# Overlooked/underappreciated music (rock) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 2, 1999, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005 "1999-09-02T00:09:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Born2Read](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@Born2Read](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Born2Read)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2000, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/61 "2000-02-17T21:58:00Z")
Ike, if you don’t have a Wanda Jackson CD, RUN to the nearest record store. She did a lot of straight country, but her rockabilly stuff is the GREATEST EVER. Pardon my shouting, but Wanda burns away every other female singer. Look for the songs “Let’s Have a Party” and “Fujiyama Mama”. Read about her in Nick Tosches’ “Unsung Heroes of Rock and Roll”. Worship her ever after. Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys are the cream of the crop of the new rockabilly/western swing bands. Trust me, you’ll love them. Oh, I don’t post too much because I don’t have Internet at home. I post from your local public library. ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2000, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/62 "2000-02-17T22:23:00Z")
Born2Read: > [@](#): > > Ike, you’re the best! You are the first person I’ve ever seen in any of the music threads that has even mention rockabilly _Nu, ich bin hackfleisch?_ I recall mentioning Robert Gordon’s covers of “Twenty Flight Rock” and “Five Days, Five Days”, along with Tav Falco & Panther Burns’ cover of “Bertha Lou” among my nominees for favorite covers in the “Cover versions we like” thread, not to mention Robert Gordon earlier in this thread. While I usually find nothing to cavil at in Ukelele Ike’s postings, to my mind Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, and Carl Perkins are too well-known and too influential to be considered “overlooked” or “underappreciated”. Sonny Burgess (my dad’s high school classmate), maybe. Jack Scott, perhaps. Billy Lee Riley (another Arkansas native) you can make a case for. ---
**Author:** ![Frankie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@Frankie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frankie)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2000, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/63 "2000-02-17T22:27:00Z")
Who’s this Bad Religion people keep talking about? Do they have any good albums?? * * * -Frankie “Mother Mercy, can your loins bear fruit forever?/Is your fecundity a trammel or a treasure?” -Bad Religion ---
**Author:** ![ZeroCool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@ZeroCool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZeroCool)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2000, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/64 "2000-02-17T23:08:00Z")
John Lennon’s solo work Elvis Costello * * * Question Authority ---
**Author:** ![ZeroCool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@ZeroCool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZeroCool)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2000, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/65 "2000-02-17T23:10:00Z")
John Lennon’s solo work Elvis Costello * * * Question Authority ---
**Author:** ![Rousseau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Rousseau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rousseau)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2000, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/66 "2000-02-17T23:28:00Z")
## Two words: Ben Harper. People have already mentioned Wilco and Guster…both good choices, although Guster’s “Goldfly” album was really bad. Moby, although his day is rapidly approaching thanks to the Grammy’s. He makes Beck look like a rank amateur. Although they had a big hit, the real value of Ben Folds Five continiues to go unnoticed. But the single most underrated/overlooked band in the world has to be Phish. “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.” -Winston Churchill ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2000, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/67 "2000-02-17T23:36:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by rackensack: > \*\*While I usually find nothing to cavil at in Ukelele Ike’s postings, to my mind Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, and Carl Perkins are too well-known and too influential to be considered “overlooked” or “underappreciated”. \*\* You’re okay too, rack. For a Harvard man. Make you a little wager, though. You walk down any main drag in urban America, college towns included, and ask folks randomly (for an hour, let’s say) who Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran and Carl Perkins were. I will purchase you a fine chilled imported beer for every accurate identification you garner. Be prepared for a sobering event. * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![WIU\_Wozman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WIU\_Wozman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WIU_Wozman)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2000, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/68 "2000-02-17T23:58:00Z")
There are two bands that stick out when I think underrated: Dave Matthews Band - Yes, they were VH1’s artist of the yaer, but they get no airplay. Rolling Stone called “Before these Crowded Streets” the worst album of 1998, but then again, “Listener Supported” was the best album of the year for 1999. So, with that, Rolling Stone doesn’t count for being wishy-washy. My vote goes to The Dave Matthews Band Reel Big Fish - Little airplay, but their music is awesome, and they are the most fun band to listen to. * * * Stupid people surround themselves with smart people. Smart people surround themselves with smart people who disagree with them. - Isaac Jaffee ---
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Devil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Dirty\_Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Devil)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/69 "2000-02-18T01:03:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Rousseau: > \*\*Two words: Ben Harper. > > But the single most underrated/overlooked band in the world has to be Phish.\*\* Alright, Rousseau, I don’t usually agree with what you post, but I gotta’ give you major credit for these two. Ben Harper is incredible! Burn To Shine is one of my favorite albums right now. The guy puts so much feeling into what he does. But Phish has got to be the best group on the planet right now. Have you ever been to a concert? They are totally insane! Talk about raw talent. These guys are just awesome. Do you have any live tapes? Do you ever do any tape trading? I have a lot of really good live Phish tapes that I’d be more than willing to trade. Hell, I’d even do a blanks-and-postage if you don’t have anything to trade but are looking for some good stuff. Send me an e-mail if you’re interested (I know I’m gonna’ eventually find SOMEONE on this board that trades Phish and Dead tapes). * * * Free beer is ALWAYS a good thing. - Falcon ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/70 "2000-02-18T01:57:00Z")
