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the beatles, apparently...


tom waits. yeah, he's strange, eccentric and his music can be a little difficult to get into but he's got to be one of the most talented singer/songwriters of all time. nobody matches him.

Neil Diamond pisses all over him.....

I don't think ol' Waits is underrated. He's acclaimed if anything.

The Music. One of the best live bands i've ever seen and never get any recognition at all.

They're brilliant, and different to all the drivel that has been constantly pumped out over the last 5 years.

Camera Obscura's "Lloyd are you Ready to be Heart Broken" is the single greatest Pop Song of the 00's, so them.

Mower and BSP.

Glen Tillbrook and Chris Difford are two of the most underated songwriters ever. It's a fucking crime they never got the recognition they deserved.

critically acclaimed, aye. i think he deserves far more mainstream recognition though - some of his early stuff is great. everyone should listen to closing time.

The Housemartins.

oh and the Super Furry Animals should be bigger than U2

rubber

Now there's a video I hope I never see

pavement as well

Kitchens of distinction.  American music club / Mark Eitzel (Greatest lyricist of our day).  Elbow and Biffy (but both finally seem to be getting what they deserve) Red house Painters, the god machine and many many more.

Sleater-Kinney, The Decemberists and Sufjan Stevens.....

Sufjan Stevens you're dan right.  Seevn Swans is a truly great album.

In my opinion Billy Bragg is an underappreciated National Treasure,My Morning Jacket are better than The Byrds and should be massive and Elvis Costello has never written a bad song

His cover of My Funny Valentine was shite though...........

All his covers are shite Herthab,cept maybe "Whats So Funny etc."

What do you think of Tillbrook and Difford Adje? Squeeze, to me, were never given the recognition they should of had.

The best british songwriting team since Lennon and the other bloke.East Side Story is one of the best British albums of all time in my book

At the drive-in of course. Relationship of command is the most underrated album of all time. Sublime from start to finish.

High contrast is still pretty underrated, he is one of the worlds top producers/djs but hasn't had too much mainstream success.

This song should have been huge, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow2OS2KnWNo

MGMT are also very underrated, how they are not getting number 1s all over the world by now I have no idea.

i think mgmt have one good single the rest of that album is cod bowie covers

Cheeky Girls, Joe Dolce, Black Lace.

The most under rated band of all time are The Kinks. Ray Davies is a great social observer and his lyrics are ace.

I think giving them even one good single is generous.

Time to Pretend and kids are the best on the album by far but those are both superb.

The Libertines

Anything linked to Doherty is vastly over-rated.

Never seen the attraction of The Libertines to be honest.

I wouldn't agree. He's one of the biggest names in D&B and even the public school raa's know who he is thanks to the liquidy feel. His last album was very much like the first: a few good tracks but mostly filler. 'If We Ever' was an absolute blinder though; a nod to the old jungle scene mixed with modern elements. Bet he sold far more copies of Tough Guys than High Society.

No D&B/jungle etc has really had any mainstream success apart from Shy FX for the simple reason that there's no market for it on a big scale, unless its really poppy shit.

Mainstream success is not the same as being underrated.

Im suprised little man tate aren't more mainstream. They're like the kaizer cheifs, only good.

Surely everybody thinks they're brilliant?

Heard of Cows - great band

How does that work then Dave?

Perhaps a bit of a weird one because of the toss which has hit the charts, but i happen to think the Dandy Warhols are seriously underrated. This is only going on their first album though, which even now sounds fresh and different to all the colour-by-numbers stuff which fills the reviews these days.

Well the kaizer cheifs are mainstream, and little man tate are betterer, so logically they should be more mainstream

Saw that documentary Dig! at the cinema a few years back when it was released about them and the Brian Jonestown Massacre... Great film about how two bands went in two directions on the success scale.

I'm not sure. If you talk 60s you get Beatles, Stones, Bech Boys - they hardly get a look in. Mr Pleasant is pure class as is a lot of their stuff.

Are they similar bands on connected in some way then?  Or was it just a simple, this is what can happen kind of thing?

The members were best friends and in the same scene. But then the Dandy Warhols got big and the BJM's Anton Newcombe was a bit mental (although he denounced the documentary as it was an unfair representation of him).

http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0388888/

His first album was True Colours which was nothing like the latest one, I mean the latest one is far, far better. It's definitely not mostly filler, I don't think there's a bad track on that album. it's the sign of a good album when I would really struggle to pick the best 5 tracks, they are all amazing. True colours had a few average ones along with the classics like return of forever.

I don't really agree about the mainstream success thing, Roni Size's new forms sold over 1m copies and that was not poppy at all. More recently Pendulum have been very successful and although their latest album wasn't as good as the last, I still don't think they're poppy shit, they've done some good tunes and are a great live band.

Essentially although due to the style of music he's never going to be getting number ones, he is still very underrated, the hometown glory remix is the best track of the year and should have got a lot more daytime airplay. He shouldn't just be one of the biggest names in D&B, he should be the biggest because his albums are better than anything else in D&B right now and he's incredible live. It's not just about mainstream success though, he should have won the mercury prize by now.

