Essential Artists List: Who’s Underrated?
Posted September 19, 2007 by
Laura Fedele 
Comments(224)
Comments(224) We’ve just posted our Fall Membership Drive listener poll, asking listeners for their 5 Essential Artists, plus one pick each for an Underrated Artist, an Overrated Artist, and a future New Essential Artist.
Our staffers picked theirs: Essential Artist Staff List
Who are the artists you think are most underrated?
I, for one, picked Alejandro Escovedo. He’s had a long career creating beautiful music — from ballads to screaming rockers — and the past few years he’s been working with a string quintet that could take your breath away. If there were justice in the world, he would live like a king. Anyone else?…
- Laura
Based solely on the fact that they did not make any of the staff lists, I would propose U2. Surely they deserved a spot on someone’s list if you had room for Depeche Mode, REM, etc.
hi laura
when i submitted my list to my surprise i saw you picked alejandro as your most underrated.
i did too
nice to know there are people out there who appreciate talent when they hear it.
bye eddie
U2 underrated? Thats like saying George Bush is underrated.
Definitely Vic Chesnut. This guy is one of the best singer-songwriters going today and I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything by him on FUV.
I put Television as the most under-rated. Listen to the title track from “Marquee Moon”. Anybody playing guitar or bass for a few months could play any one of those ridiculously simple parts. But those parts combined, along with the drums, and the whole truly is greater than the sum of its parts. I love the way the song builds to the repeated “1-and 2″ rhythm after the guitar solos, followed by the long chords that seem to be reaching to heaven itself, brought back to earth by the drums which kick in the return of the opening guitar figure.(Think of the way the refrain comes in at the end of Bob Seger’s “Night Moves” after the “Woke last night to the sound of thunder” verse.) It is a masterpiece of rock orchestration. 10 minutes of pure sonic bliss. The verse about the Caddilac pulling out of and then back into the graveyard always gives me chills. And alot of people don’t seem to know that track, much less the band itself even exists.
I’ll nominate Warren Zevon. He wrote great songs for 30 years and was still at it right up to the very end. I don’t think he ever received his due. I feel the same way about Bruce Cockburn. Both are critically well regarded but have not received the acclaim that should go to performers as accomplished as they are/were.
Although I listed Richard Thompson for my personal choice as most underrated, I’m shocked that Joe Jackson doesn’t appear on ANY of the staff lists. He’s at home in practically any style of music, and his performances still rock.
I definetly think that The Magic Numbers are very underrated. They’re making a huge sweep across america, but no one seems to have heard of them, but i heard them in an interview on WNYC.
How about Joe Jackson? His outstanding Volume 4, released a few years ago, received almost no airplay and poor sales. I saw him at the Beacon Theater with Todd Rungren, and he didn’t even sell it out. It’s a head scratcher.
Boz Scaggs career has been overlooked since it started. He was one of the feature acts at the Fillmore West and for good reason. Take a good listen to his earliest albums “Boz Scaggs”, Boz Scaggs & Band” and “Moments” and you will hear some of the finest music ever created. It is sad that his career gets pigeon holed into “Silk Degrees” when that does not define Boz. And amazingly, he is still going strong. His voice is still tops in rock-n-roll and he still has the desire to make great music. If you don’t know his older stuff, give it a listen.
Steve
It’s hard to believe that even though the WFUV staff all picked 10 instead of 5 Essential Artists.. (Yep, I know Rita went with 12 and Shari only 6) … John Hiatt does not get a mention from anyone, so I guess that makes him my new leading candidate for Most Underrated essential artist. He writes great melodies, witty, poignant and funny lyrics and still plays a real fine guitar. His voice sounds more nasal on record than live and that may be a factor but when people see and hear him live they are floored by his storytelling and skill as an entertainer. Plus he has always surrounded himself with great musicians like the North Mississippi All Stars & Sonny Landreth. Not to mention Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Ry Cooder, Jim Keltner. And the station plays Hiatt all the time too. go figure.
This is like a hanging curve ball — the staff missed three (two of whom should be on essential
Buddy Holly — Created country rock and Not Fade Away (listen to it
is the foundation of funk
Professor Longhair — the whole NOLA gumbo R&B, blues carribean leads to the modern New Orleans sound
Little feat — Merely the favorite band in the 70s of LedZep, the Stones and Bonnie Raitt; with endorsements like that who needs any more; rip lowell
I feel Rod Picott falls under underrated,because he wrote the songs everyone loves from Slaid Cleaves.Check out their output and you will see who is the writer.
Definitely the Kinks. Great singable tunes combined with razor sharp social commentary — what’s there not to like? And yet the Davies and their band get pushed aside when the Beatles and the Rolling Stones appear on the “Best” lists. (I didn’t look at the FUV list…I just wanted to make amends for not including them on my entry. LOL!)
How could the following not be mentioned in either the essential or underrated categories:
Muddy Waters, Canned heat, The Doors, Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield, Phish, Paul Butterfield?
Wood. their one album (played a lot on Dawson’s Creek) was fantastic from beginning to end.
Whatever happened to Wood?
What all of the lists and feedback on the overrated and underrated call out CLEAR AS DAY is the dire need for that YOUNGER WFUV station to launch as soon as possible. Here’s hoping Russ and Ben Jones are manning the controls, and Rita can DJ whenever she wants as long as the Dylan quota is kept to 4 songs per day or less.
Have to agree with Steve C on this one – Boz Scaggs remains to be one of the most underrated artists of the last 30-35 years – very talented songwriter, performer and unusual vocalist. 2nd most underrated band is the Neville Brothers – they blow me away and you never seem to hear much about them at all. Underrated musicians are a dime-a-dozen though, you can add – Bobby Caldwell, NRBQ, Robert Palmer, Bo Diddley, Richie Havens, Little Feat, Turtles, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Laura Nyro, Mitch Ryder and the 5th Dimension. Yes, the 5th Dimension! Let me know if you’ve heard of NRBQ. Very versatile, little known band from CT.
I don’t think an artist can qualify as “underrated” if he/she/it is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
These artists named in earlier posts are in the R&RHoF: U2, Buddy Holly, Professor Longhair, the Kinks, Muddy Waters, The Doors.
Good call, Ted Steingut. Little Feat is not in the HoF and that is a major oversight.
What does “essential” mean? That you won’t go out of the house without that artist on your ipod or that the artist was a major influence on all music that followed? I think the latter. Rolling Stones? Kinks? Just great bands, not essential. I thought maybe Eric Clapton belonged on the list (much as I love him and his talent), but he has a lot of musicians to thank for his style.
What is “underrated”? You like them but someone else doesn’t or they’re fantastic/unique singer/song writers and they don’t get much airplay? If the latter, I vote for Kaki King. She may not (and maybe should not) sing but she is a unique and talented artist.
What about Bruce Hornsby? not on any lists! How can that be?
Probably the finest, most versatile musician of our time.
He’s tops on my list!!
ever hear of a band called freakwater? they put out 6 or 7 wonderful albums of mostly traditional country framework and a contemporary lyrical bent. gorgeous vocal harmonies. they seem to have almost no presence in new york but would fit right in on fuv.
I think the most underrated artist is probably someone nobody ever heard of; someone who hasn’t got a recording contract yet and may never get one. Someone who writes, plays and/or sings beautiful music that few people will ever hear. And I doubt that there’s anybody who has made it to radio that isn’t OVERrated to one degree or another, at least in relation to those who remain anonymous.
I thought “Unde” meant underappreciated.
Next to the definition in Webster’s you’ll find a picture of Lindsey Buckingham.
See also under “Live Performances” and “Finger Pickin’ Flamin’ Frets”.
I’ve not seen a mention of Martin Sexton. If you have not heard him, go to his website and check it out. Better yet check him out live. He’s in NYC this fall. I guarantee you’ll dig it!
want to mention some from the surf music scene. Duane Eddy, dick dale etc. Not so popular in the north east but these guys are revered from gibson guitar company to paul mcartney etc.
Little Feat,is my choice for the most under rated group.They all are such great musicians and put themselves out there all the time.We love that Band….
Everyone makes a great case for their most underappreciated but the things John McCutcheon does are incredible. Talented musician, song writer, and story teller, wow and hardly anyone knows his works.
Steve Earle, Joe Jackson, Warren Zevon, Jeff Lynne, Peter Wolf, John Prine, Jorma Kaukonen, Ani DiFranco, Big Bill Broonzy, Tom Rush, Shane MacGowan, Ronnie Drew, Damien Dempsey, Sinead O’Connor, Nick Cave, Ronnie Lane, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Jimmy Webb, Tom T. Hall, Leonard Cohen, Ralph McTell, Steve Forbert, Pete Yorn, Johnnie Johnson, Son Volt, Steve Goodman, Bruce Cockburn, Todd Rundgren, Dwight Yoakam, Keb Mo’, and Burt Bacharach.
Duane Allman should be better recognized as one of the true guitar geniuses in American music. His slide work is magnifacent and the Allman Brothers and especially Dicky Betts should be looked at apart from the “Southern Rock” albatross.
NRBQ! Their recorded work is good, ironic and funny but a totally rockin great band to see live. They have been around forever (as I have) but I still remember seeing them in a club in Willimantic CT (Shaboo?)
Also, Ska, as a phenomenon, has been below the radar. it has a big following with young people (dragged to concerts by my daughter) check out groups like Big D and the Kid’s Table, Less than Jake and Westbound Train.
Dan Bern is a guy who should be much better known. I thank FUV and others of your ilk for turning me onto him. Just a great songwriter with a gift for wit and humor; both much needed in today’s overly dour scene. Check out “Breathe”, it’s first rate all the way.
NRBQ little known? They’ve been doing hundreds and hundreds of shows for nearly four decades. When I first saw them in, oh, 1976, everyone in the Tristate knew them! Great band, lotsa fun.