Ukelele Ike: > [@](#): > > You’re okay too, rack. For a Harvard man. Not a distinction I can claim. In the “Mortification” thread, I referred to reading Erich Segal’s _The Class_ after returning from six weeks at Harvard, but it was for an NEH fellowship, not as part of a regular degree program. > [@](#): > > You walk down any main drag in urban America, college towns included, and ask folks randomly (for an hour, let’s say) who Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran and Carl Perkins were. I will purchase you a fine chilled imported beer for every accurate identification you garner. Be prepared for a sobering event. Well, if they’re really fine imported beers, they won’t need much chilling, but we’ll let that pass. There’s much in what you say, but then our culture’s so balkanized these days that you could probably achieve the same results with The Kinks, The Byrds, and Chuck Berry as the subjects of the query. I assumed the level of awareness we’re expecting in this thread to be that of a moderately catholic rock fan – someone who approaches music with an active, rather than passive, interest. ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/71 "2000-02-18T02:04:00Z")
I’m gonna beat Coldfire to the punch on this one. **Rush** has got to be the greatest and most overlooked band in the history of rock. * * * _What’s another word for euphemism?_ ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/72 "2000-02-18T02:15:00Z")
Yes, Rush is the greatest ever, and Alex Lifeson is God. Lately though, I have been worshipping at the temple of the Lee Harvey Oswald Band. They RULE. And I have also fallen under the spell of Nashville Pussy … um, that’s a band. BTW: (rolling eyes) right fellas, no-one’s EVER heard of Dave Matthews or Phish. You are SOOO alternative! heh * * * I’m a loner, Dottie … a rebel. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/73 "2000-02-18T03:29:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by rackensack: > \*\*I assumed the level of awareness we’re expecting in this thread to be that of a moderately catholic rock fan – someone who approaches music with an active, rather than passive, interest. > \*\* Granted, but the moderately catholic rock fan these days has the same sense of history as the moderately catholic film fan (see any movie thread in this forum…most of us assume Edison invented the movie camera and passed it off to Quentin Tarantino). How many of our fellows Dopers have referred to any pre-'60s bands or performers on this thread? And I’ll warm those beer between my own personal thighs. * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.B.H.Hornswoggler)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/74 "2000-02-18T03:37:00Z")
In rough reverse order of fame: Elvis Costello They Might Be Giants Oingo Boingo (up until about 1986) Tom Waits The Kinks (circa '68 to '75) Aimee Mann The Judybats The Wonder Stuff The Pogues Belly/Tanya Donelly Wall of Voodoo/Stan Ridgway Guadalcanal Diary Grace Pool Shannon Worrell/September 67 * * * …but when you get blue, and you’ve lost all your dreams, there’s nothing like a campfire and a can of beans! ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/75 "2000-02-18T03:46:00Z")
And the winner is:… Steely Dan Hands down, no question about it, Becker and Fagen rule as the most under-appreciated, least-understood rock band of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Cowboy\_Greg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Cowboy\_Greg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowboy_Greg)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/76 "2000-02-18T05:14:00Z")
Martini Ranch, notable for having Bill Pullman (yes, **that** Bill Pullman} as a band member. Kim Mitchell also comes to mind… * * * Shared pain is lessened; shared joy is increased. ---
**Author:** ![beefymeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@beefymeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beefymeg)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/77 "2000-02-18T05:19:00Z")
**minlokwat** : Hey! I’ve just sort of discovered Steely Dan in the past week. Any essential recordings you’d recommend? ## **Torgo** : I first heard of Gilberto from my _grandmother_. I have the Stan Getz/Joao Gilberto CD (featuring Astrud) and mmmm do I love it. It’s so soothing. Since I bought that, I don’t feel as dumb lurking in the jazz section of CDs. Sucks to your assmar. ---
**Author:** ![George\_Gray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8edcca/32.png) [@George\_Gray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/George_Gray)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/78 "2000-02-18T06:59:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by WIU Wozman: > \*\*There are two bands that stick out when I think underrated: > > Dave Matthews Band - Yes, they were VH1’s artist of the yaer, but they get no airplay. Rolling Stone called “Before these Crowded Streets” the worst album of 1998, but then again, “Listener Supported” was the best album of the year for 1999. So, with that, Rolling Stone doesn’t count for being wishy-washy. My vote goes to The Dave Matthews Band > > Reel Big Fish - Little airplay, but their music is awesome, and they are the most fun band to listen to. > \*\* Oh, come on. Name one college student who doesn’t own a Dave Matthews Band album. Besides me, anyway. If anything, the man’s incredibly overrated. And Reel Big Fish is horse crap. If you want ska or punk, listen to a real ska or punk band. If you want pop, listen to the fucking Jackson Five. Nothing personal here, but you’ve just reminded me of why I hate my campus radio station so much. Yes, I’m a pretentious music snob, and proud of it. * * * “The world is everything that is the case.” --Ludwig Wittgenstein ---
**Author:** ![kawliga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea666f/32.png) [@kawliga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kawliga)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/79 "2000-02-18T09:23:00Z")
Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks Blodwyn Pig The Blasters ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005/80 "2000-02-18T12:13:00Z")
An Emotional Fish, Something Happens, back to 80’s/early 90’s rock for you eh Ruadh? how about the Sultans of Ping, F.C.? the Golden Horde, although Simon Carmody sucks ass. Let’s see, the Specials, the Pogues, The Popes… where does it end? * * * J “trapped by the girl in the mirror and a bed that calls my name standing on my own yet again, unabashed by the cyclone of morons that abound this place shhh, i think they’ve found me hiding in their closet listening in on their idiocy and mocking every phoneme and allophone spilling from their diseased beings.” Quoted from “Idiots”, by Prose [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-underappreciated-music-rock/14005.md?page=5)