Top Ten Most Underrated Music Genres

The Top Ten
1 Classical

I've barely seen anyone liking Classical music on this site or in real life. I'll admit that it's not my favorite music genre, but it isn't talentless music either. Classical music can be very beautiful and soothing to listen to. Music doesn't have to be fast or heavy to good.

I don't fully understand people who say that music without lyrics is "not real music." Almost all, if not all classical pieces don't have lyrics, and classical is the absolute purest, most "real" form of music, at least in my opinion. Sure, it may not be my most listened to genre. Not by a long shot. But I still have an overwhelming amount of respect for classical music and the talented composers behind it.

Classical is one of the most fundamental genres of music; the basis for all of the main ones today. It's complex mix of rhythm and notes makes for some of the most beautiful songs in existence. People need to work there way up to classical music. From the basics like pop to rock, then to more complex music like jazz and classical.

I guess classical is just one of those genres that I have massive respect for, but don't like very much. As a guitarist, I an tell you this is one of the hardest genres to play. It is very technical and even I, a guitarist of four years, cannot play half of this genre. Classical deserves to be at the top.

2 Jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, United States, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and developed from roots in blues and ragtime. Jazz is seen by many as "America's classical music".

Jazz is seriously underrated. A lot of young people just don't want to give it a shot. I mean, I'm not hating on Rap, Metal, Pop, Rock or any other popular genre, as a matter of fact I listen to every one of those, but it seems like that's all most people want to listen to and they don't want to expand on their taste. Why not try out jazz, classical, orchestra, blues, ambient, new age, electronic, or any other unique genre out there. Seriously, if you at least give some of them a try, I guarantee you'll find something you like. Shoot, I even listen to the music from ' Cirque du Soliel, and why? Because it sounds GREAT!

Jazz is so metamorphic and bendy, there are so many ways it can be played for example, acid jazz, cool jazz, ragtime jazz, etc. and most people say it all sounds the same. Jazz music as a whole deserves the time in your ears. Listen to the cries of a sexy saxophone! Form an opinion! It might just be your next obsession.

3 Progressive Metal

I'm the only teen in my entire god forsaken school that loves any metal ( others like the bad music) but the reason I think prog. metal is underrated is that not every metalhead ever heard of one of the greatest band ever excisting called DREAM THEATER and OPETH ( not a fan of black or death metal but I love opeth and death

I can understand Classical at number 1 but ALTERNATIVE OVER PROG? No, just no. Prog is an underrated genre that deserves a listen. Or two. Or five.

Bands such as Animals as Leaders and Dream Theatre play very technical, interesting music that really needs more recognition.

Dream Theater, Opeth, and even Iron Maiden to some extent. Just a few examples of amazing prog metal bands.

4 Progressive Rock Progressive rock is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States throughout the mid to late 1960s.

If you haven't listened to Prog, you don't know what real music is. Prog Rock is great music, and should be liked more. Literally, Just listen to Genesis, Yes, Rush, King Crimson, Dream Theater, Jethro Tull, and you will enjoy Prog Rock. Some of my favorites include, Return of the Giant Hogweed (Genesis), Roundabout (Yes), 2112 (Rush), Thick as a Brick (Jethro Tull), Metropolis (Dream Theater), Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd), and Lamplight Symphony (Kansas).

Glad to see this spectacular genre made it into the Top 10 at last. A very underrated and overlooked genre. Difficult to get into at first, but when you "acquire the taste" for it (if that made you think of a large red tongue, you have a great taste in music) it's extraordinarily addictive and expands your imagination in infinite directions.

Meh. It's pretty popular. I'm always meh on "underrated" stuff. Things can be "underrated" in their genre (ie their influence in not acknowledged), but an underrated genre? That doesn't make much sense. Genres are too general : to me, you can't rank genres. Neither in terms of quality nor in terms of being underrated or stuff like that. It's just too vast and abstract.

5 Alternative Rock Alternative rock is a style of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. In this instance, the word "alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream rock music.

Given what this site's lists of "Best Alternative Bands of All Time" and "Best Alternative Songs" look like, I have to say what alternative rock ACTUALLY is - is extremely underrated.
Also, sorry to burst most of your bubbles, but classical is overrated, not underrated.

