The Top Five Most Underrated Artists (That You've Possibly Heard Of)

You know, once I thought more about this, they're all one hit wonders, who were surprisingly awesome. The kind of bands that you buy the album because of your insane addiction to that one song that you heard and then couldn't get out of your head. Well, here's my ode to the underdogs...

5. Poe
Remember her? The "Angry Johnny" or "Hey Pretty" chick? Well yeah, she's awesome. And what's even better is that she's supposed to be making music again, which she hasn't done since 2000's Haunted, a semi-autobiographical album and outlet for her grief after her father's death. I listened to that album, went a read her brother, Mark Danielewski's book, House of Leaves, then went back and listened to it again and it was even better. Both of her albums are utterly fantastic in their own ways. Hello was edgier. It was gritty, angry, girl rock and I loved every minute of it. In the decade of her "disappearance", she did occasionally make her voice heard. Collaborations with Conjure One and Fastball, as well as a few solo tracks for soundtracks and what not, leaked their way out. Also, she was the voice of the "single mother" in Repo: A Genetic Opera. There's your weird trivia for the day. Also, she's fucking phenomenal live. Absolutely electric.

4. Joan Osbourne
The "What If God Was One of Us" lady. That song is a mere fluke. It's the only song on any of her albums that even remotely sounds like that and it's sad that that was the one famous song she got. And what's even more amazing is that she's made like, ten albums. I cannot even say that I know all of them, but the ones that I have listened to are amazing. The rest of Relish was phenomenal. She's not that one-hit wonder that you know from the radio, she full of soul and funk and blues. She came out around the same time as a slew of radio friendly female vocalists along the lines of Alanis Morrisette and Sheryl Crow, but never really got all the way there, which is a damn shame. She's opened for The Dead (not the Grateful Kind, but still), Phil Lesh, and The Funk Brothers. The girl's got soul and you certainly don't hear it on the one song that a record label thought would sound good on the radio and sell records to teenage kids. She was Amy Winehouse before Amy Winehouse was Amy Winehouse, except, you know, without the drug addiction and domestic abuse.

3. Gravity Kills
Ohhhh, being an early teen "goth kid". Gravity Kills still has a spot in my heart along with black lipstick and hair dye. Their best known album, and my favorite, their self-titled, is a classic. Their following albums, Manipulated, Perversion, and Superstarved were pretty damn good, too. Gravity Kills was every bit as good as other industrial bands who actually made it big, like KMFDM and Ministry, but they just never seemed to really make it big after their first hit single, "Guilty". Their lack of touring may have had something to do with this, but hey, they were different, dammit. And they were always so...elusive. They didn't tour, they didn't have crazy antics. They made music. And I think they were on "120 Minutes" on MTV once. Maybe. Even now, they don't have a website, they barely have a Wikipedia entry, and good luck with trying to find a decent biography on these guys. Everything is vague insinuations and rumors and assumptions, but that's just Gravity Kills for you.

2. Marcy Playground
Yup, the "Sex and Candy" guys. They've released four entirely different albums. Yes, people still make music after a one hit wonder. While minimalistic in style, they're always entertaining. And they're always looking out for number one...you're not going to see John Wozniak, or any other member of the band for that matter, playing the corporate rock game. Listening to their albums in succession is like getting a bird's eye view of Wozniak's life. You start with childhood on the 1997 self-titled album and work your way to the present with their 2009 release, Leaving Wonderland...In A Fit of Rage. They're awesome, catchy (but not annoyingly so), an genuinely cool dudes. Also, I think John Wozniak looks like Kyle MacLachlin in Blue Velvet and I find that terribly creepy, yet...sexy. I'm a huge Kyle MacLachlin fan in the sexy sense, but that movie's just so damn creepy, I have a hard time admitting that. Okay, well even minus the creepy/sexy factor, they're still an awesome band.

1. Third Eye Blind
I fucking love Third Eye Blind. Okay, so they were like a three hit wonder, but still, there's so much more to them than "Jumper" or "Semi-Charmed Life" (which is a fantastic song by the way, have you ever actually listened to the lyrics!?). Stephen Jenkins, the lyrical mastermind behind the band, is a seriously effed up dude, and I can appreciate that. With so many musicians out there these days that, well, quite frankly suck (Ex: Soulja Boy, he makes a song out of two words, and just repeats them for three minutes.), it's refreshing to see a band with actual lyrics. Even their most recent album, Ursa Major was good. How many bands can you actually say that about? They've managed to make four albums of heartfelt, intense music and no two songs sound the same. While describing a life of decadence, sleaze, and drug addiction, there's somehow a hopeful radiance that comes out of it. Like, "Hey, yeah this happened, but we're still here". They write and play songs that everyone can relate to, but not cheesy pop hits. If you've only ever heard the songs on the radio, go beg, borrow, or steal Out of the Vein. You can thank me later.