JOE COCKER–Why is he not in the HOF? I know the knock on him was ‘derivative’by doing a lot of Ray Charles’ numbers, but he is the ONLY artist I can think of that when he does his ‘cover’ version, the original just disappears for me. Songs like: Feeling All Right,She Came in Through The Bathroom Window, With A Little Help From My Friends, The Letter, Cry Me A River. Plus his own numbers like You Are So Beautiful and Up Where We Belong. It seems the HOF is putting in third string artists and Joe Cocker continues to be ignored.
Overlooked by WFUV on the air: Albert King THE influence on all British blues bands, on Clapton, on SRV and any modern blues artist/group); Alvin Lee & Ten Years After; Mike Bloomfield (do you FOLKS at FUV have any of his or his and Al Kooper’s SuperSessions or Live at the Fillmore recordings? Check among your LPs if need be); Little Feat; Graham Parker; ROCKPILE (Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds et. al.); and Bessie Smith!
I would like to add Michael Penn to this list of underrated musicians. He writes beautiful songs with great lyrics and has such a unique voice that I don’t understand why he does not get more recognition. I would love to hear a duo album with him and wife, Aimee Mann. Also, one of my favs.
Hey, I just re-read all the DJ lists and the comments above, and Randy Newman doesn’t seem to get a mention. I don’t think he has one song that runs over 4 minutes, yet he packs a novel’s worth of information into anyone of those songs. (OK, OK, a short story’s worth.) He is songs are weird, funny, clever, bitingly sarcastic, and occasionally kid-friendly (“You’ve Got a Friend in Me”). Three Dog Night even had a hit with one of his songs. Come to think of it, Three Dog Night also had a hit with a Harry Nillson song, another artist who seems to regularly come in under the radar. As musically complex as Randy is, Harry is equally simple (yet not simplistic).
No aspiring songwriter should be without at least a best of collection from both of these artists.
I also see that Elvis is mentioned earlier in this forum. There seems to be a whole slew of early Rock and roll artists who are getting short-changed here, starting with Chuck Berry and Little Richard. But I guess there’s not enough space here for all of them.
Amy Rigby. Shes had a string of solid albums from start to finish, but gets virtually no recognition. Biting lyrics, great melodies. Heartbreak songs with an attitude. Patsy Cline meets Ray Davies.
Bruce Springsteen may not be essential to everyone, and who is, but to consider him the most overrated is to marginalize everything he’s done as a singer/songwriter/musician. He’s been one of the few to successfully merge the exuberance of rock n roll with the sensitivity and social awareness that was a staple of many musicians cutting their teeth in the sixties and seventies. Though all including Springsteen are subject to the demands of commercialism and corporate America, Bruce manages to maintain a relationship with the public that is personal and homespun through local appearances, charitable benefits and a pricing policy far less than other artists. Being essential should include being inspirational and uplifting, and no musician over the last thirty five years has done more to meet that definition than Bruce Springsteen.
My top 10 under-rated:
1. Michelle Malone
2. Townes Van Zandt
3. Amy Ray
4. Kaia Wilson
5. Vic Chesnut
6. Dolly Parton
7. Danielle Howle
8. Joan Armatrading
9. General Johnson
10. Caroline Aiken
Reading these makes me wish I’d somehow squeezed Joe Jackson onto my list — I’ve listened to his records forever and he puts on an amazing live show. (Was anyone at Mercury Lounge a couple years ago? Wow!) Plus, if you haven’t read his book “A Cure For Gravity,” it’s a totally worthwhile memoir.
Adam Arcuragi. I don’t even know what to say about him, he’s just amazing. I also think the forgotten singers of the Motown era are definitely not given enough credit– Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Four Tops, etc.
Has anyone heard of Girlyman? Yes, Girlyman!! Great harmonies reminiscent of the Indigo Girls, with whom they’ve toured. Three albums out, but not on major labels. Tried to request them on FUV and got a blank stare (could hear it over the phone).
I can’t believe no one mentioned Ben Folds!! He is just amazing- clever lyrics and unbelievable piano work. His songs “Landed” (from Songs for Silverman ) and “Still Fighting It” (from Rocking the Suburbs)are masterpieces, to name just 2.
What about Ray Davies, Ian Hunter, Graham Parker? All these guys are still rocking out- all have really great new albums on top of their incredible rock pasts.
And The Dixie Chicks! They’re not just for cowboys. They are seriously talented and their music is great.
John Prine.
Top 5 Underrated -
Well How can Richard Thompson not be on this list as the #1 under appreciated and underrated Superstar of our generation? I know FUV gives him all the credit in the world. But this guy’s songwriting, his guitar playing and arrangements are absolutely second to none over the past 40years(!) of making music. When you add the multi-dimensional voice of Linda Thompson to their work of his first 15 years, you really have material that stands as the best of the Rock and Folk era. He clearly has to be mentioned in the same breaths as Clapton, Bruce, Elvis Costello and such, but rarely is.
Nick Lowe – Once again, FUV has given him his due, but I don’t see the general media and public recognition this guy clearly deserves. As a producer (Elvis), songwriter and and bandmember (Rockpile!), he is a triple threat. And producing quality material for over a 30 year span only adds to the fact that this guy is amazing.
Ron Sexsmith – I am guilty of underrating this guy myself. His volume and quality of songwriting work is stunning. I am guilty of ignoring his work too long and am currently in catch up mode, you should do the same.
Darden Smith – Incredibly, has occasionally gone years without a record contract. But this guy does not know how to write a bad song.
Patty Griffin – Well maybe she is not underrated too much, but I think she has clearly eclipsed Lucinda as the preeminent woman songwriter, Lucinda seems to have lost her way since Car Wheels.. for me anyway…
Recently I’ve been thinking about how underrated Loudon Wainwright III is. His songs are truly unique and continue to be wonderful time after time. I could listen to a song like “New Paint” anytime.
Going with the Wainwright family, Rufus has received a lot of attention, but Martha hasn’t as much. She is certainly underrated. Her voice and songs are incredible.
I have to disagree about Girlyman. I’ve seen them live a lot (opening for Indigo Girls) and I can’t understand why they are liked at all. Their songs are so silly and seem like parodies of folk music.
After reading through all the comments, I have to agree with just about all of them. There are so many great artists that don’t get the recognition they deserve. Bruce Cockburn, however, seems to really stand out for me. this guy is very talented and often overlooked.
dunno that I’d call any of these artists under rated, but I’d agree, almost without exception, they are a fine list of great players, writers and performers.
Westerberg/replacements make only one staffers list? are we kidding. pw has consistantly been one of the best songwriter/performers of the last 25 years. dont’t believe me…ask lucinda williams, or Don Was, or Brendan o’Brien, or Joan Jett (who is the pinnicle of female rockers!)
Freedy Johnston and Amy Correia get my votes for most underrated artists. Both of them write songs that manage to match interesting lyrics with melodies that are both catchy and distinctive. I’m a fan of big, popular bands like U2 and Radiohead — I don’t think for a second that they’re overrated. But I just love discovering an act that’s not as well-known, yet speaks to me directly. Others mention Joe Jackson and Michael Penn, and I agree, both are woefully underappreciated.
Richard Shindell. Best songwriter of his generation. Fair singer. So underrated that he didn’t even make the long list of underrated folkies by Stephen on Oct. 2.
I can’t see Richard Thompson. Yes, he’s great, but I think he gets his due from the critics and from the folk audience. Can’t expect rockers to go for him. So, not really underrated.
what about John Mellencamp? Look past the obvious knocks (Cougar, Jack & Diane). Incredible body of work from an American original.
Shari Rosen Ascher:
Way to go with Graham Parker as underrated! His first three or four albums can be stacked up against almost anyone’s……..and his last four just may be better than his first four. Amazingly underrated. I only disagree with you in that I would put him ahead of your beloved Elvis C (whom I also like).
I’ll chime in with a few more random thoughts. Completely agree about Ben Folds: great writing and playing. Also what about Mark Knopfler? Great staying power (Dire Straits and onward) versatile and a fine performer and writer.
I consider the below all underrated to some extent because they’re so good yet not mainstream: Lucinda, Ryan, Richard and Teddy Thompson (Teddy’s latest is great), World Party, current Split Endz, Grace Potter among many.
Also, since there seems to be a lack of current blues artists, there are two great, great, “older” blues artists I would like to hear more of. Those being James Marshall Hendrix and an obscure band out of England called Led Zeplin.
Underrated and not played much on WFUV:
Kristin Hersh
Heather Nova
Underrated, although WFUV tries to rectify that:
Richard Thompson
I think Gordon Lightfoot is underrated. All anyone thinks of is Wreck of the Edmund…. and Sundown, but his mid to late 60’s work is phenomenal, The Way I Feel and Black Day in July are fantastic songs. Also Charlie Rich was a great early blues man, his late 50s to late 60s stuff worth checking out. Sandy Denny with Strawbs or Fairport Convention is always great, never really heard. Lot’s of great British folk like Amazing Blondel or Incredible String Band or Albion Band would fit FUVs listenership well, but no one knows it.
Ah, World Party. Interesting pick, markp, although I don’t think *most* underrated. Maybe should be a new thread: artists who have risen above themselves and executed *one* act of sheer genius, after earlier lesser works. (In this case, Bang!) An interesting category, not at all the same as one-hit wonders; in fact, could include many big acts often regarded as mediocre (or worse) by non-fans. From about the same era, consider Depeche Mode (Violator), The Cure (Disintegration) and Erasure (Wild!–yes, really; listen to it with fresh ears). Artists who commit the one act of genius at the outset, on the other hand, are disappointing: DMB, Pearl Jam. They only differ from one-hit wonders by failing to disappear in a timely fashion. (Now I will duck.)
