View Full Version : Under rated bands...
Mr Majestik
21-10-2005, 16:00
O.K so we've laid into the usuall suspects in the overrated thread. Which turns are the most under rated?
My Choices
XTC - Set the blueprint for modern indie pop and still (when they feel like it) making great records.
Super Furry Animals - Constantly inovative, Never a bad album but still never had a break through hit whilst the likes of the Killers sell millions. Life just aint fair.
Brendan Benson. His last two albums have been perfect examples of guitar based power pop. If someone like the red coat Williams had covered any of his tracks they'd be number one for weeks. Yet he's just toured to half empty venues. Hopefully his album with Jack White will turn things around for him.
Kirs-tea
21-10-2005, 16:07
Super Furry Animals (Agree with Mr M. Not one bad single/album)
Elbow (Should be bigger than flippin' Coldplay - better songs and Guy Garvey's voice is 100 times better than Chris Martin's)
Supergrass (loved them since day 1. Like SFA, not one bad single or album. Their latest one is very different but a real grower)
:)
Mr Majestik
21-10-2005, 16:09
Supergrass (loved them since day 1. Like SFA, not one bad single or album. Their latest one is very different but a real grower)
:)
Didn't think the 'grass's album with the X ray on the cover was up to much.
Still the only blemish on a quality CV.
sideshowbob
21-10-2005, 16:23
Mudhoney - better than Nirvana, with the bonus that their lead singer's not dead
Plus, i'd venture ...
Violent Femmes - a cornerstone of indie in my view. Everyone must own at least one album by them (it's the law)
Galaxie 500 - the original shoe-gazing trio
The Jesus Lizard - more edge than a dodecahedron
LouBarlow
21-10-2005, 16:26
Husker Du - better than REM with the bonus that their lead singer's not a bell-end.
Of course the fact that there are 2 vocalists kinda ruins the joke, but keep that quiet ;)
SpankySpanky
21-10-2005, 16:33
Alessi (Brothers)
I wouldn't say SFA are underrated, more often than not their album and gig reviews are excellent. :shrug:
sideshowbob
21-10-2005, 16:34
Milli Vanilli (Brothers)
:thumbs:
Mr Majestik
21-10-2005, 16:37
I wouldn't say SFA are underrated, more often than not their album and gig reviews are excellent. :shrug:
Sales wise they certainly are.
Super Furries. Definately. Absolutely fantastic, always good and very innovative. :)
Johnny Vodka
21-10-2005, 17:26
Husky Rescue - no-one knows about them in the UK, but they are sodding brilliant. :thumbs: :( Don't know if that means they are underrated or just criminally ignored.
LouBarlow
21-10-2005, 17:43
Husker Du - better than REM with the bonus that their lead singer's not a bell-end.
Of course the fact that there are 2 vocalists kinda ruins the joke, but keep that quiet ;)
Incidentally, Greg Norton's restaurant has just received it's liquor licence, so be sure to visit next time you're in Wisconsin!
http://www.thenortonsrestaurant.com/
NicolaUK
21-10-2005, 18:14
Violent Femmes - a cornerstone of indie in my view. Everyone must own at least one album by them (it's the law)
:thumbs: Seconded.
I'm going to have to go for The Breeders, Japan and 3Doors Down :)
Stevie G
21-10-2005, 18:29
I think Ocean Colour Scene were much better than Oasis (who are very overrated IMHO) when they were both at their peak in the mid 90's.
SIMON ADEBISI
21-10-2005, 18:33
Whipping Boy
Stone temple Pilots
Method Man
The Streets ( much derided on these forums but he's actually fantastic )
LouBarlow
21-10-2005, 18:35
I'd go for Afghan Whigs and The Replacements too.
Greg Dulli has the kinda voice that makes you want to go ghey(er) :thumbs:
SIMON ADEBISI
21-10-2005, 18:39
Ill second the Afghan Whigs. Fantastic group.
DeadWalk
21-10-2005, 18:41
Totally agree about 3 Doors Down - superb group. For me, one of the best out there.
