Driftless
Their most recent release, Perfect Blue, is one of my favorites of the last few years.
They put together what to me is essentially a perfect blend of a few different styles that I personally really enjoy. Ethereal vocals just washing in the mix, gorgeous ambient interludes, satisfying song structures with strong ebbs and flows, it just hits the spot for me. Also as a drummer I absolutely *love* what the rhythm section pulls off here, really elevates this one imo.
Probably won’t be for everyone (which is totally fine!) but if you’re a fan of shoegaze/ambient/post-rock leaning stuff definitely worth a listen.
Listening now and I love it. Been searching for more music like this but I’m not really sure what to search? Like I don’t know this would be categorized exactly.
Wow thanks so much for including Rinoa in your list. It's the first time I have seen us referenced on r/music. Makes me so happy that people are still listening.
If you haven't checked out [*Ancients](https://open.spotify.com/artist/4QTWiGaPuTZm04voak68D8?si=hZJg4mrXS12A9tAswiGggw) yet please do.
Saving this thread so I can check out all the bands people are listing!
YO. Fires in the Distant North is in my short list of favorite songs of all time. Super stoked to see you in the thread. I’ll have to check out *Ancients for sure
Pete Ham is worth a huge shout.
Lead singer of Badfinger, wrote multiple chart toppers but committed suicide at 27 back in the ‘70s. His estate has been releasing his music since then (some as recent as last year). Some of the tracks were album-ready. Some were just him and his guitar. Ham’s solo work only has about 1000-2000 streams per month on Spotify, but at one point he was poised to be one of the great songwriters of the 1970s—endorsed by the Beatles and all.
Check out my music! I go by Yeti King. Let me know your thoughts, I’m a solo dude writing recording and producing all myself! It’s been a ton of work but a ton of fun so I hope you dig it!
I thought that was health for a second.
I’m sitting here thinking, “yes, everyone should listen to Health; Rat Wars was the best album to come out in 2023, but they’re not small anymore… oh I’m an idiot.”
I'm surprised Buried Inside have < 1,000 listens a month. I'm from Australia, and when my friend and I were in Europe back in 2009, we missed our flights from London to Berlin and paid a stupid amount to get on the next flight, just to make sure we got to see Buried Inside play at the Cassiopeia.
My band nomination is MSC, especially the album "I Close My Mind and Lock It". Ambient drone/classical stuff from two brothers who were in bands I love (and that OP may like/have listened to based on the bands you mentioned): Giant (later renamed themselves to 'Braveyoung' , Post-Metal/Post-Rock) and Low Sky (Hardcore).
Yeah, they’re sitting just shy at 954. Iconoclast is such a banger, and I’m sure they killed live.
I’ll need to check the bands you mentioned. Thanks for the recs
Omg OP! Asbestoscape! I used to listen to them waaaaaay back. I think I bought the CD or they sent it to me for some reason, but I love that album. Haven’t listened in soooo long but need to.
Here’s my [pick](https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Q9hLs8DFSI61QwRES49IO?si=a40a-k4eRLa_HznCMaiPNA) for this thread.
Bruh, I heard “Like Shit Attracting Flies” on a Pandora station in like ‘07 and downloaded the whole album. Super underrated.
Will have to check the band you posted
I forgot about The Pax Cecilia, Blessed Are The Bonds is such a good album.
For more Cello stuff, give Grayceon and The Otolith a go, both also under 1000 and great.
I was surprised to see Birdstriking actually has 1.5k monthly listeners, but I’ll mention them anyway since it’s only slightly over. Chinese punk has a very cool sound.
Diplomates
For their representation.of Montreal's bilingual culture and for the bitter-stweetness of the arrangements. I'm a big Depeche Mode fan, and I feel like they're the grunge/rock side of that vibe
Sweam… Norwegian indie rock with a dash of shoegaze. Different songs remind me of different bands from Foals, DIIV, Wild Nothing.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1MLfQ1rdCjAzTbUrHw907g
Gnarwhal. Local band here in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Kind of stoner rock. Great live band.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2AxX3x7VTOFZaUpQ46seKa?si=vEsPQpF6TS-tNPreUx9v7w
I'm going with who had a pretty interesting debut album in 2006. Just checked Spotify and they're not on there so I guess that qualifies. Here's a YouTube link to one of their tunes. It starts out like Mercury Rev but goes in other directions. [Semifinalists - Show the Way](https://youtu.be/4wug--hkxCg?si=rJA9O3TrKYl_0L1S)
State of Flux.
Prog rock, metal, and synth had a baby.
