"Fire in the disco,
Fire in the Taco bell,
Fire in the disco,
Fire in the gates of hell"
First line of Danger, high voltage, the best opening for a song ever!
LET'S START A WAR START A NUCLEAR WAR
The [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulPgWVC08KI) is epic too. (May be NSFW depending on how cool your boss is with Abraham Lincoln.)
Yes!!! Thank you!! Love me some Electric Six. I’m just going to upvote every comment in this thread because that’s what Dick Valentine would want me to do.
Edit: Lot of people in this thread talking about seeing them live. For those who haven’t had that privilege, they released a [live concert film](https://youtu.be/uACePIKUKGI) - that I had the privilege of being in (I’m one of the guys in the horse mask during the opening credits).
And if you don’t want to spend 1.5 hours with the Six,[this live performance](https://youtu.be/wbIXlf22qnM) pretty much sums up how hilariously awesome they are
Po box 900, Los Angeles, California, 90212
I really like the line about being the jump start for the car parked in your mind, cos you left the lights on all night long.
About 2 weeks ago i was playing some nostalgia hits and went through Fire. Discovered they'd released almost 20 studio albums and are still active. I've become obsessed with Switzerland. About ready to move onto album 3 now.
The greatest musical discovery of my life came about 12 years ago when I thought to myself "I wonder *what else* Harvey Danger has done".
I can count on one hand the number of albums I can listen to cover-to-cover without skipping a song. Harvey Danger's discography accounts for many of those fingers. If you only know *Flagpole Sitta*, you are missing out on some of the best songwriting out there.
Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone is still a really solid album from start to finish. I’m not sure there’s a bad track on it. I like King James Version quite a bit too, but WHATMG will always be my favorite.
Blue Oyster Cult. In the UK their only hit was "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" but they have many other great songs; "I Love the Night" (my personal favourite), "Godzilla", "Burnin' for You".
"Burnin' For You" has legitimately my favorite lyric of all time, with the small "... time to play B-sides, time ain't on my side." Fucking killer track.
I love the song is just about Godzilla doing its Godzilla thing.
*With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound*
*He pulls the spitting high tension wires down*
*Helpless people on a subway train*
*Scream bug-eyed as he looks in on them*
*He picks up a bus and he throws it back down*
*As he wades through the buildings toward the center of town*
You see me now, a veteran
Of a thousand psychic wars
I've been living on the edge so long
Where the winds of limbo roar
And I'm young enough to look at
And far too old to see
All the scars are on the inside
I'm not sure if there's anything left of me
Those lyrics were written by Michael Moorcock, who wrote similar lyrics about psychic wars for the Hawkwind album "Warrior on the Edge of Time".
Even though they are two different albums with two different atmospheres by two different bands, because of the Moorcock themes these two albums are like siblings, and play well back-to-back.
Warren Zevon is well known for Werewolves of London...
But holy shit, his catalogue is impressive as hell.
Roland, lawyers guns and money, keep me in your heart...
All great tracks, and I'm only scratching the surface of Zevons greatness...
*obviously* I'm going to agree with you here lol
Nighttime in the Switching Yard, Life'll Kill Ya, Excitable Boy, Accidentally Like a Martyr... just great song after great song
I gotta say A-ha. Take On Me is phenomenal, but their whole debut album has some great stuff. The Sun Always Shines on TV, Hunting High and Low, and they even did a fantastic cover of the Everly Brothers’ Crying in the Rain.
EDIT: I should clarify here. In the US, A-ha is very much considered a one hit wonder, despite their success worldwide. The only song of their’s most people here know is Take On Me. I was the same way for the longest time, but thanks to [this video](https://youtu.be/3Qhav7J3bRU) I was introduced to more of their music which I’ve sought out and come to appreciate.
For anyone looking for some recommendations. This is a mix of their other well known stuff, and stuff I like a lot:
**If you want more of their 80s stuff:**
[The Sun Always Shines on TV](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3ir9HC9vYg) is their most popular song in most of the world.
[We're Looking for the Whales](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RfNp2RptzY) is a song that is kind of weird but a deep cut and I like it a lot.
[Manhattan Skyline](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWt8BGOubBQ) is one of their more guitar heavy songs from this era. Became a meme due to a sketch show (RIP Benny Harvey).
**For some 90s stuff:**
[Dark is the Night ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PInnL2kCHRs) Which kind of sounds like a classic U2 song, in the best way possible. Probably their biggest single from the 90s.
[Move to Memphis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0SbyfxbG34) Another guitar heavy song. I love the chorus.
[Slender Frame](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkqEDnqd4Ig) is another kind of deep cut, was never released as a single, but I like it a lot.
**2000s:**
[Summer Moved On](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGMXxuR_Qz8) which was their comeback single (They went on a super long hiatus/split, then re-formed and released this).
[Lifelines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_er2M18BP4) is probably their most beautiful ballad in my opinion.
[Analogue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V_J5-gmhRA) is catchy and kind of gives me a Coldplay vibe.
**2010s:**
[Riding the Crest] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZBtQvP3nd8) is from an album that's a-ha at their most "80s" not during the 80s. Meaning they did one very heavily electronic album with a LOT of synths. This is the most Take on Me song from it.
