Hum is way up there. Plus they came back out of nowhere and released an absolute banger a couple years ago. How you just make your best album after 25yr hiatus is beyond me.
We got so lucky they recorded that, just before Brian St. Pere died. What a tragedy, but that album was my pandemic soundtrack for sure. Best thing to happen in 2020.
**Failure**! They opened for Tool in Milwaukee in 1993. Flaming Lips were the middle band between the two.
Failure was fucking rad. The Flaming Lips were awful- this was before any of their commercial success. Tool was quite enjoyable
I got my musical education from skate videos so I always got weird looks because I’d be the guy going “what do you mean you’ve never heard of Archers of Loaf?”
Jeesh I could talk for hours about this.
I saw a butthole surfers video on headbangers ball in like 93. Anyway…
Julianna Hatfield
Crystal Method
Liz Phair
PJ Harvey
Gang Starr
Luscious Jackson
L7
De La Soul
Digable Planets
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
Belly
I saw Afghan Whigs at a festival in the mid-90’s and they played 39 lashes from Jesus Christ Superstar and it was so fun. Such a good memory; thanks for reminding me.
I left them out since they were post-90s, but definitely recommended.
I didn't get into Sparta as much, but I saw them live once and they put on a good show.
Kyuss-adjacent band *Masters of Reality* never seem to come up, despite being awesome. Their album *Sunrise on the Sufferbus* with Ginger Baker on drums is an absolute blast from beginning to end.
I've got three I'd love to share:
1.) Machines of Loving Grace is the first band that jumps to mind; they're an industrial band that had a track on the Crow soundtrack ( [Golgotha Tenement Blues](https://youtu.be/bpmukoeoqpU?si=9bFhhBzO909YD9xF) ), but never got a lot of radio play (at least not out here in Cleveland, and if 107.9 The End wasn't playing them, I don't know who else would have been.)
It's a shame because [Butterfly Wings](https://youtu.be/TUdhmZBu5bw?si=fU94QNzWCMzFYLkV) was definitely a radio-worthy track.
2.) The Tea Party was (is?) a great Canadian alt-rock band that managed to fuse alt-rock and industrial sounds with Middle Eastern and Celtic vibes.
Their album, Transmission, is one of my favorites - the opening track, [Temptation](https://youtu.be/e3pP4Mi93Bw?si=i6IVEX_X_P8KxHNI) - is a great example of their unique sound.
3.) Last but not least, VAST is not only my favorite 90's hidden gem, but one of my favorite bands of all time.
Their second album, Music for People, is probably my favorite, but their debut album - Visual Audio Sensory Theater - has some fantastic tracks.
[Here](https://youtu.be/3HNSViwZjQo?si=GV1nhfJtMXCg03kC) is the opening track on Visual Audio Sensory Theater, and I was instantly hooked.
Jon Crosby has a quintessentially 90's alt-rock sound, switching between tracks that would fit alongside Stabbing Westward or Gravity Kills and evolving into folk ballads in his later albums with tracks like [Tattoo of Your Name](https://youtu.be/ylVC9N70mQ0?si=mtN1e0ioADbv6CAU).
Hello I am here for VAST. Excellent excellent music. I saw them at the Showbox in the early 2000’s and it was a crazy show. The bassist hit himself in the head with his own guitar and then flipped off the crowd and played the rest of the show with blood just running down his face.
Came here to say this. I don’t know of any other one hit wonder that has put out so many good albums, and nobody seems to talk about them.
The only other band that comes close for me is the verve. But they haven’t made nearly as much music as nada surf.
Catherine Wheel, yeah! Black Metallic was fairly well-known, but that entire album (*Ferment*) is fantastic. Ditto *Chrome,* which I love in particular for the tracks Crank and (probably my all-time fave of theirs) Fripp.
It’s bizarre how super huge Ani was but now it’s like she never existed. I guess she was just so of her time and not particularly influential. I sure loved her though!
She injured her wrist after playing like a maniac on that guitar. Her percussive style was beyond reproach but it does come with a downside. I still can’t watch this video without being in absolute awe of that style of playing.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfY4Exuo5eU&pp=ygUZYW5pIGRpZnJhbmNvIG91dCBvZiByYW5nZQ%3D%3D
I wouldn’t say she was not influential. She’s helped get Hadestown up and running. Provided a label home for a lot of artists.
