Dr. DTVT's 50 Underappriciated bands v. Better than the Loch Ness Monster

[kirksnosehair]

Oh, I really, really dig Pagan's Mind and own all of their CDs.  I still like Celestial Entrance the most, but all of their albums are either good or great.  Yeah, the vocalist is a little over the top sometimes, but he's got some killer pipes and amazing range and character to his voice.

[El Barto]

I really dug the World tune.  What I heard of Ice Age sounded good, as well.  I should pay more attention to this thread, I suppose.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Pagan's Mind is great. I love that Learning to Live song of theirs.

[obscure]

 

[kirksnosehair]

Pagan's Mind is great. I love that Learning to Live song of theirs.

Well played 

[wolfking]

Mason, can you list the bands so far so we can see our ratios of known to not known.

[King Postwhore]

31.  Pagan's Mind - Celestial Entrance & Heavenly Ecstacy

Hey!  2 that I have!!

[TAC]

BTW, Eternity X, mentioned a few pages ago, are excellent. Reminded me of the spirit of classic Queensryche.

[senecadawg2]

BTW, Eternity X, mentioned a few pages ago, are excellent. Reminded me of the spirit of classic Queensryche.

+1

One of my favorite bands on the list thus far.

[Dr. DTVT]

30.  Cloudscape - Cloudscape, Crimson Skies, Global Drama



Genre: Progressive metal
For fans of: Dream Theater, Evergrey
What makes them special:  Powerful vocalist, doesn't have much wankery or ballads if those aren't your interests.

Again, this band was introduced to my by YBS in my first roulette (no surprise he won it).  Cloudscape is a Swedish band that has carved out their own niche in progressive metal.  They don't solo for extended periods of time, so if you like prog metal but get sick of wankery this is a good band to look at.  After their self-titled debut album, they have  tended to write songs of a more serious nature, which is why I included the Evergrey reference, but particularly on Global Drama tacked world issues past and present.  Mike Andersson the vocalist is really the show piece of this band.  Mike's powerful vocals are the first thing I noticed in this band, in the same vein as Russell Allen of Symphony X.  While the production of the first album leaves a little to be desired, the band sounds great, and seemed to be really hitting their groove.  The next album though will feature a new drummer, bass player, and keyboard player, so their sound may evolve next album.  Either way, a great band that could use an influx of new fans.

Tracks to try:  As the Light Leads the Way, Every Day is Up to You, Under Fire, Shapeshifter, Take the Blame, Hope, Paid In Blood, The Silence Within, Alagoas

[Dr. DTVT]

Recap:

50. Pinnacle
49. Zero Hour
48. Turisas
47. Eumeria
46. It Bites
45. Kaddisfly
44. Eternity X
43. Vonassi
42. Worlds
41. The Tangent
40. Circle II Circle
39. Intronaut
38. Grayceon
37. Haggard
36. Ice Age
35. Mystery
34. Wuthering Heights
33. The ANABASIS
32. Scar Symmetry
31. Pagan's Mind
30. Cloudscape

[FlyingBIZKIT]

So far, I have heard of 2 

[Elite]

I've heard of 5 so far and heard 3 before they were mentioned in this thread.

Cloudscape sounds intrigue, I'll check them out later.

[wolfking]

I always was familiar with the name Cloudscape due to Mike Andersson's singing on the Planet Alliance project (which is killer BTW)  I loved his voice on that album so when I was involved with DTVT's survivor and Spider I think, won the round with 'Everyday is Up To You'  I thought it was the perfect place to start getting into this band.

That song was instant for me and since I have acquired all three albums.  I like the debut the most, but Global Drama isn't far behind.  They should be more popular than what they are, great band.

Right now I'm 6/21. 

Also, listening to Rebel Mind which I got in the mail yesterday, killer album.

[jingle.boy]

I'm 3 for 20 on owning, but 5 for, on having heard of some of the music. Cloudscape is right up to the top of my radar due to your write up.

[wolfking]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhsWXgolKoc

You can thank me after you watch. 

[TAC]

I think I checked into Cloudscape a few years ago, or was it Soundscape? I'm not sure, maybe both. I'll have to take a second look at them.

[jingle.boy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhsWXgolKoc

You can thank me after you watch. 

Sweet!  Yeah, I'd say they are at the top of the list of things I need to get.  I like the singer's look! 

Mason... you can blame Kade for not being able to use Cloudscape in my Roulette (or at least Under Fire).

[yorost]

Cloudscape is nice.  Not that unique, but they create an appealing sound and tend to be very polished.  I only have Crimson Skies, but it's definitely an enjoyable listen.

I think I checked into Cloudscape a few years ago, or was it Soundscape? I'm not sure, maybe both. I'll have to take a second look at them.

There's also Dreamscape.

[Dr. DTVT]

Mason... you can blame Kade for not being able to use Cloudscape in my Roulette (or at least Under Fire).

Like I don't have heaps of other stuff to lob at you 

Also FTFY:

I'm 3 for 21 on owning, but 5 for, on having heard of some of the music.

[yorost]

I'm 15/21, you're disappointing me.   I did order Intronaut, though, your list will be worth it if they turn out well.

[jingle.boy]

Mason... you can blame Kade for not being able to use Cloudscape in my Roulette (or at least Under Fire).

Like I don't have heaps of other stuff to lob at you 

Tru Dat

Also FTFY:

I'm 3 for 21 on owning, but 5 for, on having heard of some of the music.

Counting ... I suck at it.

