Underrated Bands (1 Viewer)

[Dr. Octopus]

For every DBT song that I find incredible, I find another I can't listen to start to finish.  There's no in between with them for my ears.  

I can see that - some of the "talk" songs can be a bit grinding but usually it's the music in the background gets me through.

 

[El Floppo]

Doves

yeah... they came out around the same time as Coldplay IIRC (yes- I genuinely liked that first album) and I thought for sure Doves would be the bigger band. a lot more complexity to their music without sounding precious. 

 

[General Malaise]

I can see that - some of the "talk" songs can be a bit grinding but usually it's the music in the background gets me through.

Their brilliance outweighs the songs I generally skip.  

 

[5-ish Finkle]

yeah... they came out around the same time as Coldplay IIRC (yes- I genuinely liked that first album) and I thought for sure Doves would be the bigger band. a lot more complexity to their music without sounding precious. 

There were several "Brit" rock/pop acts that came out around that same time, who I preferred (some greatly) to Coldplay, that I can recall having similar thoughts about.   Coldplay had better publicists, I guess.

Supergrass, Kasabian, Bis, The Doves...I enjoyed all of those groups as much or more than Coldplay.

 

[Ilov80s]

Might be a bit off the radar, but the Glenn Miller Orchestra was incredible and almost nobody listens to them anymore. 

 

[General Malaise]

Thread got me thinking and while I was thinking I was out buying beer at Rite Aid when I heard a familiar tune I hadn't heard in years.  I actually lingered at Rite Aid so I could finish the song out.  Back in 1993, I saw these guys open for 10,000 Maniacs and had 3 of their tapes.

World Party - Ship of Fools

They had more than a few good songs.  Very underrated, IMO.

 

[Snickers]

My candidates:

Drive-By Truckers

Big Head Todd and the Monsters

God Street Wine

Dan Baird / Georgia Satellites

Warren Zevon

The Alarm  

I was coming to post Big Head Todd and the Monsters...always was surprise they didn't get bigger in that scene.

A few others:

moe.    currently on hiatus due to Rob having throat cancer so not sure they ever come back

Ween   Several great songs...stuck in my cabana living on bananas & blow

The Radiators   perhaps America's greatest bar band during their time?

 

[ericttspikes]

The Yardbirds: Basically invented psychedelic rock and set the stage for heavy metal. 

The Jeff Beck Group: That first line-up was so good with Stewart and Ronnie Wood. I'd argue that "Truth" is better than Zeppelin I.

Faces: Ronnie Lane is one of the most under rated musicians I can think of. 

Squirrel Bait: Hooky, melodic punk band from KY. Only 2 albums, but their sound was unique, predated grunge and spawned a ton of other good bands like Slint. 

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

Blind Melon

RIP Shannon Hoon

 

[Brunell4MVP]

Luna

At least if you are into indie music at all.  Dean Wareham was the lead singer, formerly of Galaxie 500.  If you don't like Indie music, it's not going to be your thing.

Penthouse was their most recognizable album, and Rolling Stone ranked it a top 100 album of the 90s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgH6fIXDAxE&list=PLW0x6oRKLqVtQe-03s_t9JZ_LyzMPUIJq

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_oCuEKNdzY&index=6&list=PLW0x6oRKLqVtQe-03s_t9JZ_LyzMPUIJq

 

[Brunell4MVP]

I was coming to post Big Head Todd and the Monsters...always was surprise they didn't get bigger in that scene.

A few others:

moe.    currently on hiatus due to Rob having throat cancer so not sure they ever come back

Ween   Several great songs...stuck in my cabana living on bananas & blow

The Radiators   perhaps America's greatest bar band during their time?

The Radiators

I saw them live when my friend stood in on backup guitar for them.  Guess a traveling guitarist for them had injured himself.  I laughed because my buddy was a talented solo act who sold out bars around DC all the time, but all he had to do was strum a few notes for them.  He looked so bored.  The band jammed pretty good though.

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

American treasure

RIP

 

[eighsse2]

Toad the Wet Sprocket

Always loved TWS, Glen Phillips their lead singer has a great voice. Also you have to like a band that gets it's name from a Monty Python sketch.

Another band that doesn't get enough appreciation is Guster.

This.

If you can listen to Lightning Rod, Ruby Falls, Hercules, Red Oyster Cult, and Keep It Together, and not think this band is great, I don't know you.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

13th Floor Elevators don't seem to get much attention.

