We're discussing two North American behemoths this month!
"In 1988, the Pixies sounded like no other band. By 1991, every band sounded like the Pixies" - the Boston band's influence is undeniable, especially from the four albums they made in this time period. But how does the rest of their back catalogue sound - and are they nevertheless overhyped?
And while Sonic Youth is another influential band, many of their songs sound arguably too dissonant for a mainstream audience - Babs argues that this is not the case for all of their songs and she feels the band should have better name recognition...
Babs recommends watching this live performance of Kool Thing on Hangin' with MTV in 1992 on YouTube - Steve Shelley's drumming is exceptional.
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all the songs from Fran's playlists, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram, and @oumusicpod.bsky.social on Bluesky. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
Joined once again by Helen Sadler from the Flixwatcher podcast, we're being nostalgic about the 90's and assessing more recent British rock...
Pulp are a quintessential Britpop band - with an arguably unique frontman spouting witty lyrics...but how do we feel about their smash hits - as well as the lesser-known songs from their back catalogue?
And this month, Fran introduces us to a band he has long recommended on the podcast, Spector. Formed in 2011, they have released five albums so far, and drawn positive comparisons with other indie rock royalty like The Vaccines and Interpol - Fran believes they should have a much bigger impact, and hopes to bring Babs & Helen on board...
Listen to Helen's podcast Flixwatcher, which reviews films available on Netflix in the UK and assigns them a unique scoring system - Babs & Fran have both guested on it, talking about Beats, The Edge of Seventeen, Superbad and School of Rock. And check out our previous episode with Helen, where we talked about indie folk, specifically The National and Sharon van Etten.
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all the songs from Fran's playlists, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram, and @oumusicpod.bsky.social on Bluesky. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
We're back in the Southern hemisphere for the fourth time on this podcast (and apologise again for any attempts at an Aussie accent...)!
Tame Impala, a.k.a. the brainchild of Kevin Parker, is currently in the top 200 most-listened to artists worldwide on Spotify - but will we think his particular flavour of psychedelic-electro-pop is original or bland?
And Babs has been wanting to talk about Brisbane band DZ Deathrays for AGES - they've had a reasonable amount of acclaim in Australia, but she feels that they should be better-known in Europe and beyond - especially for fans of bands like Blood Red Shoes, Death from Above 1979 and be your own PET.
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all the songs from Fran's playlists, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram, and @oumusicpod.bsky.social on Bluesky. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
We are back in Alba for the first episode of our latest season, which will continue to be released monthly!
Fran has been a Simple Minds fan for a while - the band has 19 albums to their name, but Fran knows most people only know a few of their hits. He hopes his ten-track playlist introduces Babs and our listeners to lesser-known Simple Minds gems...
Once touted as the 'next Coldplay', Idlewild made some impact on the UK's noughties indie scene, but their fame peaked with their 2002 album The Remote Part - despite making many more records since then. Can Fran convince Babs there are many more songs to enjoy from their back catalogue?
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all the songs from Fran's playlists, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram, and @oumusicpod.bsky.social on Bluesky. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
Joined for the second time by podcaster Matt Latham - whose output includes the Pick A Disc podcast - we are back in the biggest of apples to discuss two quite different bands...
KISS have nailed the marketing of their band probably better than any other group - but what do we think about their music, especially as most people in Europe only know a few of their hits?
And Matt picked Brooklyn-based Teen Girl Scientist Monthly as underrated, outlining how his well-trained algorithm led them his way and how he's forged a lovely relationship with the band...
We previously talked to Matt about Manchester bands The Courteeners and (We Are) Performance, so we recommend checking out that episode too.
Listen to Matt's podcast Pick A Disc in most places you find podcasts. Matt also hosts three other podcasts. Babs has previously guested on Pick A Disc, where she picked the album Future Perfect by Autolux and was a guest host on a Matt Picks episode discussing Get RiD! by Robots in Disguise.
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all the songs from our playlist, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram, and @oumusicpod.bsky.social on Bluesky. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
As has become tradition, we have each picked our ten favourite tunes of the year!
