What is the most underrated album ever?

At We7, we are big fans of albums, new and old. We’ve come to the conclusion that in order to discover the true diversity and depth of an artist you need to listen to their album as a complete work – as they intended it to be listened to.

With so many underrated masterpieces that never got the praise they deserved and with We7 providing such an easy way to listen to complete albums, we have decided to launch our search for the most underrated album ever and we need your help.

So, we got six of the best music bloggers to nominate what they see as the most underrated albums of all time. You can have a rant about the choices, tell us who’s missing from the list and vote for your favourite here from their nominations. We’ll be announcing the winner in January.

And here the big ten are...

Sean is "a survivor of the Britpop Wars of the mid-to-late ‘90s" and writes amongst other places, at the fabulous Pop Junkie TV. He has gone for:

1. Gene’s "great lost masterpiece" – 'Drawn To The Deep End' "From its lavish sleeve design, to the way its track-listing runs, like a film or a concept album, with a powerful intro and a dramatic finale, Drawn To The Deep End was, arguably, one of the finest - and darkest - Britpop releases ever – a proper record, from start to finish... At the risk of sounding like my dad, they don’t make ‘em like that anymore."

Head here to read more of Sean’s post

Stuart at one of the wittiest music blogs you could hope to come across, My Chemical Toilet –chooses:

2. Charlotte Hatherley’s 'Grey Will Fade' "It's just one of those albums - mainly upbeat, catchy guitar-pop which might not stick on the first listen but is hard to shake from your head after two. By listen three it might as well be the only album left in the world."

3. Siobhan Donaghy and her album Ghosts

Head here to read more of Stuart’s post

Mof at Electric Roulette is Manchester’s finest muso-blogger busy setting the music world to rights, his eclectic selections:

4. The Beep Seals’ LP Things That Roar "This brand of joy is completely infectious too. I wanna live where the kids heads are at. I always said I wanted to go on holiday in the opening bars of 'Inner City Blues' by Marvin Gaye, but I've changed my mind. Destination: Beep Seal Island."

5. Canadian folkster David Wiffen’s self titled album: "it's a warts-and-all recording that leaves you breathless and scratchin' yer noggin, wondering why... and how... this man didn't sell a fuckin' million...It's heart wrenching... it's gorgeous... it deserves a place in every single record collection in the world."

Head here to read more of Mof’s post

Victoria from Victoria’s Jukebox has chosen:

6. The Divine Comedy’s Fin De Siècle – "with this album it is obvious they made one hell of a journey...My only criticism is that I wish it was longer...Search it out and then go back me on We7 as this little baby deserves to win!"

Head here to read more of Victoria’s post

Jonathan – ‘scribbler, ranter, celebrater and observer’ of all things music at sexasaforeignlanguage plumps for:

7. Scottish rockers Idlewild and their album 100 Broken Windows.

8. Alkaline Trio and their album Crimson.

And last, but not least, uber music fan Stuart from industry bible Music Ally opts for

9. The Black Crowes’ Amorica – "the album sounds so tight and together – ironically, given the entertaining stories of brotherly disputes that hampered its recording."

10. Primal Scream’s much maligned 1994 effort Give Out, But Don’t Give Up – "The album kicks off with Rocks – still one of THE most guaranteed dancefloor-fillers – followed by Jailbird’s ace riffing and call-and-response chorus, followed by beautiful booze-soaked ballad Cry Myself Blind. And then George Clinton turns up…"

Head here to read more of Stuart’s post

So what do you think? Good? Bad? Who was robbed and should have been on here? We can’t wait to hear what you think!

Leave a comment below and vote your favourite album here.

Comments

[Soulsupastarr]

Curtis Mayfield's "New World Order" is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated albums. Sadly, Curtis became a quadriplegic after an accident on stage in 1990 but despite this he managed to record a new album with collaborators including Shirley Murdock; the late, great Roger Troutman (of Zapp) & Aretha Franklin amongst others.

The stand out tracks on "New World Order" are the inspirational 'Back To Living Again', 'Just A Little Bit Of Love', an updated version of 'We People Who Are Darker Than Blue' featuring Roger on his trademark talkbox & production, the mid-tempo ballad duet 'I Believe In You', 'It Was Love That We Needed' (with Shirley Murdock & Roger producing), 'The Girl I Find Stays On My Mind' & ' Oh So Beautiful'. Overall the album is one of the best of Curtis Mayfield's musical career, along with his classic album's "Curtis", "Superfly" & "Roots".

The book "Curtis Mayfield (1942-1999): People Never Give Up" by Peter Burns goes into detail of the recording of "New World Order" and it's tremendous that Curtis recorded the album of such high quality despite his disability. For all fans of great music (of any genre), "New World Order" is highly recommended.

[bianca]

Hello
I do wish to point you out to KiNo and his debut album 'map of the universe', an ex-pat expanding in new york at the moment. 
Currently, in the spirit of the new year's anticipation, he wishes to share the album with people free of charge. 
We would be glad if you can amplify this new independent artist. 

You may download the album here; 
http://www.kinomapoftheuniverse.com/mp3

best 

bianca

[Dan Coleborn]

Imogen Heap, Speak For Yourself really should have been on this list. Every song is a strength and personifies a different emotion, they really should be on here.
Dan

[mrsifter]

i reckon the Stone Roses' second album 'Second Coming' should have made it to the list - really great guitar grooves that remind me of Cream and Led Zep