Top 10 Most Underrated Bands

Top 10 Most Underrated Bands

Written by destructomaximo 89 Comments
Last Updated:: February 18, 2009

There are so many great bands, past and present, who never quite get the recognition they deserve. Some attain moderate success in the underground or blogosphere, but just can’t crack the mainstream. Thanks to the digital music revolution, I’m sure you have all heard of at least a few of these bands. A lot of the music here is familiar, but because of a band’s “scene” or preconceived notions they have been massively neglected by the populous. I love music, and could write about crap I like/write every day, but reading about unknown bands (or bands whose names conjure grimaces) can be painful. It hurts to learn. I am prepared to be berated by negative comments, but I ask this: After you anonymously slam this list, PLEASE include your own top 10 underrated bands list so I (we) can all see what we are missing. Consider this list the first comment, I guess.

10. The Harvey Girls

The HG reign from Kansas, but are currently in Portland, OR. Like most of these bands, I stumbled onto them via a recognition on a music blog. The band was formed by husband and wife team Melissa Rodenbeek and Hiram Lucke. The sound is a lot like blending perfect 60’s pop music with the most far out Sonic Youth background stimulus. Still mostly unknown, the band isn’t afraid to just write whatever makes them happy, which is great pop that still manages to scare you a little. Check out their web site for some free music samples. I recommend “Good Morning, Bubblegum,” which is the perfect song to make you not so miserable about driving to work in the morning.

9. The Postal Service

Being an old cranky bastard, I really don’t know how popular the Postal Service is with “the kids.” I do know that it is freaking interesting. Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie (Who you should NOT write off if you are not a DCFC fan, I did originally and severely regret it now as I play musical catch-up. All-Time Quarterback is another worthwhile project) and producer Jimmy Tamborello sent bits of tracks back and forth through the mail (hence, the postal service), adding to the track each time they received another bit. The result is incredible timings that bounce between dense walls of aural fury to perfectly placed silence. The build up of “National Anthem” is not to be missed.

8. The Vaselines

This Scottish band has been dormant since 1990, but should not be overlooked. The band never gained a foothold in any charts, but influenced several bands over the years, including covers by some of the biggest bands in history. Nirvana not only covered their songs live, but also recorded “Molly’s Lips” and “Jesus Want Me for a Sunbeam” (title changed for album). Awesomely catchy songs with a lo-fi feel make for a cult dynasty; plus, you can’t go wrong with songs titled “Monsterpussy.”

7. Bishop Allen

Bishop Allen have been, until very recently, notoriously difficult to see live. This added a strange mystique t the indie rockers that doesn’t quite fit the upbeat nature of their songs. Every single track is a psychological insight, making it feel like the result of a therapy session instead of the usual hum-drum happy-go-lucky pop we’re used to. There is no faked melancholy, no pretentious lesson teaching, just honest songs that resonate for days after you listen (see especially “ghosts are good company”). You may recognize the melody to “click, click, click, click” from a Sony camera commercial.

6. The National

Being a band is not easy, especially in Brooklyn. When you’re unknown, you are playing to people who only like you because you are unknown. The moment someone wearing your tee shirt sees someone else on the street wearing your tee shirt, you’re over. You are a NYC has-been. The tricky thing is that you need those fickle hipsters to generate the buzz that will bring in the music lovers. The National caught my attention by addressing this issue in the song “Lit Up” where they sing: “Nothing like this sound I make/That only lasts the season/And only heard by bedroom kids who buy for that reason.” Anyone trying to make a band work has felt this same frustration. The National made it through this transition by writing kickass rock songs.

5. New Pornographers

What do bands Destroyer, Immaculate Machine, Maow, Cub, The Evaporators, Age of Electric, Superconductor, and Limblifter have in common? They all have members in the Canadian band The New Pornographers. Lead songwriter A.C. Neuman crafts complex songs, both lyrically and melodically, that also achieve the tough task of being catchy. Soft lyrics from Neko Case don’t hurt either. The bands fourth album, 2007’s Challengers, has been panned by critics as less edgy than their previous ventures. I disagree. Challengers blends the quiet comfort of indy-pop with the complexity and harshness of the Pixies, like Linus’ security blanket, except with fiberglass woven in (or a sweater made of live kittens). What a great band, go listen to them now.