Like in 2023 & 2022, we have picked songs according to pre-determined categories - however as we spoke quite a lot during this episode, we've divided it into two parts - you can already listen to Part I here.
In Part II, we discuss the best rock song, favourite collaboration, best song from outside of Europe, best solo song and favourite sync track.
In this episode, Fran mishears a crucial lyric in a Denzel Curry song and Babs gets obsessed with a certain Luca Guadagnino film soundtrack...
Listen to our Best of 2023, Best of 2022, Best of 2021 and Best of 2020 episodes to see our faves from previous years.
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all songs from our playlists, plus bonus ones from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram & Threads, and we're giving Bluesky another go @oumusicpod.bsky.social - we're also still on Twitter/X @OUmusicpod, for now. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
As has become tradition, we have each picked our ten favourite tunes of the year!
Like in 2023 & 2022, we have picked songs according to pre-determined categories - however as we spoke quite a lot during this episode, we've divided it into two parts (the next one will be out on New Year's Day)...
In Part I, we discuss the best song by a group, favourite track in a genre we don't normally like, favourite song not in English, and best song to listen to live.
In this episode, we learn more than expected about the country of Niger, and Babs is surprised that a 'trap-pop' song by a popular singer is on her list...
Listen to our Best of 2023, Best of 2022, Best of 2021 and Best of 2020 episodes to see our faves from previous years.
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all songs from our playlists, plus bonus ones from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram & Threads, and we're giving Bluesky another go @oumusicpod.bsky.social - we're also still on Twitter/X @OUmusicpod, for now. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
Joined by comedian and podcaster Sam Lake, we're talking about one of the most successful British contemporary popstars (and where Sam listens to her songs while he's at the gym), and one of the girl bands we're most fond of (as well as which snack Sam associates with each of their songs).
Dua Lipa is a mega pop star - she has the two most streamed albums by a female artist of all time on Spotify and was the youngest female artist to accomplish one billion views on YouTube with her video for New Rules'. Are we hallucinating or is the hype justified?
Sam chose Sugababes as an underrated pick - as a band, they've had quite a journey, many different line-ups, but their comeback has been an undeniable success. Are they now finally taking a deserved place in the pantheon of British pop icons?
We highly recommend checking out Sam's podcast 'I've Had a Rosé, Let's Talk About Feelings' and his stand-up special 'Cake', which you can watch on YouTube.
Babs also recommends watching Dua Lipa peforming live with St Vincent at the 2019 Grammys.
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all the songs from our playlist, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram & Threads, and we're giving Bluesky another go @oumusicpod.bsky.social - we're also still on Twitter/X @OUmusicpod, for now. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
It's been a while since we did a hip-hop episode and today we've picked two quite different acts to discuss in this episode!
Eminem is one of the world's most successful rappers, who definitely helped popularise hip-hop among white audiences - however, he has always courted controversy with his deliberately caustic lyrics...Fran has toured his discography to make a ten-track playlist and we both discuss whether his notoriety is merited....
Babs chose Chicago rapper cupcakKe as an underrated pick because despite having healthy streaming figures, Babs wonders how well-known she is outside of the younger, online, LGBT+ community - and she is keen to hear whether Fran finds cupcakKe's frank lyrics very funny too...
The song cupcakKe featured on that Babs temporarily forgot about is thankfully still on YouTube - it's called Pu$$y Market and you should check it out immediately.
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all the songs from our playlist, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @OUmusicpod on Twitter/X and @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram & Threads. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
We're back in the world of pop, having previously discussed Billie Eilish and Charli xcx last season (and Charli xcx's BRAT in this season too)!
The two playlists for this episode were created by Pop Underrated, whose Linktree you should check out.
P!nk is currently ranked as Spotify's 100th most-popular artist in the world - she has gone through many musical phases and is more outspoken than the average pop star, especially as she started in the noughties...but how do we feel about some of her hits?
Referred by some as "Norwegian Kylie", underrated pick Annie straddles the pop, electro and indie worlds with ease - however, in the more siloed music world of the noughties, her resistance to categorisation may have hindered her success - which is a shame, given how many pop bangers she clearly has under her belt...