Probably because a lot of buildings don't have a 13th floor.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Failure

Tsunami

Love Battery

Fanny

Ambrosia (they weren’t just yacht rock)

Truly

Nektar

Bob Mould’s solo career from 2012 on

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

 

[Osaurus]

Failure

Tsunami

Love Battery

Fanny

Ambrosia (they weren’t just yacht rock)

Truly

Nektar

Bob Mould’s solo career from 2012 on

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

Yep

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

Failure

Tsunami

Love Battery

Fanny

Ambrosia (they weren’t just yacht rock)

Truly

Nektar

Bob Mould’s solo career from 2012 on

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

We've discussed this band before....I knew the lead singer/songwriter, Rob Roth, in high school.
Fast Stories....For Kid Coma is one of the more underrated albums from the 90s Seattle/grunge scene.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Failure

Tsunami

Love Battery

Fanny

Ambrosia (they weren’t just yacht rock)

Truly

Nektar

Bob Mould’s solo career from 2012 on

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

We've discussed this band before....I knew the lead singer/songwriter, Rob Roth, in high school.
Fast Stories....For Kid Coma is one of the more underrated albums from the 90s Seattle/grunge scene.

Yep, it’s a masterpiece and one of the best albums of the 90s.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

Failure

Tsunami

Love Battery

Fanny

Ambrosia (they weren’t just yacht rock)

Truly

Nektar

Bob Mould’s solo career from 2012 on

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

We've discussed this band before....I knew the lead singer/songwriter, Rob Roth, in high school.
Fast Stories....For Kid Coma is one of the more underrated albums from the 90s Seattle/grunge scene.

Yep, it’s a masterpiece and one of the best albums of the 90s.

They teased by briefly making it available on Spotify, but it's gone again.....

Luckily, I have it on CD. It was a challenge to find it even in that format.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Failure

Tsunami

Love Battery

Fanny

Ambrosia (they weren’t just yacht rock)

Truly

Nektar

Bob Mould’s solo career from 2012 on

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

We've discussed this band before....I knew the lead singer/songwriter, Rob Roth, in high school.
Fast Stories....For Kid Coma is one of the more underrated albums from the 90s Seattle/grunge scene.

Yep, it’s a masterpiece and one of the best albums of the 90s.

They teased by briefly making it available on Spotify, but it's gone again.....

Luckily, I have it on CD. It was a challenge to find it even in that format.

I got it on CD when it came out. I had ordered their debut EP from Sub Pop when I learned the band had former members from Soundgarden and Screaming Trees. I loved it and then when I saw they put out an album on Capitol, I got it immediately.

The album is on YouTube, or it least it was last I checked in 2023-ish.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

Failure

Tsunami

Love Battery

Fanny

Ambrosia (they weren’t just yacht rock)

Truly

Nektar

Bob Mould’s solo career from 2012 on

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

We've discussed this band before....I knew the lead singer/songwriter, Rob Roth, in high school.
Fast Stories....For Kid Coma is one of the more underrated albums from the 90s Seattle/grunge scene.

Yep, it’s a masterpiece and one of the best albums of the 90s.

I wondered if you might have it in your top 70 in the album thread. It didn't quite crack my list but it was close.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Failure

Tsunami

Love Battery

Fanny

Ambrosia (they weren’t just yacht rock)

Truly

Nektar

Bob Mould’s solo career from 2012 on

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

We've discussed this band before....I knew the lead singer/songwriter, Rob Roth, in high school.
Fast Stories....For Kid Coma is one of the more underrated albums from the 90s Seattle/grunge scene.

Yep, it’s a masterpiece and one of the best albums of the 90s.

I wondered if you might have it in your top 70 in the album thread. It didn't quite crack my list but it was close.

To be revealed…

 

[Ilov80s]

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

Great call here

 

[Dan Lambskin]

King Buffalo

 

[kupcho1]

It took until post #325 to mention The Beatles?

You're slipping, gang.

 

[Ilov80s]

It took until post #325 to mention The Beatles?

You're slipping, gang.

The who???

 

[El Floppo]

It took until post #325 to mention The Beatles?

You're slipping, gang.

The who???

1st base.

 

[El Floppo]

Speaking of...Pete Nice

 

[Ilov80s]

It took until post #325 to mention The Beatles?

You're slipping, gang.

The who???

