# Most Underrated Rock Albums **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341 "2004-02-26T20:43:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![punkkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@punkkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punkkid)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/1 "2004-02-26T20:43:03Z")
I was recently listening to “Pink Flag” by Wire and realized that pretty much every song has inspired a different artist’s style. From the slow, emotive, post-punk “Reuters,” which lends itself well to bands like Joy Division and Cabaret Voltaire, to the speed-punk of “12XU”, which not only made Minor Threat famous but inspired legions of imitators, to the very Britpop-esque acoustic rock of “Fragile” and “Mannequin,” which sounds like Oasis playing, though better. Despite this wide range of influence, we rarely hear of this album named a rock classic, in the same vein that its contemporaries, “Never Mind the Bollocks,” and “London Calling,” were. What other albums are underrated? I might want to give them a listen. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/2 "2004-02-26T21:16:27Z")
I agree with you very much about **Pink Flag**. It’s one of my top 5 albums. Since you obviously like British punk, I’ll recommend another one of my Top Fivers, X-Ray Spex’s [Germ Free Adolescents](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70402041702433222&sql=A40q5g4gttv1z). They featured a saxophone and were led by a woman, Poly Styrene, who railed against consumer culture and artificiality. Unfortunately, it was the only “real” album they ever released. On the plus side, you can buy [[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70402041702433222&sql=Ayladqjkqojaa](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70402041702433222&sql=Ayladqjkqojaa)]The]( [url) Anthology, which has the entirity of **GFA** , the “Oh Bondage! Up Yours”/“I Am a Cliche” single, plenty of demos and a live performance. ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/3 "2004-02-26T21:22:29Z")
Hedwig and the Angry Inch motion pictrure soundtrack is the best rock CD I have heard in years. After that I don’t know much about what is under or over rated. Maybe Allman Bros “Live at the Filmore East”? ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/4 "2004-02-26T21:30:08Z")
Sorry, that second link should be [The Anthology](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70402041702433222&sql=Ayladqjkqojaa). ---
**Author:** ![slu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@slu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slu)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/5 "2004-02-26T22:26:25Z")
More on the rock front, any album from Grant Lee Buffalo is underrated, but especially _Mighty Joe Moon_. REM’s _New Adventures in Hi-Fi_ is an often over looked record as well. I know it is hard to call any Pearl Jam record “underrated”, but (as I learned with help from these boards) _No Code_ is one of the best rock records of the 1990’s. It has all styles of music and there isn’t a subpar song on the record. And that can’t be said for their other records. Both Strokes records are overrated. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/6 "2004-02-26T22:41:12Z")
I agree totally with the **Wire** and **X-Ray Spex** suggestions. I would add **The Pretty Things** - Picture This **The Fugs** - First Album Both are excellent examples of 60’s music that has influenced a lot of garage bands. Also **The Feelies** - Only Life **The Rezillos** - Can’t Stand The… Two of the best albums to come out of the early 80’s, yet no one, other than music critics ever seems to mention them. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/7 "2004-02-27T00:24:14Z")
Since “Allman Brothers Band Live at Filmore East” routinly gets mentioned on these forums when discussing the best live albums of all time, it’s hardly underrated. **Song Cycle** by Van Dyke Parks sold poorly, despite critical acclaim, and is a fine album. **Lights in the Night** by Flash and the Pan. **The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus** by Spirit – badly overlooked since the group broke up just after recording it so the record company didn’t promote. Also, the founder of their record company left the label and no one cared. **Macdonald and Giles** – British art rock by a couple of former King Crimson members. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/8 "2004-02-27T00:36:00Z")
Waiting For Colombus - Little Feat ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/9 "2004-02-27T01:14:53Z")
_Love Stinks_ - The J. Geils Band Usually overshadowed by the more commercially-successful, but not nearly as good _Freeze Frame_. Only eight songs and one comedy bit, but they’re all good: 1. Just Can’t Wait 2. Come Back 3. Takin’ You Down 4. Night Time 5. No Anchovies, Please 6. Love Stinks 7. Tryin’ Not to Think About It 8. Desire (please don’t turn away) 9. Till the Walls Come Tumblin’ Down It’s one of my top five all time favorites. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/10 "2004-02-27T01:19:01Z")
Darling Violetta’s _Parlour_. It’s quite likely the best album you’ve never heard of. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/11 "2004-02-27T01:25:39Z")
