Best Ever Albums

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

AAL2014 — Fri, 1 Nov 2019 17:29:59 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 11/01/2019 21:29

As an extension to the Floyd/Zappa/late-era Beatles stuff on your chart, I'll give you one of my all time favorite bands that I didn't see on your chart, Rush. They are by no means an under the radar band or whatever, but I think any album in the stretch of Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Signals, and Grace Under Pressure would fit right in to your chart.

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

JOSweetHeart — Fri, 1 Nov 2019 00:38:22 GMT

Author: JOSweetHeart

Posted: 11/01/2019 04:38

^^^ Thank you so much for checking him out!!! Which of his three albums did you go with? His second one which is the Sunset Man album is the one that got it all started for me. 😄 😄 😄

God bless you always!!!

Holly

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

LankyLen — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 12:55:26 GMT

Author: LankyLen

Posted: 10/31/2019 16:55

JOSweetheart suggested I listen to her favorite, James Otto. I did. I like country music, but have only heard a few great albums (Sturgill Simpson and Jamey Johnson come to mind). Otherwise I find they usually turn out a few good songs with a bunch of filler. I found this album to be like that. Not bad, but not great.

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

dholl — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 08:22:02 GMT

Author: dholl

Posted: 10/29/2019 12:22

LedZep wrote:

Here's something you could easily like

Is This Desire? by PJ Harvey

PJ Harvey is far from underrated. She's one of the most critically-acclaimed and commercially-successful female singer-songwriters in history. I agree her music is brilliant!

Under-appreciated, yet highly-recommended, would be:

Einstürzende Neubauten (introductory album: Silence is Sexy...avant-garde industrial rock, somewhat softer and more accessible than previous works).

Truly - Fast Stories from Kid Coma...progressive psychedelic rock borne of the Seattle grunge era.

Can - Tago Mago...seminal early-70's experimental krautrock.

Mansun - Six...the actual best album to come out of the Britpop era: crunchy progressive rock with intellectual as well as emotional heft.

Gong - You...almost-forgotten hippy jazzy spacerock band who were active from the late-60' up until fairly recently. The band leaders have passed on now but left us with a fun discography, of which You is arguably their finest and most accessible work.

Scott 4 - Recorded in State LP...bluesy folky relaxed vibes.

Jah Wobble - Shout at the Devil...eastern-flavoured electronica.

La Femme - Mystère...energetic colourful psychedelic beachrock.

Deep Sweden - Chemistry Lab...eccentric avant-folk fun.

Bosnian Rainbows - one-off side-project from the Mars Volta guitarist. Poppy, emotive and addictive.

Bat for Lashes - Haunted Man...if you enjoy PJ Harvey, Goldfrapp or Kate Bush then expect similar here, a bit more accessible even.

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

pctrooper — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 15:42:25 GMT

Author: pctrooper

Posted: 10/22/2019 19:42

LankyLen wrote:

Listened to Soft Machine’s first album at PCTrooper’s suggestion. Liked it, but didn’t love it. Sounded to me, like a lot of late sixties experimental stuff sounds. I can appreciate it though, because of what that music evolved into.

I’ll have to give some of their later stuff a listen as well.

[/quote]

Cool, I'm glad you gave it a listen. Hope you find some albums to love based on the recommendations from others here!

Andy Hackbarth

Keatownrodriguez — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 14:57:11 GMT

Author: Keatownrodriguez

Posted: 10/22/2019 18:57

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Treadmill Horses by Andy HackbarthThis guy is insanely unknown, he's a singer-songwriter from Denver but he made his way to my hometown in Idaho for a show and that's how I know him, so I doubt anyone has just stumbled across him online (in fact he's only on this website because I put him here). He's an extremely vivid lyricist and captivating guitar player, check out his album Treadmill Horses

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

LankyLen — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 13:49:39 GMT

Author: LankyLen

Posted: 10/22/2019 17:49

Listened to Soft Machine’s first album at PCTrooper’s suggestion. Liked it, but didn’t love it. Sounded to me, like a lot of late sixties experimental stuff sounds. I can appreciate it though, because of what that music evolved into.

