Rolling Stone mags Most Underrated Album of the Decade List

[oldgreg]

Here's what RS readers said .....hmmmmmmm What do you think?
1. The Killers – Sam’s Town
2. Pearl Jam – Pearl Jam
3. Kings of Leon – Because of the Times
4. R.E.M – Accelerate
5. Radiohead – Hail to the Thief
6. The Killers – Day & Age
7. The Raconteurs – Consolers of the Lonely
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show Your Bones
9. Beck – Guero
10. Muse – Black Holes and Revelations
11. Pearl Jam – Backspacer
12. The Mars Volta – De-Loused in the Comatorium
13. Them Crooked Vultures – Them Crooked Vultures
14. Guns n’ Roses – Chinese Democracy
15. Alice in Chains – Black Gives Way to Blue
16. Franz Ferdinand – You Could Have It So Much Better
17. Green Day – Warning
18. Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
19. Cake – Comfort Eagle
20. Blink-182 – Blink-182

[quicksilv001]

That is a terrible list. That list should be called "Most Underrated Albums of the Decade by Bands Everyone Knows About Already"

[oddwithoutend]

I think RS readers are retarded. For example, Black Holes and Revelations recieved a huge amount of critical praise. The same can be said for Deloused... and many other albums on the list. Hail to the Thief? Give me a break.

[narcoleptic953]

Well Sam's Town is fucking awesome.

[wuduprod]

Warning was fucking terrible and Pearl Jam is the cause of all the alternatrash currently on the radio.

But there are some good albums on the list.

[oddwithoutend]

Good does not equal underrated, though.

[kearn1tm]

Do you have a link?

[ktkicksit]

I think RS readers are retarded. For example, Black Holes and Revelations recieved a huge amount of critical praise. The same can be said for Deloused... and many other albums on the list. Hail to the Thief? Give me a break.

2nd that: Black Holes and Deloused are both waaaay under-rated

[MADSTA]

I wouldn't say that De-loused is underrated at all.

[oddwithoutend]

2nd that: Black Holes and Deloused are both waaaay under-rated
But that isn't what I said at all. Both have recieved ridiculous amounts of praise.

[knowwhoyouare?]

Because of the Times was hugely underrated, still one of KOL's best.

...And actually, Hail to the Thief was pretty underrated, in my opinion. I still think it was one of their best albums, even better than Kid A.

[wuduprod]

i re-read the list and noticed chinese democracy is on there. failure.

[oddwithoutend]

I wouldn't say that De-loused is underrated at all.
Considering that pitchfork is probably the only site that didn't think the album was great, it's hard to disagree with this.

[oddwithoutend]

Because of the Times was hugely underrated, still one of KOL's best.

...And actually, Hail to the Thief was pretty underrated, in my opinion. I still think it was one of their best albums, even better than Kid A.
Are you sure you think HTTT is underrated, or is it that Kid A is overrated? I don't know about you, but I've never seen a review for HTTT that didn't think the album was great.

[knowwhoyouare?]

I think the RS readers wanted these albums to a) sell more and b) win more awards, not just get good reviews, which is a stupid basis for saying something is underrated.

And you know what? I think you're right, Kid A was just overrated.

[DCD08]

the killers fucking suck

[Machu505]

Seeing as I've seen De-Loused in the top five of many of the list I've seen (including my own), I highly doubt you can count it as overrated.

[kearn1tm]

Are you sure you think HTTT is underrated, or is it that Kid A is overrated? I don't know about you, but I've never seen a review for HTTT that didn't think the album was great.

The initial Rolling Stone review gave it three and a half stars (out of five), and claimed, though good, it paled in comparison to Kid A, and that's really the status it's always been ascribed by critics/fans. It's unfairly placed into the context of Kid A, despite trying to accomplish something else entirely, and was sandwiched between Radiohead's magnus opus (the one-two combination of Kid A and Amnesiac) and their return from a three year recording absence and the album that helped change digital distribution (In_Rainbows). Hail often becomes a footnote in their output this decade, and it's indicative in the fact that it was their lowest selling effort this decade.

I don't know if I care for terms like "over/underrated," but when placed in the context of their other releases this year, Hail is unjustly overshadowed and under-appreciated.

[narcoleptic953]

the killers fucking suck

Dude, you listen to Sum 41 and Underoath.

[evvandflow]

Them Crooked Vultures? Really?

