Overrated/Underrated Artists of 2004

[ClassicCase]

Well it's that time again to rack up the year-end O's and U's of artists that got saturated by limited lemonheads called corporate (and the ever cursed payola) and the the under-deserved that radio of all formats literally screwed them way over forgotten in a vast wasteland of oblivion. Starting with mine as always:

OVERRRATED:
Usher (hasn't this brotha confessed enough?)
Beyonce`
Lil' Jon
The Whole G-Unit (including 50 Pennies--oops, I mean 50 Cent!)
Jay-Z
And other successful rappers that sing way out of tune but could never find the key!
Clay Aiken (puh-leese!)
Ashanti (possibly a carry-over into 2005)
The Simpsons (as in Jessica & Ashlee [both airheads in real life])
Eminem
Toby Keith
Avril Lavinge
William Hung
Tim McGraw
Kanye West

Honorable mention: Twista, Ciara, Alicia Keys, Chingy


UNDERRATED:
Houston
Urban Mystic
Kindred the Family Soul
Tamyra Gray
Tamia
Avant
Keyshia Cole
Ruben Studdard
Fantasia
Anthony Hamilton
Guerilla Black
Joss Stone
Boyz II Men
Brian McKnight

Honorable mention: John Legend, Michelle Griffin (I'm Free), Nina Sky

Now it's YOUR tun to sound off.

[Bob]

I agree with all of your overrateds, except Jay-Z and Kanye West who really are that good. I agree with all of your underrateds, as far as the ones I actually know.

Brandy was REALLY grossly underrated, to the point where I feel bad for her. Destiny's Child are getting critically underrated, too. I wanna emphasize John Legend, defn. underrated. Him and Keyshia Cole should both become huge Urban stars.

[ClassicCase]

I could not agree with you more, Bob.

[Pink Champagne Ricochet]

Oh God yes, Usher. I'm so sick of him. And although he hasn't been around for awhile, i'll say Justin Timberlake too. He's not really that good of a singer, and the greatness of "Cry Me a River" is mostly due to Timbaland and Scott Storch than his whiny vocals. JC Chasez definitely has the better voice and is underrated for that, but most of his songs are so bad.

And other successful rappers that sing way out of tune but could never find the key!

Like Ja Rule? Hee. But he really isn't respected anymore, is he?

Fantasia is way overrated. Everybody's talking like she's already some sort of musical genius and legend already. It's way too early to tell, but she's already been fallen over before she had released a damn thing.

And really, outside of fan boards (which tend to pump up every artist, to the point where non-fans wouldn't get it), I haven't seen tons of kudos for Clay Aiken. As far as the industry (and especially radio goes - payola for him? you know none of which you speak) IMO he's underrated.

I think Monica is underrated, ever since "The Boy is Mine" even, when there wasn't as much focus on her. She just chugs along under the radar and pops up occasionally.

Another singer I consider underrated is Mandy Moore. Her voice isn't Christina Aguilera or Kelly Clarkson-like amazing, but it's very melodic and sweet, and her albums have shown major artistic and vocal growth. Listen to something off So Real and then a song off Coverage.

And has William Hung really been rated at all? He's pretty much well-known as a joke as opposed to an actual singer or artist. ITA that his selling any records at all is still a travesty, though.

[automyskin89]

The only 3 That I Don't Think Are Overated Are:

Jessica Simpson, Ashanti, or Tim McGraw

& I think Mandy Moore is under-rated

[allow that]

I don't think Usher is overrated. He made great singles this time around and the public responded accordingly.

OVERRATED:
Ciara
Ashlee Simpson
Three Days Grace
Jojo
G-Unit
Nina Sky
Lil' Flip

UNDERRATED:
Sarah McLachlan
Nelly Furtado
Brandy
Mase
Keane
Story of the Year
Howie Day

I'm sure there's many more examples of each but for now that's what I come up with.

[Bob]

splitchick59 said:

I think Monica is underrated, ever since "The Boy is Mine" even, when there wasn't as much focus on her. She just chugs along under the radar and pops up occasionally.

