Who do you think were the most underrated bands from the last 40 years or so?

 

Ones I would suggest are,

 

XTC

Squeeze

Tears for Fears

Moody Blues

 

I think they all made great music, but they never really got the full recognition that other similar artists got.

Who do you think were the most underrated bands from the last 40 years or so?

 

Ones I would suggest are,

 

XTC

I think they all made great music, but they never really got the full recognition that other similar artists got.

 

Dont think you can say that XTC are under-rated seeing as they were the reference point for most angular indie bands about 3 years ago along with wire (btw got the nonsuch album a few weeks ago and agreed with my dad that it was much bollocks)...maybe you could say post-pink flag wire is under-rated as i guess everyone would obsess about New Order...

 

Wire

 

and i guess where New Order spin offs are conserned i guess Electronic would always be the seen as the best...forgeting that Monaco what do you you want from me was a great pop single...while i guess dubstar will always crop up in the affections of people much more than anything by the other two...

 

MONACO - WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME

 

The Other Two - Tasty Fish

The Other Two - Selfish

 

...or Marion :lol: :lol:

 

Moby Grape - Omaha

 

Maybe not under-rated but i guess more unlikely to get a cover feature when there's the doors, Greatful Dead, Love to feature first...

 

XTC

 

on comparison would you say Robyn Hitchcock is more under-rated or not seeing as he would be such an obv cult artist to mention...?

 

moody blues?... nah, in their time they were big. i dont think they deserve any lasting adulation as being anything particually special.

I think Saint Etienne are very underrated. They were a great pop band

there's been a few threads on teletext about under-rated acts...the frazer chorus and these two croped up again...

 

Eg and Alice - Doesn't mean that much to me

 

Eg and Alice - Indian

Talk Talk..... they've made albums easily as cosmically wonderful as Pink Floyd's greatest.... ambient, moody, gloriously orgasmic soundscapes that should have seen them as the Radiohead of their day. Only better. But Joe Public still can't let go of the fact they started off as a poppy synth band.... they're in a similar predicament in their homeland as Depeche Mode.... which is a shame as they're worth so, so much more.

 

The Blue Nile - much the same as above.

 

Cocteau Twins..... they had minor/cult success but never really crossed over to the mainstream. Criminal, I think.

 

XTC... as above

 

Squeeze.... as above

 

Client... of all the current electropop bands, Client are by far the most overlooked. And by far the best, too. They released the best single of last year - Zerox Machine... but it didn't get anywhere near the charts. The public should hang their heads in shame for snubbing Client.... and the same goes for Sarah's previous band Dubstar.

Squeeze should be a household name just for Cool For Cats..... thats a f***ing AMAZING song. I love it.

Talk Talk..... they've made albums easily as cosmically wonderful as Pink Floyd's greatest.... ambient, moody, gloriously orgasmic soundscapes that should have seen them as the Radiohead of their day. Only better. But Joe Public still can't let go of the fact they started off as a poppy synth band.... they're in a similar predicament in their homeland as Depeche Mode.... which is a shame as they're worth so, so much more.

 

but a fcukin GOOD poppy synth band :), id rate their singles among the very best of the eighties.

That Petrol Emotion - a great band formed from the remnants of The Undertones but never had a Top 40 hit.

Talk Talk..... they've made albums easily as cosmically wonderful as Pink Floyd's greatest.... ambient, moody, gloriously orgasmic soundscapes that should have seen them as the Radiohead of their day. Only better. But Joe Public still can't let go of the fact they started off as a poppy synth band.... they're in a similar predicament in their homeland as Depeche Mode.... which is a shame as they're worth so, so much more.

 

The Blue Nile - much the same as above.

 

they come up quite a lot...tho i think elbow will like them....

 

 

Cocteau Twins..... they had minor/cult success but never really crossed over to the mainstream. Criminal, I think

 

Client... of all the current electropop bands, Client are by far the most overlooked. And by far the best, too. They released the best single of last year - Zerox Machine... but it didn't get anywhere near the charts. The public should hang their heads in shame for snubbing Client.... and the same goes for Sarah's previous band Dubstar.

