5 best underrated or unknown bands and why?

Lambchop

A great mix of moody electric guitar, piano and a few other instruments that is classified as country but that surprises most people, as their sound is more like Cowboy Junkies with a male vocal but more involving as far as I am concerned.

I have played their CD called: Is A Woman for 3 friends and 2 of them bought the next day and enjoy it.

Bshapperd,
I have a few of their other CDs, I forget the names but they were recommended by All Music Guide as their best and they do not have the flavor of Is A Woman. They are distinctly more alternative sounding (which is usually fine with me) and I find myself not listening to them as much as Is A Woman.

Another good group is called: Ida.

Their CD called Will You Find Me? is a very nice mix of vocals harmonizing with acoustic guitar and organs and an eclectic mix of wind instruments. This album is very tastful and again, like Lambchop, I prefer this to the others that All Music Guide rates as their better albums.

Cpdunn99, did Chris Barry play Martin Stephen (and the Dainties, I believe) for you? Just wondering as I remember that record from a long time ago and will have to find it again as it is a good listen for sure.

I recommend: The Bad Plus, (I may have spelled Plus wrong) but this is one jamming jazz trio with piano, bass and drums that is very dynamic with lots of talent and a little alternative. This group is hard to describe but if it sounds like maybe your cup of tea you should give it a listen as my description is not doing it justice I promise.

BTW the Bad Plus may not meet with Ben Campbell's criteria of an obscure group, but I am not very familiar with the critics and/or publics opinion, just my own (and they seemed obscure to me), and feel these groups are worth a mention.