Criminally underrated albums - VGF

Bomby · 01-27-2005, 08:51 PM

Many albums are just plain underrated, some are extremely underrated, then some albums are CRIMINALLY underrated beyond belief. This is the topic for albums that recieve almost absolutely no recognition, all the few souls who have experienced them agree that they're classic.

WC is the most underrated artist of any genre in the history of music. He raps about things most people out of any genre could never even think about and make them interesting. Everything about this CD is beyond geat, not a single weak track. Even the interludes and skits are hot.

The strangest hip hop artist of all time, one can only wonder where the bloody hell the samples from "Stroke Happy" came from.

Sen. Brak Obama (FACE) · 01-27-2005, 09:49 PM

T.I.- I'm Serious.

That has to be THE MOST underrated album of his since it was basically promoted badly by Arista.

Musiq (Soulchild) Aijuswannasing

A great R&B album

Killer Mike: "Monster"

Probably THE MOST underrated album of THE MILLENIUM.

***CaptHayfever*** · 01-28-2005, 02:59 AM

New Radicals - Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too
One album, one hit (but two singles), one year.
It's no surprise that people barely remember Gregg Alexander's varying-number-of-members band, but it is disappointing. There's a reason why I call the Rads the best band of the late 90s; this album is absolutely incredible, and as far as I'm concerned, unmatched by anything since.

The Monkees - Head
A soundtrack no one bought from a movie no one saw.
The brilliant film of the same name ran for a scant 2 days in some venues (such as New York) and only a couple weeks altogether, plus most of the advertising for the film was some dude's head. Literally. The reason I picked this for my Monkee album instead of Headquarters or Pisces or Justus, the band's other 3 uber-triumphs? Simple, the former 2 both topped the charts at one point and latter did very well for a reunion album. The soundtrack, however, a masterpiece of psychedelia*, did not sell well at all. The old teenybopper fan base couldn't handle it, and the people who could were too prejudiced from the first two albums.
I'll discuss more at a later date, to be determined by Vinny.

*I'm not just blowing smoke. "Porpoise Song (theme from Head)" was officially ranked in the top 200 psych songs of all time.

Various - Holes
I know, I know, "a Disney soundtrack?" Shut up, it's good.
Here are several reasons why you should listen to this album:
"If Only"
Dr. John
"If Only"
"Mighty Fine Blues"
"If Only"
"Down to the Valley"
"If Only"
Keb' Mo'
"If Only"
"Dig It"
"Everybody Pass Me By"
and "If Only".

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[ January 28, 2005, 02:01 AM: Message edited by: CaptHayfever ]

Koga · 01-28-2005, 09:04 AM

When it was released in '82 it differed too much from the 70s Queen sound everyone was familiar with. The disco theme also came a bit too late.

But when you look at it in retrospect it really is a fine album, and I'm glad they decided to play something in the 'funk/black category, whatever you wanna call it'.

Vinny · 01-29-2005, 09:29 AM

An amazing blues album that ranks up high with the best, but nobody seems to know it. Songs like "Alone" and "Sweet-Talking Hippie" are some of the best things I've ever heard.

**Dylan** · 01-29-2005, 01:49 PM

~Dylan

Serial Miller · 01-30-2005, 01:01 PM

I'd say "Earthling" by David Bowie. Just because he didn't make some boring traditional electronic album when he tried out the genre doesn't mean it isn't good.

Bomby · 01-31-2005, 08:15 PM

Maybe this isn't criminally underrated (what by 2Pac could possibly be?) but a lot of the albums being posted in this topic have actually had the slightest bit of mainstream exposure. This was the last album Tupac Shakur finished before his untimely death, and also his best.

Common is the KING of the MIDWEST. This is quite possibly the most mature hip hop album ever.

I HATE soundtracks. I simply loathe them. This is the ****, though. Most people only acknowledge the existence of this for Dr. Dre's hit "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" but that ain't even one of the five best songs. Check out "Tryin' Too See Another Day" by the Isley Brothers - a stroke of genius.

Sen. Brak Obama (FACE) · 01-31-2005, 08:30 PM

All Isley Bros songs are genious

Serial Miller · 02-02-2005, 07:07 AM

**Sean P Kelly** · 02-22-2005, 12:39 AM

Time for some Canadian entries:

I Mother Earth - Dig

This Toronto-based rock band didn't really get big until their second album, but the first album is real gem (especially if you like guitar solos).

Sam Roberts - We Were Born In A Flame

While Sam Roberts has been far from ignored here in Canada (this was Best Album at the Junos), Sam Roberts hasn't really cracked the U.S. Market. Check the album out.