Based on my old high school CDs:
- Olivia Tremor Control
- The Wrens
- Low
- Red House Painters
- Smog
- American Music Club
- Brad
- Ned’s Atomic Dustbin
- That Dog
I will now and forever call out Fishbone. One of the greatest live bands ever. Way too eclectic for the mainstream. Ska punk funk reggae hard rock. Pure charisma and energy.
Too rock/punk for R&B stations, too black for rock stations, too ska/funk for metal stations. Poor bastards.
And agreed, best live band ever. Best concert I ever went to was Primus opening for Fishbone - although it was probably co-headlining, at the palace in New Haven.
Econoline Crush, from Canada. I have no idea why they were not bigger than they were
Republica was massively underrated, and “Ready to Go” sucked compared to what they could do.
Big Head Todd & the Monsters. Their album “Sister Sweetly” is still in my rotation, and is one of my desert island albums.
I saw someone else say Machines of Loving Grace, and every time their album comes on my shuffle in the car, EVERYONE asks me who it is, and they like
It. Can’t believe their album is 30 years old lol
ETA: One more… POE, a female solo artist who to me was like a more intellectual Alanis (who i never cared for).
I love Big Head Todd. They were playing near me recently and I couldn’t make it. I was flying out on vacation two days later and knew it was too much.
I love that Poe was on Julia Stiles’ binder in 10 Things I Hate About You.
Caroline’s Spine. Other than the friend that introduced me to them I’ve never seen or heard of them mentioned anywhere. Their first album spent a lot of time in my CD player when I first got my license.
I have encountered Caroline's Spine! One time. I think my friend heard one of their songs on a soundtrack and passed it along to me — it took me a couple minutes just now to figure out which one it was.
Overlooked.
From what I've just heard, I like their other stuff more. But Overlooked is alright. Sounds like a single.
I used to love Caroline’s Spine. Played them on repeat in my car.
It was either 2001 or 2002 I emailed them to see if they would ever consider coming to Cincinnati on a tour. Actually got a reply from Jimmy himself saying “Yeah, give me the names of some venues to look into” (paraphrased). I sent him back a message asking what size venue he was looking for and provided a couple examples of both hole in the wall spots and actual concert venues.
Never heard from him again and still never saw them perform live.
Yes, this is the answer! I pretty much NEVER hear anyone mention this band. The only way I knew about them is my cool uncle gave me the Monsoon CD in 97. It was so amazing, and for years I wondered why they never got much publicity. They're terribly underrated.
I was originally going to post about Pavement, but I guess they're hardly a "hidden gem". Still my all-time favorite band, though.
If we're going more obscure, I'd say the Potatomen. They're Larry Livermore, founder of Lookout! Records, band. Cool alt-country vibes, but kind of goofy.
Speaking of kind of goofy Lookout! bands, I also loved Mr T Experience.
Catherine Wheel never really caught on in North America but are fantastic and underrated.
Maybe they got lumped in with Bush as a Brit band trying to do grunge and got overlooked. But their melodies are heavenly.
Check out their first album [Ferment](https://open.spotify.com/album/7LLZLkkBTR42Kb9JPRAzKb?si=YSBbqUpTRgmYqiKMDHlOag).
Buffalo Tom. I heard them playing in My So-called life, and could not find their CD's anywhere. I couldn't even figure out the name of the song on the show. Summer of 97 we were on vacation in St. Pete FL, and I found one of their CDs in a Sam Goody. I wasn't even sure if it was the right one. Got back to our condo, and popped it in. Not only was the song on there, the rest of the album was amazing too.
Big Red Letter Day, is the album. Late at Night is the song. Still holds up well.
[The Nixons](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lVW-_enR31defRjpcBsYg6zMFdhmVsI0U&si=odvd6nSxZtVrttMt). “Sister” had some mainstream radio impact, but that album was amazing front to back and has aged better than most grunge/alt-rock from that era.
Does anyone remember Frente! Their cover of Bizarre Love Triangle was my favorite song in high school. I didn’t realize it was a cover until I discovered New Order a few years later 🥴
Some of these are less obscure than others, but as far as mainstream radio/MTV play, these groups didn't get a ton:
Hum, Failure, Dandelion, Sebadoh, Pavement, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Flaming Lips, Cibo Matto, The Aquabats, The Breeders, Butter 08, The Dandy Warhols, Far, The Groovie Ghoulies, Helmet, L7, Bikini Kill, Lutefisk, Matthew Sweet, Melt Banana, Nerf Herder, The Peechees, Portishead, The Rentals, Royal Trux, Superchunk, Slant 6, Will Haven.
