Most Underrated Rock Band (One Choice Only!)

[snakes&ladders]

One that comes to my mind is the Rhode Island psych/garage band called PLAN 9 (NOT to be confused with the UK goth band with the same name!). They recorded for the NYC label MIdnight Rec in the Paisley Underground scene in the mid 80s and dished out such masterpieces like: I like girls, Step outta time, Can't have you, etc., but very few people just ignored Eric Stunpo's and G. Evans musical prowess.....go figure!!

 

[Slip'nn2Darkness]

I don't think music fans, in general, appreciate John Kay (Steppenwolf) as an artist, particularly his solo material.

Steppenwolf sits right up there in my book with Led Zeppelin.. If you take the time to get into the group you'll find they are so unique.. Lyrically they blow my mind.. Nothing silly of cheesy about any song they have ever written.. I would give anything to be able to sing like John Kay.. What a voice..

 

[Tommy Walker]

I'm gonna go with this guy:



I know he's a legend, but I still don't think he gets his fair due. He should be on Springsteen's level if you ask me.

 

[aeroplane]

Steppenwolf sits right up there in my book with Led Zeppelin.. If you take the time to get into the group you'll find they are so unique.. Lyrically they blow my mind.. Nothing silly of cheesy about any song they have ever written.. I would give anything to be able to sing like John Kay.. What a voice..

John Kay had an awfully good solo album about 6-7 years ago called Heretics and Privateers. Solid stuff.

Even some of the poppier, keyboard-laden stuff he was doing with Steppenwolf in the 80's and 90's still has very good lyrics.

 

[LG]

Steppenwolf sits right up there in my book with Led Zeppelin.. If you take the time to get into the group you'll find they are so unique.. Lyrically they blow my mind.. Nothing silly of cheesy about any song they have ever written.. I would give anything to be able to sing like John Kay.. What a voice..

Because of you my friend I now have 7 Steppenwolf albums, and they were one of the bands on my short list for this thread.

 

[Syd]

The Velvet Underground: They're pure genius. One of my favourite bands, and their innovation is just so important in everything that is rock music. I know they're also pretty legendary, but that is with people that are into Rock Music and have the slightest idea of its history. But for a common person, its an unknown band. They should be just as famous as Led Zeppelin in my opinion.

The Smiths: Another legendary band for people that are used to talking about rock music. But at least where I live, they're not at all famous. Maybe Morrissey might be a familiar name, but because of his solo carreer.

The Stone Roses: They only had a couple of records, but they're still pretty, pretty good. They practically created the 90's Britpop scene, and brought Psychedelia back to life after a lot of years it had been missing from the rock map.

I know I'll think of other bands, so I'll post them then.

 

[Tommy Walker]

The Velvet Underground: They're pure genius. One of my favourite bands, and their innovation is just so important in everything that is rock music. I know they're also pretty legendary, but that is with people that are into Rock Music and have the slightest idea of its history. But for a common person, its an unknown band. They should be just as famous as Led Zeppelin in my opinion.

The Smiths: Another legendary band for people that are used to talking about rock music. But at least where I live, they're not at all famous. Maybe Morrissey might be a familiar name, but because of his solo carreer.

The Stone Roses: They only had a couple of records, but they're still pretty, pretty good. They practically created the 90's Britpop scene, and brought Psychedelia back to life after a lot of years it had been missing from the rock map.

I know I'll think of other bands, so I'll post them then.

I think your arguments hinge upon the assumption that we're talking about being underrated in a commercial sense, rather than in a critical sense. If that's the case, then I agree with you that the Velvet Underground is the most underrated band of all-time. It's amazing how many people have never heard of them or even heard their music (in an "I know this song, but I never knew who sang it" sense). If we're talking about being underrated in a critical sense, I'd probably go with Billy Joel, whose brilliance is often overlooked by music snobs who are put off by anything that was radio-friendly after 1975. I tried to look at it from both perspectives, which is why I voted for Tom Petty, who has neither gotten his fair due from critics, nor been able to move albums like a Billy Joel due primarily to his having a "rootsy" sound that has kept him from being part of any major musical trend, despite being extremely relevant for close to 20 years.

 

[snakes&ladders]

I'm gonna go with this guy:



I know he's a legend, but I still don't think he gets his fair due. He should be on Springsteen's level if you ask me.

I think Tom's been positively RE-rated nowadays

 

[Syd]

I think your arguments hinge upon the assumption that we're talking about being underrated in a commercial sense, rather than in a critical sense. If that's the case, then I agree with you that the Velvet Underground is the most underrated band of all-time. It's amazing how many people have never heard of them or even heard their music (in an "I know this song, but I never knew who sang it" sense). If we're talking about being underrated in a critical sense, I'd probably go with Billy Joel, whose brilliance is often overlooked by music snobs who are put off by anything that was radio-friendly after 1975. I tried to look at it from both perspectives, which is why I voted for Tom Petty, who has neither gotten his fair due from critics, nor been able to move albums like a Billy Joel due primarily to his having a "rootsy" sound that has kept him from being part of any major musical trend, despite being extremely relevant for close to 20 years.

Yes! I was talking in that sense: The commercial or popularity of the band. In those cases I think it should be higher.

In the critical sense: I think Linkin Park is quite Underrated. I know they do this thing that a lot of people hate that is mixing Hip-Hop with heavy guitars. Some people hate them for that but I think most of it is just prejudice. The lyrics are quite honest. Most of us deal with stuff like that. Besides, Chester Bennington (Lead Singer) has a great voice. And their last album is also very good and they have changed quite a lot from what people hate, but they still hate it. I think their last album was great but because they are calle Linkin Park, people just ignore it. They have these beautiful songs, and other ones that are like Anthems. They are also great in live performances. They have been labeled as "Emo" sometimes because their lyrics are like emotional and stuff like that. But to me, that's as silly as labeling Blues Music as "Emo" because it talks about some sad stuff too. I mean, if Linkin Park sang a song name "Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?" they would say "Ooooh, that's so emo, and so depressing ... They're sick and they suck". But if Clapton does it, it's genius, because it comes from the soul.

And that's it. Sometimes I think prejudice gets in our way.

 

[Sox]