Seven Bands the Cognoscenti is STILL Sleeping on
This week we get a collection of HUGELY underrated and undervalued bands who have had some relative success, but deserve way more than what they have.
7. Modest Mouse
The Washington State based rockers are easily on this list of undervalued bands. Despite huge success for their singles “Float On”, “Dashboard” and “Lampshades on Fire”, they are still relatively unheard of in the general public. Their discography is by no means star-studded but does deserve some much needed extra love. The main problem here tends to be the long wait time between albums after the 2010s. They still tour fairly often (They’re on a tour with the Black Keys right now. You can check it out here: https://www.modestmouse.com) and are indubitably staples in the garage-rock cover band area, yet are not as popular as they could be.
6. The Driver Era
The Driver Era can pull right into the number six spot on this list for having former R5 member and Disney actor Ross Lynch alone. The very idea that a former Disney person does not sound like a teenage Katy Perry is a brilliant idea we should have tried twenty years ago. This duo of Alt/Garage Rock/Pop writers have formed up a nice sound taking some of Twenty One Pilots’ ideas and moving them to the true Alternative Rock field. Comparisons to Wallows, Weathers and I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME can be drawn. Their biggest as as of October 26, “Preacher Man” is a great combination of everything that was good about R5, but pitched to a more mature, Rock sound. You can listen to their great new single “A Kiss” on all streaming platforms.
5. Goth Babe
Goth Babe is easily one of the best chill/vibe artists out there today. His combination of analog and digital synth tones with laid back guitar tracks rounds out a solid discography. “Sometimes” and “Weekend Friend” are both great. Reverb soaked sun is a great formula for Indie Pop and makes Goth Babe a great listen despite their relatively low monthly listener count. Please make this mainstream. Pop music could use a little Indie fun in the sun. While not writer Griff Washburn’s best, “Her Vacation” is a decent track. Find out more about him here: https://www.gothbabemusic.com
4. Foster The People
If you haven’t heard of Foster the People since their first huge it “Pumped Up Kicks”, you have been missing out in a huge way. Their more recent hit “Sit Next to Me” is a VIBE and a half. Foster the People walks a beautiful line between Pop and Alt Rock. Between serious messages and fun-loving clean-the-house-to music. The album Sacred Hearts Club is worth coming back to as well as the singles “Worst Nights”, “Ride or Die” with The Knocks and “Pick U Up”. All these songs have been contributing to some low-key hype for their next studio album. Hopefully it takes off because Foster the People deserve to take Maroon 5’s spot for the rest of eternity simply because they are what Maroon 5 dreams about themselves being. Check them out: https://www.fosterthepeople.com
3. Alice Merton
Alice Merton is not just a one-hit wonder. This kind of voice backed by some of the best bass licks of the 2010s (Yes, this whole decade!) is not something I will just let go to waste. Alice Merton’s hit single “No Roots” reminds me of everything I love about Rock’s ability to throw off the Billboard Hot 100. You never know what might randomly take a high spot off of huge success in the Rock/Indie scene. She just recently put out four bonus songs for her album MINT. I highly suggest “Keeps Me Awake” on this deluxe version you can find here: http://hyperurl.co/AliceMerton-Mint. Her success needs to continue into the future lest we waste this excellent talent.
2. Young the Giant
Young the Giant may have one of the most confusing hit histories in modern music. I personally do not consider their song “Cough Syrup” all that good and “Superposition” was not the best song on their most recent album Mirror Master. “My Body” is a good track, but I don’t know how that got as popular as it did either. Songs like “Silvertongue”, “Nothing’s Over” and “Heat of the Summer” deserve much more acclaim than they have. They are a truly excellent band moving through interesting guitar tones, great hooks and fun vocals from Sameer Gadhia. His liquid vocals work throughout their discography challenging deep topics while also giving each song a fun overarching anthem feel. I highly suggest, at the very least, watching the video for “Heat of the Summer” here: https://www.youtube
1. Paramore
Paramore, formerly the angsty punk-rock teenagers you knew and maybe even loved have experienced their fair share of success. They have at least five bona-fide hit songs and are still an influential band after 14 years in the music business. Their newest evolution sent them spiraling into the eighties with the album After Laughter. Who knew those two words rhyme? The album name perfectly describes a fall into depression after a good time in life and perfectly describes their inexplicable popularity drop. After Laughter should have been their biggest album yet, and, somehow it kind of flopped. Hopefully they will rebound soon, but until then give them a boost by checking them out here if you haven’t heard them yet: https://www.paramore.net.
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