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The Dungeon Of Underrated Music Gems

 
  

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rizla mission
12:49 / 28.09.01
One of the most consistantly underrated bands ever:

Luna.

(The recent live album is fucking awful, but 'The Days of our Nights' is fantastic - much neglected)
 
 
Cop Killer
19:39 / 29.09.01
Buckcherry seems to be highly underrated these days, one of the few bands that I like that I really really want to be rock stars; I mean they got the G'n'R swagger down pat. Totally ballsy rock'n'roll, very AC/DC at times. Songs about cocaine and porno stars...
 
 
Analogues On
20:38 / 29.09.01
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Green River,
Totally underrated in the context of the re-appraised 60’s. Where The Byrds, The Band and Gram Parsons have become patron saints of alt.country, roots and Americana, Creedence seem to have been relegated to also-ran status. For shame!

Buffalo Tom: Let Me Come Over.
Pop drama, restless alt-blues and tender comedowns, all wrapped in a fug of Neil Young heartbreak. Listen to this, then listen to Travis, then just weep.

Pale Saints: The Comforts of Madness.
Itchy, flaky skull-rock? Yes! Aled Jones on mescal? Class!

Also, Jad Fair and Half Japanese, Galaxie 500, The Pastels, Th’Faith Healers, Come, Bitch Magnet, Nova Mob, The Field Mice, Codeine, Seefeel, dEUS.
 
 
Spatula Clarke
20:50 / 29.09.01
For the last time:

Lee Hazlewood. Especially 'Cowboy In Sweden'.
 
 
Cop Killer
07:07 / 30.09.01
Groop Dogdrill -- I was turned on to these cats by an ex-girlfriend. I have no idea how big they are in England or wherever (all I know is that they got booed off of the stage when the opened up for Motorhead a couple of times [I used to be on a Motorhead mailing list, I know lots of odd facts about them {who are also highly underrated}]), but outside of said ex-girlfriend, I don't know anyone here that's ever heard of them. Great stuff; sounds like if Bob Mould wrote songs for the Jesus Lizard.
 
 
STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK
07:24 / 30.09.01
quote:Originally posted by E. Randy Dupre:
For the last time:

Lee Hazlewood. Especially 'Cowboy In Sweden'.


Fuck yes.

Glenn Campbell- "Wichita Lineman"
Into A Circle- "Assassins"
Strawberry Switchblade- "Strawberry Switchblade"
Swans- "Children of God"
Julian Cope- "20 Mothers".

Afraid I'm gonna have to sit out the Marillion party, guys... Hawkwind's about as far as I go...
 
 
RadJose
07:52 / 30.09.01
dude i'm soooooooo down w/ pale saints and man, the strokes, just heard that CD the other day! damn good! petsounds? good but not underrated in the least! my additions:

the univited "Artificial Hip" clever, almost too clever, alt rock, but in a GOOD way

the mr t experience "love is dead - alcatraz" clever ramones punk from the mid to late 90's the best of their work, just plain good
 
 
bio k9
07:52 / 30.09.01
quote:Originally posted by Rizla Year Zero:

Last time I looked it (Pet Sounds) was acclaimed by an army of slavering muso critics as the best album ever.


Abby Road is the best album ever.
 
 
STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK
07:52 / 30.09.01
quote:Originally posted by Bio K-9, the Judgmental Jigger:


Abby Road is the best album ever.

No way, man. White Album beats Abbey Road into a cocked hat (and no, I've never understood that phrase either...)
Too Fat To Run, Too Stupid To Hide by Creaming Jesus.
 
 
bio k9
07:52 / 30.09.01
The white album is good but nothing beats the B-side of Abby Road. NOTHING.

Underrated by whom, by the way? The record buying public? Captain Beefheart is a critical darling (moreso than even Radiohead circa 1997). He went out the way all musicians should: made some great albums and fucked off to have a life of his own (painting pictures in the desert). A legend is born.

