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Obscure bands

Does anyone know a band called City Boy? (70's/80's)Very obscure and very original. It's beyond Me how such great talent goes so unnoticed! Also please chime in on other obscure talented musicians.

arcam88
bondmanp
1,836 posts
 

I dunno. I have to say that if a band is signed to a major label, and has some charting singles, I think that means they are not obscure. The fact that I know 60% of the bands people are listing here suggests to me that they are not really obscure.


Now, gnostalgick, aside from having a very difficult member name, has an excellent list. I haven’t heard of one single band on it, save Antony & the Johnsons and Husker Du. Bravo.


gnostalgick: What genre of music would you put these bands in? If the genre appeals to me, I will explore these bands. Thank you.

bondmanp
1,836 posts
 
arcam88:  The Tubes are obscure?  White Punks on Dope was a high school and college anthem in the mid-to-late 1970s.  Everyone I knew, knew that song.  WPOD!!!
emailists
923 posts
 
I’m a huge Tubes fan. I regularly play their first 2 albums. Tracks like "pimp" sound great as well. I saw them live recently and were fantastic.

Some bands i still have lp’s from:
Tom Robinson band.
Tim Curry had an album or two out.
.(I still sometimes hear NYU’s new afternoon show.)
Throbbing Grizzle
Durruti column
Prefab sprout

arcam88's avatar
arcam88 OP
443 posts
 
You are correct bondmanp! I forgot about that one- DUH😠
And by the way one of the best live albums ever recorded in my opinion.
I guess they are not truly obscure. Just underrated and underappreciated the majority.
gnostalgick
88 posts
 
bondmanp,

   Genre? In the 80s I would have said they were 'alternative' but that label has now been co-opted by a sound I wouldn't really associate with any of these. I suppose I've heard about half played (one time or another) on college stations, but I doubt any are standard fare. In brief:
 
And Also the Trees--distinctly romantic guitars, sometime melodramatic, toured with The Cure
Angels of Light--much quieter, more jangly project from the Swans (loud, rock)
Coil--dark industrial ambient
Galaxie 500--fuzzy, relaxed, proto-indie-pop
In Gowan Ring--hippy folksy flower children music
Labradford--slow & drony ambient
Lowlife--lush & dreamy Scottish band featuring the original bassist from the Cocteau Twins
Miranda Sex Garden--their first album was all madrigals, then they picked up some modern instruments...
Outhud--Brooklyn/Oakland hipster dance punk with a harp
Pram--fun 90s pop, like I'd imagine a happy upbeat Portishead
Silver Apples--very early (60s) synthesizer based band with Can -like rhythm
David Sylvian--more progressive output from the singer from Japan (band that heavily influenced Duran Duran)
Talk Talk--had their share of 80s pop hits, but its their last two albums that really shine (sued by EMI for not being commercial enough)
Jozef Van Wissem--modern lutist
Zelienople--very recent discovery--avant-garde indie rock from Chicago

Also (already listed by czarivery):

This Mortal Coil--covers from the members of classic 4AD bands
Tuxedomoon--neo-classically inspired 80s synth-pop with violin, clarinet, trumpet & performance artist
More to discover