Underrated Albums You Consider Better than their Classic

[Doc Samson]

By "their" I mean one of your favorite artists, obviously. I'm a diverse dude, but the gist is the same. Albums you think that are better than an artists' widely viewed best. This shouldn't be contrarian stuff either, but music you really feel has stood the test of time better.

Just a few for me...

Marvin Gay: Let's get it on > What's going on
While the political and social messages are still relevant today, (and What's going on being my favorite song from him) I still think as a whole, Let's get it on just hits me deeper. If I should die tonight, Please Stay, Distant Lover & Just to Keep you Satisfied resonant with me on a stronger basis, and are songs I can listen to whenever, whereas What's going on has songs I need to be in a certain mood for (which is a running theme for this list)

The Beatles: Revolver > Sgt. Pepper's....
Now this has always been up for debate, so its definitely not underrated, but I will say I'm only sleeping, Eleanor Rigby & Good Day Sunshine are what I think of when I think of The Beatles. Period. But hey, that's just me.

Nas: It Was Written > Illmatic
Subject matter notwithstanding, "God's son" had a more complete package of lyrics, beats & imagery on IWW for me. Illmatic contains perhaps his best song (Memory Lane) but IWW is the better piece of work.

Michael Jackson: Off the Wall > Thriller
Personally, this isn't even close. Thriller had huge, incredible songs. But I'm not listening to 'Beat it' in the car or at the house, I'll take 'Girlfriend' or 'Rock with You' anyday.

 

[THANOSRULES]

AC/DC- I think Highway to hell is a better Album than Hells Bells

 

[The Chairman]

Springsteen - While Born to Run is nothing short of a masterpiece and probably best defines him as an artist to the public, I think Tunnel of Love is his strongest collection of songs from start to finish.

Dylan - Blonde on Blonde, while great, is loaded with too much filler to be his best. He has at least five better records than it, with Blood on the Tracks being his best.

The Beatles - Not as controversial, but Abbey Road would get my vote over Sgt. Pepper.

 

[Max J Power]

-I'd probably say I like Nirvana's "In Utero" more than "Nevermind." It's close, but I really like the production/engineering on "In Utero," which pushes it over the line for me.
-In my book, "Hello Nasty" ties "Paul's Boutique" for the Beastie Boys' best album. I think their first three are usually considered their classics.
-"The White Album" and "Revolver" are my two favorite Beatles albums.

 

[WalkingDeadMike]

Dre's 2001 > The Chronic.

 

[bored]

Led Zeppelin's "Zoso"/"IV"/whatever the hell you want to call it is the most well-known of their albums, and half of its songs dominate classic rock radio ("Rock and Roll", "Black Dog", "Going to California", "Stairway to Heaven"), but I honestly prefer "III". It's a longer album, and just rocks in general. And "Gallow's Pole" is the Zep's most underrated song.

 

[redfirebird2008]

Led Zeppelin's "Zoso"/"IV"/whatever the hell you want to call it is the most well-known of their albums, and half of its songs dominate classic rock radio ("Rock and Roll", "Black Dog", "Going to California", "Stairway to Heaven"), but I honestly prefer "III". It's a longer album, and just rocks in general. And "Gallow's Pole" is the Zep's most underrated song.

III has always been underrated compared to some of their other material. If it was pretty much any other band's album, it would be considered their shining achievement. III is wonderful.

 

[Papa G]

Agree with Chronic 2001-The Chronic...The Chronic has some filler, and 2001 is all killer.
NIN The Fragile-The Downward Spiral...The Fragile is my favorite album, and has way more depth and varying emotions than The Downward Spiral, which is still great but mostly dark and terrifying.
Dream Theater's Awake-Metropolis Pt.2...Metropolis Part 2 is regarded as their best, but I think Awake is way better. But I doubt there are lots of DT fans here.
Nirvana's In Utero-Nevermind...In Utero is way grittier and I think captures how the band was intended to sound.
Slayer's Seasons In The Abyss-Reign in Blood...SITA has way more interesting songs and this is the only album where Kerry King took the time to compose actual solos...RIB is all thrash and is awesome, but SITA has better and more anthemic metal songs.

 

[Xeno-noesis]

Metallica - Load > Metallica - Black Album

Imo, Load was their third best, behind Master Of Puppets and Ride The Lightning, but still better than the classic "Black Album". Load was a very polished, smooth, and diverse album. And the production was studio perfection with outstanding sound and balance from every instrument, even the vocals.

Slayer - Diabolus In Muscia > Slayer - Reign In Blood

I think Diabolus represents Slayer the best. It's harsh, vicious, caustic and the vocals are varied. It's not monotonous with bland/generic riffing like all of their older thrash/speed albums...each track is actually varied and is memorable.

