The best rock band and album you've probably never heard of

[Fozzledick]

"Let It Bee" by The Voice of the Beehive.

Just a personal favorite by a band that most people have never heard of, one I've never grown tired of after years of repeat listening.

One critic described their sound as "The Go-Go's met the B-52's, only ten times better".

Anybody else ever heard them?

Anybody else have any personal unknown favorites that your friends are tired of hearing you rant about?

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

1. Anything by the geraldine fibbers

carla's voice is amazing

www.carlabozulich.com

[StopTheMorans]

2. mappari

high enough to notice

(local boston band, amazing)

[Peachhead22]

3. Frogwings

"Croakin' at Toads"

[Robb]

4. actionslacks

"too bright, just right, good night" or something like that.

http://www.slacksaction.com

[Bossy Monkey]

5. Pretty much the entire discographies of Too Much Joy, Steve Wynn,

and John Wesley Harding kick off the list of more or less unknown favorites that my friends are tired of hearing me rant about.

[bif]

6. Guster

"Lost and gone forever"

[StopTheMorans]

8. just played a free show here in Boston

a few weeks ago...

[KG]

7. Jimmy Lafave

www.jimmylafave.com

coming to St Pete sept 13! woohoo!

[NashVegas]

9. "I Won't Say Nothing"

I speak to no one ..

loved that tune.

[jpak]

10. Saw them (VOTBH) in Atlanta many moons ago

with That Petrol Emotion....

[Fozzledick]

13. They're actually reforming for a reunion tour

Unfortunately it looks like it's just for six shows, and they're ALL in England!:-(

www.voiceofthebeehive.com

[short bus president]

11. Angry Johnny and the Killbillies - "What's So Funny?"

from the first track, a genuine winner.

[SnowGoose]

12. Camel... the Snow Goose

Ok, I'm outing myself.

My userneame derives from my admiration for the 30-year of this fantastic progressive band. I cringe at the comparison, but many folks find that Camel remind them of Pink Floyd (for me, it's vice versa).

There's a website www.camelproductions.com with a jukebox.

Listen to the song "Ice".

Oh yea, it helps if you're *really* mellow at the time (whatever that means to you).

[Squeech]

17. They remind me more of Caravan

Especially during the year or so that Richard Sinclair played bass and sang with them.

The Snow Goose itself stands out, being instrumental (of course). I guess I might compare it to Jade Warrior, although it's compositionally richer, and obviously more of a band.

Do you still follow their stuff? I lost interest when it became obvious that Andy Latimer was calling the shots-- I didn't think he was as strong a composer as Bardens or Sinclair. And I haven't heard any of the work they've done since Nude, let alone what Latimer's been up to lately. Nowadays I only have the first five records in my collection.

Then there was that project, I think it was four or five years ago, when members of the current Caravan hooked up with Bardens and all played together; I think they called it "Mirage."

[MissouriTeacher]

19. If you like Camel...

you might also like National Health or Egg. :)

[SnowGoose]

20. newest record

The newest album (a nod and a wink) might work for you... it's still heavily influenced by Andy Latimer, but Camel's a "band" again (some people understandably suggest that in the 80's and 90's Camel was really more "the Andy Latimer Project" rather than a band as such. The new record is very "proggy" and Guy (the new keyboardist) is maybe the best they've had since Peter. If you do peer-to-peer stuff, look for the song "Fox Hill" which is a lot of fun, I think. I just went to see a show in the "farewell tour" in Manhattan a couple of weeks ago. Blew me away.

You were probably aware that Pete Bardens passed away recently (brain cancer).

Yea, I liked the Mirage albums, and even Richard Sinclair's solo work, but Camel always spoke to me more directly.

You might not have heard that the 3 surviving original members (Andy L., Andy W., and Doug F., have recorded a new album together (but it's not released yet).

All the best,
John

[opiate69]

14. Eleven

Great band... their most recent album is AvantGardeDog. Check 'em out at www.elevenworld.com

[mitchum]

15. anything by Gun Club

[ohmyman1]

16. girl band?

mary ann, ginger and mrs howell? i've seen that episode

[MiltonLeBerle]

18. Gary Myrick & the Figures

It's a cut-out bin favorite of mine that I picked up in about 1981.

