The best band you've never heard of...

[vespa1]

Originally Posted by WaylonFan76

I'll start.
Go To Blazes. Their second album, Love, Lust and Trouble (1991) is an absolute masterpiece as far as I'm concerned, totally unknown, no youtube vids from that record, only one cd on amazon ( for $100, yikes...), none on eBay...
I came across it in a record store in the south of France in the late 90s. The cover intrigued me and I gave it a listen. After the first five seconds of the first track, I was sold. Didn't need to hear any more. It's kinda like the soundtrack to the best road movie that was never made. Seminal bad@zz Rock N Roll with hints of Rockabilly, a Waylon cover thrown in, I just love it.
Anybody ever heard of these guys ?
Do you have an album that's a forgotten gem that you'd like to share ?

Review from blogspot.com:
"Formed in the D.C. area in 1987 by college buddies Ted Warren, Tom Heyman, Christopher Horner and Keith Donnellan, GTB recorded and released their self-titled debut, a revved-up rockabilly LP, in 1988 and quickly moved north to Philadelphia. Many whiskey-soaked nights playing in all kinds of places in Philly and New York City (alternative clubs as well as old-man alchy bars) toughened up the band considerably. Their 1991 follow-up, "Love Lust and Trouble", was light years ahead of their first release. With almost any hint of rockabilly behind them, the band just got tougher and tougher, finally hooking up with producer, vibe-man, and father figure Eric "Roscoe" Ambel. From there things took off. The addition of Ted Popadopolous on bass solidified things, and a deal with roots rock label ESD led to 1994's "Anytime, Anywhere", their classic. With Eric Ambel once again in the producer's chair the band followed it up with the quieter "GTB...And Other Crimes", also a winner. The album was mostly cover tunes and was recorded in one night.
The band had developed a following in Germany and toured there extensively. Glitterhouse released most of their catalog there as well. In 1997 the final disc, "Waiting Around for the Crash", was released on the about-to-go-under ESD. It marked continued improvement in sound and songwriting, but still didn't top "Anytime, Anywhere". GTB held their "final clearance sale" in 1997 and is sadly missed, at least in Philadelphia and on the lower east side of NYC. A posthumous release, "Almost a Decade", combined unreleased demos, live tracks and B-sides."

Go To Blazes were fantastic. I got to see them live once, still have all of there records, and play them on my radio show from time to time. Their music really stands up to the test of time. Their first record reminds me of the Cramps kind of.

I'd also like to nominate Chicken Coupe DeVille in this category. I know relatively little about them, but the one record that I own is fantastic. I think it is titled Drinkin' Songs and Smokin' Guitars. Fantastic guitars on that album.

[taxer]

Originally Posted by zoppotrump

Del Amitri - great band from Glasgow Scotland

Their first album is literally one of the greatest albums ever made. One strong song after another. And truly an album, not a collection of songs -- you put it on from the beginning and play it straight through; you get a full experience. Great music throughout and lyrics that are a million times better than everything else out there.

[Mid Life Crisis]

When I was working in London I went to see a band called Cheap Glue at a small venue in Camden Town. Didn't know anything about them but man, were they good. The only thing I know about them is that their guitarist/singer was a guy called Johnny Male, who was in a pop band called Republica who were a bit of a one-hit wonder.

Their set consisted of song after song of perfect powerpop full of clever hooks and catchy vocals. They were brilliant, like a latter day Kinks almost. Sadly, I've never been able to find out anything about them since; they don't seem to have released any records at all or played any more gigs. What a shame.

[taxer]

Easterhouse

One album and more or less done. But, oh man, what an album. Weird thing is that half the album isn't very good, but the other half is the greatest musical creation in history. Those five songs are astonishing in their brilliance. If you told me John Lennon wrote them, I'd say, "Nah, these songs are much better than anything Lennon wrote."

These guys were solid rock. And they did it with Telecasters.

[twangster2]

I can't name any, I haven't heard of them yet.

[SempreSami]

Originally Posted by JosephB

WOMEN!

no one listens to Women.

I've heard of them.

[elihu]

Originally Posted by photoweborama

The Arc Angles

How 'bout Tommy and Chris' next band Storyville?



I think Tommy wrote this one in the period after SRV's death...just coming to grips with everything...

[hekawi]

Dawes



Zee Avi



Lia Ices

[BritishBluesBoy]

I dunno. I've never heard of 'em.

[JosephB]

Originally Posted by SempreSami

I've heard of them.

i know...i just posted about them. you're welcome.

[Rasmuth]

Teeze (later known as Roughhouse) from Philadelphia...1980's

[WaylonFan76]

This thread reminds me of the old joke about how many hipsters it takes to change a light bulb ...
I didn't necessarily means hip bands, but really good bands that never got any real exposure. To me, that Go To Blazes album is so good that I don't understand how they didn't get more notoriety.

[WaylonFan76]

Originally Posted by vespa1

Go To Blazes were fantastic. I got to see them live once, still have all of there records, and play them on my radio show from time to time. Their music really stands up to the test of time. Their first record reminds me of the Cramps kind of.

So I'm not crazy... Love, Lust and Trouble is an amazing album. And as you said, it stands the test of time extremely well...

[p90grinder]

Animal Logic - a great band that got lots of critical acclaim and no popular exposure at all. A trio of Stanley Clarke, Stewart Copeland and Deborah Holland, they put out 2 fantastic releases.

[fezz parka]

Though you may know them they shoulda been bigger:

[Jeff_K]

Doyle Bramhall II



Great player and what a voice. The Man.

[SempreSami]

Originally Posted by JosephB

i know...i just posted about them. you're welcome.

Lies! I came across them a month or so ago! Believe they're on hiatus at the moment or something.

Anyways, this girl's awesome.

[voodoo_idol]

If you like surf and instrumental music -- The Bambi Molesters

[bo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdx05-LuA8Y

The Jetz

[WaylonFan76]

If somebody points me towards a good software to make a video with a mp3 and a still picture, I can post a couple of Go To Blazes songs on youtube...