Knopfler underrated? By whom?? Dire Straits was the biggest band in the world for about 15 minutes in the Eighties. You couldn’t escape Money for Nothing on the radio or MTV, and Brothers in Arms was on Miami Vice. Mark’s later career has been quieter, but he’s been a critic’s darling to rival Richard Thompson. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s great, but (like Thompson, whom I also think is great) not really underrated.
Richard Thompson and Randy Newman, I agree. I could listen to either of them all day.
Darren-couldn’t resist one more. Al Stewart as underrated? Not the greatest artist in the world, but much better overall than Year of the Cat (yecch!). I guess you can’t be more underrated by WFUV than *never* gettting played, can you?
With so many posts, I’m surprised that the artist I felt was the most underrated has not been mentioned here or on the staff lists – Marshall Crenshaw. He’s consistently written great tunes for three decades now, yet gets little airplay, even on this wonderful station. Before settling on Crenshaw, I had also pondered several others mentioned here, including Graham Parker, Ben Folds, John Hiatt and Todd Rundgren. However, FUV plays the first three fairly frequently, and Todd has been less consistent over his career than MC.
The Dixie Chicks. Although WFUV listeners voted “Taking the Long Way” the 17th best album of 2007, I have never heard them played on WFUV.
If we’re using the “not recognized by The Rock N Roll hall of Fame” criteria as under appreciated, then I would have to say the MOST underrated band is The Hollies. So many lesser band of that period are in HOF. I just don’t get it.
Good point on the Hollies. I put down The Kinks for the same reason someone else mentioned up above – everyone gives the Beatles and the Stones all the publicity, and yet the Kinks have great songs, great satirical words, and more. The Beatles alternated between trite (Paul McCartney) and just “out there” (John Lennon). Their only good stuff was the early stuff as far as I’m concerned. I do like the Stones though!
The Kinks without a doubt, some of the best lyrics and songs ever written. As a matter of fact, WFUV played Dylan songs all day long on his birthday, yet on Ray Davies birthday not one song played that says it all. Oh well, at least Wes Anderson understands and has three Kinks songs in “Darjeeling Limited”.
Underrated????
These aren’t necessarilly my top favorite artists, just those I feel deserve more recognition.
1.) Frank Zappa
Even though WFUV NEVER plays his music, I need to point out how sorely ignored his music is. As well known as he is/was, he was largely misunderstood and unfairly critisized. The guy was a genius and he left behind some incredible music. Not to mention what he did to defend our first ammendment rights.
2.) Kelly Joe Phelps
WFUV championed this guy early on and then all but abandoned him. Few acoustic performers posess the chops this man has. If you want to listen to someone play the hell out of acoustic blues with authenticity, this is the guy.
3.) Joe Henry
A sought after producer that happens to be a truely great songwriter and musician. His talent for finding just the right instrument to match the mood and illustrate the point is astounding.
4.) Richard Jullian
Another great songwriter with a sense of humor (when it matters). I look forward to more from this guy.
5.)The Bad Plus
Three tremendously versitile musicians that have that rare ability to read each others minds. To hear them on cd is one thing. To see them live is something altogether different. Their original material is complex and tight as a vice. Their interpretations of popular tunes are so inventive and entertaining, even funny, that you can’t deny these guys are onto something. What they do with a piano, acoustic Bass and drums is as powerful as a full orchestra pumped through a stack of Marshalls.
This is really dating myself but one of the most underrated bands ever was The Rascals–blue eyed soul at its best and way ahead of their time. Their songs still hold up very well today
Absolutely— Frank Zappa and the Dixie Chicks and Mandy Barnett and Graham Parker and Was (Not Was). Chris Eberhardt and Richard Shindell and Amy Corea. Joe Jackson. The Kinks. The Mamas and the Papas. Marshall Crenshaw. Kelly Joe Phelps. Johnny A! He’s brilliant! Almost no airplay for any of these artists. And it is very sad.
The most underrated artist in my view is Dwight Yoakam. This guy has been generating great music for over 25 years, and yet no one knows him. His concert at NYSEC in 2006 was the best I have ever seen – 3 1/2 hours without leaving the stage or taking anything other than a short break before the encores. He can turn almost any song into his own – and try listening to his version of “Train in Vain” if you don’t believe me! Truly underappreciated.
Taking a step back in time.
Annie Haslam of Renaissance. A voice rarely heard, much less equalled. Deserves to be played some more (not just on “freaky fridays.”)
I’ll 2nd Kinks/Ray and Dave, and John Mellencamp, are great songwriters and players
There are so many missing because there are so many who are/were so good and/or influential. What about Peggy Lee, David Byrne, Peter Tosh, Madeleine Peyroux and Steve Miller? Daniel Lanois? Bonnie Raitt? I know they’ve all had their big hit, but they’ve had a much bigger influence than their commercial success belies.
I absolutely agree with Kerry that Amy Correia is among the most underrated artists. I was shocked when Lakeville did not make one of the albums of the year on WFUV – shocked, really.
Also, Aimee Mann – one of the great singer songwriters of post-war (that’s WWII) music.
No one, no one has mentioned Maria McKee or Lone Justice. Everybody swoons over the Cowboy Junkies but if you’ve ever listened to “Breathe” from McKee’s first self-titled album or compared the live Lone Justice version of “Sweet Jane” to the copacetic Cowboy Junkies cover, you’ll find that, after listening to the Lone Justice version, you may not need that extra shot of espresso. She has an incredible body of work, and much critical acclaim beyond the pond, and the number of peeple that she’s worked with, including some previously mentioned artists here, is absolutlely mind-blowing. What a voice and songwriter!
Joseph Arthur and Dan Hicks–both underrated
The Hollies…yeah!
Roy Orbison
Steve Goodman
Lucy Kaplansky
Flatlanders
Zucchero
I agree with Pete Fornatale that Aztec Two Step is seriously underrated. They’ve been together forever and have not gotten the recognition they deserve.
I would like to add a few names to this list and rename it ‘Underplayed’ as opposed to ‘Underrated’ Each gets air time-not enough however.
1) Ray Davies-with or without The Kinks
2) Boz Scaggs-Next time you are in San Francisco, make a stop at his club ‘Slims’. He pops in to jam all of the time.
3) Jerry Jeff Walker-Stick to the early releases.
4) Jimmy Buffett-See note above. With excessive wealth came lax material.
5) Frank Zappa-Hey Chris, we agree-nice change of pace.
6) Robert Earl Keene-Consistently good-great LIVE
7) Mike Bloomfield-With Butterfield & Electric Flag. A tragedy he took his own life so young.
8) J.J. Cale-I hope Eric Clapton doesn’t forget to send Birthday and Christmas presents each year
9) Tom Petty-Consistantly good and thanks for turning us on to Mike Campbell.
10) Jefferson Airplane-Leave the Starship on the runway.
If Mimi Wallace is open for dinner, I love your taste-here and overplayed-call me on Sat. I’ll be answering phones for Pete’s show.
What is this? Love connection?
Tim, you should try match.com
The fact that not a single person has mentioned King Crimson points out to me just how underrated they really are. Even their offshoots like Adrian Belew (played with Zappa, Talking Heads, David Bowie, et al), California Guitar Trio, The League of Crafty Guitarists.
I’m glad at least one person mentioned Annie Haslam and Renaisance. I’m also glad Richard Thompson was mentioned, though Fairport Convention (the band he started with) is conspicuously absent.
Jeffrey Gaines! He’s one of the best singer songwriters out there but no one seems to pay him any attention!
OK – maybe I don’t understand the meaning of essential but based on that really bizzzzzaaaaaarrrr list you posted, I would have to say that the two most underrated artists are clearly Patsy Cline and Elvis Presley. Without one you don’t have modern country music (She is the one after all who made it possible for a woman – Emmylou, Lucinda, Loretta, Tammy et al – to be a major country star), and without him, white folks don’t listen to rock n’ roll. I mean, come on. Also where are the Ramones and/or the Sex Pistols!
Robert,
I’m not gonna argue with you about Patsy Cline but Elvis I’m not so sure about. But one thing I do knowfor sure ,… The Sex Pistols were not a real band. They were more of a fashion statement than a band, cooked up by a shameless, yet, brilliant promoter looking to make a fast buck. I’m not saying that they didn’t make a name for themselves, but their contribution to the history of modern music was, is and will forever be, pure hype.
ps They were, “A Fabulous Disaster”
My personal vote for most underrated artist would be Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Seriously, I challenge you to find such talent with less popularity. I will freely admit though, that Cave and the Bad Seeds may not be for everyone, so for Most Underrated Band of All Time, my vote goes to The Kinks. I know what you’re going to say, but compare their fame to what they did and their influence, and they are highly underrated. How many people bought The Kink Kronicles?
TIM & CHRIS agreed about Zappa. Sat PM I’m to a dance concert, but thanx. Hope you raise lots of money to keep the music going. It’s all good, even when it’s not.
Want to put in a vote for the gals sometimes associated with Nashville (but have really moved beyond their Country roots)who have the prime requisites for being considered essential to any music lover; listenability, great musicianship, voices and material. Putting in a vote for Allson Krauss and Union Station, Kathy Mattea, and Suzy Bogguss.
And I’ll add Allison Moorer, Rory Block and Iris DeMent to that list. Not sure if Iris is even considerd Nashville, but whatever, she’s the real deal.
Of course Joe Jackson, although WFUV gets points for supporting Joe very nicely, beyond playing the obvious hits. But also BoDeans, Steve Forbert, and Crowded House.
I can’t believe nobody mentioned Bloody Weather. I never hear those guys on the radio, which is a huge shame. I consider their only album to be the most indispensable album in my collection. I recently picked up the re-mastered CD version of it at CDBABY.