Our Lady Peace - Spiritual Machines
While it does have the over-played radio single (Life), the rest of the album is a very good (and creepy) concept album about the rights of artificial intelligence in the year 2029.

Serial Miller · 02-22-2005, 03:36 AM

Whoa - I Mother Earth kicks some serious ass. I've had trouble finding their stuff here, though. Music stores suck.

**Dylan** · 03-05-2005, 01:13 AM

I forgot this one.

"I Am The Movie"- Motion City Soundtrack

God, how could I forget this one? If you don't own it, I highly recommend it. Every track is excellent; even the worst (If I can call it that) track is still pretty good.

~Dylan

Serial Miller · 03-05-2005, 08:25 PM

"Perversion" by Gravity Kills.

01-27-2005, 09:49 PM	#2
Sen. Brak Obama (FACE) Polk/McLaughlin '08: The Greatness You Already Knew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Gender: Posts: 12,956 Thanks: 918 Thanked 646 Times in 378 Posts Points: 49,515.76 Bank: 453,716.50 Total Points: 503,232.26 Donate	T.I.- I'm Serious. That has to be THE MOST underrated album of his since it was basically promoted badly by Arista. Musiq (Soulchild) Aijuswannasing A great R&B album Killer Mike: "Monster" Probably THE MOST underrated album of THE MILLENIUM. __________________

01-31-2005, 08:30 PM	#9
Sen. Brak Obama (FACE) Polk/McLaughlin '08: The Greatness You Already Knew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Gender: Posts: 12,956 Thanks: 918 Thanked 646 Times in 378 Posts Points: 49,515.76 Bank: 453,716.50 Total Points: 503,232.26 Donate	All Isley Bros songs are genious __________________

01-27-2005, 08:51 PM	#1
Bomby Song 2 : Whoo Hoo Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Mad City, WI Gender: Posts: 14,438 Thanks: 192 Thanked 420 Times in 299 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 1,516.72 Bank: 1,677,553.97 Total Points: 1,679,070.69 Donate	Many albums are just plain underrated, some are extremely underrated, then some albums are CRIMINALLY underrated beyond belief. This is the topic for albums that recieve almost absolutely no recognition, all the few souls who have experienced them agree that they're classic. WC is the most underrated artist of any genre in the history of music. He raps about things most people out of any genre could never even think about and make them interesting. Everything about this CD is beyond geat, not a single weak track. Even the interludes and skits are hot. The strangest hip hop artist of all time, one can only wonder where the bloody hell the samples from "Stroke Happy" came from.

01-28-2005, 02:59 AM	#3
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,120 Thanks: 151 Thanked 702 Times in 454 Posts Points: 102,592.46 Bank: 804.22 Total Points: 103,396.68 Donate	New Radicals - Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too One album, one hit (but two singles), one year. It's no surprise that people barely remember Gregg Alexander's varying-number-of-members band, but it is disappointing. There's a reason why I call the Rads the best band of the late 90s; this album is absolutely incredible, and as far as I'm concerned, unmatched by anything since. The Monkees - Head A soundtrack no one bought from a movie no one saw. The brilliant film of the same name ran for a scant 2 days in some venues (such as New York) and only a couple weeks altogether, plus most of the advertising for the film was some dude's head. Literally. The reason I picked this for my Monkee album instead of Headquarters or Pisces or Justus, the band's other 3 uber-triumphs? Simple, the former 2 both topped the charts at one point and latter did very well for a reunion album. The soundtrack, however, a masterpiece of psychedelia, did not sell well at all. The old teenybopper fan base couldn't handle it, and the people who could were too prejudiced from the first two albums. I'll discuss more at a later date, to be determined by Vinny. I'm not just blowing smoke. "Porpoise Song (theme from Head)" was officially ranked in the top 200 psych songs of all time. Various - Holes I know, I know, "a Disney soundtrack?" Shut up, it's good. Here are several reasons why you should listen to this album: "If Only" Dr. John "If Only" "Mighty Fine Blues" "If Only" "Down to the Valley" "If Only" Keb' Mo' "If Only" "Dig It" "Everybody Pass Me By" and "If Only". And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!" [ January 28, 2005, 02:01 AM: Message edited by: CaptHayfever ]

01-28-2005, 09:04 AM	#4
Koga Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Netherlands Gender: Posts: 17,094 Thanks: 105 Thanked 177 Times in 119 Posts Points: 103,673.41 Bank: 17,752.41 Total Points: 121,425.82 Donate	When it was released in '82 it differed too much from the 70s Queen sound everyone was familiar with. The disco theme also came a bit too late. But when you look at it in retrospect it really is a fine album, and I'm glad they decided to play something in the 'funk/black category, whatever you wanna call it'.

