These five underrated rock albums have incredible listening quality today; however, their tragic backstories might just change the way you listen to them.
1. ‘Mamonas Assassinas’ by Mamonas Assassinas
Mamonas Assassinas was a pop-rock outfit from Brazil. Their only studio album was released in 1995, and the stellar Latin rock hit sold more than two million copies in just a few months.
Unfortunately, the band didn’t get to enjoy a long and fruitful career. Just a year after their debut album was released, the entire band died in a horrid plane crash near the Cantareira mountain range while traveling to São Paulo, Brazil. The band had just wrapped a stellar show in Brasília. Each member planned to spend some time with their loved ones before hitting the road to tour across Portugal. The band, the pilots, a crew member (who was also a family of one of the members), and the band’s bodyguard all perished in the crash.
2. ‘Youth Anthems For The New Order’ by Reagan Youth
If you were a little punk kid growing up in the 1990s and 2000s, you probably already know all about this album from the hardcore punk outfit Reagan Youth. Youth Anthems For The New Order was followed by a few re-releases and singles before the band broke up in 1990, following former President Ronald Reagan’s departure from office.
It was an apt way to end the band. However, any chance of a reunion with the original lineup ended in 1993. Lead singer Dave Rubinstein tragically committed suicide at the age of 28. His death followed the death of his then-girlfriend, who was murdered by serial killer Joel Rifkin. Rubeinstein’s mother also died that same year after being accidentally run over by a car.
3. ‘Guitar Romantic’ by Exploding Hearts
The 2003 record Guitar Romantic is the only album released by American punk rock band The Exploding Hearts. The group was a talented quartet of musicians who produced punk rock, glam punk, and power pop music.
Tragically, three of the four band members (Adam Cox, Matt Fitzgerald, and Jeremy Gage) died in a car accident in July of that year, mere months after their album was released. Each member was only in their 20s at the time of their death.
4. ‘The Strain’ by Teeth
This is one of few underrated rock albums that really sticks with you, and the tragedy that ensued after its release was actually already expected.
The Strain was the dying wish of a terminally ill musician named John Grabski. Grabski wanted to make a grunge album produced by Steve Albini. For the uninitiated, Albini is responsible for a number of famous grunge albums, including In Utero by Nirvana and Surfer Rosa by Pixies. Albini obliged, and the result is a bittersweet 2012 album about living with cancer and dealing with one’s own mortality. Grabski passed away that very year.
5. ‘Hospice’ by The Antlers
Hospice was released by indie rock band The Antlers in 2009. The concept album follows the story of a New York-based hospice worker and a patient who is dying from bone cancer. The story follows their romance and inevitably takes a turn for the worse as the patient grapples with her own traumas and the advancing disease in her body.
The metaphor behind this underrated rock album is quite tragic. According to the band, Hospice is a metaphor for abusive relationships. The band’s frontman Peter Silberman has been extremely reluctant to give details about the concept of the album. This has led many to think it is partially or wholly autobiographical. Either, way, the album itself is clearly inspired by tragedy.
Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer
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