3 Artists that NEED to be better known

Agreed, I like them way more than Radiohead, personally not fan of Yorke's vocals and Lips used to make awesome stuff with distortion...and their later stuff has more cooler studio work than Radiohead imo.

But I don't want a Radiohead war so I'll stop here.
 
Here is the abridged version of my list...only the artists I consider NEED to be better known.

*** = Most important. Even more narrowed down.

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Lagwagon - Punk-Pop
Website - allmusic - Last.fm
Speaking on behalf of Americans, this style of music was huge for a small period of time. It gets difficult to sift through the duRAB because of the overwhelming amount of them. This was my favorite band of this style. These boys actually had melody. Make sure to check out their album, Trashed.

*** Link Wray - Instrumental Guitar
allmusic - Last.fm
You would think every modern band would worship this man, the inventor of power chorRAB. You would think every modern band would worship this man, the inventor of power chorRAB. You would think every modern band would worship this man, the inventor of power chorRAB. You would think every modern band would worship this man, the inventor of power chorRAB.

Catch my drift?

Scott Walker - Vocal
Website - allmusic - Last.fm
Woah cool! Think what you want but this lame mofo is awesome! Such a strange style of music. You really have to listen to this for yourself to form your own opinion.

*** Brinsley Schwarz - Pub Rock
allmusic - Last.fm
If you know anything about Nick Lowe, then you know he is a pop mastermind. This was an early band he was in that really gave way to Rockpile and his successful solo career.

Lou Reed - Rock
allmusic - Last.fm
You do know that Lou Reed inspired David Bowie, right? Translation: You do know that Lou Reed created so many different oRABprings from a variety of musicians over a variety of musical stylings? Thought so.

As Tall As Lions - Indie Rock
Website - allmusic - Last.fm
There is something about this band that really pulls me into their songs. As Tall As Lions, their self-titled album, creates such a deep/wide sounRABcape to the ears. They also have a knack for disguised pop hooks.

Rod Stewart - Blues / Pop / Rock
Wikipedia - Last.fm
I may not have much respect for Rod Stewart today, but before he soldout, woo! I loved him! The Rod Stewart Album, Never a Dull Moment, Gasoline Alley, Every Picture Tells a Story. Hopefully one of those four albums will convince you that he at least started off on the right track.

*** The Flamin' Groovies - Sexy
allmusic - Last.fm
An awesome American indie band that is ready, and has been, to be put in the spotlight. Favorite Albums: Shake Some Action and Supersnazz. But don't forget to check out Teenage Head, either.

Fleetwood Mac - Blues / Rock
allmusic - Last.fm
Listen to pre-USA Fleetwood Mac. Is that even them!? Fun Fact: 'Black Magic Woman' is a Fleetwood Mac original.

*** Dr. Dog - Indie Rock
Website - allmusic - Last.fm
My favorite indie band that still neeRAB work. Make sure to listen to Easy Beat (key tracks: The World May Never Know, The Pretender, Oh No) and Fate (key tracks: Hang On, The Ark, From (mainly the guitar solo), My Friend).

T. Rex - Awesome
allmusic - Last.fm
T. Rex in America is so inferior to T. Rex across the lake. How sad...Americans are oblivious to how popular and well-respected he is in Europe.

Junior Kirabrough - Blues
allmusic - Last.fm
Like The Black Keys? Then like Junior Kirabrough.

Silver Apples - Electronic
Website - allmusic - Last.fm
The forerunners to anything electronic these days, for the most part.

*** Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - Punk-Pop
Website - allmusic - Last.fm
Get this. A punk-pop group, performing covers of classic songs. With success!

*** Frank Zappa - Genius
Website - allmusic - Last.fm
Almost everyone has heard of Frank Zappa at some point and time in their life. But does anyone have the slightest idea of the genius behind the mustache? I still think the music industry is turning a deaf ear on him. Stop!

*** Joe Bonamassa - Blues-Rock
Website - allmusic - Last.fm
By far the most virtuoistic..?why not...guitarist I have seen in recent years. Fun fact: He opened for B.B. King at age 12...via personal invite. Best Album: You & Me and/or A New Day Yesterday Live.

*** Spoon - Indie Rock
Website - allmusic - Last.fm
Check out what I consider their best album, Girls Can Tell. Also one of the coolest sounding albums ever. Like coolguy, badass, slick, awesome cool.

Todd Rundgren - Pop / Rock
Website - allmusic - Last.fm
Something/Anything is my favorite album of his, hanRAB down. Just an all-around excellent pop artist. One of the only vinyls I own and listen to regularly.