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all the songs from our playlist, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @OUmusicpod on Twitter/X and @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram & Threads. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
Why hello there people who snag their tights on lawn chairs, mean girls and those who think everything is romantic - don't worry if you don't understand what this means, join us anyway for a special episode where we discuss Charli xcx's latest album BRAT in depth - the songs and the cultural impact it is currently having this summer...
We'd previously discussed Charli xcx (and Billie Eilish) in some depth on our pop singer-songwriters episode last season, where Babs picked her as underrated because she felt Charli didn't have enough mainstream recognition...
WELL, a lot has changed since then as her latest album BRAT is not only extremely popular and critically-lauded, but has taken the internet by storm thanks to a genius marketing campaign and brand identity...
In this episode, we do our best to explain the BRAT phenomenon, Babs talks about how good it feels to be a long-time Charli xcx fan (a.k.a. Charli's Angel) while Fran rates each song from BRAT out of ten (but not the three extra songs from 'Brat and it’s the same but there’s three more songs so it’s not' - we discuss those and some of the remixes too, although unfortunately the Guess remix with Billie Eilish came out after we recorded...)
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all the songs from our playlist, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @OUmusicpod on Twitter/X and @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram & Threads. Fran & Babs try their best Apple dance over there, so it's definitely worth checking out.
You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
We're back to the noughties, discussing two British indie acts who have more than a flavour of electro in their tunes...
Babs never really got into Foals after their first record, so she asked Fran to make a wide-ranging playlist - how will they rate the Oxford band's career?
And Babs is delighted to finally delve deep into Tom Vek's back catalogue - so much so that her playlist includes not one, not two, but THREE b-sides - will she get Fran on board or is she just Pushing [Her] Luck?
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all the songs from our playlist, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @OUmusicpod on Twitter/X and @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram & Threads. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
We're travelling to one of our favourite eras, joined by special guest George Pringle - a music producer, artist & gallery owner.
George made both playlists for this week's episode, and we start with a discussion about Eurythmics. Their influence in synth pop is undeniable - as was Annie Lennox's look, attitude and progressive politics - but is the hype justified?
Fran & Babs had never heard of Deux, a French synth-pop duo formed in Lyon, who determinedly made music to listen to in your bedroom. Will we want to join them with George at Paris / Orly, or is it all too much of a Game and Performance?
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all the songs from our playlist, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Follow George on Instagram @georgepringletv and listen to her music! Babs recommends starting with her personal favourite tune Physical Education.
The original version of No More "I Love You's" by The Lover Speaks is on YouTube, you should check it out.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @OUmusicpod on Twitter/X and @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram & Threads. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
Welcome back to Season 8! Delighted our lockdown project continues, thanks so much for listening.
We're back in the noughties, and our overrated pick is a hugely popular rock band that neither of us are particularly keen on, especially since their first album...nevertheless, Babs made a wide-ranging playlist of Arctic Monkeys songs so her and Fran could re-assess whether there's more gold in their back catalogue than previously thought...
Fran chose Berkshire band The Cooper Temple Clause as his underrated pick as he feels that they're a pretty solid act - with especially great singles - yet they are not included enough in the discussion of great British indie bands from the era. Babs owns one of their albums, but will she agree with Fran's assessment and enjoy his playlist?
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all the songs from our playlist, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @OUmusicpod on Twitter/X and @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram & Threads. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
The final episode of the season is our annual special where we each pick our favourite songs of the year!
Like in 2022, we have picked songs according to pre-determined categories: favourite song by a solo act, best song by a group, favourite track in a genre we don't normally like, favourite song not in English, best collaboration, best sync song, favourite song we'd like to hear live, best new artist, best rock song and favourite non-European song.
Which two artists come back again for Fran & Babs? Which artist is picked twice in two different categories? And which song is described by Babs as being "a drum’n’bass, trap metal nightmare?" 💘
Listen to our Best of 2022, Best of 2021 and Best of 2020 episodes to see our faves from previous years.