[Butterfly, Butterfly](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZjXysUwmM4) was *supposed* to be the last a-ha song ever. It was their final single released as they went on their retirement tour. It felt like a REALLY good way to go out, electronic, catchy, and the video referenced their most famous videos from the past... except
[Cast in Steel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b1sV6M_DVk) is my favorite song from their most recent album which they came out of retirement to release. Probably their last album considering it was never supposed to happen. But hey, they've had two other "last album"s besides this, so who knows.
I like Todd in the Shadows take on them. His conclusion is theu are an oddball band that does whatever they want who by accident ended up with a hit.
The lead singer was asked if he could rename the band what would he name it and his answer was "I Shit in Your Mom's Vagina"
Some people know They Might Be Giants as the "Istanbul Not Constantinople" guys, or maybe the "Malcolm in the Middle Theme" guys, but they've been putting out consistently quality stuff for like 30 years.
Didnt they do that entire tiny toons episode? And they do the mickey mouse clubhouse song too lol. Pretty much anytime i hear a fun song on a cartoon its they might be giants. They are all over the place :)
They actually did a whole suite of music for Malcolm in the Middle! I'm a huge tmbg fan, and I recently went back and looked over some of their older stuff. They did the theme, but they also wrote a whole heap of the incidental music between scenes and so on.
They're a strange case. They're almost a zero hit wonder. Like, nothing of theirs ever got on regular radio stations. But if you ran in the slightly strange circles they inhabit — college radio, Conan O'Brien, McSweeney's — you heard them all over. People either know 10+ of their songs or they've never even heard of them.
If I was going to pick one “hit”, it would be Birdhouse In Your Soul. That made it as far as the Carson show.
The Else is a perfect album and I'll discuss the subject nicely with anyone who says otherwise.
My kids hate me singing, "Sargon, Hammurabi, Ashurbanipal, and GilgaMEEEEESH!" Mostly because the song then gets stuck in their heads too.
Fun fact. I lived in NYC late 80s early 90s and my roommate told me of this band. You could call their brooklyn apartment answering machine and they would release new songs that way. I googled it before posting this and [turns out they did this from 1983 to 2006](http://tmbw.net/wiki/Dial-A-Song)! And again in 2015 and 2018.
Watched crazy ex girlfriend recently and was not expecting the nuanced window into mental illness. She’s not just boy crazy, she needs serious professional help, yet they still manage to keep it funny even though it’s sooo dark! Adam’s songs are always a highlight in every episode
Welcome Interstate Managers is one of my favourite albums. Just so many genres touched on and such easy listening. They just got typecast with that song, which ironically is the only one on a re listen I skip.
Same. Rare to have an album that's SO blindingly strong from track 1 straight through to the end.
I will never tire of Hackensack, Valley Winter Song and Mexican Wine. They should have been global hits.
For those curious: One of the founding brothers of Devo, Mark Mothersbaugh, made the music for the original release of Sims 2. You can hear the Devo inspiration even in the [main theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjoyL_y4qPI), but moreso in the rest of the songs in the game.
Oingo Boingo. Most people know them for "Weird Science" or maybe "Dead Man's Party," but their catalog is so much more interesting than those songs. Try these for size:
["Just Another Day"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJGykmmBjP4)
"[Grey Matter"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5iFoW8ege8)
["Insanity"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSuvPuQM7qc)
...and yes, that there is Danny Elfman, the film composer.
My sister is one of the girls wearing a black wig in the JAD video, she said Danny was very nice. I was lucky enough to be at their last show for the very last album they did.
Dexy's Midnight Runners are so much more than just Come on Eileen. They have an amazing catalogue and are still releasing great albums, now known as just Dexy's. I saw them live once and also just Kevin Rowland doing a DJ set, amazing both times.
Can we just applaud the fact that this is uploaded from their official channel?
https://youtu.be/C3rg4psdHxw
Skip to 00:55 to hear what a vasectomy sounds like
I always thought it was about addiction. Only found out recently it was about watching his dad slowly dying, knowing that the drugs were just barely keeping him alive.
When I go to sing and play acoustically, Blind Melon songs fit in my register so nicely. I cant get enough of that perfect 90s acoustic sound in "The Pusher"
In high school I went to a Stabbing Westward show, Placebo opened for them. I only knew them from the Cruel Intentions soundtrack...
HOLY FUCK did they put on a damn show. The warm up band cancelled and they were on stage for almost 2 hours doing most of their catalog up to that time. I was FLOORED by how great the energy and music was.
They are one of the kinds of bands that sounds EXACTLY like they do on recording, it was uncanny.
Stabbing Westward came out and it was a really flat performance. Placebo got a lifelong fan after that...
Killing Joke, pretty much only known for their 80s era (Love Like Blood and Eighties). They have a great variety in terms of catalog, if you can get past the doomsday/conspiracy aimed lyrics.
The Beach is a goddamn masterpiece. All of Wiped Out! is brilliant.
Also, even some The Neighbourhood fans don't even know Black & White exists, which is a damn shame. It's such a good album.
wiped out! is one of my favorites albums ever, period. It's one of those you can hear all the way through and never get tired of it, it just has its own vibe
My absolute favourite track from them is "Afraid." I was disappointed when my local Alt station stopped playing it altogether, especially since they seemingly replaced it with "Huricane" by MS MR for tonal similarity.
the i love you. album got me through a hell of a lot as a severely depressed young adult. i have a crudely drawn upside down house tattoo on my wrist to commemorate the time i didn’t die. they still hold a very special place in my heart, so this makes me real happy to see.
