the criminally underrated

[Guest saturnmark4life]

ok,

 

rocket from the crypt - basically cos i can take all this retro styley influx well enough, especially the hives, but they all pale in comparison to RFTC. i'm still collecting with them, i've had 'scream, dracula, scream%' for ages, but only just got Group Sounds. both are absolutely fantastic. i've got hot charity as well.

 

Melvins - purely for the fact 'stag' HAS to be one of the best albums ever made. It blends theit heavy stuff like 'the bit' with the trippier, more harmonious stuff like 'hide' marvellously.

 

Frank Black and the catholics - Mr. Thompson will always suffer from being compared directly to the pixies, and this sometimes means his solo stuff doesn't get appreciated. It's never going to be as revolutionary, but then it's altogether a different style of music. 'Black letter days', 'teenager of the year' and 'dog in the sand' are all great albums. The only one he's released which is questionable is 'the cult of ray'

 

The butthole surfers - Is anyone here into them? my posts relating to them have been somewhat no-sold. If the solo on 'day of the dying alive' (an early version of 'jimi' from the 'hairway to steven' LP) doesn't have you laughing like a maniac on your bedroom floor then, well, you have more self control than i do.

 

beat yourselves up% (then reply)

[Guest LooseCannon]

I like all of your picks, though I think they're all pretty spotty in terms of quality.

 

Houdini and Stag are both good albums in my mind, though the rest of the Melvins output tends to bore the shit outta me.

 

I've only heard Teenager of the Year as far as Frank Black's solo stuff, but I liked it a lot.

 

The Butthole Surfers have always been spotty, but Locust Abortion Technician, Rembrandt Pussyhorse , and Independant Worm Saloon are all fun albums.

 

I'll have to think a little bit about my own picks.

[Guest saturnmark4life]

yeah, melvins are often an aquired taste, i have gluey porch treatments (with all the garage demos as well) and it's just difficult to listen to. butthole surfers are on a steady decline these days. They should come to the UK then quit i haven't got rembrandt pussyhorse, but LAT and IWS are both damn good, as are hairway to steven and electriclarryland. The new b sides collection (humpty dumpty LSD) is damn good as well. I hope they release more of those.

[Guest LooseCannon]

My picks:

 

1: Oasis. Why must suckas compare them to the Beatles and that no good woohoo band? Definitly Maybe and Morning Glory are both fabulous little albums of blissful pop mastery. Come on, you know you love "Champagne Supernova" as much as I do.

 

2. Sex Pistols. The Clash and the Ramones get so much more respect than these guys almost solely because of image considerations. (Well, and also because people like to pretend that London Calling was a good idea.) But Never Mind the Bollocks... is a fucking good album.

 

3. Bad Religion. If I read another review of a newer BR album where some disinterested dipshit throws the conventional line that it sounds just like every other Bad Religion album, I'm gonna fucking kill someone, likely with my bare hands, and this time it won't be a prostitute. In fact, it just might be someone you care about. Spread the word.

 

4. Eminem. A lot of white people seem very self-conscious about giving any sort of credit to a white rapper, and a lot of people are dismissive toward him because his videos get played on TRL, and there've been the controversies that everyone is familiar with. But he's definitly one of the best rappers today. And in terms of breadth of styles, few can touch him. Plus he knows how to treat a woman.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

For me, it's the Deftones. ALWAYS get shoved into this whole nu metal/raprock collection and that really is too bad because they offer quite a bit more, easily the best lyricist out there today in Chino IMO.

 

Glassjaw is getting some acclaim so I shall leave them off.

 

Ah but I shall not leave off Amen. NASTY guitar riffs with pure unfiltered rage. Really does put the SLipknots of the world in perspective.

 

In the same sense, I think Mudvayne and American Head charge are better than given crddit for. Mudvayne is a bit eh, but the he can sings and the lyrics are solid when he's not saying fuck every other word. And I just cannot say enough for AHC.

 

I'm also rambling.

[Guest Cerebus The Aardvark]

2. Sex Pistols.  The Clash and the Ramones get so much more respect than these guys almost solely because of image considerations.  (Well, and also because people like to pretend that London Calling was a good idea.)  But Never Mind the Bollocks... is a fucking good album.  

Actually, it's more because The Clash could, you know, play their instruments and write songs. I hate The Ramones and the Sex Pistols, and it has nothing to do with image; it's all about the music, brother.

 

Additionally, over the years, I've heard more praise heaped on the Sex Pistols (and The Ramones) than on The Clash; quite a bit more. Just saying.

 

That is all.

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

Oasis, YES!!!

 

Sheesh, why bother calling them Beatles knockoffs? Isn't that a GOOD thing to be compared to the greatest band ever?