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all songs from our playlists, plus bonus ones from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @OUmusicpod on Twitter/X - and now also @OUmusicpod on Bluesky. We are @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram - and now also @overunderratedmusicpod on Threads although we have done nothing there yet! You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com, which we check on a semi-regular basis.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
Fran & Babs listened to (almost) the entirety of Björk's discography - having only previously dipped in and out of her music - and collaborated on a ten-track playlist spanning the decades to properly deliberate on her music and legacy...
Natasha Khan a.k.a Bat for Lashes is this week's underrated artist - Fran thinks she has many good songs beyond her hits, while until now, Babs was mostly indifferent...will his ten-track playlist convince her otherwise?
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all the songs from our playlist, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @OUmusicpod on Twitter/X - and now also @OUmusicpod on Bluesky - as well as @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
Joined by writer & broadcaster Bill Cummings, we're returning down under to discuss two bands who experienced wildly varying levels of success...
INXS have sold a whopping 95 million albums worldwide - they're one of Australia's most successful musical acts ever. With their crisp new wave sound and iconic frontman, will Fran & Babs feel the hype is nevertheless deserved?
Bill picked The Go-Betweens as "the quintessential underrated band" - with nine studio albums to their name, they never secured an Australian or UK Top 40 single (although the band has had a bridge named after them in their native Brisbane!). Fran & Babs knew almost nothing about the group, so will they join Bill on the other side of the Go Between Bridge?
Bill is the founder of God Is in the TV, an online music and culture fanzine which you should check out. He also hosts the Show Me Magic podcast, which is focused on new music.
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all songs from Bill's playlists, plus bonus ones from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss. Follow us on social media: it's @OUmusicpod on Twitter/X - and now also @OUmusicpod on Bluesky - as well as @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
We often discuss covers, so it was about time for a special episode dedicated to the ones we admire, as well as those we don't love so much...
We've picked ten overrated cover versions - those that are better known than the originals or ones we don't enjoy - as well as ten underrated covers, songs we feel add to, or even improve on, the original.
Tune in also for a slightly controversial pick, which lead to an in-depth online and offline discussion on what the difference is between a remix and a cover version...and find out what some of our favourite karaoke songs are 🎤
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all our chosen cover versions, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @OUmusicpod on Twitter/X - and now also @OUmusicpod on Bluesky - as well as @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
Joined by musician, comedian and podcaster Robin Allender, we are back feeling nostalgic about the late 90's...
Stereophonics are clearly one of the more successful acts to emerge from Wales - to date, their most famous song Dakota has had over 200 million streams on Spotify - but are Fran, Babs or Robin fans of the band?
Robin picked Ash as an underrated favourite in part due to the influence their Trailer EP had on him as a youth, especially the song Uncle Pat...Fran & Babs are Ash fans, but is their favourite Ash era the same as Robin's?
Check out Robin's music podcasts: on The Clientele Podcast Robin interviews the band and their fans about what makes The Clientele's music unique. On Your Own Personal Beatles, Robin and co-host Jack Pelling talk to guests about how their lives have been influenced "by the greatest band of them all."
Check out Robin's music on Bandcamp and his Linktree for all of Robin's creative endevours.
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all songs from Robin's playlists, plus bonus ones from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss. Follow us on social media: it's @OUmusicpod on Twitter/X - and now also @OUmusicpod on Bluesky - as well as @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
Billie Eilish is undoubtedly one of the world's most famous pop stars and Babs enjoys quite a few of her songs. She pitches some of her faves - and a couple of not-so-faves - to Fran, as we both ponder whether the hype is justified...
Babs also FINALLY gets to chat Fran's ear off about how much she loves Charli xcx. Charli is undeniably also a famous pop star, but Babs is frustrated that she doesn't have enough mainstream recognition and not enough people know the breadth of her back catalogue...will Fran agree?
Babs fully recommends Charli xcx's Netflix reality TV show 'I'm With the Band: Nasty Cherry', where she puts together an all-girl band.
You can find the playlist for this episode on Spotify - it includes all songs from Babs' playlists, plus bonus ones from other artists we've discussed during the episode.
Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss.
Follow us on social media: it's @OUmusicpod on Twitter/X - and now also @OUmusicpod on Bluesky - as well as @overunderratedmusicpod on Instagram. You can also email us at overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com.
Thanks to Mark Abbott for our logo.
