Most underrated songs ever?

[Ron Manager]

So many underrated songs.....little gems that never got the recognition they deserve because they are hidden away on albums or b-sides or simply because they are by artists that never had any real success.

Just off the top of my head though....

Beautiful by Shack: From HMS Fables and a gorgeous tune from an amazing album.

The Man Don't Give A f%&k by Super Furry Animals: At one time it held the record for most use of the word f%&k on a single (may still do in fact). All this vitriol however is all wrapped in a piece of pure pop so typical of the Furries, for me one of the most underrated bands of our time.

Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine by Beth Orton: From Trailer Park, there is a small section of this song where the music fades and Beth sings one line. She has one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard and that few seconds is one of the most spine tingling moments in my whole music collection.

As I said though, there are many more and these are just a few of the hundred odd other examples I could give.

 

[hexagon_sun]

Quote[/b] (Ron Manager @ Jan. 16 2006,06:48)]All this vitriol however is all wrapped in a piece of pure pop so typical of the Furries, for me one of the most underrated bands of our time.

So true - I don't think there's a better 'mainstream' guitar band on the planet than SFA. Apart from the minor blip of "Rings Around the World" they've improved and refined their sound with each successive album and are responsible for some of the most intelligent pop music of the 21st century. They really don't get the credit they deserve.

 

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (hexagon_sun @ Jan. 12 2006,16:09)]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ Jan. 12 2006,15:53)]Stranger, Undecided and London Town

All on Waterpistol by Shack

A good shout - fine songwriter is Michael Head (even if he does want to be Arthur Lee - damn, I just can't help it). "The Magical World of The Strands" album is my favourite thing he's done.

Have you got any of The Pale Fountains albums. Absolute classics.

Three others to add to the melting pot:

Love is Full of Wonderful Colour - The Icicle Works

Hope - The Mighty Wah!

The Story of the Blues - (pre The Mighty) Wah!

 

[hexagon_sun]

Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ Jan. 16 2006,10:43)]Three others to add to the melting pot:

Love is Full of Wonderful Colour - The Icicle Works

Hope - The Mighty Wah!

The Story of the Blues - (pre The Mighty) Wah!

"Story of the Blues" is excellent. On a similar tip (ie. classy 80s pop music that's stood the test of time), "Brilliant Mind" by Furniture. I've heard it on Xfm a few times of late though so maybe it's starting to get the recognition it deserves.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Ron Manager @ Jan. 16 2006,06:48)]The Man Don't Give A f%&k by Super Furry Animals: At one time it held the record for most use of the word f%&k on a single (may still do in fact). All this vitriol however is all wrapped in a piece of pure pop so typical of the Furries, for me one of the most underrated bands of our time.

That has reminded me of another song which I've heard slagged off before, but which I think is fantastic... it's music as bile and vitriol.

It's a track called "I Wish Them All Dead" by the Wonder Stuff on their 1993 album, Construction for the Modern Idiot.

Check out the lyrics yourself... pure spite.  Awesome to listen to.

I Wish Them All Dead

Oh, and if you're wondering who the Wonder Stuff's bile was aimed at... the answer is this lot, and frankly the lyrics to the song are spot on.

Wikipedia - NA-MbLA

 

[TrueBlue]

Quote[/b] ]The Story of the Blues - (pre The Mighty) Wah!

Superb!

 

[Wessex Blue]

Been listening to some 80's jazz funk / soul recently and I'm right into D train - you're the one for me.

Was watching the football factory last week and there was a bit of it in the film. Made me remember what a quality track it is.

 

[Wessex Blue]

Should broaden this thread to list top 3 underrated by musical genre. Sooo many goods tracks to list.

 

[TrueBlue]

Quote[/b] ]Was watching the football factory last week

jog on you si you wont be so hot when ur lost in deep saaff!

 

[Slipperduke]

I thought that was a wind-up, Matt! Having checked it out, it appears to be real! What kind of world are we living in when there's a support and information group for men who like little boys? Jesus Christ on a bicycle, that's truly weird.

Anyway, without further ado....

1, Suede - Asphalt World. Best thing they ever did in my humble opinion. It's a beautiful chemical love epic and it absolutely blows me away every time I hear it

2, Billy Bragg - The Boy Done Good. Best song about love and football ever written. "Now I feel like I've won the cup, everytime that we make love. 45 minutes each way, at half time I hear a brass band play." Genius.

3, Cocteau Twins - Pearly Dewdrops' Drops. Sublime. Probably the best thing they ever did. Her voice is so odd that it really shouldn't be nice to listen to. Everyone should have something by this band.