Alternative is overrated. Everyone is always obsessing about how under rated it is but if so many people love it so much then it is not alternative anymore, nor is it under rated.

Alternative rock is awesome think of hole I don't like courtney loves music but I can't say her band is bad. Other alternative rock bands are awesome!

6 New Wave

DEVO, Talking Heads, the B-52s, the Velvet Underground, Elvis Costello, the Stranglers

All great bands/artists which would greatly influence future artists, for many decades.

How is this not higher?

7 Chillstep

Hardly anyone knows what chillstep is. It's chillout/dubstep. And that may sound counter-intuitive, but it's incredible. The dubstep atmosphere is completely changed to give one an aural massage, and the result is often soothing, haunting and beautifully harmonic all at once.

Okay this is actually one of my favorite genres because it's very relaxing and it can spark a listeners' imaginations

Never liked electronic music, but in my opinion this is more artistic (and spine tingling) than dubstep, trance, nightcore, etc.

Chillstep is beautifully haunting and will send shivers down your spine

8 Space Rock

The youth of this age are corrupted by crappy pop music! Space rock is where it's at! Listen to some Muse or Pink Floyd or 30 STM!

Pink Floyd, some of Tool's stuff, and Thirty Seconds To Mars' first album are all great space rock!

Check out a band called Yuri Gagarin's 2014 album. Proves that space rock is still around.

Nobody acknowledges how awesome space rock truly is!

9 Ambient

Really good for studying, and it get's your head in the game and motivated when you need it. Also ambient songs are really long so you never run out. Also most Ambient songs are really good.

I love ambient music! It’s one of my favorite genres to listen to on a stressful day!

10 Experimental Rock
The Contenders
11 Electronic

Electronic is a very abstract term for musical genres. Just like with Rock or Metal, there are many Electronic genres to chose from and there is at least one of them you will appreciate. My personal favourites are Synthwave and Vaporwave and I don't like Trance or Techno- the only electronic genres that most of the people know of. So, people need to open their minds up.

Would definitely say so. My favourite genre. So sad that people don't appreciate the genius behind it all that well. Electronic musicians really put a lot of thought and time into making unique and brilliant sounds. They are truly gifted in their genre.

True. Although genres like House, Trance, Trap and Techno are really popular now while Drum&Bass (My favourite) and Dubstep are also popular I would say Electronic is underrated. Electronic just doesn't get boring unlike genres like rock or pop but it doesn't have as much popularity or recognition as those genres but that's because EDM is a new genre compared to a lot of other genres but Electronic is getting popular now and also electronic makes me want to dance and millions of people would agree with me. I mean just who wouldn't enjoy those funky but kinda calm beats or that epic bass drop or beat drop. It is true that EDM requires computerized effects but they can make a good sound to listen to. Also Electronic Dance Music does have instruments like Synthesizers, keyboards and mellatrons. EDM artists also put a lot more work, talent and effort into their songs. These reasons are why Electronic music is the best and rap would be a close second. EDM is also underrated because of ...more

People think its just people on keyboards talking buttons and noises. No. It requires much skill to create intricate and unique sounds, making sure each soundwave is pleasant to the ears, not just tapping some keys.

12 Italio Disco
13 Downtempo
14 Disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, horns, electric piano, synthesizers, and electric rhythm guitars.

Disco is definitely underrated and unappreciated! The songs are full of life, making me happy to be alive and move my feet to the instrumental music; it's a shame that Metal music and most of the fan base(referring to the type of fans that go and post "LOLZ DICCO sucks AZZ LITEN 2 METAL! 3! 1! " Or "Glad that dicco dyes, daer musuz is uh joke. Meatl or dye! &" Not that sane fans) I'll admit, I hate metal: the songs are overrated and too angry. And mainstream pop music is this a as terrible as meta

WAY underrated. How do I dance to this all the time and other people don't? Like seriously! It should be 1, not 17!

Ok. Why does no one give disco a sympathy vote? Literally so underrated, because no one dances to it anymore!

