most underrated/underappreciated artists
 

I think there are several artists that aren't really acknowledged by the "mainstream" - who knows why...there are several factors I guess.

some that come to mind for me are Anastacia, Kristine W., Phyllis Hyman, Rufus Wainwright and Tamia...and maybe Tori Amos to some extent tho she certainly has a handle on the music world in her area.

others?

Maria McKee, although she has played a hand in that.

Wasn't she the one who used to sing for that band Lone Justice? I always thought that she sounded VERY Steviesque. Whatever happened to her and are her solo albums very good? I like her voice.

Allison Moorer and Tift Merritt come to mind.

Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears. A genius.

She became a bit of a recluse from around '97 to '03, but has been recording and performing quite a bit since then. I love all of her solo albums. She made a radical departure from her countryish sound with "Life Is Sweet" and "High Dive", but last year's "Peddlin' Dreams" sounds more like "classic" Maria.

I think she has the best voice of any singer. The best way to enjoy her is live, where you really get to hear it raw.

Lori McKenna

Natalie Imbruglia

A few...
 

King's X-How this band is not the biggest band in the world is a mystery to me...25 years and they have never gave in when other bands could have called it a day. Maybe they truly are too intelligent for the fickle American music consumer.

Thin Lizzy-Obviously there is more to Thin Lizzy than just "The Boys are Back in Town". Glad to see they will again grace the US this summer!

Evergrey-Just because they are from Gothenburg doesnt mean they have to play death/black metal. A great dark melodic metal band with intelligence.

Nevermore-The best pure metal band in the US. How this band has only sold 30,000 of their latest release "This Godless Endeavor" is mindbogglin'. They have more talent than nearly any of the emo-sounding garbage vocal bands (ie-Trivium) that EmptyVee 2 hypes weekly (Or is it weakly) on "Headbanger's Ball".

Several?

(I think it's just the way that large image files always get a little wonky when you reduce them a lot, but in the photo in your signature, poor Lindsey looks like Joe Pesci!)

The one singer that automatically came to mind is Sophie B. Hawkins - so underated as a singer and as a songwriter. Anybody who has heard "Tounges & Tails" "Whaler" or even "Timbre" will know what I am talking about - she is really nothing short of incredible.

Sadly she is remebered as nothing more than a two hit wonder :(

Marianne Faithfull. She's my new Stevie. :D :laugh:

I love Marianne. And her new album is great.

I personally think Cyndi Lauper is overlooked and underrated. Although more people are finding out how talented she is now, with her new album and The Three Penny Opera going on, a lot of people seem so surprised by it. "Oh, I didn't know she could sing!" or, "Wow, she's still doing stuff?" :rolleyes:

Partridge Family.....natch

You beat me to it, Ryan... Maria is really otherworldly. She's probably the best vocalist out there after Ann Wilson.

Hmmmm... I don't know about "underrated", but some of the best out there that don't sell in the big leagues or are under the radar (or were under the radar)


The Innocence Mission

Loreena McKennitt

The Grapes of Wrath

Michelle Shocked

Edie Brickell

Iris DeMent

The Indigo Girls

Tuck and Patti


There are more out there... I'll think of them later.

Pia Zadora.