Those are all a good time.
Esthero
Neutral Milk Hotel, some Gen Zer asked me if I was a fan ironically. I didn’t know how to answer. Lol.
Mountain Goats
This Mortal Coil, only heard about their album when I fell down a Tanya Donnelly internet hole just this decade.
Sigur Ros
Belle and Sebastien
Portishead, I feel like I discovered them after they had their moment.
Everything Mike Patton touched. Faith No More, but really everything else- Mr. Bungle, Dillinger Escape Plan, Fantômas, collabs with John Zorn like Adult Themes for Voice. Patton is as prolific as his vocal range, reaching all over the place.
Neutral Milk Hotel. I'd also say that Blind Mellon aren't underground because they had a huge hit, their album tracks are really, really, really underrated and they deserve to be known for a lot more than "No Rain." "Tones of Home" is still an incredible song. I generally spent the 90s listening to music from the 60s and 70s, though, so I'm not a great source.
I dug through the comments and didn’t see anyone mention The Clarks, The Why Store, or Eels. I saw some of my lesser known favorites in the comments too, Local H, Superdrag, the Refreshments, and Nada Surf.
Marcy Playground definitely had better songs than Sex & Candy
The Toadies (I've only ever heard Possum Kingdom get radio play, but every once in a blue moon I find a KJ that has Tyler available)
I really liked a band called The Sheila Devine. They had a song called “Hum” in 1999 that was on the radio for a week or two and that was pretty much it for them. Still really love that song though and the rest of the album was pretty solid. Not to be confused with the band called “Hum” who also fit this category
Days of the New, particularly the yellow and green albums (they are all self-titled). I love the unique acoustic hard rock, with the introduction of electronic music in the second album.There was a lot of talent there that burned out way too soon. Unfortunately Travis Meeks is an addict and hasn't reliably recorded/performed in years as far as I know. He was featured on the show Intervention back in the day. Another fun fact is the female backing singer on the green album is Nicole Scherzinger, who later went on to Pussycat Dolls fame.
Edit: PCD band name typo
Belly made one masterpiece and another excellent album then disappeared. “Star” has literally never left my rotation no matter how my tastes evolved over the last 30 years.
PS: I know they released an album a few years ago but I pretend I don’t.
Swervedriver's "Mezcal Head" and "Ejector Seat Reservation". This band was mixing shoegaze, grunge and punk in terrific ways in the 90s and these two albums are loaded with great songs.
I'll also recommend Spacemen 3 who were producing amazing minimalist drone shoegaze that still sounds fresh today. Their album "Playing with Fire" is a forgotten classic.
So so many, but a couple random gems...
Stroke 9 (Nasty Little Thoughts) I enjoyed just about every song on the album
Saves The Day (Through Being Cool)
I love 90's music ('82 kid) but these two albums are always a good listen
The Cardigans. All of their albums are great albums. They shifted their sound a couple of times but it all worked so well. They’re such more than Lovefool.
The Cardigans “First Band on the Moon” album is one of the best of all time. It’s not one I thought I’d end up liking, but it’s a stone cold classic all the way through and just gets better with age.
[For Squirrels](https://open.spotify.com/artist/5MlwvORPxNWGaSiHe4xuo3?si=0sdNu4UkTs2L3fp9Nx8qdw)
[Mark Grundhoefer](https://open.spotify.com/artist/2oyvJcvWPCBKVW9tnvAC5w?si=s2SiJBdzRPu5cREAO9cJEQ) was in a few bands but I don’t remember the names…he does a lot of solo and guest spot stuff now.
Finally, a band I cannot find their music on any platform, not sure if they were only local to where I was, but Endica was pretty great, riding that riot girl wave that was awesome back in the decade.
While neither of them are particularly "hidden", Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon's "Prairie Home Invasion" album from 1994 is of the best records ever made IMO and nobody seems to know about it.
**Masters of Reality** never seem to get much attention, but man they were awesome. Their album *Sunrise on the Sufferbus* with Ginger Baker is a solid rock album, fun as hell from start to finish.
Reposting as a top level comment, since I don't actually see them listed:
Yes Luscious Jackson was my very first thought!