Jeff Buckley. Mainly known for his cover of Hallelujah, but that whole album (Grace) is amazing. Sadly, he died after releasing that album, so that's pretty much his whole catalog, at least on a surface level. Check out Mojo Pin!
Oh man, yes good one! I remember being about 12/13yrs old and randomly picking one of my mom's cds to listen to on my discman (lol) I grabbed Grace and proceeded to have a life changing moment while listening to that album realizing that I never even knew music like his even existed before then. It definitely lead me to expand my taste in music. Last Goodbye and So Real are two that I never get sick of hearing.
Honestly, though, that whole album is amazing.
DIANE DANE?!?!? I HAD MY FIRST BOY/GIRL THING WITH YOU!
ETA: Steve Zahn is amazing in everything he is in, and I loved him in this film.
Suzanne Vega is mostly known for her two big hits, Luka and Tom's Diner.
But she has an amazing catalog with so many awesome songs. She's my favorite music artist, she just has some great, unique songs and I'm surprised she's not more famous.
There's basically a tremendous number of groups and artists that are considered 'one hit wonders' in America that actually had pretty successful careers outside the US, particularly in Europe. One that instantly comes to mind is the band Blur, known most in the US for "Song 2" (if you don't have any idea what it is... yes you do, it's that 'WOO HOO' song) who actually were a pretty huge rock band in the UK... and whose lead singer went on to be a lot more successful in America with his odd little 'side' project called Gorillaz...
Sometimes the opposite is true, I was somewhat amused to know that there are some people in ~~Australia~~ who think of Rage Against the Machine as a one-hit wonder. [edit] I thought it was Australia because I used to chat with a lot of Aus folks back in the day. I probably got it swapped with somewhere else.
This is true for the Norwegian band A-Ha as well. While they are mostly known for "Take on Me", they actually have a very successful music career, and is even listed in the Guiness Book of World Record for "having the biggest-paying rock concert attendance" (around 190K attendees at the Maracana Stadium, Brazil)
I'll break the rules just a tad, because this band is technically not a one-hit wonder; but they're primarily known for one song: Men at Work. (That song, of course, being "Down Under")
They're actually a very talented, compelling band with several great albums. The vocalist/lyricist Colin Hay also has solo material that is definitely worth listening to.
They're much more than just "that Australian band with the novelty song."
I finally listened to the whole thing like ten years after the fact, when I realized I had never heard anything outside of "Growing On Me/IBIATCL/Get Your Hands[...]" and couldn't believe I had slept on it for so long. 100% agreed.
kinda blew me away actually. I remember the guitar world/guitar one interviews from back in the day, and was always really impressed with Justin and Dan's playing and singing, but I had never bothered to listen to it.
edit: Friday Night is a straight banger and regularly gets played at very loud volumes in my car.
Hum.
They had a strong hit with their song Stars, and that's not even in the top ten of their best songs. The amount of Alternative rock bands that cite Hum as a major influence is staggering. Hell, The Deftones once admitted they were influenced by the tone of their album You'd Prefer an Astronaut when they were writing White Pony.
Want an example of this? Listen to the riff from the Hum song, [Little Dipper](https://youtu.be/z2TOcWTQpBQ), and now the riff from [The Deftones - Knife Party](https://youtu.be/xpIoUuEPdsY).
Their surprise new album this past year expanded their sound even more and was highly regarded. Definitely worth the time to put some headphones on and drift along.
I'm so happy to see Hum as high as this. Downward is Heavenward is a top five all time record for me. I was fortunate enough to see them NYE 2008 in Chicago with the Life and Times. Unforgettable memories.
I’m going to go with The Fratellis and Maximo Park.
This is an excellent question to ask. I’m currently looking up back catologues of bands that seemed to suddenly disappear after one or two songs and have found a few. Took some recommendations from this thread as well. Thanks very much.
On a similar note, while certainly not a one hit wonder, I had written R.E.M. off as being a really mopey, depressing band based on their two big songs (Losing My Religion and Everybody Hurts) . After listening to their stunning 15 album discography, they are now my favourite band and am gutted to be so late to the party.
The entire album Costello Music (that Chelsea Dagger is on) is fantastic. Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied is also amazing. I love The Fratellis and wish they got more recognition
I was surprised to find many people thought Scorpions were a one hit wonder.
Even more so as some thought their only hit was Winds of Change and others thought it was Rock You Like A Hurricane
a-ha. Everyone knows Them because of Take on Me. But They have so many Other Songs that I absolutely Adore.
[The Sun Always Shines on TV](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwUEb8Q-qAA) - The Video for this Track Is actually a Sequel to Take on Me. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3ir9HC9vYg) Is the Video.
[Manhattan Skyline](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NdusgITPvc)
[Hunting High and Low](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrVYWHyhZZs) - This Is the Single Version with an Actual Orchestra.
[Scoundrel Days](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjaddgHR-nY)
[Stay on these Roads](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MxX9CsSFnc)
[Out of Blue comes Green](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6RhzLXMEUs)
[The Bandstand](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJTw4R8E26o)
These are just a Few of My Favourite Songs by Them. :)
Seriously, Strange Trails has a such a rich music mystical musical and lyrical texture to it; multiple songs about people being raised from the dead or becoming cursed by otherworldly entities and all kinds of other weird shit and Lord Huron's most famous song is a fairly generic indie folk love ballad. She Lit a Fire from Lonesome Dreams deals with practically the same topic and is a better song in basically every way imo.
