[Pick of the Week] Top 10 Underrated Bands/Artists
by Fresh New Music,posted Oct 25 2011 5:14PM
THE TOP 10 Underrated Bands/Artists
There's no use being objective when making lists like this. Here goes, the Top 10 Underrated Bands/Artists:
#10 ) Doves
This English band was started up in the late 90's and has released 4 studio albums and a lot of good music. The problem is they've been kind of lost in obscurity, but you should check out their last album Kingdom of Rust because it's very good.
#9) The Pixies
These guys were active in the late 80's and disbanded in 1993. they later reunited in 2004. They paved the way with their melodic and harsh sound for bands like Nirvana to come along. They were much more successful abroad than in the US and definitely a group to seek out.
#8) The Animals
Eric Burdon took this band to new hits and they were inducted into the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, but a lot of their music doesn't get any respect besides "House of the Rising Sun." They've put out 20 studio albums and there's a lot more to discover within this discography.
#7) Ted Nugent
I think a lot of people put off Ted Nugent because of his notoriety of being very conservative, but he is an incredible gifted guitarists who has released more than 34 albums. I think a lot of his talent gets wasted on what comes out of his mouth.
#6) Nick Drake
Nick Drake died in 1974 when he was 26, but he is considered today to be one of the most influential English singer-songwriters of the last 50 years. He has a large cult following today, and you should definitely give a listen to one of Drake's albums in the near future.
#5) The Kinks
The Kinks did churn out a bunch of hits, but a lot of their earlier albums like The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968) are incredible and filled with awesome music. Ray Davies, the lead singer, has been prolific writing hundreds of songs and has released five solo albums. I think the perception is The Kinks were kind of a 'one-hit wonder', but they're definitely not. They should be in the same conversation as The Beatles, The Who and Rolling Stones.
#4) Warren Zevon
Warren Zevon was one of the greatest musicians of our time. He died in 2003 of cancer at 56-years-old. You probably know his hit "Werewolves of London" but everything on his 1978 album Excitable Boy is incredible. Definitely check him out.
#3) Frank Zappa
I think Zappa is just unappreciated. He was a phenomenal guitarist with a wicked sardonic wit who played a range of music that was challenging and unconventional. I think he gets overlooked today, despite the fact that he is a great virtuoso musician. He died in 1993 at age 52.
#2) Talking Heads
Talking Heads is probably best known for their work in the 80's and they were extremely popular for their pop hits, but they have a lot of music that isn't talked about. Singer David Byrne had some excellent esoteric lyrics that meshed well with the new age sound of the band. They have released 8 studio albums that are worth taking a gander at.
#1) Velvet Underground
I don't think Lou Reed has ever gotten the respect he deserves for this band that was one of the most influential groups of the 1960's. Along with John Cale, Nico and manager Andy Warhol, their debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico is one of my all-time favorites. "Heroin" is one of the most raw visceral songs that I have ever heard and a lot of their music is interesting and poetic.
Honorable Mentions:
What are some bands/artists who you think are underrated?
[Pick of the Week] Top 10 Underrated Bands/Artists
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11/23/2010 7:20PM
Bob
Sir Douglas Quintet was a Texas band led by Doug Sahm. If anybody knows them, it is usually from their garagey vox organ Top 40 60s songs, She's About a Mover and Mendocino. But their albums blended jazz, blues, psychedelia, conjunto and even country elements. Sahm periodically revived this band including an attempt at "border wave" in the 80s, mixing the Tex Mex sound with new wave. He ended his career with Texas Tornados, recycling some of the Quintet songs with the more Latino elements of Freddy Fender and Flaco Jimenez. Sahm is a legend in central Texas but pretty much unknown elsewhere.
10/13/2011 12:42PM
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