Top 5 Best Bands You’ve Never Heard Of
Discovering a new band is equatable to being invited into an innocent, attractive young lady’s apartment. You are unsure of the situation and try to compare her to other girls you’ve been with, but once you get past the awkward conversation and boxed wine, it’s smooth as silk. She hasn’t been with many other guys and none of your friends know about her … until you give them lowdown and you feel oh so suave because you found her first.
When I am told about a new band, I immediately want to know two facts: What familiar bands are they similar to? and What song and album are the best? With that said, I have designed this post to cater to that ideal.
Whenever I use the term “…you’ve never heard of”, I’m not saying these are bands that have never crossed your musical radar; it simply refers to bands that don’t receive any sort of mainstream airplay (in the U.S.). Oh, and this list is pretty exclusive to 20-somethings generation. I give you:
THE TOP 5 BEST BANDS
YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF:
5. Beulah
(1997-2004, official website)
I saw this band open for Cake in 2002. That’s really the only time I ever saw or heard about them with the exception of an appearance on TV show, The O.C., soundtrack. They have 3 exceptional albums and 1 album with a few gems. A very positive, major-key band with great production and talented instrumentalists.
Who are they similar to? Cake, Guster
What’s their best album? The Coast Is Never Clear
What’s their best song? “Gene Autry”
4. Lucero
(1998-present, official website)
A band that is hard to warm up to, but you’ll be glad you did. I like to refer to Lucero as a alternative country rock band that sounds like it’s fronted by Kurt Cobain. A great live show and 5 outstanding albums make this Memphis band the best alt-country outfit of my generation.
Who are they similar to? “Kurt Cobain fronting an alt-country band” just about sums it up.
What’s their best album? Tennessee
What’s their best song? “Raising Hell” (up tempo), “Slow Dancing” (down tempo)
3. Cory Branan
(2000-present, official website)
THE BEST singer-songwriter of my generation. No ifs, ands or buts. This guy will blow your mind in a live concert. His charisma is infectious and his voice is set apart from everyone else on the planet. His songwriting is on par with Lyle Lovett and his delivery rivals John Prine.
Who is he similar to? John Prine, Ryan Adams
What’s his best album? The Hell You Say
What’s his best song? “Tame“
2. Arctic Monkeys
(2001-present, official website)
The four-piece rock band is becoming a dying breed. It seems like nowadays, people can’t form a rock band without a goddamn keys player. Give me rock. Give me four bad asses. Arctic Monkeys are the best true rock band since Foo Fighters. They are huge in England, but Americans just don’t seem to get it. Well, you need to get it.
Who are they similar to? No modern bands are worthy enough to put here. So let’s just say they’re Brit-Rock with heavy The Clash and Sex Pistols influences.
What’s their best album? Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
What’s their best song? “From the Ritz to the Rubble“
1. The Avett Brothers
(2003-present, official website)
If The Beatles were born in America in the 1970s and were heavily influenced by folk and alternative country, they would be The Avett Brothers. That’s not an insult to The Beatles (they are the best band of all time), It’s a huge compliment to the brothers from North Carolina. Amazing melodies, perfect harmonies, world class instrumentation, folk domination. The Avett Brothers ARE folk.
Who are they similar to? Whiskeytown, Old Crow Medicine Show
What’s their best album? Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions
What’s their best song? “Denouncing November Blue” (up tempo), “Famous Flower of Manhattan” (down tempo)
7 Comments so far
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If you dig Cory, you will really like this guy, check it out!
http://www.myspace.com/chrismilam
good call, i’ve seen 3 of the 5 several times but all awesome! check out Justin Townes Earle, Birdmonster, Thrift Store Cowboys, Tommy & the Whale, Space Capone, Old Canes, The Acorn, Langhorne Slim… I can keep going if you want
Justin Hammel
Yes, a good list, but Arctic Monkeys have been on SNL and have played a night slot on a big stage at ACL Fest. The Avetts are unreal and will “unheard” for not much longer…
Yes and yes on Cory and Lucero. I also agree with the above anonymous on Chris Milam, and would like to add The Magpies (http://magpiesmusic.com/) to the list. They’ve toured with Cory, and they are one of the best live acts I’ve seen.
The Arctic Monkeys are one of the biggest bands in the world, hugely popular in Britain. Who hasn’t heard of them?
If you like Lucero also check out William Elliot Whitmore.
http://www.williamelliottwhitmore.com/
He opened for Lucero for a while is a great Blues and Bluegrass singer, has alot of the same feel as Ben Nichols.
About the Arctic Monkeys comment…I said mainstream in the US … they aren’t played on the radio. They aren’t on MTV. I rarely meet AM fans.
Thus, they make the list.