Underrated music

[EricV]

Alrighty,

I was going through my CD-collection this morning, looking for a certain CD, and I found some CD´s that I think of as quite underrated... you know, those kinda albums that in your opinion deserve to be in everyone´s CD-collection, but havent sold more than a few thousand copies...
So, I figured I´d post them here, and I am interested to see which ones you´d add... so go ahead ( maybe you could add info about the style of the album, or why you like it... ), maybe some people will find some new music that they´ll like !
Here´s my list ( of course those are not all of them, but... )

1. Jason Becker´s "Perspective". Everyone who thinks Jason is nothing but a neoclassic shredder should give this one a listen...

2. Pretty much every by King´s X... they never got the attention they deserve IMHO

3. Buckethead-Colma He´s well-known as a light-speed shredder, but this record has a lot of beautiful textures and pretty melodies and chords

4. Steve Morse- High Tension Wires A collection of beautiful songs with some great guitar technique

5. The Dixie Dregs- What If... One of the most amazing prog / fusion-records ever made...

6. Pat Metheny- American Garage He is no nobody, but I don´t hear this record being mentioned a lot. I think it sounds great, wide open and full of great textures and very melodic guitar-playing

7. Extreme- Waiting For The Punchline Even many Extreme-fans don´t like this album. I agree that it might not be as polished as their first three efforts, but I think it has a great live-sound, sounds like the band is jamming in the rehearsal room. I dig that.

There are bunches more, but I´ll stop now... I hope you´ll add some albums that you think are underrated, didnt get the attention they deserve...
Warm regards
Eric

[The Bash]

Nice List !
I not heard the Becker or Bucket head (I’ll have to check them out!) But I defiantly Agree with the others. Especially the Extreme (I Loved it) my band mates hated it.

Anyway hears my little bit of input

Transatlantic- Bridge Across Forever and SMPTe
If it were up to me theses guys would be huge. Featuring Dream Theater Drummer Mike Portnoy and Spock Beard’s Neal Morse. Great songwriting and nice supportive guitar playing (not in your face kind of stuff, but great example of playing for the song). Kind of a cross between The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes etc. (Old school progressive).

Spock’s Beard- The Kindness of Strangers and Day for Night
Another Band I love. Great songwriting. Theses two albums seem to blur the line between progressive (think Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd) and Pop.

Badlands- Eric mentioned them in one of his posts (and he pretty much said it all). This is my kinna stuff here 70’s style rock (think Zeppelin and NO THERE NO RIPP OFF BAND).

Jeff Beck Group-Rough and Ready
Maybe Beck’s not underrated but this albums often overshadowed by Blow by Blow and Wired (which are great albums)
But do I dare say I like this one better? There’s room for debate but…

Johnny Winters- Live/And
One my Favorite Guitar Records ever. The original version of Rock n roll Hoochie Koo (with mind blowing solo). Great Record for anyone wanting to learn how to use and smoothly intertwine Pentatonic Minor and Pentatonic Major Licks. (Oh yea, the Phrasing Kicks Butt!)

Mountain- Mountain Climbing
Sorry, Pentatonic Major made me think of this guy. And I’m thinking unappreciated in terms of Leslie West isn’t a guy a whose pictures on a lot of magazines. (Anyone wanting to know how to make those Pentatonic Major Scales Rock check this album out. I can’t think of any Hard Rock Player who used in more often or at least more often than the pentatonic minor.) Great Phrasing and Wanna Learn Great Vibrato (did I say Great) this is the real deal right here.

Alice Cooper- From the Inside
What can I say I love Alice. Maybe his best and least known.