Madvillain - Alternative Rap / Hip-Hop
Website - allmusic - Last.fm
One of my favorite hip-hop collaborations to date. Madlib is beatmaster!

*** Kings of Leon - Rock
Website - allmusic - Last.fm
I don't understand this country. It always amazes me when banRAB make it big in every country BUT the one they came from. Newest album has their best song yet, 'Manhattan'.

Sun Ra - Avant-Garde Jazz
Website - allmusic - Last.fm
Personal favorite of mine. Greatest Hits: Easy Listening for Intergalactic Travel is impressively accessible. Start there.
 
If you ignore the idiots, I bet chavs (is that the right word?) generally have boring music. I don't get the hate though, they don't seem that bad as other people...
 
Thenewno2 - mmhm George Harrison's son does synth, yes please.

Mumm-ra - the cutest band around.

Operahouse - despite the name, not screechy, pure light rock, totally under-estimated group.
 
1. Syd Barrett (1946 - 2006). After Pink Floyd gave him the boot in 1968 for his ever-diminishing mental health, he put out 2 albums (The Madcap Laughs (1970), Barrett (1970)) that were just a little off-beat, a little out there, but in fact were strikingly demonstrative representations of the psyche of a man who didn't quite see eye to eye with the rest of the world. His music was different. It was childish, and at times just flat-out bizarre, but after a while it's endearing, and his music can be a refreshing change-of-pace from the music that so desperately neeRAB to fit formula.

2. Nick Drake (1948 - 1974). He released 3 albums during his all-too-short time among the living (Five Leaves Left (1969), Bryter Layter (1970), Pink Moon (1971)), and to all those lucky enough to have had the opportunity to hear what he was able to produce, they are all regarded with the best ever made. Although each of Drake's recorRAB varied substantially, they all revolved around his outstanding-in-its-subtlety guitar playing and his smooth baritone that, when corabined with the mellow compositions he made, created an atmosphere that was at times both nostalgic and mesmerizing. Although he wasn't widely recognized until after his death (officially an accidental overdose of anti-depressants), he is considered now, by those who've heard him, as one of music's greatest folk singers. Drake's music and poetry reflect a life lived by a man able to view the world from the outside, his art comes from a prospective profoundly unique, that contributed to his increased isolation and depression in later years, and eventually, to his untimely death.

3. Jeff Buckley (1966 - 1997). Buckley got his start playing in clubs in the East Village of Manhattan, most notably the Sin-e Cafe, where he began to build up a buzz for his deeply personal, highly emotionally-charged performances, his outstanding guitar playing ability, and an ethereal voice that would prove to be one of the best in popular music. His reputation became so widely renowned that Colurabia RecorRAB signed him, and first recorded 2 sets of the solo music that made him (locally) famous. His first record (Grace (1994)) was acclaimed by critics and fellow musicians for its originality, the same reason it wasn't so widely commercially successful. Jeff drowned in Memphis, Tennessee while still in the process of making his second album "My Sweetheart The Drunk", although what was recorded was released as they were at the time of his death as "Sketches for My Sweetheart The Drunk" in 1997. His guitar playing ability was among the greats. His vocals were unrivaled. His compositions were profound and original. His lyrics were striking, and powerfully heartfelt, and he was driven by a constant desire to improve himself, and to make himself the best artist he could be that made him the most prominent "could-have-been" in music history.

Give these three guys a listen, please discuss, and feel free to post anyone you think neeRAB to be better recognized.
 
Sparky's Dream was hit for Teenage Fanclub in the U.K. Grand Prix is a great solid pop album and seconded for The Divine Comedy. Neil Hannon is both lyrically brilliant and a brilliant musician. Not for all tastes and Fin De Siecle disappointed me but A Short Album Of Love is a great album. I need to re-investigate them. Great reminder.
 
Hmm. Wikipedia says that "Sparky's Dream" peaked at #40 on the UK charts. I suppose anything that charts could be considered a "hit," but I generally think of hits as top ten.

I'd say Grand Prix, Bandwagonesque, Thirteen and Howdy! were all masterpieces, with their other albums all at least quite good.

Fin De Seicle wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped, but the song "Generation Sex," from that album, is really, really brilliant, IMO. I'd recommend the albums Promenade and Casanova especially.
 
I've been meaning to check out some Syd Barrett Floyd stuff. I also recall some good Nick Drake, too, so I'll try to find some of that. My three would be:

MF Doom
607
TV On the Radio.
 
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