TT5 - Most Underrated Bands

Day late and a dollar short. Better late than never.........

There are so many bands and singers in today's music that are way overrated. Today, I'm showcasing my top 5 underrated bands of all time.


5) Sleigh Bells
This is a wild card pick for me. I discovered this band in college based on a recommendation by Rolling Stone. I blindly bought their debut album (first time for me) and was very pleasantly surprised. This noise duo is just pure energy and Alexis Krauss is the perfect mix of hype-woman and singer. They're worth checking out if you haven't. They don't tour much and I've missed all their shows close to me as of recent, but I'm dying to see them live as I hear it is quite the performance.
Key Listen: Infinity Guitars

4) Cactus
They call themselves the American Led Zeppelin and anyone who's seen the Anvil documentary knows that Lips and Robb met over a shared fascination with them. Take out the folk and world music that LZ experimented with and I would agree that Cactus is the American Led Zeppelin. They are still putting out music, but their first 4 albums are classic blues based rock. If you're a fan of LZ, Cream, The Guess Who, Grand Funk Railroad, or Jeff Beck, you'll love Cactus.
Key Listen: Long Tall Sally

3) Reignwolf
This one man band (with a few guys thrown in every once in a while) is a budding mega star. Reignwolf (Jordan Cook) plays guitar like a cross between Kurt Cobain and Jimmy Page, has a raspy singing voice that is way past his years, and also plays the drums (sometimes all at once). He only has three singles that have been officially released, but he's been touring all over including opening for Black Sabbath. Keep an eye out, this guy is going places.
Key Listen: Are You Satisfied?

2) Wolfmother
Depending on what your definition of underrated is, you may disagree that Wolfmother even belongs in this category, but I would say that Wolfmother has not received anything close to the attention that they deserve. I say they, but in reality Andrew Stockdale is the driving force behind this band, and what a driving force he is. These Aussies have put out some amazing bare bones, no frills rock for about 10 years. Anyone who has seen any of the Hangover movies has heard their music as it's been featured in all three. Their music is catchy, upbeat, and very dependent on Andrew's riffs.
Key Listen: Love Train

1) Accept / UDO
I know, I know, this is two bands. One thing they share is vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, but I am also including Accept's work after Udo left. Accept are so criminally underrated, it's quite sad actually. Accept found a style and a groove in the late 70s and have stayed true to that even with multiple lead singers. Anyone who is a fan of power metal or NWOBHM will love Accept. UDO is a very similar band to Accept, but they maintained the voice that gave Accept it's start. Udo Dirkschneider is such a unique singer, and the best vocalist to compliment the screaming guitars of power metal. Udo is like Lemmy (without the drinking and female exploits) in the sense that he fully embodies what heavy metal is and has such an iconic voice that it'd be hard to imagine his music sung by anyone else.
Key Listen (Accept): Balls to the Wall
Key Listen (UDO): Animal House