Stretch Princess - Jo Lloyd's vocals are wonderful.
Speedway - one album (Save Yourself) with some cracking tracks but now seem to have vanished.
Others that spring to mind are Fuel, Vonray and Radford.
SpankySpanky
21-10-2005, 18:41
The Streets ( much derided on these forums but he's actually fantastic )
Well, if Blunty's correct about his education Mike Skinner should be an actor!
Edit: I actually posted a question on Skinners' official forums (I know, it's sad but I was spending way too much time googling) asking if it was true he went to Eton. Guess what? The thread disappeared within 2 hours :suspect: Has Spanky been silenced? :nuts:
SIMON ADEBISI
21-10-2005, 18:44
I love conspiracies.
NicolaUK
21-10-2005, 19:06
Totally agree about 3 Doors Down - superb group. For me, one of the best out there.
You might be interested in this (http://www.monstermusic.com/) then :)
We're going to see them again in Orlando in a few weeks :clap:
Throwing Muses - always played second fiddle to the Pixies but were tons better.
Supergrass - never quite made the first division despite being the freshest sound of Britpop.
Fox - Noosha's influenced many, from Kate Bush to Clare Grogan, and I'd hazard a guess at Alison Goldfrapp too, yet seemingly forgotten in the annals of the seventies.
Twinkle - should have been Britain's answer to France Gall but, Terry and Golden Lights aside, it never quite happened.
I'm not sure SFA or Husker Du are particularly underrated to be honest.
Fever Dawg
21-10-2005, 19:22
Interpol
Okay, I've never really heard anything adverse said about them but they never seem to get much of a mention and recently I even heard somebody say they'd never heard of them. :nuts:
Both albums have been masterpieces with 'Turn On The Bright Lights' one of, IMO, the three best debuts of all time.
Brenden Benson....'Lapalco' love this album and the french band Phoenix...'Alphabetical' is a great album :thumbs:
Throwing Muses - always played second fiddle to the Pixies but were tons better.
Spot on as always, young lady ! Back in 1988, the Muses were my world. 'House Tornado' is the sound of a band taking a look at the rock rule book, sharing doubtful looks and collectively going "Nah !" It was released on the same day as Pixies' 'Surfer Rosa' and as much as that masterpiece "kicks asps" (the always astute Chris Roberts in MM) its weirder, smarter sister still mystifies and sets the corpuscles racing. To my everlasting glee I saw them both launch a double salvo on Manchester International one enchanted evening - Muses headlining ! - and though the Muses never got their nose back in front after that tour commercially, their artistic legacy is irrefutable. That original line-up - Tanya, Kristin, Leslie, David - was bonded with Loctite; live they were seemingly telepathic. Very deserving of our love but clearly too much for the masses. Shame.
I wouldn't say SFA are underrated, more often than not their album and gig reviews are excellent. :shrug:
They get good cuttings, but very little hype from the music press. When was the last time SFA were on the cover of a major music mag?
Also add The Fall to that list. Still making brilliant music, but you'd never know it from the press.
meat puppet
21-10-2005, 19:58
Mudhoney - better than Nirvana, with the bonus that their lead singer's not dead
Nah, I love them both, but Nirvana surely stands a head and shoulders above Mudhoney. Anyway they cant stop singing about dogs :)
Plus, i'd venture ...
Violent Femmes - a cornerstone of indie in my view. Everyone must own at least one album by them (it's the law)
Galaxie 500 - the original shoe-gazing trio
The Jesus Lizard - more edge than a dodecahedron
I have no Violent Femmes albums :shrug: Should I be embarassed ? Time to buy their debut me thinks.
NicolaUK
21-10-2005, 20:04
Time to buy their debut me thinks.
You won't regret it :thumbs:
Am listening to it now :D
Fun Lovin' Criminals.
