Sincerely underrated bands...
 

Bands who really don't get the credit they fucking deserve. There are tons out there, but these stick out in my mind.

1. Game Theory

Really. Why the hell aren't these guys mentioned along the likes of R.E.M., the Pixies, Sonic Youth, etc... They made a shitload of records, two of which are absolutely perfect, "Lolita Nation" and "Two Steps from the Middle Ages". Total crime that no one talks about them anymore.

2. Pale Saints

Beautiful songs. Interesting sound. Much better than Cocteau Twins who they oft get compared to.

3. Pengo

To me, they have been one of the best freak psychedelic noise bands forever now. I rarely listen to noise unless I'm on drugs these days, but I still find myself listening to "a Nervous Splendor" often.

There are more, but these are on my mind right now.

Jimi Hendrix.

seriously. I mean, sure, everybody thinks they know why Jimi is the shit, but MOST people don't have a fucking clue about the genius of Jimi in 1969/1970

Pretty much everything I pay attention to. LEO ANIBALDI is the best/most underrated electronic musician ever. I'd say Harry Partch is still quite underrated. Rich Woodson's Ellipsis, the most complex band of ALL TIME, is underrated. ALL great j-indie stuff is underrated over here.

I dunno, I could go on all day.

Totality, and since where in the shoegaze world Lush is very underated as well.

Oh, hugely. I'd say that, for example, The Wayward easily ranks up their with the most interesting and original compositions in 20th Century composition. His stuff also has the benefit of, aside from any analysis of it's groundbreaking nature, just being really fucking fun to listen to. I mean obviously theory wise he's fascinating, but then on top of that his stuff is just really beautiful and strangely accessible in a way that most of the people he's compared to just aren't. I think a lot of it comes down to the fact that, especially in his use of voices, his work is just really emotionally unrestrained and, well, fun, both of which are qualities that are often lacking in 'modern classical' music.

Although it's an obvious one for this forum, wider music word speaking I'd also add to the list Polvo, who still just blow me away on regular basis. I mean obviously they still get a certain degree of respect, but I honestly can't see why a record like Today's Active Lifestyles isn't consistently ranked as one of the defining records in American indie.

Def. man... TODAY'S ACTIVE LIFESTYLES simply blows away whatever "indie" shit is popular.. Pavement and Dinosaur and so on..

"The band had been given positive reviews in rock magazines, and had enjoyed much airplay on college radio. However, many factors got in the way of greater success. Soon after the release of their 1989 album, Two Steps From the Middle Ages, their record label, Enigma Records, went out of business. In addition, there were conflicts within the group as their guitarist and vocalist Donnette Thayer left the group to form Hex with Steve Kilbey of The Church. Finally, drummer Gil Ray sustained an injury, causing him to bow out part way through their promotional tour."

Shannon Wright: powerful independent and creative song writer who was so underappreciated in the US that she moved to France to make a living and has become rather popular there. Every album is ridiculously good, and quite different and evolving then other bands/artists. Its hard to say which Shannon Wright era is the best, she has swung from coffee shop music (Maps of Tactic/Flightsafety) towards electronic/art rock with teeth (Dyed in the Wool) to a fierce thrash/punk sound (Over the Sun) which she tours with.. dreary ambient all acoustics with Yann Tiersen (Shannon Wright/Yann Tiersen S/T).. mellow john lennon-pop (Let in the Light) to a syncretic blend of it all with this last one Honeybee Girls which really sounds like a contemporary french college rock album..

Rory Gallagher: I sort of feel like I'm posting this in the wrong forum but anyway: with all the hero-worship surrounding Hendrix, Clapton, Page, et al, Rory Gallagher remains something of a cult figure, despite the story that, when Hendrix was asked how it felt being the greatest guitarist in the world, he replied "ask Rory Gallagher". Whatever you may think of that statement (and there's every chance Hendrix never said it at all) there really was something special about his music. Anyway, here's a sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjxhwNrhIgA



Apologies to Paulybee and any other Irish posters here, who are nodoubt sick of hearing all this by now. From what I understand, Rory Gallagher has virtual God-like status there.

Goon Moon

Porcupine Tree

When it comes to modern prog metal, people would rather listen to Dream Theater, but John Petrucci's constant wanking and their singer's (don't know his name) constant wailing just ruins the whole deal for me.

ELO.

Seriously though.......Acid Mothers Temple. Some assume the very frequent releases = shit quality control. But imho, the quality of most of their releases is extremely high. Especially the recent In 0 to Infinity. Fuck that's a great cd!!!

a'ight already, what is it with bands with mask? .... just kidding (seriously though)

Fuck yeah, Goon Moon rules, I've been into them for a long time... ROCK WEIRD! WEIRD ROCK!

HOOD. I love all their shit. I love how their songs tweak from shoegazey sounds and odd beats to skronk of the highest caliber. I love all their records, and their shit always amazes me, but I never ever hear anyone, here in Houston or on the internet corners I haunt talking about them.

I love Hood.

+1 on Hood too. And Ganger deserve a fuckload more love than they get.

i like Hood quite a bit...have tracked down virtually all their singles and comp tracks, and then they put out those cds. bastards!

anyway, even the bracken and downpour and remote viewer projects are worth hearing too.

for straight-ahead rock bands, Versus should have been huge.