Underestimated, song, artist or group '' gems'' ?

The Butts band. Robby Krieger and John Densmore(post Doors) were in this band. They only put out two albums in their history. You can get both on one cd from Amazon, it's called the "Complete recordings". This is great music. The first half is more rock/r&b, while the second half is more soul. There is a different lead singer for each half/album which may account for the somewhat different styles. The sound is decent. Victrola "Live as you Like", jazz/show tune sounds from Austin Texas. You can get this from Waterloo records. The music and sound are great. Garland Jeffreys "Ghost Writer" if you can find it, otherwise "Wild in the Streets"-Best of 1977-1983 that came out recently. The Music is great, a hodge/podge of rock, reggae, blues, and soul with Garlands commentaries on society. Also from Austin, John Dee Graham "Hooray for the Moon." You can get this from Waterloo, or maybe locally as our Best Buy has it. This is hard country music with a little mexican influence thrown in. He and his partners play some loud electric guitar and he covers and sounds something like Tom Waits. He plays all the time at the Continental club in Austin. I saw his live show and it was great! The cd doesn't do him justice compared to live. The sound is good but in your face. Greg Brown, kind of laid back folk/blues from up here in MInnesota. Everything he puts out is good such as "Further in", "Poets game." He has a new one out plus a compilation. Highly recommended for good laid back music and dynamite storytelling. Really good sounding, he's got a deep voice and nice mellow guitar.

For rock: Procol Harum.
For more folk/rock/pop, I agree with Lugnut about Karla Bonoff. I'd add Richard Thompson to the list.

For classical: the Korean soprano, Sumi Jo, is out of this world.

FAIRPORT CONVENTION!!! Now in their 37th year with 23 studio albums and many live recordings to their credit. They will be in the studio next month working on an as-yet untitled release which will be out this summer. Many musicians have passed through their ranks but the band has experienced a relative stability since they rose from the ashes in 1985 with Gladys's Leap.

Sonicbeauty: The solo piano track (trk 10 I believe) on Leonard Cohen's "Future" CD is fantastic...the rest of the CD is not so bad either. Also, if anyone's interested, checkout my posting on "looking for new genres...". Cheb i Sabbah's "Khrishna Lila" I think is different but a gem nonetheless.

Linkster... have you heard any of the Fairport remasters?