[Smeee]

Pretty much none of those bands are anywhere near "underrated". Awful list.

[kearn1tm]

For those who actually want to corroborate this list with a link (which is proper posting etiquette), here it is: http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/12/14/readers-rock-list-most-underrated-album-of-the-decade/

[KatieKutthroat.]

Wow, I don't agree with this list even a little. I'm not sure how most of these albums count as underrated. And lol at Chinese Democracy...I thought it was terrible. All of these artists already get so much praise as it is...

[k1guitar]

i think these people think there so indy and cool listening to albums released on MAJOR LABELS and just arent listened to everyone who buys the magazine, even these people constantly put up major numbers in sales and ticket sales, you just wont hear most of this stuff on the radio. except for the first 2. pearl jam & the killers? REALLY???

[GhostFight]

are you kidding me?? two killers albums in the top ten?

Chinese Democracy?!?

[DCD08]

Dude, you listen to Sum 41 and Underoath.

aaaannnnndddd whats your point?

btw did you have to scope out my profile to find something to use as a reply?
kinda weak....

[narcoleptic953]

i think these people think there so indy and cool listening to albums released on MAJOR LABELS and just arent listened to everyone who buys the magazine, even these people constantly put up major numbers in sales and ticket sales, you just wont hear most of this stuff on the radio. except for the first 2. pearl jam & the killers? REALLY???

Uhhhhhh...what?

[narcoleptic953]

aaaannnnndddd whats your point?

btw did you have to scope out my profile to find something to use as a reply?
kinda weak....

Well...Sum 41 and Underoath fuckin' suck, man.

[DCD08]

Well...Sum 41 and Underoath fuckin' suck, man.

why?

[narcoleptic953]

why?

Well I'll tell you, but first, why do the killers "fucking suck"?

[evvandflow]

taste is subjective, so you both lose.

[honkyg88]

Uhhhhhh...what?
Yeah...I'm with you on that one.
But I agree with them on Sam's Town, Franz Ferdinand, Raconteurs, and Blink.

[Brand-new-123]

The Snake The Cross The Crown - both Mander Salis and Cotton Mouth

[x togepi x]

i'm pretty sure the killers get way more needless praise than most.

[DCD08]

Well I'll tell you, but first, why do the killers "fucking suck"?

because the vocals sound weird to me and i'm not into the whole extremely indie ambient alternative scene and i've seen footage of their live sets and its weird and they dress up funny and the lyrics don't make sense to me

and i can't even pay attention to any of their songs because all thats going through my head is

"this really fucking sucks"

[narcoleptic953]

because the vocals sound weird to me and i'm not into the whole extremely indie ambient alternative scene and i've seen footage of their live sets and its weird and they dress up funny and the lyrics don't make sense to me

and i can't even pay attention to any of their songs because all thats going through my head is

"this really fucking sucks"

So basically, all just your opinion, in which case you should have just said "I don't like the Killers."

I find Sum 41 and Underoath both completely lacking in every techincal aspect, especially vocals. Sum 41 writes derivative, generic, boring songs with awful lyrics, and any band where screaming substitutes singing is garbage to me, but yeah, thats all opinion too.

So that guy was right, we both lose.

[oddwithoutend]

The initial Rolling Stone review gave it three and a half stars (out of five), and claimed, though good, it paled in comparison to Kid A, and that's really the status it's always been ascribed by critics/fans. It's unfairly placed into the context of Kid A, despite trying to accomplish something else entirely, and was sandwiched between Radiohead's magnus opus (the one-two combination of Kid A and Amnesiac) and their return from a three year recording absence and the album that helped change digital distribution (In_Rainbows). Hail often becomes a footnote in their output this decade, and it's indicative in the fact that it was their lowest selling effort this decade.
Even if we assume 3.5/5 was its average rating (which is likely not high enough), to think that of all albums, it was a Radiohead album that was the most underrated is ridiculous. Sure, when compared to Kid A it's overlooked, but you can say the same about basically any album released in the last ten years. The only reason people say it about HTTT is because it's a Radiohead release. Again, if there is a problem in Radiohead critique this decade, it is only logical to believe it is the hyperbole used in discussions about Kid A.

[murrich]

because the vocals sound weird to me and i'm not into the whole extremely indie ambient alternative scene and i've seen footage of their live sets and its weird and they dress up funny and the lyrics don't make sense to me

and i can't even pay attention to any of their songs because all thats going through my head is

"this really fucking sucks"

hahahahahahahah

Edit: Didn't the Them Crooked Vultures album only just come out?

