Often Overlooked Bands?

[mosholu]

I think the issue with the Cars was that they never had that a charismatic front man that the public could take to, say like Sting.

My choices would be Los Lobos, Crowded House/Neil Finn and J. Geils.
Maybe it has something to do with being from Boston but Geils, like the Cars, get no respect and their first two albums were great examples of blues based rock and they smoked live. it is a shame that all they seem to be remembered for is Centerfold.
Los Lobos over the last 30 years have put out album after album of consistently good music with very good songwriting and guitar playing.
Crowded House makes intelligent pop music. Everyone I play them for likes them but they never seem to catch on.