Looking down the list I'm seeing a lot of bands that are already all over the radios and everyone's heard of... anyone got some less well-known bands that they want to recommend or talk about? Here, I'll start with a few. =D

Metric- I don't actually know much about the band itself, but if I had to describe them in a nutshell I'd say they're the new Garbage. Chick rockers are always great for me, and I love the lyrics to their songs. I don't know what genre they'd be though... rock... indie... grunge? Something like that. Some good songs to check out are IOU, The Police and the Private, Siamese Cities, and Live it Out.

The Fratellis- I just found these guys a week ago or so and I've pretty much been listening to them nonstop. They're so catchy and energetic, it's great! They're from Scotland so they've got really charming accents too. It's rock, sort of, but it has a sort of older style to it. They seem to have a sort of 50s influence going on, but it works for them. They're also named after the villains from the movie The Goonies, which is also cool. =D Good songs to check out are Chelsea Dagger, Flathead, Creepin Up The Backstairs, Baby Fratelli, and Whistle For the Choir. Generally their old CD, Costello Music, is better than the new one.

We Are Scientists- Ok so I just checked em out because of the name. So sue me. But they have good music! Pretty typical indie fare but kind of pleasing nonetheless. I think they broke up a few years ago though... good songs to check out are After Hours, Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt, Inaction,and Impatience (that one has a really great video.)

Ivoryline- there kind of alt rock but there pritty good
i used to like scary kids scaring kids alot as well

there is this one song im in love with
its a techno song but i dont remember who its by but the song is called
the device has been modified
and a song i really right now is in the dark by DJ tiesto

and i really really like all of billy talents songs but know one has ever heard of him lol

my fav song my bill talent would have to be between lies and river below
i even found this kik-ass amv with code geass with and the song river below that was absolutly perfict
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWfqIcY0-vA

Has anyone heard of Silversun Pickups? Hopefully not >.< Been listening to them for a while now... they're under the genre of alternate rock I think... they also recently released a new album too... Swoon, most of the songs on there are good :D But I personally prefer their first album Carnavas. I think their sound is quite unique... mainly because of the lead singer, his voice is a little softer, some of my friends thought it was a girl singing, but yeah, their tunes are quite catchy

Hrmm some good songs are Common Reactor, Well Thought Out Twinkles, Lazy Eye - from Carnavas and The Royal We, Panic Switch, and It's Nice To Know You Work Alone

Mute math is also a really good band
they havethis song called chaos which when ever i listen to it for some reason i begin to make my own music video for it in my head

I love Metric. Help I'm alive is really catchy. Silversun Pickups are good, too. I'm not as fond of Panic Switch as I was with their earlier hit, the name of which escapes me [maybe Catch and Release?].

Blue October has a new CD out, and we've been playing their new song Say It at the radio station where I intern. They are amazing. My roommate when I was first at college loved them because they put out a song called Calling You, which is very cutesy and romantic, but once the album Foiled came out and she heard Hate Me, she wasn't as such a fan anymore. I've stuck with them, though, and I like the darker side more than the romantic stuff.

There are a couple of songs I saw the videos for on another site in place of ads [which was a refreshing change of place]. Ra Ra Riot's song Can You Tell is sweet with a touch of creepy--essentially this guy likes this girl but is okay to ogle her sister if the girl falls for someone else. Riverboat Gamblers have a song called A Choppy, Yet Sincere Apology that is great despite it being about depression and anti-depressants. Still got a great chorus, though.

Finally there's Zox, a local band I absolutely adore. They did a rock version of Pachebel's Canon in D that is amazing. They have another song called Goodnight which my sister wants to sing in a talent show when school's back in session [it's nice there's actually music I like that's kid-friendly, even if it's not kid-intended], and my new favorite, Line in the Sand. Unless you live in New England you probably won't hear them on the radio, but that's why we have the internet, so go get educated, my friends!

Aww no Post-hardcore love? If you liked underoath and swear to warped tour, check out a few of these less mainstream/upcoming bands

DanceGavinDance: One of my most fav bands. Every song contains collideing melodies, harmonies that ofter catch you off guard, and key changes left and right. They often combined a high pitched main singer with screaming as backing vocals. Every song is catchy and unpredictable. If you have a chance to see them a warp tour DO IT. you won't regret it.

A few other great post-hardcore bands are Chiodos, Attack Attack, A day to Rember, and Emarosa. Great if your getting tired of you grindcore and need to tune it down or want a step up from your getting old fast pop-rock bands.

