for the most part i would agree, but "the process of belief" was absolutely awesome. unfortunate that they couldn't carry it over to the latest one.

also, i second jawbreaker, as i usually do when it comes to discussing major label failures that shouldn't have been.

I'll nominate a couple:

Sloan - Unfortunately these power poppers showed up at the height of grunge and their label didn't promote them properly other than the initial video for "underwhelmed". Faded from view in the US by and large. Label problems have haunted them throughout their career. Being Canadian hasn't endeared them to American audiences. Why? because other than college stations, when was the last time you heard praise for Sloan and their prolific output? They could have been huge.

Dwight Twilley - still chugging along at 3 decades and counting. Again, major label love then indeference, and now subsequently diy (and still) churning out great pop songs. The guy is a genius.

And alas, I'm afraid the same fate will befall Spoon. The Agony of Laffitte properly chronicles their boot from a "major". Sure they are on Merge and kicking butt at the moment, but the mainstream and the clearchannel universe will likely never discover them. Sad really.

Yeah, but it's not really surprising. They're not even that big here in Canada. Solid output though.

I'll second Failure.
Also Brainiac?