The music world has been rocked with some big new albums releasing or being rumored to release soon. As the hype builds, I’m revisiting some more underrated albums before these big artists drop. And of course, it’s been a while since the last music-based article, so here are some really underrated albums from artists big and small.
They Might Be Giants - Factory Showroom
They Might Be Giants have certainly had their time in the spotlight, most notably with their 1990 album Flood, including hits “Birdhouse in Your Soul,” “Particle Man,” and “Istanbul (Not Constantinople).” Flood is a great album, but being their biggest, it’s bound to be one of their more overrated. I’d like to highlight their 1996 record Factory Showroom, with some great alternative rock tracks, also highlighting the sillier and lighthearted side of TMBG. There’s the second track “Till My Head Falls Off” which is a great rock song with some cool lyrics if you really listen to them, then “New York City,” a fun, light-hearted love(?) song, and then eventually comes a song titled “James K. Polk,” which is just a song talking about how our eleventh president won his presidency and what he did during it, and it’s honestly a great song. Overall this album really doesn’t miss, so for fans of lighthearted songs or just some great alt rock, check this one out.
Top 3 Tracks: Till My Head Falls Off, Spiraling Shape, New York City
Tristam - WLUWD
Tristam is a name that you’d probably only know (if so) from early 2010s electronic, dubstep, and drum and bass, but he’s strayed from his roots to create an incredible electro pop/art pop record that’s beautifully emotional and he makes himself vulnerable here with the topics. It touches on many aspects of relationships, and although he had little experience in this type of music before dropping the singles leading up to this LP, he knocked it out of the park. This album is raw and emotional, tied together with some beautiful themes, vocals, and production. If you’re willing to take the dive into a style not commonly heard in the mainstream, check this one out.
Top 3 Tracks: Mistake, Different, With Love Until We Die
The Avett Brothers - Magpie and the Dandelion
This album has a little bit of nostalgia bias, but it’s certainly never gotten old for me. I consider this record their best, releasing in 2013. It’s a contemporary folk album with some tender love songs, some fun songs about feeling alive, and some other amazing emotional songs. The opening and ending tracks, “Open Ended Life” and “The Clearness is Gone” tie this album together really well, and the order of the tracks flows so well. It’s hard to pick favorites on this album, because all of the songs, while sounding pretty alike, all have their unique values and highs. If you are interested in folk music or even alt country, give this one a try.
Top 3 Tracks: Morning Song, Another is Waiting, Part From Me
Quadeca - SCRAPYARD
Quadeca started his career as what you could call a “YouTube rapper,” with some rather interesting songs and raps back in his early days, but has completely revolutionized his career with his last two records, the most recent being SCRAPYARD, a mixtape. Some incredible raw and emotional songs about past lovers and pain come out of this mixtape, and Quadeca’s performances on it are really nice. There are several pretty short songs, but they truly show how much he’s matured as an artist. If you like hip-hop, especially experimental, try out this mixtape; you won’t regret it.
Top 3 Tracks: DUSTCUTTER, GUESS WHO?, I MAKE IT LOOK EFFORTLESS
They Might Be Giants - Apollo 18
They Might Be Giants certainly have a lot of overlooked and/or underrated albums, and this one is another. Just like Factory Showroom, it’s packed with fun songs with playful yet interesting and creative storytelling and lyricism. The run of seven great songs at the beginning of the album really sets the tone for the last eleven. From “Dig My Grave,” with some crazy fun guitar, to “She’s Actual Size,” a weird but entertaining song about what seems to be a giant terrorizing Brooklyn, They Might Be Giants also knock this record out of the park. The instrumentals on this album are some of their best, and they don’t disappoint elsewhere.
Top 3 Tracks: Dig My Grave, I Palindrome I, Narrow Your Eyes
half•alive - Conditions of a Punk
One of my favorite albums of all time, so it’s criminal how overlooked or unknown half•alive is. Their breakout and first LP, “Now, Not Yet” contains some incredible songs as well, and their song “still feel” from that record gained them most of their popularity they have nowadays. Every song on their latest, “Conditions of a Punk,” is emotional and frankly beautiful. It explores different themes of love and life, with some dives into topics that leave lead singer Josh Taylor vulnerable, and partnered with unique instrumentals, effects, and the like, all 18 songs come together to make a wonderful experience of an album. Listen to this one front to back if you’re going to—it’s worth it.
Top 3 Tracks: Hot Tea, Brighton, Nobody
As always, if you have any album recommendations for me, email sjgst03@basd.k12.pa.us.