Other than Joker, who lived in Japan for two years, I doubt that any of you have heard of Morning Musume (Morning Girls) other than from me. Well, that is unfortunate. They would be classified as "pop", no doubt, but the musical influences on their eclectic style are too diverse to deserve such a generic term. They are perhaps best known in the West for television skits they do, but while those skits are hilarious, their music is under-appreciated. I've listened to many dozens of songs by Morning Musume, its individual artists and subgroups, and other than the solo work of Sayumi Michishige (who, by her own admission, has a poor singing voice and specializes in television appearances) and Maki Goto (who pushes the envelope, as they say, too far, IMO), everything that Morning Musume, its subgroups, its solo acts and its graduated members do is good, and much of it is excellent. Ai Takahashi, also known as Takitty, has the best singing voice in the group. Hitomi Yoshizawa and Abe Natsumi are also excellent singers. Hitomi Yoshizawa, perhaps better known as Yossie, is currently the group's leader and has the best overall screen and stage presence, her "tomboy" personality contrasting hilariously with the more stereotypically feminine personalities of the other members of the group. Anything that they sing as a group is good, and I especially recommend the original promotional video "Mr. Moonlight" for its sense of irony (it is definitely tongue-in-cheek) and its highlighting of Yossie's unique combination of singing and acting talent. The best solo work from anyone in the group is the video "Yume Naraba" by Abe Natsumi. I literally cannot stay dry-eyed when I watch it. It is simply too beautiful. I also highly recommend Ai Takahashi's solo version of "Furusato". To appreciate them fully, if you get the time, simply look them up in Wikipedia and then type in the names of the group, singers and subgroups on youtube.com. If you like nothing but extreme metal, I suppose you won't like them, but otherwise, you will. Okay, what musical artists and bands do you like that no one else seems to have heard of? I appreciate all replies. Thank you very much.

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"Some people complain about the system. The system is not good, so they can't do anything. It's an excuse. Freedom is in your heart." (Jin Xing)

Most of the bands I like, no one's heard of... But most people wouldn't like them.
The most uncared about that I like a lot and think most music fans can stomach is Mental Home, a progressive metal band from Russia.
They are best described (I think)as a kind of Rush-sounding band, only heavier and with a lot more quasi-orchestral stuff, but with a touch of punk and even a slight touch of black metal (but not so much as to endanger your sensibilities).
If you are okay with more dark, evil, loud, growly stuff I suggest Opeth. But if you're into that kind of stuff you know them. For those who like deep metal but not snarling I suggest Katatonia. And I strongly agree with MerlinX's recommendation of Porcupine Tree.

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"Man lives in the sunlit world of that which he believes to be reality. But unseen by most is an underworld, a place that is just as real... but not as brightly lit... A DARK SIDE!"
-opening from Tales From the Darkside

A band out of the 70's called "It's a Beautiful Day"

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"Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey Him." Luke 8:25

1. Katarine- French band. lyrics in French. Musical style- sort of folksy, dancy, lounge music. A favorite of Aidan's.

b. Hausmeister- German electronica. I call it techno for babies. Aidan likes this group, too.

Hefner- British indie band. lyrics usually revolve around troubled relationships. My wife is more into them than me.

17. The French- same singer as Hefner. same lyrical style, but music slightly more electronica.

Next. Plastikman- minimalist techno, but doesn't hypnotize you into sleep.

Clutch- Hardcore band who records in NJ. I think many people do know them, but they certainly aren't mainstream. Great lyrics. Aidan really likes Clutch.

Clutch was really big during my second or third (I'm getting old) year of high school. They toured with Anthrax and Cannibal Corpse and a couple other big bands, and they had a track on the "Escape from LA" soundtrack.
I liked them for a little while. More interesting than most hardcore bands.

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"Man lives in the sunlit world of that which he believes to be reality. But unseen by most is an underworld, a place that is just as real... but not as brightly lit... A DARK SIDE!"
-opening from Tales From the Darkside

Did anyone ever hear of Arthur Brown? He bore a strong resemblance to Charles Manson. He was an underground one-hit wonder in the 70's, had this real crazy song called "Fire" and it just so happened that the record was scratched halfway thru at one of the "Fire" choruses, and it would play "fire, fire, fire, on and on forever until we bumped the record player. Oh well, never mind, it was one of those things where you would of had to be there...

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"Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey Him." Luke 8:25

I listened to the only song I could find by them, "Upon Eternal". It was fairly good.

I couldn't make out a word of what they were screaming... er... singing, which is probably just as well.

I just listened to two songs by them. They are okay (a little too extreme, but okay).

Yes, they definitely have an intelligent style, and their guitar riffs are more like classic metal (which I generally enjoy) than like any of that extreme stuff.

Sorry, I can't find them because there are too many songs with that title.

Hausmeister probably would put me to sleep if I let them. Plastikman was somewhat too minimalist for me, as much as I usually like music of the techno/dance varieties.

I just listened to a song by Clutch. It was okay. The guitar work was pretty good. Overall, Porcupine Tree stood out as the best recommendation (thanks, MerlinX).
Now, has anyone dared to journey... journey into a mind that has undergone over seven years of psychiatric evaluation, and see what this mind/brain, when wrapped in headphones, seeks as the work of genius? This mind may be insane (it has been so diagnosed in the past), so there is an element of risk. But perhaps you live for a rush of adrenaline. In short, has anyone dared, facing their fears in the hope of musical adventure (I never said what sort of adventure), to listen to Morning Musume?

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"Some people complain about the system. The system is not good, so they can't do anything. It's an excuse. Freedom is in your heart." (Jin Xing)

Me neither. Likely anything related to them to written in French anyway. They are unheard of even in France.

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WARNING: In the unlikely event of an accidental agreement with any or all points made in the above post, contact a clinical psychologist immediately.

The views expressed in the above post are not necessarily those of Joker and/or any of his affiliates.

"You have found the secret message. Do you have too much time on your hands? ...Let it go."

I hadn't until now, but I just listened to "Fire". It was pretty good. Thanks.

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"Some people complain about the system. The system is not good, so they can't do anything. It's an excuse. Freedom is in your heart." (Jin Xing)

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I've heard that song. I originally heard a cover of it by Cathedral.

Yes. Their lyrics are morbid... not satanic or gory so much like some death metal... but morbid.
What's funny is if you listen longer, you'll hear that the guy can actually sing. He alternates. And some of their music is very melodic. I suggest if you try again, try something off the album "(*)(*)(*)(*)ation". It's mostly acoustic.

The middle albums are the best... like "Another Fair Deal Gone Down" or "Tonight's Decision". The old albums are like Opeth and the new album is a bit more modernized (more swearing, lower tuning)

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"Man lives in the sunlit world of that which he believes to be reality. But unseen by most is an underworld, a place that is just as real... but not as brightly lit... A DARK SIDE!"
-opening from Tales From the Darkside