Greetings, on-the-guest-listers.  A quick note on some criminally overlooked rock bands, including progressive powerhouse Porcupine Tree.

You might ask: Why are you talking about rock music and where is it even headed?  Well, my friends– this is where rock music is at…not necessarily in America, and not necessarily on our charts.  Radio is obviously a huge player in the rock business.  With psychedelic, progressive, and operatic references like Pink Floyd, Rush, and Queen, it’s no surprise that a number of great rock artists continue to thrive beyond American earshot (with songs beyond the 4 minute mark).  This album and artist recommendations are not about underground bands– on the contrary, these artists are pretty popular.  Nor is this list comprehensive.  Rather, I’d like to think it’s an ongoing dialogue on great, quality artists that are criminally overlooked by us Americans (or is “US Americans” more correct… anyway…)

Let’s start with an album of the week, shall we?

The Incident by Porcupine Tree (9/14/2009)

This one is on my wishlist, and it’s a crime I haven’t listened to it (or the YouTube preview) yet.  Funny, because the album apparently intends to humanize the victims of crimes covered by a detached media (or something along those lines– again, I haven’t actually heard it).  A lot of magazines will make, or already have made some very punny jokes on this matter.  Maybe I don’t read enough music press.

The songwriting abilities of Steven Wilson, as well as his vocals, which can only be described as “a silky smooth layer cake” (K for P to those who care); and Gavin Harrison’s odd, precise drumming, to me, make Porcupine Tree, as Mike Tyson would put it, an impetuous beast [of a band of nice British guys.] Side project “Blackfield” reinforced Wilson’s status as “K for P” in my book.

Porcupine Tree now leads me to…
Blackwater Park by Opeth (2/27/2001)

If you haven’t already watched my tour bus interview with Opeth, here’s another chance.  Opeth and Porcupine Tree also dig each other, which is cute… in a deathly metal sort of way.  I’ve already recommended the album Watershed, so now I’m recommending Blackwater Park– produced by Steven Wilson.

The Resistance by Muse (9/14/2009)

Another album of the week, another great band that I really like, and another one on my wishlist.  I haven’t heard the preview, but for those who aren’t ready to take the plunge (yet) and dish out $10 for The Resistance, YouTube exploration awaits you.

Elitist moment:  Despite my suggestion that some of you might want to check out Muse on YouTube, I still side with taking the plunge.  Only because you might make a comment like the one from this Metalsucks.net review: “I’ve only listened to the record once so far, but I’m kind of lukewarm on what I’ve heard.  I’m really anxious to hear all of the 3-part symphony that closes the record, as only :30 clips are available even to those who’ve signed up for the website” (source: http://www.metalsucks.net/2009/09/11/the-resistance-has-arrived-new-muse-album-streaming-in-full/).  As Steven Wilson put it, listening to an mp3 (or any compressed music) is like looking at a photocopy of a painting.  Judging an album on 30 second low-quality clips is, well…now that I’m on a quote roll… “missing all that heavenly glory” (Bruce Lee).  Still, if you have the means to check out the photocopy before investing in the full work of art, why not?

Octahedron by The Mars Volta (6/23/2009)

I hated them the first time I saw them live with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2005.  I love them now.  A lot of people don’t like their more free-form songwriting, but to those people, I say shake it up and enjoy the riff salad!  This album is on my wishlist, so I couldn’t comment on it, but a lot of fans seem to put “Deloused…” on a pedestal and avoid the epic and experimental.  Opeth is probably guilty of the same approach to music, but if you’re going progressive anyway, expect to test your patience every now and then.  You did it when you moved on from “Dark Side” or “The Wall” and discovered “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” I think the Volta deserve the same chance– you loved Deloused… so give “Amputechture” and everything else a chance!

This is not, by far, a comprehensive list.  Comment with rock artists you think are overlooked or underrated, major or indie!