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The 7 - Music - Bands that shoulda, woulda, coulda made it
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Gavintzu
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#1 Posted on 18.1.02 2116.22
Reposted on: 18.1.09 2128.00
Anyone have any favourite bands/artists who should have set the music world on fire ... but didn't?

Mine is the Smalls. Like Nickelback, they came from a small town outside Edmonton. Like Nickelback they toiled for years in obscurity. Unlike Nickelback, they never got the big break and fame and fortune. And unlike Nickelback, the Smalls had talent oozing out of their pores. (I apologize to any Nickelback fans out there -- I am just very bitter about their success).

Between 1991 and 1999 the Smalls released 4 albums, all on an independent label (Cargo records). The first was indy-licious all the way but the last 3 shoulda, woulda, coulda been huge in any portion of the free world. They had loyal fans all over Western Canada who would pack bars, clubs, and university ballrooms to watch them play live (I saw them maybe nine or ten times ... the best live band I have seen in my life). They toured Europe. And they never got a major label deal, despite being one of the greatest Canadian rock bands of the '90s.

Their music was heavy enough to please the 'banger crowd, their lyrics were smart enough to please the college radio crowd, their hooks were tasty enough to please any rock fan with a pulse, and did I mention their live show? Oh yeah, I did.

Local radio stations and Muchmusic (Canada's answer to MTV) never played their material, despite many requests from myself and my friends. "They are not on our playlist". Bastards.

What music we hear on the radio and see on our TV is set by the major labels. The major labels don't sign talented bands, they sign bands they think will move units. I am convinced their are dozens, if not hundreds, of bands like the Smalls all over North America. I haven't heard them. You haven't heard them unless you are lucky enough to live right by them.

I am sharing a few Smalls tracks on Kazaa if you want to sample them. But I want to know ... what other unknown bands should I be listening to?

Edit: You can visit their website here and download a song and video.



Past hills of chambermaids' dark bare arms and fields of muscles quilted to the bone,
Right now I'm flying over, yeah right now I'm flying home.


(edited by Gavintzu on 19.1.02 0832)
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PinkSkunk
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#2 Posted on 18.1.02 2139.42
Reposted on: 18.1.09 2210.02
Maybe the Smalls didn't "make it" because the major labels didn't think they would and/or didn't like their sound.

One would think ANTHRAX would make it because they were one of the first to be Thrash Metal and such. Well, they didn't...yet. They are rising, as VH1 did a Behind the Music on them, and they just don't throw those around.

I guess it depends on what you mean by "make it."



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Keith Myath
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#3 Posted on 18.1.02 2157.40
Reposted on: 18.1.09 2210.06
I have a few.

Fenix TX
Taproot
One Minute Silence
The Katies (anybody else ever hear of them)
Full Devil Jacket (did alright, but I expected more)
U.P.O.
Soulfly
I still don't think Cold gets enough attention

Some of these did okay, but didn't really get as much as they deserved (yet anyway). Except for The Katies, I swear no one knows who they are besides me.



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spf
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#4 Posted on 19.1.02 0136.20
Reposted on: 19.1.09 0235.49
One that comes to mind right away for me is Local H. They were a couple of good breaks and a good record co push away from just being HUGE I think.



There, I feel better now.
El Den
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#5 Posted on 19.1.02 0211.46
Reposted on: 19.1.09 0235.58
Seven Mary Three's second album was much better than the first one, which had "Cumbersome." I always thought they were a decent band, when compared with a lot of the crap that actually got airplay.
FLRockAndLaw
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#6 Posted on 19.1.02 0951.17
Reposted on: 19.1.09 1119.35
One or two come to mind:

Mutha's Day Out - a five-piece band from Arkansas (of all places) that pre-dated most of yesterday's grunge and today's nu-metal, yet sounded far better than both styles. This album was fast and furious for the most part, but when they slowed down for songs like "Green" and "Memories Fade," they still didn't wuss out. These kids were running an average age of seventeen when they released their one and only album, "My Soul Is Wet," back in 1993. You may have already seen "Locked (Tear Me Down)" when they showed it on a "Beavis and Butthead" episode - probably the only time MTV ever showed their video. If you've seen the film "Mortal Kombat," during the scene in which Sonia and Jax pursue Kano in the club, the band in the background is Mutha's Day Out, playing "What U See."

