Most underrated album?

[TheCrimsonSaint]

I'm gonna go with The X Factor by Iron Maiden, though The Mob Rules by Black Sabbath is up there too. I've always felt that people are far too harsh on Blaze Bayley (from The X Factor), and everyone is always up in arms on the fact that Iron Maiden changed their styles a bit while he was in the line-up. In fact, the only argument I've ever heard against the Bayley-era albums is that "it's not Maiden!". Well damn right it's not. If Steve Harris had tried to stick to the old formula used with Bruce, Bayley would have been out of the band way before Virtual XI was even conceived, and Iron Maiden would likely have retired in about 1997. And then we wouldn't have the Somewhere Back in Time tour. That's my two cents. What albums do you guys think are underrated?

[Jhail83]

I could probally name dozens...

I'll start with White Light/White Heat by Velvet Underground.

[TheCrimsonSaint]

Feel free to post more than one album. The more the better.

[fighting69th]

I could probally name dozens...

I'll start with White Light/White Heat by Velvet Underground.

Bad Religion "The New America"

Ever since Mr Brett returned, they have completely ignored that record live. Some really stand out songs on there, that took them to a little bit different direction.

[Jhail83]

Ok here is a list off the top of my head.

White Light/ White Heat by The Velvet Underground. Arguably a starting point for "Heavy Metal". Now I can't prove that, but besides that it's a great album.

Tales from Topographic Oceans by Yes - Probally too inaccessible for most people..as the 4 tracks are all 20+ minutes, but I find it to be one of the most beautiful albums ever.

The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking by Roger Waters - I know diehard Pink Floyd fans side with either Waters or Gilmour most the time, but this album was just as good as any other Pink Floyd album imo. This should have been another multi plat. album. Whatever, I still love it.

Depois do Fim - by Bacamarte - Mainly because no one has ever heard of them or this album! They were a Symphonic Prog act from Brazil with female vocals. This is an amazing album, and if you love Yes, Genesis, or the like, you'd do well to find this gem. Absolute pleasure for your ears.

I'll let others add more before I add more =)

[Rockbandfan23467]

A Momentary Lapse of Reason and The Division Bell. Both are seen as "Gilmour solo albums with the Pink Floyd Name". That isn't very true. Mabye for The Division Bell, but not AMLoR.

[OldFogey]

The Byrds -- either Mr. Tambourine Man or Turn, Turn, Turn. Some of the lesser known tracks from these albums are among the best. They were known as a singles band, but these albums are strong start to finish.

Here's Mr. Tambourine Man's Track Listing:

"Mr. Tambourine Man" (Bob Dylan) –2:29
"I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" (Gene Clark) –2:32
"Spanish Harlem Incident" (Bob Dylan) –1:57
"You Won't Have to Cry" (Gene Clark/Jim McGuinn) –2:08
"Here Without You" (Gene Clark) –2:36
"The Bells of Rhymney" (Idris Davies/Pete Seeger) –3:30
"All I Really Want to Do" (Bob Dylan) –2:04
"I Knew I'd Want You" (Gene Clark) –2:14
"It's No Use" (Gene Clark/Jim McGuinn) –2:23
"Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe" (Jackie DeShannon) –2:54
"Chimes of Freedom" (Bob Dylan) –3:51
"We'll Meet Again" (Ross Parker/ Hughie Charles) –2:07

I'll Probably Feel a Whole Lot Better itself is an extremely underrated tune. That opening riff has been copied numerous times. Where would Tom Petty be without it?

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Here's Turn, Turn, Turn:

"Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season)" (Ecclesiastes/Seeger) – 3:49
"It Won't Be Wrong" (McGuinn/Gerst) – 1:58
"Set You Free This Time" (Clark) – 2:49
"Lay Down Your Weary Tune" (Dylan) – 3:30
"He Was a Friend of Mine" (trad. arr. McGuinn) – 2:30
"The World Turns All Around Her" (Clark) – 2:13
"Satisfied Mind" (Red Hayes/Jack Rhodes) – 2:26
"If You're Gone" (Clark) – 2:45
"The Times They Are a-Changin'" (Dylan) – 2:18
"Wait and See" (McGuinn/Crosby) – 2:19
"Oh! Susannah" (Foster) – 3:03

Set You Free This Time is absolutely gorgeous

[MisterSchulz]

I'm just wondering what qualifies as 'underrated', White Light/White Heat and Mr. Tambourine Man are both highly regarded by critics, but if you are talking about under-appreciated by general music listening community, then I agree, these definitely qualify.

I think The Beatles' Beatles for Sale is underrated in terms of critical appreciation. The first 3 songs are killer, No Reply, I'm A Loser, and Baby's In Black. I enjoy this album a lot more than Please Please Me, although PPM does deserve recognition for coming first. I also think Help! [UK] is very underrated. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, I Need You, Help!, I've Just Seen A Face, Yesterday, Ticket to Ride. One of my favorite Beatles' albums. Hard to crack the the top of the Beatles' discography, but compared to other bands' output, this is a great album.

The Kinks' Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire has some great songs. Victoria would be awesome to play on Rock Band.

Jimi Hendrix Experience's Axis: Bold As Love: Underrated in that it always seems to come up third in comparison to the other two albums, Are You Experienced and Electric Ladyland. I think I prefer Axis over Ladyland, however, and it's very close to Experienced.

Television's Marquee Moon: Highly regarded amongst critics, but not nearly as popular as it should be. Go listen to the title track.

Quicksilver Messenger Service's Self-Titled: I like this album a lot better than Happy Trails, but somehow it was left off RS 500, and Happy Trails made it to #189.

[MisterSchulz]

I'll Probably Feel a Whole Lot Better itself is an extremely underrated tune. That opening riff has been copied numerous times. Where would Tom Petty be without it?

I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better is one of my top 5 favorite songs of all time. Apparently though, they kinda borrowed that opening riff from the Searchers' Needles and Pins, which came out a year earlier. I was so surprised when I got the Searchers' CD and played that song and though, wait, this sounds familiar.

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[OldFogey]

I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better is one of my top 5 favorite songs of all time. Apparently though, they kinda borrowed that opening riff from the Searchers' Needles and Pins, which came out a year earlier. I was so surprised when I got the Searchers' CD and played that song and though, wait, this sounds familiar.

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RIght you are. And I should have known that, because I remember buying the Searcher's single when it came out. hmm..... There's a drive to the way the Byrds play it tho'.