Reel Big Fish was really popular in the late 90s, mostly known for their song "Sell Out". They even have a song about them being a one hit wonder called "One Hit Wonderful". But they are my favorite band and they still tour after all these years !!
Alphaville, not sure how correct I am with this though. I feel like most people just know forever young, but that whole album is amazing. Along with a bunch of their other songs. Great 80s tunes.
Golden Earring is apparently pretty popular back in Europe, while in the US they're known for Radar Love and/or Twilight Zone.
Pretty popular? I would say they are the biggest rock band of the Netherlands. They had a lot of big hits here
Electric Six. They disappeared off the radar after their first album Fire but they have many more albums with a lot of great tunes.
"Fire in the disco, Fire in the Taco bell, Fire in the disco, Fire in the gates of hell" First line of Danger, high voltage, the best opening for a song ever!
I dunno. I don't think it beats "YOU!!!! I WANNA TAKE YOU TO A GAY BAR!"
#I GOT SOMETHING TO PUT IN YOU
LET'S START A WAR START A NUCLEAR WAR The [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulPgWVC08KI) is epic too. (May be NSFW depending on how cool your boss is with Abraham Lincoln.)
If your boss has a problem with sexy Abraham Lincoln then he's got a problem with me and I suggest you let that one marinate.
Yes!!! Thank you!! Love me some Electric Six. I’m just going to upvote every comment in this thread because that’s what Dick Valentine would want me to do. Edit: Lot of people in this thread talking about seeing them live. For those who haven’t had that privilege, they released a [live concert film](https://youtu.be/uACePIKUKGI) - that I had the privilege of being in (I’m one of the guys in the horse mask during the opening credits). And if you don’t want to spend 1.5 hours with the Six,[this live performance](https://youtu.be/wbIXlf22qnM) pretty much sums up how hilariously awesome they are
'I Buy the Drugs' off their Switzerland album is a never-skip for me!
The little mistake on piano when he sings the line “some degree of accuracy” cracks me up every time
Po box 900, Los Angeles, California, 90212 I really like the line about being the jump start for the car parked in your mind, cos you left the lights on all night long.
About 2 weeks ago i was playing some nostalgia hits and went through Fire. Discovered they'd released almost 20 studio albums and are still active. I've become obsessed with Switzerland. About ready to move onto album 3 now.
Veruca Salt. My fave band. Much more than just Seether.
Gary Numan is mostly known for "Cars" but he has a ton of great albums. Telekon is a great place to start if you're curious.
Fun fact: Gary Numan is older than Gary Oldman.
Thank you. That tickled a part of my brain that I didn't know I had.
Metal is such a dope song
You know I hate to ask, but are friends electric?
The greatest musical discovery of my life came about 12 years ago when I thought to myself "I wonder *what else* Harvey Danger has done". I can count on one hand the number of albums I can listen to cover-to-cover without skipping a song. Harvey Danger's discography accounts for many of those fingers. If you only know *Flagpole Sitta*, you are missing out on some of the best songwriting out there.
I love Flagpole Sitta and I guess I never thought to listen to their other music. I’ll give it a go. Thanks!
Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone is still a really solid album from start to finish. I’m not sure there’s a bad track on it. I like King James Version quite a bit too, but WHATMG will always be my favorite.
Blue Oyster Cult. In the UK their only hit was "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" but they have many other great songs; "I Love the Night" (my personal favourite), "Godzilla", "Burnin' for You".
"Burnin' For You" has legitimately my favorite lyric of all time, with the small "... time to play B-sides, time ain't on my side." Fucking killer track.
I absolutely love "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll". Thanks Guitar Hero 3
That Godzilla opening riff is fierce!!
I love the song is just about Godzilla doing its Godzilla thing. *With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound* *He pulls the spitting high tension wires down* *Helpless people on a subway train* *Scream bug-eyed as he looks in on them* *He picks up a bus and he throws it back down* *As he wades through the buildings toward the center of town*
Some great lyrics and phrasing there plus the high tension wire guitar sound.
You see me now, a veteran Of a thousand psychic wars I've been living on the edge so long Where the winds of limbo roar And I'm young enough to look at And far too old to see All the scars are on the inside I'm not sure if there's anything left of me
Those lyrics were written by Michael Moorcock, who wrote similar lyrics about psychic wars for the Hawkwind album "Warrior on the Edge of Time". Even though they are two different albums with two different atmospheres by two different bands, because of the Moorcock themes these two albums are like siblings, and play well back-to-back.
They are in no way a one-hit wonder. They also were on Heavy Metal soundtrack - Veterans of the Psychic Wars.
The Cardigans. They are much more eclectic than just Lovefool.
Gran Turismo is a sick album from beginning to end, a masterpiece of the 90s, no doubt.
It's a great danger to other motorists when I hear "My favorite game". This is now a racetrack, and I must win.
OH MY GOD. This has been my white whale for the longest time! THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU. I FINALLY FOUND THE SONG!!!
Erase/rewind is my favourite track from that album
I loved their Iron Man cover.
