Who's the most underrated artist / band in your opinion?

bayern282 · 20-05-2011 11:37pm #1

Junior Boys from Hamilton Ontario release their 5th album It's All True next month, they've never made a bad tune IMO, check them out on You Tube.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 22-05-2011 2:42am

JJ72 were very underrated imo. They seemed to fade away before they could properly establish themselves.

Jamie Starr · 22-05-2011 1:00pm

The Beatles.

I better edit this just so people know it's a joke.

Seriously though, I can't really think of an under-rated artist/band I know, because me liking the band is all that really matters. How other people see them doesn't really come in to it- I learned some time ago that trying really hard to show people how great a band is futile and makes me feel dirty.

Nolanger · 22-05-2011 8:48pm

The Associates - Scottish duo from the '80s. The singer killed himself. They had everything: the songs, the sounds, the image, the vocals, the musicianship. Brilliant band!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pDVXaO9YlQ

JJJJNR · 22-05-2011 9:10pm

The white stripes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPeuFt749l8

rcaz · 22-05-2011 9:19pm

JJJJNR wrote: »

The white stripes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPeuFt749l8

Seriously? They've done world tours, had so many hugely popular singles, videos all over MTV, Jack White's practically a household name, all over the place in guitar magazines, all his other bands get known off the back of the Whites Stripes' success. If anything, they're overrated, seeing as they never went anywhere past bluesy rock, basic songwriting, and standard guitar playing.

rcaz · 22-05-2011 9:22pm

Venetian Snares for me. I know he's got a really strong cult following and he's a bit of a legend in break core and gabber music, but the guy is an incredible composer and producer too. I can't think of anyone so meticulous. Maybe Aphex Twin comes close sometimes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqRV-jESkG8

Anything off that album.

KeanSeenan · 23-05-2011 2:46am

I don't think Os Mutantes get enough credit for what they did.
Same with Guided By Voices, but if you like them then you love them..so maybe not underrated.
Contemporarily?So Cow.The Mantles.Mellowhype.

jill_valentine · 23-05-2011 5:07am

El Pr0n wrote: »

Seriously? They've done world tours, had so many hugely popular singles, videos all over MTV, Jack White's practically a household name, all over the place in guitar magazines, all his other bands get known off the back of the Whites Stripes' success. If anything, they're overrated, seeing as they never went anywhere past bluesy rock, basic songwriting, and standard guitar playing.

I can't help reading this post in the precise tone of Apu trying to explain to Skinner why his idea for "Billy and the Cloneasaurus" is a non-starter.

lalee17 · 23-05-2011 5:37am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkJZptg-iac

The Subways. They haven't really made it out past the UK but are a great band. they have a new album coming out soon as well.

donfers · 23-05-2011 2:22pm

the dears spring to mind instantly

and also the burns unit who have a new album out now

ricero · 23-05-2011 2:52pm

kasabian there so underrated its disgraceful and a lot of people label them a lad rock football hooligan band which is complete and utter bollocks. 3 completly different sounding albums and there amazing live

sock puppet · 23-05-2011 5:04pm

lalee17 wrote: »

The Subways. They haven't really made it out past the UK but are a great band. they have a new album coming out soon as well.

Had/have a lot of promise imo. I was a big fan of their first album but don't like the direction they went in with All or Nothing.

thesultan · 23-05-2011 8:21pm

Ocean Colour Scene, Amazing live band and they actually released some fine album after 'One for the modern'.

Rory Gallagher ask 95% of people under 21 and they will say Rory who?

Small Faces never mentioned in the same breath as the beatles , stones kinks or the who but what a great outlay and what vocals from Marriott

smokedeels · 23-05-2011 9:13pm

El Pr0n wrote: »

Seriously? They've done world tours, had so many hugely popular singles, videos all over MTV, Jack White's practically a household name, all over the place in guitar magazines, all his other bands get known off the back of the Whites Stripes' success. If anything, they're overrated, seeing as they never went anywhere past bluesy rock, basic songwriting, and standard guitar playing.