4. Built to Spill

Built to Spill is one of those bands that are stuck in the golden 90’s catch 22 of being successful versus maintaining integrity. Like most bands that found success in the northwest with subpop, K-Records, or KillYrIdols, they got squashed by fans who saw their major label signing as the end of an era. What they have managed to do, however, is turn a deaf ear to both record executive pressure and nay-saying scenesters an continuously push out challenging and honest records for the better part of two decades. While they are probably the most well known band on the list, they still play the songs they want to play seated comfortably just outside of the spotlight.

3. Preston School Of Industry

Rising out of the ashes of Pavement like a flaming pigeon (as opposed to a phoenix) came PSOI. Whether Scott Kannberg (Pavement’s Spiral Stairs) wanted to shy from the spotlight, or if he was held there by Steve Malkmus is unclear. Was Malkmus an overbearing dictator who fed his own ego by maintaining the title of lead songwriter, or was Spiral the lazy slacker who really did only pen one or two songs to Malkmus’ twenty? The truth doesn’t matter much to me, but as a Pavement fan I held a special place for SK’s relaxed, lazy, California soaked chords and lyrics. I had no idea that it was possible for him to helm an entire LP, let alone 2 (with one more in the works? COME ON SCOTT!). He’s had help along the way from friends in the Minus 5 and Wilco, but the end result is 100% Spiral. Solitaire is one of the catchiest songs I have ever heard. That’s all I have to say about that.

2. Neutral Milk Hotel

This band made up for the worst name in musical history by making one of the best records in musical history, “In The Airplane Over The Sea.” The record was spawned from the globally-common mutual reaction to the death of Anne Frank. The band’s chief songwriter and lyricist, Jeff Magnum, recognized the range of emotions Frank’s name inspires and set it to music. While the specific relation to Frank can be hazy or faint at best on most of these songs, the album itself is a wealth of emotional, scuzzy (in the best possible way), and sincere catharsis you’re likely to find on any recording of the past 20 years. Rumor (seems to always) have it that there is more NMH in the works. I can only hope.

1. Animal Collective

Four friends who enjoy recording and performing their own music start playing together. Said four friends create their own label to push the music they make. The music they make is something most critics and listeners find it tough to define. Animal collective will bounce from minimalist guitars to overwhelming chaos to psychedelic barbershop quartet in a matter of one song. As tripped out as they may feel at times, they are (imho) the antithesis of prog rockers and jam bands. There is no mindless noodling here in their chaos, and there is no overproduced, over layered arpeggio smacking nonsense either. Everything just seems to fit. I watched this fourth of July’s fireworks and as it came to the finale there were so many explosions it seemed pointless. The entire sky was lit up to the point where you couldn’t differentiate between the blasts, or see the patterns of each explosive. It seemed pointless to me. As the inevitable smoke came in and clouded the show there was a huge low rumble, and through the smoke there were perfect balls with halos rising and falling. No one could hear anything except the fuzz, they all just stood in silence looking up at something beautiful that could not have been planned for. I thought to my self, ah…that’s what the Animal Collective are getting at. The collective beauty through the chaos.

89 Comments

#1 Darren B. says:
March 16th, 2010 at 1:26 am

Postal Service is nothing but glorified elevator music for hipsters.

#2 Where's Ride??? says:
March 16th, 2010 at 1:33 am

This was a really well written article. Kudos to the author. Although I whole-heartedly disagreed with this list, I really enjoyed reading it.

I think Ride is a band that really needs to be on an underrated bands list.

#3 Hooper says:
March 16th, 2010 at 1:35 am

The best music I’ve ever seen on this site. Nice job!

#4 ben says:
March 16th, 2010 at 12:51 pm

fun fact most of these bands are not underated, animal collectives newest album was 13 on the billboard charts, postal service is still huge, new pornographers built to spill and neutral mil hotel are HUGE on the indy rock scene. Bishop allen got a spot at sasquatch this year, and the national also has a decent fanbase.

#5 Meghan says:
March 16th, 2010 at 6:27 pm

For a website that hates hipsters, you sure are into hipster music.

#6 Melissa says:
March 16th, 2010 at 6:54 pm

Holy smokes, thanks! It’s just bizarrely awesome that we’re here because if the indies are the minor leagues we are more like an intramural softball team that always has to forfeit because fewer than 6 people show up. You seriously made our day and we’ll send you a shirt if you want, as that is embarrassingly the best we can do for payola.

#7 Ken says:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:26 pm

This list is about 100X better than any of the other music lists I’ve read on this site.

