I Am the Red Wizards' wish has been granted. Talk about albums that have been overlooked, have no following, have gotten bad ratings, or were just some thing thrown together by your friends in their basement, but is worthy of some attention and praise.

For me it's Have a Nice Life's Deathconsciousness as many may have noticed me blathering about that album recently. Double-disc shoegaze/industrial/post-rock epic from Connecticut. I have also heard people hate on Son Lux a fair amount, though not on this site. Love both. Discuss and nominate.

Jucifer L'autrichienne (sp?)

A bit of a 'tweener. A little too heavy for some, not heavy enough for others. I like the album concept (Mary Antoinette) and the music, so it's a winner for me. But definitely under-hyped, to say the least (maybe even "disliked", oh well).

Lugubrum Albino de Congo

This is the best black metal album of 2008. Not Leviathan. Not Crapmystium.

Plants & Animals Parc Avenue

I noticed this picking up more steam in the forums here, but still criminally overlooked in my opinion. It's better than Blitzen Trapper's album last year, and that had just the right amount of hype.

A Weather Cove

Also getting a little more notice lately, but not enough. People, do yourself a favor, if you still don't have this album, get it. Now. It's a gem. It feels like a guilty pleasure, without the guilt. Just make sure you devote your full attention to it - like a baby. You won't appreciate it as background music. It's too quiet and unassuming for that. But, if you give it a few spins - really listen - you'll start to appreciate the complex, yet delicate, harmonies this male/female vocal duo have assembled. Better than She & Him, Him and Her, or Whoever and Whatever else.

quote:

Originally posted by ezatldude:


Plants & Animals Parc Avenue

I noticed this picking up more steam in the forums here, but still criminally overlooked in my opinion. It's better than Blitzen Trapper's album last year, and that had just the right amount of hype.

Well said.

I agree with the "Cove" recommendation. Here are a few more:

Neil Halstead - "Oh! Mighty Engine"

A great mellow, summer folk album in the vein of Kings of Convenience and to a certain extent Iron and Wine. Whisper vocals over a lightly strummed acoustic guitar. Such an incredibly strong album and one that I find myself listen straight through repeatedly.

The Burning Hell - "Happy Birthday"

An odd, but incredibly enjoyable, collection of diverse pop, folk, and country songs from this Canadian artist. An album with a sense of humor, but rarely does it lapse into outright silliness ("A Grave Situation Part I" being the only silly song and it's awesome). The vast array of sounds, both vocally and instrumentally, on "Happy Birthday" bring to mind (at different times) Leonard Cohen, The National, Jens Lekman, and The Magnetic Fields. A must for any fans of baritone vocals.

Silver Jews - "Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea"

As an admitted fanboy of the Jews, I probably enjoy this album more than most, but that doesn't mean that it isn't an awesome album that all can enjoy. It has its funny songs ("Party Barge", "San Francisco BC), its sad songs ("Candy Jail"), and its great songs ("Strange Victory, Strange Defeat"). A brief album, it should not be missed for fans of Drive-By Truckers, The Avett Brothers, or alt. country fans.

quote:

Originally posted by ezatldude:
Plants & Animals Parc Avenue
...It's better than Blitzen Trapper's album last year, and that had just the right amount of hype.

What do these two have anything to do with each other?

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:

quote:

Originally posted by ezatldude:
Plants & Animals Parc Avenue
...It's better than Blitzen Trapper's album last year, and that had just the right amount of hype.

What do these two have anything to do with each other?

Sound.

Not at all but OK.

What's funny is that I clicked on this, interested, without even remembering that I'd bitched about Jucifer's album being underrated. SOOOOOO.....the aforementioned Jucifer album, which marks a great improvement over their earlier, also loved-by-me albums. Apparently I still like Becky's amplifier.
Hmmm....the newish BYOP album, Get Awkward, didn't get enough raves IMO. It showed, not maturity I guess, but a strengthening of musical resolve. And now they're not making any more, so it should get more recognition.
Why?'s Alopecia. I think I may have listened to this album more than any other this year. I love Yoni's lyrical interplay/sense of wee-hour word-vomit and the musical variety that plays around it.
And, of course, Major Grey's latest album, which to my knowledge has received NO hype, unless you're on their Facebook group. You can download the whole album FOR FREE (so there's no excuses) here. Do it. But not because I told you to. Because it's the right thing to do. God will thank you later. Trust me.