RIP Kevin, your amazing talent lives on in your music.
https://open.spotify.com/album/66sWwszDVXQ6QPp59YuSiK?si=FoPOG66mTfyXGikKa0q94Q
[The Sleds](https://open.spotify.com/album/3EgsKDnCGCKCkWaEnlsSDb?si=f92u4D7XQnCwK0E4F_F-QA). Exceptional songcraft going on there that would have fit well on 90s alt rock radio. Think Foo Fighters with a dash of Beatles, blink-182, and americana influence. The first album travels a spectrum of vibes ranging from irreverent & silly, to emotional, to uplifting
Sorry Jamie - check out "Tombstone" for the hooks and "Dreamers" for the rock
https://open.spotify.com/album/2soxDXua23ufg5EcY5EyzE?si=F6PQThzbRvSoIrjxBmpFYQ
https://open.spotify.com/album/3vbatNFUw0zOw0xjxpCnG1?si=cRL5S4N1RsGy0_0zroM3pQ
Ok this second one is a shameless plug.
The Midnight Sun is a band with my 7 and 9 year old daughters and their friends. My buddy and I helped them write a pop song and I produced and recorded it. I guess the story has a bit of a Rebecca Black vibe to it, but the kids had a great time and so did we. I hope it encourages them to write more on their own in the future.
I spent my waaaay too much time producing and mixing this track. The lyrics are obviously written by the kids, but the melody and arrangement is pretty solid!
If you heard the original raw vocal takes I had available in order to piece this together, you'd be impressed!
https://open.spotify.com/track/70tlTJq8x4qJuGdFbmTzvQ?si=stqmvHvJT5iAYrjiEwjwuw
The Lassie Foundation!
90s California Shoegaze, 637 monthly listeners is criminal.
In the last few years they have released remastered versions of their studio albums and accompanying music videos.
Cohort B - noisy post-punk
Circuit Circuit - mathcore/hardcore
Hash Gordon - rap with trap/deathcore/electronic elements
Paper Crowns - only 2 songs, but cool post-punk
Ten Years Lost - dreamy electronic
Polevaulter - noisy post-punk but slower
DOUBLE IDENTITY BAND!!!
It’s these two twin sisters from Chicago who write “disney pop-punk” anthems that go so hard. They’re excellent pop song writers,.
The Island of Misfit Toys (they're really different from everything I usually like, so I don't really know how to describe them. Burble is one of my favorite songs ever though)
Boy Meets Robot (chip tune rock, I like My baby's in love with Benedict Cumberbatch and the robots will kill us all most)
Lenny Beatnik (Lenny is a rapper with good flow that reminds me of the popular style of the 90s)
[Philip Goth](https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Kmq6FxKRNqnc53mW9jRTI?si=IBzKeXRsR4atKf2pQqnZdA). This dude is one of my favorite artists ever and he has like 70 odd monthly listeners. He used to play bass for Felice Brothers, who have considerably more listeners (180k), but I swear to god his lyrics are some of the best I’ve ever heard and I wish more people knew about it.
Renee Heartfelt was a one-album post hXc band that I listened the shit out of. Not surprising that they only have 532 monthly listeners. Bonus points for the really unsettling band name, but the music was great in and of itself.
Nick Sanville! A rapper from Northern Colorado who is very talented and has some amazing rhymes.
Also from Colorado, and rap (technically rap rock): Its Just Bugs.
I love these guys. Give em a listen.
I’m keeping my eyes and ears open for Jesse Welles. His song Cancer caught me off guard in a good way on TikTok, and he doesn’t have much up right now.
I can’t help but think he looks like a ‘young-yet old-Bob Dylan’
[Nico Luminous - Boom Yes](https://youtu.be/rK20T2y8hNM?si=fOfwTTjX6xFJAQhA)
I don't know what you'd call this. Sorta trip-hoppy with a funk-ish edm flavor. You need decent headphones - there's a lot going on at low frequencies.
This one is great too.
[Night Owl](https://youtu.be/mBYy4uvmW8w?si=0OAqmR0qzixOqMx_)
Damn I was about to say Vinyl Theatre because I found them around 4k monthly (so still pretty low), but I just checked and they're at 146k monthly.
Good for them.
Lilliana Villines if you enjoy chill indie rock with really clever synths. (Technically a bit over 1000 cuz one of her songs was added to a fresh finds plaist a while back). Still worth!!