It's true-- even when she had three huge hits in a row in 98-99 she didn't get the sort of status you would expect. And then last year she had the biggest Urban song of the year and didn't get the right attention. Maybe that's why she's able to continue her success, like with "U should've known better" this year--- she doesn't owe any of her success to hype or being the flavor of the day, it's all because of talent, hard work, personality, etc etc.

[Crushcrushchris]

Jersey said:

Story of the Year

I agree. Sidewalks and Anthem of our Dying Day should have been a lot bigger.

[Adonis the DemiGod!]

Classic most of your underrateds deserve to be underrated.

[sinceubeengone7]

over-rated:
usher - god, he used to be my fave, but he got more awards than he deserved this year.
eminem- new album is just ok. actually, new album is not original; it's almost the same as 'the eminem show'. for a guy who sells 2 million in 3 weeks, he needs to create new stuffs, not recyclem 'em!
jessica simpson - she needs to develop live singing skills. those faces, ugh...

under-rated:
kelly clarkson - "breakaway" is such a great album. might need to fire her whole marketing/management team. first promo appearance on the day her album comes out? what is up with that?
kanye west - the guy should have won many awards for 'jesus walks'. 'workout plan' sux tho....
mandy moore - if britney and jessica can sell albums, why can't this gal can't? i don't get it....

[Rural Juror]

Underrated:

The Corrs
Vanessa Carlton

[kingLUKE22]

Underrated:

Sugarcult

What was up with these guys? Both singles from their new album were both alternative and pop friendly, but they got nothing. Weird.

[thedualityofman]

The great big underrated of the year in my mind is:

Metric

They had arguably one of the most catchy and generally awesome singles of the year in Combat Baby. Get massive love from critics and fans alike. Their shows always sell well. The video for Combat Baby kicks all the ass in the world that a claymation video could possibly kick.

I don't know if anyone else here really ever gave Metric a listen, but in 2005/2006, I say Metric will do what Garbage did in 1994/1995.

Metric is a sign that witty, thought provoking lyrics sung by a woman and talented song writing and instrument playing will not be a fad.

[irice22]

Overrated
Usher - Not to say that his msuic was so bad, just not that good.
Outkast - "Roses" in the Top 10?
Lil' Flip - Bland!
311 - Bland!
Hoobastank - Bland! Not a terrible song though, just too bland to get all the attention it got.
Franz Ferdinand - Repetitive.
Alicia Keys - Again, not terrible, but still pretty boring. I also don't like how she teamed up with Usher, to me that was selling out.
Jojo - Not bad, just not #1.
Beyoncé - Same a Jojo.
Eminem - Overrated because of his name.
Gwen Stefani - I can't believe people called "What You Waiting For?" amazing!

Underrated
Nelly Furtado - "Try" should have been huge!
Vanessa Carlton - "White Houses" should have been huge. I think she had a chance to save herself though had she released "Private Radio" first.
Howie Day - "Collide" should have been much bigger.
Live - I loved "Runaway," I only heard it in Colorado and never saw it pop up on the charts.
Sarah McLachlan - This three singles have been great! What happened?
Alanis Morissette - Should have released "Eight Easy Steps" first.
Joss Stone - Not too great, but deserves more than what she got.
Story of the Year - Their album isn't so bad, and "Anthem of Our Dying Day" is a great song!
Sugarcult - "Memory" should have alteast hit the Top 20 on pop.

[Christos]

Overrated = Nelly
Underrated = Kelis

[Night Senses]

I'm not going to waste my time on the overrated - as they are already getting enough attention as it is. It's time to focus on those who deserve SO much more than what they're getting (especially in the States). My apologies if I list people that haven't really done anything in 2004, but there's much to get off my chest.