I'm 15/21, you're disappointing me.   I did order Intronaut, though, your list will be worth it if they turn out well.

I may start slow, but Imma gonna finish strong.

[Dr. DTVT]

I also wanted to welcome El Barto to the thread.  I see him post so much more in GD and P/R that I'm actually really interested in what he thinks about anything he knows or tries.

Goes for anyone...let me know you're here.

[obscure]

wow... loving Cloudscape 

[kirksnosehair]

Great choice with Cloudscape.  "Global Drama" still gets pretty regular spins from me.

[yorost]

I'm 15/21, you're disappointing me.   I did order Intronaut, though, your list will be worth it if they turn out well.

I may start slow, but Imma gonna finish strong.

I hope you pass me.   ...I wanted some music from this thread!

I've never thought of myself as someone with a large library, so I'm suspecting DTVT and I have drawn from some similar sources off of this site over the years.  I've heard of 17 of these so far, those 15 are the ones I have formed an opinion on, either own an album or previously decided against getting an album.

[wolfking]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhsWXgolKoc

You can thank me after you watch. 

Sweet!  Yeah, I'd say they are at the top of the list of things I need to get.  I like the singer's look! 

Mason... you can blame Kade for not being able to use Cloudscape in my Roulette (or at least Under Fire).

Damn, you're right, this thread could seriously be damaging the roulette for me.  Most of my obscure bands are right here in this thread, and I think I'm gonna see more.

[jingle.boy]

Well, I'm trying to go cold turkey on new discoveries until after my roulette - for this exact reason.  And to spend time with all of my other recent new discoveries.

[wolfking]

That's a really good idea. 

[yorost]

Well, I'm trying to go cold turkey on new discoveries until after my roulette - for this exact reason.  And to spend time with all of my other recent new discoveries.

...but if you go cold turkey your roulette could turn into a lot of people giving you bands you were already going to try.  That doesn't seem beneficial to you.  If you try the stuff you're seeing now wouldn't you just be making your roulette all the more useful to you?

[senecadawg2]

I'm enjoying Cloudscape right now. Powerful vocalist 

[jingle.boy]

Well, I'm trying to go cold turkey on new discoveries until after my roulette - for this exact reason.  And to spend time with all of my other recent new discoveries.

...but if you go cold turkey your roulette could turn into a lot of people giving you bands you were already going to try.  That doesn't seem beneficial to you.  If you try the stuff you're seeing now wouldn't you just be making your roulette all the more useful to you?

Not for the purposes of what I want to to get out of my Roulette.

[obscure]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhsWXgolKoc

You can thank me after you watch. 

Sweet!  Yeah, I'd say they are at the top of the list of things I need to get.  I like the singer's look! 

Mason... you can blame Kade for not being able to use Cloudscape in my Roulette (or at least Under Fire).

Damn, you're right, this thread could seriously be damaging the roulette for me.  Most of my obscure bands are right here in this thread, and I think I'm gonna see more.

exactly my thoughts!!!


but I still do have gems for some! 

[Heretic]

Will definitely check out Cloudscape now, I've heard a lot of good things about them.

[Dr. DTVT]

29.  Ben Folds Five / Ben Folds - Whatever and Ever Amen, The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner / Rockin' In the Suburbs



Genre: Piano driven rock
For fans of: People who want a change of pace that they can enjoy, people looking for something they can enjoy with someone who doesn't like prog/prog metal/metal/extreme metal.
What makes them special:  Piano driven, lots of songs don't have guitar (just piano, drums, and bass).  Mix of witty and clever songs with thoughtful, sobering songs.

This is probably the type of band that most of you would assume I'd use for April Fools day.  I wouldn't be surprised if people rolled their eyes and ignored this entry.  Ben Folds Five and Ben Folds solo albums are one of the few bands that survived my transition into the world of prog back in 1998.  In retrospect, it has a lot of the things I still like: the piano parts can be fairly complex and interesting, some songs have really witty or funny messages and others are very heartfelt and sobering, and all of songs just have their soul poured into them.

Whatever and Ever Amen is the album you probably heard a song from if you've ever heard a BF5 song, the album is chalk full of them.  Songs like "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces", "Song for the Dumped", "Kate", "The Battle of Who Could Care Less", and the bonus track "Theme from Dr. Pyser"(make SURE you get them, I have two copies of this album just for the bonus tracks); make this, in general, a fun up-tempo album.  The fun and games are evened out by the beautiful and somber track "Brick" that just oozes with inner pain, as well as "Smoke", and "Missing the War".  Hell, there are even songs like "Fair" that have both fun and mellow.

The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner lacks most the fun songs of WaEA, but makes up for it by being one of the most heartfelt and personal albums I've ever heard.  It's a very stark contrast to their first album and showed that the band were going to write on their own terms because other than "Army", none of the songs sound like they would work as singles, but this album wouldn't be as memorable if they tried to craft singles from these songs, but the raw emotional power from the opening four tracks pushes this album to the top.  They band broke up after this album, but rumor has it that they reunited and are working on a new album.

Ben Folds then went on to forge a solo career before going to work on NBC's The Sing Off.  While his solo albums don't sound much different (maybe not as quite as emotional as Reinhold), there isn't really a drop in quality, and I think you get the point...if you're even still reading.  Hate all you want, you're only missing out on some great music.

Tracks to try:  Brick, Song for the Dumped, Battle of Who Could Care Less, Narcolepsy, Don't Change Your Plans, Mess, Rockin' The Suburbs (nugget in the video), The Luckiest - BONUS - Bitches Ain't Shit