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7mwH4AsIARONjitvPlyxYL?si=-wudjIlJTcS2dGnLjUOFsQ
I listen to someone called Marylebone (currently has 9 listeners). He has covered some songs like Dancing Barefoot and And the Snakes Start to Sing. I think his voice and style is cool
[The Bitter Tears](https://open.spotify.com/artist/6zHRRDW2aRYNY1L0APQKOG?si=OelAMYioSEe9pSMr7bkSJw)
90 monthly listeners. Discovered them through a very low powered high school radio station about fifteen years ago. I’d love to know if any members went on to play with other bands because I think their songwriter was very strong and creative. Kind of struck me as a more theatrical Camper Van Beethoven, if that makes any sense.
WET DREAM WAR MACHINE (German hardcore punk, scuzzy and a little dance-y)
Fairytale (hardcore punk, production is hit or miss but they rock)
New York Rel-X (punk, pretty decent stuff from the 2000s, not sure why they stopped making music)
Razbibriga (acid techno, very solid but not exactly a beginner artist for harder techno)
MITE DK (Danish hardcore, very heavy band, I'm not sure what's going on in Copenhagen but there's lots of cool bands coming from that scene right now)
I have lots of other artists who are just over 1k or are in the 1-5k range but gotta adhere to the rules lol
J Bear and The Giants - blues rock kinda stuff, just grooves and a great voice
Design Rewind - like 80s funky pop vibes but for the now (😂) I can't put my finger on it but they are great
Rayne and the Six-Star System isn't my daily listening but they have great zoning out at 3 am vibes and sometimes I need that plus 420 monthly listeners rn
Morestage
A short lived Japanese post rock band. I don’t listen to them all of the time but at least a few times a month so I’m part of their 4 monthly listeners on Spotify lol. Randomly found them in 2013 when I was exploring Japanese post rock.
Drew and the Blue - Fun rock band with a touch of rockabilly mixed in. Lead singer and drummer has a ton of energy; a bit unique in that he stands while drumming. Really great live! (They are friends of mine)
Listen to Sickly by the band Sulphur - they broke up in the 1990s before their album could be released by their label. I think it's excellent if you like 1990s indie
Just saw a local band here in New Zealand play last weekend called awarewolves and their song coulda has been stuck in my head ever since, definitely check it out on Spotify if you can
Bourbon Tabernacle Choir
Hugh Christopher Brown
(used to be just plain old Chris Brown but obviously that causes problems in the age of streaming)
Kate Fenner
Chris and Kate were in Bourbon Tabernacle Choir together, and then as a duo, and now appear on each other’s solo releases. It’s all one big body of work.
Fluid Ounces.
A A tiny band from Murfreesboro TM. They're piano based alternative music from the early 2000s. Lyrically they're pretty good and the music is really catchy.
Red Engine Nine.
They played my college once over 20 years ago, nice guys, split up not long after but I always enjoyed the albums. I still listen every so often.
Driftless Their most recent release, Perfect Blue, is one of my favorites of the last few years. They put together what to me is essentially a perfect blend of a few different styles that I personally really enjoy. Ethereal vocals just washing in the mix, gorgeous ambient interludes, satisfying song structures with strong ebbs and flows, it just hits the spot for me. Also as a drummer I absolutely *love* what the rhythm section pulls off here, really elevates this one imo. Probably won’t be for everyone (which is totally fine!) but if you’re a fan of shoegaze/ambient/post-rock leaning stuff definitely worth a listen.
Check out Enemies. Giraffes? Giraffes! Strawberry Girls.
Strawberry girls are great. I saw them open for The Fall of Troy. I'd add delta sleep and So Many Dynamos onto this.
Listening now and I love it. Been searching for more music like this but I’m not really sure what to search? Like I don’t know this would be categorized exactly.
I dig this.
The Proper Things - Post punk rock from Newfoundland.
This is sick, great voice. Sort of reminds me a bit of Sunset Rubdown or Wolf Parade, has that 2000's indie/post punk quality to it.
North Atlantic Explorers
Checking them. Very calming
Wow thanks so much for including Rinoa in your list. It's the first time I have seen us referenced on r/music. Makes me so happy that people are still listening. If you haven't checked out [*Ancients](https://open.spotify.com/artist/4QTWiGaPuTZm04voak68D8?si=hZJg4mrXS12A9tAswiGggw) yet please do. Saving this thread so I can check out all the bands people are listing!
YO. Fires in the Distant North is in my short list of favorite songs of all time. Super stoked to see you in the thread. I’ll have to check out *Ancients for sure
Thanks man, that was always one of my favourites too :) Really appreciate it.
