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Prog albums you think are a little underrated?
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Jared View Drop Down
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    Posted: July 19 2024 at 23:06
Complimentary to the other thread if you like....

speaking personally, I've never really been a fan of this 'Overrated' tag, because it just invites us to list classic albums we don't think are as good as the common consensus makes them out to be.

I much prefer it to be the other way round, so are there well known albums you like which have come in for some flack but you feel is unfair? Does it have a low rating on PA and you feel it's slightly unjust? To keep this thread a little more focussed, I'd ask forum members to only include albums which score less than 3 stars.

Just to get the thread going, I'll kick out a couple:

Steve Hackett: Cured (1981)
The early 80's were an unkind time for the 70's prog giants and of course this was a bit 'poppier' than what went before, but it's not a bad album. Sure the first couple of tracks don't do it any favours, but there's still some great guitar work here; there are no turkeys and 'The Air Conditioned Nightmare' is great. A rating of 2.42 is harsh...

Eloy: Performance (1983)
Sure, it's a step down from the wonderful trilogy of albums which went before it, but 2.88? Even Ra is rated 2.79?! You might describe this as the 'And Then There Were Three' of Eloy's catalogue; it has all the style and essence of classic Eloy without all the substance, but to my ears it is consistently good, no turkeys and A Broken Frame is great...

So, when you are surveying ratings of band's discographies on PA and you come across an unfair anomaly, which are they are why? 
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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verslibre View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Jared Jared wrote:

Eloy: Performance (1983)
Sure, it's a step down from the wonderful trilogy of albums which went before it, but 2.88? Even Ra is rated 2.79?! You might describe this as the 'And Then There Were Three' of Eloy's catalogue; it has all the style and essence of classic Eloy without all the substance, but to my ears it is consistently good, no turkeys and A Broken Frame is great...


I fully agree, as I like both Performance and Metromania quite a bit.
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Gentle Giant - The Missing Piece
Genesis - s/t
Genesis - Abacab
Genesis - Invisible Touch
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Yes debut album 

Starcastle debut album 

ELP debut album 

Uriah Heep's debut album 

Many times, prog debuts were lightning caught in a bottle! 
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Consorzio Acqua Potabile Nei Gorghi Del Tempo
Montefeltro Il Tempo di Far la Fantasia
Galaad Premier Février
Versailles  Le Trésor de Valliesres
Daphne Daphne
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Comus To Keep From Crying which I helped bump the rating up to, now, 2.87 with a review (I gave it three stars)

"To Keep From Crying might just be the antidote some of you need from the dirtiness you feel from having listened to "Drip Drip".

If I were the tearful type, I'd say that all the disdain this album gets has barely kept me from crying. I wish more people would join the light side of Comus while still appreciating the dark side. Not only do I think that this album does not get enough respect from those who love First Utterance, but I wish that it got more attention from those who hate Comus based on the rather dark and disturbing, pagan themed conceptual album called First Utterance."

Magma's Merci is another (side B especially has some i think wonderful music).

Tangerine Dream's Zeit now has a respectable 3.72 but it had less than three stars for many years.  While I can understand many not have the patience for it, I did think that sorely underrated as I consider it to be a  masterpiece of its ilk.  Mind you, if that ilk is garbage to one....  Also, Electronic Meditation now scores over three, and I have seen quite a few people holding it in low regard, but that is the album that got me into Tangerine Dream.  I have seen plenty of scorn for it.

Pink Floyd's More I was going to mention, and I seen now that its ratings has risen over the 2s into the 3s with 3.15 at PA. 



Duos for fave acts
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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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5 stars 1977: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Works Volume 1 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LtbMMJU_ueOBFsKScckwbjp (rated 2.96 on PA)
3 stars 1978: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Love Beach - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvU2i83JQfiswmBTTaAyhB5 (rated 2.12 on PA)
4 stars 1986: Emerson, Lake & Powell - Emerson, Lake & Powell - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LtKb2sKbN9e7RqzfFtnb3k0 (rated 3.13 on PA)
5 stars 1992: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Black Moon - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvKlKtnIef2L-sKwWozM6Dh (rated 2.77 on PA)

3 stars 1994: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - In the Hot Seat - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LsRElYTXER7YSEMhEIOmP3D (rated 1.78 on PA, which sounds about right) Tongue
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Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:

Tangerine Dream's Zeit now has a respectable 3.72 but it had less than three stars for many years.  While I can understand many not have the patience for it, I did think that sorely underrated as I consider it to be a  masterpiece of its ilk.  Mind you, if that ilk is garbage to one....  Also, Electronic Meditation now scores over three, and I have seen quite a few people holding it in low regard, but that is the album that got me into Tangerine Dream.  I have seen plenty of scorn for it.

Thanks for your comments, Greg... Smile

Not helped no doubt, by Edgar's apparent own low opinion of their first four works?