Scoropins- Ulrich Roth
Ok Ulrich isn’t and Album (He’s a guitar player) but my point is how many people already knew that. Fly to the Rainbow, Intrance, Virgin Killers, Taken by Force, Tokyo Tapes (love the man’s stlye (think Hendrix meets Blackmore meets Ravi Shanker) Great Phrasing.
Side Note: Ever notice how Hell Cat sounds a lot like Spanish Castle Magic and That Annoying Spice Girls Song (the one Burger King uses in there commercial) sounds a lot like the verse of Hell Cat. There’s a Hendrix Spice Girls Connection there I really don’t want to think about…

Hagar, Schon, Aaronson, Shrieve- Through the Fire
Neal Schon Rocking his butt off. Oh Yea Sammy Haggar’s singing (need I say more).

Ronn McFarlane-The Renasissance Lute
A virtual musical tour of the lute’s style and history. Featuring music by Byrd, Dowland and Milano just to name a few. Great Album.

Ravi Shanker –Anything you can get your hands on. His work with Phillip Glass is extremely moving. Any guitar player who has never listen to a sitar I strongly encourage you do so.

Lillian Axe- Poetic Justice & Psycho schizophrenia
Virtually unknown. Guitarist Stevie Blaze writes most the music/lyrics (oh yea he kicks but on guitar too. Sort of a 80’s pop metal style with a classical edge. Very catchy sort of Heavy Meatal Beatles (I hear the Hollies and a few other 60’s kind of things in there as well.)

Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse, Dream Theater, U.K. Frank Zappa-
I’ll just throw theses guys in one lump and say I love em.

Bulgarian Wedding Music- Anyone playing this kind of stuff rules. Intense.

Well my list is in no way extensive but that’s what comes to immediate mind.

[vladorg]

hi Eric.hi everybody.long time no see!
first,I think that Bulgarian folk music and any other type of folk music from the Balkans rules.well perhaps i'm biased 'cause i'm also Bulgarian but both Steve Vai and the guys from Dream Theater were amazed by the local folk music when they toured the Balkan area.as far as underrated albums i agree with Eric - both Becker's"perspective" and Buckethead's"colma" are too underrated.also i think that all of Shawn Lane's work didn't receive enough recognition.i also think that Carl Verheyen's albums are very underrated.and what about Scott Henderson and Tribal Tech - although a few people know 'em i think they deserve much more.i mean they're amazing and Henderson as a player and improvisator is a genius in my humble opinion!

[EricV]

Vladimir,

I agree. Both "Powers of Ten" and "Tritonus Fascination" are amazing albums by an extremely talented musician and deserve more attention than they received.
Shawn definitely shows influences of Morse and E.Johnson but has his own unique style and amazing chops. Great guy.

Verheyen... I loved "Slang Justice". He´s a great player and I assume that every one of us has heard him before, either with Supertramp or as a session-player ( he did parts of the music in "Futurama", which is one of my favorite TV-shows ;) )

And Henderson... I love his playing, he´s got so much emotion in his playing even when playng the weirdest jazz-stuff. Also a great teacher, I noticed that at GIT.

I love the first two Tribal Tech albums and also the first album he did with Smith and Wooten... that one has the energy of rock music with very sophisticated playing...
Warm regards
Eric

[Bongo Boy]

Originally posted by EricV
Alrighty,

6. Pat Metheny- American Garage He is no nobody, but I don´t hear this record being mentioned a lot. I think it sounds great, wide open and full of great textures and very melodic guitar-playing

Eric

I don't have any Pat Metheny, but I've just assumed I'd need to become VERY familiar with his work. So I've listened to all the MP3 samples I can find, just to get started.

From American Garage I was able to find short clips of Heartland, Airstream, The Search, American Garage and The Epic.

I think I'm in real trouble here--I don't believe I have been able to detect a guitar (except for a little bass) on ANY of these cuts. I'm dead serious--am I deaf or could I just by coincidence be listening to slices of each tune that happen to not have a prominent guitar part?

[vladorg]

Hi Bongo Boy,
American Garage is full with beautiful guitar playing.Perhaps you should download the Win MX software at www.winmx.com and try to find full-length MP3's from American Garage once you start the program.Good luck.

[Bongo Boy]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to finding MP3s--so thanks for the tip.