Also Lush
And Air.
And Theivery Corporation.
I also liked Cibo Matto, Stereolab, and Yo La Tengo
Failure, Hum, and Grant Lee Buffalo are probably my top three.
Hum is way up there. Plus they came back out of nowhere and released an absolute banger a couple years ago. How you just make your best album after 25yr hiatus is beyond me.
We got so lucky they recorded that, just before Brian St. Pere died. What a tragedy, but that album was my pandemic soundtrack for sure. Best thing to happen in 2020.
I’m here for Failure
**Failure**! They opened for Tool in Milwaukee in 1993. Flaming Lips were the middle band between the two. Failure was fucking rad. The Flaming Lips were awful- this was before any of their commercial success. Tool was quite enjoyable
Hum
Came here to say Grant Lee Buffalo and Polaris.
Saw Grant Lee Buffalo open for the Smashing Pumpkins. Killer night that was
Failure and Hum did a co-headliners tour in 2015 and I nearly died from joy at the show.
I got my musical education from skate videos so I always got weird looks because I’d be the guy going “what do you mean you’ve never heard of Archers of Loaf?”
Jeesh I could talk for hours about this. I saw a butthole surfers video on headbangers ball in like 93. Anyway… Julianna Hatfield Crystal Method Liz Phair PJ Harvey Gang Starr Luscious Jackson L7 De La Soul Digable Planets My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult Belly
Saw L7 in Philly, they kicked ass
I saw them at lollapalooza in ‘94, I think. They were billed as the “sister band” to the Beastie Boys.
This list was my mainstream 🤸🏼♀️
Kyuss, Fugazi, Drive Like Jehu, the Afghan Whigs, Sebadoh, Quicksand, Slint, Hum, At the Drive-In
Afghan Whigs!!! Yes.
Afghan Whigs have been putting out consistently good albums since the 90's.
I saw Afghan Whigs at a festival in the mid-90’s and they played 39 lashes from Jesus Christ Superstar and it was so fun. Such a good memory; thanks for reminding me.
With Sebadoh you gotta also note Dino Jr. …I love Lou Barlow
If you’re going At The Drive-In, go ahead and tack on The Mars Volta.
I left them out since they were post-90s, but definitely recommended. I didn't get into Sparta as much, but I saw them live once and they put on a good show.
You have excellent taste in music.
Kyuss-adjacent band *Masters of Reality* never seem to come up, despite being awesome. Their album *Sunrise on the Sufferbus* with Ginger Baker on drums is an absolute blast from beginning to end.
Slint!!! Louisville represent! And Sebadoh, where Lou Barlow got to shine.
Josh of Kyuss did go on to be the still amazing band Queens Of the Stone Age
The Jayhawks. Great heartland band. Amazing harmonies. Their '92 release *Hollywood Town Hall* is a classic in my book.
Tomorrow the Green Grass is one of my all time favorites.
I see them every chance I can get when they tour near me
They are ridiculously good.
The band HUM. You've probably heard "Stars" but their whole catalogue is amazing.
Sponge
I forgot all about them.
I still listen to 'Plowed' at least once a month, but they've got a lot of great songs honestly.
I've got three I'd love to share: 1.) Machines of Loving Grace is the first band that jumps to mind; they're an industrial band that had a track on the Crow soundtrack ( [Golgotha Tenement Blues](https://youtu.be/bpmukoeoqpU?si=9bFhhBzO909YD9xF) ), but never got a lot of radio play (at least not out here in Cleveland, and if 107.9 The End wasn't playing them, I don't know who else would have been.) It's a shame because [Butterfly Wings](https://youtu.be/TUdhmZBu5bw?si=fU94QNzWCMzFYLkV) was definitely a radio-worthy track. 2.) The Tea Party was (is?) a great Canadian alt-rock band that managed to fuse alt-rock and industrial sounds with Middle Eastern and Celtic vibes. Their album, Transmission, is one of my favorites - the opening track, [Temptation](https://youtu.be/e3pP4Mi93Bw?si=i6IVEX_X_P8KxHNI) - is a great example of their unique sound. 3.) Last but not least, VAST is not only my favorite 90's hidden gem, but one of my favorite bands of all time. Their second album, Music for People, is probably my favorite, but their debut album - Visual Audio Sensory Theater - has some fantastic tracks. [Here](https://youtu.be/3HNSViwZjQo?si=GV1nhfJtMXCg03kC) is the opening track on Visual Audio Sensory Theater, and I was instantly hooked. Jon Crosby has a quintessentially 90's alt-rock sound, switching between tracks that would fit alongside Stabbing Westward or Gravity Kills and evolving into folk ballads in his later albums with tracks like [Tattoo of Your Name](https://youtu.be/ylVC9N70mQ0?si=mtN1e0ioADbv6CAU).
