Underrated Artists!Music

[exigeracer]

Same deal as Max Power's thread. Underrated means that they have been around for a while but still aren't getting the recognition that they deserve. Some local punk band your little brother's friend plays bass for is not underrated, they're just small and unknown. I'm talking people who've made a bunch of albums and aren't getting what they deserve for their work.

I'll nominate Violent Femmes. Sure they're old, but kids these days are listening to 60's music, so why not pull back these Femmes' stuff? They have such an authentically unique sound, I don't know of any acoustic bands that have such a good feel to their music. The rhythms that they use are really damn interesting, and their lyrics are pretty creative as well. I always laugh when I hear American Music.

Let's keep it at a good level of civilized discussion, more or less like Max's thread.

👍

 

[OZZYGT]

In my opinion..mmmm..,

Billy Joel
Megadeth (they don't have that many ablums but to me they are as good as Metallica)
AC/DC
Iron Maiden
Juda's Priest
Janes Addiction
Lenny Kravitz
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Goldfinger I would say
And Tesla.

(I mentioned those bands that are pretty famous but still haven't recieved the recognition they deserve...I don't know if Jane's Addiction deserves it though )

 

[Spock]

Paranoid Social Club.

 

[Speedy Samurai]

In my opinion..mmmm..,


AC/DC
Iron Maiden
Judas Priest

You think some of the best selling metal/rock artists of all time are underrated?

 

[Canadian Speed]

Jerry Douglas... Check him out on Pandora... Amazing guitar guy... He's a hired gun as well who's appeared on various albums from people you've likely heard... Amazing... Not all of his "songs" are instrumental, though the best ones are...

Don Ross... Another incredible guitar guy... You'll have to check him out on his own web site, as he's not on Pandora... But another guy that will just make your head spin... (not electric either... all on a flat top or classica guitar with no tricks a la Tim Reynolds, not that he isn't good either).

Crowded House... Now before you jump all over this... Give me a mintue. I saw them live, they sounded as though they were recorded. I thought it was, until they asked the audience to shout out subjects at the stage, kind of like the "Ho Down" game from Who's Line. At any rate, they went on to sing an amazing song that was apparently made up right on the spot... Also, all of their music is very decent.

Rush... Folks who know, like Rush. Though as of late, it would appear as though their praise has dropped considerably. Considering they're only a three piece band, the have a great and full sound. Geddy plays bass and foot peddles at the same time. Lifeson is as amazing a guitarist as anyone out there. And well Neil Peart suck right... The people who inspired Dream Theater to do what they do, the way they do it...

 

[Canadian Speed]

The edit button wouldn't work for me... Sorry guys,

I'd also like to add John Hiatt to the list of hugely underrated artists. As an artist, his music shadows the events of his life very well. His songs have also tranceded various genres and have been played by various artists such as Counting Crows, Bonnie Riatt, BB King, Eric Clapton, and even the king of song writting Bob Dylan himself. A "best of" would easily contain various songs, that although not sung by the artist you may have heard singing the songs, are familliar and also usually liked. His styles have ranged from New Age, Blues, Country, Rock and Roll, and just plain Rock. Truely a musician's music man...

It'll Come to You: The Songs of John Hiatt (compilation of cover versions of John Hiatt songs), Vanguard Records, 2003.

Bonnie Raitt - Thing Called Love
Willie Nelson - The Most Unoriginal Sin
Rodney Crowell - She Loves The Jerk
Rosanne Cash - The Way We Make A Broken Heart
Linda Ronstadt - When We Ran
B.B. King & Eric Clapton - Riding With The King
Emmylou Harris - Icy Blue Heart
Nick Lowe & His Cowboy Outfit - She Don't Love Nobody
Freddy Fender - Across The Borderline
Buddy Guy - Feels Like Rain
Patty Griffin - Take It Down
Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise - It'll Come To You
Buddy & Julie Miller - Paper Thin

 

[High-Test]

I'd honestly say ZZ top.

Even though they've made millions and have a cult following, most people today seem to think of them as a hairy, glammy MTV group. Not so. They started in the late 60s/early 70s as a blues rock group. They have a history of having sexual innuendos in their songs, and they have a prevalent masculine theme. (cars/girls/clothes/sex etc.) But, all the corporate stuff aside, they have a truly unique sound. Billy Gibbons usually plays with a peso or a quarter, and the electric blues/rock sound can easily identify their songs. I truly don't think that there's a band around that has quite the same sound as ZZ Top.


I would say cream, but I think that they're finally getting the attention they deserved. (37 years too late)

 

[Canadian Speed]

Pre 80s/Pre Afterburner (though Sleeping Bag is a good song) ZZ Top was amazing Texas/Southern Rock at it's finnest... I think they became the victims of the MTV movement and lost a step once songs like Legs and Sharp Dressed Man came out from Eliminator. In a way, you could kind of say Eliminator eliminated them a little... Good band though... Fun band...

