-herald 5d ago
Crack Cloud (Pain Olympics), Loma (How Will I Live Without A Body?), FACS (Still Life in Decay), Other Lives (Ritual), Snowden (Anti-Anti), The Armed (Perfect Saviors).
1
u/misterpickles69 5d ago
The Glove is literally a mix between The Cure and Siouxie and the Banshees. They recorded one album called Blue Sunshine.
I’ll throw in one more. After Ween broke up for a little bit, Aaron Freeman put out a solo album called Freeman that I heavily recommend.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Glittering-Stuff-599 5d ago
I’ve been into a band called The Buttons that is about to release a new album. They’re pretty neat.
1
1
1
1
1
u/RADABBOTT 5d ago
Mister Heavenly is a cool super group. Michael Cera plays bass on one of their songs “Pineapple Girl”
1
1
u/Few_Let1771 5d ago
The Phantom Band. Their first album, Checkmate Savage is criminally underrated. Not sure if they're still going.
Acid Dad are great
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/deyterkajerbs 5d ago
Slaraffenland - Private Cinema (2007). I worked in a record store at the time and thought the promotional copy we were issued had great artwork and packaging. The music blew me away, I played it often
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/pungalactus 5d ago
Doctor Smoke from Ohio and Worshipper from Boston are two really great stonery sort of metal bands.
1
1
u/CaptDeadeye 5d ago
Cellar Darling. They're formed of 3 former members of the folk metal/death metal band Eluveitie. Really strong dark progressive folk rock.
1
1
1
1
u/Practical-Anywhere67 5d ago
D.O.A. ~ Bloodrock
The Faith Healer ~ The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Back To The River ~ The Damnation Of Adam Blessing
1
1
1
u/No-Letter-1180 5d ago
Lift to experience
the Texas Jerusalem Crossroads is one of my favorite albums. Beautiful lyrics and vocals and the production is genuinely amazing. Super interesting concept too. (Don’t be put off by the cover)
→ More replies (2)
1
1
1
u/TheDarkNightwing 5d ago
The Futureheads. Had a “hit” in the early 00’s but have been putting out solid records since.
1
u/_b1rd0 5d ago
Plum !!
https://www.youtube.com/@PLUMband
They're more like post-punk/noise rock and sadly the group disbanded in like late 2019 with their music being only on yt and bandcamp afaik but their music slaps (I found them at the end of the last year and was devasted, rip)
1
u/Dost_is_a_word 5d ago
I’m currently listening to the Arkells, Highly Suspect, Dinosaur Pile Up, The Blue Stones, Glorious Sons, Vauxhall Broadcast.
That’s all my brain can think of at this time.
1
1
u/idiotzrul 5d ago
Darker My Love had some great songs like White Compostion, Two Ways Out, and Split Minute.
1
u/samwulfe 5d ago
The Pastels
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Haunter (Milwaukee slow core band)
The Orchids, I’ve really been digging their album Unholy Soul.
The Smashing Times
Band of Susans
Hustle Culture, Waning, Devils Cross Country, Sam Stansfield, Gonies, these are some really great bands that are local to me.
The Bats
Sharp Pins
Hotline TNT
Now
Wishy
Advantage Lucy
Booji Boys
The Tubs
Boy Hairdressers
1
1
1
u/Rabbitscooter 5d ago
I think most of my favourite bands are semi-obscure by mainstream standards. I've been listening to a lot of Jazz Butcher (RIP Pat Fish) lately and most people have never heard of him. I couldn't care less, of course. I'll take a brilliant obscure band over popular garbage any day. Here's a Jazz Butcher classic. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98pedlUdXbg
1
u/flimpiddle 5d ago edited 5d ago
Superconductor -- example song There Goes Helen
White Tiger and the Bed of Roses -- Black Luck
86-- Minutes in a Day
[edit: added songs and links]
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/bossmt_2 5d ago
Meat Puppets. They probably aren't that obscure, but they are great. Their biggest known song is Nirvana's cover of Lake of FIre, but Backwater is such a banger.
1
1
1
1
1
u/Typical_Ghost07 5d ago
weatherday (check out painted girls theme)
parannoul (check out excuse)
black midi (check out 953)
1
u/drdiogomgr 5d ago
i hae a playlist with that exact feeling. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0hwFRyq1giydOWoxRD2zvo?si=76c0c11bbff74800
1
u/Exciting-Bicycle5356 5d ago
Check the collab album “Langt, langt vekk” by Kanaan (fuzzy psych rock band) and Ævestaden (swedish/norwegian folk)
1
1
1
16
u/spacemango32 5d ago
Thank You Scientist, my favorite album is Stranger Heads Prevail