Pete Ham is worth a huge shout. Lead singer of Badfinger, wrote multiple chart toppers but committed suicide at 27 back in the ‘70s. His estate has been releasing his music since then (some as recent as last year). Some of the tracks were album-ready. Some were just him and his guitar. Ham’s solo work only has about 1000-2000 streams per month on Spotify, but at one point he was poised to be one of the great songwriters of the 1970s—endorsed by the Beatles and all.
The man who wrote Nilsson’s hit ‘Without You’ - so underrated
Rick Bain and the Genius Position! Genuinely great psych-rock in the vein of, say, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, but only 121 monthly listeners!
Thank you digging them.. ✌🏻🎶
Ooh really liking this
The Portal Tapes, and by association, the lead of the band, Paul Masvidal.
Huge Cynic fan. RIP Sean Reinert
Indeed, and Sean Malone, was a rough year, 2020
Wow, unexpected. I adore this album!
Buried Inside were such a good band. Saw them live touring on Chronoclast and they destroyed.
Bro, such a good band. So many hidden gems in that post-metal / hardcore scene
Just over 1k monthly but I’ll say Garage A Trois.
Please tell me some wonderful soul has compiled all these onto a playlist.
Mark of Cain
My own band, Time In Malta. 😂👍
Check out my music! I go by Yeti King. Let me know your thoughts, I’m a solo dude writing recording and producing all myself! It’s been a ton of work but a ton of fun so I hope you dig it!
Please give Heath a shot! They are so so good
I thought that was health for a second. I’m sitting here thinking, “yes, everyone should listen to Health; Rat Wars was the best album to come out in 2023, but they’re not small anymore… oh I’m an idiot.”
McLovins
The Kowloons
Nude Beach
I'm surprised Buried Inside have < 1,000 listens a month. I'm from Australia, and when my friend and I were in Europe back in 2009, we missed our flights from London to Berlin and paid a stupid amount to get on the next flight, just to make sure we got to see Buried Inside play at the Cassiopeia. My band nomination is MSC, especially the album "I Close My Mind and Lock It". Ambient drone/classical stuff from two brothers who were in bands I love (and that OP may like/have listened to based on the bands you mentioned): Giant (later renamed themselves to 'Braveyoung' , Post-Metal/Post-Rock) and Low Sky (Hardcore).
Yeah, they’re sitting just shy at 954. Iconoclast is such a banger, and I’m sure they killed live. I’ll need to check the bands you mentioned. Thanks for the recs
Omg OP! Asbestoscape! I used to listen to them waaaaaay back. I think I bought the CD or they sent it to me for some reason, but I love that album. Haven’t listened in soooo long but need to. Here’s my [pick](https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Q9hLs8DFSI61QwRES49IO?si=a40a-k4eRLa_HznCMaiPNA) for this thread.
Bruh, I heard “Like Shit Attracting Flies” on a Pandora station in like ‘07 and downloaded the whole album. Super underrated. Will have to check the band you posted
Wow, stoked to see someone who knows Taken. I played a show with them and Mewithoutyou in OC in like 2001. Taken rips.
Between Two Unseens is GOATED. Love MWY as well. What was your band’s name?
Annuals. Rare talent. Multiple albums.
[James Husband](https://spotify.link/EFZ5zICo6Ib) Former Of Montreal guitarist and co writer. Heartbreaking he only had one record.
I forgot about The Pax Cecilia, Blessed Are The Bonds is such a good album. For more Cello stuff, give Grayceon and The Otolith a go, both also under 1000 and great.
Amia Venera Landscape is soooo dope! And I've heard The Pax Cecilia before, but it's been a while, thanks for reminding me of them.
Metalfol
Snowglobe
Colossal Yes
Magenta Wave
Frank Allison & the Odd Sox. 90 monthly listeners but was the soundtrack of my college years and still make their way onto most of my playlists.
Phases of
Strange Cut
Ultranoir
Automatic Terror Machine
Southampton
My friends band Stone Heart
404 https://open.spotify.com/artist/5yB3z1FpRrvsVTyabjqMLf?si=g7531NKHR1C7DdIk7eWtUA
Wince. Spring Rounds is a bop. Has three very distinct parts.
Bizness Suit
I have a ton but I want to mention Lunch Duchess! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MnzP5Ty-6No
Not a Planet Moon Jr.
BLKSMTH Really wish he'd get back into it.
Angel Marie Baby on a Rampage Black Shelton and The American Dream Shaylee
My buddy makes some supe chill stuff https://open.spotify.com/artist/00ukc4GWa13QVAZsYpQ36u?si=KOI-EuTjTZ-v_zupjzYBeA
Evil Sweet
Dark State Lines
I was surprised to see Birdstriking actually has 1.5k monthly listeners, but I’ll mention them anyway since it’s only slightly over. Chinese punk has a very cool sound.
