UNDERSEXED, UNDERRATED AND UNDER HERE
Mar. 22nd, 2008 02:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
defrogCross-posted from thewhyfive. This week’s category: Top five underrated bands!
METHODOLOGY: One of the fun things about lists like this is how you define “underrated”. One hit wonder? Well, sometimes it’s a matter of geography. A band that was a one-hit wonder in the States might be huge in the UK or Europe. Then there’s the question of critical acclaim or influence vs actual record sales, as well as bands that were underappreciated at the time but are now regulars on VH1 specials.
Anyway, I decided to go with bands who are basically known for only one song, but who have back catalogs or albums well worth exploring. Also, I decided to stick with bands instead of solo artists.
TOP FIVE UNDERRATED DEF BANDS
1. The Knack
Because there was so much more to them than “My Sharona”. Get The Knack is one of the most underappreciated pop-punk records ever made.
2. Blue Oyster Cult
Because there was so much more to them than “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”. Granted, they filled stadiums at their peak, but I hate to see them relegated to “More Cowbell!” status without a higher appreciation of the other songs they did.
3. The Tubes
Because there was so much more to them than “She’s A Beauty”. The Tubes had a sense of humor that other glam bands lacked, and they knocked out tunes worthy of their late 70s/early 80s peers.
4. Lush
Because there was so much more to them than “Superblast!”. Also, Miki Berenyi has to be one of the most under-recognized lyricists ever.
5. The Bonzo Dog Doodah Band
Because there was so much more to them than “I’m The Urban Spaceman”, etc. Maybe their absurdist humor has limited appeal, but they were more than a novelty act. They were amazingly versatile musicians, plus they also had Neil Innes, one of the world’s most underrated songwriters.
HONORABLE MENTION: Tenacious D, Mothers Of Invention, Devo, Cheap Trick, dEUS, Skinless Julia (my own band circa 1991-1992. Seriously, we should have been massive. And we’d be household names today if our drummer hadn’t decided to move to Seattle because “that’s where the action is”).
BONUS LIST: FIVE DEF BANDS YOU MAY NEVER HAVE HEARD OF THAT YOU SHOULD REALLY GET TO KNOW
1. Mix Market
2. The Duke Spirit
3. Sons & Daughters
4. The Rogers Sisters
5. Jet Black Factory
Consult yr nearest Google toolbar for more information.
More than meets the eye,
This is dF
thewhyfive. This week’s category: Top five underrated bands!METHODOLOGY: One of the fun things about lists like this is how you define “underrated”. One hit wonder? Well, sometimes it’s a matter of geography. A band that was a one-hit wonder in the States might be huge in the UK or Europe. Then there’s the question of critical acclaim or influence vs actual record sales, as well as bands that were underappreciated at the time but are now regulars on VH1 specials.
Anyway, I decided to go with bands who are basically known for only one song, but who have back catalogs or albums well worth exploring. Also, I decided to stick with bands instead of solo artists.
TOP FIVE UNDERRATED DEF BANDS
1. The Knack
Because there was so much more to them than “My Sharona”. Get The Knack is one of the most underappreciated pop-punk records ever made.
2. Blue Oyster Cult
Because there was so much more to them than “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”. Granted, they filled stadiums at their peak, but I hate to see them relegated to “More Cowbell!” status without a higher appreciation of the other songs they did.
3. The Tubes
Because there was so much more to them than “She’s A Beauty”. The Tubes had a sense of humor that other glam bands lacked, and they knocked out tunes worthy of their late 70s/early 80s peers.
4. Lush
Because there was so much more to them than “Superblast!”. Also, Miki Berenyi has to be one of the most under-recognized lyricists ever.
5. The Bonzo Dog Doodah Band
Because there was so much more to them than “I’m The Urban Spaceman”, etc. Maybe their absurdist humor has limited appeal, but they were more than a novelty act. They were amazingly versatile musicians, plus they also had Neil Innes, one of the world’s most underrated songwriters.
HONORABLE MENTION: Tenacious D, Mothers Of Invention, Devo, Cheap Trick, dEUS, Skinless Julia (my own band circa 1991-1992. Seriously, we should have been massive. And we’d be household names today if our drummer hadn’t decided to move to Seattle because “that’s where the action is”).
BONUS LIST: FIVE DEF BANDS YOU MAY NEVER HAVE HEARD OF THAT YOU SHOULD REALLY GET TO KNOW
1. Mix Market
2. The Duke Spirit
3. Sons & Daughters
4. The Rogers Sisters
5. Jet Black Factory
Consult yr nearest Google toolbar for more information.
More than meets the eye,
This is dF