 

Fo sheez,

Kotzenjunge

[Guest saturnmark4life]

Oasis?? ARRRRGH. the only track i've ever remotely liked was 'cigarettes and alcohol' and that's a bit of a stretch.

 

have to agree that mudvayne and AHC are better than they get credit for, the singer in mudvayne is shit, but the rhythm section is damn good. AHC were great live as well.

I also have to say, that slipknot are largely underrated. They're not GREAT or anything, but i think they have actually done a handful of half decent songs, again the singer's just an asshole with an annoying voice.

 

Oh and i nearly pissed on a copy of kerrang i flicked through the other day because they basically stretched out a whole paragraph about mushroomhead to read 'they're not poppy so we don't care about them' whilst plastering the fact mushroomhead were on the kerrang mini tour all over the same magazine. FUCKERS.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Acid Bath-Blatantly ripped off by every band to come out in the latter half of the 90's-Today, only they did a piss-poor job of ripping them off. Insanely talented bands, with the best drugged-out lyrics you will EVER hear.

 

The Who-Fast and heavy before there was fast and heavy.

 

Pink Floyd's obscure/concept stuff-Everyone's heard The Wall, and Dark Side of the Moon, but they've got a lot of material that just goes completely unnoticed. Obscured by Clouds and Meddle are their 2 best albums, IMO.

[Guest Anorak]

ok,

 

rocket from the crypt - basically cos i can take all this retro styley influx well enough, especially the hives, but they all pale in comparison to RFTC. i'm still collecting with them, i've had 'scream, dracula, scream%' for ages, but only just got Group Sounds. both are absolutely fantastic. i've got hot charity as well.

I always thought RFTC and New Bomb Turks did that kind of garage rock/punk stuff better than bands like The Hives who have got big the last year or two. The White Stripes are different enough for me to get into them whereas The Hives very similar to those two bands, only not quite as good. I've never come across "Hot Charity" anywhere, I heard it was meant to be as good as anything RFTC have done before or since.

 

Monster Magnet: They take all the cliche's of rock'n'roll and just make the most perfect and enjoyable albums. Lyrically they are at once clever, dumb and cynical with one foot placed in the real world and the other in some bad drug trip. They were instrumental in the stoner rock movement that produced bands such as Kyuss, Fu Manchu, Nebula and of course the excellent Queens Of The Stone Age.Their sound has become less heavier than it once was but the songs are just as good. "Spine Of God" was one of the definitive rock albums of the 90's and they have enjoyed quite a consistant career. "Powertrip" got rave reviews in the rock press (Kerrang album of the year etc) but they seem to get less recognition now.

 

Mark Lanegan: A very talented singer who used to front The Screaming Trees and works with Queens Of The Stone Age a lot these days. His solo stuff is excellent and well worth checking out as long as you aren't expecting anything heavy as the sound is mostly accoustic folk/blues territory. "Whiskey For The Holy Ghost" is arguably the best of his very fine output to date. The "I'll Take Care Of You" covers album is a great collection of folk/blues/country songs by relatively unheralded artists as far as mainstream music goes and demonstrated just what a talented singer and interpreter of songs he is.

 

Ron Sexsmith: Elliott Smith has had dozens of mentions on this board but I can't remember Sexsmith ever being mentioned. I thought the fact Elvis Costello HEAVILY pimped his debut album would have convinced a few of you to check him out but it seems not. Hasn't got the best voice in the world but like all good singer songwriters it fits perfectly with his music which is very understated and often whimsical. I love the sentiment and general world view of his lyrics which tend to consist of either confused bewilderment or wistfull bittersweet tone rather than self-obsessed angst.

 

Eels: Mainly due to the fact I think "Electro-Shock Blues" is a masterpiece. Like the other artists I listed Eels have enjoyed critical and even a little commercial success but they simply aren't held in the same esteem as far lesser bands. "Electro-Shock Blues", although far different, is right up there with the most traumatic albums ever recorded theme wise as the songs addressed the recent death and suicide of the singer's mother and sister. What is so astounding is that the depression is tackled head on by the songs so by the albums close it seems like he has managed to come out the other side and vowed to carry on with life again. It may not be the best song to ever appear on the end of analbum but "PS. You Rock My World" is as good as it gets when it comes to real closure. The other albums are very good as well btw.

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

Definitely throw in my votes for The Sex Pistols (Nevermind The Bollocks is among the greatest albums EVER), Amen (got both of their albums after hearing "Coma America" for the first time, and they both are, as Mindless said, pure and unfiltered rage), and Monster Magnet.

 

I'd like to throw in...