Sineaad O’Connor. Over and over with every cd she is spectacular – lovely but dark – a true artist who belongs on top of the ranks.
Singer-songwriters and rockers are well spoken for by the majority of listeners (and my own submission of Beatles, Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, plus Stevie Wonder, Bee Gees), so I’ll through my supplemental support behind the essential soul artists that could stand more airplay, including 70s staples like the Spinners, O’Jays, Four Tops, Blue Notes and lesser knowns like Carla Thomas, Bettye Swann – and new comers like Alicia Keyes, India.Arie, Christina Aguilera – yeah, her too. Perhaps all of this is commercial and “pop” but it’s all great too (and let’s not forget, the Beatles were (are) commercial and pop).
Okay, where is Roseanne Cash? Another amazing, kick ass woman who writes real lyrics for grownups. Also, she is amazing live. And she had Elvis Costello come on stage with her last year at Zankel Hall. I mean come on!
I guess Fleetwood Mac is underrated given they are not on any staff picks or the member list. Holy Cow! Try driving from NY to Vermont without Fleetwood Mac, and then drive back WITH Fleetwood Mac and then decide.
Underrated? Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen! Among the best American bands of the last fifty years, without question. They could do it all; rock, swing, country weepers, whatever. Top flight musicians all. And no mention anywhere of David Bromberg? or Jorma?
Yes, have to agree with the need for a younger listn WFUV and newer artists taking more time. Though I never tire of Dylan, please keep off Billie Holiday, etc. enough already.
I forgot to add one more vital artist to my list – Warren Zevon, always one of the greatest.
And, Jenny Lewis and Rilo Kiley – where are they?
Oh well, next year maybe.
Thanks for the great music.
I would have to say Al Fudger is the most underated.
If not then I would have to say Billy Hector and the Fairlanes.
Rock on Billy Hector!
In response to Jim above-Commander Cody was great only when you were as drunk as he was. I’m in complete agreement with you on Jorma. I rarely miss a show when he and Jack stroll back to town. A good friend of mine recently went to Jorma’s Camp out in Ohio for a week. He said it was great. Along with Jorma for the week, he had Larry Coryell and Happy Traum as guest instructors. The final night, Coryell’s band took the stage for a ‘Good Bye’ show. Jorma played with them for a couple of numbers and left the stage smiling saying he was throwing the towel in because he couldn’t keep up the pace.
Tim,
Strait up on Jorma. He’s not only one of the best, he’s also a great guy.
I did the photographs for his latest cd and I can tell you that I have never met anyone more gracious and fun to work with. He’s like everyone’s favorite uncle.
Most underrated, Cliff Eberhardt. Great songwriter, singer, guitar and piano player. Very funny in concert, maintains a running patter between songs.
Laura Nyro is probably the most underrated artist in terms of influence vs. commercial success and her generally obscure status today.
She was a true pioneer in terms of the female singer-songwriter. There would be no Carley Simon, Ricci Lee Jones, Phoebe Snow, Tori Amos or Norah Jones without Laura. Even Joni Mitchell, who rarely talks of such things, admitted that Laura was a big influence on her. Todd Rundgren cited Laura as his main influence. Bob Dylan startled a young Laura at a party when he said “I love your chords!”. Yes, those unique chord structures and that wonderful voice. Laura stood at the crossroads of pop, rock, jazz, Broadway, classic soul, folk. She was the missing link between The Brill Building and Greenwich Village.
Those who knew her, knew a shy, big-hearted, classy woman. She was one of a kind. Totally essential. Thanks, WFUV, for keeping her wonderful music alive!
Hey Chris-nice chattin’ with you. Sorry the first couple were a little testy. It’s funny that you mentioned Jorma being like your cool uncle-that’s exactly how my friend described him. He even used those same words. He said Jorma was like the cool uncle you wish you had so family reunions weren’t so dull. He also said he was really funny and always had a big smile on his face. Later-Tim
I almost ordered a personalized license plate
for “Asleep at the Wheel”, but “Asleep” was taken,
maybe “Dixie Dregs”?………
C’mon. Who? Take a listen.
Dregs are great. Steve Morse is one of most unsung players around.
wait a minute!!!!! how can John Cale be ignored. I’d call him the most underrated…..but certainly one of the most talented and influential musicians and composers of our time……. Not only his VU time (thankfully they made the big list) but ever since.
gorgeous voice, awesome atonal/impressionistic instrumental compositions……….continues to evolve, but is always a bit esoteric.
also needing their due…..Queen, Buffalo Springfield, Carlos Santana, Phil Ochs, Tim Hardin, Green Day (the next generation of social commentary?) , Blood Sweat And Tears
and now I’m going to renew my membership ……………….
I think The Moody Blues are both underrated and underplayed. You rarely hear them on any station today, yet, they set the standard for orchestral sounds with their mellotron and other keyboards. Their albums from the late 60s to the early 70s combined unique music with philosophical insight, and their vocals were flawless -either in harmony or the Justin Hayward solos. He has one of the best voices in music. Their original group was part of the British Invasion in 1965 with Go Now, and they followed up with a string of concept albums which were standard play on FM stations through the early 1980s, yet they’ve been passed up for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame right along for about 15 years ! I miss hearing them on the airwaves.
No particular order:
Willie Nile (now I haven’t seen that on anyone’s list…
Kinks (Ray)
Graham Parker
The Hold Steady
Gomez
Joan Osborne
Leo Kottke
Little Feat
Morphine
Spoon
Southside Johnny
Steve Wynn (no, not the Vegas guy!)
T Bone Burnett
Travis
XTC
Anybody hear of Ry Cooder “Bop Til You Drop”? “Buena Vista Social Club”? various movie soundtracks, the different genders he can embrace including African music with Ali Farka Toure? When, I guess when there is so much great talent around, a some just fall through the cracks inadvertently.
Haven’t read through the entire blog, but I haven’t seen anyone mention Steve Earle. I’d like to hear more of him.
Fully agree with all of the folks who mentioned Nick Lowe (great body of work) and Richard Thompson (really great live).
Underrated:
Elton John (due to post-1976 career his unbelievable output from 1970-1976 is underrated)
Bee Gees (inconsistency detracts from the unbelievable body of work they produced)
Beatles (impossible to overrate…just 2 or 3 of their songs would have been a huge career for any other band but they produced scores of alltime classics)
Clash
Pearl Jam
Replacements
Blondie
Bob Marley
Cheap Trick
Dire Straits
ELO
Jethro Tull
Live
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Overrated:
James Taylor (all sound the same…nap time music)
Grateful Dead (where’s the melodies?)
Elvis Costello
Jackson Browne
Radiohead
Roxy Music
Talking Heads
Two glaring examples of underrated are the Jefferson Airplane (particularly Jorma and Jack!!!) and Little Feat. And to IMJ a lesser degree Nicky Hopkins (behind the covers but on so many essential productions- Stones, Airplane, Quicksilver and many others), and of course the MVP of Jam Bands..Warren Haynes.
RAUL MALO / THE MAVERICKS!
Raul is a wonderful writer of beautiful romantic ballads and rousing latin flavored swing tunes.
He has a voice and range that out classes both Elvis and Orbison…. Still can’t believe he’s not among the top 90 picks; much less in the above mentioned blog.
WAKE UP and smell the Garbanzo beans people!
Oo Gavin, nice to Live on your list! You’re
a brave one! And lovely guys to boot!
Underated…Neil Finn
I know FUV plays him but how is he or Crowded House not on the essential list? Everyone talks about Bruce being such a wordsmith…listen to Neil’s lyrics, awe-inspiring…
(and I agree with Nick Lowe…such a body of work and great live)
From reading everyone’s postings, I guess “underrated” really comes down to your own interpretation of what underrated means. To me, I take underrated to mean by the record buying public. After all, who decides who the big stars are other than those that plunk down the hard earned bucks. So I made my choice on someone I feel is absolutely brilliant, sells some records, but should be considered a superstar: Allison Krause.
Graham Parker has to be one of the most underrated and underappreciated artists of all time. His first couple albums pre-date punk rock and put the energy into music in the mid 1970’s that had been dying out for a couple years. His high standards have continued for many years and his last four albums (Deepcut to Nowhere, Your Country, Songs of No Consequence, Don’t Tell Columbus)are some of the best of his career and are some of the best albums to come out in the last couple years.
Others to include on your list:
Townes Van Zandt
George Jones
The Band
Underrated: Squeeze, Cat Stevens, and The Avett Brothers
No one has mentioned Buffalo Springfield or the Byrds………Take the original 10 members in thier original configurations or remix them in a dozen different ways and you get some of the best material recorded over the last 40 years.
Creedence Clearwater Revival/John Fogerty are the most underrated band/musician of all time, & he is certainly underappreciated here on FUV. I believe that CCR are the greatest American band of all time with John Fogerty possessing possibly the greatest voice in Rock history. CCR/Fogerty rarely seem to get the credit they deserve. Fogerty was elected to the songwriters hall of fame & CCR were elected to the Rock n Roll hall of fame. Fogerty has a new album out called “Revival”, which, if you listen to it, will tell you why I believe in his music so much.
I also think Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler are underrated as well.
Dave Alvin is the most underrated. One of the great, great guitar slingers, from his work with the Blasters to his stellar solo output. If he wrote about New Jersey rather than Cali he’d be bigger than Bruce.