I thought it was only public school raaas that listened to drum and bass?

Dig! is a great documentary. Anton Newcombe may have hated it's portrayal of him, but the film gave his band more exposure than his music ever would.

Very true... They've toured the U.K. a good fews times since it's release.

Newcombe kicking a heckler in the face was awesome.

Total car-wreck of a band: People only went to see the BJM to see him kick off!

But then people only went to see the Dandy Warhols to see Zia McCabe strip off - yet another parallel between the bands.

One thing I will say though is that both groups have absolutely superb names.

The first Dandy Warhols LP is, surprisingly perhaps, very good indeed.

Echo & the Bunnymen, The Icicle Works and The Room were all ace.

Hell yeah!! a partys not a party without a bit of black lace!

Superman..Agadoo.. High Ho silver lining!! whoop Im getting out my best of now!

Emmylou Harris...voice of an angel.

Got a few tracks with her and Gram Parsons which I rate highly.

But Emmylou is not underrated-she's one of the most revered artists of all time

Really?? I had no idea.  And yes, Rich, her work with Gram Parsons is especially awesome.

The Red Guitars who were fucking ACE and one of the 3 bands that the Housemartins considered made them the fourth best band in Hull.

And I agree with Wig on the Bunnymen. They were always better than U2 and could have been huge if they could have been arsed to get themselves over to the States.

In fact I'd go for a triumvate of 80's Liverpool Bands in

The Bunnymen
The Teardrop Explodes (still the greatest band name of all time)

and

Wah!, Wah! Heat, Shambeko! Say Wah!, JF Wah!, The Mighty Wah!, Wah! the Mongrel etc. (Pete Wylie and whatever bunch of blokes he persuade to put up with him basically).

I think that Joy Division / New Order lot get a lot of the attention and the influence of the Liverpool bands on the '80's gets a bit overlooked.

Billy Childish......although technically he's not a band.

Gomez and The Cat Empire are two I've seen live who I thought were ace but no one ever seems to have heard of them so I'll count them in.

Liquid Tension Experiment are a great band that not many seem to know although I don't think they're everyones cup of tea. Fucking talented musicians no question.

Gomez are quite popular in the US of A don't you know.

Weren't they popular here a while ago? I'm not arsed, they're a poor man's Beta Band

I'd forgotten the Red Guitars - my bad.

Can I add the Chameleons in as well?

And The Cooper Temple Clause as a current band.

I've always thought Black Rebel Motorcycle Club were a bit underrated.

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida and Sleepless?

I just relistened and half the tracks are fuppin ace, but the rest are much of a muchness; bit repetitive and don't stand up to repeat listening.

I don't know if Pendulum are a great example, Hold Your Colour was a bit poo and there's definitely some poppy shit on there. You could tell they'd made it with the idea of cracking the album charts; it sounds very very different to what they play live.

I'm struggling to see how High Contrast could be more highly rated though. Who underrates him? Any big fan of drum and bass rates him highly. He's probably one of the three best selling artists in the genre over the two decades.

Burial lost the Mercury Prize to Elbow this year and Untrue is a more complete, consistent and meaningful album than Tough Guys.

I like untrue but I think that high contrast is more deserving of an award but he's never ever been nominated, that's why he's underrated. I really like in a gadda da vida, sleepless takes a while to get going but the second half is very good. I don't think he's one of the top three selling artists. Number one would have to be pendulum, Roni Size has also sold a lot more and Shy FX and Andy C have both had top 40 hits and Andy C's mix cd's sell a lot. Chase and Status are also doing well recently.

1, 4, 8, 9, and 10 are easily the best 5.


Why is High Contrast more deserving?

Are you saying the only reason he's underrated is because he hasn't won the Mercury?

He has a great rep in the genre. He's sold loads of albums. He's reached the masses as much as anyone has from the genre.

He hasn't won the Mercury because he's not ever put a complete album out worthy of it. The new one has some nice tunes but is only really made for dancing and nothing much deeper. Okay there are a couple of vocal samples which hint at bigger themes but they're few and far between and often used on the weaker tracks.

Andy C deserves to sell more than High Contrast, if he does. He's been around for aaaages and is the best DJ around as far as I'm concerned. He plays all styles, is a flawless DJ and has done alot to promote the scene.

high contrast is pretty good.

Cooper Temple Clause were bellends, they went to my school. I still play footie against them now, right nobbers.

Did they kick you out of the band before they made it?

I think the tough guys don't dance is much better than untrue, some of the burial tracks are great but he's been pretty over hyped and there are quite a few on that album I don't rate much. It's not the only reason he's underrated but lack of critical acclaim is definitely one thing and I just don't think he has sold loads of albums, his singles and albums only make the dance and indie chart.

I think Tracks 11 and 12 (chances and nobody gets out alive) are two of the best on the album.

