# Criminally underrated records **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345 "2019-02-28T17:18:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/41 "2019-03-01T06:30:23Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > The link is to 4 of the 8 tracks from this album :smack: Erm, no; there’s 10 songs on the album. FFS. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/42 "2019-03-01T07:02:51Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > How about the over the top Gowan’s album “Strange Animal” featuring [Criminal Mind](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIjddye2JSA). Great album! I caught Larry Gowan in concert when he was promoting that album; what–thirty-some years ago? Fantastic performer. I understand he’s working with Styx now, but his solo work was fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/43 "2019-03-01T07:35:28Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Roger Waters: Amused to Death. To me this is the most “Pink Floyd” album post The Final Cut. An absolute masterpiece. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/44 "2019-03-01T08:12:42Z")
“Rage for Order” by Queensryche. Released in 1986, it was the album that they released just prior to “Operation : Mindcrime.” It’s got a goth feel to it, it’s overproduced, and it’s kinda synth heavy (hey! It WAS the 80s). But you can kinda feel them honing their edge before hitting the mainstream. And it’s on YouTube: [- YouTube](https://youtu.be/jSYqjAJZDZM) ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/45 "2019-03-01T11:10:09Z")
[Big Lizard in My Backyard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Lizard_in_My_Backyard) by **The Dead Milkmen**. I’ve probably played this album a thousand times. An incredibly fun album. And as a budding bass player, I have also learned how to play most of the songs on the album. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/46 "2019-03-01T13:50:50Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > “Rage for Order” by Queensryche. Released in 1986, it was the album that they released just prior to “Operation : Mindcrime.” > > It’s got a goth feel to it, it’s overproduced, and it’s kinda synth heavy (hey! It WAS the 80s). But you can kinda feel them honing their edge before hitting the mainstream. > > And it’s on YouTube: [https://youtu.be/jSYqjAJZDZM](https://youtu.be/jSYqjAJZDZM) That kind of reminds me, would Depeche Mode’s _Speak and Spell_ be counted as underrated? Well, I’d call it underrated, but maybe not criminally so. This was during their happy, synth-pop days. Most people of a certain ago will probably recognize “Just Can’t Get Enough” from that album, but that’s about it. It’s a fun, early-80s electronic pop record. If all you know of Depeche Mode is “Personal Jesus” and “Enjoy the Silence” and _Violator_-era work, you will probably not recognize this at all as Depeche Mode. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/47 "2019-03-01T14:18:44Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Rumble Fish - was that the one Stewart Copeland did? Agreed, it is an excellent album. (I’ve never seen the movie though.) Speaking of Stewart Copeland, he put out an album (EP?) in the early to mid 80s under the pseudonym “Klark Kent”. If you’re familiar with the Police song “On Any Other Day”, the Klark Kent album has very much the same feel. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/48 "2019-03-01T14:51:09Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Speaking of Stewart Copeland, he put out an album (EP?) in the early to mid 80s under the pseudonym “Klark Kent”. If you’re familiar with the Police song “On Any Other Day”, the Klark Kent album has very much the same feel. [Here’s a collection of his work under Klark Kent](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqJUQqLHP5M) on Youtube. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/49 "2019-03-01T15:36:57Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > “Rage for Order” by Queensryche. Released in 1986, it was the album that they released just prior to “Operation : Mindcrime.” > > It’s got a goth feel to it, it’s overproduced, and it’s kinda synth heavy (hey! It WAS the 80s). But you can kinda feel them honing their edge before hitting the mainstream. > > And it’s on YouTube: [https://youtu.be/jSYqjAJZDZM](https://youtu.be/jSYqjAJZDZM) Great choice and I completely agree; also adding that “Mindcrime” is highly underrated. But…I’d like to add two selections. 1. Beastie Boys - [Paul’s Boutique](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiPnx1QYFI8&list=PLQK6jXJbNDTPH-kzcSJ5jgD-qLSSA7YsK) I love how they went “underground” after their initial success. A widely misunderstood sampling masterpiece, recorded by a then little known duo called The Dust Brothers. 2. Motley Crue - [Motley Crue '94](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-EcVtBsQNQ) (The one they did without Vince Neil on lead vocals) Musically speaking, their best record by a mile. The songs are gritty and heavy but still groovy. Loved this record even though it was a commercial flop. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/50 "2019-03-01T15:50:52Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > 1. Beastie Boys - [Paul’s Boutique](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiPnx1QYFI8&list=PLQK6jXJbNDTPH-kzcSJ5jgD-qLSSA7YsK) I love how they went “underground” after their initial success. A widely misunderstood sampling masterpiece, recorded by a then little known duo called The Dust Brothers. Is that one really considered underrated, though? I’ve always known that to be acknowledged as their masterpiece, at least in the circles I ran in (though I was more a fan of the following Check Your Head.) Just quickly checking [allmusic.com](http://allmusic.com) as a point of reference, it’s the only B-boys album that is both 5 stars by their assessment and user ratings. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/51 "2019-03-01T16:08:13Z")