Right on Denis, about Laura Nyro — so great and there’s no telling what else she would have down if she hadn’t died so damn young…
With the benefit of reading your submissions, my endorsements for underrated:
Fleetwood Mac’s middle ages’ – Kirwan, Welch, Christine. Joe Jackson. Zappa. Allman Bros. Byrds(great Guardian article recently, and Gram Parsons). Feat! Airplane (limited Starship too, Dragonfly is an excellent record,)
Missing are: Jeff Beck, Yes, Quicksilver, and whatever happened to jazz fusion? Mahavishnu, Return to Forever, Weather Report, Passport, or bluegrass fusion, McKendree Spring, Grissman & Grapelli…
But, enough of showing my age, personally I think there’s even more good music today than eve; Shins, Delays, Orton, 99% of the britpops (Oasis, Blur, Ocean Colour, Portishead, The Verve!).
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Woah – quick trip over to the overrated list triggered this underrated with no mention yet – Traffic. A truly great band.
Peter:
Am I supposed to have heard of Bloody Weather? I can’t find ANY info on them. When and where did they exist, and where can I find their music?
I was going to leave a list of underrated artists but many of the above people mentioned several I had considered, including Graham Parker, Ian Hunter, Joan Armatrading, Marshall Crenshaw, Annie Haslam/Renaissance (the purest voice I ever heard in concert), Dwight Yoakam, Dave Alvin,etc. I have a large music collection containing all the above, plus just about anyone else mentioned in this blog (not Bruce Hornsby or Ben Folds, I’ve got to draw the line at boring and whiny). Several I didn’t see mentioned that I think deserve more (or ANY) airplay are Willy/Mink DeVille, Texas, Doug Sahm in any incarnation, Willie Nile, Bill Nelson/Be Bop Deluxe, Dave Edmunds, Cyndi Lauper and Alison Moyet. The one idea I get from this entire link is that the FUV audience craves more diversity than they are getting, and while it is hearing more of a widespread mix than the awful “Classic 104 Rock songs” there is room for more artists on the air. I agree that there isn’t necessarily time to hear 5 or 6 Dylan songs a day or to devote an entire hour every week to the Dead (they aren’t coming out with anything new anymore so get over it) if it comes at the expense of not hearing the many quality artists that everyone has mentioned. I like both Dylan and the Dead, but I also like most of the people listed on this blog and would love to hear them all more often. Dennis, Pete and Vin all can vouch for a format that allows the utmost diversity, and I feel that many other listeners are like me, who grew up with that format – or lack of one – and enjoy being exposed to new and different artists. So back off on the hourly John Mayer/DMB/Coldplay songs and let some of the above see a little more daylight. This is directed to the airstaff, and to the bloggers, keep up the digging and come up with more names. My feeling is, the more the merrier when it comes to diverse tastes. My favorite listening comes when I put my 300 CD changer on Random because I never know what is coming next, and it beats listening to the same stuff over and over again.
Gary:
I got the remastered Bloody Weather disc from CDBABY. I think it’s cdbaby.com/bloodweather or something. Or you can try Ebay. I’m pretty sure I saw it there new. These guys are DEFINITEFLY underrated!!! Good luck.
Pete:
Thanks a heap! I couldn’t find it on CDBABY (maybe you meant CDBABY.com/BloodYweather?), but checked out their MYSPACE page and listened to soundclips, then I found it on EBAY and ordered it. Delightfully and unpretentiously sloppy; really arty stuff! On first listen reminds me of Pink Floyd, Wilco, Sex Pistols, Velvet Undergound, etc… Thanks again!
The Waterboys
David Lindley…..weird, but one of a kind.
Hey SB24,
You make some good points in your recent,….ahhem,….editorial. ;-]
I gotta tell ya, there are a couple of names you mentioned who’s work I’m not familiar with. And I’m sure that if I had the chance to hear’em, I might like one or two of’em. So there are some artists who’s work I won’t get a chance to enjoy. But how much can one radio station do?
I mean, I’m sure ‘FUV has a set play list that gets rotated around a bit (what station doesn’t?) but I think they also manage to get some more obscure cuts in there every once in a while.
But your right. Why play so much DEAD if nobody’s listening? WHY, WHY, WHY, play Dylan 24-7 when there are so many other REALLY talented people out there that are just as deserving of air time?
But here’s the real question,….
What do you do when your 300 cd changer breaks? hmm?
Janet:
Thank you for seconding my vote for Laura Nyro as one of the most underrated artists today, at least in terms of general public awareness in 2007.
Yes, she died at just shy of 50 years old in 1997, much too young, but old enough to have left us with a substantial amount of wonderful recordings. You are right, who knows what else she might have recorded. If you listen to some late works like the “Walk The Dog and Light The Light” CD (1993 produced by Steely Dan’s main man and Laura’s old Bronx school chum Gary Katz), “The Loom’s Desire” (live recordings from The Bottom Line in ‘93 and ‘94) and her last recordings “Angel In The Dark” (recorded in ‘94 and ‘95, but released after her death in 2001), you will find that wonderful voice
is still clear as a bell. Her arrangements (both
chord changes and harmonies) still distinctive and stunning. Her late compositions, while generally no longer overtly emotional, reveal a mature artist with deeper and richer statements.
She was on an upswing at the end, and I know that
rediscovery and reappraisal–so typical of a great artist’s cycle–was just around the corner.
She was one of the true greats.
October 18th marks what would have been Laura’s 60th birthday. I hope that WFUV will feature Laura that day. After all, she was born just a stone’s throw from WFUV, and her “New York Tendaberry” album is one of the quintessential
New York albums of all time.
Most underrated:
Marillion – with Fish, Misplaced Childhood and Clutching at Straws are absolutely essential. New album, Somewhere Else (with H) is fantastic.
Rush – I guess you either love ‘em or hate ‘em. My all-time favorite band with an unparalleled combination of energy, songwriting, musicianship and lyrics.
Luther Allison – my favorite blues guitarist/artist
Albert Collins – my second favorite blues artist
Susan Tedeschi – what a voice and she can play
Nick Drake – Pink Moon
Fountains of Wayne – can’t put my finger on why I like them so much – great songwriting and lyrics that crack me up – so many metro area references…
Chris Cornell – How can Nirvana be an Essential and not Soundgarden? as far as solo records go, Chris’ Euphoria Morning is one of the best of all time.
Don Ross
I second Queen and Jethro Tull.
Paul Westerberg….the best songwriter of all time next to Dylan.
Dewey,
Maybe even better. Certainly more enjoyable.
Well, Westerberg is my favorite of all time, but Dylan does have some great lyrics, I can’t stand Dylans voice though.
I saw the Replacements three times, and they were just plain awesome. I got them on their good nights I guess, never saw them when they were stupid drunk.
I have to agree aboout the Moody Blues………..i once saw them open for Poco a zillion years ago. I miss hearing them in tne daily mix. (Poco, too.) that’s for you Pete Fornatale!!!
I also have to agree, unfortunately, with a blogger on the “overrated” blog……as good as WFUV is, the playlist is not as adventurous as 10-15 years ago. Still the best music station around, but there’s alway’s room for improvement.
Oh yes, another underrated recording artist/group, at least in terms of public awareness in 2007.
Love. Arthur Lee’s group from the 1960s-early 70s.
Astonishing material. Very distinctive and wonderful. First three albums contained many tracks which were far ahead of their time.
Arthur Lee was a nutcase, but in the period from 1966-1972 Love, under his direction, made some of the best music of the era.
Denis,
Thanks for the info about Laura Nyro and Gary Katz. Didn’t know that and Steely Dan is one of my absolute favorites.
sb24,
I LOVE BeBep Deluxe!!! Glad you mentioned them!
J.J.Cale for God’s sake! Since you list both Clapton and Dire Straits I feel its only reasonable to recognize the man whose sound they both co-opted. A wholly American original, almost unknown in his own land but seen in Europe as a giant…..
Anyone out there ever heard of “The Sex Execs” or “Either Orchestra” ? How about “club d’elf” ?
Anybody?
hello?
hello???
Chris-It seems like you were left adrift out at sea somewhere. So, Hello back! I’m still trying to figure out your response in column B of the other night. No big deal. I don’t know where you live-I’m on LI-I caught wind that Tuna is coming to The Boulton Center on the south shore of LI sometime pretty soon. Friends tell me it’s a great hall. I’m going on line after this and check on tickets. I figured I would pass along a Heads Up in case you are in the area. Later!!
My most underrated artist is and will always be The Alarm. There is no more powerful live band in the world and that includes U2 / Led Zeppelin and Bruce. The original lineup is no longer together but Mike Peters the lead vocalist has brought in 3 new band members and has kept The Alarm rocking for 20 years now and still putting out new material that is equal and in some cases better than what they were putting out in the 80’s. As one of there lyrics say “Going Out in a Blaze of Glory”
I was just over at he overrated page and could not believe the ‘hatin’ going on – I msitakenly posted this lis over there so now it’s over here:
1> John Doe
2> Bill Morrissey
3> The Psychedelic Furs
4> The Stone Roses
5> Dots Will Echo
6> Edie Brickell
7> Nils Lofgren
8> British Sea Power (who?)
9> Stiff Little Fingers (their cd’s over the past decade since reforming have been REAL R & R)
10> Van the Man ( he deserves every accolade – the guy puts out new material every year although the last few years his originals have been sounding similar – I constatly go back to his material of the 70’s 80’s and 90’s and never get tired of it all)
Annie Haslam, Moody Blues and Nick Cave? Cityfolk? I have everything Rennaisance and the Moodys (pre Octave) did on vinyl and just about every Birthday Party and Bad Seed CD, but they just don’t fit the stations listenership. Vin Scelsa has played Nick Cave before, but it made sense there. I can’t see the DJs of ‘FUV playing Prog or Goth. The Vinyl Vixen on WNTI played Prog and it was great….Might as well ask for Emerson Lake & Palmer, too. If I never hear the Grateful Dead again it will be too soon — they sound like a sloppy bar band who never rehearsed together before. Yet the stuff Garcia did with David Grisman is amazing. Go figure.