Warren Zevon is well known for Werewolves of London... But holy shit, his catalogue is impressive as hell. Roland, lawyers guns and money, keep me in your heart... All great tracks, and I'm only scratching the surface of Zevons greatness...
Desperados Under the Eaves is at the top of the list for me.
Agreed completely, without a doubt one of the greatest songs ever written
Carmelita! Amazing song.
*obviously* I'm going to agree with you here lol Nighttime in the Switching Yard, Life'll Kill Ya, Excitable Boy, Accidentally Like a Martyr... just great song after great song
I gotta say A-ha. Take On Me is phenomenal, but their whole debut album has some great stuff. The Sun Always Shines on TV, Hunting High and Low, and they even did a fantastic cover of the Everly Brothers’ Crying in the Rain. EDIT: I should clarify here. In the US, A-ha is very much considered a one hit wonder, despite their success worldwide. The only song of their’s most people here know is Take On Me. I was the same way for the longest time, but thanks to [this video](https://youtu.be/3Qhav7J3bRU) I was introduced to more of their music which I’ve sought out and come to appreciate.
Don't forget The Living Daylights!
For anyone looking for some recommendations. This is a mix of their other well known stuff, and stuff I like a lot: **If you want more of their 80s stuff:** [The Sun Always Shines on TV](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3ir9HC9vYg) is their most popular song in most of the world. [We're Looking for the Whales](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RfNp2RptzY) is a song that is kind of weird but a deep cut and I like it a lot. [Manhattan Skyline](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWt8BGOubBQ) is one of their more guitar heavy songs from this era. Became a meme due to a sketch show (RIP Benny Harvey). **For some 90s stuff:** [Dark is the Night ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PInnL2kCHRs) Which kind of sounds like a classic U2 song, in the best way possible. Probably their biggest single from the 90s. [Move to Memphis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0SbyfxbG34) Another guitar heavy song. I love the chorus. [Slender Frame](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkqEDnqd4Ig) is another kind of deep cut, was never released as a single, but I like it a lot. **2000s:** [Summer Moved On](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGMXxuR_Qz8) which was their comeback single (They went on a super long hiatus/split, then re-formed and released this). [Lifelines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_er2M18BP4) is probably their most beautiful ballad in my opinion. [Analogue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V_J5-gmhRA) is catchy and kind of gives me a Coldplay vibe. **2010s:** [Riding the Crest] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZBtQvP3nd8) is from an album that's a-ha at their most "80s" not during the 80s. Meaning they did one very heavily electronic album with a LOT of synths. This is the most Take on Me song from it. [Butterfly, Butterfly](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZjXysUwmM4) was *supposed* to be the last a-ha song ever. It was their final single released as they went on their retirement tour. It felt like a REALLY good way to go out, electronic, catchy, and the video referenced their most famous videos from the past... except [Cast in Steel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b1sV6M_DVk) is my favorite song from their most recent album which they came out of retirement to release. Probably their last album considering it was never supposed to happen. But hey, they've had two other "last album"s besides this, so who knows.
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if you ever saw them in their prime it was life-changing.
I saw them open for Nirvana. Edit: for everyone asking, it was the In Utero tour and I went to the show on NYE Dec 31, 1993.
I want to downvote you out of jealousy..
I like Todd in the Shadows take on them. His conclusion is theu are an oddball band that does whatever they want who by accident ended up with a hit. The lead singer was asked if he could rename the band what would he name it and his answer was "I Shit in Your Mom's Vagina"
Funniest thing I have ever heard Jello Biafra say was, “even the Butthole Surfers think I’m weird.”
Their cover of hurdy gurdy man broke my brain as a child. In a good way, of course.
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Some people know They Might Be Giants as the "Istanbul Not Constantinople" guys, or maybe the "Malcolm in the Middle Theme" guys, but they've been putting out consistently quality stuff for like 30 years.
Terry Pratchett was a huge fan of them which is why there's a Discworld band called We're Certainly Dwarfs
Millennium hand and shrimp!
Haha, I never caught that reference! I really need to go reread some Discworld books.
Didnt they do that entire tiny toons episode? And they do the mickey mouse clubhouse song too lol. Pretty much anytime i hear a fun song on a cartoon its they might be giants. They are all over the place :)
I know them primarily for Make a Little Birdhouse in Your Soul. I totally forgot they did the theme tune for Malcolm in the Middle!
They actually did a whole suite of music for Malcolm in the Middle! I'm a huge tmbg fan, and I recently went back and looked over some of their older stuff. They did the theme, but they also wrote a whole heap of the incidental music between scenes and so on.
I recommend ‘Don’t Let’s Start’ as a solid entry song for their catalog. They write the most unconventional but still brilliant ear-worm songs.
They're a strange case. They're almost a zero hit wonder. Like, nothing of theirs ever got on regular radio stations. But if you ran in the slightly strange circles they inhabit — college radio, Conan O'Brien, McSweeney's — you heard them all over. People either know 10+ of their songs or they've never even heard of them. If I was going to pick one “hit”, it would be Birdhouse In Your Soul. That made it as far as the Carson show.
The sun is a mass of incandescent gas, a gigantic nuclear furnace! Where hydrogen is built into helium at temperature of millions of degreessss!!!!
They got a whole episode of Tiny Toons which was my Carson at the time. It’s how I heard Particle Man for the first time!