If you get past the wannabe mobster theatrics there's a solid three piece there (despite numerous drummers) who know how to write a good old fashioned pop rock song.
sideshowbob
21-10-2005, 20:31
I have no Violent Femmes albums :shrug: Should I be embarassed ? Time to buy their debut me thinks.
You don't know until you try.
Johnny Vodka
21-10-2005, 20:31
Edit: I actually posted a question on Skinners' official forums (I know, it's sad but I was spending way too much time googling) asking if it was true he went to Eton. Guess what? The thread disappeared within 2 hours :suspect: Has Spanky been silenced? :nuts:
IIRC, Mike Skinner has never claimed to be working class - always middle. Dunno about Eton, though.
The Streets are only given a hard time by people who can't see beyond the themes of the songs (drinking, smoking spliffs, etc). In the press, he's generally given the credit he's due.
GLC are another lot who are sometimes dismissed. No, they're not real chavs - they're taking the **** and at their best I can't think of a better 'comedy' band. Tunes like 'Soapbar' and 'Your Mother's Got A Penis' are hilarious on more than one level.
Johnny Vodka
21-10-2005, 20:42
How's about Adam Freeland? He made a cracking album a couple of years back (listening to it right now), which never quite broke through... I suppose the breaks scene in general is like that.
Jazzatola
21-10-2005, 22:27
I'd have to go with Marillion. Although with the caveat that while they are underated by most, they are massively overrated by many of their fans. Personally I think they're somewhere in between - merely brilliant. :)
Lowgold - Thought they'd be big
Capdown - Skacore.. God knows why I rate these but they rock, not my bag at all, I'm shocked they never really took off though.
Stevie G
21-10-2005, 23:29
Throwing Muses - always played second fiddle to the Pixies but were tons better.
Have to disagree there! Love the Pixies. Never listened to Throwing Muses until earlier this year but thought they were bland as anything.
Never listened to Throwing Muses until earlier this year but thought they were bland as anything.
Depends which albums you listened to. Up to and including The Real Ramona they can't be beaten, half of Red Heaven is excellent and the other albums are a bit domesticated and bland, thoough have their moments.
meat puppet
22-10-2005, 09:41
well, naturally I would say The Meat Puppets. Its obvious they would'nt appeal to everyone, but they were unique.
However my vote would probably go to The Minutemen and specifically the album Double Nickel on a Dime.
Lastly to Nirvana..........yes thats not a mistake. I think the surge of anti Nirvana sentiment amongst students turned the band into a figurehead to be despised. Its quite strange how a lot of conversations with people who dislike them, either havent actually listened to their music or think that Kurt Cobain committed suicide in order to broaden the appeal of the band :thinking:
Many people only know the single 'Smells like Teen Spirit' but have never heard of any other songs or albums and it appears that 'Nevermind' was their only album :oh-hum:
Then you get younger kids walking around in Nirvana T shirts and hoodies, but have no idea of who Nirvana were. Its just an ideal like Che Guevara a sort of epithet for 'Kool'
People dismiss the words of the songs as 'weird and odd' they just dont make any sense and maybe for a lot of people they just represent confusion. I hear comments like 'Pearl Jam were better', well PJ were a traditional rock band with traditional lyrics and were designed to appeal to a wider section of the listening public so its no wonder.
So I reckon Nirvana are actually less respected than they should be.
Kirs-tea
22-10-2005, 09:51
Interpol
Okay, I've never really heard anything adverse said about them but they never seem to get much of a mention and recently I even heard somebody say they'd never heard of them. :nuts:
Both albums have been masterpieces with 'Turn On The Bright Lights' one of, IMO, the three best debuts of all time.
Yep, I agree. Interpol have been over-shadowed somewhat. They're amazing live :thumbs:
People might laugh at this but All About Eve (for the first 2 albums at least) were brilliant - so many great songs and Julianne Regan had a wonderful pure quality to her voice that you don't hear often these days.