#8 Ken says:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:47 pm

Top 10 Underrated Bands (mine)

1. The Verve
2. Paloalto
3. Sebadoh
4. Dinosaur Jr.
5. The Hives
6. The Doves
7. Ween
8. Porno For Pyros
9. Embrace
10. Steely Dan

#9 Radio says:
March 16th, 2010 at 12:02 am

Animal Collective are interesting because their latest album is really so good that it will likely overshadow anything produced by a pop artist for the next 10 years, at least amongst critics. When the Beatles and Beach Boys were producing their best work they were famous the world over, money to burn. AC will likely cruise the slipstream throughout their career which is fine. It means smaller, better concert venues.

I like the idea of avoiding having to meet the requirements of the word “underrated”. Here’s some current bands I like that most likely aren’t heard by many ears worldwide. In no peculiar order except for the band at the top:

subtle.
Jay Reatard
The Aliens
No Age
Those Poor Bastards
Mansbestfriend

WeeN are gods.

#10 Anonymous says:
March 16th, 2010 at 7:58 pm

Hipster faggot.

#11 The Mountain is a Dick says:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:58 am

@Mountain:

Apparently you fail to grasp the meaning of “underrated”. A band that should be bigger / more popular than they are can most definitely be considered underrated.

@DM:

Good list except for the inclusion of Postal Service. I really wish the Flaming Lips were on this list instead. The Postal Service really bores me to tears. But Animal Collective at #1 is right on.

#12 Radio says:
March 16th, 2010 at 3:35 pm

“Hipster faggot.”

Listen to Those Poor Bastards, little buddy.

#13 Killgraft says:
March 16th, 2010 at 9:02 pm

While you’re overrated band list proved you to be basically retarded (Nirvana and The Pixies are two of my fave bands of all time), Your underrated band list redeemed yourself to the position of village idiot. Neutral Milk Hotel, Pornographers, Animal Collective, and Postal Service are some of my favorite bands of all time.

#14 albion says:
March 16th, 2010 at 4:12 pm

Animal Collective is shit. A typical hipster garbage, can’t understand all the buzz about it.

#15 Jabba says:
March 16th, 2010 at 2:34 pm

This was a wonderfully written list. Nice work.

#16 Jeremiah says:
March 16th, 2010 at 5:57 pm

How do you define “underrated?” How do you define “overrated?” These types of arguments are played out int he sports world, too, and all people seem to do is yell at each other and make really rude statements.

How do we understand “underrated?” Maybe it has to do with being underappreciated. That is hard to determine, though. A band could be underappreciated according to record sales, music review, overall impression of their body of work, citations of their influence, etc. For example, we all know The Pixies heavily influenced Nirvana’s dynamic sound, but are no where near as popular or culture changing. Does that make them underrated? I would say so, but there was a documentary made about them.

According to Webster’s, underrated means “to underestimate.” My interpretation is that an underrated band would be a good band people don’t talk about enough. If that’s the case, then this list is a pretty good one. And many of the bands mentioned in the comments are good ones. To mention a band like Rush, Nirvana, or Pearl Jam (my personal favorite) though is silly. They are talked about all the time (Rush seems to be on every soundtrack for Judd Apatow movies).

Sorry I wrote so much, but before we begin criticizing writers, we should take the time to consider the definitions of the words we’re debating over. You can’t have an argument without an agreed-upon definition.

#17 beej says:
March 16th, 2010 at 3:55 am

aww, just realized this but zero love for the mountain goats? last time I checked their portland OR show didn’t even sell out, I was there and the wonder was pretty empty. If anyone deserves the recognition they aren’t getting its John Darnielle and crew.

#18 Spaniel says:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:05 pm

Awesome list.

#19 DestructoMaximooooooooooooo says:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:27 pm

@ beej:

Mountain Goats are the shit. They deserve to be here too.

@ Killgraft:

Different people wrote these lists, I wrote this one and Zero wrote the overrated list. To touch on that, though, Nirvana is also one of my favorite bands but I agree that they were overrated. I don’t feel like this is contradictory at all, any band that achieves mythological status is overrated, imo. I disagree on the Pixies. It seems that any time people see a hipster in a tee shirt the band on the shirt is shite.

As far as Animal Collective goes, they do take some effort to get into. I was way into my 20s before Jazz made sense to me, now I’m an addict.

At last, the conclusion:

If you don’t like my taste in music: I really don’t care.

~DM

#20 Droops says:
March 16th, 2010 at 1:05 pm

I don’t think these bands are underrated as much as unknown. But good read nonetheless.

#21 MaximoDestructo says:
March 16th, 2010 at 3:00 am

More like overrated bands. LOL. I fucking hate this site.

