You may know all of these bands, but I bet you have never heard some of these great underrated songs. Discover them here, with me, now. Hello and welcome to my music post of this February.
“Without music, life would be an error.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
All of these bands you will listen here started their careers in the last part of the great 20th century. The music they made back then turn them into legends.
Some of them continue playing to this day and don’t seem to be slowing down.
The songs I present you here are some of the best work they have produced in this century – in the first decade to be more precise -, but somehow have been forgotten and have stayed under the radar.
Let’s bring these great tracks back, shall we?
So, here we go:
10 Oasis – Where Did It All Go Wrong? (2000)
Oasis - Where Did It All Go Wrong? (Official Video)
A much underrated cool piece of music that has stood very well the test of time. From the 2000 album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, Oasis’ fourth, that didn’t sell as the previous ones but it’s great anyway. It’s Noel and not Liam who sings a song that has a reminiscence of the Beatles and seems like an explanation for Oasis fall from grace after the failed album Be Here Now of 1997. It’s a lost jewel. I wish these guys would make peace for once and for all and started making great music again.
09 Mötley Crüe – Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
Mötley Crüe - Saints of Los Angeles (Official Music Video)
The first single of their final album, an album considered one of the greatest final albums in rock music history. The 1990s gave these guys a hard time, but after suffering a couple of bad albums and members leaving and then returning, they persevered and got together in the studio for one final ride and a gift for the fans. This song was written by bassist Nikki Six in collaboration with other guys; it may not be as great as their best work of the 1980s but still retain some of the classic Crüe explosive sound. Mötley Crüe are still touring and continue to be one of my favorite bands of all times.
08 Def Leppard - Long Long Way To Go (2003)
Def Leppard - Long Long Way To Go
Another great band for whom the 1990s weren’t kind with. Nevertheless these British legends never gave up are still producing good music. In 2002, they released and album which was accused of being too on the pop side. This song is the third single of that album and is a nice ballad with their typical harmonies that sounds like the old Leppard and, at the same time, a song from our times. This year, 2023, marks Def Leppard 46th anniversary in the music industry. They survived all of those alternative and grunge bands of the 1990s and will continue playing in full stadiums in the future.
07 Depeche Mode – Precious (2005)
Depeche Mode - Precious (Official Video)
Apparently guitarist Martin Gore took inspiration from a bad period of his own life to write this beautiful song. The graphics of the video may have not age very well, but don’t pay attention to that. Released in 2005, it is a melancholic and peaceful song and it’s Depeche Mode’s best song of the 2000s. Here, you will listen the late Andy Fletcher owning those keyboards like a master. "Things get broken", people, but we most have faith and keep going.
06 Weezer – Dope Nose (2002)
Weezer - Dope Nose (Official Music Video)
In the early 2000s, Weezer was having great comeback after a five year hiatus; and in those days you couldn’t get away from them. This short but explosive song was Maladroit’s first single, an album that may not have sold so well as the Blue one, but it’s a great underrated and experimental work where these guys proved how good musicians they are. I have completely forgotten about this song, written by vocalist and guitarist Rivers Cuomo, until last month when it appeared on my You Tube recommendations. This is the song that inspired me to write this post. Don’t miss it.
05 Green Day - Jesus of Suburbia (2004)
Green Day - Jesus Of Suburbia [Official Music Video]
These guys made a killer comeback in 2004 with their acclaimed album, American Idiot, the one that brought them back again and probably saved their entire career. This song, that lasts more than 9 minutes, has the ingredients of an opera punk rock classic, with melodic parts that alternate with fast parts. The video, directed by Samuel Bayer, was played over and over again on MTV back in the day and it’s a masterpiece. Somehow this great song has fallen into oblivion, let’s bring it back, shall we? Enjoy your almost 12 minutes.
04 Metallica – The Unnamed Feeling (2003)
Metallica: The Unnamed Feeling (Official Music Video)
The album St. Anger has received a lot of backlash from both the fans and critics alike over the years. But it sold really well, a song won a Grammy award, and the music it’s still superior to what was playing on the radio back then and nowadays. This 5 minute song, with no guitar solo, is the he closest thing to a ballad St. Anger included. It deals with common Metallica themes of anxiety, addictions, nightmares and darkness. It’s a great underrated song and you could say it’s the best of that neglected album. I leave you with the cool video here.
03 AC/DC – Rock N Roll Train (2008)
AC/DC - Rock N Roll Train (Official Video)
Back in the late 2000s I used to have a girlfriend who loved this song. Released in 2008, it represented a great comeback for AC/DC after an 8 year hiatus, got a lot of radio presence and even received a Grammy nomination. Written by brothers Malcom and Angus, with a killer riff and great chorus, I remember it was a staple in bars and venues and was used for commercials also. It’s incredible the energy these guys still have despite the age factor. Take note.
02 The Rolling Stones – Streets of Love (2005)
The Rolling Stones - Streets Of Love
I remember being a very young man back in 2005, going on trips and entering in any record store, and the poster of the A Bigger Bang album was on every record store wall. Written by Jagger and Richards, Streets of Love is a nice, cool power ballad that was a major hit in many European countries back then, but somehow has been forgotten in these bad times. Let’s bring it back and song aloud.
01 U2 – Magnificent (2009)
U2 - Magnificent
This must be the most criminally underrated song of this entire list. The second track from their very reflexive album No Line on the Horizon, it is also the best song of that album and one of the best creations of U2’s entire career. Released as the second single of the album, it has a great intro that gives you the chills, killer riffs by The Edge, powerful drums by Larry and great vocals by Bono. Written by Bono and The Edge, it is an ideal song for playing at a full stadium. I love the video where they covered the streets of Fez in white sheets while the band performs in a Moroccan riad. A flawless track you have to love.
Bonus Song:
Foo Fighters – Wheels (2009)
Wheels
A nice song, and the track 14 of their Greatest Hits album. Despite being about failure and things not going as one would have liked, it is still inspiring and always cool to hear. It seems life does has another round for you. This was my favorite song back in 2009, I couldn’t stop playing it on my car every time I went out. I hope you like it.
Tell me what do you of today’s post. Which one of these underrated gems did you like the most? Have you ever heard them before? Do you have another lost gem from a legendary band that you like? If so, share it in the comment section below.
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Now, check 20 forgotten rock songs from the 1990s here:
@thereadingman/20-rock-songs-from-the
(Image at the beginning via google.com)
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Until next time
Take care
Orlando Caine