[kearn1tm]

Even if we assume 3.5/5 was its average rating (which is likely not high enough), to think that of all albums, it was a Radiohead album that was the most underrated is ridiculous. Sure, when compared to Kid A it's overlooked, but you can say the same about basically any album released in the last ten years. The only reason people say it about HTTT is because it's a Radiohead release. Again, if there is a problem in Radiohead critique this decade, it is only logical to believe it is the hyperbole used in discussions about Kid A.

There's a valid argument in the fact that this album, within the canon of Radiohead releases, is often overlooked and underappreciated.

Now, as for releases in general, absolutely, this has no place on a list like this. Again, as mentioned above, "in the context of their other work, it's overlooked." I think we're in agreement.

[xkrisstenxx]

radiohead <3

[murrich]

radiohead <3


What is that thing supposed to be? It looks like an ice cream with two scoops.

[kearn1tm]

What is that thing supposed to be? It looks like an ice cream with two scoops.

I think you know. Not only do I think you know, I think you're being coy.

Also, I'm a detective...not unlike Batman.

[murrich]

I think you know. Not only do I think you know, I think you're being coy.

Also, I'm a detective...not unlike Batman.

I'm not really up to date with internet language, there's too many abbreviations for me to keep up.

[Max_123]

i'm surprised no one has commented on Blink being on this list
when that album came out they were fucking everywhere, back when MTV still played music the videos for Feeling This and I Miss You were played like 3893075789034789023745 times a day

[murrich]

i'm surprised no one has commented on Blink being on this list
when that album came out they were fucking everywhere, back when MTV still played music the videos for Feeling This and I Miss You were played like 3893075789034789023745 times a day

The whole list is a joke.

[Max_123]

The whole list is a joke.
well i know that, but people have been commented on like every other band on the list i was just surprised no one mentioned them yet

[And Hours Pass]

i re-read the list and noticed chinese democracy is on there. failure.
There must be something about that album, because I didn't notice it when looking at the list either... It must suck so hard that people don't notice it on first glance...

[ThisIsNotDan]

if it was called "Most Underrated Albums of the Decade by Famous Musical Acts" then yeah it would be a good list

[SanePsychotic]

I like that Warning is on there, though I'd bet I'm one of the few that think it deserves to be on that list.

[mattmatumbo]

RS is retarded

[saturday_snow_squall]

hahahahahahaha i think we all know not to take anything rolling stone produces seriously

[Burn That Shit]

this was a list made by their readers. do you think most people who get their music information from rolling stone are going to know of actual underrated albums? at least half of that list is music that was praised.

not to say that most of the users on this site would make a better list anyway.

[IWasaCamera]

Seems as though users are yet again conflating "underrated" with "obscure". These are records Rolling Stone (which has always covered the tip of the iceberg) felt deserved more love, not seeing the issue.

[GuitarR0cker1]

this was a list made by their readers. do you think most people who get their music information from rolling stone are going to know of actual underrated albums? at least half of that list is music that was praised.

not to say that most of the users on this site would make a better list anyway.
I was just about to say this. The people that make up Rolling Stone's readership should never be expected to make an even remotely reasonable list. Honestly they could have done worst.

[schenksta]

I'm more interested in seeing a "Most Overrated Albums of the Decade" list. Let's see what kind of shit they could come up with for that.

[whiterussian]

I like that Warning is on there,
this right here

some of the other choices are reasonable.

Any "underrated" list chosen by such a mass will obviously only feature popular bands.

[sweepthenation]

Horrible magazine, written for the same people that are on http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

[Mochem]

Agreed on Warning. Probably Day & Age as well. At least on this site it's underrated.

[atticus18244fss]

I wouldn't call blink's self titled underrated. They got a ton of singles out of it. It's an amazing album but it was well known. I agree with Day and Age though.

[SanePsychotic]

this right here

some of the other choices are reasonable.

Any "underrated" list chosen by such a mass will obviously only feature popular bands.

Glad to see that someone else is in on the Warning love.

[:-)]

Until Twilight came out Muse was always highly underrated in the United States... Black Holes could have made this list last year but not this year. That album's finally been getting its love lately.

Edit: I agree with everyone who mentioned Warning.

[guitarpickheart]

I think most of these albums are pretty popular already.