Ps: Silversun Pickups are an amazeing band. Great chilling relaxed type of playing/sound. But with them becoming more and more mainstream, i just hope they don't go down the dark path like foo fighters and linkin park did for me >.<

Jenx, you just managed to speak about one of my fav bads ever! We are scientists < 3
But they didn't breakup xD They're still an active band
About Fratellis, i find their songs extremely funny, and they're just one of those bands that makes me sing along even though i'm not a big fan

Ish.. non-mainstream, i could make a list so huge that wouldn't even fit in here -.-' But to avoid such a thing let me control myself

First comes one of my fav bands, if not my fav, Death Cab for Cutie - I admit that some might not like it and say it's too emotional for them, but Ben Gibbard's lyrics and voice are just amazing, the man is a genius
And I would recommend listening to Gravepine Fires, Bixby Canyon Bridge and and *trying to choose just one* Marching Bands Of Manhattan

Then let me just talk about Patrick Wolf - and all i have to say is.. that freakish girl looking Guy is an effing genius!!
And his latest album is just ajdahlasdikajd

And sorry if you already know them but they are quite unknown here in my country and it's hard to know what others know -.-'

I'm not going to say to much but what I wil say is that I would recommend the band Nightwish.

Hrmm I don't suppose Saosin is any good here? Their stint with Anthony Green was really good stuff before he left T_T not that the new guy isn't good... the songs off the self-titled album was still good... but yeah, if only he stayed :(

Pop-rock aye... The Getaway Plan? Even though they've broken up, some of their songs aren't too bad :D

Anyone heard of The Fall of Troy? Their songs are kinda heavy and maybe way too much for some people, but yeah, the tunes are awesome The Dark Trail, Quarter Past, and Semi-Fiction are good :D

@icequbeman: I really hope Silversun Pickups don't go mainstream... In my opinion, they did alright with the new album, but I personally think Carnavas is better >.<

Oh god how could i have forgotten fall of troy! >.> one of the first bands to get me into post-hardcore.

meh i feel pop-rock's sound is being slightly destroyed due to the bands who control it on the mainstream now (fall out boy I'm looking at you)...but moving on...

@algesie the getaway plan! how was i pissed the day i heard they broke up. if only they would come back together (along with skywalker and a few other pop-rock bands that died in the emo explosion.) But for a sound slightly similar that still do exist i would try "over it" or even armor for sleep. and in many musical aspects carnavas is a better band than sliversun pickups...but all a depends on the mood I'm in if ill even listen to either.

I don't know if this is the right bend to contribute but it certainly isn't mainstream.

Machinae Supremacy - a rock/alternative band using SID chip which is mostly used in commodore games for their variety of songs... the band is from Sweden and they kick ass with their unique songs and ofc with their hard sound. The best thing about this bend is that they started out with open/avaliable download of ALL their songs on their site... then they redone the site -.-

Masugn - a forerunner of MaSu (short from Machinae Supremacy). Very good stuff. Heavy sound, hard voice. Some kind of alternative... band :)

If forum rules alow it I'm posting some sample song for your listening pleasure (it's not a crime since all of em were avaliable for dl recently):

http://www.box.net/shared/3635t8c8wk - Masugn - Control
http://www.box.net/shared/8qzzmd4ltr - machinae_supremacy-loot_burn_kill_repat (instrumental)
http://www.box.net/shared/ec7mesmwwk - machinae_supremacy-edge_and_pearl

Not sure if Manic Street Preachers count, but I love them

Shiny Toy Guns - They're on the verge of mainstream, especially with Le Disko, but never quite make it. I love their style, it's a great blend of modern rock with '80s rock, and a splash of Electronica. I liked them more when Carrah Faye was still on vocals, even though Sisley Treasure is still great. Their version of Major Tom used in that commercial was great.

Automatic Loveletter - Juliet Simms is amazing. Her voice is wonderful and their music styling is great, modern rock/punk, with awesome lyrics. I can hardly choose a favorite song, I love all of them!

Eisley - Such a wonderful band. Their melodic vocals are to die for. They're very serene, while still rocking out loud. Telescope Eyes is one of my favorite songs ever, it's a perfect blend of the two genres they cover.

An Horse - They remind me a lot of Tegan and Sara. They're not as popular as they should be. Camp Out and Horizons are all that plays on my iPod right now. xD

Owen is pretty good. It's really chill and pretty easy listening. I wouldn't advise listening to him too much however because his lyrics are sometimes quite sad so you're bound to become depressed with too much exposure.
On of my favorite albums is [At home with]

I agree with Metric's Help I'm Alive being very addictive. The first time I heard it was in an AMV on youtube. The song was stuck in my head for a whole day.

I recently saw the music video air on Much Music. It made me very happy

I'm also into Epica and Nightwish