All of these lists have brought up another topic, who is the most underrated band/artist in rock. My choices:

1. DEVO: their first four albums consist of some of the finest new wave/post-punk music ever.

2. OASIS: even though there are many hardcore oasis fans on this message board, the general public doesn't realize the impact that Oasis really did have on rock. They saved rock in Britain.

3. Electric Light Orchestra: I used to hate this band, I used to hate everything that they stood for (bloated, egotistical arena rock), but They really did write some of the best pop songs during the 70's thanks to the genius production of Jeff Lynne. And they could also kick the shit out of Kansas.

There are my 3 choices, what are your's?

(Edited by ray davies at 9:08 am on Jul. 29, 2002)

1. marcy playground- most of you know them as the 'huh huh', that sex & candy song sucks band, but they have made 3 wonderful albums, anyone who gave any other tracks a chance on their self titled cd besides the sex and candy song knows this. great lyrics, simple music.....i'm looking forward to their new album. any one who doubts marcy is a good band please download some of their stuff......

2.the velvet underground- sweet mother of god, this is one of the greatest bands of all time. And evidently, that's still a very secretive concept. And as far as most indie chic i-know-punk-rock elitists go, they can talk up a storm about the velvets' influence, but all they know is 'sweet jane' and 'heroin'.

3.And yes, DEVO again..... have you heard the 'rollback' song on the wal-mart smiley face commercial? it's a rip off of devo's 'working in a coal mine'

That is very true about the Velvet Underground. I know a lot of people who go on and on about how "blah blah" was influenced by the Velvet Underground, so then i'll ask "oh, so what's your favorite album" and they'll say "Um, the one with that one song on it, the one that Lou Reed sings." It disgusts me how many people don't know the Velvet Underground.

Devo wrote so many good songs. It's a real shame that they only hit it big once. Oh, and it really irked me when Target used "Beautiful World" in some of their ads. Didn't they realize how sarcastic and biting that song is? Apparently, they thought it was really about coupons.

(Edited by ray davies at 11:36 am on Jul. 29, 2002)

A few that come to mind...

Ben Folds Five: This is a no-brainer for anyone who's really given BFF a chance. They will forever be known as that wussy band that played "Brick", but they have an amazing catalogue beyond that song (which I still like by the way). It seems like everyone I meet either REALLY REALLY likes them or aren't familiar with 'em. I think think that if they were more appreciated, they would still be together making great music. Ben Folds' solo stuff is pretty good, but it just ain't the same.

Faith No More: Contrary to popular belief, this band released more songs than that one "What is it? It's it!" song and that other one that had the dying fish flopping around in the video. Few bands showed as much originality in the 80s and 90s. If you haven't listened to Angel Dust, do yourself a favor and check it out. While the majority of Mike Patton's other projects (Mr. Bungle, Fantomas) aren't nearly as accessible, I still think he's really gifted as a performer in general.

I feel that the Velvet Underground seems pretty well-respected, but mostly as a "musician's band". I'm just now trying to expose myself to them. I definitely think they're an acquired taste.

Yeah. I agree with Carligula. Every musician I know verbally fellates them so I would hardly call them underrated. I don't mind listening to them, and flame away, but their rhythm section just doesn't do it for me. They have some really cool songs, but I need some fills and cymbols and stuff.

The Kinks. Poor guys got lost in the Beatles/Who/Stones shuffle, but released consistently better material (at least until the Lola album).

I read that the guys from Devo are now writing music for a children's show.

It's a Fact: The Velvet Underground are FAR from underrated. The same goes for the Kinks.

Let's talk about some REALLY underrated artists:

Boston - Their first 2 albums, people, are 70s rock at its finest. There is not a bad song on either of these albums. These guys had an original sound, they were all great players, and they wrote really great songs.

Badfinger - Yes, they did start out sounding just like the Beatles (the Beatles themselves signed them), but eventually they developed their own sound and their own style. All you need to hear is their greatest hits to know that this was one of the best bands of the 70s.

Prince - Maybe 10-12 years ago, Prince's genius was not in dispute. But then he changed his name to a symbol. Most of the time now, when you hear 'Prince', it's the punchline to a joke. But get past the fact that he's a strange guy, and you'll find that the last decade has seen him doing some of his finest work.

Oasis - Yes, they are underrated. Like Prince, Oasis has suffered from bad PR. Their antics off the field have led to them being considered a laughing stock. But they have tons of great songs, man.

i have to agree on all counts...

the self-titled boston album is brilliant. i love it. tom scholz overlapped guitars "rule me", so to speak.

prince, although regarded by many as a strange man with a yellow guitar and a tendency to let out orgasmic moans, was a very good songwriter and a very good musician. for whatever reason, i always get
seven in my head- even though it's not his best work.

oasis- what can i say? obviously i love oasis, and not without reason. they have some great songs. i love the attitude. i love the music. ray is right when he says that they saved rock in england.


