@jtucker
I'm generally in the same boat. I am very fickle in terms of what I like. I've listened to a lot of what has been recommended here. Most leaves me cold.
Black Keys, Gary Clark, Jr., Jack White and some others have stellar stuff. Gary Clark's later stuff is not my cup of tea.
I was a big fan of many of the 90's grunge bands back in their heyday but that did not stick except with the Smashing Pumpkins. I still give them a listen from time to time.
I think King Buffalo only got mentioned once. I heard them for the first time last night and they hooked me right away. I've only listened to their latest album, Regenerator. Very hard progressive style rock. Maybe 'heavy metal' but not thrash or speed metal which I don't like. Definitely retro. Guitar heavy. Instrumental heavy but some lyrics/singing. Tracks are long and rambling and you can get lost in them (in a good way). Definitely progressive. I get Pink Floyd, Rush, Sabbath, Yes, even a little Sweet but it is not glam at all. One thing I really like about this album is that it does not seem to be over compressed and seems generally well recorded.
Several people have also mentioned The Struts, They are retro-glam-rock but still creative and original. Mostly pop but it is rock and roll no doubt. I'd start with the first and second album. Third album done during COVID is pretty bad. Most recent album is okay but they seem to have left the glam behind and gone a little more sophisticated and I don't think it suits them. They're biggest strength is their live performances. I seen them four times and have rarely seen an audience jump, dance and sing through a whole show like with the Struts. A little more subdued with this last album but still a great show.
I'll also throw in a somewhat retro band that I saw live a year or two called Mac Saturn from Detroit. Only one album called Hard to Sell. Great album in my opinion. Talented musicians all the way around. Charismatic front man. Fantastic live show. Sadly they seem to have disintegrated and are not touring. Doubt there will be a second album.
