Welcome to “Underrated Artists,” an entertainment column from the St. Louis Park Echo covering unpopular and unknown artists. Every week, a different Echo staffer takes on the role of a writer, reviewing single releases and albums from four underrated artists.
New Order is the first underrated artist on this list. New Order is a band formed in the 1980s, mixing electric music with post-punk. Between the band’s unique sound and fun beats, as well as the lead singer Bernard Sumner’s captivating voice — I am astounded they don’t have a bigger following. I saw them in concert last year and they put on a great show. To my delight, they played my favorite song “Age of Consent” which is about ending a relationship where neither person wants to acknowledge it. The lyrics, “Won’t you please let me go? These words lie inside, they hurt me so,” explain how he is in pain but doesn’t want to end the relationship himself. New Order has many good songs, and a lot is on the album “Substance.” Tracks on the album are catchy and fun, including some of their most popular hits such as “Blue Monday” and “Bizarre Love Triangle.” New Order’s music is unlike anything I’ve heard before, so I definitely recommend people who appreciate one-of-a-kind art to start listening to them.
A second underrated artist, Trampled By Turtles, is a progressive bluegrass group from Duluth, MN. Over the last two decades, they have released 10 albums (including originals and cover songs). Though they are unknown to most people, especially outside MN, their music has actually been featured in many shows and movies, as well as video games. I appreciate their use of string instruments that produce music with tight harmonies mixed with jazz and blues. A song that displays that element of their talented artistry is “Alone.” In this song, lead Dave Simonett sings about the meaning of life and human journeys; “You come into the world alone, and you go out of the world alone, but in between, there’s you and me.” I love his soft voice and how it adds emotional depth to every song he sings. A majority of Trampled By Turtles’ songs include a chill and calming aspect to them. Additional great songs of theirs include: “Nothing but Blue Skies,” “Are You Behind the Shining Star” and “We’re Alright.” I highly recommend that you check them out because they are a local MN band that has many great songs. If you are a concert person, they will be at the Xcel Energy Center later in October playing alongside The Avett Brothers.
Another immensely underrated artist is Ziggy Marley. Most people recognize his name because of his extremely popular dad, Bob Marley, but individually as a musician he is not listened to as much as I think he should be. Lots of Marley’s music is influenced by his fight against racism and other social issues. An example of this is displayed in his song “One Drop,” in which he sings, “fighting against ism and schism.” I also appreciate Marley’s use of upbeat guitar and bass rhythms, along with his positive messages, filled with love and peace, that create great songs. In one of my favorite songs of his, “True to Myself,” Marley sings about the importance of being himself and his own unique personality. Throughout all of his original music, he features extremely melodic background instruments. This is shown especially in his song, “Beach In Hawaii,” where he sings about longing for someone. The nylon string guitar adds a majestic element to the song, showcasing his talent for music. Marley’s music as a whole is amazing, and he has a countless amount of lovely and replayable songs. Some more of my most-liked songs I would recommend include: “Better Together,” “Dragonfly” and “Sunshine.” For people who enjoy upbeat reggae music, Ziggy Marley is the perfect artist for you to add to your playlist!
Lastly, Wilco is an underrated artist. Since 1995, the band has been releasing good albums, but they haven’t received the recognition I believe they deserve. Most people know of Wilco and still don’t listen to their music. I strongly encourage everyone to listen to some of their songs because they have something. The musical group is extremely talented, with albums touching multiple genres such as Rock, Alternative and Folk. An interesting thing about Wilco is their “Mermaid Avenue” albums. They released their first one in 1998, followed by Vol. ll in 2000 and Vol. lll in 2012. This is their more folky music, which is good, however not my favorite because that genre isn’t my taste. My most-loved song of theirs is on the album “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” and is called “I’m the Man Who Loves You.” The fun bass and electric guitar in the background make the song enjoyable. I also love Wilco’s song “Love Is Everywhere (Beware)” because it showcases Jeff Tweedy’s (the main singer’s) voice and is very calming. Tweedy also said, “The song is a reminder to myself to act with more love and courage and less outrage and anesthetized fear,” and I think that is a good message. Wilco is undeniably a classic artist who should be more popular.