Underrated:
Damien Rice (Brilliant singer, songwriter, ARTIST)
Howie Day (My favorite road trip music - love him)
Anthony Hamilton (Incredible. It's the raw and unpolished soul-R&B that's been missing)
Jill Scott (Why have people slept on her new album? It's fantastic!)
Ben Harper (Will he ever get some kind of commercial success? It's ridiculous how talented this man is.)
Mos Def (He could be recieved a lot better.)
Kelis (She put out a killer album and it did nothing for her career. Yeah, the industry is unfair.)
The Roots (Still one of the best, yet still struggling to get the success they deserve.)
Electric 6 (I don't know where they'd fit in, but can't they atleast go Gold? lol.)
Angie Stone (Read what I said about Anthony Hamilton.)
The Calling (I personally loved their recent album and I felt they were underrated this year. If Hoobastank can have THAT much success, why is there no room for these guys? They're actually great.)
JC Chasez (I don't care about what anyone says. His album has to be one of the best pop albums I've bought in a long time and he deserved to have some time in the sun.)
Taralynn Ramsey (Beautiful, soulful voice; subpar material. Even with that subpar material, she should've done better, because she's got more talent in her pinky finger than some of the R&B "princesses" who are using the same tricks.)
Jon B. (It's a damn shame what happened to his latest album, but I'm glad I didn't miss out. He's such a talented man. Take notes, Justy Lake. This is blue-eyed-soul.)
Fiona Apple (I know she didn't have an album out this year, and it was supposedly shelved, but I don't think people see the brilliance in this woman. Maybe her off-stage antics and crazy behavior overshadows her music, but she's got great songwriting talent.)
Thicke (Yeah, yeah, yeah - no album this year. Who cares. He's underrated and no matter what he does, I think he'll be ignored. Whether it's in 2004 or 2005 or 2006, and that makes me sick. The talent is overflowing.)

Whew. That's all. lol.

[singingsparrow]

Overrated:

Basically all that's already been said

Underrated:

Damien Rice
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Franz Ferdinand ("Take Me Out" should have made a much wider multi-format impact)
Scissor Sisters
Nelly Furtado
Live

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

[bluenote]

Overrated
Alicia Keyes
Usher
Jay-Z
Kanye West


Underrated
Britney Spears
Christina Milian
Brandy
JC Chasez

Alicia Keyes has got to be one fo th emost overrated women in music in a LONG time. i dont even think Beyonce was this overrated, at least she was entertaining in 2003 during her big year. Alicia sits behind a piano and bores me to tears. With the exception of "if i aint got u" and "heart burn" which wasnt even released, she can be a huge bore.

Usher....what exactly is good about him? he has been out for over 10 years and because he makes an album about his relationship with Chilli, he becomes the next Michael jackson? I dont get it. His songs are mediocure, nothing special, but yet he seems to be unstoppable.

Jay-Z and Kayne are 2 of the most irratating and egotistical rappers in music. How many more albums will Jay-Z put his name on before he "retires?" He has officially had more come backs than Jordon. Kayne....you are not best new artist material. Get over it!


Britney Spears put out some of the best music of her career and is ignored by ever award show. i dont understand it at all. "Toxic" was definately one of the best records of the year. her sales for ITZ were more than respectable, but because of her life, her music gets underrated.

Christina Milian proved to viable radio artist with "dip it low" and her label still refused to throw some support her way. Her album had alot of potential radio hits on it but I doubt if she will get the chance to release anything else from this album.

BRandy - her album was good and should have done better. Bottom line

JC Chasez - Good album but was not taken seriously or given good promo.

[myshelbronx]

BlueNote said:

Overrated
Alicia Keyes
Usher
Jay-Z
Kanye West

Underrated
Britney Spears
Christina Milian
Brandy
JC Chasez

Ok, well.. I have to disagree with you here. I mean, Britney Spears, Christina Milian and Brandy only have to lay their so called voices in studio and make sexy video clips to sell albums.. Alicia Keys, Kanye West and Jay-Z write and produces most of their songs.. this is why they are criticly acclaimed. Artists most of the time get good reviews.. celebrities don't, that's the way it is and it shouldn't be different. You don't get critical acclaims when all you do is shake you ass and lipsynch. You don't.

[bluenote]

myshelbronx said:

Ok, well.. I have to disagree with you here.

who gives a hot damn.  Its My opinion, not yours.

And for the recrd, Milian writes her songs and Britney co-wrote a large portion of her album as well.

