"Trees" by Marty Casey & Lovehammers

The Lovehammers are a modern rock band that got started in the mid-90s but couldn't score a major label deal until lead singer Marty Casey became the runner-up on the singing competition show called Rockstar: INXS. Remember this? When the remaining members of INXS held a contest to see who would become their new lead singer? J.D. Fortune won the gig, but it gave Marty Casey and his band great publicity.

In 2006, they released their one and only major label record as a self-titled effort that highlighted Casey's name (other releases are simply by Lovehammers). "Trees" had all the makings of a hit that could sustain the band, but I guess they were barking up the wrong one. The song failed to chart and the band went back to indie releases. Other worthy tracks include "Eyes Can't See" and "The Riddle."

"Heaven Sent" by INXS

Hailing from Sydney, Australia, INXS slowly but surely crept their way into the US charts in the early 80s with now-classics like "The One Thing" (#30), "Don't Change" (#80), "Original Sin" (#58 - little known fact: Daryl Hall sang backup vocals on this track), and "This Time" (#81).

Everything changed in 1986 when the band broke through in a big way with the smash hit, "What You Need," which sailed to #5. The track comes from arguably one of the best records INXS ever made: "Listen Like Thieves." This record, along with their follow-up, "Kick," are two that I can listen the whole way through without wanting to skip any tracks.

While "Listen Like Thieves" should have produced more hit singles for the band, that moment had to wait until "Kick" came out in 1987. "Kick" produced a remarkable occurrence: the first single, "Need You Tonight" went to #1, the second single, "Devil Inside," went to #2, and the third single, "New Sensation," went to #3. The pattern ended there when the great "Never Tear Us Apart" went to #7. 

Despite yielding two more top 10 hits, the band's next record, "X," was a big disappointment. Admittedly, "Kick" was going to be nearly impossible to follow, but I think the paucity of radio-friendly hits alienated many fans.

I had high hopes that would change in 1992 with the release of "Heaven Sent." What a terrific rocking song! But it did not make an appearance on the Top 100. The band fizzled with a handful of other modest singles before the tragic suicide of sultry vocalist Michael Hutchence in 1997. 

"Lost & Found" by GUN

GUN is a hard rock band that formed in Glasgow, Scotland in the late 80s and had some minor hits off their major label debut album, "Taking On The World." Songs like "Better Days" and "Inside Out" should have done better, but were lost in the mix of all the competition from the hair bands.

The 90s started well for the band thanks to their brilliant hard rock cover of Cameo's funk hit "Word Up," which charted in several countries but not the US. But things got weird on their fourth album, which was called "0141 632 6326." Back during its release, that was a phone number fans could dial for news about the band. Many were probably calling to complain since this record was a major detour from their rock and roll style. Filled with drum loops and experimental sounds, no doubt influenced by producer Andrew Farriss of INXS, the record threw me for a loop. The band split up shortly thereafter in 1997.

In 2012, after some line-up changes that included a new lead singer, GUN released a fifth album that returned to rock, but with considerably more melody attached to it. They've been releasing outstanding records ever since that sadly have stayed under the radar. "Lost & Found" exemplifies the new sound of GUN for modern times. The band just released another terrific new album this year, "Favourite Pleasures." Check out the title track of that one if you enjoyed their reworking of "Word Up!"