Frank Zappa is a god to his core fans yet his awesome talent is still ignored, even trivialized, by those who haven’t taken the time to really listen to him. I recommend “Overnite Sensation” or any of his series of “Shut Up And Play Your Guitar” series as starters.
I agree Zappa is great and have mentioned that in my earlier blogs. I would like to make a clear distinction between me-upper case Tim and the lower case tim above-we are not the same person. I don’t use the word god, never met one, and I also stay away from ‘awesome’. I was in High School a long time ago!
I also really like Paul Weller (solo AND with The Jam and The Style Council). He’s really big in Europe but just isn’t quite as poplular here.
Sorry Chris — never heard of any of them. Are they worth checking out? Can you give us some comparisons?
Very underrated are the Proclaimers and Francis Dunnery. The Proclaimers have numerous records which are never played anywhere. Same with Francis Dunnery and both deserve much recognition.
Gar:
Sorry, the link for Bloody Weather is cdbaby.com/cd/bloodyweather. Maybe you don’t need it, since you already got the CD. GREAT album, huh? How come we never hear it on the radio anymore?
My vote for Underrated went to Steve Earle. Although he’s getting more press in recent years as a result of his politics, I don’t think he’s appreciated by most for his music. From Exit 0 to Guitar Town to his latest, he’s put together some body of work. In reading thru some of the others, I would agree that the Kinks, John Hiatt, John Prine, Graham Parker & Dave Alvin don’t nearly get their due. Here’s one for central Jersey – how about Pat Dinizio & the Smithereens?
PS how come the staff don’t have to follow the same rules as the listeners when voting? Unfair to Local 7.
The Ramones. They literally invented an entire genre of music, punk rock, yet were never popular in the USA. ( Good for me, as I could always catch them in small clubs instead of football stadiums.)
Turn on the TV, and listen to an “edgy” car commercial. Those chainsaw guitars are Ramones guitars.
I suppose Rodney Crowell is wherever Roseanne Cash is..his last few albums are simply tremendous..long live the Houston Kid…do remember an FUV special on him not so long ago..
PS…same goes for Steve Forbert…
Is anyone out there aware of Frank Vignola? A local guitarist-from Long Island-he has his own band aptly titled The Frank Vignola Quintet. Combo of jazz, bluegrass, swing etc. He plays locally with Les Paul and Bucky Pizzarelli when not touring. He also plays guitar and tours with Dave Grisman Band and Mark O’Connor. They have several CDs out. Some of his best playing is when he is with Grisman. If interested, check his web site-frankvignola.com.
Hi blogers, this is my first post to a Blog. under rated artists, 1, Laura Cantrell, listen to her with Vin, think it was 2002. 2, Kim richey what an angelic voice and not so self important. 3, Laura Veirs different. look up her first two cds on CD baby and visit her website and grab her latest Salt Breakers. 4 Amy allison her voice maybe an aquired taste, but knocks me out every time I hear it. Jenifer Jackson. classic pop. Elizabeth Mcqueen and the firebrands, Take rockpile or dave edmonds and give a texas party feel to it. Cindy Bullens her first two albums got played on WNEW, but since she restarted her music after the untimly death of her daughter from cancer at nine, her somewhere between heaven and earth, neverland, and dream number 29 are wonderful works. Also agree with the earlier post that mentioned Amy Rigby Dancing with Joey Ramone is a classic. reminds me of my birthday in 2004 when darren played rocket to russia on the long player. Yeah!
Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter – unique voice and excellent songwriting.
Stereolab – for me Dots and Loops is one of the greatest albums ever made.
I second Kim Richey, totally agree with the angelic voice description, great stuff.
Michelle Malone!
Jim Lauderdale
Joan Armatrading
Kristen Hall
Rose Polenzani
Dolly Parton
Dr. John !
Kris Kristoferson
Pete Seeger
hello again blind fan ken with a few more faves. Mary lee’s corvette the new CD is wonderful. Robert randolph he can really wrip! Caitlin Cary both solo and with the Tres chicas. The Drive by truckers, Laura cantrell is right they kick ass. and don’t know if this one fits the format or not, but Mary Weiss of the Shangri-las has a wonderful CD called Dangerous game. She’s been on Fresh air, and on WFMU to. Oh Yeah Government Mule like Tony the tiger says GRRRRREAT! totally agree on Susan Tedeschi what a voice!
Susan Tedeschi gets my vote as well. Hopefully she’s not a flash in the pan; what a great set of pipes!
The latest comments since my last post only prove what I had said earlier. There are many mentions of worthy artists that get zero airplay elsewhere and should get at least a glimmer of daylight on a station like FUV. Cindy Bullens is a great mention, and while someone said Prog groups don’t fit the format, Annie Haslam had continued to release music on her own since the demise of Renaissance, in a jazzy, pop vein and certainly compares favorably to someone like Madelyne Peyroux, whose voice is pretty but her music puts me to sleep. My experience has always been to give something a listen and then decide. My own automatic turn-offs are bad 80s hair bands and the current fad of whiny, self-indulgent, pretentious sensitive male(?) singers. John Mayer/Coldplay?James Blunt anyone? I do like to read about artists I don’t know and try to get a sample on AMG if possible, and I know FUV could be better if it gave anyone mentioned in this blog a shot and cut back a little on the overplayed artists. I love “Blood on the Tracks” but I don’t need to hear “Tangled Up in Blue” on a daily basis. “Box of Rain” either.
Sometimes I think that overplaying certain hits from great artists like Dylan (the same songs that are overplayed on commercial radio stations, like “tangled up in blue” as SB24 mentioned, is really a form of underrating the artist. I mean, with Dylan’s tremendous catalogue (or the Dead’s) it is a shame to focus and refocus on the same overplayed songs. I really appreciate Vin Scelsa – he pulls out rare recordings and lesser known songs from Dylan and others. And I agree with your assessment of John Mayer/Coldplay/James Blunt. I am so sick of all three, and I can’t listen to James Blunt at all, his voice and codependent lyrics nauseate me.
What are Prog groups?
1) Buddy Holly – The man singlehandedly turned rock and roll into an art form. In just 18 months, he wrote about 15 songs that became rock classics. Any artist nowadays would kill just to have written 1 of them. Without him – no Dylan, no Lennon, no nothing. No telling what he would have done had he stayed off that plane.
2) Steely Dan – The smartest songwriting partnership in popular music (bite me Rodgers & Hammerstein). Clever, wry, cryptic lyrics with great original melodies and expert musicianship. “Dr. Wu†and “Charlie Freak†the 2 greatest songs of all time. I crossed my old man many times, thank you very much.
3) Kinks –Ray Davies second only to Dylan as the greatest rock songwriter of the 20th century. “Waterloo Sunset†the greatest song of all time. “Sunny Afternoon†the most perfect chord progression in rock history. And “Come Dancing†always brings a tear to my eye. I remember my first palais.
4) Animals – Eric Burdon the greatest white r&b singer of all time. Took a folk standard and turned it into the greatest song of all time. So what if he’s been living off it for 40 years. He deserves it. “Bo Diddley†funniest song ever written.
5) Rodney Crowell- The Houston Kid best album of the last decade – no contest. Fate’s Right Hand not too far behind. The man should be known for more than being an ex-Cash.
6) J Geils Band – “Centerfold†and “Freeze Frame†alone. Consistently groovin’ sound. Throw in their classic 70s material and there you have it. Peter Wolf the most underrated white r&b singer of all time.
7) Townes van Zandt – Greatest country blues rock songwriter of all time. Needs to be known for more than just “Pancho & Leftyâ€, as great as it is.
8) Michael Penn – First three albums great. Next couple awful. Needs to get back to form. Still very underrated. Too smart for his audience.
9) Hoyt Axton – Singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor, dude – he did it all. Made “Greenback Dollar†a kickass song rather than a wimpy Kingston Trio ditty. And starred in Gremlins to boot. You can’t beat that.
10) Bob Dylan – No point in adding to the existing commentary. Enough to say that if you want to find out what a certain sleepaway camp in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts is like, go listen to “Walls of Red Wingâ€.
Best Dylan line of all time:
“I go to pet your monkey, I get a face full of claws.â€
HONORABLE MENTION:
The musicians in The Doors – Everybody always talking about Morrison when it was the players who gave the band that unique sound. Who will desecrate Manzarek’s grave when the time comes?
John Fogerty/CCR – “Green River†greatest song ever. And never forgave his brother. Bitter to the end. Gotta admire conviction.
Progressive Rock came about in the early 70s with groups like King Crimson, ELP, Yes, Renaissance, Genesis,etc., who used synthesizers and instruments outside the usual guitar/bass/drums of rock and roll, and tried to expand the music with classical and jazz arrangements. This may be a simplistic definition, but a classic example would be the FUV essential song “America” by Simon and Garfunkel. Listen to the Yes version, which some may call garbage, but is completely rearranged and expanded to utilize the accomplished playing of that band. Renaissance also used classically-tinged arrangements to feature the impossiby-perfect voice of Annie Haslam. These bands took rock past the simple 3-chord roots and simplistic blues variations and showed that some pretty talented musicians could take the music to another level. I was always a huge fan of this type of music, while others, like my wife, think that any song longer than 3 minutes is boring. I guess she wouldn’t have been a big Mozart fan either. Dennis Elsas occasionally will play a song by the Strawbs, who could be considered a Prog rock artist. Many of these bands are still active and I feel they could at least merit an occasional play on FUV, much like older artists like Ian Hunter have had lately. Linda Ronstadt is another singer that FUV ignores for the most part, and so does the FOSSIL ROCK station in NYC, which I find incredible, since she was the biggest female rock star of the 70s. Again, my point is that almost everyone mentioned above could fit in the mix if enough people agree that FUV should make room for a little more variety and less repetition of several performers.