 

yeah dubstar are good - but as i was looking at dubstar the other day here some other stuff

 

Frazier Chorus - Storm

 

Frazier Chorus - Cloud Eight

 

Frazier Chorus - Nothing

 

TECHNIQUE - Sun is shining

 

Technique - You and Me (sounding like creation records indie-electro version of Kirsty Hawkshaw)

 

I think Saint Etienne are very underrated.

 

Yeah - and they've got a best of coming out very soon!!! however should have a proper good heavenly records best of for their anniversity...that would be good....think you could say its an under-rated record label..as surely in there any further cuts at emi that would be the first to go...esp if it came with a special bonus disc where 18 of the best heavenly acts all had to cover right said fred's mojiove in their own style...could have Edwyn Collins, Beth Orton, Dot Allison, Magic Numbers, Doves and Vanessa Quinones / Espiritu.

 

Tin Tin Out feat. Espiritu - Always...

 

Vanessa Quinones / Espiritu - Los Americanos

 

Dario G & Vanessa Quinones - Voices

 

"Sunchyme" - Dario G

 

The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town

 

Nick Drake - Pink Moon

 

Nick Drake - River Man

 

lilac time - american eyes

 

The Lilac Time - Return To Yesterday

 

Me Me Me - Hanging Around

 

Jane by Stephen Duffy

 

Stephen Duffy - Natalie

 

think Stephen Duffy is a very under-rated songwriter...just listen to how good something like Natalie is...under-rated totally because with him most people think either Robbie Williams (or BNL if your Canadian :lol: ) or Duran Duran/Tin Tin and tbh i dont think the electro-pop style doesnt really suit him (and tbh not too keen on the 80s electro tin tin records he's much better doing britpop/nick drake type stuff)

...after the bbc four doc...thinking that maybe roxy music could be added to the list

 

and talking about bbc four before batman you may have seen this:

 

Status Quo - Pictures Of Matchstick Men...

...after the bbc four doc...thinking that maybe roxy music could be added to the list

 

Hardly, as they did have very sizeable commercial success especially with their albums unlike the likes of XTC, Squeeze, Talk Talk, Dubstar/Client, Steven Duffy, Cocteau Twins, etc.

 

My nomination would have to be two great power pop bands:

 

First off a band who Rolling Stone magazine in 1999 labelled the unluckiest band in the history of Rock'n'Roll, whose story is truly heartbreaking:

 

Badfinger - No Matter What (1971)

 

Badfinger - Name of the Game (1971)

 

Badfinger - Baby Blue (1972)

 

Badfinger - Day After Day (1972)

 

Badfinger - Take It All (1972)

 

and their most famous song:

 

Badfinger - Without You (1971)

 

Main singer/songwriter Pete Ham was a musical genius, so little wonder Paul McCartney in 2002 labelled Coldplay a 3rd rate Badfinger.

My second act was a band from the early 1990s who met with near universal critical acclaim due to their fantastic songwriter & musicianship and being fantastic live, but commercial indifference at the heighth of grunge making superior power pop that either of their albums (Bellybutton (1991) & Spilt Milk (1993)) would be superior to a mix CD of the best of McFly, The Feeling, The Hoosiers & Scouting For Girls put together ................... Jellyfish:

 

Jellyfish - The King is Half Undressed (1991)

 

Jellyfish - Baby's Coming Back (1991)

 

Jellyfish - I Wanna Stay Home (1991)

 

Jellyfish - The Ghost At Number One (1993)

 

Jellyfish - New Mistake (1993)

 

Jellyfish - Joining A Fan Club (1993)

 

Sadly the group split in 1994. But three of band reformed (sadly minus singer/drummer Andy Sturmer) a few years ago and in 2006 released in Japan (it received some airplay and some deserved media coverage in the UK in early 2008) with a new name and their retro sound suitably "updated":

 

TV Eyes - She's A Study (2008)

Hardly, as they did have very sizeable commercial success especially with their albums unlike the likes of XTC, Squeeze, Talk Talk, Dubstar/Client, Steven Duffy, Cocteau Twins, etc.

