What obscure music/artists would you recommend?

[Aquanatia]

Pretty straightforward. If you know of any songs/artists that aren't super mainstream and deserve more love, put them here!

(I was also considering doing this for books and/or games, so I'd appreciate those as well.)

[Gavia Penguis]

OAR. They've had a couple of hits that got radio play, but their albums are really good jam music.

[Bayi]

RINGO, Kazakhstan band. If you like lo-fi kind of pop, You should try listening to their song "По берегу" in OYU Live at Youtube.

[Duncaq]

Laibach. While they are not really that obscure, they sure as Hell are not mainstream. If you are into music that is very much about deconstructing politics and/or authortarianism, then Laibach are your people.

[Cannot think of a name]

I'll do this one...they're not totally obscure so much as they're known as a one hit wonder from a genre that had maybe 15 minutes before becoming a punchline right about the time this band got their one hit. Also, more recently, as the poster child for 'unfortunate names that haven't aged well' I guess. The Cherry Poppin' Daddies.

Alright, alright...just...hear me out. Yes, they were the last ones through the gate after movies like The Mask and Brian Setzer made jump jive/swing popular for half a minute.

They do have other 'swing' based songs, but they also have ska, blues, rock, indie punk, funk, and even a country styled song.

And they're a storytelling band, so each song is a pov story of a character created for it.

Like this 90s style rock anthem about trying to drag a struggling garage band along while also dealing with family, friends, and general responsibilities.

Or this song about beauty being a prison that's got a little Beatles via again the 90s...look, they're a 90s band, this song came out in the 90s. I'll stop mentioning it, but that seasoning is gonna be there.

They have this weird pop punk song supposedly about conformity but I think of it more as visiting the mind of someone with ADHD.

There are plenty of odes to let's say questionable relationships between damaged people. Most of the stuff is informed by being working class in a college town.

I just like this song. Don't know what to say. Island influence though not strictly ska.

A driving rock song with horns. I'm generally here for the horns. Lot of songs about alcoholism as well.

A little kinda funky celebration of a new century if you're not entirely burned out on GenX angst. But it's upbeat.

Who doesn't need a heart warming ska song about enabling a drunk. Like I said, lots of songs about alcoholism, usually the fathers.

Two songs eulogizing family black sheeps, a country swing song about a drunk uncle and a country song about a dead vet who didn't quite make it all the way back.

There are plenty of songs about drunk relatives that aren't fond eulogies or enabling. Kind of a jump jive song with modern rock harmonies.

An ode to running away. There's a line in the song I use to rehabilitate murder hobos in role playing games where they fight to the end on any encounter, "It's a piss poor pair of legs that let their ass get beatin'."

I'm not 100% on this song yet (I'm actually three albums back on them, since i don't work at a record store anymore I have to proactively find music and that's a drag) but they lean into their who Diesel Punk aesthetic here. And in the way the 'punk' part is supposed to work, taking the particular aesthetic (30s-50s sci fi/adventure) with updated sensibilities (the way 'steam punk' was supposed to be a mashup of cyberpunk and victorian fiction)

Anyway, obviously you can continue to hate them or think they're a joke since as I've stated before everyone's music tastes suck across the board, yours mine everyones, and that means you can hate or love whoever you want and just get on with enjoying your life instead of worrying about it.

But I was a fan of their since the first album (which I came across years after it was released, but before the second one) so when they came and went as a one hit wonder in a confounding flash in the pan trend it was a bit frustrating.

Stay tuned and I might try to convince you that a free jazz themed sax quartet is worth a listen or a turn of the century style revival band that is not Squirrel Nut Zippers might be fun to listen to. Or even make the case for another one hit-ish wonder probably more famous for Beavis & Butthead making fun of their video (which, fair. It's a weird video). Ooo, or another free jazz themed band that does free jazz covers of modern songs. Or this dude that throws classical pieces in a genre blender.

I...rarely get to choose the music on road trips. Also, Pandora and Spotify (when Spotify allowed me to sign in) don't believe me when I say that's what I want to listen to and keeps trying to push me towards more mainstream stuff. Honestly the Cherry Poppin' Daddies are the most relatable thing I listen to, it just gets weird from there.

[Aquanatia]

Okay, these look incredible. I honestly didn't think I'd get more than one reply. Thanks a bunch for sharing your awesome tastes in music!

[Sheizou]

A genre that is pretty niche in the western world that I 100% recommend is night city pop. This genre is associated with the 1980's pop scene in japan.