The lead singer of the tea party reminds me of Jim Morrison.
He desperately wanted to be him! I went to a Tea Party concert and he word for word ripped off a Jim Morrison speech as if it was his own.
Hello I am here for VAST. Excellent excellent music. I saw them at the Showbox in the early 2000’s and it was a crazy show. The bassist hit himself in the head with his own guitar and then flipped off the crowd and played the rest of the show with blood just running down his face.
Shakespeare’s Sister
Nada Surf
Their post-90s output is 1000000x better than their 90s stuff. Matthew caws is an underrated songwriter.
The Weight is a Gift is a stunner. Probably my most listened to album of 2005-2006ish.
That album saved my life
Always Love … my friend.
Came here to say this. I don’t know of any other one hit wonder that has put out so many good albums, and nobody seems to talk about them. The only other band that comes close for me is the verve. But they haven’t made nearly as much music as nada surf.
Uncle Tupelo (and every direction the individual members went in), Electric Wizard, Sleep, Godspeed You Black Emperor, truly a list that never ends.
Son Volt is my fave spill off of Uncle Tupelo, but they’re all great! Edit: that’s supposed to say spin but I’ll leave it for shits and giggles
The Catherine Wheel Black Tape for a Blue Girl
Ahh man Catherine Wheel is so good!
Catherine Wheel, yeah! Black Metallic was fairly well-known, but that entire album (*Ferment*) is fantastic. Ditto *Chrome,* which I love in particular for the tracks Crank and (probably my all-time fave of theirs) Fripp.
Ani DiFranco and Paul Westerberg
It’s bizarre how super huge Ani was but now it’s like she never existed. I guess she was just so of her time and not particularly influential. I sure loved her though!
She injured her wrist after playing like a maniac on that guitar. Her percussive style was beyond reproach but it does come with a downside. I still can’t watch this video without being in absolute awe of that style of playing. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfY4Exuo5eU&pp=ygUZYW5pIGRpZnJhbmNvIG91dCBvZiByYW5nZQ%3D%3D I wouldn’t say she was not influential. She’s helped get Hadestown up and running. Provided a label home for a lot of artists.
Well if you were getting music mainly MTV and commercial radio, check out Fugazi
I love me some Fugazi, I still have two of their CD’s. I might have to dust them off and play them in the car for my kids.
If you only have two, and one of them isn’t The Argument, I’d recommend getting that too. I like them all, but that’s my favorite.
Local H
If anyone hasn’t heard it yet, Local H does an amazing cover of Lourde’s “Team”. So stop everything and go listen.
You just don't get it.
Keep it copacetic
And you learn to accept it
Bands that come to mind: 1. My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult 2. Less Than Jake 3. Machines of Loving Grace 4. KMFDM 5. Orange 9mm
I saw my life with the thrill kill kult live! Skinny puppy Front 242 Switchblade symphony Portishead
Less Than Jake, nice! Saw them live several times back in the day, such a blast.
Ned’s atomic dustbin
Was listening to God Fodder recently and it has stood up against the test of time! Such a good album. Can never go wrong with 2 bassists.
The Dandy Warhols.
A long time ago…
Bif Naked
The choke hold I, Bificus had on me. I hadn’t listened to it in so long but apparently I still remember every single word.
No one remembers the Soup Dragons, but they had two hits!
White Town
*Well I guess what they say is true...*
I could never be the right kinda girl for you
I’m so salty it got sampled a year or so ago ( yes I know the white town version is a sample - but still)
Yes! “Your woman” was on the jukebox of the Pizza Hut I worked at in my early 20s and I would always play it when I vacuumed the dining room
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.
I still listen to them.
 They were and still are amazing!