Zeit is for one of those evenings of deep meditation, with a beer in hand and the lights off, where you 'feel' every nuance and atmospheric change in the music... music this sparse and minimalistic, clearly isn't going to be for everyone, and even for those who do accept it, it's probably only for certain occasions. Interestingly, I actually listened to Zeit last night (I'm recovering from Covid in my bedroom, so had the lights off)

Alpha Centauri and Atem get more of a listen at chez Butcher as a general rule; I really like Atem. Electronic Meditation is the one I still struggle to fully appreciate, but a little while ago, I did invest in the Esoteric Box Set 'The Pink Years' 70-73, which has given this relationship added impetus...
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Jared View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:


3 stars 1994: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - In the Hot Seat - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LsRElYTXER7YSEMhEIOmP3D (rated 1.78 on PA, which sounds about right) Tongue

Upon reflection, I think this thread was made for you, Paul... there seem to be all manner of unloved, strange 'runts of the litter' that you take to your heart and champion.. LOL
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Jared Jared wrote:

Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:


3 stars 1994: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - In the Hot Seat - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LsRElYTXER7YSEMhEIOmP3D (rated 1.78 on PA, which sounds about right) Tongue

Upon reflection, I think this thread was made for you, Paul... there seem to be all manner of unloved, strange 'runts of the litter' that you take to your heart and champion.. LOL
You're right! I like the positivity in this thread which counter-balances the negativity in the "Overrated Prog Albums" thread. Smile
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Jared View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

You're right! I like the positivity in this thread which counter-balances the negativity in the "Overrated Prog Albums" thread. Smile

Yes, I think the 'Classics' all score 4 stars and more, because they are classics which have stood the test of time and are therefore highly rated; no point saying they are overrated, is there? Of course, we all have 'classic albums' we personally just can't enjoy, like we have a mental block, where we just don't see what everyone else sees, no matter how hard you try. There are albums like that for me too, but I tend to accept that the short coming lies with me and not the album, since just about everyone else on the forum thinks it's marvellous?
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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presdoug View Drop Down
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Eloy-Inside
The Pink Mice-In Action and In Synthesizer Sound
Strange Days-9 Parts To The Wind
Wallenstein-No More Love
Triumvirat-Mediterranean Tales
Il Baricentro-Sconcerto
Solution-Divergence

there's a few....
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And this subject has certainly been covered before as well, but okay, some I'll surely mention are all the ELP albums beginning with the debut and up to and including BSS.
                      quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Jared Jared wrote:

Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:


3 stars 1994: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - In the Hot Seat - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LsRElYTXER7YSEMhEIOmP3D (rated 1.78 on PA, which sounds about right) Tongue

Upon reflection, I think this thread was made for you, Paul... there seem to be all manner of unloved, strange 'runts of the litter' that you take to your heart and champion.. LOL
Yes, just like these three underrated albums for instance. Smile

4 stars 2014: Yes - Heaven & Earth - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Tfxf8B-2QCkUQmwItn52pk5QZglz2Hj (chronically underrated at 2.30 on PA) Cry
4 stars 2021: Yes - The Quest - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lD6x-iaY3we25X25RBbX2g_ee9AmZCUlA (rated only 2.90 on PA) Ouch
5 stars 2023: Yes - Mirror to the Sky - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mdLFJt9iPnV0i5cqbPQzOA3-wD3VEgJxA (inexplicably rated only 3.42 on PA) Shocked
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Ambrosia's first and second recordings.  I found them in the cut-out bins (remember those?) so many years ago, and loved them immensely.(function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'8a642722c9330914',t:'MTcyMTQ5MTEwOC4wMDAwMDA='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.nonce='';a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();< height="1" width="1" style=": ; top: 0px; left: 0px; border: none; visibility: ;">






Edited by TerLJack - July 20 2024 at 09:58
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Jared View Drop Down
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Originally posted by TerLJack TerLJack wrote:

Ambrosia's first and second recordings.  I found them in the cut-out bins (remember those?) so many years ago, and loved them immensely.

Although they both score over 3, with the debut 3.90, they aren't really underrated (the debut in particular is often cited in Fb groups), but they are for me a timely reminder, because I do need to give them a serious listen at some stage in the near future, so thanks... Clap
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Jared View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Yes, just like these three underrated albums for instance. Smile

4 stars 2014: Yes - Heaven & Earth - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Tfxf8B-2QCkUQmwItn52pk5QZglz2Hj (chronically underrated at 2.30 on PA) Cry
4 stars 2021: Yes - The Quest - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lD6x-iaY3we25X25RBbX2g_ee9AmZCUlA (rated only 2.90 on PA) Ouch
5 stars 2023: Yes - Mirror to the Sky - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mdLFJt9iPnV0i5cqbPQzOA3-wD3VEgJxA (inexplicably rated only 3.42 on PA) Shocked

I had been patiently waiting for you to post some unfairly maligned Yes albums and credit where it's due, you didn't disappoint... Thumbs Up
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Jared View Drop Down
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Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:


And this subject has certainly been covered before as well, but okay, some I'll surely mention are all the ELP albums beginning with the debut and up to and including BSS.

Yes, the subject probably has been covered before David, as has just about every other subject...

So, given my criteria, which of the albums cited could you make out a case for as being underrated?
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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Jared View Drop Down
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Originally posted by presdoug presdoug wrote:

Eloy-Inside
The Pink Mice-In Action and In Synthesizer Sound
Strange Days-9 Parts To The Wind
Wallenstein-No More Love
Triumvirat-Mediterranean Tales
Il Baricentro-Sconcerto
Solution-Divergence

there's a few....

Looks like an interesting list Doug; worthy of exploration... Smile
Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
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verslibre View Drop Down
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^Il Baricentro made two great albums, Sconcerto (1976) and Trusciant (1978) — the epitome of underrated.

https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2138
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