D.A.D. (Disneyland After Dark) - four-piece band from Denmark who started with a cowpunk sound in the mid-80s. Their first album is still pretty raw, but has some good songs and some silly, funny stuff. Possibly a very spiritual (spiritually neutral?) band, as you'll hear references to God, the Devil, Heaven, and Hell all over the place. They put out two albums in the U.S., 1989's "No Fuel Left for the Pilgrims," which turned the band into a pop-metal-punk hybrid. MTV played the video, "Sleeping My Day Away," maybe twice. Their 1992 album, "Risking It All," sold maybe 12 copies - and that's after it hit the cut-out bin. The band's put out several albums in Europe since then, though I haven't heard anything since their 1995 album, "Helpyourselfish," which starts digging into grunge and mid-tempo mediocrity hell. You can find out more about them if you simply Click Here .



"People say that if you don't love America, then get the hell out. Well, I love America." - "Born on the Fourth of July," 1989.
"One day, we will be reunited. But until then, my spirit will always be with you." - "Mortal Kombat," 1995.
Gavintzu
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#7 Posted on 19.1.02 1023.45
Reposted on: 19.1.09 1126.40
El Den - I hated Cumberbund, sorry Cumbersome, by the 200th time I heard it on the radio. But I downloaded a few other tracks by Seven ... and I must say they are pretty good. I always got a matchbox 20 vibe from them (not a good thing), but judging from "Over Your Shoulder", "Lucky", and "The River's Edge" they are much better than that.

spf - WOW! Local H roolz! I seem to have heard "Copasetic" somewhere before, but "Bound for the Floor", "Half Life", and "Back in the Day" had me bouncing in my recliner. Here's a band I will be purchasing.

Keith - Taproot is good, but a little heavy for my tastes. Too much screaming. But Full Devil Jacket sounds excellent judging by "Where Did You Go?" I will have to download some more this weekend.

Now this is why I love the Internet -- music sharing allows so much exposure to bands that couldn't get it otherwise. I now know that I can drop $16 on a CD by Local H and I won't be disappointed.

Pink - You seem to have missed the point to my post. Anthrax? Everyone's heard of Anthrax. I owned a couple of CDs by them back in high school. There is enough Anthrax floating around (pun not intended) for you to make a decision about whether you like them or not, and my local used CD store has lots of their albums, I'm sure. But these other bands everyone is throwing out ... if you never hear them or hear of them, you can't know if you like them or not. And there are tons of bands out there that are better than the crap that is currently on the radio.








Past hills of chambermaids' dark bare arms and fields of muscles quilted to the bone,
Right now I'm flying over, yeah right now I'm flying home.
Jobberman
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#8 Posted on 19.1.02 1146.21
Reposted on: 19.1.09 1149.59


Down here in South Florida, we used to have some really good bands kicking around. About 10 years ago or so, there was a band called "The Itch". They were the best local act in my opinion. They had a big Red Hot Chili Peppers vibe going on. In fact, when the Chili's were looking for a guitarist, The Itch's guitarist, Brent Jest, made it to the final five in audtions.Unfortunatly, this guy you might have heard of named Marilyn Manson started gaining popularity and basically overshadowed every other act down here. Somewhere in my move back home from college I lost all my tapes and its driving me nuts. If anyone knows of this band and has any of their tapes please let me know!
FLRockAndLaw
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#9 Posted on 19.1.02 1158.03
Reposted on: 19.1.09 1206.29
Jobberman:

Had no idea you lived in SoFla.

I'm afraid I can't help you with The Itch. As long as we're talking killer South Florida bands, I do have copies of "Stones for Steven" by Forget the Name and "Bomb in the Shelter" by Natural Causes. I was sooooo bummed when Natural Causes called it quits in 1994.



"People say that if you don't love America, then get the hell out. Well, I love America." - "Born on the Fourth of July," 1989.
"One day, we will be reunited. But until then, my spirit will always be with you." - "Mortal Kombat," 1995.
Jobberman
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#10 Posted on 19.1.02 1202.42
Reposted on: 19.1.09 1215.19


I already have Stones for Stephen..thanks anyway....do you ever listen to Sixo? Rene Alvarez's band after Forget the Name? They are pretty good. There were a million great bands here. There still probably are, but I don't hit the clubs as often anymore. Did you ever like Cell 63, Dore Soul, Six Silver Spiders, I Don't Know(weird polka thing)?
IPCRivalSchools
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#11 Posted on 19.1.02 1232.42
Reposted on: 19.1.09 1237.18
(yay, my first post)

In terms of current bands who should be settihg the world on fire (or at least leaving it slightly singed) I agree Cold should be getting more attention, as should A Hundred Reasons. In terms of bands who should have made it much bigger than they diud, than Mother Love Bone should have been THE breakthrough act from the late 80's/early 90's Seattle scene, as well as a band like the Melvins or Mudhoney.

Sleater Kinney shoild be absolutle huge as well at this point in time.

