Welcome to 40 Bands That Should Have Been Bigger Part 2, where I’m looking back at bands that had awesome songs but couldn’t sustain success. Be sure to catch part 1 to see what artists we’ve already covered.

If you want to rediscover these bands, clicking on their name (highlighted in blue) will let you peruse their material in iTunes, and if you prefer CD, clicking on the selected album images will take you to Amazon.

 

24. Supagroup (years active: mid 90’s-present)

[amazon_image id=”B0000A0DUU” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Supagroup[/amazon_image]

This band brought back AC/DC style rock’n’roll long before The Darkness. They’re a great live band who looked like they would be the next big thing, but still remain under the radar.

 

23.Meat Beat Manifesto (years active: 1986-present)

[amazon_image id=”B000001Y28″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Subliminal Sandwich[/amazon_image][amazon_image id=”B00000DCZF” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Actual Sounds & Voices[/amazon_image]

The 80’s/90’s saw the rise of Hip-Hop, Industrial and Techno. The fact that MBM covered all of the above, yet never made a big impact, is criminal. Their mix of slamming beats with creepy disquiet is unique and powerful stuff.

*Standout tracks: “Paradise Now”, “Acid Again”, “She’s Unreal”.

 

22. Curve (years active; 1990-2005)

[amazon_image id=”B00000DR75″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Doppleganger[/amazon_image]

The Shoegaze scene was devoid of sex appeal until Curve arrived. They married dream-pop guitars and dance beats with Toni Halliday’s sultry vocals, with alluring results. But internal pressures derailed their career. They were also a huge influence on the band  Garbage.

 

21. Jesus Jones (years active: 1988-present)

[amazon_image id=”B000083GOB” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Never Enough: Best Jesus Jones[/amazon_image]

Best known for the meh “Right Here, Right Now“, they were a great electronic dance band that got sidelined by Grunge. Too bad because they are so much more than their anemic hit.

*Best tracks *”Never Enough”, “Bliss”, “Idiot’s Stare”.

 

20. Hooverphonic (years active: 1995-present)

[amazon_image id=”B000002BVY” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Hooverphonic: A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular[/amazon_image][amazon_image id=”B000009QOY” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Blue Wonder Power Milk[/amazon_image]

These Belgians make a gorgeous mix of Trip-Hop and synth-pop. Their single ‘2 Wicky’ was a minor hit, but they never garnered massive success. If you enjoy soothing electronica, then you should give this band a listen.

*Best tracks “2 Wicky”, “Plus Profond”, “Battersea”.

19. The Dambuilders (years active: 1989-1998)

[amazon_image id=”B000008ESW” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Encendedor[/amazon_image][amazon_image id=”B000002HP5″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Against the Stars[/amazon_image]

This bass and violin driven indie rock group were unique & catchy. “Shrine” was a minor alt-rock hit, but that was pretty much it. Too bad because they had more to offer. Violinist Joan Wasser currently tours as Joan As Policewoman.

*Best tracks “Shrine”, “Teenager Loser Anthem”, “Burn This Bridge”.

 

18. Cop Shoot Cop (years active: 1987-1996)

2 bassists, a drummer who used found objects, keyboards that belched dread, and a singer who sounded like he had served time in hell. That was Cop Shoot Cop, a band that put on killer live shows and made harrowing albums. Sadly they went unnoticed, but they had an unrelenting power akin to Killing Joke.

* Here are Amazon links to their best albums, which are out of print and hard to come by!: [amazon_link id=”B001TJ412O” target=”_blank” ]Cop Shoot Cop/Ask Questions Later[/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”B000JONRPW” target=”_blank” ]Release[/amazon_link]. 

 

17. Secret Machines (years active: 2000-Present)

These Texans by way of NYC were supposed to be the next big thing in the 00’s, but it never happened. But their mix of space rock and new wave had its charm. In the end I think the nasal vocals of Brandon Curtis nicked their appeal, but they make great tunes.

*Best tracks: “You Are Chains”, “Lightning Blue Eyes”.

 

16. Wool 

I mentioned these guys on my underrated riffs list, so you can check out more on them here. They were the greatest grunge band you never heard of. Friends of Dave Grohl, great hooks and a killer singer….and no one knew about ’em.  Proof that life just ain’t fair.

*Best tracks: “Slightly Under”, “Medication”, “Kill The Crow”, “Superman Is Dead”. 

 

15. Spacehog  (years active: 1994-present)

One of the first England Glam revivalist bands, they had a hit with “In The Meantime” off their début album ‘Resident Alien’. It was packed with equally great tunes, but they went unnoticed. Their follow-up, “The Chinese Album” was just as good and was also criminally ignored. Baffling given how catchy their material is. Royston Langdon remains one of the best vocalists in recent memory. They’ve recently reunited so here’s hoping….

*Best tracks: “Meantime”, “Space Is The Place”, “Sand In My Eyes”, “Mungo City”.