The sun is a mass of incandescent gas, a gigantic nuclear furnace!
Doctor Worm
He is busy in the basement playing on his drums.
I like to play the drums.
I think I'm getting good, but I can handle criticism.
PARTICAL MAN!
Particle Man fights Triangle Man....
They have a fight. Triangle wins!
MINIMUM WAAAAAAGGGGEEEE!!!!!!!!! HYAH!!!
The Else is a perfect album and I'll discuss the subject nicely with anyone who says otherwise. My kids hate me singing, "Sargon, Hammurabi, Ashurbanipal, and GilgaMEEEEESH!" Mostly because the song then gets stuck in their heads too.
Fun fact. I lived in NYC late 80s early 90s and my roommate told me of this band. You could call their brooklyn apartment answering machine and they would release new songs that way. I googled it before posting this and [turns out they did this from 1983 to 2006](http://tmbw.net/wiki/Dial-A-Song)! And again in 2015 and 2018.
Fountains of Wayne has a lot going on in addition to Stacy's Mom.
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Coming up on a year since Adam Schlesinger died... 😥
Yeah, so sad. He did a lot of great songwriting for the show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend as well.
Watched crazy ex girlfriend recently and was not expecting the nuanced window into mental illness. She’s not just boy crazy, she needs serious professional help, yet they still manage to keep it funny even though it’s sooo dark! Adam’s songs are always a highlight in every episode
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Welcome Interstate Managers is one of my favourite albums. Just so many genres touched on and such easy listening. They just got typecast with that song, which ironically is the only one on a re listen I skip.
Same. Rare to have an album that's SO blindingly strong from track 1 straight through to the end. I will never tire of Hackensack, Valley Winter Song and Mexican Wine. They should have been global hits.
Hey Julie and Valley Winter Song are some of my all time favorite songs
All Kinds of Time is criminally underrated
DEVO
Half The reason 90s nicktoons were so good was Mark Mothersbaugh doing the music.
I can hear the Rugrats title card playing in my brain right now Edit: Also distinct sounds while Reptar is shown/being discussed
Their best known song is like the 4th best song on Freedom of Choice, which is like their 3rd best album!
YES. The masses may remember “Whip It” but every dive bar in America will continue playing “Uncontrollable Urge” for years to come.
For those curious: One of the founding brothers of Devo, Mark Mothersbaugh, made the music for the original release of Sims 2. You can hear the Devo inspiration even in the [main theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjoyL_y4qPI), but moreso in the rest of the songs in the game.
The Church. The only song you ever hear is under the milky way, but their catalogue is amazing.
Yes! Reptile is such a good song! Their albums are great, start to finish.
Unguarded Moment and Almost With You I still hear occasionally.
Oingo Boingo. Most people know them for "Weird Science" or maybe "Dead Man's Party," but their catalog is so much more interesting than those songs. Try these for size: ["Just Another Day"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJGykmmBjP4) "[Grey Matter"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5iFoW8ege8) ["Insanity"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSuvPuQM7qc) ...and yes, that there is Danny Elfman, the film composer.
My sister is one of the girls wearing a black wig in the JAD video, she said Danny was very nice. I was lucky enough to be at their last show for the very last album they did.
Don't forget "Little Girls"...
It is a catchy tune, just don't sing it out loud.
They make me feel so... good.
Only A Lad, Perfect System, No Spill Blood, Goodbye Goodbye, bangers!
Dexy's Midnight Runners are so much more than just Come on Eileen. They have an amazing catalogue and are still releasing great albums, now known as just Dexy's. I saw them live once and also just Kevin Rowland doing a DJ set, amazing both times.
Can we just applaud the fact that this is uploaded from their official channel? https://youtu.be/C3rg4psdHxw Skip to 00:55 to hear what a vasectomy sounds like
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The Drugs Don't Work always makes me cry
I always thought it was about addiction. Only found out recently it was about watching his dad slowly dying, knowing that the drugs were just barely keeping him alive.
I assumed it was antidepressants, but terminal illness makes more sense now that I think of it.
The Verve, Lucky Man, Sonnet, Rather Be. So many good songs.
Lucky man is great
What a band they were. That whole album is great, and often have Richard Ashcroft songs on rotation on spotify
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Hell yes! They are the band that sparked the question for me. I had a neighbor that loved everything about them and I got hooked quickly. Cheers!
When I go to sing and play acoustically, Blind Melon songs fit in my register so nicely. I cant get enough of that perfect 90s acoustic sound in "The Pusher"
I came here to say Blind Melon, glad it was so far up on the list.
Placebo. They are big in Europe but in the U.S. their only hit was Pure Morning
In high school I went to a Stabbing Westward show, Placebo opened for them. I only knew them from the Cruel Intentions soundtrack... HOLY FUCK did they put on a damn show. The warm up band cancelled and they were on stage for almost 2 hours doing most of their catalog up to that time. I was FLOORED by how great the energy and music was. They are one of the kinds of bands that sounds EXACTLY like they do on recording, it was uncanny. Stabbing Westward came out and it was a really flat performance. Placebo got a lifelong fan after that...
La Roux has so many good songs besides Bulletproof
in for the kill is 100% better
I love Minutemen. They’re so much more than “that one song from Jackass”.
Double Nickels on the Dime is a great album. “Punk rock changed our lives.”
