Who do you believe are underrated by music fans?

My vote would go for Eurythmics. I doubt many people think of them other than as an 80s 3-hit wonder. Personally, however, I believe their 1981-1984 material rivals that of anyone, including Prince. The B-sides from that time are among the most experimental pieces of music that I have heard. They also survived the climate change of music at the end of new wave and launched a successful post-new-wave career. Annie Lennox is simultaneously chilling, strong and vulnerable.

Meshell Ndegeocello

Portishead

Incubus

Neil Finn
Kristin Hersh...

INXS were underrated (imo)

my votes go to Meshell and Aimee Mann...these women should be getting all the hype Janet and Madonna get!!!

Gabrielle, she is from the UK area and well-known there. Back in 1993 she had a well-known song here in the United States..."Dreams" which came from her "Find Your Way" titled album. Her music and voice intertwined with life and people relations truly affect me realistically/personally. Everytime I have a song of Gabrielle playing, people ask in interest... "Who is that!" , and many have purchased her music. I would love to see her "live", perhaps I need to travel soon.

Moonbeam said:

The Eurythmics are not underrated. They have a huge audience that appreciate all of their catalogue,greatest hits packages, and they even had a live by request episode.

Meshell isnt even underrate d becaue those that know of her know shes a badass.

Is their a mix up between unknown, unknown talent and underappreciated?

Concrete Blonde is underrated.

rdhull said:

Perhaps in the UK, but in the US, most people would tell you that they only know "Sweet Dreams," "Here Comes the Rain Again" and "Would I Lie to You?" I can guarantee than practically no one has heard "1984: For the Love of Big Brother" which is arguably their best album.

Bobby Womack.the Guy is From Cleveland&Can't even get into the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame DAMN! so many Artists where do I start?

***Remy Shand---He's got one of the best debut albums in recent history,but very few people are paying attention.

***Jamiroquai---Their recent CD 'A Funk Odyssey' is my favorite album of 2001.They deserve much more atttention than they've been getting lately.

kajagoogoo

Moonbeam said:

Nah, they'd also rememebr Whos That Girl, Love Is A Stranger, Beethoven etc...and maybe the title song of 1984 but not purchased that album from the movie..just because some of their work is not known does not mean they ae "underrated" in what they do. Like max said, Womack is underrated. His guitar work and soul sessions and work as a studio sidekick for others including those like The Rolling Stones is what makes him underrated.

Me'shell Ndegéocello

Gill Scott-Heron

Kate Bush

Bee Gees (still!)

Terence Trent D'Arby

Bjork

Check out Darius Rucker's new cds, its back to basics. 'Hold On' is a good one to download


also GREAZY MEAL (now defunct) but great 3 cds

what the hell you talkin' about?

have you ever heard about...

kipper jones and chuckii booker...eh?

check:

kipper jones -"ordinary story" virgin rec. 91328-2 (1990)
chuckii booker -"nice n' wild" atlantic 782410-2 (1992)

thiiz guys are pretty underrated...

all around the world fo the funk

spitty

Teena Marie...I don't think she ever got the props she really deserves.

rdhull said:

Beethoven is pushing it. However, the fact remains that despite their work being known or unknown, it is undervalued. In that acclaimed music thread, Eurythmics only had ONE album in the top 1000, "Be Yourself Tonight" at a measly 991. They also had only one song in the top 1000, "Sweet Dreams" at 273. They placed number 322 on the all time list of artists there...nearly 200 spots below Human League and only about 15 spots above DESTINY'S CHILD. Their albums are traditionally given mediocre reviews as well. I'd say they do not get the credit they deserve as true pioneers of the synth/new wave sound and having several top-notch albums under their belt.

Fishbone.long overdue&still slept on.

Moonbeam said:

There it is...I cant argue with that. You just broke it down. Yes undervalued.

I think Nathan Renner is definitely the most underrated artist of this or any decade.

Dig him, folks. He's got the goods.

Aww shucks. But how can I be underrated when I don't play my music for anybody? Someday I'll get there.
[This message was edited Mon Sep 16 19:27:38 PDT 2002 by TRON]

SkletonKee said:

neither Meshell nor Aimee are underrated. they receive universally rave reviews.

Yes, I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding with the terms. Let's break it down.

Unknown- obscure or underground. not a household name.
i.e. Grady's Ripple

Underappreciated- don't get the popularity or fanfare they deserve. some like it that way and purposely make music that is an aquired taste and only for a select audience.
i.e. Aimee Mann, Meshell, Tricky, etc.

Underrated- typically don't get the critical props they deserve. overlooked or undervalued in reviews, year-end polls, all-time lists, etc.
i.e. Eurythmics as Ian said, The Cure

Often, artists can have a huge influence on others and have a die-hard cult following, but never any mainstream crossover. On allmusicguide for example, artists like bjork, the pixies, joy division and the smiths have nearly all 4 star or better album ratings. They're all considered highly influential and important to music history but they've never been popular. In this case that's not underrated.

Similarly, artists like the Eurythmics had a huge audience at one time and were sold many records. But they don't get enough credit for their unique sound, ground-breaking imagery and excellent songcraft. Albums like 'In the Garden', '1984', and 'Savage' are all perfect projects but they get universally shit on by the music press. That's underrated.

moonbeams always picking the Eurythmics


anyways the most underratted?!?...i have to go with


"Illegal" those two boys who rapped in 94' such an underratted CD

classic77 said:

i wwould have sided with you but the new cd and the old ones(before make yourself) are kinda sucky i think ,..maybe i should listen to them again but i was dissapointed first time around...

TRON said:

You said it perfectly. How can "1984" only merit 2 stars? That is the most ludicrous thing!

Sage said:

He'll get his due when he breaks it down for us all.

Thanx Ian.

Jamiroquai, I agree,
Also Hawksley Workman is awesome,
Bela Fleck. He has a strong following but a lot of people scratch their heads at the name.
Marvin Gaye? I know a lot of us love him, but friends of mine have never even heard of him. Not to mention Parliament, Funkadelic, even Miles Davis!!! No, I don't have stupid friends, these are what normal people seem to be like.