Marc Bonilla’s [EE Ticket](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EE_Ticket) Mind-blowing guitar instrumental record. An album almost no one has ever heard of. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/52 "2019-03-01T17:58:00Z")
Here’s some nice late 90’s early 2000’s for you. Abandoned Pools who I saw open for Garbage. The album is [Humanistic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePulfgjures) And Athletes fantastic album [Vehicles and Animals](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD7dKDl2K_U) Fight Like Apes. Here’s [a track](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4phRLfc6w38) from their album “Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion” …the name of the band of course comes from the best line in Battle for the Planet of the Apes. “NOW!! Fight Like Apes!!” ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/53 "2019-03-01T18:07:18Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > Great choice and I completely agree; also adding that “Mindcrime” is highly underrated. > > But…I’d like to add two selections. > > 1. Beastie Boys - [Paul’s Boutique](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiPnx1QYFI8&list=PLQK6jXJbNDTPH-kzcSJ5jgD-qLSSA7YsK) I love how they went “underground” after their initial success. A widely misunderstood sampling masterpiece, recorded by a then little known duo called The Dust Brothers. > [@pulykamell](#): > > Is that one really considered underrated, though? I’ve always known that to be acknowledged as their masterpiece, at least in the circles I ran in (though I was more a fan of the following Check Your Head.) Just quickly checking [allmusic.com](http://allmusic.com) as a point of reference, it’s the only B-boys album that is both 5 stars by their assessment and user ratings. The same goes for _Operation: Mindcrime_. Not underrated at all. It’s the highest rated of their albums (tied with _Empire_) on the same website. I’ve never met a Queensryche fan who doesn’t consider _Mindcrime_ to be their best. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/54 "2019-03-01T18:48:24Z")
Almost forgot about David Linley’s El Rayo-X [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/D4GkgQZ8zMk/hqdefault.jpg "David Lindley - El Rayo-X (Album,April 1981)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4GkgQZ8zMk) ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/55 "2019-03-01T21:21:05Z")
Time’s Up and Stain by Living Colour ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/56 "2019-03-01T21:28:03Z")
[quote=“BeeGee, post:54, topic:830345”] Almost forgot about David Linley’s El Rayo-X [/QUOTE] Lindley. And in my opinion ALL of his recordings are criminally overlooked. He’s a national living treasure. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/57 "2019-03-01T22:06:31Z")
I’ll go with John Fogerty’s [self-titled album](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fogerty_(album)) from 1975, his second solo effort after the breakup of Creedence Clearwater Revival. It’s solid all the way through, with at least two tracks (“Rockin’ All Over The World” and “Almost Saturday Night”) that rival any of CCR’s greatest hits. Fogerty was already a big rock star at the time, and 10 years later his “comeback” album _Centerfield_ would receive much higher acclaim. But _John Fogerty_ came and went with little fanfare, and remains an obscure footnote to his illustrious career. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2019, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/58 "2019-03-02T00:22:03Z")
My favorite Rush album, as an album, is 1990’s “Presto.” ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2019, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/59 "2019-03-02T05:41:53Z")
Records I appear on! Ok, that’s too obscure, but they do exist! As an actual suggestion, that’s still pretty obscure, but there’s copies out there: Light Bright Highway [Moon Glory and the 7th Sun](https://www.discogs.com/Light-Bright-Highway-Moon-Glory-And-The-7th-Sun/release/820193). I can’t find an audio link, so I’ll just have to describe it. They’re the spaciest jam band that could ever be conceived. As far as I can tell, they always improvised shows, and they improvised both sides of this record in two live separate takes. It builds slowly, but both sides eventually ebb and flow with wild hyperspace crescendos. It’s got amazing effects processing, but it’s all done in real time through two pedalboards that I recall being around 6 foot long and both double decker. It can be got for $14 used, and if you like psychedelic space rock, it’s just about the pinnacle of it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2019, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345/60 "2019-03-02T12:44:29Z")
Jim Croce Life and Times, his 2nd album. Every song on that album is a favorite of mine. These Dreams, Alabama Rain, Dreamn’ Again, A Good Time Man Like Me Ain’t Got No Business (Singin’ the Blues) are wonderful songs. Most people are familiar with the hit single releases, Bad Bad Leroy Brown, and One Less Set of Footsteps, but the other tracks are the ones I love. His first album You Don’t Mess Around with Jim is also good, but it doesn’t have the gems like his 2nd. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminally-underrated-records/830345.md?page=4)