New ICs and discrete components off the beaten path

I’m sure we’ve all used more TL072s and x4558s and 2n3904s and BC549s and J201s and 2n5457s than we care to remember, and I know these are tried and true components in the toolbox. I also know there’s a steady, inexorable march towards SMD packages and tech, and many throughhole components face obsolescence. Finally, i feel like I frequently encounter forum posts saying “why use those old things? there’s much better components available now” when discussing component selection.

In the analog domain, what interesting components have you found outside the standard workhorses? What awesome op amps or discrete components do you think more people should try?

I’ve started digging through TI and onsemi offerings to see what looks promising, and I was hoping those of you that design your own circuits might share some gems you’ve come across in your development. Discuss!