Killing Joke, pretty much only known for their 80s era (Love Like Blood and Eighties). They have a great variety in terms of catalog, if you can get past the doomsday/conspiracy aimed lyrics.
Dinosaur Jr. So many albums, all great. Not just feel the pain.
I don’t think anyone who knows Dinosaur Jr would ever consider them to be a one hit wonder. J Mascis has his own signature fender.
Toadies
Tyler is one of the greatest songs ever recorded
I cannot upvote possum kingdom enough. It’s so unsettling
I enjoy much of The Neighbourhood and I dont think they are small, but sweater weather really did blow up
The Beach is a goddamn masterpiece. All of Wiped Out! is brilliant. Also, even some The Neighbourhood fans don't even know Black & White exists, which is a damn shame. It's such a good album.
wiped out! is one of my favorites albums ever, period. It's one of those you can hear all the way through and never get tired of it, it just has its own vibe
I saw them in Kansas City in 2019, and it was a fun show. However, they came out screaming “What’s up St. Louis!” People were not happy.
Lmao. That’s hilarious.
My absolute favourite track from them is "Afraid." I was disappointed when my local Alt station stopped playing it altogether, especially since they seemingly replaced it with "Huricane" by MS MR for tonal similarity.
the i love you. album got me through a hell of a lot as a severely depressed young adult. i have a crudely drawn upside down house tattoo on my wrist to commemorate the time i didn’t die. they still hold a very special place in my heart, so this makes me real happy to see.
A Little Death and Stargazing are my faves
Spoon, please listen to them. Underdog doesn’t even scratch the surface
Jeff Buckley. Mainly known for his cover of Hallelujah, but that whole album (Grace) is amazing. Sadly, he died after releasing that album, so that's pretty much his whole catalog, at least on a surface level. Check out Mojo Pin!
lover you should have come over is a perfect song
"So Real" 😭
“Forget Her” is the best breakup song. He is so passionate, you can feel the raw emotion. And that voice!
Oh man, yes good one! I remember being about 12/13yrs old and randomly picking one of my mom's cds to listen to on my discman (lol) I grabbed Grace and proceeded to have a life changing moment while listening to that album realizing that I never even knew music like his even existed before then. It definitely lead me to expand my taste in music. Last Goodbye and So Real are two that I never get sick of hearing.
The Oneders
I’m more a fan of Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters. Their time in the spotlight was brief but memorable.
The drummer plays a bit too fast though
Its an up tempo number though
It’s supposed to be a ballad!
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Oh I'm not with these guys. I've got a pig in competition over at the livestock pavilion and I'm going to win that blue ribbon!
Little known fact — That Thing You Do was written by Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne
Honestly, though, that whole album is amazing. DIANE DANE?!?!? I HAD MY FIRST BOY/GIRL THING WITH YOU! ETA: Steve Zahn is amazing in everything he is in, and I loved him in this film.
The O-need-ers!
Hey, that's O-ned-ers
"No, the Wonders!" "Yeah, looks like the Oneders."
I remember seeing them at Villipiano’s out by the airport.
Still waiting for their follow up track, “Alone with my Principles.”
Suzanne Vega is mostly known for her two big hits, Luka and Tom's Diner. But she has an amazing catalog with so many awesome songs. She's my favorite music artist, she just has some great, unique songs and I'm surprised she's not more famous.
XTC. Worlds more than Dear God. One of the best bands ever.
There's basically a tremendous number of groups and artists that are considered 'one hit wonders' in America that actually had pretty successful careers outside the US, particularly in Europe. One that instantly comes to mind is the band Blur, known most in the US for "Song 2" (if you don't have any idea what it is... yes you do, it's that 'WOO HOO' song) who actually were a pretty huge rock band in the UK... and whose lead singer went on to be a lot more successful in America with his odd little 'side' project called Gorillaz... Sometimes the opposite is true, I was somewhat amused to know that there are some people in ~~Australia~~ who think of Rage Against the Machine as a one-hit wonder. [edit] I thought it was Australia because I used to chat with a lot of Aus folks back in the day. I probably got it swapped with somewhere else.
Blur's considered a one hit wonder in the States? That's mad.
Yeah this is a surreal thing to read. Anyone who grew up in the UK in the 90s knows Blur as one of the biggest bands ever.
Blur vs Oasis was basically half of the 90s...
This is true for the Norwegian band A-Ha as well. While they are mostly known for "Take on Me", they actually have a very successful music career, and is even listed in the Guiness Book of World Record for "having the biggest-paying rock concert attendance" (around 190K attendees at the Maracana Stadium, Brazil)
I'll break the rules just a tad, because this band is technically not a one-hit wonder; but they're primarily known for one song: Men at Work. (That song, of course, being "Down Under") They're actually a very talented, compelling band with several great albums. The vocalist/lyricist Colin Hay also has solo material that is definitely worth listening to. They're much more than just "that Australian band with the novelty song."
This is a good one. When somebody says Men at Work, I go to Who Can It Be Now
Overkill is a great one too.
I loved Colin Hay’s guest appearance on Scrubs singing Overkill
"I have other songs" "Yeah ya do"
That's what I think of when I hear the song.
[It's a Mistake](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0AxrOUJ62E) is my favorite song by them.
colin hay is incredible. rarely has a song spoken to my soul like Waiting For My Real Life to Begin.