 

[Omnis]

Sleep of Oldominion
Optimus Rhyme
Dirtbike Annie
John Fewell "DJ John"
Crown City Rockers
Shing02
Del Tha Funky Homosapien
SNMNMNM
Game Over
Calamine

 

[Max Powers]

Sage Francis - good hip-hop with really intelligent and creative lyrics.
John Mayer Trio - Gets a bad rep 'cause of John Mayer's lame pop albums, but boy can he play the guitar, really good blues sound.

The Flaming Lips - They're pretty popular among their fans, but the average person that I talk to usually doesn't know much by them. I hear something new every time I listen to them.

Also, I disagree with ZZ Top being underrated, they're certainly good, but I don't think they're underrated. I consider them one of the best rock bands around, especially Southern Rock. I've always had a certain respect for them, because even though they're incredibly talented, they don't take themselves very seriously at all, which is awesome. Anybody who dismisses ZZ Top because they were on MTV doesn't know what they're talking about.

My favorite thing about ZZ Top though, is that the only guy in the band without a beard is named Frank Beard.

 

[OZZYGT]

You think some of the best selling metal/rock artists of all time are underrated?

Look mate, like I said at the end of the post, I listed famous bands that in my opinion, haven't recieved the recognition they deserve...however, you are right about Iron Maiden, they shouldn't be in that list because they did sell tons of albums, but Juda's Priest and AC/DC, didn't sell as many albums, (with the exception of High Voltage, and Highway to Hell) and to me...I don't know...they are just not there...I've seen more respect for bands like KISS or Poison than these guys. Again, my comment is not based on sold records, is just popularity.

Another band that is not being played in the classic rock or modern rock radio stations is Anthrax, they have what it takes to be considered as "Sweet Classic Metal"

Ciao...

 

[BMWteamPTG]

metallica's rep has decreased too. being a fan, looking forward to their album being release soon (within a year i believe), makes me sad to know that most everyone else who is not a fan, cant wait to bad mouth their new album.

 

[Speedy Samurai]

Look mate, like I said at the end of the post, I listed famous bands that in my opinion, haven't recieved the recognition they deserve...however, you are right about Iron Maiden, they shouldn't be in that list because they did sell tons of albums, but Juda's Priest and AC/DC, didn't sell as many albums, (with the exception of High Voltage, and Highway to Hell) and to me...I don't know...they are just not there...I've seen more respect for bands like KISS or Poison than these guys. Again, my comment is not based on sold records, is just popularity.

I do see where you are coming from, but the key here is the word 'rate'. How do you rate something artistic like music? You go by record sales, and concert numbers, etc. AC/DC has been able to put together a 20 year career playing just 3 chords and playing to sold out shows for years. How is that underrated?

Underrated bands:

Celldweller: One guy, does it all himself, genre breaking.

Stabbing Westward: Thought these guys composed some great songs and Darkest Days is a classic!

Toad the Wet Sprocket: I like harmonies.

Tracy Chapman: The self-titled album is a masterpiece, and not just because of 'fast car'.

They Might be Giants: genius!

Nerf Herder: every song makes me crack up, and it's catchy too.

Nightwish: The 'Once' album is symphonic metal poetry.

H.I.M.: Valo.. is cool!

 

[gtPlanter]

Definitely Billy Joel -- my friends recently went and saw him in concert and said he was amazing...

 

[Scaff]

.I don't know if Jane's Addiction deserves it though )

Oh they do, just from the first time around. Jane's Addictions first three albums got very little attention (at least here in the UK) are are in my opinion excellent.


BTW - those that enjoy this little thread may also like the following one in a very similar vein

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=78031

Regards

Scaff

 

[OZZYGT]

Definitely Billy Joel -- my friends recently went and saw him in concert and said he was amazing...

I did go too , and he was amazing, voice...the same, body locomotion..the same, he's just a great performer. And the one that I went (April 19th) was being recorded AND chainsaw..one of his crew members sang "Highway to Hell" in the middle of the concert

Ciao....

 

[Silverzone]

Thrice. Thrice is soo awesome, they have minor successes but they diserve way more.

 

[Max Powers]

Yeah Thrice is good stuff, I like how you can hear the heavy Iron Maiden influences in a lot of their songs.

The Flaming Lips are pretty underrated. They've been making incredible music for quite a while now, and while they're certainly not doing too bad for themselves, I don't hear all that much about them either. Several of their albums are absolute masterpieces, in particular "The Soft Bulliten", and they are constantly reinventing themselves, from a band that played harder rock, to a psychadelic pop rock band, and they do it all very well.

Another great band that nobody ever knows about are the Greyboy Allstars
They mix jazz music with hip-hop beats for a really cool sound, you really have to hear it to believe it.

Along those lines Soulive are another great band that I don't hear about very much, they have a really cool jazz sound, similar to Greyboy Allstars, but just as good, if not better. Although a lot of their songs are instrumentals, they've made songs with artists such as Dave Matthews, Jurassic 5, and Talib Kweli.