Also - probably more ignored than underrated as they usually get good reviews:
The Czars
The Delgados
Calexico
Tarnation
LouBarlow
22-10-2005, 09:56
Lastly to Nirvana..........yes thats not a mistake. I think the surge of anti Nirvana sentiment amongst students turned the band into a figurehead to be despised. Its quite strange how a lot of conversations with people who dislike them, either havent actually listened to their music or think that Kurt Cobain committed suicide in order to broaden the appeal of the band :thinking:
Many people only know the single 'Smells like Teen Spirit' but have never heard of any other songs or albums and it appears that 'Nevermind' was their only album :oh-hum:
Then you get younger kids walking around in Nirvana T shirts and hoodies, but have no idea of who Nirvana were. Its just an ideal like Che Guevara a sort of epithet for 'Kool'
People dismiss the words of the songs as 'weird and odd' they just dont make any sense and maybe for a lot of people they just represent confusion. I hear comments like 'Pearl Jam were better', well PJ were a traditional rock band with traditional lyrics and were designed to appeal to a wider section of the listening public so its no wonder.
So I reckon Nirvana are actually less respected than they should be.
Totally agree.
It is almost cool to dislike them now, or, as you say, people judge them by the over-familiarity of 'Nevermind'. As a band, they were always looking to change, from album to album - the difference between Nevermind and In Utero is quite staggering, but an inspired move in that it allowed them to retreat slightly, away from the commercial sheen of NM - indeed, if Kurt hadn't died, I'm sure they would have become more of a cult-band now, rather than the still commercial act people see them as, so in effect, if anything, Kurt's death had the reverse effect of his intended plan for the band, as by all accounts he hated fame and the spotlight, which he will now have for an eternity.
People also say that Cobain killed himself because they ran out of ideas, when it is plainly not true. The tracks recovered and used on the rarities release last year showed Cobain still had the knack for melody which shines through all his records. Rumour has it that although his 'suicide note' stated a desire to leave the business, Nirvana were actually planning a new, lighter album, in the style of their Unplugged performance...it's a shame we never got to hear it.
Cheers Courtney.
DeadWalk
22-10-2005, 10:02
You might be interested in this (http://www.monstermusic.com/) then :)
We're going to see them again in Orlando in a few weeks :clap:
Thanks Nicola :thumbs: I hope you enjoy their concert (jammy so and so :razz: :D )
Fever Dawg
22-10-2005, 10:46
Nirvana were actually planning a new, lighter album, in the style of their Unplugged performance...it's a shame we never got to hear it.
Cheers Courtney.
I had bloody tickets to go and see them when he "killed himself".
How selfish was that?
Cheers Kurt.
LouBarlow
22-10-2005, 10:49
I had bloody tickets to go and see them when he "killed himself".
How selfish was that?
Cheers Kurt.
Come on now, everyone knows he didn't kill himself surely?
Fever Dawg
22-10-2005, 10:50
Super Furry Animals - Constantly inovative, Never a bad album but still never had a break through hit whilst the likes of the Killers sell millions. Life just aint fair.
As daft as it may seem, I reckon there name is one of the main reasons they never made it huge. People hear the name and just don't take them seriously.
A similar fate befell that of Neds Atomic Dustbin. :lol:
Fever Dawg
22-10-2005, 10:51
Come on now, everyone knows he didn't kill himself surely?
Note the " " :dork:
LouBarlow
22-10-2005, 11:15
:lol:
stillill
22-10-2005, 11:17
I wouldn't say SFA are underrated, more often than not their album and gig reviews are excellent. :shrug:
Have to say I think they're not underrated. Seen them 4 times, twice they obviously couldn't be bothered with it, and Guerilla's pretty weak. Gotta be consistent (at least live).
I think errrrm... XTC are underrated :thumbs:
As for Nirvana.... :notworthy
They wrote some absoulutley brilliant music, I saw them once at Reading but I was too far back to really appreciate them live. :(
But as has been said earlier, it just seems to be cool to say you don't like them.... whatever, I mean I'm sick of hearing Nevermind but thats my fault not theirs, In Utero is really quite outstanding!