**RealityChuck** Usually, I’m the only one posting any mention of **Spirit** in one of these threads. (Most underrated guitarist, band, etc). Needless to say, I agree with your choice of **“12 Dreams of Doctor Sardonicus”** by Spirit. It’s nice to know someone else has heard of it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/12 "2004-02-27T01:27:12Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > **RealityChuck** > Usually, I’m the only one posting any mention of **Spirit** in one of these threads. (Most underrated guitarist, band, etc). > Needless to say, I agree with your choice of **“12 Dreams of Doctor Sardonicus”** by Spirit. It’s nice to know someone else has heard of it. You’d also be hard-pressed to find a more-rocking song than “I Got a Line On You”. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/13 "2004-02-27T01:45:28Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > Darling Violetta’s _Parlour_. It’s quite likely the best album you’ve never heard of. As the group behind the Angel theme I’ve been meaning to look into them for a long time. But they’ll probably stay on that very long list for a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/14 "2004-02-27T02:00:34Z")
**The Kink** s – _Village Green Preservation Society_ \*\*The Kinks \*\* – _Arthur_ \*\*Dave Davies \*\* – _Bug_ (‘Bug – deBugged – Life after life[Transformation]’ is outstanding, especially live!) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/15 "2004-02-27T02:51:00Z")
I’ll change the category a little and post some Most Underrated Albums By Big-Name Acts (not their best albums overall, but those with IMHO the highest ratio of quality to critical acclaim and/or commercial success): Paul McCartney’s most underrated album is _Press To Play_. Even if it’s not completely successful, it is interesting, and a little out of his usual vein. Even the obligatory Grandiose Love Ballad is one of his better ones. Unfortunately, the single/title track is the worst song on the album. Elvis Costello’s most underrated album is _Punch the Clock_—catchy music, with some great piano and horns (thanks to producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley?) and great-as-usual Elvis Costello lyrics. Did this one disappoint fans of his earlier, punkier stuff, or did it get dragged down by its followup, _Goodbye Cruel World_? The Moody Blues’s most underrated album is _The Present_. This mid-80’s release is, to me, the last album that still retains an appreciable amount of the Moodies’ magic, but maybe I’m biased because it was the first Moody Blues album I owned. And while the Kinks are an underrated band, they do have plenty of supporters, and _Village Green_ and _Arthur_ have been rightly recognized by critics as Great Albums. For the Kinks’ most underrated album, I’d vote for _Face to Face_ (their first truly great album), or maybe even _Schoolboys In Disgrace_ (_not_ a great album, but definitely a fun one, and my favorite of the RCA years). ---
**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:** [February 27, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/16 "2004-02-27T03:19:40Z")
> [@punkkid](#): > > I was recently listening to “Pink Flag” by Wire and realized that pretty much every song has inspired a different artist’s style. From the slow, emotive, post-punk “Reuters,” which lends itself well to bands like Joy Division and Cabaret Voltaire, to the speed-punk of “12XU”, which not only made Minor Threat famous but inspired legions of imitators, to the very Britpop-esque acoustic rock of “Fragile” and “Mannequin,” which sounds like Oasis playing, though better. Despite this wide range of influence, we rarely hear of this album named a rock classic, in the same vein that its contemporaries, “Never Mind the Bollocks,” and “London Calling,” were. What other albums are underrated? I might want to give them a listen. Well, if it makes you feel any better, _Pink Flag_ did actually crack Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list at number 410. It is widely recognized among music afficianados to be a classic record but I see what you’re saying – in the mainstream, most people haven’t even heard of it. You might as well put Wire’s _Chairs Missing_ on that list, too (which I prefer to their debut.) How 'bout Big Star’s _#1 Record_? Gram Parson _Grievous Angel_ Pere Ubu _Dub Housing_ – I mean, man, I’m just listening to this now and this album, like _Chairs Missing_ is so ahead of its time. Soft Boys _Underwater Moonlight_ Any of Can’s albums I guess I wouldn’t consider any of these underrated, just overlooked by average Joe and Jane listener. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/17 "2004-02-27T03:45:22Z")
I love _At Fillmore East_, but it’s not underrated. It’s gotten the acclaim it richly deserves. The Allmans’ first two (studio) albums are underrated. _Hedwig_ is definitely considered a cult classic. ---
**Author:** ![Wrenchslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/94ad74/32.png) [@Wrenchslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenchslinger)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/18 "2004-02-27T07:43:42Z")
Every single album by XTC. Andy Partridge definitely gets my vote as most underrated rocker of the 20C. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/19 "2004-02-27T10:49:15Z")
If you like symphonic/progressive rock and can get hold of the CD, give Kayak’s _Merlin - Bard of the Unseen_ a try. I consider it the best CD ever. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341/20 "2004-02-27T11:14:39Z")
I don’t think **The Afghan Whigs** get the credit they deserve, especially ‘Congregation’ and ‘Gentlemen’. I’m also suprised nobody’s mentioned **The Replacements** yet either. Big influence over Pixies, Nirvana etc. I would also nominate **Pop Will Eat Itself** for their 1990 album ‘Cure for Sanity’. They got unfairly lumped in with a minor British musical movement of the early 90’s (Grebo/Crusty anyone) but I still listen to that album now. Way ahead of its time, to the point where Bentley Rythymn Ace were ripping it off a good 9-10 years later, as well as many other Big Beat bands. I know one of the original members is in Bentley Rythymn Ace, and Clint Mansell, the singer, scored Pi and Requiem for a Dream, which IMO is one of the best soundtracks to a film ever. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-rock-albums/231341.md?page=2)