Beyond The Embrace - While their NEHM brethren Shadows Fall and Converge get all of the respect, Beyond The Embrace sit quietly and wait for their time to shine on the metal circuit. Their debut LP on Metal Blade Records, Against The Elements, shows pure musical mastery that ANY metal fan should appreciate. If Shadows Fall is being called a "newer Metallica," then Beyond The Embrace is a "newer Megadeth," albeit lacking the "Dave Mustaine" connection (if anything, All That Remains would be the Megadeth to Shadows Fall's Metallica, as Phil, ex-vocalist of Shadows Fall, fronts All That Remains). Download some of their stuff, you might discover you like it (although I doubt you will, Agent, because they use MELODY with their heaviness).

 

Six Feet Under - These guys get ragged on WAY too much. Yeah, they deserve it, but their first 2 or 3 albums were MASTERPIECES. You cannot honestly listen to Haunted without going "holy shit, Barnes leaving Cannibal Corpse was a great move."

[Guest Espalda]

ok,

 

rocket from the crypt - basically cos i can take all this retro styley influx well enough, especially the hives, but they all pale in comparison to RFTC. i'm still collecting with them, i've had 'scream, dracula, scream%' for ages, but only just got Group Sounds. both are absolutely fantastic. i've got hot charity as well.

I always thought RFTC and New Bomb Turks did that kind of garage rock/punk stuff better than bands like The Hives who have got big the last year or two. The White Stripes are different enough for me to get into them whereas The Hives very similar to those two bands, only not quite as good. I've never come across "Hot Charity" anywhere, I heard it was meant to be as good as anything RFTC have done before or since.

 

"Hot Charity" was reissued this summer on CD with "Cut Carefully & Play Loud." And the new RFTC record "Live From Camp X-Ray" came out this past Tuesday.

[Guest snuffbox]

Relative Ash - Infinitely talented metal band from Chicago. Played from about 1998 to this year. Released one cd, Our Time With You, and put on live shows that were near religious experiences. Very cool guys who never got what they earned and deserved. They were dropped by Island this year, presumably to make room for their def leppard bust and officially broke up this past month.

 

One Minute Silence, Workhorse Movement, Our Lady Peace, Snot, Alice in Chains, Blind Melon and local metal band Phixface could all stand to get a lil more respect and attention.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

good call on Snot. Rap/rock actually done well.

[Guest LooseCannon]

Actually, it's more because The Clash could, you know, play their instruments and write songs. I hate The Ramones and the Sex Pistols, and it has nothing to do with image; it's all about the music, brother.

 

Additionally, over the years, I've heard more praise heaped on the Sex Pistols (and The Ramones) than on The Clash; quite a bit more. Just saying.

 

That is all.

See it's this mentality that to me makes them underrated. Sid Vicious was the only member of the Sex Pistols that was essentially worthless. He could barely play the frigging bass and I'm assuming he didn't add a whole lot in the song writing department. I think a close listen to Never Mind the Bollocks... reveals that the other guys could indeed write songs. Maybe they didn't fuck around with weird, overrated, caucasion reggae, but they could write songs nonetheless.

 

Also, I think it goes in cycles in terms of how much the Clash vs Sex Pistols gets praised by mainstream publications. But among people I know, people tend to shit their pants for the Clash, while scoffing at the Sex Pistols.

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

Agent likes Snot...

 

...yet not Amen, which is Snot without the rapping...

 

...or Stuck Mojo, which is rap/metal, and the only true rap/metal band ever in existence...

 

Argh...

 

EDIT: Speaking of Stuck Mojo...

 

Stuck Mojo - I think my marking-out for this band, which formed in 1990 as a funk/rap/metal/hardcore quartet in Atlanta, is well-known. They were rap/metal before the thought of blending rap and metal was really thought of as more than a one-off novelty for Anthrax and Public Enemy. Rich Ward is greatness on guitar, Bud is a good drummer, and Bonz could flow like a motherfucker. Ward is also among the greatest lyricists EVER, as far as I'm concerned.

[Guest godthedog]

i'd be more than happy to never compare oasis to the beatles. in fact, i'd love to never have to think of the beatles when i think of oasis, because i hate bringing the beatles down to that level. but this could only happen if they didn't RIP THEM OFF EVERY CHANCE THEY GOT AND CONSTANTLY COMPARED THEMSELVES FAVORABLY TO THEM. "i think if this was 1966, we'd be the beatles." "'songbird' is as good as anything john lennon ever wrote." this is like michael bay saying his films are as good as 'citizen kane' and 'touch of evil'. when your songs are crappy AND you compare yourself to my favorite thing in the world, i will start to hate you. try it out at home: make your own cd full of crap & send it to me along with an interview of how you think you're as good as the beatles, and i'll send you death threats. that's just how it works.

 

and i'm not too familiar with frank black's solo stuff, but i get to see him at the 40-watt in 3 weeks. go me.

