The 60-70’s was a defining period for rock music, and music in general. Artists experimented with many different styles. Some of the largest names in music history came from this era, such as The Beatles and Led Zeppelin. Their impact can be heard throughout modern music. However, some of these names go under the radar and are little known. Some may have a hit song, but the rest of their discography is completely ignored. I compiled a list of some of the musicians I listen to that I believe are underrated. This is not a complete nor a comprehensive list. There are many more great artists not mentioned in the article. I picked bands based simply on their music discography and my current knowledge of their work. Bands are not organized in a particular order.
The 13th Floor Elevators
Personal favorite song: “Reverberation”
The 13th Floor Elevators were one of the first bands to call their music psychedelic rock, a genre defined by its use of new sounds and instruments and experimentation of recording and technology. They were early pioneers of this genre whose influence on music is unseen by many. Their most famous track is “You’re Gonna Miss Me.” It was one of their only songs that reached the charts in the U.S. They have many other great tracks from “Splash 1,” to “Slip inside this house,” and “Fire Engine,” just to name a few. The compilation album The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators collects many of their amazing songs into one list.
MC5
Personal favorite song: “Kick out the Jams”
MC5 emerged in the late 60’s with hard rock music and political-fueled songs. Their music was loud and obnoxious and showed their counterculture and anti-establishment beliefs. They have influenced various rock, punk, and metal music throughout the years. Their most popular song was “Kick out the Jams.” In addition, they have amazing songs such as “Looking at You,” “The American Ruse,” “Rocket Reducer No 62,” and “Shakin’ Street.”
The Sonics
Personal favorite song: “Strychnine”
The Sonics are a fast garage rock act from the 60’s known for their aggressive sound. They made a sort of proto-punk style of music, with loud, screaming vocals. A few of their songs include “The Witch,” “Psycho,” and “Strychnine.”
Strawberry Alarm Clock
Personal favorite song: “Tomorrow”
Strawberry Alarm Clock is another psychedelic rock band. Its absurd name makes it stick out here. “Incense & Peppermints” is their hit track and a psychedelic rock classic. They have produced other amazing psychedelic songs: “Good Morning Sunshine,” “Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow,” “Sit with the Guru,” “Nightmare of Percussion,” “The World’s on Fire,” and “Tomorrow.”
Kaleidoscope (US)
Personal favorite song: “Egyptian Garden”
There are two other 60’s psychedelic bands by the same name. I have listened to a couple of their songs and they seem pretty talented from what I heard. However, this focuses on the U.S. band. They experimented with different sounds and instruments for their songs. Their style of music has aspects of rock, folk, and influences from around the world. “Keep Your Mind Open,” “Colors,” “Oh Death,” and “Please” are a few of their songs.
Honorable mention
Love
Personal favorite song: “7 and 7 Is”
I debated whether or not to put this band in the article or not, so I included it as an honorable mention instead. It has around 750k listeners on Spotify. Some may consider it underrated, while others may not. A band that has been around since the 60’s and only has that many listeners could be considered underrated. They stand with a large influential act on music, but were overshadowed by other bands also coming out of L.A. during that time. Their song “7 and 7 Is” has been covered by numerous artists throughout the years. A few of their many unique songs include “Alone Again,” “My Little Red Book,” and “A House is Not A Motel.”