I had hoped to end the Dylan blog but had to add my favorite lines-
“Blue river runnin’ slow and lazy
Crickets talkin’ back in forth in rhyme
I could stay with you forever
And never realize the time…….
But I’ll see you in the skies above
In the tall grass
In the ones I love
You’re gonna’ make lonesome when you go.”
I think the underrated/overrated thing has gone way too far. First of all there is no underrated/overrated artists. Different artists touch people in different ways. Just because a relatively newer artists hasn’t been around long enough to reach out to the number of fans as other artists have, it doesn’t necessarily make them underrated. Likewise, just because an older artists who hasn’t seen the “success” that artists like U2 have, doesn’t make them underrated either. Just because U2 will sell out just about any venue they go to and sell millions of records, it doesn’t make them overrated. All of these artist, the U2s, the Vic Chestnuts (older artists), and the bands like the Decemberists (relatively newer artist) have different musical styles which different people appreciate for different reasons. It’s like art on the wall or food. The only way you can say an artist is overrated or underrrated is if their success or failures in the studio are totally counteracted by their live performances. And just because you “don’t get it” and millions others do, it shouldn’t mean you think the artist is overrated. It’s a matter of taste; for some aquired. A better question might be: artists/songs you think are not heard of enough, and artists/songs you think are heard of enough but do not like. just had to get that off my chest because i haven’t been able to in the car the last couple of weeks.
Jose
bklyn
under-rated ….
Gomez, Martin Sexton,
of the older crowd, Todd Rundgren was a genius but gets no props for the studio work he did, and the ground breaking sounds he introduced.
I just want to note that Elton John was my choice for underrated artist, since I think his many “pop” hits overshadow his more serious, soulful work. Up until this past week, I never heard Elton John on WFUV (except maybe once on Pete Fornutale’s show). Since this recent fund drive started, I’ve heard a couple of Elton’s songs on FUV (mostly older works). Not sure my comment had anything to do with it, but THANKS!
Benny Bell. Remember Shaving Cream?
Hey Cuthbert-I hope I’m not using your last name. It is the only one you left.
I have heard different stories about the riff between the Fogerty Brothers. I would be curious to know what you know-you seem like a pretty bright guy with a broud knowledge of the music biz. If you get a minute, let me (us) know.
Sorry-I meant BROAD.
I second one of SB24’s points: Monday through Friday ‘FUV sound like a broken record 90% of the time. There’s tons of stuff out there, new, old, rock, folk, on and on. I feel like we hear the same songs from the same new releases for 6-12 months at a stretch, with some Dylan or Dead sprinkled in. I know every station is guilty of it, but I have to turn the dial when I hear The Bird and the Bee or K.T. Tunstall for the hundredth time. And if Joanie Mitchell has a new album out, why do I only hear a remake of “Parking Lot” (that isn’t even that interesting really) all the time?
Chris, thanks for the concern, but the 300 CD changer hasn’t broken yet. Once in a while, it may turn itself off when it shouldn’t, but it does provide great variety on Random Play, and I try to change the cds at regular intervals. I have over 3000 to pick from, so you can see why I am big on variety. That said, I do give FUV credit for expanding my musical taste to a great degree, introducing me to literally hundreds of new artists whose music I enjoy. What frustrates me, as someone who grew up listening to the best radio station ever, where Pete and Dennis and Vin worked, is that WNEW played anything and everything, and the DJs made it work. It required some thought and planning, not a computer with percentages and rankings of songs, and it sometimes was silly, most of the time it was great, but most of all, it didn’t insult your intelligence. In fact, in most cases it added to it. Quite a concept in this Zoo/Scott Shannon/Rush Limbaugh/Radio Nowhere world we now have. The main idea seems to be to never underestimate the stupidity of the listening audience for most of the dial. That is why I came to FUV in the first place, years ago. The points I tried to make earlier are more of an alarm, to keep from going down that road we are all trying to get away from. I don’t mean the giggling hyenas on the PLJ/Zoo shows, or the computer version of the top 104 Fossil Rock songs. I think that, for me, who grew up wanting to be exposed to new artists in many different genres, who doesn’t want to just hear the same single song off somebody’s new cd ad nauseum, I’d like to hear the station try more to emulate the old NEW-FM style. Let the shows reflect the djs tastes, mixed in with new and old favorites, have a “Resurrection Day” giving some older artists whose music has been buried by lack of airplay a new listen. I love the Freaky Fridays format, and the day when the songs tried to follow a theme and had to be related somehow. Maybe there should be a different featured artist Monday thru Thursday, and an audience-nominated one on Fridays. Dig out some of your old audince faves and give them the light of day again. Let the spirit of NEW-FM live again. It was the corporate owners who killed that legend, but it could be the member owners who could make it come alive again here. The more who speak up the better. I could be wrong, but judging by all your comments, there is plenty of room for all the above.
SB24:
AMEN to your last post! I agree with EVERYTHING you said about the old WNEW and the recently somewhat rudderless (or is too MUCH rudder?) WFUV. Still the best station on the dial by far, unless I feel the need to go to WBGO for jazz, WQXR for classical, or WCBS-AM for Yankees, but the tendency of late has been to get away from sampling multiple tracks off a new album, or playing some of the same artists/songs over and over again. It makes it seem like the old picture of the typical music industry money machine has found its way into the halls of WFUV if even a little bit – something like 1) record company person visits programming director, tells him/her what artists/songs to promote that month, 2) programming director creates pool of songs for DJs to pick from, and don’t dare stray from that too far. I don’t know if it works that simply, but I want to echo your point. WE ARE THE MONEY BEHIND WFUV. That point is emphasized over and over again during the fund raisers. Sure, some money comes from NEA or whoever, but WE are deciding what we want to hear by saying “yes, I like what you do, here’s my $$$”. It’s already gone downhill somewhat, let’s not allow it to continue.
The music industry (is that an oxymoron?) has already changed dramatically thanks to technology allowing people (mostly kids) to download individual songs, making it necessary to produce “hits” that grab you on first listen, as opposed to those album tracks that always took a couple of listens to appreciate – that’s where the real gems are. Can you imagine a White Album being produced in today’s environment? No way! So hopefully FUV won’t continue down that path of the hit factory, only playing what the shallowest of people want to hear as they drive down US Highway 1 talking on their cell phones, reading the paper, and doing their nails, and oh yes, listening to some of the background music they paid 99 cents for.
I agree with the above. And add that it seems at times that the music played over and over is usually that of artists currently giving a show locally, or has an album just released. While that may seem fair, it often seems more like (dare I say it?) a commercial.
(I loved the old WNEW though!)
I’m late to the thread but wanted to mention Television again to even up the count from the “overrated” list (I think they were listed twice there). How anyone could say they are overrated is beyond me. I would also add Luna to this list with another vote each for Todd Rundgren, Alejandro Escovedo and Rosanne Cash.
Hooray for the person who mentioned the Style Council. I’ll take TSC over the Jam and Paul’s solo work every time. I love the juxtaposition of the ear-candy tunes against the socially conscious lyrics. Discovered them right out of college- definitely helped form my world/political views. Style AND substance!
Dan Bern. Highly underrated.
Dan. Bern. Sucks. Big Time.
1- Joseph Arthur
2- Citzen Cope
Two tremendous talents who deserve far larger followings. Thank goodness for WFUV; you don’t even hear these two on satellite radio!
Arthur Lee and “Love” — I’m glad someone else appreciates their great songwriting. I second Laura Nero, and when I listen to Mark Knopfler’s guitar and voice in his solo career, how can he be left off anyone’s list? Probably the best guitar player around. As for ‘FUV, keep up the good sounds, wherever you are.
How was it that the great Gram Parsons, along with the other great artists associated with him such as the Byrds, Emmylou Harris, etc. got so over-looked? Without Gram there never would have been a Son Volt or a Wilco, bands that get tons of airplay on FUV. I hope FUV gets hip and plays some tracks off of “G.P.” and “Grievous Angel” one of these fine days, because the real music lovers that listen to FUV need a “blast from the past” every so often to remember what they forgot.
Hello Ed in Oregon-Great choice on pointing out Laura Nero. She left way too early. Tremendous talent-she has such a teriffic collection of songs left behind. Knopfler has always been brilliant. Dire Straits was such a great band when there was so much middle of the road garbage being played. They were such a breath of fresh air when it was really needed. He is still putting out A material as a solo artist and with others. Two of my favorites are the CD he did with Chet Atkins and the other one With Emmylou. How goes it on the left coast-I always look forward to my trips out there. I still love NY-The West Coast is still one of my favorite getaways.
Aimee Mann. She should have Norah Jones’ career.
What about Los Lobos? When you see them live you can’t help but wonder why they are not dominating the world!
How about the guy that just passed? Mr. Fogelberg. He didn’t just disappear from the music business he chose to disappear. The beauty of that was in his later concerts you came to understand just what a talented musician he was because he gave you a touch of everything. Blues, classical, acoustic, rock and roll, bluegrass and they were all fabulously composed and played by none other than Dan the Man.
OK, OK . . . .
you all can give your relative esoteric one hit wonders in comparison to your own egos and personal inclinations if you want . . . facts are,
Buddy Holly and the Beatles are both the most popular and underrated because they base lined all that is today. Fab 4 did bubble gum to ballads to symphonic to rap – no one alone will ever, ever . . . break so much new ground! Give up on the rest buds – turn out the lights – pop/rock sucks today – I hope someone comes along to light it up soon . . . . you won’t be either remembering or sinnging the crap today in 20 years.
Hmm, let’s see…..Todd Rundgren for one, can’t understand why he doesen’t resonate with more people. And while I’m on the subject, what about XTC? The “skylarking” album, “oranges and lemons”, hello?!! Or here’s one from the eighties that I never hear mentioned or played (well, they were very loud) but were very influential nonetheless; to bands like, Nirvana/Pearl Jam: Husker Du!!