[The Bash]

Steve Vai- Sex and Religion – A lot of people ripped this to shreds so go figure I Love It. In my Dreams with you has one of the most Moving choruses ever (Vai and Childs make beautiful pop music together). Very deep album.
Steve Vai- Alive in an Ultra World- Not sure if this is underrated but I’m sure not everyone in the world has a copy of it, They should. Ethnic exploration. Mind expansion. I’m fully into anything that naturally expands my perception of the world (naturally not chemically, not into the chemical thing so I guess I’m closed mined there).

Bon Jovi- Crush- Theses guys have always been known as Pretty Boys, so what there pretty. They write great songs too. And Sambora is defiantly underrated as a guitarist. This Album to me shows a great growth as songwriters.

Billy Cobham- Spectrum- Ok this is a Fusion Classic but maybe a lot of younger guys never heard of it or Tommy Bolin. This is over the top in your face get in the ring with Mike Tyson kind of stuff. Bolin, great player, even greater tragedy. His personal life is a great text book on exactly what Not to Do.

Vinnie Moore- Defying Gravity- This will blow anyone’s mind who thinks Vinnie is a mere millions notes a minute player. The last Road home is closer to Dimeola than Bach, beautiful song. Dave Laure kicks, as always on bass, as well.

Hardline- Double Eclipse- More Neal Schon showing he can Rock out.

Vince Neil- Exposed – Should call this one Steve Stevens Unleashed.

Ufo- Strangers in the Night- Again Classic in its time but maybe unknown to younger players. Schenker always has the perfect blend of classical sounding chops, pop like riffs and melodies and incredible phrasing and touch. A must have.

And I agree Music from the Balkans Rules.

[szulc]

The first (Adrian) Vandenberg Album
RED by King Crimson
Starless and Bible Black by King Crimson
RA by Todd Rungren
Corridors of Power Gary Moore
Gary Moore Live with ELP
Victims of the Future Gary Moore
Queen a night at the opera
Midnight Rambler (Brian Jones of the Stones)
The Jan Akkerman Group live
Machine Head Deep Purple
Rainbow Live
Nightranger
Robin Trower Live

[furiousnewf]

Originally posted by The Bash

Vince Neil- Exposed – Should call this one Steve Stevens Unleashed.


I really like this album, Steve kicks major butt on ever track. Plus I have to throw in Blues Saraceno, Greg Howe and Micheal Lee Firkens!

[EricV]

The Saraceno-stuff is hard to find, but there´s a "Best Of" Compilation of his first two albums out on Koch Records.
It´s worth the effort... great player !

Eric

[szulc]

Pat Martino - Joyous Lake
Pat Methany - 80/81
Bill Conners - Swimming with a hole in my body
Ralph Towner - Sargasso Sea
Jan Akkerman ( anything)

[RM II]

The Bash and I seem to have similar tastes as far as this thread goes.

Also enjoy breaking out the HSAS (Hagar, Schon, Aaronson, and Shrieve) album every once in awhile.

One of the most underrated releases in my opinion is Operation Mindcrime by Queensryche. I'm not usually partial to concept albums but that thing rocks! Everything was arranged beautifully, written magnificently, played perfectly, etc. If you've never heard it, I highly recommend checking it out for the songwriting and guitar playing.

[szulc]

MindCrime is a work of Art
These Guitar Parts are Very Well though out great songs and arrangements, great rhythm playing.
This really was a Great Album and Kudos to the Guys who wrote and Arranged this.
Scott Rockenfield is a great Drummer.
Geoff Tate is a Serious Singer.
This Band as a Whole really Rocked!

[MAttButler]

Originally posted by szulc
Pat Martino - Joyous Lake
Pat Methany - 80/81
Bill Conners - Swimming with a hole in my body
Ralph Towner - Sargasso Sea
Jan Akkerman ( anything)

80/81 is hip... Have you heard Bill Conners "Of Mist and Melting"?