Not that i particularly like BYOP, but the news of them breaking up is a little upsetting. They were brash, punky and somewhat interesting amidst a flurry of indie-pop fluff. They will be missed.

I think Boris'Smile deserved a hell of a lot more praise.

And i haven't really noticed too much backing behind the new Harvey Milk. Sure, it has an 89 score, but with only 5 reviews right now, the album seems to only apply to a niche of critical sources... Sputnikmusic, CMG, Dusted, Pop Matters, and DOA need to get this one rated, because it's easily one of the best albums of the year... "Woke up, got out of bed, put a pistol to my head" is the best Beatles reference i've ever heard.

Also, I think the Bonnie Prince Billy album is a bit under-rated/hyped because i seem to believe that people take him for granted. He's amazing people, let's face it.

Lastly, Torche's Meanderthal i felt was under-hyped, but with p4k slapping a Recommended tag on it, that might change. It's very accessible for non-metal types, but i imagine purists will lament their new-found poppiness.

Life Is The Best Game In Town is friggin' amazing, I didn't put it because I figured a P4K "Best New Music" listing qualified as hype. Then I realized that I hadn't really heard it mentioned anywhere else.
Also, Warbringer's album, which rocks it like a pimply Slayer, as well as Black Francis and Bob Mould's albums, SVN Fingers and District Lines, respectively. "When They Come To Murder Me" is the best song of Frank Blacks SOLO career (qualification is key! )

quote:

Originally posted by CleverName84:
Lastly, Torche's Meanderthal i felt was under-hyped, but with p4k slapping a Recommended tag on it, that might change. It's very accessible for non-metal types, but i imagine purists will lament their new-found poppiness.

Personally have never liked Torche but I think it's funny that p4k is finally tuning into Robotic Empire, one of the most underrated labels in music today. They have put out tons of amazing albums in the past 4 years alone like Circle Takes the Square - As the Roots Undo, Ghastly City Sleep - Ghastly City Sleep, Kayo Dot - Downsing Anemone With Copper Tongue, and Grails - Redlight. Tons of solid bands have put out releases on that label. Other than the four mentioned there's also Isis, Red Sparowes, Hot Cross, pageninteynine, and Cursive, with a cool sounding upcoming release from Verse en Coma.

Utada Hikaru's Heart Station is one of the best pop albums, and best albums in general, I've heard in a long, long time.

Of course, it's not really surprising that it's "under-hyped." It's not in English.

I've recently discovered her in the past couple months, and I can't say enough great things about this woman. She writes and produces everything she does herself. She manages to be extremely popular while not sounding at all like anyone else, especially on her past couple albums. Calling this "J-pop" is really an insult.

Utada has an English album coming out soon, so hopefully that'll get her some attention over here.

The Mountain Goats put out their best album yet, and it seems like nobody gives a shit.

Also, Air France. If only it weren't so difficult to get the No Way Down EP.

quote:

Lawrence_Of_Suburbia
Enthusiast
Posted 03 August 2008 11:18 AM Hide Post
The Mountain Goats put out their best album yet, and it seems like nobody gives a shit.

Also, Air France. If only it weren't so difficult to get the No Way Down EP.
Posts: 133 | Registered: 27 February 2008

I love The Mountain Goats, but their/he's an act that will just never capture the zeitgeist no matter how great his efforts...Darnielle's Mr. Peepers voice is just to great a dealbreaker for too many listeners

Vampire Weekend.

*tee-hee*

quote:

Originally posted by Lawrence_Of_Suburbia:
The Mountain Goats put out their best album yet, and it seems like nobody gives a shit.

It was getting a lot of love when it was released back in February, but I still think it stands among the year's best. It'll have high placement from me come year-end time.

quote:

Originally posted by pak:
Vampire Weekend.

*tee-hee*

Vampire.....Weekend? Who is this Vamp...ire? Weekend?

quote:

The Mountain Goats put out their best album yet, and it seems like nobody gives a shit.

a top 5 album for me so far

quote:

Originally posted by Lawrence_Of_Suburbia:
The Mountain Goats put out their best album yet, and it seems like nobody gives a shit.

Oh, come on. Heretic Pride isn't even in the same league as Tallahassee, We Shall All Be Healed, The Sunset Tree, or The Coroner's Gambit. I'd vote it one of his weakest efforts.

I'd put it somewhere in the middle.