15 Punk Rock Punk rock is a subgenre of rock music. It usually has rebellious lyrics and down stroked power chords played on guitars. Bad Religion, Sex Pistols, and Green Day (actually pop-punk, which is still punk in a way) are a few punk rock bands. The subgenre influenced thrash metal because of it's down stroked guitar playing and other factors.

Punk music is real, if people would listen to it, they'd realize that. Like my friend won't listen to anything other than bubble gum pop.

Me plays emo
Friend covers ears before a single chord is played
Me plays punk
Friend covers ears before anything is done
Me plays indie rock
Friend runs away
Me plays indie rap
Friend whines for half an hour
Me plays indie pop
Friend devotes all energy into not giving it a single chance

Punk music had these things called instruments, and real voices, and angst, meaning.

When someone says punk, people think of Green Day and Blink-182, which are fantastic bands but they are not true punk, so I find this genre somewhat underrated.

Punk rock has lost its touch over the years. I just wish bands like blink 182 will come back...

16 Power Pop
17 Post-Rock

I fell in love with this genre and I've been listening since short time ago

Post-rock is one of the best music genres.
Please check it out on 'the American dollar'.

"God Is an Astronaut, If These Trees Could Talk, Sigur Rós, Explosions in the Sky, Russian Circles, Long Distance Calling, 65daysofstatic, I Hear Sirens, Sleep Dealer" and many more...

18 Rock and Roll Rock music is a music genre that was created in the 1940s. The genre was popular during the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. Rock bands generally consists of a guitar player, a drummer, bass player and singer. There are many rock subgenres - such as heavy metal, alternative, hard rock, grunge, and more. Notable rock bands and music artists include The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Queen, Van Halen, Foo Fighters,... read more

Since there is no traditional or 80's metal, I guess this is the closest. Most underrated band of the 80's RATT, great musicanship, great songs, good writing. RATT 'N' ROLL...

Rock n' Roll doesn't exist anymore. That's the main reason it's simply the best!

It used to be overrated, but thanks to stupid pop and rap its underrated

19 Synthpop

Synthesizer music invented in Japan

20 Indie Rock

Indie rock is the absolute pinnacle of music, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes, etc. Are just some of the big names in indie rock, it's huge worldwide (Arctic Monkeys are even the MOST popular band in Britain right now) yet a lot of people have never even HEARD of Indie Rock...

Whoever said that imagine dragons and fun and indie rock is completley wrong. Indie is arcade fire, pixies, rem, arctic monkeys and the libertines.

Hey man, if arcade fire and arctic monkeys are indie, then so is fun. and imagine dragons

Amazing... Imagine dragons, fun. , I feel like there songs are based on my life

21 Electronic Rock

My favorite genre of rock next to Industrial Rock. Both which are seriously underrated.

Very underrated pretty sad cause this ia my favorite :(

22 House

Depends on which type of house. Slap house (the worst genre in music history), deep house and tech house are quite overrated. Progressive house is criminally underrated and needs to make a comeback. Big room house is quite underrated as well, especially considering many consider it "lazy".

I love progressive house, I like the old electro house, that's about all I've listened to.

Should be higher

23 Dream Pop

Hey shut up your mouth I love that types of music you make me angry and sick/ill

Best type of pop besides synth/electropop. I love the atmosphere of dream pop and my favorite dream pop artists are Work Drugs (seriously listen to them, they rule and I’m one of the few people who’s heard of them) and LANY (also awesome).

Love the vibes of dream pop.

This is so underrated.

24 Atmospheric Black Metal
25 Ska

To be specific here, Ska actually came in the late 50's, and was the precursor to the more well-known reggae music. Ska is special because of its unique rhythm and the way the electric guitar is being played. I understand why some people might not like it, but that hatred towards such influential music is getting way too extreme.

Ska is amazing yet if people ask what music I like and I say Ska they always say "What's Ska? " Operation Ivy, Less Than Jake, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are amazing bands

Ska is just epic. Give it a listen, and you will smile. I suggest Suburban Legends and Reel Big Fish.

So true this is one of my favorite genres

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