Third Eye Blind – Ursa Major

After six long years of putting up with their damn excuses, Third Eye Blind has finally released their fourth album, Ursa Major. The best part? It was totally worth the wait.
It’s so easy to dismiss Third Eye Blind in that wave of mid-90′s radio rock like Train and Matchbox 20, but people who have really listened to Third Eye Blind know what’s up. Even after six years of vacant, musical space, people will still defend them to the death. And this album just backs them up even more.

This album will be blared from open car windows on sun-filled summer days. This album will be played when life simply sucks. This album will be played when memories are made. That’s just what Third Eye Blind does.

It’s got it’s radio hits, including the first single, “Don’t Believe A Word”, a political commentary with a damn catchy tune. Speaking of that 90′s vibe, it’s got this Lit thing going on with it. Perhaps it’s the duality of the vocals. Remember Lit? The one hit wonders with “My Own Worst Enemy”? Yeah, I love that album, so fuck off. I love shitty 90′s music and you can’t stop me! Wow, went way off on that one, but yeah, other hits include the guitar and angst ridden, “Can’t You Take Me?”, and I’m thinking “Water Landing”. They released a track not that long ago called “Break Me” that I think eventually morphed into this song. I liked the tempo of “Break Me” more, but it’s still pretty sweet.

And don’t worry, there’s still those Jenkins style acoustic-inspired tracks that we’ve come to expect. “Dao of St. Paul”, “Monotov’s Private Opera”, and “Bonfire” come to mind, the last being the best of the three, with a sing-a-long chorus and Jenkins’ soothing vocals.

This album has something for everyone…catchy pop songs with parasitic choruses, politics, broken hearts, masturbation, and lesbians. Who knew? Really, it’s a well rounded album and it really has lived up to it’s six years of hype. There’s rumored to be another album coming out, Ursa Minor, comprised of the tracks that didn’t make the cut for Ursa Major. I was really wondering what happened to songs like “Red Star”, “Persephone”, and “Non-Dairy Creamer”. (I watched the track listing for this album on Wikipedia change almost monthly for the past six months) Hopefully, they won’t make us wait another six years for this one! B

Third Eye Blind’s Site

Third Eye Blind's new album postponed...

Third Eye Blind's fourth full-length album, Ursa Major, has been postponed and I am very, very sad. I've been waiting since 2003 for this album, goddamnit, and I want it now! A few (possible) tracks have been available on the band's Myspace, as well as leaked, but I want the whole album!

According to the band's Wikipedia page, there isn't even a final track listing done yet. Boo. I started researching this album months ago to prepare myself for the review to end all reviews. In those few months, the prospective song listing has changed at least 3 times.

So, for all those other 3EB fans waiting patiently, this one's for you:

Third Eye Blind - Don't Believe A Word
Cigarette's make an ember stain
Notes scribbled on paper chain
Ever get the feeling that you've been cheated?
You busted out, you've been defeated
All strong bones we hold no water
A big fake smile and you try harder
Time wound down and you've been cached
Half measures are all half-assed!
How did I ever end up this way?
'Cause I go numb in disarray
I cultivate my ignorance
Didn't I have some standards once?
I hate you down to your boots

We wanted clever, we settled for cute and
Remember the times I looked in your eyes
All the times we rhapsodized
Do not love you will find no trust and
Do not touch you will find no such
Give me back my photos, will you?
You fucking whore I'll kill you!

Every fake is everything
Some dull ache replace the sting
Rap stars brag and shoot each other
And entertain just like no other
We love thugs when they attack and
We love crime all black on black and
Isn't this you, cruel-hearted fake?
Isn't this more than you can take!

Found a bomb with big linch pins
Yay for the bullies, they always win
All sensation makes no sense
Some insane confidence
Isn't this you, cruel-hearted fake?
Isn't this more than you can take?
Scandalize now with such ease
Stress this secular disease
Sermon tells a soldier squeeze
The trigger on our enemies
We're all alive, all alone
Til you come home
Please come home

Don't believe a word
Just keep on dreamin'
Please don't believe a word
Pretty soon we'll wake up screamin'
Yeah don't believe it!
Just keep on dreamin'
Please don't believe a word
Pretty soon we'll wake up screamin'

Non Dairy Creamer - Live
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2teR--DZRY4&hl=en&fs=1&]

Be patient, 3EB fans, it'll be worth the wait!

Third Eye Blind's Site