Most overlooked LPs in the last 20 years

Guadalacanal Diary- 2x4. Awesome!

I suspect that "overlooked" was just a less than perfect choice of words by the OP. On this forum, many posters are avid fans of truly OBSCURE bands/artists. The concept of a Pretenders record being more "overlooked" than their favorite records, cut by musicians who toil on completely unnoticed by almost anyone, seems offensive. Hence the tart responses.

But there is a interesting question buried in there: What record, with all the benefits of a high profile artist, has been overlooked by people who usually pay attention (ie A'goners) and why.

In the case of "Independents", I'd guess the "why" is because the Pretenders are more than a decade past their prime "share of mind" period. I don't know the record (supporting the OP's point), so I don't know if it deserves more attention here or not.

Duane mentions Zep's "Presence" as a candidate. My own choice for a record that suffered this particular fate is Fleetwood Mac's "Say You Will". To the extent that any 'Goners noticed it at all at the time of its release, the response here IIRC was generally hostile. Fleetwood Mac seems to embody, for many 'Goners, (understandably, but quite incorrectly IMO) all that has gone wrong with rock music since the good old days. Yet, "Say You Will" features truly sharp songwriting and consistently riveting guitar work. Even Stevie Nicks' contributions are pleasant enough.

So, in the spirit - if not the letter - of the OP's question, what other records qualify?

Marty

For Roseanne Cash fans, "Interiors" and "The Wheel" are quite well known and popular.

However "Ten Song Demo" is a real sleeper IMO.

Just her and Jon Leventhal with some beautiful lyrics and simple arrangements.

Most overlooked and incredibly good? Wow, where do you start... you can begin this discussion with entire genres of music that have been overlooked, because they get zero radio play. For example, Lounge, Downbeat, Electronica, Indie, Global et. al., are all overlooked and chalked with outstanding bands. I recently came across an artist named Tommy Guerrero, who is blowing my mind with his music. Guided By Voices is great example of a band that was overlooked by mainstream radio and yet is one of the most talented bands to come around in the past twenty years. Same applies to Morphine... doesn't get much better IMO. Some of the great Athens Georgia bands hid behind the shadows of REM, but are marvelous. Guadalcanal Diary was mentioned, but I would throw in bands like Love Tractor, Widespread Panic, Pylon, Chickasaw Mudd Puppies and Ravenstone as well.

I want to sincerely apologize for my "overeaction" to Mlsstl's response to my thread. We all come from different walks of life that influence our decisions and how we perceive one another, and I took his comment initially as putting me down and as an elitist remark. Again, accept my apology.