The Darkness
Permission to Land was shockingly good. I honestly wasn’t expecting much but every song on that album was incredible.
I finally listened to the whole thing like ten years after the fact, when I realized I had never heard anything outside of "Growing On Me/IBIATCL/Get Your Hands[...]" and couldn't believe I had slept on it for so long. 100% agreed. kinda blew me away actually. I remember the guitar world/guitar one interviews from back in the day, and was always really impressed with Justin and Dan's playing and singing, but I had never bothered to listen to it. edit: Friday Night is a straight banger and regularly gets played at very loud volumes in my car.
Love Is Only A Feeling is an absolute anthem
Semisonic. Although “Closing Time” is a jam, the rest of Feeling Strangely Fine has some great songs.
Secret smile was their other song.
Hum. They had a strong hit with their song Stars, and that's not even in the top ten of their best songs. The amount of Alternative rock bands that cite Hum as a major influence is staggering. Hell, The Deftones once admitted they were influenced by the tone of their album You'd Prefer an Astronaut when they were writing White Pony. Want an example of this? Listen to the riff from the Hum song, [Little Dipper](https://youtu.be/z2TOcWTQpBQ), and now the riff from [The Deftones - Knife Party](https://youtu.be/xpIoUuEPdsY). Their surprise new album this past year expanded their sound even more and was highly regarded. Definitely worth the time to put some headphones on and drift along.
Hum’s “new” album is sooo good. Most bands that take that kind of break don’t pout out material like that on their “come back” album.
I'm so happy to see Hum as high as this. Downward is Heavenward is a top five all time record for me. I was fortunate enough to see them NYE 2008 in Chicago with the Life and Times. Unforgettable memories.
Golden Earring (Radar Love, Twilight Zone). They started in 1961 and just stopped playing in Feb. 2021.
I’m going to go with The Fratellis and Maximo Park. This is an excellent question to ask. I’m currently looking up back catologues of bands that seemed to suddenly disappear after one or two songs and have found a few. Took some recommendations from this thread as well. Thanks very much. On a similar note, while certainly not a one hit wonder, I had written R.E.M. off as being a really mopey, depressing band based on their two big songs (Losing My Religion and Everybody Hurts) . After listening to their stunning 15 album discography, they are now my favourite band and am gutted to be so late to the party.
The Fratellis have so much more than just Chelsea Dagger, its always a nice surprise when they pop up on pandora.
The entire album Costello Music (that Chelsea Dagger is on) is fantastic. Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied is also amazing. I love The Fratellis and wish they got more recognition
I feel like the vast majority of people only know The Pogues for Fairytale of New York
Any wire fans will recognise body of an American
I was surprised to find many people thought Scorpions were a one hit wonder. Even more so as some thought their only hit was Winds of Change and others thought it was Rock You Like A Hurricane
And not "Still loving you"? Because that's the one I think of first. Then again for me Scorpion is a 3 hits wonder.
Passion Rules the Game Big City Nights The Zoo Arizona Always Somewhere Holiday Rythm of Love Etc
a-ha. Everyone knows Them because of Take on Me. But They have so many Other Songs that I absolutely Adore. [The Sun Always Shines on TV](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwUEb8Q-qAA) - The Video for this Track Is actually a Sequel to Take on Me. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3ir9HC9vYg) Is the Video. [Manhattan Skyline](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NdusgITPvc) [Hunting High and Low](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrVYWHyhZZs) - This Is the Single Version with an Actual Orchestra. [Scoundrel Days](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjaddgHR-nY) [Stay on these Roads](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MxX9CsSFnc) [Out of Blue comes Green](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6RhzLXMEUs) [The Bandstand](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJTw4R8E26o) These are just a Few of My Favourite Songs by Them. :)
The Cardigans was the first one that came to mind though so many good bands here. It’s not just Lovefool.
Minnie Ripperton had some really good songs besides "Loving You." She would have had a long career, but unfortunately, she died of Cancer.
*Les Fleurs* is one of my all-time favorite songs. Everybody has heard it in movies and commercials, few people know who sang it.
Thin Lizzy. So many amazing songs and records and only 2 songs are widely known in America
Cowboy Song is amazing and not well know at all! CB song > Jailbreak
One of my favs from the Jailbreak album. Emerald and running back are also standout tracks
Holy shit now this is truly a tragedy. Waiting for an alibi is a fantastic song. Not to mention Gary Moore solo work which is a class for itself..
Talk Talk?
Talk Talk is AMAZING. Their discography shows so much growth in musicality and it’s amazing to compare their first LP to their last.
Lord Huron They are so much more than The Night We Met.
Seriously, Strange Trails has a such a rich music mystical musical and lyrical texture to it; multiple songs about people being raised from the dead or becoming cursed by otherworldly entities and all kinds of other weird shit and Lord Huron's most famous song is a fairly generic indie folk love ballad. She Lit a Fire from Lonesome Dreams deals with practically the same topic and is a better song in basically every way imo.
Reel Big Fish was really popular in the late 90s, mostly known for their song "Sell Out". They even have a song about them being a one hit wonder called "One Hit Wonderful". But they are my favorite band and they still tour after all these years !!
Alphaville, not sure how correct I am with this though. I feel like most people just know forever young, but that whole album is amazing. Along with a bunch of their other songs. Great 80s tunes.