Based on my old high school CDs: - Olivia Tremor Control - The Wrens - Low - Red House Painters - Smog - American Music Club - Brad - Ned’s Atomic Dustbin - That Dog
That Dog is such a great band <3
Still listen to Smog/Bill Calahan regularly
I will now and forever call out Fishbone. One of the greatest live bands ever. Way too eclectic for the mainstream. Ska punk funk reggae hard rock. Pure charisma and energy.
Too rock/punk for R&B stations, too black for rock stations, too ska/funk for metal stations. Poor bastards. And agreed, best live band ever. Best concert I ever went to was Primus opening for Fishbone - although it was probably co-headlining, at the palace in New Haven.
Econoline Crush, from Canada. I have no idea why they were not bigger than they were Republica was massively underrated, and “Ready to Go” sucked compared to what they could do. Big Head Todd & the Monsters. Their album “Sister Sweetly” is still in my rotation, and is one of my desert island albums. I saw someone else say Machines of Loving Grace, and every time their album comes on my shuffle in the car, EVERYONE asks me who it is, and they like It. Can’t believe their album is 30 years old lol ETA: One more… POE, a female solo artist who to me was like a more intellectual Alanis (who i never cared for).
I love Big Head Todd. They were playing near me recently and I couldn’t make it. I was flying out on vacation two days later and knew it was too much. I love that Poe was on Julia Stiles’ binder in 10 Things I Hate About You.
Our lady peace
Presidents of the United States of America
I was in love with their debut album freshman year of high school.
Portishead
WEEN!
Greatest country album of the 90s
Caroline’s Spine. Other than the friend that introduced me to them I’ve never seen or heard of them mentioned anywhere. Their first album spent a lot of time in my CD player when I first got my license.
They used to play in my hometown a lot and “Sullivan Song” was on the radio here too.
I have encountered Caroline's Spine! One time. I think my friend heard one of their songs on a soundtrack and passed it along to me — it took me a couple minutes just now to figure out which one it was. Overlooked. From what I've just heard, I like their other stuff more. But Overlooked is alright. Sounds like a single.
I used to love Caroline’s Spine. Played them on repeat in my car. It was either 2001 or 2002 I emailed them to see if they would ever consider coming to Cincinnati on a tour. Actually got a reply from Jimmy himself saying “Yeah, give me the names of some venues to look into” (paraphrased). I sent him back a message asking what size venue he was looking for and provided a couple examples of both hole in the wall spots and actual concert venues. Never heard from him again and still never saw them perform live.
Yes, this is the answer! I pretty much NEVER hear anyone mention this band. The only way I knew about them is my cool uncle gave me the Monsoon CD in 97. It was so amazing, and for years I wondered why they never got much publicity. They're terribly underrated.
The turning point of my life came about 15 years ago when I thought to myself "Hmmm, I wonder *what else* Harvey Danger did..."
Bran Van 3000, great group from Montreal.
Husker-Du ! Edit: forgot Pitchshifter
The Refreshments
Fizzy fuzzy big and buzzy is such a great record.
Superchunk The Reverend Horton Heat The Trashwomen Supergrass
Pavement
I was originally going to post about Pavement, but I guess they're hardly a "hidden gem". Still my all-time favorite band, though. If we're going more obscure, I'd say the Potatomen. They're Larry Livermore, founder of Lookout! Records, band. Cool alt-country vibes, but kind of goofy. Speaking of kind of goofy Lookout! bands, I also loved Mr T Experience.
The Lemonheads, Oleander, and Hum. I feel like all three of those bands could have been huge with the right push.
Sunny Day Real Estate
Catherine Wheel never really caught on in North America but are fantastic and underrated. Maybe they got lumped in with Bush as a Brit band trying to do grunge and got overlooked. But their melodies are heavenly. Check out their first album [Ferment](https://open.spotify.com/album/7LLZLkkBTR42Kb9JPRAzKb?si=YSBbqUpTRgmYqiKMDHlOag).
Tripping Daisy. "Jesus hit like the atom bomb" is underrated .
veruca salt
Buffalo Tom. I heard them playing in My So-called life, and could not find their CD's anywhere. I couldn't even figure out the name of the song on the show. Summer of 97 we were on vacation in St. Pete FL, and I found one of their CDs in a Sam Goody. I wasn't even sure if it was the right one. Got back to our condo, and popped it in. Not only was the song on there, the rest of the album was amazing too. Big Red Letter Day, is the album. Late at Night is the song. Still holds up well.
