Old 97s classic Too Far To Care.
Loretta Lynn with Jack White (of White Stripes) - Van Lear Rose
Citizen Cope - The Clarence Greenwood Recordings
Both good choices, though I feel REK has lost his knack for storytelling with his last couple albums. To your list I’ll add…
Slaid Cleaves
Hayes Carll
Adam Carroll
Iron & Wine
Going to see Steve Earle next month! (Not such an “unknown” though)
Notwist - Neon Golden
.
If you’re a funk fan, you must download some clips…
Voted #1 unsigned band in the US by whatever magazine that runs the contest. Although, members of the band are all pro musicians…
Check out the stations at wdvx.com and wncw.org. Both are public radio stations out of the hills of North Carolina and E. Tennessee that play a lot of good music. The first one used to broadcast out of a trailer and plays a lot of bluegrass and non-Nashville country music. The other one plays the same mix but adds in a lot of world music, funk, jazz, etc.
School of fish…whole album…check out this 80’s band…their first release is awesome…
Check out Mason Jennings: His first album, I think just called Mason Jennings. The two California tracks are unreal as is song butterfly. He is from the Midwest somewhere. Gotten somewhat popular recently but still overly so.
The Arcade Fire - Funeral, an easy choice for indie album of the year … really great writing and incredibly musical.
Spoon - Kill the Moonlight - just a fantastic rock album that is very clean -stripped down and spacious, with plenty of energy. listen and you’ll see what i mean.
The Walkmen - Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone - lead singer like a stoned Bono circa joshua tree, ancient piano, very good atmosphere.
The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin - all time favorite band, mellow psychedelic space-rock from your subconscious, just the best band ever for so many reasons.
The Shins - Chutes too Narrow - clever, catch, indie rock-pop
TV on the Radio (seconding Tibbs), a very new sound in rock, very cool.
Air - Talky Walky, a dreamy french dj duo who put together the best chill-out albums ever.
soooooo many more great ones that’ll never see the light of radio.
That would have to be “The Interference”
My band that is. http://theinterference.com
Check out the following songs:
Sooner or Later
Don’t Come Back
Triple your money back if you aren’t 100% satisfied. 
Trae
Bonepony, Traveler’s Companion. Undoubtedly the most infectious music ever created
Funny you mentioned that. Last night I was thinking about a band we used to play with frequently. I thought our band kinda sucked. But these guys, “Third Estate”, ruled. What ever happened to Third Estate?
I wonder what happened to them? our band was called “Conditioned Response” and made one record before disappearing into music industry obscurity.
Check out Mason Jennings: His first album, I think just called Mason Jennings. The two California tracks are unreal as is song butterfly. He is from the Midwest somewhere. Gotten somewhat popular recently but still overly so.
His other albums are pretty good too, especially Century Spring.
Don’t see what I’m doing wrong… my previous post has the proper “markup” language in it… anyone know why it’s not working?
Trae
“We used to play with” You’re a musician too?
I was a pro bassist (now semi) played jazz, funk and studio (CD/commercials) work. Tried the rock star thing and that wasn’t much fun. I’ll post a link to some of my clips later…
neon golden’s a great one … should have mention that.
how about:
Postal Service,
Interpol,
The Wrens, Meadowlands
Modest Mouse, Good News for People who like Bad News
Olivia Tremor Control, Dusk at Cubist Castle (they channel the beatles circa Sgt Pepper)
oh yeah … how could I forget,
Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea … think Irish Folk-Punk with lyrics that will turn your head inside out … a really really great album.
cat power- you are free
cat power -the covers record
.
TomAnnapolis, I like your taste in music.
What about the Sea and Cake, Tortoise, Don Caballero, Tom Waits… there are just a lot of really good bands if you turn off the radio.
Brother Jed - great college/party band back in school (early - mid-90’s @ Illinois State). Kinda Grateful Dead/Frank Zappa with some jazz/blues/bluegrass flavor thrown in.
i love Sea and Cake, although I like glass with the remixes better than the full-length one bedroom … i hear they’re surprisingly good in concert.
tom waits is too cool for words, haven’t heard his new one but it’s on my “must buy” list … love when he guests on other albums like sparklehorse …
i’m familiar with the names of the other two, but know nothing of their music … ?
Spoon - Kill the Moonlight - just a fantastic rock album that is very clean -stripped down and spacious, with plenty of energy. listen and you’ll see what i mean.
I’m a huge Spoon fan. I’ve seen them play live about 10-12 times. I’ve gotta say, I really don’t like Kill the Moonlight, though. Series of Sneaks,* Telephono*, and* Girls Can Tell* are MUCH better in my opinion.
NMH are awfully good too.