I’ll have to give some of their later stuff a listen as well.[/quote]

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

pctrooper — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 19:32:32 GMT

Author: pctrooper

Posted: 10/21/2019 23:32

Lachapelle wrote:

Awesome. Glad to have a new Hammill fan.
Digging through his discography is going to be a treat.

He just released an album last month with Isildurs Bane that might be worth checking out if you're looking for recent music as well.

Oh wow, Peter Hammill has a new album out? I had no idea! Thanks for the update. I will definitely have to check it out. I am glad that you like Nadir's Big Chance, LankyLen. Ironically that was the album by him that took me the longest to appreciate, probably because I was so enamored with his darker and more complicated stuff and sort of anti-punk/anti-pop during a short period of my edgy teenage years. Now I agree it is one of his landmark releases! I especially love the songs "Birthday Girl" and "People You Were Going to".

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

Lachapelle — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 17:31:35 GMT

Author: Lachapelle

Posted: 10/21/2019 21:31

LankyLen wrote:

Thanks again Lachapelle!

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

LankyLen — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 11:00:00 GMT

Author: LankyLen

Posted: 10/21/2019 15:00

Listened to Peter Hammill’s Nadir’s Big Chance. I liked this better than VDGG. Still quirky and proggy, but with a dash of pop sensibility thrown in,

Thanks again Lachapelle!

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

LankyLen — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 07:41:59 GMT

Author: LankyLen

Posted: 10/21/2019 11:41

Starting with Lachapelle’s suggestion of Van Der Graf Generator’s H to He Who Am the Only One. Will listen to the Peter Hammill suggestion next.

So far VDGG is right up my alley. First track, Killer goes some interesting places! Thanks for the recommendation!

Just finished the album. Fantastic!! Great example of early prog rock. Sounded like an orgy of Yes, Zappa, and Hawkwind. Loved it!!

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

LedZep — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 04:33:05 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 10/12/2019 08:33

Here's something you could easily like

Is This Desire? by PJ Harvey

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

Tha1ChiefRocka — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 23:45:10 GMT

Author: Tha1ChiefRocka

Posted: 10/12/2019 03:45

You've got Ween & Battles on your list, so you're a good man.

The opportunity is endless, so here's one for you.

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Another Setting by The Durutti Column

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

RoundTheBend — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 22:39:13 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 10/12/2019 02:39

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You Can't Take It With You by As Tall As Lions

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

NJ — Wed, 9 Oct 2019 18:34:37 GMT

Author: NJ

Posted: 10/09/2019 22:34

LankyLen wrote:

As you can tell from my list, my musical taste isn’t the most varied. However, I’m open minded and always on the lookout for good music.

What I’m hoping is that folks will list a favorite or underrated artist and then give a good album for someone unfamiliar with their music to start with.

Your list is certainly not the least varied I've seen - I think it's actually pretty good, anyways. Since I'm not sure what you've listened to, I'll probably not be reccomended super out-there bands. There are a few genres lacking, though, and I'm not sure if that's due to you simply disliking them or not having heard them. Looking through your list, and perhaps this is what you meant, you seem to be lacking in a lot of music from African-American and female artists. For the former, I'll reccommend the always classis Marvin Gaye (What's Going On) and Miles Davis (Kind of Blue) and Otis Redding (Otis Blue), and, for more recent acts, Kendrick Lamar (To Pimp a Butterfly). I absolutely loved TPAB despite not being a huge rap fan (I'll probably make a post about this once I listen to DAMN.). Female artists, I'd go for Bjork (Vespertine is her best, but Post or Homogenic are better starting places), Kate Bush (Hounds of Love) and Joni Mitchell (Blue). All of those albums are masterpieces.

