Under Appreciated/Overlooked/Often Forgotten Album

[mjkoehler]

Some just plain out get overlooked because something bigger comes out roughly the same time. Some are overshadowed by other albums in a band's catalog. Others are forgotten because they were initially panned. These are a few off the top of my head. Something like this is a great way to find gems you may have missed or re-discover ones that for whatever reason you just forgot. so, let's here 'em.

The Beatles- Magical Mystery Tour Yeah a Beatles album, who would have thought that. Honestly, do you ever here people wax poetic or drone on about this one like they do about Sgt Pepper, White Album, or Abby Road. Sadly, no they don't. Look at the songs on this one, jeez o pete such a great record. But all anyone talks about is Sgt Pepper.....

Pablo Honey/The Bends (a tie) - Radiohead Again, people go on and on, and on about how great OK Computer. OK Computer is great, but come on. Listen, I mean LISTEN to Pablo and the Bends with headphones and tell me they are not at least equals of Computer if not better in the case of The Bends. I'm a Bends man myself.

Menace To Sobriety - Ugly Kid Joe Yeah I'm sure people will roll their eyes at this one. This is really a great album and actually received pretty positive press when it came out. UKJ is actually fairly good if you get past the radio friendly "hits". The fact that this album is completly devoid of tv, radio, or family friendly songs makes it all the better. Do not knock until you actually hear it. 3 words can describe it: BITTER, ANGRY, and DRUNK.

Pinkerton - Weezer Initially panned upon release. What the hell were people thinking? I guess they wanted another Buddy Holly. Their best album I think. This is what emo should have been instead of the Hot Topics fake goth bullshit it is now. Nothing they released since has been able to touch this, or their debut.

[dragonboy]

Good thread Mike!

[ritchiem4812]

[el_chode]

If you thought this album only has to offer "popular" then you thought wrong. Beautifully crafted 90s alt rock, great melodies, and plenty of energy.


I still know every word to every song of this awesome album

[xmascriminal]

Benefit by Jethro Tull is a huge one. Fantastic, uncharactistic album. Desire and Oh Mercy by Bob Dylan; no hits on either but really excellent albums overall. Terror Twilight by Pavement is significantly better than Wowie Zowie in my opinion, but the latter gets much more credit. Voodoo Lounge by The Rolling Stones exceeds its reputation. I'll think of more later probably.

[ManNamedTruth]

Any Kinks album that I've heard. Kinks are very underrated and don't get mentioned often enough with the other great British bands of the 60's and 70's.
Although its critically praised, not that many people seem to be familiar with Love's Forever Changes.
I agree with Pinkerton. I read that Rolling Stone gave it a bad review and have since changed their minds and now call it a great album.

[xmascriminal]

Any Kinks album that I've heard. Kinks are very underrated and don't get mentioned often enough with the other great British bands of the 60's and 70's.

Completely agree. The Kinks are amazingly underrated. Muswell Hillbillies and Lola vs. Powerman and the Moneyground are brilliant recods and Shangri-la off Arthur is one of the greatest rock songs ever. I don't think it helped their longevity that their music went really downhill in the 80s.

[Ghosts_on_TV]

[red]

Two absolute masterpieces which don't get near enough accolades:

[PapaJoeBear]

Hum's Downward in Heavenward.  Best alt rock album to come out in the late 90s by far, imho.

[alexcho]

Not sure if this is gonna work - One is Simian's Chemistry Is What We Are.
Sadly original lineup's no more.

Another one is Tears for Fears' Everyone Loves A Happy Ending;
and also the ex-band Grandaddy...
Godspeed You Black Emperor...
list goes on & on...

Cheers,
Al

PS. How does one go about inserting pics?? ::)

[st. john]

k, i second that emotion. is it canadiana? are we alone?  think not. first heard that avalanches in a bistro in islington. warm voices, cool sounds in the tundra.

[st. john]

any thing at all by PREFAB SPROUT.

[alexcho]

The Avalanches are ozzies, mate!

Link:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3ifuxqlkldje

Sadly only one LP to their name.

AL

[st. john]

THE ' CANADIANA '  refers to  K & I  being Canadian.  so question is - is this limited to the tastes of canadians? i think not.

[dragonboy]

PS. How does one go about inserting pics?? ::)

Right click on the picture you want show, from the list of options click on properties. An Element Properties tab will open, cut the Location address. Then click on the Insert Image icon (3rd left up the top) & paste the location address inbetween the two img things in brackets.

[alexcho]

Sorry for the misunderstanding stjohn & thanks to dragonboy.

The Avalanches were big in UK & Australia too.

Simian's LP:


Hope this works! :D

[alexcho]

third time lucky?

[mjkoehler]

Hum's Downward in Heavenward.  Best alt rock album to come out in the late 90s by far, imho.

Perfect example of why I started this. Completly forgot about Hum.

[Jaimoe]

THE ' CANADIANA '  refers to  K & I  being Canadian.  so question is - is this limited to the tastes of canadians? i think not.

Leonard Cohen is world famous and I don't think anything he does is overlooked.

Some overlooked albums from overlooked but important Canadian bands:

This album from 70's-80's underground Hamilton, Ontario band Simply Saucer was praised on Pitchfork as one of the great overlooked albums and they are right:




Here's some influential Canadian punk albums from the 70's (also from Hamilton):







From Vancouver:



And, if you think you know jazz guitar and you've never heard of Lenny Breau, then do yourself a favour and seek out albums by this late great and tragic (and untouchable) guitarist: