Here are 10 bands/albums I'd imagine most people here haven't heard. This list focuses more on pop that isn't annoying to listen to...for me. lol
I dug up youtube videos for all of these. sometimes, I couldn't find the songs I was looking for, but it'll at least give you an idea...
Bel Canto - Shimmering, Warm and Bright
(european alternative pop. fem vox. almost every song has a different feel to it. Birds of Passage is also an excellent album.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWWj8nIvAfc Shimmering, Warm and Bright
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CBnq1RpqeY The Glassmaker
Snakefarm - Snakefarm
(female euro pop singer & a guitarist from Univers Zero do folk/blues laced pop)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuzrgu55lkA St. James
The Origin - The Origin
(acoustic pop. I prefer the first album, but I'm pretty alone in that, I'd guess. either way, both are gems, imho)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xejTtBEigos Ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpzaXtdgriE Racing With The Moon
Orbital - Snivilisation
(electronic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSZmQdvJA6A Kein Trink Wasser
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTq3XytpBz0 Forever
Frazier Chorus - Sue
(very nice euro pop sound)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDHABX7VqEk Sugar High
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jciixzij3w If the Weather Was Up To Me
Single Gun Theory - Like Stars in My Hands
(alternative pop)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k7jBTmyI1Y Words Written Backwards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hrhmj9hzjE Surrender
Waxing Poetics - Hermitage
(bluesy pop. youtube fails miserably at showcasing this band. lol. I've linked the two studio tracks from the band that I found, and a retrospective. both of these albums are good, imho. I looked for Hermitage for well over a decade before it showed up on itunes...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD4VYJxuHOA This Parade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKp-6aVQa3I Needles In The Camel's Eye
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQZZMUC4lCM Happy Days
Lunasa - Lunasa
(celtic. this album is
excellent. I haven't heard any of their others, but I love the first one.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t__oMvQAbA Márta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk7BFLAGIJU Eanair
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05unb_LWDA8 Luil
Claire Hamill - Voices
(new agey? Wonderful, wonderful album. This album is actually on the Moon. All sounds on the album come from her voice. A real treasure, IMHO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37I7egeAtSY Tides
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=movHvgaiA34 Spring Awaken...Larkrise
Il Berlione - Il Berlione (you knew this was going to be here. lol)
(prog. jazz. whatever. sadly, some of the best songs are not on youtube yet. grrr)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cp27HL3tlM Make You Die, Your Brain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEjY1x7oU3A A Triple Role
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24B5AXDMHAI Giant Image of Buddha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki1bE30xjBw Koenji Sake Bar
Bonus video. Unfortunately, the rest of the album isn't anywhere near as good as this song (it's not bad at all, just not amazing like this).
Dark - Trilok
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9LJ1rPQSd4