Ian.
spf
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#12 Posted on 19.1.02 1521.28
Reposted on: 19.1.09 1534.18
A couple more who should be mammoth IMHO:

Jayhawks - How "Baby Baby Baby" was not a #1 song befuddles me something fierce.

Apples in Stereo - "Discovery of a World Inside The Moone" was an amazing album, and should have caught on more than it did.

Edson - A Swedish band with a vaguely Belle & Sebastianish air about them, but not quite as arty. Wonderfully clean solid pop songs.

Robbie Fulks - One of the smartest songwriters around. "Couples In Trouble" is a wonderful album, but of course I've heard one song from it once on the radio here, and that's only because he's from here.



There, I feel better now.
Papercuts!
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#13 Posted on 19.1.02 2235.38
Reposted on: 19.1.09 2243.01
Ned's Atomic Dustbin.



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OlFuzzyBastard
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#14 Posted on 20.1.09 0946.16
    Originally posted by spf
    Apples in Stereo - "Discovery of a World Inside The Moone" was an amazing album, and should have caught on more than it did.


These guys are still on the bubble of breaking through. Maybe 2009 will finally be their year.
RecklessEric
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#15 Posted on 20.1.09 1013.52
    Originally posted by spf
    One that comes to mind right away for me is Local H. They were a couple of good breaks and a good record co push away from just being HUGE I think.



    I *still* love this band!
Keith Myath
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#16 Posted on 21.1.02 1001.03
Reposted on: 21.1.09 1052.19
Well, I have a special connection to Taproot because the lead singer kicked me in the head!

Mother Love Bone was such a great band, if not for Andy Wood's death, they would've been HUGE. Of course, from his death came the reorganization of the Seattle bands in the early 90's and history was created. Also, a couple of the surviving members of Mother Love Bone seem to have done pretty good.

Funny you mention Local H. The single, "Half Life," is set to take major airplay soon, so maybe they will get some respect.



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Snooge
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#17 Posted on 21.1.02 1153.36
Reposted on: 21.1.09 1323.06
Ned's Atomic Dustbin is pretty cool.

I'm a big fan of WEEN and I wish they would have made a bigger impact that they have. Also The Replacements should of, could of, would of, had they not been drunk for the whole 80's.



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#18 Posted on 21.1.02 1210.04
Reposted on: 21.1.09 1332.48
VERY MUCH agree on the Replacements. Westerberg is a very underrated musical genius. Thankfully, Paul has just signed a new deal with a small label and will be releasing a double CD in April.

I loved the Ned's Atomic Dustbin album with "Grey Cell Green" on it, and was always dumbfounded that they didn't catch on at the time. Haven't heard anything else out of them after that tho.

Dug the Jayhawks too. I saw them open for Matthew Sweet in Cincinnati when Hollywood Town Hall came out. Still love that album and still think they're coming on the radio everytime Tom Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance" comes on instead :-(

Matthew Sweet should have made it big too for that matter.

I was always surprised the Lemonheads didn't catch on. Some very good, catchy, pop songs from those guys.

The Alarm deserved much better than to have "Sold me Down the River" as their only "hit." Some powerful, soulfull songs there.

I don't know if they qualify since they've got the theme song to Malcolm in the Middle and a song of their last album is on a car commercial, but when you mention They Might Be Giants, most people have no clue who you're talking about, and I think they're one of the best bands ever so there.

If I wasn't still jet-lagged from my trip, I'm sure I could think of some more, but thanks for reminding me about Ned's. I'm going to have to pull that one back out. DESIRE!

drew2

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#19 Posted on 21.1.02 1217.18
Reposted on: 21.1.09 1337.47
Originally posted by DrewDewce
I loved the Ned's Atomic Dustbin album with "Grey Cell Green" on it, and was always dumbfounded that they didn't catch on at the time. Haven't heard anything else out of them after that tho.



The album in question is God Fodder, with "Kill Your Television" being the finest track on there.

They had two other albums, Are You Normal? and BrainBloodVolume. The latter had a fantastic lead single "All I Ask Of Myself Is That I Hold Together."

They have since split up.



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DrewDewce
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#20 Posted on 21.1.02 1600.17
Reposted on: 21.1.09 1609.06
Geez, my memory sucks. I couldn't remember the name of that album to save my soul. I do remember the other single you mention getting played on 120 minutes once. I think I have it on tape somewhere. Geez, I miss 120 minutes. What's Dave Kendall doing these days? I think I have the 10th anniversary special of that on tape somewhere too . . . Gotta get better organized sez I.

BTW, when will we see a new paper cuts? Seems like its been awhile. (Of course, I could have just missed it, for some reason or another my online access at work has problems with accessing your site). Some other good columns over there to keep us occupied until then tho.

drew2
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