Other "underrated" musical darlings include:
Lucinda Williams
Alexander "Skip" Spence
Robert Wyatt
Nick Drake
Tim Buckley
Hell, even the VU could fit in this catagory. The trick is togo the fuck away before you start making crap.

COP KILLER: Are you on the inside or the outside of your pants? The Makers were highly regarded by the garage rock world until the put out Psychopathia Sexualis. And have you heard Rock Star God? It goes even further in their new direction (too far if you ask me).

Modest Mouse and the Murder City Devils are two of my favorite bands but they are both fairly popular here (and were once hyped as "The Next Big Thing"tm from Seattle) so there's no way I could call them "underrated" even though no one outside of the northwest seems to have heard of them.

[ 30-09-2001: Message edited by: Bio K-9, the Judgmental Jigger ]
 
 
Spatula Clarke
14:46 / 30.09.01
quote:Originally posted by stoatie:
Fuck yes.


I want you. I want you now.
 
 
Warrington Minge
17:31 / 30.09.01
Underated classics:

REINVENTING PUNCTUALITY

MUSICALITY

both by SALAKO

I still cant belive no one has heard of them. On Jeepster ( same labe as Belle and Sebastian ).

A mixture of styles from folk to jazz to drum 'n' bass to pure pop to Gospel to psychedelia.

Check them out
 
 
Cop Killer
01:17 / 01.10.01
quote:Originally posted by Bio K-9, the Judgmental Jigger:
COP KILLER: Are you on the inside or the outside of your pants? The Makers were highly regarded by the garage rock world until the put out Psychopathia Sexualis. And have you heard Rock Star God? It goes even further in their new direction (too far if you ask me).
[ 30-09-2001: Message edited by: Bio K-9, the Judgmental Jigger ]


I have not heard Rock Star God as of yet, but I did see them on the tour of said album and they did fucking rock. Most garage people are fucking stupid anyways (I address this in my "recently bought records" post, actually) and many have actually stopped talking to me because of my devotion to Guns'N'Roses (it's like "jeez, sorry I haven't been listening to the Sonics since I was 8..."); which is why I'm redirecting my garage efforts into psychobilly, a wholly underrated genre.
 
 
uncle retrospective
20:46 / 01.10.01
Great thread and really good to see people talking about bands I normaly get things thrown me for going on about. Dream city film club, the Cranes and joy amoung joy, Swans. White light from the mouth of infinity is one of the best things ever...

But for my own two cents
The Boo Radleys. So much more than Wake Up Boo!
And the birthday Party. Yes there aclaimed but only 2 people I know have the ball to listen to it. You just have to love songs like Nick the Stripper. Listen to it on a walkman and hide under your duvet.
 
 
Locust No longer
09:12 / 02.10.01
I suppose these bands are more underground than underrated but....

1. .Thatcher on Acid. Does anyone listen to these guys but me? Started out punk then got more synth pop. Great lyrics and attitude, but no one ever mentions them.

2.Peter Brotzmann. German Sax player. Possibly the most extreme noise terrorist of them all but undeniably powerful. Someone asked Bill Clinton what he listened to that no one would ever think he would and he answered "This German Sax player named Peter Brotzmann." While this probably won't make anyone want to check him out, he is truly amazing or at the very least interesting.

Queen. Yes, Queen, you bastards. One cool riff after another, and Mercury is the best rock singer ever.

[ 02-10-2001: Message edited by: Locustcrashsthorax ]
 
 
Seth
09:15 / 02.10.01
quote:Originally posted by uncle retrospective:
And the birthday Party. Yes there aclaimed but only 2 people I know have the ball to listen to it. You just have to love songs like Nick the Stripper. Listen to it on a walkman and hide under your duvet.



YES YES YES!
 
 
The Return Of Rothkoid
09:25 / 02.10.01
Noooo.