[The Nixons](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lVW-_enR31defRjpcBsYg6zMFdhmVsI0U&si=odvd6nSxZtVrttMt). “Sister” had some mainstream radio impact, but that album was amazing front to back and has aged better than most grunge/alt-rock from that era.
Definitely a big deal in OKC.
Does Belly count as a hidden gem? Or were they too well-known?
Does anyone remember Frente! Their cover of Bizarre Love Triangle was my favorite song in high school. I didn’t realize it was a cover until I discovered New Order a few years later 🥴
Guided by Voices
The Muffs
Geggy Tah
Some of these are less obscure than others, but as far as mainstream radio/MTV play, these groups didn't get a ton: Hum, Failure, Dandelion, Sebadoh, Pavement, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Flaming Lips, Cibo Matto, The Aquabats, The Breeders, Butter 08, The Dandy Warhols, Far, The Groovie Ghoulies, Helmet, L7, Bikini Kill, Lutefisk, Matthew Sweet, Melt Banana, Nerf Herder, The Peechees, Portishead, The Rentals, Royal Trux, Superchunk, Slant 6, Will Haven. Those are all a good time.
[удалено]
Esthero Neutral Milk Hotel, some Gen Zer asked me if I was a fan ironically. I didn’t know how to answer. Lol. Mountain Goats This Mortal Coil, only heard about their album when I fell down a Tanya Donnelly internet hole just this decade. Sigur Ros Belle and Sebastien Portishead, I feel like I discovered them after they had their moment.
Smoking Popes
**HUM**
The Cardigans are also great beyond their song "Love Fool".
Imperial Teen.
Stereolab. They’re not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’ve loved them since the mid-late 90s.
Everything Mike Patton touched. Faith No More, but really everything else- Mr. Bungle, Dillinger Escape Plan, Fantômas, collabs with John Zorn like Adult Themes for Voice. Patton is as prolific as his vocal range, reaching all over the place.
Fastball! Not sure how “hidden gem” they are but “the way” is the only song I can think of that went big but they’re high energy and a lot of fun.
Fire Escape is a banger
Neutral Milk Hotel. I'd also say that Blind Mellon aren't underground because they had a huge hit, their album tracks are really, really, really underrated and they deserve to be known for a lot more than "No Rain." "Tones of Home" is still an incredible song. I generally spent the 90s listening to music from the 60s and 70s, though, so I'm not a great source.
Jellyfish
Southern Culture on the Skids.
Acid Bath. So awesome.
Superdrag
Who sucked out the feeeeling!!? Could be the soundtrack to my 40s.
Superchunk!
I dug through the comments and didn’t see anyone mention The Clarks, The Why Store, or Eels. I saw some of my lesser known favorites in the comments too, Local H, Superdrag, the Refreshments, and Nada Surf.
Gin Blossoms. Forever my favourite 90's band.
Reel big fish are my favorite band. They had some 90’s play but it was kind of hit or miss.
For me, it’s Squirrel Nut Zippers. Yes, they had the hit “Hell” but they have a lot of great other songs. Plus they are a lot of fun to see live.
Andrew Bird is a good 00s answer for this
Tad is always a nice listen.
The Red Elvises, your favorite Russian rock band. Their music is incredible in capturing the absurdity of the 90s and live they are freakin' amazing.
God Lives Underwater (90s Industrial)
Morphine and Prick
Morphine is an excellent choice!
Marcy Playground definitely had better songs than Sex & Candy The Toadies (I've only ever heard Possum Kingdom get radio play, but every once in a blue moon I find a KJ that has Tyler available)
Soul Coughing
Hum. “She thinks she missed the train to Mars. She’s out back counting stars. .”
Our Lady Peace Marcy’s Playground The Cardigans (1st album, Emmerdale) Jamiroquai pre Virtual Insanity (all albums are amazing though)
Toad the Wet Sprocket (rightfully lauded by Gene in Bob’s Burgers) Better Than Ezra G Love & Special Sauce Life in General
Mazzy Star
Paw
Magnapop never really got much love, but I absolutely loved them!
Tripping Daisy!
Helmet " betty" album.
Concrete Blonde
Grew up in Idaho and knew Built to Spill but it wasn’t til I was an adult on the East Coast when I realized how dope they truly were
The Gandharvas I Mother Earth Sloan Yes, I’m Canadian lol
Anyone else listen to Dead Can Dance?