ELO is also a good pick. nice call ray. jeff lynne may not have achieved his dream of being a beatle, but he did a good job doing his own thing.


addition of my own...

jethro tull- i don't meet too many people that really enjoy jethro tull. sure, plenty of people think that aqualung is a cool song, but there is so much stuff that they don't know about. when ian anderson isn't rocking out at the flute, he writes nice english folk-sounding songs. i really dig it (although i will say, as with many bands bands from the decade, tull started to suck near the late 70s/into the 80s).

(Edited by damon at 6:04 pm on Jul. 29, 2002)

In spanish we had to discuss the three greatest songs of all time. Of course, the other 10 people in the class discussed their three favorite songs, not remembering that the teacher said greatest (in my twisted mind there is a difference). I chose Oasis' "Supersonic" as number 2 I believe and had to explain their importance in saving British rock...in spanish.

Anyway, I can't wait for the laughter to erupt from this post....

1) Fastball. Yes they wrote "The Way" and "Fire Escape" but I still consider " Out Of My Head" to be a really sweet and catchy pop song. If you ignore their horrible first album, this band is genius. Actually, going from Blink-182 sounding punk-pop-crap to the well-rounded, orchestral, pop, rock, latin-tinged sound of All The Pain Money Can Buy should be listed as one of the best changes any band has ever made. And their third album (Featuring "You're An Ocean" which had the second best piano part in any song of 2001 following Coldplay's "Trouble") tops ATPMCB. I really urge people to download the song "Vampires" from The Harsh Light Of Day. It is a beautiful song with amazing lyrics (in my simple opinion). Tony Scalzo (while weaker with the lyrics) has one of the most unique voices I've ever heard and Miles Zuniga can write some really really nice lyrics. The band knows how to produce and play...they're just great to me.

2) Semisonic. These guys are musicians and the way that they manipulate sound to evoke emotions and messages on Great Divide is really really amzing to me. They can do the sweetest love songs or the bitterest of ditties. The only reason that they are not critical and indie darlings (anymore) is because of "Closing Time"'s huge success. Feeling Strangely Fine is filled with pop anthems that will always stick with me. And, yes, I do credit their song "This Will Be My Year" with changing my life. Prior to it I had no social life (yes "everyone hated me" blah blah blah" and I decided to follow the songs advice going into high school and just not let people get to me. Semisonic changed my life. Yes I'm pathetic, but their music is not.

3) I really like Better Than Ezra's album "How Does Your Garden Grow?" It is the only album by them I like though. It's a good CD. Very different from anything they did before or after. I guess that's why I like it.

4) Starlight Mints. These guys are insane. This album is insane. This band is insanely good. I guess the fact that they use strings, trumpets, noise and kazoos doesn't click with the non-mainstream.

5) Creed. God is with them and it shows. They...I'm sorry. I can't even right a mock-explanation as to why they're underrated. They're just bad.

Okay, I'm done. Laughs-ahoy.

I'll agree that Prince is underappreciated. So many of his songs are just pop gems. Hell if you can get over Nothing Compares 2 U and Manic Monday being sung by Sinead O'Connor and The Bangles for a moment, you realize they're good tunes. I adore Prince.

As for an original idea from me, hmm Jeff Buckley
The best voice I can think of off the top of my head, you just want to make love to him, and I'm a straight male. Yes, I realize that people that know who he is for the most part love him. However I've introduced so many people to him who had no idea who he was. I'm hoping that 20 more albums of his are suddenly discovered so I can hear him more.

I'll second this. I actually really like their first three albums ('Deluxe', 'Friction, Baby' and 'HDYGG?'). And believe it or not, they used to be a phenomenal live band, before they got overly goofy and silly.

(Edited by jamiecarroll at 1:13 am on Jul. 30, 2002)

Buckley's "Everybody Here Wants You" is one of the most sexiest songs ever written... especially by a white guy.

His song from Sketches disk 2, Your Flesh Is So Nice sometimes arouses me. I think that may reflectly strangely on my sexuality.

Another band who doesnt get the respect that they deserve is XTC. They have released stellar albums ever since 1980's Drums and Wires. It just really sucks that they dont tour because Andy Partridge has a whopping case of stage fright.

grace is one of the best albums of all time.

I would like to add another coice to this topic: KING CRIMSON, a very underrated prog-rock band. Robert Fripp is a wicked guitar player.

don't i know it...

i should have met fripp at 328, but i screwed that up.

Grace is very very good, and maybe its one of the best albums of all time. However, the biggest thing about Grace for me is (in conjuction with Sketches..) the promise of what could have been had fate and a river not stepped in. Can you imagine what his second album would have been like (Sketches.. is a very very rough idea), or his third or fourth? Its kind of depressing. I'm sorry for rambling, but as I've proven time and time again, I love Jeff Buckley.

i totally agree with you, it is so sad. everytime i drive by mud island i pay homage the great buckley.