30 Underappreciated Album Recs You Didn't Ask For
Everyone can find something new to like here! |
| 1 |  | The Dillinger Escape Plan
Ire Works
Yeah, it's not obscure or anything, but I've always felt IW never got the love it deserved. Top-shelf DEP. |
| 2 |  | Area
Crac!
I always refer to Area as the best progressive rock band you've never heard. These guys from Italy are so talented, it's sickening, and they never released a bad album. |
| 3 |  | Bacamarte
Depois Do Fim
Obscure but brilliant Brazilian progressive rock that was, unfortunately, lost in time. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen. |
| 4 |  | Between the Buried and Me
Between the Buried and Me
Why does the debut never get mentioned? It's incredible. |
| 5 |  | Blue Murder
Blue Murder
Criminally underappreciated hard rock from the God of all Trades, Mr. John Sykes. This is on par with the best hard rock of the 1980's. |
| 6 |  | Chris Squire
Fish Out of Water
It wouldn't be crazy to call this the most underappreciated progressive rock album in the world. Its brilliance is hard to put into words. RIP. |
| 7 |  | Dedalus
Dedalus
Another unknown prog gem and absolutely worth a listen. Deliciously psychedelic. |
| 8 |  | Deep Purple
Purpendicular
A lesser-known gem in the DP discography. This album proved that there was life after Ritchie Blackmore after all. Each member is firing on all cylinders here on some of the best songs of their career. |
| 9 |  | Deftones
Deftones
I will go to my grave never having understood why this album is not considered on par with their best work. The word underrated was invented for this album. Absolutely brilliant. |
| 10 |  | Egg
The Polite Force
Among the more well-known "obscure" progressive rock bands. This album is charming as shit and British in all the right ways. |
| 11 | | Etna
Etna
Yep, the shit's not even in the database, that's how obscure it is. Brilliant classic-era jazzy-prog from Italy. You're welcome in advance. |
| 12 |  | Finch (NL)
Glory of the Inner Force
The only band called Finch that matters. Dutch prog that rivals some of the best of their decade. |
| 13 |  | Gentle Giant
Interview
Sure, people give love to their classic streak of albums but, for some reason, this ain't considered one of them. Just a micro-penis beneath their best material. |
| 14 |  | Iron Maiden
A Matter of Life and Death
You've heard it, you love it. Nonetheless, this is Iron Maiden's most underrated album. |
| 15 |  | Jedi Mind Tricks
The Psycho-Social
While this may not be on the level of Violent by Design in terms of quality, there are few albums I've heard that create a more consistently haunting atmosphere throughout than this one. |
| 16 |  | Coverdale and Page
Coverdale/Page
What happens when one of the greatest guitarists of all time teams up with one of the greatest singers of all time? They release a kick-ass album. It's not rocket science. |
| 17 |  | Khan
Space Shanty
Brilliant, quirky, charming Canterbury album from an all-star lineup, including, in my opinion, the most underrated musician in the history of progressive rock, Dave Stewart. |
| 18 |  | Lucifer's Friend
Where the Groupies Killed the Blues
If it's good enough for Mikael Akerfeldt, it's good enough for me. But for real, amazing early German hard rock. |
| 19 |  | Magma
Live
I'll preface by saying that I don't really like Magma and I really don't like Zeuhl. That being said, this is one of the greatest live albums I've ever heard. |
| 20 |  | Mahavishnu Orchestra
Apocalypse
Criminally underrated. Yeah, the orchestral pieces aren't that great, but Vision is a Naked Sword and Hymn to Him are all-time classics. |
| 21 |  | Massive Attack
100th Window
It's not just good, it's fantastic. Easily their second best after Mezzanine. I just don't feel like this gets the love it deserves. |
| 22 |  | Milky Chance
Sadnecessary
Pretty much every song on this album follows the same style, but when that style is fun, catchy and easy to listen to, what's not to like? A real joy to listen to. |
| 23 |  | Milt Jackson
sunflower
An all-time great jazz album featuring an all-star lineup. It's literally impossible not to enjoy this. |
| 24 |  | National Health
Of Queues and Cures
Yet another underappreciated Canterbury gem. This album is so fucking good I don't even want to try and describe it. |
| 25 |  | Nucleus
We'll Talk About It Later
A lesser-known jazz-rock band led by Ian Carr on trumpet. Pretty much as good as it gets with this style of music. |
| 26 |  | Sloche
J'un Oeil
Quebecois prog-rock that, believe it or not, rivals some of the best prog of the 70's. Both albums they released are astoundingly good. |
| 27 |  | Steve Hillage
Fish Rising
The madman behind Gong. This solo release is up there with the best Gong material. |
| 28 |  | Terje Rypdal
Odyssey
One of the 5 most underappreciated guitarists in history. Thing is, I don't really enjoy any of his albums front to back, but when you put together a playlist of his best work, it's absolutely god-tier. |
| 29 |  | Trace
Trace
Another unknown progressive rock diamond in the rough. The tracks on this album effortlessly span about 15 genres and the keyboards will make your head spin. Fantastic stuff. |
| 30 |  | Yes
Talk
Yes is tied with Led Zeppelin for my favorite band of all time. But it's time to give this album the love it deserves. It's brilliant. |
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