 

but its about 'underrated bands' - i suppose not just about what band should have sold more records - and all those above have had many chart hits (even Duffy - tho i guess tin tin tunes are best forgotten) and i guess someone like Cocteau Twins would not be under-rated at all...tho they could have done with selling more records..but then again this might have spoilt their charm to some...would you want them to become the ting tings and be moved to pop now...!!!! and i guess Cocteau Twins getting back together would be in some circles akin to one of the greatest mastorbatory thoughts in indie history..tho maybe not on the same scale as reunions from MBV or JAMC obv...

 

if your looking from some viewpoints (esp indie) wouldnt big commercial success (well at least for Ferry and esp without eno), be a bad thing...esp if it was in that era with nice suits and with cultural retro obsession focused on the 1980s at the moment (hello Ladyhawke fans!!!) thats probs would be brought up making ferry look abit like a smooth-synthpop weller to either duran and spandau's enemy - and this would probs make them under-valued culturally and make ferry seem as culturally important as phil collins or bono...

 

and talking about bono......someone who probably hasnt sold as many albums as the last few u2 singles did :lol: and would probs be best to be mentioned here...

 

Gavin Friday - Angel

 

Gavin Friday - Falling off the edge of the world

 

Gavin Friday - You, Me and World War III

 

btw yeah the badfinger tragic story was intersting...i like reading those kinda ones...like the Harry Nilsson one as well...

 

My second act was a band from the early 1990s who met with near universal critical acclaim due to their fantastic songwriter & musicianship and being fantastic live, but commercial indifference at the heighth of grunge making superior power pop that either of their albums (Bellybutton (1991) & Spilt Milk (1993)) would be superior to a mix CD of the best of McFly, The Feeling, The Hoosiers & Scouting For Girls put together ................... Jellyfish:

 

Sadly the group split in 1994. But three of band reformed (sadly minus singer/drummer Andy Sturmer) a few years ago and in 2006 released in Japan (it received some airplay and some deserved media coverage in the UK in early 2008)

 

well yeah you can understand why it would get airplay in Japan - its the kinda thing they would like (and also obv the Puffy Ami Yumi connection)

 

and here's some more totally kitsch japanese wig-out from the masters of totally kitsch japanese wig-out tunes...Swing Out Si....sorry i mean....Pizzicato 5!!! yay!!!

 

Pizzicato Five - Happy Sad

 

Pizzicato 5 - Twiggy Twiggy

 

Pizzicato Five - Sweet Soul Revue

 

Mon Amour Tokyo - Pizzicato Five

 

Jellyfish - I Wanna Stay Home (1991)

 

also to be found here.....

 

http://i24.ebayimg.com/03/c/01/a3/02/38_8.JPG

 

and imo much better than the new sam beeton or will young singles!!!

 

Eg and Alice - Indian

 

Eg and Alice - Doesn't mean that much to me

 

Natalie Imbruglia - Shiver

Hardly, as they did have very sizeable commercial success especially with their albums unlike the likes of XTC, Squeeze, Talk Talk, Dubstar/Client, Steven Duffy, Cocteau Twins, etc.

 

My nomination would have to be two great power pop bands:

 

First off a band who Rolling Stone magazine in 1999 labelled the unluckiest band in the history of Rock'n'Roll, whose story is truly heartbreaking:

 

 

Main singer/songwriter Pete Ham was a musical genius, so little wonder Paul McCartney in 2002 labelled Coldplay a 3rd rate Badfinger.

 

funnily enough, 'come and get it' put me off badfinger. i prefered the earlier sounds of the 60's and considered badfinger rather.... dunno, ... poor?.. but of course i was wrong, and now i agree that they were a tragic group of pretty talented musicians. 'day after day' is superb, and refering coldplay to a third rate badfinger was spot on! and thats being generous!

Hardly, as they did have very sizeable commercial success especially with their albums unlike the likes of XTC, Squeeze, Talk Talk, Dubstar/Client

 

on the void/letters pages...look who turns up again....

 

"After the mention of Frazier Chorus in great lost bands, I notice their great album Sue has been reissued with B-sides and such. This is great news". by Rod Barton (who then goes on to mention the fatima mansion...)

 

....and no mention of "former Creation records band Technique" either :lol: :lol:

 

 

on the other hand here s some mansun:

 

I Can Only Disappoint You

 

Wide Open Space

 

She Makes My Nose Bleed