Okay, for the interesting stuff: Genres. Two related genres I highly reccomend you look into are shoegaze and dream pop. Easily the best (starting place) of those genres is Loveless by My Bloody Valentine. It's the best studio album of the 90s, imo. Cocteau Twins (Heaven or Las Vegas), Ride (Nowhere), Slowdive (Souvlaki), and Broadcast (Haha Sound). There are some great foreign artists in those genres as well, such as Sigur Ros (Agaetis Byrjun) and Fishmans (Long Season). The latter's live album 98.12.28 is my favorite live album ever.

Also, have you listened to The Smiths (The Queen is Dead), The Stone Roses (The Stone Roses), Pixies (Doolittle), Joy Division (Unknown Pleasures and Closer), and Sonic Youth (Daydream Nation)? These are all great 80s alternative acts, imo. For the 00s, I highly reccomend Sufjan Stevens (Illinois), Arcade Fire (The Suburbs for the 10s, and Funeral for the 00s), and The Strokes (Is This It).

Finally, for now, you should listen to some Pavement. Slanted and Enchanted is always a classic. And Captain Beefheart, since you're a Zappa fan, if you havent. Probably Safe as Milk or Lick My Decals, Off Baby (the latter if you're into weirder stuff). If you like the latter, listen to his masterpiece, Trout Mask Replica.

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

JOSweetHeart — Wed, 9 Oct 2019 17:59:09 GMT

Author: JOSweetHeart

Posted: 10/09/2019 21:59

Steve Sanders of the Oak Ridge Boys act (deceased)-Before becoming a member of the act, six solo gospel albums were done as well as a pop album under the name Pyramid.

Billy Joe Royal (deceased)-Cherry Hill Park, Royal Treatment, and his second self named album are my most favorite from him.

James Otto-Start with the Sunset Man album and then go to his album named Shake What God Gave Ya!

God bless you and James always!!!

Holly

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

pctrooper — Wed, 9 Oct 2019 15:40:28 GMT

Author: pctrooper

Posted: 10/09/2019 19:40

I'll second Peter Hammill. Definitely one of my all-time favorite musicians. "Pawn Hearts" was the first Van Der Graaf Generator album that I heard and it blew me away. I've been a huge fan ever since. I also think that his first solo album, "Fool's Mate" might be a good one to start out with, but I can't argue with "Nadir's Big Chance" either.

Another recommendation... Based on our shared appreciation of "Hot Rats", I think you should check out Soft Machine. I love their first two albums (called volume one and volume two) which are both really trippy psychedelic jazz rock, but another favorite of mine from them would have to be "Bundles", which is an entirely instrumental album. In fact, "Bundles" sounds an awful lot like "Hot Rats". I think you might really be into it if you like jazz/rock fusion. It features the amazing guitarist Allan Holdsworth.

Re: Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

Lachapelle — Wed, 9 Oct 2019 14:35:11 GMT

Author: Lachapelle

Posted: 10/09/2019 18:35

Peter Hammill.

The front man for the epic prog-rock group known as Van Der Graaf Generator. One of my favorite vocalists who has a great run of solo material, as well as an amazing discography with VDGG. I'd probably start with a record from his group if you're into proggier works (or if you are a fan of saxophone). For an intro to VDGG I'd go with H To He, Who Am The Only One. And for his solo work I think I'll choose Nadir's Big Chance but ask me tomorrow and I'll pick another. The same goes for VDGG honestly.. as there are far too many classic albums to choose from.

Favorite/under appreciated artist and introductoryalbum

LankyLen — Wed, 9 Oct 2019 12:14:03 GMT

Author: LankyLen

Posted: 10/09/2019 16:14

As you can tell from my list, my musical taste isn’t the most varied. However, I’m open minded and always on the lookout for good music.

What I’m hoping is that folks will list a favorite or underrated artist and then give a good album for someone unfamiliar with their music to start with.