1st base.

I think you mean 3rd Bass. Pop goes the weasel cuz the weasel goes pop.

 

[kupcho1]

Pop goes the weasel

Pop Goes the World

Pop Goes The World

Men Without Hats · Pop Goes The World · Song · 1987

open.spotify.com

 

[QUEZILLA]

Saw Billy Strings in April, and he was amazing.

 

[eighsse2]

It took until post #325 to mention The Beatles?

You're slipping, gang.

Ah, it's opposite day, is it?

 

[KarmaPolice]

It took until post #325 to mention The Beatles?

You're slipping, gang.

The who???

1st base.

I think you mean 3rd Bass. Pop goes the weasel cuz the weasel goes pop.

Maybe Floppo didn't have enough game to get to 3rd Bass?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Failure

Tsunami

Love Battery

Fanny

Ambrosia (they weren’t just yacht rock)

Truly

Nektar

Bob Mould’s solo career from 2012 on

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

Nektar!

 

[El Floppo]

It took until post #325 to mention The Beatles?

You're slipping, gang.

The who???

1st base.

I think you mean 3rd Bass. Pop goes the weasel cuz the weasel goes pop.

Maybe Floppo didn't have enough game to get to 3rd Bass?

I dont know.

 

[El Floppo]

MC Serch lived literally next door to my gb from college (post college apt)... 5b to his 5c. Used to see him all the time. Put out a solid solo album around that time.

Whats on second

 

[eighsse2]

Saw Billy Strings in April, and he was amazing.

Only thing I know of him is his rendition of Shady Grove, which is indeed amazing.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Saw Billy Strings in April, and he was amazing.

Only thing I know of him is his rendition of Shady Grove, which is indeed amazing.

He’s amazing. Not sure I’d say underrated but maybe not well known

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Loved this band when I was a DJ back in the 80s.
Very underrated band IMHO.
The Bodeans
Of their tunes I felt this one was unique and never got enough attention.
The Ballad of Jenny Rae

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

Great call here

Listed to Shake the Streets…great stuff

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I think Puscifer might fit here, started out kinda shticky but Existential Reckoning was a solid album and really looking forward to their newest ones

Older stuff is great too and they have tons of remix collaborations

 

[pecorino]

Love World Party and Karl Wallinger. XTC also underrated. Bob Mould should be more well-known.

But seeing as Phish is the greatest band in the history of rock and roll yet with zero top-40 hits, they stand to also be the most underrated. I'm attaching my cart to that Horse.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Love World Party and Karl Wallinger. XTC also underrated. Bob Mould should be more well-known.

But seeing as Phish is the greatest band in the history of rock and roll yet with zero top-40 hits, they stand to also be the most underrated. I'm attaching my cart to that Horse.

They’re not a singles band.

But they should be more appreciated by people who are interested in more than singles bands.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Another underrated 80s band; The Call.
I Still Believe
Everywhere I Go
I Don't Wanna
The Walls Came Down
Let The Day Begin

 

[Manster]

Kyuss.....not a ton of material, but hugely influential. They brought a unique sound for their time. They captured something special, imo.

Founding members went on to create a plethora of projects. Josh Homme's Queens of the Stone Age being the most popular.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Kyuss.....not a ton of material, but hugely influential. They brought a unique sound for their time. They captured something special, imo.

Founding members went on to create a plethora of projects. Josh Homme's Queens of the Stone Age being the most popular.

Discovered these guys recently, need to do a deeper dive but i definitely like their sound. I definitely like the Stoner Rock / Metal genre or whatever you want to call it

Dopethrone by Electric Wizard is a great album in that genre

When The Kite String Pops by Acid Bath too but that’s a bit more sludgy. They have a huge cult following though and played a few shows this year after a long hiatus. At times they sound like Sabbath with Jim
Morrison on vocals but get a bit heavier on some songs

 

[the moops]

Saw Billy Strings in April, and he was amazing.

Does anyone consider this dude underrated?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Saw Billy Strings in April, and he was amazing.

Does anyone consider this dude underrated?

To the general public, sure.

 

[shuke]

Saw Billy Strings in April, and he was amazing.

Does anyone consider this dude underrated?

I don't think anyone who has seen him would, but he is probably largely unknown to the general public.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

Great call here

Listed to Shake the Streets…great stuff

My favorite album from Ted is Biomusicology but they're all consistently excellent.