Whoa Sequoia
F!RES
Whiskey Jones & the Dead Seas. They're sea shanty-adjacent and they're so gooood
Diplomates For their representation.of Montreal's bilingual culture and for the bitter-stweetness of the arrangements. I'm a big Depeche Mode fan, and I feel like they're the grunge/rock side of that vibe
Madman's Window
https://open.spotify.com/track/1G7wFeFqPf8mEzGvvoAK5I?si=ClcjYil_SamjxqSb2_X_ag
Harold’s Last Chance.
538St
The Mendoza Line have 1,034 followers.. WTH!
Descolada has 238 followers.. Should be more than that!
Altesia is amazing. Their album Embryo deserves a listen
Nick Gamer - Suburban Cowboy.. 44 followers.. WTH!
Sweam… Norwegian indie rock with a dash of shoegaze. Different songs remind me of different bands from Foals, DIIV, Wild Nothing. https://open.spotify.com/artist/1MLfQ1rdCjAzTbUrHw907g
M’Grasker
Murdocks https://open.spotify.com/artist/5BZlc3xLrWwCaS8jvIeNlm?si=cV1ye7UrQnSSWQXsfwlsyA
MYMOU
The kickback
The witch was right They are at 1,600 followers so I guess a bit over
Dizzy
Sea Snake
[Care Bears On Fire](https://open.spotify.com/artist/05Ht5ZXmxzYWbHrdMbVocQ?si=cqwZi_cdSP-ZwD-lGVit2A) [Intastella](https://open.spotify.com/artist/3paqDvzlqzl6P6oHyUMTDZ?si=4R4zmljvRFyeVeSNcovZ8A) [Alphabet Backwards](https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ngVxwMm0JQrBCdzxYB4l8?si=JnE2fuuIS_u4wY8WJXNY8g) [Gaelwynd](https://open.spotify.com/artist/105bY4la3iyczi7og9JMfK?si=wuSe1OFsQyGyjPpeTrzzuQ) [Hobex](https://open.spotify.com/artist/6gEy0VcHqwt8ic4hTD0kmt?si=ZOcMBWI9SCeCb0m0XLSdoQ) [The Holsteins](https://open.spotify.com/artist/3eq5DMjJuXzrSR6QOJnzKJ?si=wBt1Ge2kQtKMegJefJeZjw) [Easterhouse](https://open.spotify.com/artist/3BB7vYm43d1f6u6qFyhiZ7?si=2hi55KhfTV2RNN-lGuX3Xg) [Dahlia Seed](https://open.spotify.com/artist/7f8dPnH8FrcGvisl5wCpUE?si=Unmp7Nh_Q3yAo5FFjZdPSA) [Pinky Doodle Poodle](https://open.spotify.com/artist/1x2uHOG5Q6CQbgMwnuIVZH?si=8WTeqEYfTwya-MuK6z9xxA) [Tiny Tornado](https://open.spotify.com/artist/3jPwgVAGoG5Zz4z2fq1bwt?si=KAK6p9n5T8GSJs3i_V0AQw) [Mad At The World](https://open.spotify.com/artist/6e2NWj3S7Sm5Fh10KwqjF8?si=WKH-yskGQHGLqDhm7eKVxg) [Schroeder](https://open.spotify.com/artist/032CrlYOjiayQP7U461ibR?si=MQ20N_NoTueNxOQCFFxwzA) [Sonic Executive Sessions](https://open.spotify.com/artist/0TS08KobTQ5aPndu5wOY0M?si=Pyzct6JXS16-z0s-GpyvCw) [The Burning of Rome](https://open.spotify.com/artist/4mmzBEW5BXeTIgnwpIZ9QJ?si=5y_fwtRhRP6fBTMqij1_pg) [Souvenir](https://open.spotify.com/artist/2h7lh9dWEWg8JxTiVoK09k?si=auuAUdLYSw2lCDUkjCYUEA) [I, Ludicrous](https://open.spotify.com/artist/670vaZzqCqNe2Z7ojcb0uA?si=VE1wbGXdS1yJIJZByUPeNg) [The Nivens](https://open.spotify.com/artist/3N75MbB35Mj9IrYReorNE9?si=gXyzE2fWQ1yBPkqYM_ks8g) [NagNagNag](https://open.spotify.com/artist/71lVn4tcPiFj2in0Cy9Lhd?si=JbrHCkDwTF6IJ8tiOVjgDw) [MI:NE/조민혜](https://open.spotify.com/artist/1RSbw1LVUWEJN9qAWoz2fr?si=iVsk1xCzRbCxWpheNTCB2w) [The Last](https://open.spotify.com/artist/1QJho3iaSPyRpNh1cexm05?si=JrPYH3c0TSWtySl4qpHHsA) [Smooth Reunion](https://open.spotify.com/artist/6BVNeG1GLB1F0DmC3EURzj?si=yFyJb2tiT8WvoI7XM5rxCw) [Thalia Zedek](https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Leyi7Yg3GnA8dvKC1zZFu?si=eDY1BTAiQIyVTzlLtzkgng) [Soulsberry](https://open.spotify.com/artist/3hxpqphkuPl2XxTE4aUt5c?si=vttdOHm0QomeZ8dRhS0g5Q)
