I'm always fascinated by other people's views on music and indeed have listened to recommended albums from time to time. Equally as fascinating is how some bands seem to go 'under the radar' and never get the recognition they deserve. I'm nominating the band Talk Talk as my underrated band. Yes, they had moderate success in the mid-eighties, but just listen to their final two albums, namely 'Spirit Of Eden' and 'Laughing Stock'. These are expertly crafted, but were widely criticised at the time of release in 1988 and 1991 respectively. The band and these two albums in particular have been massively underrated and the aforementioned albums are nothing short of groundbreaking genius and I don't use that word lightly. The track on Laughing Stock titled 'New Grass' is absolutely stunning. I've attached links to both albums for anyone vaguely interested.
-- Edited by Pod on Sunday 5th of April 2015 10:24:19 PM
Would agree with those choices Pod, very good albums and sorely overlooked - possibly a little challenging for the majority who expect a verse/chorus/verse construct to their music. But Bloody hell, where do I start on this topic? I think the majority of my listening and some of my very favourite albums are dominated by some that barely troubled the charts in either the US or UK.
Some of my most returned to albums from the past decade or so include;
Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway
The Apples in Stereo - Fun Trick Noisemaker or Tone Soul Evolution
The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
Sufjan Stevens - Illinois or Seven Swans
Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
of Montreal - Hissing Fauna or Skeletal Lamping
Phantom Buffalo - Take to the Trees
Panda Bear - Person Pitch
The River Empires - The River Empires
Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One or And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out
Ariel Pink - Pom Pom
The New ****ographers - Electric Version or Mass Romantic
It depends on the term underrated and success. The two albums pod mentions I know and like and would almost suggest they are well rated. However, I have only heard of 3 of S8s choices, so, on that score they all seem underrated to me.
Some very 'pop'ular albums are loved and sold in their millions because of the artist but can still be great pieces of work, but bought for their status, so, I'm struggling to think of an album unless I picked one I though obscure like 'upon this rock' by larry norman, 'God bluff' by van der graaf, and 'ordinary man' by day one.
-- Edited by ian on Wednesday 8th of April 2015 11:43:43 PM
S8 and Heman, thanks for your responses, some interesting tracks there which I'm still wading through. Ian, it's really not meant to be thought of that deeply. Simply a more obscure track or album that isn't 'mainstream' or you don't feel got the credit it deserved. The two albums I suggested I feel were terribly underrated at the time and even today.
In that case David holmes, essential mix. An absolute tour of wonder and delight by a master taking time out in his room to compile a tape for his muse.
