5 best underrated or unknown bands and why?

phil, yes he did! And I went right to eBay and bought a couple of LPs!

Philjoilet you got me with Bad Plus........

Here are my favorite record companies, I'm sure you can find
many unknown bands within their sites:
http://www.projekt.com/ (my favorites: Mira, Lycia)
http://www.cleorecs.com/ (Hevanly Voices; Switchblade Symphony; Tributes to the Cure, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Pink Floyd.
http://www.jenniferhope.com/ (beautiful voice from some above compilation cds)

Michael Hashim, while not new or really "unknown", I feel should be heard and appreciated by more people. He's a tenor, alto jazz sax player and has a few discs out. I especially enjoy "A Blue Streak" which has some pretty good B-3 organ played by Mike LeDonne. Hashim is fine player and at times on alto reminds me of Joe Farrell at Farrell's best. Cheers, Lee

How 'bout Cul De Sac?
I heard them the first time with Damo Suzuki(of Can) and was impressed of them not less than known to me Damo Suzuki.
I immediately ordered their albums and am always full of joy listening.