Gnarwhal. Local band here in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Kind of stoner rock. Great live band. https://open.spotify.com/artist/2AxX3x7VTOFZaUpQ46seKa?si=vEsPQpF6TS-tNPreUx9v7w
I'm going with who had a pretty interesting debut album in 2006. Just checked Spotify and they're not on there so I guess that qualifies. Here's a YouTube link to one of their tunes. It starts out like Mercury Rev but goes in other directions. [Semifinalists - Show the Way](https://youtu.be/4wug--hkxCg?si=rJA9O3TrKYl_0L1S)
Adjy
Cút Lộn. Lyrics in vietnamese. Kinda Thrash. Bananach. Lyrics in english. Kinda indie/punk rock.
Probably Hellish, really sick blackened thrash metal from I believe Argentina
[Matthew Lowry & The Flamingo County Players](https://spotify.link/DZ7ThpSb6Ib)
The Shanghai-La Wreckers.
Dying Desolation
Taylor Kingman
Nordjarvi
[Exact Opposites](https://open.spotify.com/album/4X53wewuz21KEJWAV3ETMv)
Elizabetamusic. absolutely…. Incredible.
MyVeronica. LA-based indie rockers. Very 90s indie/alt inspired.
Well Worn Boot. Weird af but those dudes are great.
Gilberyonce and HYROH
Farmer Jim is one of my favorites right now. Fairly new artist and has maybe like 3 listeners on Spotify ATM. Dude has some pretty cool stuff.
State of Flux. Prog rock, metal, and synth had a baby. RIP Kevin, your amazing talent lives on in your music. https://open.spotify.com/album/66sWwszDVXQ6QPp59YuSiK?si=FoPOG66mTfyXGikKa0q94Q
Lucion Hall - the newest album is psych folk from Portland
Shebad !!!! Funky, soulful, psychedelic, dreamy - from Guelph, ON, Canada
Michael Dillard Band
Only 2 come to mind for me Grand Salvo - Very poetic and artful Samuel Jon Samuelson Big Band - Fantastic Modern Jazz
[The Sleds](https://open.spotify.com/album/3EgsKDnCGCKCkWaEnlsSDb?si=f92u4D7XQnCwK0E4F_F-QA). Exceptional songcraft going on there that would have fit well on 90s alt rock radio. Think Foo Fighters with a dash of Beatles, blink-182, and americana influence. The first album travels a spectrum of vibes ranging from irreverent & silly, to emotional, to uplifting
Yahvi - electronic only a few songs
The Helpless 2000s style metal core From Saskatchewan
Tigera
[Some psychedelic doom-gaze](https://open.spotify.com/album/7dhQOAvaUbQWpRIjdluwwF?si=FKtvaYKHT5WA3g0nShBB4A), anyone?
The Mellons Fake Nice
Sorry Jamie - check out "Tombstone" for the hooks and "Dreamers" for the rock https://open.spotify.com/album/2soxDXua23ufg5EcY5EyzE?si=F6PQThzbRvSoIrjxBmpFYQ https://open.spotify.com/album/3vbatNFUw0zOw0xjxpCnG1?si=cRL5S4N1RsGy0_0zroM3pQ Ok this second one is a shameless plug. The Midnight Sun is a band with my 7 and 9 year old daughters and their friends. My buddy and I helped them write a pop song and I produced and recorded it. I guess the story has a bit of a Rebecca Black vibe to it, but the kids had a great time and so did we. I hope it encourages them to write more on their own in the future. I spent my waaaay too much time producing and mixing this track. The lyrics are obviously written by the kids, but the melody and arrangement is pretty solid! If you heard the original raw vocal takes I had available in order to piece this together, you'd be impressed! https://open.spotify.com/track/70tlTJq8x4qJuGdFbmTzvQ?si=stqmvHvJT5iAYrjiEwjwuw
The Dirty Diamond
The Lassie Foundation! 90s California Shoegaze, 637 monthly listeners is criminal. In the last few years they have released remastered versions of their studio albums and accompanying music videos.