[Guest LooseCannon]

A. I always thought it was hilarious when Oasis would arrogantly compare themselves to the Beatles. Hilarious.

 

B. Their songs aren't crappy.

 

C. I love the new custom title.

[Guest godthedog]

A. i should probably find it hilarious, but i just can't emotionally detach myself enough to do it.

 

B. only songs i've ever liked by them that i've heard are "morning glory" & "hello."

 

C. thanks, i thought i'd try to capitalize on the one thing people here finally know me for.

[Guest saturnmark4life]

i'd be more than happy to never compare oasis to the beatles. in fact, i'd love to never have to think of the beatles when i think of oasis, because i hate bringing the beatles down to that level. but this could only happen if they didn't RIP THEM OFF EVERY CHANCE THEY GOT AND CONSTANTLY COMPARED THEMSELVES FAVORABLY TO THEM. "i think if this was 1966, we'd be the beatles." "'songbird' is as good as anything john lennon ever wrote." this is like michael bay saying his films are as good as 'citizen kane' and 'touch of evil'. when your songs are crappy AND you compare yourself to my favorite thing in the world, i will start to hate you. try it out at home: make your own cd full of crap & send it to me along with an interview of how you think you're as good as the beatles, and i'll send you death threats. that's just how it works.

 

and i'm not too familiar with frank black's solo stuff, but i get to see him at the 40-watt in 3 weeks. go me.

GO YOU% he's tremendous live, saw him last year. He plays a lot of pixies songs as well, gouge away is FUCKING AWESOME. Enjoy%

 

oh and i didn't know about the new RFTC album, i'm there.

[Guest godthedog]

i've started downloading whatever i can of his on kazaa, & i like it a lot. especially 'pray for the girls'.

[Guest saturnmark4life]

pray for the girls? i don't think i've heard that. I could recommend loads, but ones that spring to mind are

1826

california bound

bullet

Los Angeles

I need peace

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Agent likes Snot...

 

...yet not Amen, which is Snot without the rapping...

 

...or Stuck Mojo, which is rap/metal, and the only true rap/metal band ever in existence...

 

Argh...

Nah, you've got me wrong. I think Snot's decent, I've never heard Amen, and I'm indifferent to Stuck Mojo.

[Guest mesepher]

I don't think any of those punk bands are underrated at all... just about everyone walking the streets who knows a bit about music can tell you who the main three original punk groups where... They have the name recognition, and therefore are automatically more wellknown and ranked higher in terms of musical ability than say, the David Grisman Quartet... who are musically amazing, just not wellknown by the casual

[Guest saturnmark4life]

I'm gonna throw NOFX in here, i mean they do get recognition but give or take they are the ONLY punk band still worth listening to. Rancid seem to get bashed a lot as well, i can't see why. Their rancid 2k release is actually a lot better than most of their earlier stuff.

[Guest Brian]

The Kinks. Great band who didn't get their due when they came over in the British invasion. Ray Davies is one of the most underrated song writers ever, and Dave is one of the most underrated guitar heroes ever.

[Guest FeArHaVoC]

The Pretty Things

 

Tesla

 

Skid Row's "Slave to The Grind"

 

Also, I think Aerosmith is Highly underrated on this board. I know some will say "their Sell outs, All about the Money, Corporate PoP/Rock Crap." But, unlike The Stones, Kiss and other Older, established bands, they don't make a Huge Production about it, Charge outrages prices and say "Our last Tour, Retirement Tour, Farewell Tour" and then come back a year or two later and do the same thing. Plus, they still rock better then most on Stage.

[Guest Anorak]

I'd put "Toys In The Attic" and especially "Rocks" on before any Zeppellin album but I would guess most people here wouldn't. Until the drugs caught up with them by "Draw The Line" Aerosmith were great.

[Guest converge241]

Zao

Glassjaw

Nick Drake

Afghan Wigs

God LIves Underwater

Pop Will Eat Itself

Hellacopters

Kyuss

[Guest Kinetic]

A lot of it depends on what your sources are. If you're going by popular opinion on this board, then just about everything other than Metallica and the Beatles is underrated. More widespread critical opinion is a different thing altogether. For instance, I don't think The Kinks are particularly underrated. Every article on British Invasion stuff mentions them and they're constantly cited as being a major influence on 90s Britpop. They're not as fondly remembered as The Beatles, The Stones, or The Who, but I imagine that's just indicative of their actual popularity in the 60s.

 

Nick Drake is another example of someone not being overrated. If anything, he's overrated. He released three good-to-great little British folk albums that every hipster worth their weight in Smiths singles probably owns by this point. He's since gotten credit for ushering in or influencing a lot of things that most likely would have existed either way. Like Belle and Sebastian, for instance. I'm not even sure where that comparison comes from. So while I consider myself a fan of Nick Drake, I've never really understood where all of the praise and accolades come from. He was just pretty good.