 

[Figs]

Led Zeppelin's "Zoso"/"IV"/whatever the hell you want to call it is the most well-known of their albums, and half of its songs dominate classic rock radio ("Rock and Roll", "Black Dog", "Going to California", "Stairway to Heaven"), but I honestly prefer "III". It's a longer album, and just rocks in general. And "Gallow's Pole" is the Zep's most underrated song.

It truly doesn't get the praise that it should.

 

[actionavenue]

I think Aerosmith's "Permanent Vacation" album is superior to their "Pump" album which heralded as one of their best and their comeback album. I love talking about music. I'm not much of a musician. My wife and I are learning to play harmonicas, just not very good at it. I will give you my list of favorite blues/hard rock albums:
1. "Accept No Substitutes" by The Bluebusters, 2. "Permanent Vacation" by Aerosmith, 3. "El Loco" by ZZ Top, 4. "Deguello" by ZZ Top, 5. "Diver Down" by Van Halen, 6. "Family Style" by The Vaughan Brothers (Stevie Ray Vaughan and his brother Jimmie), and finally 7. "The Blues Brothers Soundtrack" by various artists.

 

[Matt Mortem]

Hmmm I guess for me I'd take Incubus' Light Grenades over their classic albums like Make Yourself and Morning View. Or Korn's Take A Look in the Mirror over Follow the Leader.

 

[wayneson]

Most people consider Agents of Fortune and Spectres as the best BOC albums (due to the hits "Don't Fear the Reaper" and "Godzilla"), but I think 1974's Secret Treaties is not only their best album, but one of the best hard rock LPs of all time.

 

[TheAQU4M4N]

RHCP's Blood Sugar Sex Magik over Californication

 

[gap5ewl]

Jimi Hendrix- Axis Bold As Love>Are You Experienced?

Axis: Bold as love has better production quality and still sounds fresh. Bold As Love is one of his most underrated songs also.

The Doors-Strange Days>The Doors

Seriously, Strange Days is a solid album with better lyrical writing from start to finish. The Doors has some filler moments and is pretty dated in other parts

 

[Tanin]

Nirvana -- In Utero .. Nevermind to me sounded nothing like the heart of the band and therefore comes across more as a sellout album full of pop songs then what Kurt really wanted.

Metallica -- St Anger .. The Black Album just isn't my style

REM -- Monster .. To me Monster is this bands high point. The style shift was great for the band and I was disappointed it was a one album thing.

 

[Matt Mortem]

Pearl Jam's Ten is considered their classic album, but to me Backspacer is their best.

 

[redhawk23]

Hmmm I guess for me I'd take Incubus' Light Grenades over their classic albums like Make Yourself and Morning View. Or Korn's Take A Look in the Mirror over Follow the Leader.

I like Light Grenades, and you of course free to your opinion, but for me this one just does not compute.

I agree however that it is better than Morning View.

What is your opinion of A Crow Left of the Murder?

 

[SoNicRaDiATioN]

I don't know if my list consists of underrated albums, just less praised or not as talked about.

Radiohead: Kid A > Ok Computer

The Beatles: White Album, Revolver, Abbey Road, Let it Be > Pepper (most overrated for sure)

The Rolling Stones: Let it Bleed, Some Girls > Exile on Main St.

Pink Floyd: Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Wish you were Here> Dark Side of the Moon & The Wall

Jimi Hendrix: Live at the Philmore East (Band of Gypsies) > Electric Ladyland, Are You Experienced?

Springsteen: Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River, Nebraska > Born to Run

Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks, John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline > Bringing it all Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde on Blonde

The Velvet Underground: Loaded > The Velvet Underground & Nico.

The Jesus and Mary Chain: Psychocandy > Darklands

I'll stop here but could go on and on....

 

[moviedoors]

NIN post sobriety > the decadent years, The Fragile being the pivot point.

Yes, Year Zero > The Downward Spiral. Yes, With Teeth > Pretty Hate Machine. Yes, The Slip > Broken. Hell, Ghosts might be my favorite NIN album.

 

[sweetre15]

Nas: Stillmatic>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Illmatic

Scarface: The Diary >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Mr.Scarface is Back

Beastie Boys: Paul's Boutique >>>>>>>>>>License to Ill

Eminem: Eminem Show >>>>>>>>>>>Marshall Mathers LP

 

[Spidey_Freak]

Television - Marquee Moon.

@sweetre15 can't say I agree with the eminem show trumping the MM LP...

also I think License to Ill >>> Paul's Boutique, as do most music critics from what I gather. swaggg