 

[Danoff]

Ian Moore, hands down.

Maybe also some of the soundtrack gurus:

James Horner
Danny Elfman
John Barry
Jerry Goldsmith
James Newton Howard
Howard Shore
Wojciech Kilar

 

[TheCracker]

Crowded House... Now before you jump all over this... Give me a mintue. I saw them live, they sounded as though they were recorded. I thought it was, until they asked the audience to shout out subjects at the stage, kind of like the "Ho Down" game from Who's Line. At any rate, they went on to sing an amazing song that was apparently made up right on the spot... Also, all of their music is very decent.

Sorry, thought for a second that i'd found my way into the Vastly Overrated and Incredibly Bland Artists thread

- Janes Addiction rule - so do Porno for Pyros

 

[Duke]

They Might be Giants: genius!

YES! Been listening to 'em since '89 or so; seen them live about 8 or 9 times. Always entertaining.

Here are a few underrated bands off the top of my head:

X - hard hitting LA punk/pop band from the original era
Almighty Senators - defunct DC-area funk band
Love And Rockets - Bauhaus, minus Peter Murphy's bizarrity, has to be good
Morphine - Boston-area jazz noir rockers with a unique sound; RIP Mark Sandman
Camper Van Beethoven / Cracker - I'm a David Lowery fan
Jimmie Dale Gilmore - this is real country music
Lucinda Williams - ditto; shame on you, Nashville
Beck - yes, he's underrated - Odelay was just the beginning; he didn't start taking anything seriously until later
The The - Matt Johnson: take bitter cynical self-loathing and cheery one-man-band pop melodies, mix well
Joe Jackson - from sparse new wave to lush big band, 2:50 singles to concept albums - very versatile musician with very craft-oriented songwriting
The White Stripes - forget the hype, forget the controversy, forget the stupid Rolling Stone list, and listen - music so simple it's complicated; lyrics that sound goofy but that lay bare lots of emotion and careful self-observation. Jack White is single-handedly keeping the Chicago/Detroit blues alive in spirit if not in dogmatic form
Southern Culture On The Skids - white socks, red necks, dirt tracks, cheap beer, bedroom humor - and the hottest rockabilly/surf guitarwork around, backed by a very tight rhythm section

Honestly, I fail to understand how you guys can nominate some of the most famous icons of the popular music world (Lenny Kravitz? Billy Joel?!) as "underrated". Overrated, if anything.

 

[Scaff]

Sorry, thought for a second that i'd found my way into the Vastly Overrated and Incredibly Bland Artists thread

- Janes Addiction rule - so do Porno for Pyros

Never did get to see Janes Addiction live, but I did see Porno for Pyros at Glastonbury. Wonderful set as well.

Just thought of another one (and I agree with Duke's list as well) and thats Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, 'Into my arms' is my song to my wife.

Regards

Scaff

 

[TheCracker]

Beck - yes, he's underrated - Odelay was just the beginning; he didn't start taking anything seriously until later

👍

The White Stripes - forget the hype, forget the controversy, forget the stupid Rolling Stone list, and listen - music so simple it's complicated; lyrics that sound goofy but that lay bare lots of emotion and careful self-observation. Jack White is single-handedly keeping the Chicago/Detroit blues alive in spirit if not in dogmatic form

In a world of 'over-produced' rock the White Stripes manage to strip it down to basics and still wipe the floor with the rest of them.

Never did get to see Janes Addiction live, but I did see Porno for Pyros at Glastonbury. Wonderful set as well.

Watched Porno for Pyros at the Reading Festival, probably the same year they appeared at Glasto.

Perry rules!

 

[TwinTurboJay]

I am a huge fan of Lenny Kravitz and Shawn Mullins. Both hugely talented multi faceted musicians that have not just stuck themselves in a musical rut. Listening to their libraries confirms, Shawns more so than Lenny's, of their own love for music in all forms, and their passion for creating music for musicians and esp. people who don't just love one single genre .

 

[Joey D]

Beck - yes, he's underrated - Odelay was just the beginning; he didn't start taking anything seriously until later

I love Beck, some of the coolest music I've heard. But you are right his later stuff is better.

 

[TheCracker]

I love Beck, some of the coolest music I've heard. But you are right his later stuff is better.

I still think that 'Loser' was the best he's done - one of my favourite tracks of all time.

...don't know what that says about me

 

[exigeracer]

Eels

Just got the Live at Town Hall without knowing that it was an orchestral event. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that it was more than listenable, it was really likable in every way. Perfect relaxation music, with realy depressing lyrics mind you. Check 'em out.

 

[den brakke]

The Screaming Trees

One of the best grungerockbands in my opinion. They never got out of Nirvana's and Pearl Jam's shadow.

 

[Silverzone]

Gwar. They Make Me Chuckle.

Cky.. Awesomeness to the max.

 

[relayer]

Yes
Don Cherry
MF Doom
John Robinson
Madlib