 

[Ron Manager]

Quote[/b] (Slipperduke @ Jan. 16 2006,15:24)]2, Billy Bragg - The Boy Done Good. Best song about love and football ever written. "Now I feel like I've won the cup, everytime that we make love. 45 minutes each way, at half time I hear a brass band play." Genius.

I love that song, but having a filthy mind I always wonder when I hear that line if he changes ends at half-time  

 

[Napster]

Quote[/b] (perth shrimper @ Jan. 16 2006,05:59)]

Quote[/b] (Napster @ Jan. 12 2006,12:37)]anything by Leroy Hutson, Johnny Guitar Watson

and the Buzzcocks' Harmony in my Head

Whhooooaaaa you're a Leroy Hutson Fan!!!!

Excellent fruckin music.
'You never Know what you can do til you find out' is one of my favourite vocal performances, love his voice .

yep. he's still performing as well.

 

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (Slipperduke @ Jan. 16 2006,15:24)]I3, Cocteau Twins - Pearly Dewdrops' Drops. Sublime. Probably the best thing they ever did. Her voice is so odd that it really shouldn't be nice to listen to. Everyone should have something by this band.

Sugar Hiccup is my particular favourite, and "Song to the Siren" was by them in all but name, officially by This Mortal Coil, what a song!

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Slipperduke @ Jan. 16 2006,15:24)]I thought that was a wind-up, Matt! Having checked it out, it appears to be real! What kind of world are we living in when there's a support and information group for men who like little boys? Jesus Christ on a bicycle, that's truly weird.

I wish it were a wind-up, mate. But it's very real, and very f***ing horrible. It's not often that you think that the line "I wish them cancerous decay" ought to be written about anyone, but for the MbLA it is utterly spot on.

 

[Shrimper in India]

Quote[/b] (Ron Manager @ Jan. 16 2006,06:48)]So many underrated songs.....little gems that never got the recognition they deserve because they are hidden away on albums or b-sides or simply because they are by artists that never had any real success.

Just off the top of my head though....

Beautiful by Shack: From HMS Fables and a gorgeous tune from an amazing album.

The Man Don't Give A f%&k by Super Furry Animals: At one time it held the record for most use of the word f%&k on a single (may still do in fact). All this vitriol however is all wrapped in a piece of pure pop so typical of the Furries, for me one of the most underrated bands of our time.

Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine by Beth Orton: From Trailer Park, there is a small section of this song where the music fades and Beth sings one line. She has one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard and that few seconds is one of the most spine tingling moments in my whole music collection.

As I said though, there are many more and these are just a few of the hundred odd other examples I could give.

Agree with you there Ron, in fact pretty much every track off Trailer Park is stunning.

Sadly I don't feel she's ever matched the heights of Trailer Park, although am looking forward to the release of her new album shortly.

 

[hexagon_sun]

Quote[/b] (Shepherd's Bush Shrimper @ Jan. 16 2006,17:25)]Sadly I don't feel she's ever matched the heights of Trailer Park, although am looking forward to the release of her new album shortly.

I preferred "Central Reservation" personally. The new album is really good though - it's got a real intimate but lush rootsy sound akin to the first couple of Sandy Denny solo records and mainly short, catchy songs. Perhaps not quite as good as her first 2 albums, certainly better than the last.

 

[Shrimper in India]

Quote[/b] (hexagon_sun @ Jan. 16 2006,20:41)]

Quote[/b] (Shepherd's Bush Shrimper @ Jan. 16 2006,17:25)]Sadly I don't feel she's ever matched the heights of Trailer Park, although am looking forward to the release of her new album shortly.

I preferred "Central Reservation" personally. The new album is really good though - it's got a real intimate but lush rootsy sound akin to the first couple of Sandy Denny solo records and  mainly short, catchy songs. Perhaps not quite as good as her first 2 albums, certainly better than the last.

How comes you've heard it already HS?

 

[hexagon_sun]

Quote[/b] (Shepherd's Bush Shrimper @ Jan. 17 2006,09:27)]How comes you've heard it already HS?

An advance copy found it's way on to the internet late last year.

 

[hexagon_sun]

Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ Jan. 16 2006,17:00)]"Song to the Siren" was by them in all but name, officially by This Mortal Coil, what a song!

Yes indeed, a stone cold classic but I'd take the Tim Buckley original over the TMC version any day.

 

[Firestorm]

I always thought both the Alarm and Stiff little Fingers were underrated.....