Listen to it on your walkman and then write stuff in Latin on your chest and dance around shirtlessly and aimlessly!

THAT'S what it should make you do...
 
 
agapanthus
09:25 / 02.10.01
"Revolver" is the Beatle's zenith, not White or Abbey Rd (before Acid totally fried Lennon's brain). But why are we discussing Beatles in this thread?

Big 30-something softie underrated albums:
Blue Nile "Walk across the Rooftops" & "Hats"
 
 
No star here laces
09:25 / 02.10.01
I think the most interesting 'underrated' music is the stuff that was popular at one time, is very good, but for some reason gets left out of the 'canon' of things you are supposed to listen to. Sometimes because it's from an unfashionable genre, sometimes because it has a sound that dates it very clearly, sometimes for no good reason at all.

You put this stuff on and people go: "hang on, isn't this... actually it's quite good..."

Some of my favourite records of this sort are:

Bronski Beat - "The age of consent"

Hi-nrg is completely off the radar for most people these days. History has been re-written so that the first 'electronic dance music' was house and techno from around '87. And indeed a lot of hi-nrg is unlistenable for anyone other than an enthusiast (which I am, for my sins) and also deeply formulaic. But "The age of consent" is a masterpiece of sophisticated songwriting and subtle use of electronic textures to create a genuinely varied sound. And Jimmy Somerville is possibly the greatest white soul singer ever. This album contains "Smalltown Boy", "Why" and the best version of "Aint necessarily so" ever recorded. What more do you need? A nod also to the Communards - "Don't leave me this way" as his best post-Bronski work.

Pete Rock and CL Smooth - "Mecca and the Soul Brother"

For some reason, when people talk about the "golden age" of hip-hop from '89-'92 they never mention this album. It's always "3 feet high and rising", "Low end theory", "Business never personal" etc. etc. Heads will rep this record if prompted but it's never the first to get props. But again it's a beautifully well crafted and understated record, very simple: just one producer and one mc and a series of timeless tracks. Also contains the most moving hip hop song ever: "They reminisce over you (T.R.O.Y.)".

Genius/GZA - "Liquid Swords"

Wow. Just started listening to this again after giving myself a holiday for a short while. If a Nelly album is water, a Jay-Z album is beer, and a Wu-Tang album is vodka then this album is a 100-year-old Islay malt. It's hip hop to the power ten, poetry to the exponential and a super-saturated atmosphere solution. God alone knows why it didn't get more critical attention, or why it didn't outsell the toss that was Wu-Tang Forever or why know-nothings will rep "It takes a nation of millions" but look blank if you mention this. Almost certainly the greatest single display of mcing talent ever recorded and the production is hype too (RZA without the tedious bits, basically). Buy.
 
 
Opalfruit
09:25 / 02.10.01
quote:Originally posted by Rizla Year Zero:
One of the most consistantly underrated bands ever:

Luna.



I'll agree with that... their cover of Blondies In the Flesh is just amazing.... might as well mention Galaxie 500 as an underated band....


Mike Johnson - A Year of Mondays Fantastic album from the former Dinosaur Jr bassist! A very deep and distinctive voice.

Lush - Spooky A glorious etherial shoooogazy album.

Snow Patrol Low fi and laid back, kind of like an irish pavement. Fun with heartbreaking and bitter songs.


Bitter Springs - Five Die Filming This Lazy Lark Very droll, very british sense of humour. A song about picking a fight with a squaddie in the pub.... spilling soup (cunning metaphor for ruining a relationship.... marvelous stuff

Menswear - Nuisance Britpop band, that I kind of liked. Daydreamer rocked, sleeping in was catchy..... good album....