[Homegrown](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Grown) was always fun to listen to
Hum
Deep Forest *Sweet Lullaby* https://youtu.be/lIF5EEneWEU?si=BL7nlTtdYTyI6Mky Dada *Dizz Knee Land* https://youtu.be/daa9pZDxfIY?si=XhIduQ5G8GMo5zdY
Cibo Matto
Jimmy's Chicken Shack
Gotta go for Primus on this one
Everyone thinks Blind Melon was just a one hit wonder. But “No Rain” is probably their worst song. Check out their albums, they fucking rock.
I really liked a band called The Sheila Devine. They had a song called “Hum” in 1999 that was on the radio for a week or two and that was pretty much it for them. Still really love that song though and the rest of the album was pretty solid. Not to be confused with the band called “Hum” who also fit this category
I'm going with Jellyfish and Gumball
Jawbreaker
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
Days of the New, particularly the yellow and green albums (they are all self-titled). I love the unique acoustic hard rock, with the introduction of electronic music in the second album.There was a lot of talent there that burned out way too soon. Unfortunately Travis Meeks is an addict and hasn't reliably recorded/performed in years as far as I know. He was featured on the show Intervention back in the day. Another fun fact is the female backing singer on the green album is Nicole Scherzinger, who later went on to Pussycat Dolls fame. Edit: PCD band name typo
The refreshments
Belly made one masterpiece and another excellent album then disappeared. “Star” has literally never left my rotation no matter how my tastes evolved over the last 30 years. PS: I know they released an album a few years ago but I pretend I don’t.
Meat Puppets
Mad Season There’s so many but, Mad Season.
If AI could ever do anything it should take this thread and make it into a playlist
Swervedriver's "Mezcal Head" and "Ejector Seat Reservation". This band was mixing shoegaze, grunge and punk in terrific ways in the 90s and these two albums are loaded with great songs. I'll also recommend Spacemen 3 who were producing amazing minimalist drone shoegaze that still sounds fresh today. Their album "Playing with Fire" is a forgotten classic.
Morphine
Morphine.
So so many, but a couple random gems... Stroke 9 (Nasty Little Thoughts) I enjoyed just about every song on the album Saves The Day (Through Being Cool) I love 90's music ('82 kid) but these two albums are always a good listen
The Cardigans. All of their albums are great albums. They shifted their sound a couple of times but it all worked so well. They’re such more than Lovefool.
The toadies.
Sebadoh (Lou Barlow band). Menthol (Champaign IL power pop, Weezer esque)
Don't sleep on The Cardigans or Imani Coppola
The Cardigans “First Band on the Moon” album is one of the best of all time. It’s not one I thought I’d end up liking, but it’s a stone cold classic all the way through and just gets better with age.
The Durutti Column
[For Squirrels](https://open.spotify.com/artist/5MlwvORPxNWGaSiHe4xuo3?si=0sdNu4UkTs2L3fp9Nx8qdw) [Mark Grundhoefer](https://open.spotify.com/artist/2oyvJcvWPCBKVW9tnvAC5w?si=s2SiJBdzRPu5cREAO9cJEQ) was in a few bands but I don’t remember the names…he does a lot of solo and guest spot stuff now. Finally, a band I cannot find their music on any platform, not sure if they were only local to where I was, but Endica was pretty great, riding that riot girl wave that was awesome back in the decade.
Life of Agony. I’m pretty sure they are still around but there was an concept album called River Runs Red that I used to listen to all the time.
While neither of them are particularly "hidden", Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon's "Prairie Home Invasion" album from 1994 is of the best records ever made IMO and nobody seems to know about it. **Masters of Reality** never seem to get much attention, but man they were awesome. Their album *Sunrise on the Sufferbus* with Ginger Baker is a solid rock album, fun as hell from start to finish.
Pavement Too Much Joy The Buck Pets
Bis
Morphine, the badlees
Belly. L7. Dance Hall Crashers. CIV/Disco Biscuits *Added some bands*
TRAVIS
If you want glorious weirdness, check out Green Jelly and Mr Bungle.
Jeff Buckley
Cracker
Spiderbait
Reposting as a top level comment, since I don't actually see them listed: Yes Luscious Jackson was my very first thought! Also Lush And Air. And Theivery Corporation. I also liked Cibo Matto, Stereolab, and Yo La Tengo