Underrated 80's: Thomas Dolby (She Blinded Me With Science is only is 4th or 5th best song) Buggles (most of their catalog skirts the edges of prog) Talk Talk Ultravox Underrated rock/metal: Opeth (especially their new album) Leprous OSI
this will be pretty meaningless without a more specific working definition of underrated. for example Opeth is considered one of GOAT modern metal bands, so it's tough to think of them as underrated just because metal has a smaller following that more popular genres.
how about "bands i think are great that the general public hasn't heard of or couldn't stand" opeth isis the end LoG children of bodom divinity <------ion dissonance lacuna coil between the buried and me yngwie malmsteen's rising force : )
I was the fat guy at the Opeth concert screaming "fuck metal!" everytime the crowd wanted (and didn't get) anything with cooki monster vocals. Clean vocal Opeth has always been superior, and this is from a guy who totally digs everything they've done since Blackwater Park. But I freely admit I'm coming from the cheesedick side of prog metal (Fates Warning, Dream Theater, et al). I think you'd dig Leprous, given the other bands you mentioned. They're tight. Also, Riverside. Not as aggressive as Opeth used to be, but still dynamic and heavy.
I love clean Opeth. Damnation is great, and I think I Feel the Dark is one of MA's best. I just don't care for the jazzish/'70s sound and lack of emotional intensity of most of the songs of Heritage. Gets really boring.
Okay crowTrobot; you got me interested, so I looked up the band. I like this song. Not really my cup of tea; but my daughter already heard of them and likes them. [video=youtube;xWgV-5mMbZ8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWgV-5mMbZ8[/video]
Not bad. I guess my daughter wants you to listen to this one. [video=youtube;-o9tj-xH1qU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o9tj-xH1qU[/video]
"it's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you!" - toto is awesome. Queensryche is the most underrated band of all time.
i always thought beck was very underrated. he got recognized in the mainstream for his rock/rap fusion but always seemed to change up his sound with each album and this was a big reason (IMO) he faded from the mainstream.