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

[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."

[zoppotrump]

Del Amitri - great band from Glasgow Scotland

Jellyfish - finest pop music and superb arrangements

i think they both don´t exist anymore - sadly.....

[ac15]

The one band that I thought was absolute magic in the 80's was Trip Shakespeare (from Minneapolis). I saw them many times and they really had something. They signed with A & M records in the late 80's/early 90's but they were sort of lush pop with three-part harmonies and strange lyrics at a time when music was getting more aggessive (grunge etc.) so their records tanked. They were great though.

[photoweborama]

The Arc Angles

Sent from my Android.

[SamClemons]

Head East was/is a band that almost made it big. I saw them in about 1981, they were fabulous. There lead singer quit and became the lead singer of Petra and is very famous in Contemporary Christian circles.

A lot of folks on hear probably know them, but Asleep at the Wheel is one of my favorites that most folks never heard of. Don't know if they are still playing, great if you get a chance to see them.

[StarliteDeVille]

I had a GTB cd at one point.

[WaylonFan76]

Originally Posted by StarliteDeVille

I had a GTB cd at one point.

Which one ?

[JosephB]

WOMEN!

no one listens to Women.

[Brian blaut]

Nickelback.

apparently they've been around a while? Lots of listening to catch up on.

[Geoff738]

Originally Posted by ac15

The one band that I thought was absolute magic in the 80's was Trip Shakespeare (from Minneapolis). I saw them many times and they really had something. They signed with A & M records in the late 80's/early 90's but they were sort of lush pop with three-part harmonies and strange lyrics at a time when music was getting more aggessive (grunge etc.) so their records tanked. They were great though.

I have one of their records and it was awful (IMO). I might still have it. Didn't they morph into Semisonic, or at least share some members?

I do still have a Go to Blazes cd.

Cheers,
Geoff

[Dave_O]

I read "The best band you've never heard of..." as meaning a band you'd never come across before, heard a tune or two, then went all stupid for them. Close?

If so, it was The Smithereens. Around 86 (I think) I heard this killer song on the radio, but it was never back announced. It stuck in my head for years. And I mean YEARS. Fast forward to about 1988. Heard this awesome song called "Tracey's World" on community radio here in Melbourne, was stunned- had to find out who this band was. Rang the DJ, got the name and went straight to my local record shop (remember them?...) and ordered their debut EP, "Beauty and Sadness", and the albums "Especially for You", and "Green Thoughts". Played "Especially for You" and there was "Blood and Roses"-- the song that slayed me a couple of years before.
Love me some Smithereens...

[fuzzstache]

I'm pretty sure 90% of my whole library is obscure underground unheard of bands but I'll give you one from the past to start with. American band called Blessed End. They're only LP has tons of soul and I love it.

[Geoff738]

Originally Posted by Geoff738

I do still have a Go to Blazes cd.

Cheers,
Geoff

Waiting Around for the Crash - for those keeping score at home. It's pretty good!

Cheers,
Geoff

[xjazzy]

Ponderosa.
Found them about a month ago and love their first record:

[Jim W]

The Numbers Band
The Rationals

[StoogeSurfer]

Kingmaker, "Eat Yourself Whole." Brilliant and intense.

[jrechin]

Cleveland, Ohio bands. All great bands, in no particular order....

Prisonshake
The Mice
Death of Samantha
My Dad Is Dead
Pufftube
New Salem Witch Hunters

[allen st. john]

Lone Justice.

[basher]

The Midnight Evils, from St. Paul, MN: music for when you feel like drinking too much, driving too fast, having unprotected sex with heavily tattooed strangers, and generally ignoring your instincts for self-preservation. I love this stuff.



I don't know a lot about them other than what I've been able to piece together from their minimal internet presence. They did three albums: "The Midnight Evils" and "Straight 'til Morning," both pretty much perfect, and a third one after their singer left, "Breakin' It down," that doesn't quite hit the same manic fever pitch, though it's still pretty good.

[Collirem]

Winterpills ......