#22 Radioactive Man says:
March 16th, 2010 at 3:29 pm

Good list, until I got to your number 1 pick. AC is pure rubbish. Its one of those bands that scensters say that they like, but really never listen to, because no one in their right mind. Don’t get me wrong, I like this site, and most of what I’ve read here, even this list, except I guess this one thing. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE choice for #1.

#23 One Eyed Willie says:
March 16th, 2010 at 2:01 am

What a shitty list.

#24 Colton Brassie says:
March 16th, 2010 at 1:29 am

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JEEEEESSSSSUUUUUUUUS CHRIIIIIIIIST I LOOOOOOOOOOVEEEE YOU, YESSSSS I DOOOOOOO!

#25 else3573 says:
March 16th, 2010 at 7:52 pm

Underrated bands:

Talkdemonic

Ratatat

!!!

Aquabats

Underrated hip hop groups (now and then):

Little Brother

Cunninglynguists

Typical Cats

Jugganots

Freestyle Fellowship

Arsonists

The Liks

Hard 2 Obtain

#26 Azelfknight says:
March 16th, 2010 at 8:46 pm

Never heard of a single one of thses stupid “bands”.

#27 Frankdeville.com says:
March 16th, 2010 at 3:21 am

Indy pop crybaby crap. May be good but not great. Not chuck berry influential but forgotten great! Not bad brains or mifits influential! Not even as influential as Alice in chains and they suck! If you mean bands that don’t get the praise they deserve.
1 chuck berry
2 iggy pop
3 raspberries
4 ramones. They get tons of respect but it needs to be aknowledged that no one has changed music as much as them in the last 30 years!
5 the rolling stones. They need to be aknowledged as the greatest rock band ever!
6 how bout some sweet up in this mix.
7 runaways
8 motley crüe (first two albums)
9 mc5
10 new york dolls
by the way these are in random order as they came to me
runners up include circle jerks
big star
flaming groovies
link wray
motörhead
sonic youth
minutemen

#28 Chris says:
March 16th, 2010 at 10:45 pm

Great article! Thanks for submitting it to our blog carnival.

~ Chris
Music news, artist reviews, and upcoming songs at the new Decibel Blog.

#29 Brumaz says:
March 16th, 2010 at 7:02 pm

Wow. This article was pure trash. It was obviously written by a fake hipster who either has absolutely no taste whatsoever in music, or just lists off bands that he doesn’t even listen to, but are hip to like. Animal Collective? Are you serious? The Neutral Milk Hotel? Are you serious? Jeff Magnum is so overrated its ridiculous. You have to be so fake to even like his “songs”. Tell me you actually listen to NMH. Jeff Magnum himself couldn’t have thought Aeroplane Over the Sea would become popular; which whether he knew it or not was the formal logic behind becoming popular in the indie music scene. Beyond the unbearable voice were songs that were executed by what sounds like an 8th grade band. Basic down stroke chugging with “odd instruments” in the mix and Mangum talking about the world in the “everyone-were-all-in-this-together” platitudes that rival the lyrical delivery of a modern country music star. The only good thing about Mangum was that he never had a sense of self-importance. This is something that he should at least be congratulated for. He really didn’t want his shit to be notice by anyone but his friends. Also, your fucking writing sucks, dude. Its real “original”. If you know what I mean. What a fucking douche.

#30 avi says:
March 16th, 2010 at 5:13 pm

1.Blues Traveller
2.The Thrills
3.Blue Oyster Cult
4.Lynyrd Skynyrd
5.T-Rex
6.Alice-In-Chains
7.Poison
8.The J. Geils Band
9.??????
10.??????
And please don’t bring up The Replacements, Depeche Mode, or Sonic Youth. Pretty much everyone considers them underrated, ergo lots of people like them, ergo they are not underrated.

#31 Hans says:
March 16th, 2010 at 5:16 pm

This list sucks. If anything most of these bands are overrated.

#32 TheWatcher says:
March 16th, 2010 at 5:37 pm

^ Avi: I love the Thrills. Didn’t think anyone else ever heard of them!

#33 Fred says:
March 16th, 2010 at 1:14 pm

This article has made me lose all faith that I’ve ever had in humanity.

#34 Azelfknight says:
March 16th, 2010 at 8:16 pm

Top 10 Bands underrated, but not in any real order.
1 Firewind
2 Freedom Call
3 Hammerfall
4 Rhapsody(also called Rhapsody of Fire)
5 Stratovarius
6 Savatage
7 Dream Theater
8 Dokken
9 Journey
10 Queensyrche