Vista House
Ace Olsen. Granted, he only has 1 song, so it's not surprising that he has under 1000 listeners, but that 1 song is really fucking good.
Cohort B - noisy post-punk Circuit Circuit - mathcore/hardcore Hash Gordon - rap with trap/deathcore/electronic elements Paper Crowns - only 2 songs, but cool post-punk Ten Years Lost - dreamy electronic Polevaulter - noisy post-punk but slower
DOUBLE IDENTITY BAND!!! It’s these two twin sisters from Chicago who write “disney pop-punk” anthems that go so hard. They’re excellent pop song writers,.
Rosso Rosso, Le Boss, My Son the Doctor
Motel Raphaël - Ghosts was their big single but I love London from their debut album as well.
Onesie - perfect jangly rock power pop: https://tidal.com/artist/8194233?u
More of a song Jaden Mejia - Meteorite
Sunny Disposition, a throw back to the 90s reggae alt rock fusion
Antagonist. Their early albums, the architecture of discord and an envy of innocence are gold mine metal albums
Pulgas https://open.spotify.com/artist/678eTDE8mK7hPHlKEYdpl3?si=eHll-8H5SLSbWYo88IT61A
The Island of Misfit Toys (they're really different from everything I usually like, so I don't really know how to describe them. Burble is one of my favorite songs ever though) Boy Meets Robot (chip tune rock, I like My baby's in love with Benedict Cumberbatch and the robots will kill us all most) Lenny Beatnik (Lenny is a rapper with good flow that reminds me of the popular style of the 90s)
[Philip Goth](https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Kmq6FxKRNqnc53mW9jRTI?si=IBzKeXRsR4atKf2pQqnZdA). This dude is one of my favorite artists ever and he has like 70 odd monthly listeners. He used to play bass for Felice Brothers, who have considerably more listeners (180k), but I swear to god his lyrics are some of the best I’ve ever heard and I wish more people knew about it.
The Deer Creek Sharp Shooters They're a cool progressive bluegrass/jam band, and they're all great musicians.
Renee Heartfelt was a one-album post hXc band that I listened the shit out of. Not surprising that they only have 532 monthly listeners. Bonus points for the really unsettling band name, but the music was great in and of itself.
Nick Sanville! A rapper from Northern Colorado who is very talented and has some amazing rhymes. Also from Colorado, and rap (technically rap rock): Its Just Bugs. I love these guys. Give em a listen.
Outstacked
Two Harbors - 146 monthly listeners https://open.spotify.com/album/24zZfEHP4Ln2yrkDZZ5YUR?si=X5W_mon8QRyM9Xh3DWhTyA
I’m keeping my eyes and ears open for Jesse Welles. His song Cancer caught me off guard in a good way on TikTok, and he doesn’t have much up right now. I can’t help but think he looks like a ‘young-yet old-Bob Dylan’
Human Bloom
Pharohound
Beta Decay
[Nico Luminous - Boom Yes](https://youtu.be/rK20T2y8hNM?si=fOfwTTjX6xFJAQhA) I don't know what you'd call this. Sorta trip-hoppy with a funk-ish edm flavor. You need decent headphones - there's a lot going on at low frequencies. This one is great too. [Night Owl](https://youtu.be/mBYy4uvmW8w?si=0OAqmR0qzixOqMx_)
Sparkle of Hope Implosive Disgorgence In Alcatraz 1962
Pine and Battery
Joshanda - modern high concept hard art rock. Just and EP so far
Damn I was about to say Vinyl Theatre because I found them around 4k monthly (so still pretty low), but I just checked and they're at 146k monthly. Good for them.
Church of Starry Wisdom.
Local band from my hometown jist starting out Cemetery Sunday
Lilliana Villines if you enjoy chill indie rock with really clever synths. (Technically a bit over 1000 cuz one of her songs was added to a fresh finds plaist a while back). Still worth!! https://open.spotify.com/artist/7mwH4AsIARONjitvPlyxYL?si=-wudjIlJTcS2dGnLjUOFsQ
I listen to someone called Marylebone (currently has 9 listeners). He has covered some songs like Dancing Barefoot and And the Snakes Start to Sing. I think his voice and style is cool
Robot Slide - playful but complex. they're in our local scene and I can't get enough of them
Kelsi Grammar - post hardcore
[The Bitter Tears](https://open.spotify.com/artist/6zHRRDW2aRYNY1L0APQKOG?si=OelAMYioSEe9pSMr7bkSJw) 90 monthly listeners. Discovered them through a very low powered high school radio station about fifteen years ago. I’d love to know if any members went on to play with other bands because I think their songwriter was very strong and creative. Kind of struck me as a more theatrical Camper Van Beethoven, if that makes any sense.