Or... Dave Holland's Extensions, Dave Holland's Triplicate? Both of those have Steve Coleman on them. Very hip stuff. Keith Jarrett's Changeless - beautiful stuff!

[Wizbit81]

Jazz Metal - Shawn Baxter (the man's a monster with technique I cannot believe and bebop lines forever)

Opeth - Still life and Blackwater Park (extreme prog metal mixed with beutiful folk melodies. The playing is virtuosic without playing massive solos.)

Meshuggah - Chaosphere and Destroy, Erase, Improve - (extreme metal with weird-*** time signatures, crazy grooves, and octodigital 12-tone tapping solos, oh yes!)

Tool - Aenima and Lateralus (simple playing but great structures, arranging and fantastic musicianship from the drummer (danny cary), and the singer, (m.j. keenan). Underrated? Perhaps not in the U.S. where I here they topped the charts but in Britain a coupe of years ago they were doing loss making tours and still aren't well known at all.

Allan Holdsworth - Metal Fatigue. (maybe not underrated by guitar players, but who else has heard of him??)

The Greg Howe and Ritchie Kotzen Project - (How do they do that???)

[Strukkanurv]

Some great stuff here & worth a listen


Brett Garsed - Big Sky
Joe Bonamassa - A New Day Yesterday/Blues Deluxe
Steve Hillage - Green
John Butler - Living
Roy Buchanan - You're Not Alone/Second Album
Camel - Rajaz/Moon Madness/Dust & Dreams/Harbour Of Tears
Ernest Ranglin - Below The Bassline
Jan Akkerman - The Noise Of Art
Wishbone Ash - There's The Rub
Grant Green - Alive!
Robben Ford - Jing Chi/Talk To Your Daughter
Terje Rypdal - What Comes After
Jeff Beck - Guitar Shop

[Len H]

Just glancing at some of my CDs I see some that have already been mentioned and some that haven't. I think there may be a fine line here between underrated and unknown:

Angra - Temple of Shadows
James Byrd - Crimes of Virtuosity
Rainbow - Rising, Long Live Rock and Roll, or On Stage
Blackmore's Night - Any of them
Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush - Live
Gary Moore - We Want Moore
Uli Jon Roth - Metamorphosis
Scorpions - Virgin Killer
Stratovarius - Elements Part 1 or Part 2
Joe Stump - Speed Metal Messiah
Schenker Pattison Summit - The Endless Jam Continues
UFO - Obsession

[leppard81]

I´d like to add

Europe - Out of this world (sure, its a bit on the "pink´n´fluffy" AOR side, but the songs are just awesome and even if you dont like the songs Kee Marcellos solos make up for it)

Cinderella - Heartbreak Station ( a collection of timless tunes IMHO)

Enchant - Break (a prog rock masterpiece, very melodic and melancholic stuff)

Tesla - Everything

Sam Cooke - Everything

Bad Company - same

Jethro Tull - Stormwatch (just bought that one a week ago, since i never owned a record by them, the cover seemed very appealing and it was cheap too. Damn, this sounds so fresh productionwise to me. It couldve been recorded just a few years ago.... Its just good to know that there was time in the life of this band before they became the Walt Disney of Rock..... ;) )

[Oceano]

Every album Jeff Beck did since "Guitar shop", which was a masterpiece.

"Who else", "You had it coming" and "Jeff". At his age, he is still the most innovative and fresh sounding rock guitarist out there. Every one of these albums has some amazing guitar moments in them and most important, from the moment he plays his first note, you can't mistake it for anyone else (a sad desease that affects many of today's players).

[Madaxeman]

White Lion-pick an album (great songwriting...vito bratta, always compared to EVH)
the Yellowjackets-self titled (cool jazz/light-rock...keeps you guessing what's next)
Veruca Salt-Eight Arms to Hold Me (catchy pop...nice vocal harmonies...a little edgy)
Huey Lewis & the News-Plan B (they ditch the pop radio tunes, and go back to bluesy R & B roots)
MSG-greatest hits (what's not to like about Michael Schenker?)