01-29-2005, 09:29 AM	#5
Vinny Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The Fletcher Memorial Home for incurable tyrants and kings Posts: 7,262 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Points: 14,660.86 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 15,160.86 Donate	An amazing blues album that ranks up high with the best, but nobody seems to know it. Songs like "Alone" and "Sweet-Talking Hippie" are some of the best things I've ever heard.

01-29-2005, 01:49 PM	#6
Dylan Banned Mod Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Teenage Wasteland Gender: Posts: 6,014 Thanks: 815 Thanked 819 Times in 380 Posts Points: 27,614.03 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 27,614.04 Donate	~Dylan

01-30-2005, 01:01 PM	#7
Serial Miller Retro Nintendo Supermod Art & Literature Mod Metroid Mod Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 15,743 Thanks: 419 Thanked 1,064 Times in 594 Posts Points: 16,567.14 Bank: 1,619,276.55 Total Points: 1,635,843.69 Donate	I'd say "Earthling" by David Bowie. Just because he didn't make some boring traditional electronic album when he tried out the genre doesn't mean it isn't good.

01-31-2005, 08:15 PM	#8
Bomby Song 2 : Whoo Hoo Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Mad City, WI Gender: Posts: 14,438 Thanks: 192 Thanked 420 Times in 299 Posts Blog Entries: 4 Points: 1,516.72 Bank: 1,677,553.97 Total Points: 1,679,070.69 Donate	Maybe this isn't criminally underrated (what by 2Pac could possibly be?) but a lot of the albums being posted in this topic have actually had the slightest bit of mainstream exposure. This was the last album Tupac Shakur finished before his untimely death, and also his best. Common is the KING of the MIDWEST. This is quite possibly the most mature hip hop album ever. I HATE soundtracks. I simply loathe them. This is the ****, though. Most people only acknowledge the existence of this for Dr. Dre's hit "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" but that ain't even one of the five best songs. Check out "Tryin' Too See Another Day" by the Isley Brothers - a stroke of genius.

02-02-2005, 07:07 AM	#10
Serial Miller Retro Nintendo Supermod Art & Literature Mod Metroid Mod Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 15,743 Thanks: 419 Thanked 1,064 Times in 594 Posts Points: 16,567.14 Bank: 1,619,276.55 Total Points: 1,635,843.69 Donate

02-22-2005, 12:39 AM	#11
Sean P Kelly SMBHQ Mod Movies Mod Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Gender: Posts: 3,218 Thanks: 9 Thanked 40 Times in 31 Posts Points: 172,782.99 Bank: 55,506.27 Total Points: 228,289.26 Donate	Time for some Canadian entries: I Mother Earth - Dig This Toronto-based rock band didn't really get big until their second album, but the first album is real gem (especially if you like guitar solos). Sam Roberts - We Were Born In A Flame While Sam Roberts has been far from ignored here in Canada (this was Best Album at the Junos), Sam Roberts hasn't really cracked the U.S. Market. Check the album out. Our Lady Peace - Spiritual Machines While it does have the over-played radio single (Life), the rest of the album is a very good (and creepy) concept album about the rights of artificial intelligence in the year 2029.

02-22-2005, 03:36 AM	#12
Serial Miller Retro Nintendo Supermod Art & Literature Mod Metroid Mod Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 15,743 Thanks: 419 Thanked 1,064 Times in 594 Posts Points: 16,567.14 Bank: 1,619,276.55 Total Points: 1,635,843.69 Donate	Whoa - I Mother Earth kicks some serious ass. I've had trouble finding their stuff here, though. Music stores suck.

03-05-2005, 01:13 AM	#13
Dylan Banned Mod Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Teenage Wasteland Gender: Posts: 6,014 Thanks: 815 Thanked 819 Times in 380 Posts Points: 27,614.03 Bank: 0.00 Total Points: 27,614.04 Donate	I forgot this one. "I Am The Movie"- Motion City Soundtrack God, how could I forget this one? If you don't own it, I highly recommend it. Every track is excellent; even the worst (If I can call it that) track is still pretty good. ~Dylan

03-05-2005, 08:25 PM	#14
Serial Miller Retro Nintendo Supermod Art & Literature Mod Metroid Mod Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 15,743 Thanks: 419 Thanked 1,064 Times in 594 Posts Points: 16,567.14 Bank: 1,619,276.55 Total Points: 1,635,843.69 Donate	"Perversion" by Gravity Kills.