Also Fishbone and the Bad Brains.
and Dave Alvin from the Blasters and let’s not forget one of the greatest live acts ever; Midnite Oil. Never got them ’til I saw them and was instantly converted. Powerful band with a message that is needed now more than ever but alas, they’ve stopped and we are all poorer for it.
Funny/sad that a ‘75 Matador like the Eagles keeps on going and going………..
Richard Manuel, aka ‘the voice’ by Ronnie Hawkins who should know! Anyone who ever heard him sing ‘I shall be released’ could be set free of any doubt about who is the greatest singer and most underated. RIP Beak.
does anyone know what happened to mahree bok?
The best guitarist ever! Arlen Roth..unique, changed the way people play the guitar, many books, videos, etc., created the film “Crossroads” with Macchio and Ry Cooder, played with S&G, etc. Has new cd with Levon Helm and Sonny Landreth coming out…….has influenced EVERYBODY!
The most underated, entertaining songwriter’s
1.Tony Joe white
2.Delbert Mclinton
3.Danny Okeefe
4.Ray Wylie Hubbard
5.Tom Waits
6.Guy Clark
7.Jerry Jeff Walker[when he cares}
8.Mickey Cates
9.John Prine
10.Loudon wainwright
Canned Heat bought the blues to middle America and influenced everyone from ZZ Top to Savoy Brown. The music was original to white America and reinvented the career of such icons as Albert King, John Lee Hooker, Sunhouse and others. It’s sad Canned Heat and the Moody Blues have not been recognized and appreciated by more people and the Crock and Roll Hall of Shame. – Scott Shore East Meadow
We hear from Loudon, we hear from Rufus, we hear from Martha, but we never hear from my favorite, most under-rated ( Wainwright) singer-song writer: Sloan Wainwright. She has marvelous, thoughtful lyrics and incredible vocal range. The only reason I can think of is that her recordings don’t do her justice!
I second the Canned Heat pick. An early, first rate jam-boogie band with great chops and an original sound,firmly rooted in the blues. Unselfconscious and fun, with the occasional statement on the human condition. I could hear “So sad, the world’s in a tangle” right about now. Happy birthday Scotso!
kinks are never played enough.moodies never enough.zevon,prine hiatt,all overshadowed by useless,overplayed morons,ryan adams SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE MOST UNDERRATED PEOPLE/BANDS IN MUSIC
1. TOM WAITS
2. LIITTLE RICHARD(THE GUY IS AMASING
3. JOHNNY CASH
4. BEATLES( YEA YEA I KNOW THERE VERY POPULAR BUT THERE MUSIC IS JUST INCREDIBLE SO GEINOUS, SO AMASING)
5. TOM PETTY AND THE HEART BREAKERS( THESE GUYS ARE THE SHIT)
6. STEVE MILLER BAND( I DON’T HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY JUST LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC
MOST OVVERATED BANDS
1. NIRVANA( THEY SUCK WHO WANTS TO LISTEN TO DEPRESSIONING MUSIC)
2. JOURNEY( THEY HAVE LIKE THREE OR FOUR GOOD HITS THAT’S IT
3. BON JOVI ( HE SUCKS HIS MUSIC IS CRAP, BUT HTERE GITARTIST IS FUCKIN AMASING
4. METALLICA( THERE GOOD, BUT THERE NOT GOD, AND HELL NO THE BASS PLAYER IS NOT AS GOOD AS THE BASS PLAYER FROM THE WHO, I KNOW WHO THE GUY IS I JUST CAN’T SPELL HIS NAME
5. RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS ( THERE LITTLERALLY MY FAV. BAND BUT THERE JUST NOT AS GOOD AS EVERYBODY THINKS THEY ARE AND GUYS DANI CALIFORNIA BLOWS IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE MARY JANE’S LAST DANCE BY TOM PETTY AND THE HEART BREAKERS OLD PEPPERS RULE
6. ROB ZOMBIE SUCKS BALLS HE IS A TERRIBLE SINGER, HORRIBLE GITUAR AND JUST OVERALL SUCKS
7. DAVE MATTHEWS BAND ( GUYS THERE NOT ALL THAT , EVEN THOUGH THERE ONE OF MUY FAV. BANDS THEY SUCKED IN CONCERET DON’T CARE WHAT ANYBODY SAYS
Ray Davies new album “Working Man’s Cafe” has two great songs which are never played by WFUV, “One More Time” and Morphine Song” I’m begging you WFUV please play them. It seems like DJ song collusion going on with the staff only playing the same songs and never checking out other tunes.
Bob I agree with everything you said.
WITHOUT A DOUBT…Sloan Wainwright. I love all of her family and love to hear all of her family…but she has such a special voice and its so comforting and so I think she is most underrated as an Essential Artist.
in the last 30 years Karla Bonoff,
in the last 30 months Mobius Band
FUV plays a lot of stuff from the 60’s but I’ve yet to hear the following who certainly must be added to the list of the underapprciated.
Procol Harum
The Association
The Youngbloods
If you have not already, take a listen to The Flamin’ Groovies’ Shake Some Action. If that song does not embody rock and roll in all it’s glory then I don’t know what does. Do yourself a favour and put it on really loud next time you get really drunk, or just have a cup of tea.
They did some great shimmering Beatles type stuff like “I’ll Cry Alone”, along with some really snaky dirtier stuff as on their Teenage Head album.
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i do not think you guys ever play cyndi lauper on wfuv. and even though she has sung pop, she also sings some of the more beautiful ballads with her finely tuned instrument of a voice
Here are some that I feel are underrated.
Flo & Eddie
Dirk Hamilton
Tonio K
Garland Jeffreys
The Voices of East Harlem
The Persuasions
David Ackles
Carlene Carter
Wendy Waldman
Kinky Friedman
Lee Clayton
Lorraine Ellison
Syreeta
Swamp Dogg
Good Rats
David Blue
Biff Rose
Squeeze. East Side Story is a masterpiece that never got any recognition.
A truly underrated band is a folk based five piece out of Montclair, New Jersey called Screech Owls. They record everything on their own, and are still in high school, but don’t let that sway you. Comparisons to Fleet Foxes and Arcade Fire are commonly made because of the folky/psychedelic approach to their music. Something very worth checking out!
Here’s the link to their myspace if you already don’t know them:
myspace.com/screechowlsband
Gov’t Mule is so underrated and underappreciated, which might be a good thing because it allows them to play small venues.
I’m pleased to see most of my favorite artists mentions somewhere or another, but didn’t see anyone mention The Pogues. One of the many groups close to my heart. Here is a quick list, many of which have already been mentioned:
Lou Reed, Philip Glass, John Zorn, Stan Ridgway, Peter Gabriel, Richard and Linda Thompson, Adrian Belew, Bob Dylan, The Band, Brian Wilson, Bill Laswell, Cat Stevens, David Byrne and the Taking Heads, The Pixies, The Pogues, Jimmy Buffett, Johnny Cash, King Crimson, The Kinks, Laurie Anderson, Lucinda Williams, Neil Young, Nick Cave, Nick Drake, Ornette Coleman, Roger Waters and Pink Floyd, Joy Division, Leonard Cohen, U2
Which reminds me: Stan Ridgway!!!
a truly excellent band who (at the moment) not many people know is one called The Headlocks. They are local folk heroes from the same town as recent phenomena Ingrid Michaelson, and even opened for her on the first date of her “Be O.K.” tour…
Their new album “Cuckoo Bird” is currently making it’s way around the globe.
Check it out, if you haven’t yet.
The Headlocks Cuckoo Bird on Itunes
Can’t wait to hear these songs regularly on WFUV.
Essential 10
Bruce Springsteen
The Tragically Hip
Wilco
Pearl Jam
R.E.M.
Bob Dylan
Neil Young
Arcade Fire
Joel Plaskett
Ryan Adams
Most Overrated: The Beatles
Most Underrated: The Counting Crows
New Artist: Fleet Foxes! Gaslight Anthem!
Elliott Murphy
Kaleidoscope
Linda Hargrove
Marshall Chapman
The Fugs
Michael Stanley
The Michael Stanley Band
Jimmie Spheeris
Grin
Meryn Cadell
Wild Man Fischer
Lori Lieberman
Mickey Newbury
Melissa Ferrick
David Wiffen
a list of truly underrated bands
Seymour Glass
The Headlocks
Tryptophan
Muddfoot
Enrage
Phallacy
The Melonfarmers
Captain Ahab and the Sea Crackens
The Seconds
Vessels
The Humans
while they are underrated I dont think enrage phallacy or muddfoot are bands that could be played on fuv. ever. some of the others sure could be though.
I feel that R&B singer Jaheim is under rated and he should be over rated, very talented!! Latoiya Williams, Teedra Moses, Raheim DeVaughn etc. They should be over rated…The “Music Industry” sux anyway…They like wack artist such as beyawnce,souljah Boy,lady gag, jay-z to name a few…We all know if Biggie or Pac was still alive it wouldn’t be no jay-z and if Aaliyah was alive it wouldn’t be no beyawnce. =)) Industry just tryna brain wash people n e way.
Rashanim – a great instrumental Jewish/Middle Eastern/Punk/Jazz trio from NY. See why they’re underrated? But I assure you they’re freakin’ awesome! Saw them live a few times and didn’t stop raving about it for days. They have a new acoustic CD out on John Zorn’s Tzadik Records label. Check their new stuff out at http://www.myspace.com/rashanim
Most underated –
Nick Lowe
Dave Edmunds
Jim Croce
The Undertones
The Godfathers
Hugely overrated and I can’t figure out why –
The Dave Matthews Band
SL