The 10 Most Underrated Rock Albums of the 00’s

Part 1

So anyone who knows me, knows I have a love for the arts and for sports and more over I love lists (and a need to argue my thoughts on these subjects)—(I know Dan)—.

Over the next 9 months I will make a couple of lists about the 10 best, underrated, overlooked, overrated, and worst of this decade.

I’m starting off with the 10 Most Underrated or Overlooked Rock Albums of this decade (I would include other genre’s, but admittingly other than a few hip/hop choices here and there, I don’t really go outside this genre.)

There have been plenty of albums made by indie artists that have been critically acclaimed and a whole of albums by overrated artists who became undeserved hits.  These are the albums I thought never were given their fair share and I hope this makes up for it in some small way.

10. Ryan Adams - Rock N Roll

Picking which one of his albums should make this list was hard enough, with the underrated Gold from 2001 and the overlooked collaboration with The Cardinals Cardinalology, both making great cases for this list. The prolific Adams is said to write at times over dozens of songs a day.

However, this disc was made possible by his record company, whom felt that his set Love Is Hell did not seem like a commercial album.  So they made a deal with Adams that if he made a rock and roll CD, then they would also release the disc he wanted. 

What came out of it was an album full of angst and some of the best pure rock and roll put on plastic this decade. And though most of the album has great rock tracks like “Wish You Were Here” and “Burning Photographs”, the best song may just be the lone “Classic Adams” track, the ironically titled small ballad, “Rock N Roll”.

Adams has stated that he will soon stop playing live shows because he can now barely hear out of his right ear, and the other ear isn’t far behind. Here’s hoping he keeps making music at the rate he has this decade.

9. Weezer - Maladroit

This album defines overlooked and underrated when it comes to established acts like Weezer.  It’s not like that they haven’t made some great albums, Pinkerton is probably the most overlooked album by a major artist of the 90’s. After their comeback in the early part of the 00’s with The Green Album, they followed it up with Maladroit, an album that was full of everything from happiness, anger, and that Weezer charm that is their trademark. Songs like “Love Explosion” and “December” sound like some of the best pop/rock tunes of the past, and “Slave” and “Slob” show us that angst that we’ve come to love from Weezer.

Weezer is currently touring off of their last album, The Red Album, and there doesn’t seem to be much stopping Mr. Cuomo and the rest of the band.

8. Fall Out Boy - Take This To Your Grave

I almost don’t want to put this album on here because of the fame and false acclaim that came to their next 3 albums. However, no matter how much undeserved critical acclaim their last misstep received, it shouldn’t affect how good TTTYG was.

This album, which itself was influenced by the likes of blink-182, Green Day, et al., has influenced the current generation of pop/rock/punk music that you here today.  This was an album that had a clear point of view of what it’s like to be young, just discovering who you are and what you think.

Songs like “Tell That Mick He Just Made My List of Things To Do Today” and “Saturday” had hundreds of thousands of kids screaming the lyrics at shows because they were written by guys who knew exactly what they were going through.

Currently, Fall Out Boy is promoting their recent disc, Folie a Deux, and are at the top of the pop/punk world. I hope they stop trying to be relevant and start trying to make music that matters.

7. Jack’s Mannequin - Everything In Transit

After leaving Something Corporate in 2004, Andrew McMahon created Jack’s Mannequin to create more personal, piano-driven music.  In May 2005, days after putting the final touches on Everything In Transit, Andrew was diagnosed with leukemia and would have to undergo chemo therapy and a bone-marrow transplant. On August 23, 2005, Everything In Transit was released and not only did you want this person to get better, but you wanted this artist too also because it was evident that this kid was a talent.

The melodies and lyrics remind you of everything from Ben Folds and Elton John, to Blink and Weezer. “The Mixed Tape” and “Bruised” showed off McMahon’s knack for a great hook and a vibrant piano line. The album is a very upbeat, fun summer album that obviously when juxtaposed to the situation of it’s creator, made its creation that much more special.

Thankfully in 2006, McMahon was given a clean bill of health and has been in remission since. He released his second album,  The Glass Passenger, in 2008 and is currently on his own headlining tour this spring, with a summer supporting act for The Fray.

6. Jon McLaughlin - Indiana

A young singer-songwriter from the midwest, McLaughlin worked his way up through live touring and is now hitting the mainstream.  On his debut album, Indiana, you can tell he just can’t believe he gets to do this.  This enthusiasm is the best part of the album, and it exudes through all 13 tracks. 

On songs like “Industry” and “For You From Me” are probably the 2 best songs produced in a long time about being able to just play your music for other people. However, it is songs like “Human” that make this album great. It is a track that is both poignant and honest and also easily accessible and has a hook like you wouldn’t believe. Give this album a spin or two, and you won’t be able to get the hooks and his wonderful piano lines out of your head.

In 2008, Jon released his follow up “OK Now” which isn’t as good as its predecessor but shows that promise that McLaughlin has showed his entire career.

Check back tomorrow for the TOP 5!