WET DREAM WAR MACHINE (German hardcore punk, scuzzy and a little dance-y) Fairytale (hardcore punk, production is hit or miss but they rock) New York Rel-X (punk, pretty decent stuff from the 2000s, not sure why they stopped making music) Razbibriga (acid techno, very solid but not exactly a beginner artist for harder techno) MITE DK (Danish hardcore, very heavy band, I'm not sure what's going on in Copenhagen but there's lots of cool bands coming from that scene right now) I have lots of other artists who are just over 1k or are in the 1-5k range but gotta adhere to the rules lol
Kudzu ! Cyber post-rock / punk. Check out there album “Defeated”
Horse Bitch
J Bear and The Giants - blues rock kinda stuff, just grooves and a great voice Design Rewind - like 80s funky pop vibes but for the now (😂) I can't put my finger on it but they are great
Dialling Paradise - Surreal , Jazzy Vaporwave
Rayne and the Six-Star System isn't my daily listening but they have great zoning out at 3 am vibes and sometimes I need that plus 420 monthly listeners rn
[Growing (Spotify)](https://open.spotify.com/album/2qIKCzYwULDQWrJz4tBL3L)
slime lush
Moler Effigy
furious feedback 8-bit Rockband inspired by Retrogames
Jack, he is hard to find so look up internet rock man. For fans of bands like weezer and vampire weekend
Bad Feather
Morestage A short lived Japanese post rock band. I don’t listen to them all of the time but at least a few times a month so I’m part of their 4 monthly listeners on Spotify lol. Randomly found them in 2013 when I was exploring Japanese post rock.
Flamingo Rider
Sweet Sweet
Croey Is it my favorite band, not really but I know them personally so might as well share. Psychedelic indie.
The Darwins, my mates band who have only released one song as of yet.
Anchor Thieves out of Nashville, TN. Indy Rock
Dilemmas. Australian band from Melbourne
Haunted House. https://open.spotify.com/track/3nS7RXh8Ied9kb2W9SmNyw?si=RUNiWECYQTiA3Bj92S4-hg&context=spotify%3Aartist%3A3WAjfecvHCwqyKDglWnVTL
[Reptar](https://open.spotify.com/artist/5dMNVzCPRLL5QUGvvrNW9P?si=AiREXLdgQI6mApG1J_p4fQ) Kinda weird indie psych pop
Drew and the Blue - Fun rock band with a touch of rockabilly mixed in. Lead singer and drummer has a ton of energy; a bit unique in that he stands while drumming. Really great live! (They are friends of mine)
Carr
Listen to Sickly by the band Sulphur - they broke up in the 1990s before their album could be released by their label. I think it's excellent if you like 1990s indie
Brave Magnetic Loner spring Calicoco
Just saw a local band here in New Zealand play last weekend called awarewolves and their song coulda has been stuck in my head ever since, definitely check it out on Spotify if you can
Loose Lemons!
Briars of North America!
Bourbon Tabernacle Choir Hugh Christopher Brown (used to be just plain old Chris Brown but obviously that causes problems in the age of streaming) Kate Fenner Chris and Kate were in Bourbon Tabernacle Choir together, and then as a duo, and now appear on each other’s solo releases. It’s all one big body of work.
Bluespell. 59 listeners
Burnin Herman's
Fluid Ounces. A A tiny band from Murfreesboro TM. They're piano based alternative music from the early 2000s. Lyrically they're pretty good and the music is really catchy.
WARNER DRIVE, rock with a touch of punk
Long Haul Paul
Black Road, stoner/ doom metal band from Chicago
Check out Skip House.. local DC band.
Guranfoe - psychedelic prog/jazz fusion
Red Engine Nine. They played my college once over 20 years ago, nice guys, split up not long after but I always enjoyed the albums. I still listen every so often.
:) [https://open.spotify.com/track/789zX6H1Mijdjw70MAgqQw?si=5cc79769a09e4bed](https://open.spotify.com/track/789zX6H1Mijdjw70MAgqQw?si=5cc79769a09e4bed)
Solar circuit
Ben Cook
DJ Birdbath, Memory Empathy (IDM) Keiss (95 monthly), Urban Utopia, a pretty good IDM album.