So here we go.......
5. Warrant
When I first found these guys I didn't like them at all. They were opening for everyone and they were so very the typical formula band with the ultra formula "Heaven" as their big hit. I got sick of them real fast. Then they released "Cherry Pie" and the first single was cheesy but catchy, but if you listened farther you heard "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and "I Saw Red" and I heard something different. The story in "Uncle Tom" was highly unusual for the time and "Red" was written in a schizophrenic way were the author goes from remembering good times then back to the horror of walking in and catching her cheating, very different for the time.
Then Came Nirvana... And if you were considered a hair band you were pretty much done. Only two bands really survived (Bon Jovi & Motley Crue) That is when Warrant released a very ambitious and hard record called "Dog Eat Dog" This record was very good from top (Machine Gun, a hard driving opening track) to bottom (Sad Theresa, a sweet ballad) and it just died. What should have put the band into super stardom was released two years too late.
After that was "Ultraphobic" and "Belly To Belly" both great records on indie labels (Belly To Belly having my favorite song by them "Letter To A Friend") and both being very ambitious again, especially for indie releases.
Since then of course we have seen Jani Lane spin out of control with DUI and celebrity fit club/ rehab appearances. The band isn't who we remember now (as happens often). It is a shame that their best work came too late.
4. The Monkees
I think most people know their basic story, 2 actors and 2 musicians are put together for a Beatles like band for a TV show. They start off just mimicking songs for TV and end up playing and writing some good music. Yeah the show was wacky and corny and they did not play on their first few records, but starting with "Headquarters" they played all the instruments and started writing more and more. Of course once the show was done, so were they. Radio never tool them serious because of the show and wouldn't play them. Of course looking back now, a TV show is no worse then videos or lip synced performances to promote music, but back then everyone was so much more serious about "integrity"
3. Night Ranger
I put Night Ranger on here because they are incorrectly classified as a "one hit wonder" band for "Sister Christian", yet they had several hits in their career being one of the first big bands when "glam rock" first started in the 80s. They had hits with "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" & "You Can Still Rock In America" before "Christian" was released, both top 100 songs. And after with "Four In The Morning" , "When You Close Your Eyes" & "Sentimental Street" with "Street" placing only 3 spots lower on the charts then "Christian" did and all being top 20. They ended up with 6 top 40 songs, not bad for a "one hit wonder".
But they never were the crazy band. You never heard stories of boozing, drugs and women, just the music. And in the end it is the reason that people forget. They always say there is no such thing as bad press and in Night Ranger's case that is not true because no press is bad press and that will get you forgotten.
2. Anthrax
Anthrax was the first of the big name speed metal bands that had a national following, they actually took Metallica under their wing to help them, so you could say they were responsible for Metallica and Megadeth, yet they are never mentioned with them as far as being as important. These bands are not about hits so until Metallica's black album they were all underground and underrated. Unfortunately for Anthrax they never had the hits that their contemporaries had, mostly because they were on labels that did not know how to promote that style of music. Their albums on Island records were muddy sounding or really bright sounding depending on the song and their videos were grainy & very low rent. But then they signed for a bigger label (Elektra) and things looked like they would finally change! Then their singer quit.
Their first record on Elektra "Sounds Of White Noise" did well with the single "Only" doing very well, but the change split the fan base much like Sammy Hagar in Van Halen did. Soon after Elektra dropped all its metal acts and Anthrax went the indie way. They have put out a lot of great music since but with no label push it has gone nowhere. They did recently pay shows with Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer as "The Big 4" and it is rumored to be coming to America soon, but even then they are the opener when they should be closer to the top of the bill in my opinion.
1. Extreme
The ultimate in misunderstood bands. Pigeon holed as "glam rock acoustic band" by everyone because of their hit "More Than Words" but they were so much more.
They first hit with "Kid Ego" and had the song "Play With Me" all over the place as it was featured in the first "Bill & Ted" movie. After this they released "Pornograffitti" a concept record which contained "Words" but actually had to hits before with "Decadence Dance" and "Get The Funk Out", neither being glammy or acoustic. I remember working in a record store at the time and remember all the old ladies trying to return the cassette because the record was nothing like the single, they later released a proper single and made the old ladies happy.
After that they released another concept album called "III Sides To Every Story" which is my favorite of theirs. They had three singles off this album including "Rest In Peace" which was #1 on the mainstream rock chart, hardly a one hit wonder. Soon after came "Waiting For The Punchline" and then the break up and the infamous Gary Cherone to Van Halen debacle. They have since reformed and toured (When Nuno isn't playing with Rhianna)
So there is my list, I'd like to hear some of the acts you think were underrated and I hope some of you check deeper into these bands. Pick up a greatest hits and discover something you may have over looked.
-G
Of course I'll agree with you on Anthrax. I really feel that they were starting to reach a breakthrough level with Persistence of Time, but the band splitting killed all momentum. Then the brought in Bush, and things seemed to be getting the production value that it deserved, but still couldn't turn that corner. I'm especially amazed that the record companies don't think they are worth the time.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I see as a common thread among your list, is most of those bands had a huge single that I think killed their future. Extreme had More than Words, Warrant had Heaven, and Night Ranger had Sister Christian. All of those songs were huge successes for them, but I think those songs caused people to get tired of their music. Not to mention, I knew many, who would not listen to ANYTHING from those bands, because they were deemed 'pussy rock'.
It's a shame too, because Extreme could really kick ass when they wanted to. Unfortunately, their recent attempt was horrible IMO.
One more underrated, that I use to take a lot of shit for in High School, was Tesla. Love Song made most of my friends avoid Tesla like the plague. I would usually hear comments whenever I wore the t-shirt from the concert (not that I cared).
I almost put in Tesla, but it was already too 80s. LOL
ReplyDeleteBut in my circles they were always respected were the others weren't as much and as I said... I could've added a lot more bands
Stereophonics. Most definitely one of the most under-rated bands in music today
ReplyDeleteThat's the thing about underrated bands, there are tons from different genres that are deserving. Let me hear some more!
ReplyDeleteAgree that warrant is very underrated. Going just on the strengths of the records you mentioned that most people haven't even heard, they're the definition of under rated.
ReplyDeleteI think The Black Crowes are severely under rated and I would second that nod to Tesla as well.
Very good write-up, Greg. Unfortunately, I have to disagree with you on Anthrax. I'm not saying anything bad about them as a band, but, in my opinion, underrated they are not. I was recently waxing poetic on some jazz with an old black guy while I was waiting to get my hair cut. He was telling me about some jazz festival in Canton, and naming off all of these "huge" acts that would be playing. Though I pretended to, I had no idea what he was talking about. These really could've been the biggest names in jazz, but I had never heard of them, as jazz isn't my scene.
ReplyDeleteThrash never really became mainstream, and rightfully so. Anthrax are Gods among men in the all but dead thrash scene. They are loved and revered by the many fans of their genre.
Metallica and Megadeth did receive radio success, with the ball obviously in Metallica's court. Metallica didn't find a single in "Damage, Inc.", but they found one in "Fade to Black." Megadeth didn't find a single in "The Disintegrators," but rather in "Use the Man." The fact that these two bands did find radio success in lieu of Anthrax doesn't mean Anthrax are underrated (in my book at least.)
Slayer is not a band that's a radio staple, but they're still immensely successful. They cater to a specific audience, and there's frankly no room for them on the radio or MTV. Could you imagine seeing "Dead Skin Mask" on TRL? To those who follow metal, Anthrax is as big of a name as Slayer.
This is why I feel Anthrax aren't underrated, but rather appreciated by those who are able to appreciate them.