What Underrated Means

[michelej1]

These 2 music writers did a Fact or Fiction segment in their column, where they discussed rock myths and views and this was one of the responses:

http://www.411mania.com/music/columns/72269

4. "Dimebag" Darrell is underrated as a guitarist

Dan Marsicano:Fiction: Ok, I have a feeling that people will be very adamant about this subject, which is fair enough, considering the circumstances behind Darrell's death. I don't think he is overrated, but he has had enough people praising his playing, both fans and fellow musicians alike, to warrant him to not be underrated. I think Darrell is in that perfect medium where people respect him, but isn't talked bad about in any way. Most guitarists wish they were in the medium, as very few are. Yeah, Darrell has his critics and people who do think he is overrated as a musician, but there aren't enough people in that category, in my opinion.

Jeff Modzelewski:Fiction: I think Dimebag gets plenty of recognition for his
abilities, especially from the metal community. For a guitarist to be underrated, his abilities have to be overlooked by most people. Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac is underrated. Dimebag Darrell is, in my opinion, a significantly better guitarist than Buckingham, but, unlike Buckingham, he is recognized for his abilities.

[David]

Interesting. Of course, the impulse to under- or overrate can come from any one or more of specific cultural sources: the public, the musicians themselves, the critics (who write seriously & extensively about the art). Lindsey's fans do generally decry what they see as a fact: everyone underrates Lindsey's guitar playing. I never quite agreed with that, only because of the widely varying perspectives of his guitar work among those cultural sources I mentioned. For example, you could make a perfectly legitimate assertion that concert audiences have never widely underrated Lindsey's guitar playing, especially after having just seen & heard him. Nor have critics widely underrated him: the archives are filled with praise for not only his technical ability but his -- let's call it his ideational or conceptual ability -- dating from the late 1970s. (See, for example, the Rolling Stone review of Mac's 1978 Philadelphia concert at JFK Stadium.)

By extension, the assertion could be made that, say, metal fans or fans of the rock virtuoso school (Satriani, Vai, Malmsteen, Van Halen) don't underrate Buckingham so much as simply dislike him. He ain't their cup of tea. Do I "underrate" Rush because I dislike their stuff? True, because I dislike them I don't spend any time listening closely & critically -- I don't want to because what little I've heard I just don't like -- but is that the same as actively underrating them?

[Sarah]

I don't know, David... I think a big part of the argument about Lindsey being underrated is that so many people don't even know his name. I know I'm not the only one who's heard "Lindsey Buckingham? Who's she?"

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Sarah

I know I'm not the only one who's heard "Lindsey Buckingham? Who's she?"

I even got that when I called the Luxor box office to buy tickets for her -- uh, him. This wasn't Ticketmaster, it was the hotel directly, so I thought they might have some idea who they had performing there. But the lady who took my order had no idea who or what he was.


Michele