[Rick Myers]

21. We toured with them in the South about 14 years ago!!!!!

I even mixed them for a couple shows!!!

[GOPisEvil]

22. The Long Winters

:thumbsup:


http://www.longwinters.com/

[cmf]

23. I LOVE The Long Winters.

"Stupid" has been playing on infinite repeat in my head all morning (last thing I heard before leaving my car). "When I Pretend to Fall" is definitely in my top 10 albums of the year.

[GOPisEvil]

24. YES!!!!!! Another Long Winters fan!!!!

:bounce:

I saw them at the South by Southwest Music Festival in March, and have been hooked ever since. I want them to come back to Austin! "When I Pretend To Fall" is a fantastic album. I work out to it at the gym sometimes.

[cmf]

25. So they're good live???

They're going to be at Bumbershoot, but are playing at the same time as The New Pornographers. :( I'm so torn - part of me wants to say that since they're a local band, I'll have plenty of chances to see them play in Seattle. Decisions, decisions

[GOPisEvil]

26. I just saw Neko Case last week...

...I'd go with the Pornographers!

http://www.highroadtouring.com/hrtbin/artistpage?artist_name=thelongwinters&page=tour&date=today

You've got plenty of chances to see them live. See them with Centromatic!!! They're a band from Denton, although they've moved here to Austin. When they're on, they are AWESOME!!

[cmf]

28. That's what I thought!

Looks like I'll see them at the Tractor. Thanks!!

[GOPisEvil]

29. I just saw Centromatic with Fluffers Union a couple weeks ago.

A great show. Pray that Centromatic is not in one of their "whiny" periods. If not, they can rock. Will Johnson is their lead guy, and he's a great song-writer!

I sent this schedule to my fellow LW convert. He is NOT HAPPY to be living in Texas. LW and Centromatic is too good to pass up for us. Although...maybe that means they'll do shows together here! :think:

[XNASA]

27. Martin Newell - "The Off-White Album"

Not really a band, but Martin has been in various bands.

He's actually the most published living poet in the UK. And he's good pals with Andy Partridge and Captain Sensible. So he must be alright.

[mvd]

30. A lot

This is a list I made, but I didn't make sure it's complete:

Kay Hanley
Abra Moore
Cindy Alexander
Nina Gordon
The Jayhawks
New Pornographers
Plumb
Bleu
Gavin DeGraw
Kelly Willis
Linda Thompson
Angela Ammons
Creeper Lagoon
Stella Soleil
Suzanne Vega
Cat Power
Rufus Wainwright
Guster
Duncan Sheik
Bree Sharp
Leona Naess
The Painkillers
Jo Davidson
Laura Dawn
Michal
Lennon Murphy
Kasey Chambers
Neil Finn
Anna Waronker
Loreena McKennitt
Ron Sexsmith
Miranda Lee Richards
Sleater-Kinney
Alex Bach
Rachel Farris
Lucy Woodward
Shana Morrison
Heather Nova
Tracy Bonham
Kina
Laura Pausini
Evan And Jaron
Dar Williams

And there's an album called The Garden by Merril Bainbridge that's one of my favorites.

[mvd]

31. Note that..

these are not all bands and not all purely rock, but are favorite lesser known artists. I didn't think you'd mind me listing them.

[mac56]

32. Spongetones! Spongetones! Spongetones!....

(turns blue in the face, has to sit down)

"Beat & Torn"
"Oh Yeah!"
"Textural Drone Thing"
"Whereverland"
"Odd Fellows"

(catches breath, stands up, starts again...)

Spongetones! Spongetones! Spongetones!....

[left_of_left]

33. Gun Club fan here too

Jeffery Lee Pierce was incredo

how about:

The Beasts of Bourbon
Slint
Archers of Loaf
Thinking Fellers Union Local 282
The Embarrassment (Wichita, KS & all time fave)
Big Dipper
The Coctails