[ 02-10-2001: Message edited by: Opalfruit ]
 
 
rizla mission
09:25 / 02.10.01
quote:Originally posted by Tyrone Mushylaces:

Genius/GZA - "Liquid Swords"

Wow. Just started listening to this again after giving myself a holiday for a short while. If a Nelly album is water, a Jay-Z album is beer, and a Wu-Tang album is vodka then this album is a 100-year-old Islay malt. It's hip hop to the power ten, poetry to the exponential and a super-saturated atmosphere solution. God alone knows why it didn't get more critical attention, or why it didn't outsell the toss that was Wu-Tang Forever or why know-nothings will rep "It takes a nation of millions" but look blank if you mention this. Almost certainly the greatest single display of mcing talent ever recorded and the production is hype too (RZA without the tedious bits, basically). Buy.


I'm chuffed now because I own and enjoy a record bigged up by Tyrone. And it is bloody brilliant. But then I only bought it a few months ago on The Flyboy's recommendation, so I guess I'm not really that cool..

..was GZA's follow up album, the one with the Wu-Tang logo imprinted on the earth on the front, any good?
 
 
No star here laces
09:25 / 02.10.01
OOh, I feel flattered.

The album you mean is Beneath the Surface...

's aight. It was bound to be a disappointment after Liquid Swords, unfortunately. Yes, it's a good record and kinda worth having, it's just not as good. And despite being newer it sounds less fresh. I haven't listened to it in ages, to be honest, but suspect it has dated quite badly. Definitely one to listen to in the shop before you buy...
 
 
Space,Love
10:28 / 02.10.01
Oooooh, yes! That One Dove album is BRILLIANT! And I love Luna.

I'd add anything by United Future Organisation, and Terry Callier even though I don't like everything he's done, but no one in his own country seems to have heard of him.
 
 
Graham the Happy Scum
11:47 / 02.10.01
hmmm. I don't have a lot of underrated stuff (most of what I have has been lauded by someone or other).

Tall Dwarfs are fairly nuts.

Joe Jackson? Lot of good stuff, more to his ouvre than "Is She Really Going With Him" and "Real Men".

King Crimson's mid 70s lineup: _Larks Tongues In Aspic_, _Starless and Bible Black_ and _Red_ are all brilliant.

Anything Chris Abrahams is involved with.
(The Necks and that)
 
 
No star here laces
12:38 / 02.10.01
I have to say that I hate that One Dove album. It does that really crapulous early 90s thing of taking ok-ish electronic music and then adding really awful guitars to it. A bit like the Beloved (who are kind of under and overrated simultaneously). Plus the singer always used to go to Pure in Edinburgh and a right silly ho she was an' all.
 
 
Opalfruit
13:11 / 03.10.01
Ben Lee - Breathing Tornados
- on the beastie boys label. Very cool, more laid back angst.

David Devant and His Spirit Wife - Wacky band with very very catchy songs with singalong chorus's.

Glitter Box - Tied and Tangeled.
- fantasticly catchy, a heart breaking song called Woody Allen's Eyes and the bouncy I can't wait.

Cecil - rock/indie band that can't make their mind up who haven't put a foot wrong yet (apart from changing their name to VOY).

Stealing Beauty Soundtrack Just has to be mentioned as it's a classic and pretty perfect for shagging to(the act not the Dance).
 
 
No star here laces
13:18 / 03.10.01
I had a great time in the car home from a few quiet tequilas in Shoxbitch with some friends listening to Airhead by DJ Brisk at full fucking volume. This is a great unrecognised classic of electronic music. Breakneck speed, rock hard drums with biting breakbeat breakdowns it traverses all the happy hardcore (for it is of that much maligned style) cliches in a fun and self-referential manner. The pianos crash. The female vocal snippet is sped up to chipmunk pitch and beyond. The 'dark' bits are huge, atmospheric and sweeping. It does the sped-up hip hop thing. People say "get those hands in the air".

It is irresistible, basically.
 
 
Johnny Mother
16:14 / 03.10.01
Groop Dogdrill have split up. I saw them live once and their lead singer attached the microphone to his face using duct-tape leaving his hands free to do....well, not much.
 
  

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