[Yux]

Camel: Mirage / The Snow Goose;
Nils Petter Molvaer: Khmer / Np3 / Remakes;
Rainbow: Strange In Us All;
Kansas: Power (w / Steve Morse);
Ozric Tentacles: Erpland / Become The Other;
Steve Howe: Turbolence;
The Shadows: Greatest Hits;
Caravan: In The Land Of Gray And Pink;
Jan Garbarek: Rites;

[DemonSorcerer]

I'd Like to add...

Marty Friedman's Scenes and Introduction - GREAT ablums and very melodic...

Jason Becker's Perspective - I agree with Eric here...

Prashanti Aswani's 2 albums - GREAT gutar player with a refined sense of chops and melody!!!

David

[Madaxeman]

I was thinking about the title of this thread...and my mind focused on many of the people on this site who put out some great music. So in lieu of a big soapbox speech here, the majority of the unsigned working artists out there are underappreciated!
SeattleRuss and Sugarbee are on my play list right now, but there are many more here that deserve a listen!
So rather than complain about the state of the music industry anymore...I will take my pocketbook to the artists who don't have million dollar contracts, and who are true to themselves as musicians.
Listening to and finding all the great players here has been amazing!
Thank you for the music.

[Oceano]

Eric Clapton: Soundtrack to the movie "Rush". For some reason I think this contains some of Eric Clapton's best playing since Cream.

Jeff Beck: Soundtrack to "Frankie's house". Somewhat atmospheric, but with some great playing. Not Jeff's best, but still very good.

[Bobman]

Stormwitch - Eye of the storm

*hides*

[Strukkanurv]

Another player overlooked & worth hearing is Isaac Guillory - 'Live' is a great album.

[fader198]

Any of Hank III's albums. That guy's band is filled with top notch players. Especially that steel guitar player!

Jack Ingram-he has really great tunes and his guitar players are very good. Subtle virtuosity is the name of the game here.

Necrophagist-They might be bigger in Europe than they are in the states. I'm not sure. At any rate, this band has monster players as well. I love their solos. They are very fast and technical but very melodic. Kind of Bach-ish in a way. The riffs are very good and creative as well. Check the opening riff in "Seven". very cool stuff

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say Zakk Wylde is underrated. Now I know everyone knows he can rip on guitar but I think he is underrated as a songwriter. His songs on Book of Shadows are amazing and well written. Also "Fadin' Away" is a very well written tune that I wish I would have written.

Brent Mason-the man basically invented the stylings of modern country guitar as a session musician yet no one hardly knows his name. Also, his album "Hot Wired" is full of killer licks.

King's X for sure. Those guys have killer tunes and great pop sensibilities. Yet, somehow they never seem to break. Ty Tabor is great guitar player and is an excellent example of a guy who can shred but also plays what fits the song.

[Oceano]

I have been hearing so much about Necrophagist that I think I will give them a try.

Also completely underrated is Roy Buchanan. Some guitar players know about him, but it is a shame he is not know by more people.

[Strukkanurv]

Allan Holdsworth - apparently, he claims not to listen to other guitarists so he can maintain his unique style. Find it a little hard to believe, myself. How far can you go through the day without hearing music somewhere?


Roy Buchanan was & still is a master of the blues guitar - I have footage of him live at Austin City Limits from 1976 - he only plays 30 mins or so, but what a performance! I also saw a clip of him jamming with Jimi in Holland or Denmark back in '68 - they were real good buddies & hung out a lot together. Another sad tale, is Roy's.

There is an audio file on the net somewhere of him live in San Francisco in '78 - get it if you can, it's a good gig.

[Chim_Chim]

Kansas
Jeff Healey
Michael Lee Firkins
Triumph
April Wine
Billy Thorpe
Vinnie Moore
Suicidal Tendencies
some of Robert Plant's solo stuff from the 80's
The Cars
Blues Saraceno