The Mercury panel don't agree with you. You must rate their opinion if you think High Contrast should have won by now. Which of his albums should have won?

Untrue was moving, atmospheric, consistent and above all original. There are a few weak tracks on there but the album pushed boundaries and created a new sound. In contrast, Tough Guys is nothing particularly new or original. It's a slight progression on what has already been done.

I don't think Untrue was 'over hyped'. It got hardly any press until the Mercury nomination. It was a fantastic album, very well received, but certainly not among the mass market or on anything approaching a big scale.

I still fail to see how High Contrast could be more highly rated. What do you want him to do, release a mainstream album which goes top 10 (ala shitty hold your colour) and a single which goes top 5 (ala slam - weak weak poppy drum and bass)? He's never going to do that, because he makes solid drum and bass tracks which don't sell in massive amounts or get critical acclaim amongst mainstream press (though his albums get reviewed in many many music magazines and newspapers). I think he's reached the peaks that he can, and is rated by all the right people. If more people rated him he'd be making watered down D&B.

But can you tap your foot to it?

"Kinda Thrifty" are the most under rated band, especially their third album.  KT don't actually exist, they're a band me and my mates made up years ago, more of a concept than an actual band, I was meant to play the drums and do part time vocals, but if we ever did do anything about it, we'd be so under rated, it'd be unbelievable.

The mercury music prize is the only music award that really means anything but they do overlook some superb albums and generally include some dross on the short-list. High Society and Tough Guys Don't Dance should definitely both have been nominated and would have been deserving winners.

Personally I think he's already released albums that should have made the top 10 (they should have been no. 1). That they weren't just shows not enough people appreciate good music. I'm not saying he's underrated in comparison to similar artists I am saying that with the quality of the music he makes and his skill as a producer he deserves to be far more successful without needing to change his style at all.

Another underrated artist is Akala, I'd heard his stuff before but had forgotten just how good this tune is.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kUCFlzrkclg&feature=related

This verse is pure poetry:


but all of the lyrics are insanely good.

Had some recognition but deserves far more.

Jehst is underrated. Incredible lyricist.

i agree.

Rumour is Mower are reforming.. Amazed that you've heard of them to be honest..

People are cruel is a great album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtjnUpKBHtc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtjnUpKBHtc)

I'll chuck Heavy Stereo's name in to the mixer.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KWPiTXr-eRA&feature=related

This aint the greatest of videos...brilliant drummer,saw them last year and thaught they might make it...but obviously not.

Not a band, but i heart jeremy warmsley

Sorry meant to say they were called The Cuban Heels.

It is!

Unbelievable.... Another Mower fan....

Goodbooks.

Good call, also Milburn were under-rated; so is Daniel from the X-factor...
Here's a good upcoming band, Smugglers Run

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ILH6fx7_ggM

Shit quality...but oh-well.

I really like them a lot. In my household they get respect.

/Passenger.should be massive

The Bees.

Hes not one of the 3 best selling artists at all, i know that for a fact. hes known in the scene by everybody but he is not a 'name' in the main listening crowd really due to the fact that most ravers go out, pop loads of beans and listen to the shitest jump up known to man.

if you ever get a chance to go to a hospitality event, go, it was one of the best events of last year, so much i went 4 times.

oh and he's working on a new album to come out in the spring i beleive.

also, chase&status used to be good, since they signed to ram they have released loads of shit. proper wankers as well.

I think I missed this thread. Did anybody mention The Beta Band? I love them.

Very true, hospitality had a residency every Thursday at Moloko in Cardiff before it shut down :( and I went to at least 20 of their nights, always a great night. Danny Byrd was always one of the best djs there, he's underrated also, best music to ever come out of Bath.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Pijre1yI0-Q

High contrast has done a new house tune and as he is King Midas it's superb, I like how the background to the youtube clip is moloko too.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bqvc3-ut5s8

have i mentioned tom waits?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0P5jV4lHHR0

danny byrd is the underrated of the hospital dj camp, sick tunes and fucking cheap. also a nice guy to boot. he gave me 'shock out'  on vinyl when he played for us...top geezer. if you promote nights, danny byrd is your man!!

and if your promoting parties, good luck booking high contrast as your headliner.
a) hes not taking bookings
b) we booked him as a headliner and the venue was empty.

saying that was 3 years ago tho. and hes not cheap considering his 'standing'

@ ben wah balls - have we met in a past life or something? one of our residents got a residency with hospitality - mc ruthless, heard of him/.

nice to know theres fellow junglists on this somewhat dull board!

If it's so dull why don't you take your junglist possee to a more appropriate forum. Twat.

who are the top three?

high contrast must be up there on solo cd sales. top 5?

its a pretty random list to be honest

andy c
roni size
clipz (soapy tit wank)

Yeah I've heard the name MC Ruthless, might have seen him once, I think MC Wrec was generally the MC but I've seen pretty much everyone on hospital. Any time high contrast played in Cardiff it was always packed, probably because he's from there and a lot of the crowd knew him.