[myshelbronx]

BlueNote said:

And for the recrd, Milian writes her songs and Britney co-wrote a large portion of her album as well.

Great, let's give each of them a Grammy next year.

[siggy]

BlueNote said:

Alicia Keyes has got to be one fo th emost overrated women in music in a LONG time.  i dont even think Beyonce was this overrated, at least she was entertaining in 2003 during her big year.  Alicia sits behind a piano and bores me to tears. With the exception of "if i aint got u" and "heart burn" which wasnt even released, she can be a huge bore.

You don't think that Beyonce was that overrated?

According to the year that she's had you would think that Crazy In Love was the best song in music history. I don't think that anyone has won more awards in a year than she has. If that isn't overrated then I don't know what is. Alicia has probably won 4 or 5 awards this year and that's not a lot considering her album and the nice singles that were released off of it. Then it's not a lot considering the amount of awards that Usher and Beyonce have won.

It also depends on what you call entertaining. Seeing the same dance routines wasn't something that I cared to watch over and over again either. That also becomes a bore.

They both can be extremely overrated but there's nobody doing what either of them does, and not too many artists work as hard as those two as far as touring.

Underrated

Brandy-it's a shame that she was overlooked this year. I hope that she gets atleast one grammy nod.

Kelis-her album was also very good. She's one of the most creative artists. Tasty should have done way better than it did.

Martin Luther-If you don't know who he is then find out immediately.

Britney Spears-She released so many wonderful songs off of her new album and it's a shame how the industry and fans turn on you. She deserves a few grammy nods and a grammy.

[britrocks16]

Britney was definetly underrated. Toxic and Everytime were 2 of her biggest songs to date and she got no respect for them and no award shows awarded her.

[Night Senses]

I don't see how someone who sells 7 million albums, scores a #1 pop hit and a multi-million selling perfume is considered "underrated," but opinions definitely do vary.

Underrated to me is someone who just isn't getting their dues at all. Britney Spears, to me, is definitely getting her share of success and support. Some artists, talented beyond God knows what, can't even get played on the radio.

[bluenote]

siggy said:

You don't think that Beyonce was that overrated?

Beyonce was overrated but at least she was entertaiing and wasnt a bore. i could always depend on Beyonce to put on a killer perforance, cant say the same for Ms. keyes. I guess what i am saying is that Beyonce may have been overrated but she could back it up. I dont think alicia can. A piano just doesnt do it for me.

[thedualityofman]

LoveAngelMusicLady said:

Underrated:
Electric 6 (I don't know where they'd fit in, but can't they atleast go Gold? lol.)

Gay Bar is one of the greatest songs ever....

And L.A.M.L., when someone has the name of a pop singer in their name on a board, chances are they think that everyone on the planet should worship them like a god and if they don't, then its the biggest travisty in the history of the world.

[siggy]

BlueNote said:

Beyonce was overrated but at least she was entertaiing and wasnt a bore. i could always depend on Beyonce to put on a killer perforance, cant say the same for Ms. keyes. I guess what i am saying is that Beyonce may have been overrated but she could back it up. I dont think alicia can.  A piano just doesnt do it for me.

I coudn't depend on her to always put on a killer performance. I really really enjoyed her Crazy In Love performance like only three times and I didn't enjoy the Baby Boy performances at all.

However, it was more energy than anyone was putting out at the time so I halfway see where your coming from.

Alicia kills it with Heartburn and she's given a few good performances of IIAGY but if your looking for absolute entertainment then she's not the way to go.

[Evergreen]

Overrated
Usher
Kayne West
Jill Scott

Underrated
Ciara
Beyonce
John Legend

[bluenote]

siggy said:

if your looking for absolute entertainment then she's not the way to go.

exactly. and then its not even about wanting some1 to dance all the time. For example. Ms. Patti Labelle or Areatha Franklin can tear it up and entertain with just their vocals, Alicia Certainly can not. Half the time her voice is gone and she is shouting. She is just so overrated.

[Deleted]

All I know is if I want bootyshaking to hip-hop music, I'd hit a strip club, not a concert.