Include the year it was released.
Default by Atoms for Peace. I was recently reminded of how good that song is, hadn’t listened for years 😃 (am a big Radiohead fan, but tend to forget side projects)
Please - Flashlight (2024) https://youtu.be/sSkcsuv_A8I
Cuntry Boner - Puscifer (2008?). This was a silly side project from the frontman of Tool (Maynard James Keenan). Maybe not a “gem” but it definitely is hidden and the song pops into my head roughly once per week.
Sang Real - Dredg (2005)
I believe Dredg are an alt rock band but they are hard to describe. Some tracks are more like math rock (not this one) and others are more like straight indie. This is probably their catchiest track.
Blinded - The Bots (2015)
John Butler, Ocean - 65m views isn’t all that hidden but I’m sure there are a lot of people who haven’t heard it
Mirel Wagner - Red (2011) https://youtu.be/WgKQueNc7SY
Trippin Like I Do - Blackfeet Braves (2011). They changed their name to Mystic Rabbit for releasing their first album but I don’t think they ever found mainstream success. This is a really good 60s revival band. I think their first LP as Mystic Braves suffered from being over-produced but their older stuff as Blackfeet Braves is all sensational.
Crazy Fuckin’ Robot Body by Snowblood [2020] https://g.co/kgs/T1jQWzG
Maybe ‘gem’ is a bit of an overstatement (depending on your level of musical snobbery 😋) but I stumbled across this song/artist through Spotify at one point and ended up really digging it/them. They have another song I’d give honorable mention to as well, ‘Freaky Freaky’ I think is the name.
These certainly aren’t what I’d call ‘masterpieces’ or anything, but they’re fun songs I enjoyed and you might too if you can listen without thinking about it all too hard
The Fear - Ben Howard [2011]
Wisely & Slow - The Staves [2012]
Bad Things - Milky Chance [2017]
Release Your Problems - Chet Faker [2014]
Nameless Path - Marcus Foster [2011]
Andy Stott - Violence (2014)
Whirlwind - The Gits (recorded in 1993 released in 2000)
The Gits are one of the best bands to come out of Seattle in the early 90s. I feel like they could have been up there with the greats if their lead singer Mia Zapata wasn’t murdered.
This song in particularl is a perfect example of how awesome they were. It has that early 90s Seattle grunge sound but with a more punk edge. They never officially recorded this song and this live recording wasn’t officially released until 2000.
BlackBraid - barefoot ghost dance on blood soaked soil 2022. Black metal
I can’t get behind Polyphia. I admire the crazy guitar skills, but while Tim is an amazing guitarist, they forget that music should be catchy.
Very true. I think Tim sometimes makes the most intricate riffs just for him. Not necessarily a bad thing, but mass appeal it may not make.
500 Seconds Before Sunset by David Maxim Micic - 2015