RIP Kurt :(
sideshowbob
22-10-2005, 19:54
Jill Sobule - she's under-rated in that she hasn't had nearly as much exposure as she deserves. She's great live.
Billy Bragg - not to everyone's taste, but he's an excellent lyricist and to my mind has produced some fantastic material in the last two decades.
SHED SEVEN
I think one of the most under-rated bands of all time. This band for me is seriously quality from there musical abilities to Rick Witters Vocals to their energetic live sets...
I love all of the Albums with amazing tracks on every one...
For me personal faves are:
The Return
Long Time Dead
Feathers
Johnny Vodka
25-10-2005, 11:01
Someone's going to mention The Bluetones next... ;)
NicolaUK
25-10-2005, 11:09
SHED SEVEN
I think one of the most under-rated bands of all time.
Good call :thumbs:
The Bluetones are ****.
Mr Majestik
25-10-2005, 11:12
SHED SEVEN
I bet Rick Whitters at home in York now making Voodoo dolls of the Killers.
Johnny Vodka
25-10-2005, 11:14
My sis was going to see him in Dundee - apparently he was going to play some Shed Seven classics. :nuts:
two words - Sleater-Kinney!
oh, and Strangelove and Marion. class acts seemingly forgotten now.
everytime The Bluetones get mentioned i feel the need to post this:
Expecting to Fly was a superb album... One of my all time favourites! Unfortunately they couldn't follow up with ANYTHING... (IMO of course)
Mansun, Shed 7, Fine Young Canibals
Fine Young Canibals
i hated Roland Gift's Voice sooo much.... :gag:
The Rezillos get my vote :thumbs: They reformed recently and are playing at the Astoria in December with The Dickies another top act famous for their rendition of The Banana Splits Tra-La-La Song
LouBarlow
25-10-2005, 11:52
The La's?
The La's?
i wouldn't say they were underated... they got what they deserved IMO
mediocre at best... Apart from 'There She goes'
The La's?
:lol: No, The Tra La La song, The Banana Splits Theme, it was a programme for kids on BBc in the 70's
Johnny Vodka
25-10-2005, 13:01
mediocre at best... Apart from 'There She goes'
An absurdly overplayed tune - I can't stand it.
LouBarlow
25-10-2005, 13:36
You don't like anything.
Johnny Vodka
25-10-2005, 13:41
I do to. :p It's just that particular song annoys me, probably because it's so stuck in the 60s. And his voice is annoying too.
LouBarlow
25-10-2005, 13:42
:lol:
Jedi_MasterDave
25-10-2005, 19:06
Filter - At Least over here anyway...
My Vitriol
The Start
Eve6 - Virtually unknown here.
Mansun, Seafood, The Crimea, Dawn of the Replicants, Leaves, King Creosote.
corkbouy
25-10-2005, 19:30
The Sultans of Ping F.C.
you'll never have heard of them but they WERE under-rated! :lol:
The Sultans of Ping F.C.
you'll never have heard of them but they WERE under-rated! :lol:
They do ring a bell, but have no idea what songs they did
gingertom
25-10-2005, 19:35
For quality songwriting over a long period I would say (and I know he's not trendy)
Roachford
and "World Party: (the real power behind Robbie Bloody Willams, Guy Chamners with Karl Wallinger).
Third one would be The Long Pigs
NicolaUK
25-10-2005, 19:38
Eve6 - Virtually unknown here.
I like Eve6 :D
grounded_dreams
25-10-2005, 20:00
The Sultans of Ping F.C.
They were a great band, still have a mad dance when "Where's My Jumper" is played [rarely] at nigtclubs :thumbs:
Broken Social Scene
My Vitriol
Afghan Whigs
Brendan Benson
Lowgold
Interpol
corkbouy
26-10-2005, 01:16
"Dancin' in the disco, bumpa to bumpa
Wait a minute! Where's me jumpa?"