[guitarpickheart]

because the vocals sound weird to me and i'm not into the whole extremely indie ambient alternative scene and i've seen footage of their live sets and its weird and they dress up funny and the lyrics don't make sense to me


I was very confused at first because I thought I'd mistaken The Killers for another band or something.

[dpatrickguy]

Wait Rolling Stone compiled a list that is a complete joke? When did this start happening?

[anthonydarko]

Warning is an underrated record, at least in terms of Green Day's discography. It's one of their very best, but it's probably the Green Day record that most people have never heard. Also, wasn't Sam's Town a huge success for The Killers?

[mulcahy67]

Black Gives Way to Blue wasnt underrated, it just sucked really hard so no one cared. i have no idea how that shit made it up there.

i kind of agree about Sam's town though. that album was critically panned from what i remember when it came out, rolling stone being one of the many magazines that gave it a bad review. when, overall, i think it might be my favorite.

[CarouselBoy]

Chinese Democracy definitely should not be on that list. Neither should blink. I agree with the Killers' two records being on there though.

i'm pretty sure the killers get way more needless praise than most.

not for sam's town or this day and age

[RiCCioLi]

blink 182 self titled is way underrated minus the shitty single
green day-warning is so much better than american idiot and 21st century
guns and roses is actually a decent album

[heyguys123]

warning is insanely underrated. my second favorite green day behind kerplunk. the rest of this list blows.

[abcdefghijake]

Until Twilight came out Muse was always highly underrated in the United States... Black Holes could have made this list last year but not this year. That album's finally been getting its love lately.

Edit: I agree with everyone who mentioned Warning.
'A couple years ago Muse was pretty big in the states, but then they fell off.
Not really a fan.

[:-)]

'A couple years ago Muse was pretty big in the states, but then they fell off.
Not really a fan.

Well they're certainly huge now. All the floor tickets to their Atlanta concert in February sold out within a few minutes.

[xmicxcorex]

I really wish RS would close the doors. I'm sick and tired of "fill in the blank of the decade" awards. They almost always cover about the same 50 bands, rarely touching on bands that could really use the exposure, and furthermore, RS is forcing it's readers to subject themselves to poor grammar (I once took a poorly-written RS article to an English teacher in high school to see if she'd edit it, she stated "BIC will never create enough red ink for this monstrosity") which only contributes further to the idiocy I hear from people in the aftermath.
them: "I seen Kings Of Leon last night, they was pretty good"
me: "Try that one more time."

(mind you, I don't claim to have perfect grammar, but for god's sake, I'm not an international publication, either!)

[Paulb-182]

Here's what RS readers said .....hmmmmmmm What do you think?

3. Kings of Leon – Because of the Times
17. Green Day – Warning
20. Blink-182 – Blink-182

I do actually love those three albums and would put them in my list of albums of the decade somewhere, so I agree with that part.

[jbertclassic]

Blah list. Most of these are overrated if anything

[asthenia*]

So basically, all just your opinion, in which case you should have just said "I don't like the Killers."

I find Sum 41 and Underoath both completely lacking in every techincal aspect, especially vocals. Sum 41 writes derivative, generic, boring songs with awful lyrics, and any band where screaming substitutes singing is garbage to me, but yeah, thats all opinion too.

So that guy was right, we both lose.

i don't listen to underoath but to make a broad claim that sum 41 is lacking in every technical aspect is just ridiculous. steveo's drumming and brown sounds guitar chops are highly underrated, emphasis on brown sound. i agree that sum 41 licks now, but you can't listen to the solo off in too deep and seriously say it isn't technical.

[Lirr168]

I wish that just one of these end-of-the-decade lists wouldn't suck.

[x togepi x]

not for sam's town or this day and age

those albums were awful and the fact that rolling stone covers them at all proves you wrong.

[atticus18244fss]

those albums were awful and the fact that rolling stone covers them at all proves you wrong.

Day and Age is amazing. Sam's Town not so much.

[stonecoldfox]

So basically, all just your opinion, in which case you should have just said "I don't like the Killers."

I find Sum 41 and Underoath both completely lacking in every techincal aspect, especially vocals. Sum 41 writes derivative, generic, boring songs with awful lyrics, and any band where screaming substitutes singing is garbage to me, but yeah, thats all opinion too.

So that guy was right, we both lose.

what "technical aspects" are underoath lacking?