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The War on Drugs

Rock / Indie Rock·Music·established·United States
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UNDERRATED
Established — but their quality outshines their fame
LISTENERS
2K
YT SUBS
1
SOCIAL
204K
CHAMPIONS
0

The War on Drugs is an American rock/indie rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 2005 by Adam Granduciel and Kurt Vile. The band is currently led by Adam Granduciel with a rotating lineup of supporting musicians, and is affiliated with the label Secretly Canadian. Critics have praised albums like 'A Deeper Understanding' as the band's 'best and most complete' work and a 'masterpiece,' while fans express deep appreciation for their live performances.

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NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS (12)
  • Signed to Atlantic Records (major-label deal, June 2015) after three albums on Secretly Canadian
  • Performance at the upcoming NOS Alive'25 festival
  • Affiliated with label Secretly Canadian
  • Signed with Atlantic Records
  • Viral success on YouTube with songs like 'Thinking of a Place' and 'Red Eyes'
  • Nominated for an International Group at the BRIT Awards
  • Signed to Silva Artist Management in 2022, joining a roster with Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, and St. Vincent
  • Signed to Atlantic Records (per NME)
WHAT FANS SAY (10)

How has no one told me about this band?!?

Last.fm user · lastfm

It's painful to discover bands like this knowing it's hella unlikely they'll come to your country :(

Last.fm user · lastfm

Is there any story to etymology of their name?

Last.fm user · lastfm

When will there be a tour again

Last.fm user · lastfm

New album "almost done"! https://stereogum.com/2496637/adam-granduciel-is-almost-done-with-the-new-war-on-drugs-album-and-its-got-bi-phase-on-everything/news

Last.fm user · lastfm

My first listen was today

Last.fm user · lastfm
SIMILAR ARTISTS (11)
FREQUENTLY ASKED (5)
Q:Is The War on Drugs underrated?

The War on Drugs has a Quality-to-Fame Gap Score of 54 out of 100. there is a meaningful gap between their artistic quality and mainstream recognition. fans across Reddit, YouTube comments, and music forums independently describe them as underrated or a hidden gem. they have notable achievements including signed to atlantic records (major-label deal, june 2015) after three albums on secretly canadian.

Q:What genre is The War on Drugs?

The War on Drugs works in Rock / Indie Rock originating from United States (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). As a music artist at the "established" level, The War on Drugs has a Wikipedia presence and is categorized within the broader Rock scene. They operate independently of major label systems.

Q:How many monthly listeners does The War on Drugs have?

The War on Drugs has approximately 2K monthly listeners on Spotify. They also have 1 YouTube subscribers and approximately 204K combined social media followers. This places them in the niche tier — a small but dedicated fanbase.

Q:Who are similar artists to The War on Drugs?

Fans of The War on Drugs often also enjoy Real Estate, Kurt Vile, Fleet Foxes, The National, Beach House. These artists share common ground in the Rock space and/or the United States music scene. If you appreciate The War on Drugs's approach to rock / indie rock, these artists offer similar qualities.

Q:Why isn't The War on Drugs more famous?

With a Gap Score of 54/100, The War on Drugs's artistic quality significantly exceeds their current level of recognition (established). Contributing factors: they operate without major label backing, which limits access to radio play, editorial playlists, and mainstream press coverage; with 2K monthly listeners, they haven't yet crossed the algorithmic threshold where streaming platforms begin recommending them organically.

The War on Drugs — UNDERRATED | WHYNOTFAMOUS