They were essentially a Gun Club tribute band, as you say "overrated" if anything.

jill_valentine · 23-05-2011 9:22pm

ricero wrote: »

kasabian there so underrated its disgraceful and a lot of people label them a lad rock football hooligan band which is complete and utter bollocks. 3 completly different sounding albums and there amazing live

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jefreywithonef · 24-05-2011 4:38pm

I'd say The New Pornographers. I've been binging on their albums for the last six months and have come to the conclusion that they're the most ebulliently poppy band ever. Neko Case plays a big part in their appeal; such an amazing powerhouse voice. Listen to the likes of Crash Years, The Bleeding Heart Show, Letter From An Occupant, Mass Romantic. Stupendous!

Anyway, they seem to be liked by the critics but not that many people seem to have heard of them - they've only 513,236 last.fm listeners. Maybe the name is a bit of a hindrance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpvqU2cmK8I

jungleland86 · 24-05-2011 5:25pm

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Best Rock n Roll Band Bar none, victims of initial nme hype and subsequent hate campaign.

Nolanger · 24-05-2011 7:37pm

jungleland86 wrote: »

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Best Rock n Roll Band Bar none

JAMC tribute band!

Reganio 2 · 24-05-2011 7:45pm

I would throw Cold War Kids in there as well. Some of their stuff is brilliant, Robbers & Cowards is a great album, and the other couple I haven't aren't shabby at all.

Mando Diao, they haven't made it out of Sweeden really, although they have a good following in Germany as well. If you are going to give them a listen I would highly recommend Dance With Somebody and Gloria. They have loads of albums which tend to move towards Rock more so than Indie really.

jungleland86 · 24-05-2011 11:11pm

Nolanger wrote: »

JAMC tribute band!

Yes, a great example of the sort of thing lazy journalists were throwing around when they decided they weren't cool anymore.

Always thought they sounded more like early Verve/Ride than JAMC.

toxicgasmask · 10-06-2011 8:57pm

Hawthorne Heights- They used to do a lot of metal stuff, then one of the guys in the band died (Casey Calvert) and their new stuff is a bit different. And they are really normal guys, they know that times are tough and their concert tickets for their tour in america only cost 5 dollars. check out Ohio Is For Lovers and Rescue me, great songs

scoobyjack · 16-06-2011 8:17am

thesultan wrote: »

Rory Gallagher ask 95% of people under 21 and they will say Rory who?

I agree, although things have changed drastically over the past few years.
The average ages of people going to the festival in Ballyshannon every year has dropped like a stone!

J_E · 18-06-2011 6:13pm

Lightning Bolt. They're noisy and unconventional, and won't appeal to 99% of people, but without doubt they have one of the most powerful duos in the world. Virtuoso bass and drum playing, a hypermegasupergroup by all accounts. Just loud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQRt5E-JJfg

It's hard to believe it's just two people sometimes. The bassist is constantly using a pitchshifter to do crazy 'guitar' lines on top of the fuzzed out bass. Wonderful Rainbow is definitely one of the best albums I own. Worth opening your mind to.

Chairman Meow · 20-06-2011 12:16pm

Cydoniac wrote: »

Lightning Bolt. They're noisy and unconventional, and won't appeal to 99% of people, but without doubt they have one of the most powerful duos in the world. Virtuoso bass and drum playing, a hypermegasupergroup by all accounts. Just loud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQRt5E-JJfg

It's hard to believe it's just two people sometimes. The bassist is constantly using a pitchshifter to do crazy 'guitar' lines on top of the fuzzed out bass. Wonderful Rainbow is definitely one of the best albums I own. Worth opening your mind to.

I actually rate lightning bolt as possibly the worst band ive ever heard...sorry.
I dont get what anyone could enjoy about that. Its just noise. No emotion, no feeling, just 2 people who seem to be in a competition to play faster and/or louder than the other. I like some unconventional ****, but god damn. Thats literally abysmal.

smackbunnybaby · 20-06-2011 12:59pm

Low are probably the most underrated band ever

DryGinBoy · 20-06-2011 6:06pm

Miracle Bell are a pretty underrated band, but they're only starting out...give it time

4Sheets · 20-06-2011 7:22pm

Besnard Lakes..unquestionably..altough they are rated very highly just not very popular ..one of those albums where you have to listen a few times to really get it and then its magic!