Lovelys

The following are some of my favorite bands that are not very well-known. Purevolume.com recognizes almost all of them as Alternative/Punk/Rock, some of them are more mellow, some of them are a little hardcore. If you're not into this kind of music, you've probably never heard of them and have never heard their music... But you should. Because it's awesome.

Valencia
--I started listening to Valencia the summer before I came to college. It was a summer I spent with 4 of my very good friends, and we were inseparable. I still remember when I first heard “From The Second I Wake Up,” on a mix cd that we called “Booty.” That track is a little depressing, but it brings back a lot of memories. Other songs by them that are amazing: “3000 Miles,” “Backs Against The Wall,” “The Space Between.” They've released two albums, the first is a lot better. Valencia is one of my favorite bands, and I'm actually really surprised they haven't gone further/done more with their music. Highly recommended.

The Scene Aesthetic
--If you choose to never listen to any of this music, please, please, please, listen to this song: “Beauty In The Breakdown.” It is one of my favorite songs of all time, once again in part due to the memories that go along with it. This is a song that I guess you could say needs “acquired taste.” Not everyone will like it, but I promise, you need to listen to it for your life to be complete. Seriously. It's acoustic, but not depressing or too mellow, and not all of the band's music is like it. They are similar to Valencia.

A few others:
Cute is What We Aim For-- Amazing live, different music, more like emo-pop-punk. First album very original, much better than the second, tried to sell out, didn't work. Orginial stuff still good.
This Providence-- See above.
The Swellers-- Only started listening to them recently, but they're pretty awesome. Alt/punk/rock, toured with Paramore for a while. I saw them play House of Blues in Boston and they were pretty good. Also, one of the guitarists is pretty gorgeous.