lesser Known bands of the early 90's

mr dave · 02-25-2012, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

The Gandharvas - Kicking in the Water (1995)

If my memory serves me correctly, they did actually have a music video for the song "Masochistic Minstrel" and it was filmed using claymation (like with Tool's "Sober"). The Gandharvas were another sad example of Canadian music failing to make it in the US market, and thus damning them to cult status in the US, but were relatively well known in Canada, much like The Tragically Hip. Good alternative rock, but they did kind of go out on a sour note with their 1997 album Sold For a Smile. Kicking in the Water is really the only album by them you need.

You're the only other person I've ever seen mention this band. I think they're fantastic, reminiscent of Jane's Addiction to me but still completely unique. Though I wouldn't call the last album a sour note, it's not as good as Kicking in the Water but it's not horrible. They also apparently released a live disc back in the day but I was never able to find a copy, though I did hear a live version of 'The First Day of Spring' once so it 'does' exist.

Good call on Esthero as well. The main reason for the divide in quality and direction of her output is the split with the producer from her first disc (some dude going by the name Doc). There were a few tracks on her latest that weren't horrible (or maybe just b-sides to her recent singles). I remember seeing them at a festival in '98 when their first single was peaking, they were really good (like a 7-8 piece band), and she's really tiny.

Raust · 02-25-2012, 09:37 AM

I haven't heard anything media wise weather that be on the radio or other mediums of promotion of the Red House Painters. They have some pretty brilliant music and I know absolutley no one who has given them the time of day. 'Red House Painters I' alone has to be one of my favorite albums of all time. I think these guys are pretty underrated and are overlooked. Overall there music is great.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 02-25-2012, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

Seriously though, The Auteurs are crazy underrated compared to other Britpop bands. As are Ultrasound and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci.

This post needs to be in big letters because James speaks the truth.

**Goofle** · 02-25-2012, 01:47 PM

I checked them all out. Loved each album.

sopsych · 02-27-2012, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

Some under appreciated bands and albums of the '90's.

Morphine - Their entire discography but Cure for Pain (1993) is an absolute must for anyone who claims to love music of the '90's. Alternative jazzy blues rock without a guitar or distortion, yet just as relevant and important as any other alternative rock albums of that decade.

Concrete Blonde - Bloodletting (1990) and Mexican Moon (1993)

This is another band that I don't think gets talked about nearly enough whenever someone brings up how awesome the '90's were. The fact that they're still going strong to this day indicates how strong they are as musicians. Some may blame them for the rise of female fronted hard rock/ goth rock acts, but they shouldn't pay the price just because some hack musicians heard them, and decided they wanted to be like them. Bloodletting is my personal favourite, but Mexican Moon has a strong follow too. Their 1986 self-titled album is something also worth looking into.

Yay. Concrete Blonde. I haven't even seen "Joey" on VH1 Classic for a long time, but I could tell from that and the few other songs I heard that that was a good band. One of the best female-fronted alternative rock bands of all time.

duga · 02-28-2012, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raust

I haven't heard anything media wise weather that be on the radio or other mediums of promotion of the Red House Painters. They have some pretty brilliant music and I know absolutley no one who has given them the time of day. 'Red House Painters I' alone has to be one of my favorite albums of all time. I think these guys are pretty underrated and are overlooked. Overall there music is great.

I find the Red House Painters to be incredibly tedious. Their music is already slow and subtle...why the hell is that album so damn long? Half an hour in and I'm completely satisfied...I check how much more there is, see I still have close to an hour's worth, and decide I just can't handle it anymore.

As for me...

The Sundays - Fans of the Smiths should love these guys. Their albums Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic as well as Blind are really good.

Lush - Actually, these guys are a pretty well known shoegaze band, but I think they are underrated. Gala is great as well as their slightly-change-of-direction album Lovelife.

Pale Saints - Again, another band that gets some recognition around here but I still think deserves a mention. The Comforts of Madness is a classic.

Underworld - Not sure when these guys started, but some of their best work was done in the 90's. Some of the best electronic music every created. dubnobasswithmyheadman would be their classic 90's album. Oblivion With Bells is very recent, but its freaking GOOD.

Madder Rose - Some straight ahead guitar rock with a VERY 90's feel. Their album Panic On is a good listen.

Swirlies - We Spent Our Wild Youthful Days in the Glittering World of the Salons is required listening. If I had a list of the most underrated bands of all time, these guys would easily make top 3.

02-25-2012, 09:37 AM	#32 (permalink)
Raust Music Addict Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,411	I haven't heard anything media wise weather that be on the radio or other mediums of promotion of the Red House Painters. They have some pretty brilliant music and I know absolutley no one who has given them the time of day. 'Red House Painters I' alone has to be one of my favorite albums of all time. I think these guys are pretty underrated and are overlooked. Overall there music is great.