:notworthy
TheCookieMonster
26-10-2005, 01:42
James - Perhaps my fav ever band, can play their greatest hits constantly and never get bored, angst ridden with a sense of fun, iconic songs 'Sit Down', 'She's a Star', 'Laid' to name but a few. Fresh as ever IMO :luv:
NicolaUK
26-10-2005, 07:07
They were a great band, still have a mad dance when "Where's My Jumper" is played [rarely] at nigtclubs :thumbs:
Xfm went through a phase of playing it recently, great song :D
Mr Majestik
26-10-2005, 07:41
Found the sultans 'Give him a yard of grass' single recently.
Unfortunatly it wasn't a patch on jumper.
corkbouy
26-10-2005, 17:41
the sultans LIVE!!!! :lol: :notworthy :lol:
i'm listening to Jumper now...brings back fond memories of childhood...
"don't drink tea and don't drink coffee, cover your chin in Yorkshire toffee" :thumbs:
the wrens !
awesome band saw them live at the borderline last night, 1st time they've played in uk for 10 years. their 2003 release the meadowlands has recently been released in the uk as has been getting great reviews.
Jimmyboy
27-10-2005, 18:44
The Sultans of Ping F.C.
you'll never have heard of them but they WERE under-rated! :lol:
I think you might be under estimating their success in the spotty student market. Commercially speaking I don't think many people have heard of them yet I know of loads of people (myself included) who've seen them live. They were like one of those secret societies that everyone knows about but nobody speaks about it. :D
fivebyfive
27-10-2005, 19:12
darling violetta
andybhoy
27-10-2005, 19:30
A similar fate befell that of Neds Atomic Dustbin. :lol:
One of the best gig bands ever. Have been listening to Are You Normal? this week.
The Wonder Stuff are another very talented band who people didn't take seriously and to a lesser extent, Kingmaker.
Edit: Sultans of Ping were great too.
As were Mega City Four, Thousand Yard Stare (never quite cracked it but they were great).
If my younger brother spots this thread, I'm sure he'll post a hell of a lot more - he was so into indie in his teens that I didn't even need to buy a record for years!
Editeedit: Oh Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine. Another band that falls under the silly name so can't take them seriously type.
I need to dig out all my old cds!
andybhoy
27-10-2005, 19:35
everytime The Bluetones get mentioned i feel the need to post this:
Expecting to Fly was a superb album... One of my all time favourites! Unfortunately they couldn't follow up with ANYTHING... (IMO of course)
I bought two of their albums on the strength of "Slight Return". There wasn't a single song on either that was anywhere near as good. I was gutted =(
SR-71
Homegrown
Starting Line
Finger Eleven
They were a great band, still have a mad dance when "Where's My Jumper" is played [rarely] at nigtclubs :thumbs:
It filled the dancefloor at my wedding :D
corkbouy
28-10-2005, 01:28
to think that a little band from Cork could have such a profound effect on so many people. :D i'll bet they'd be thrilled to hear it!
i always think of them whenever i walk through the park!
"My brother knows Karl Marx.
He met him eating mushrooms in the People's Park"
:lol: :lol: :lol:
I Am Spartacus.
I think their album "Forward" is one of the best British albums over the past 10 years.
SpankySpanky
28-10-2005, 07:34
Prefab Sprout. Great pop band and their influence can still be heard today. If anyone is too young to have heard them, check out Hard Fi's song Hard To Beat. They sound just like that!
Kirs-tea
28-10-2005, 11:28
The Sultans of Ping F.C.
you'll never have heard of them but they WERE under-rated! :lol:
Where's Me Jumper! :D
dancleary1
28-10-2005, 18:37
The Bluetones- thought they would really take off and dominate but never did so. Probably a victim of their first album being their best.
Kirs-tea
31-10-2005, 09:12
The Futureheads.
Always get good reviews but I don't think they will ever get the recognition they truly deserve. Such a brilliant band - great harmonies :thumbs:
<b>Ween</b>, for whom anything less than world domination is an immeasurable injustice.
vBulletin® v3.8.7, Copyright ©2000-2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.