Artists
- Miki Matsubara
- Taeko Onuki
- Kingo hamada
- S. Kiyotaka and the Omega Tribe, to name a few

Songs
- Stay with me (miki matsubara)
- 4 AM (taeko onuki)
- fly-day chinatown (yashuda)
- SHYNESS BOY
- Miracle love
- (something)BAYCITY
- My universe
- Midnight cruising
- Misty night cruising
- twighlight bay city, and many more!
All these songs and artists should be on spotify, as well as playlists of the genre to find more music! happy listening

[Abserdia]

The self-titled EP by Everyone Asked About You. If the term 'tweemo' doesn't terrify you, it's worth a listen.

Tokenainamae, one of my favorite active bands, who describe themselves as a mix between 80s J-Pop and shoegaze. A unique sound that I can't get enough of.

loveliescrushing and Astrobrite. The former is mostly ambient, the latter does whatever it wants, but both are obsessed with using the guitar for pure texture.
bloweyelashwish and xuvetyn by loveliescrushing and whitenoise superstar by Astrobrite are my favorites.

[Alcala-Cordel]

For anyone who likes stoner/desert rock like Kyuss, I'd like to recommend Desierto, an energetic and talented but unknown band from Spain. I'll also throw in Slo Burn, which features the singer from Kyuss.

A little less obscure than the previous two bands, but if you like old school punk music you might want to check out The Partisans from Wales.

[The Rio Grande River Basin]

I think I’ll go with “The Cinematic Orchestra”

I guarantee you’ve heard them (or at least Patrick Watson) before, but I doubt too many people know them.

[Jabberwocky]

The Spent Poets

[Kevincronin]

REO Speedwagon specifically their Debut Album there are some amazing songs on there like 157 Riverside Avenue and Anti Establishment Man i would recommend them

[HISPIDA]

panchiko, all day every day. the castanets, as well. was introduced to the latter through HM2 and the creator's passing messed with me for a bit.

maybe not "obscure" (perhaps more "forgotten"?) but i've always been a pretty big fan of atari teenage riot.

[Minoa]

The Results album by Liza Minnelli, especially if one is interested in the Pet Shop Boys.

[Kevincronin]

The Results album by Liza Minnelli, especially if one is interested in the Pet Shop Boys.

i said REO Speedwagon can you quote me please on the post that i said REO

[Norse Inuit Union]

To anyone that likes Thrash or Black Metal I would recommend Magane.
To any Black Metal fan I would also recommend any Black Metal project by Kouzaburou Kojima. He might be the earliest producer of Industrial Black Metal.

[Allinburg]

J-fusion: Japanese jazz fusion

bands like Casiopea, T-Square, Dimension, Prism, and solo acts like Masayoshi Takanaka

many of these musicians and their songs have had a significant influence on soundtracks for video games (mario, gran turismo, etc), anime, film and much more ... and in 70s and 80s J-pop (aka 'city pop')

[Kevincronin]

To anyone that likes Thrash or Black Metal I would recommend Magane.
To any Black Metal fan I would also recommend any Black Metal project by Kouzaburou Kojima. He might be the earliest producer of Industrial Black Metal.

if you are interested in early Speedwagon i would recommend their Debut Album called REO Speedwagon it has some amazing songs like 157 Riverside Avenue and Anti Establishment Man i would recommend you take a listen

[Norse Inuit Union]

To anyone that likes Thrash or Black Metal I would recommend Magane.
To any Black Metal fan I would also recommend any Black Metal project by Kouzaburou Kojima. He might be the earliest producer of Industrial Black Metal.

if you are interested in early Speedwagon i would recommend their Debut Album called REO Speedwagon it has some amazing songs like 157 Riverside Avenue and Anti Establishment Man i would recommend you take a listen

Thanks! I will.

[Kevincronin]

if you are interested in early Speedwagon i would recommend their Debut Album called REO Speedwagon it has some amazing songs like 157 Riverside Avenue and Anti Establishment Man i would recommend you take a listen

Thanks! I will.

it ain't metal tho

[Norse Inuit Union]

Thanks! I will.

it ain't metal tho

Oh that's fine. I'll still check it out.

[Minoa]

The Results album by Liza Minnelli, especially if one is interested in the Pet Shop Boys.

i said REO Speedwagon can you quote me please on the post that i said REO

I was answering the original question by Aquanatia.

[Tsardom of Alaska]

Cem Karaca. I'm not Turkish, but his music is pretty good nonetheless. Also Oats Jenkins/Neverout.

[Tsardom of Alaska]

REO Speedwagon specifically their Debut Album there are some amazing songs on there like 157 Riverside Avenue and Anti Establishment Man i would recommend them

Since when are they obscure?

[Yeprium]

The band I would recommend is Skiantos. Italian Punk (well at least some of them are classic punk, other are more calm but they're still great).
They once had a concert where they went on stage with kitchen equipment and started cooking and then eating spaghetti while completely ignoring the public.
When they started to boo them, one of the band members started shouting that "Its art and you dont understand shit"
Second band is Mindless Self Indulgence but maybe they're little more known. Its also punk but way less calm than skiantos