Over/underrated: a music podcast with Fran and Babs

Barbara Mendes-Jorge and Fran James
  • 0.0 (0)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Do you believe the hype? Fran and Babs talk about bands and artists potentially given undue credit & musicians who should be more famous, by curating five or ten-track playlists to argue their case

  1. 12/30/2025

    S9E9c - Special Episode: Albums of the Decade (So Far)

    As we're halfway through the decade, we decided to each share our top five albums of the 2020s... We also talk about other great songs from 2025 that didn't make our Best Of shortlist and round up our year in gigs... You can find ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the ⁠playlist for this episode on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - it includes all songs from our playlists, plus bonus ones from other artists we've discussed during the episode. Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss. Follow us on social media: it's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@overunderratedmusicpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oumusicpod.bsky.social⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky. You can also email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    39 min

  2. 12/28/2025

    S9E9b - Special Episode: Best of 2025 (Part II)

    Part II of our favourite songs of the year! In this episode, Fran & Babs discuss what they think is the best song to listen to live, fave song in a genre you don't normally like, best solo song, best new act discovered this year and fave song from outside of Europe. Surprisingly, songs by two previous Taskmaster contestants made the shortlist, plus there are some unexpected hip-hop and emo choices... Listen to our ⁠Best of 2024⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Best of 2023⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Best of 2022⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Best of 2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Best of 2020⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ episodes to see our faves from previous years. And stay tuned for a Part III of sorts... You can find ⁠⁠⁠⁠the ⁠playlist for this episode on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - it includes all songs from our playlists, plus bonus ones from other artists we've discussed during the episode. Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss. Follow us on social media: it's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@overunderratedmusicpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oumusicpod.bsky.social⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky. You can also email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mark Abbott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our logo.

    39 min

  3. 12/25/2025

    S9E9a - Special Episode: Best of 2025 (Part I)

    For the sixth time, we're picking our favourite songs of the year! In this episode, Fran & Babs discuss what they think is the best collaboration, best song from a group, best non-English song, best sync track and the best rock song. There are more French songs in there than you would imagine - and find out which of Fran's picks Babs is DYING to try at karaoke. Listen to our Best of 2024, ⁠⁠Best of 2023⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Best of 2022⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Best of 2021⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Best of 2020⁠⁠⁠⁠ episodes to see our faves from previous years. And stay tuned for Parts II & III where we expand out our faves. You can find ⁠⁠⁠the ⁠playlist for this episode on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ - it includes all songs from our playlists, plus bonus ones from other artists we've discussed during the episode. Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss. Follow us on social media: it's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@overunderratedmusicpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oumusicpod.bsky.social⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky. You can also email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mark Abbott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our logo.

    38 min

  4. 12/02/2025

    S9E8 - Canada Part II 🇨🇦 Grimes (Overrated) and Peaches (Underrated)

    We're back in North America discussing two Canadian music pioneers... These days, Grimes is unfortunately better known by her, er, associations than her music, so we tried to put her personal history aside - as best we could - and focus on her wide-ranging back catalogue. As often happens, we also talk about the complexities of separating the art from the artist... And Babs chose Peaches as an underrated artist because she feels that most people know her only from her biggest hit - it's clear that Peaches has many more arguably underrated bangers. Will Fran agree? For further viewing/listening, we recommend Peaches' very NSFW and funny video for Rub and Grimes' 2012 hypnotic KEXP set. You can ⁠⁠⁠find ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the ⁠⁠⁠playlist for this episode on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠- it includes all the songs from our playlists, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode. Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss. Follow us on social media: it's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@overunderratedmusicpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oumusicpod.bsky.social⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky. You can also email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mark Abbott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our logo.

    1h 40m

  5. 10/21/2025

    S9E7 - UK Indie: The 1975 (Overrated) and Bombay Bicycle Club (Underrated) - with Joe from Tastes Like Music

    Joined by podcaster and YouTuber Joe from the Tastes Like Music channel, we're in Blighty discussing two modern rock bands... The 1975 are one of the few recent British indie bands who have broken through in the USA - and many other countries besides, with NME coining the term "Healywave" to describe the scope of their influence. But what do we think about their music - and does lead singer Matty Healy stop us from enjoying it as much as we could? Named after a now defunct chain of Indian restaurants, Bombay Bicycle Club were picked by Fran as underrated as they have received critical acclaim - and done collaborations with big acts - but he believes they should be better known, especially as they're "one of the most creative bands of their generation". Tastes Like Music's latest video coincidentally outlines the best albums from the year 1975, check it out here. You can listen to Joe and Dylan's podcast called Discovering Bob Dylan on YouTube. We also highly recommend watching Bombay Bicycle Club perform Carry Me live on KEXP. You can ⁠⁠find ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the ⁠⁠⁠playlist for this episode on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠- it includes all the songs from our playlists, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode. Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss. Follow us on social media: it's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@overunderratedmusicpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oumusicpod.bsky.social⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky. You can also email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mark Abbott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our logo.

    1h 23m

  6. 09/18/2025

    S9E6 - Pop Singer-Songwriters Part III: Taylor Swift (Overrated) and Baby Queen (Underrated)

    We are tackling a behemoth today! We've wanted to talk about Taylor Swift for a long time, so we collaborated on a playlist that broadly covers all of her eras...will we think she's a Mastermind or more of an Anti-Hero? For today's underrated pick, Fran chose South African artist Baby Queen. Her songs have been featured on the TV show Heartstopper and her music is somewhat adjacent to Taylor Swift, even if her lyrics are a little bit darker...with polished production and great music videos, Fran believes she should be much better known - will Babs agree? You can ⁠find ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the ⁠⁠⁠playlist for this episode on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠- it includes all the songs from our playlists, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode. Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss. Follow us on social media: it's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@overunderratedmusicpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oumusicpod.bsky.social⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky. You can also email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mark Abbott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our logo.

    1h 29m

  7. 08/01/2025

    S9E5 - Special Episode: Interviewing Mr.B The Gentleman Rhymer

    Joined by chap-hop pioneer Mr.B The Gentleman Rhymer, we have a wide-ranging chat about his latest album B-Curious, what it was like for him supporting Sparks on tour, the realities of the UK live music scene and what five songs he thinks are underrated and worth sharing with a wider audience... Mr.B will be at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival - check out his show B-Curious, which will be on at 10.30pm from 5-9 August at The Ballroom at The Voodoo Rooms. You can find his album B-Curious on Bandcamp - as well as a lot of his back catalogue - and he is @gentlemanrhymer on Instagram and TikTok. You can ⁠find ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the ⁠⁠playlist for this episode on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠- it includes all the songs from Mr.B's playlist, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode. Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss. Follow us on social media: it's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@overunderratedmusicpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oumusicpod.bsky.social⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky. You can also email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mark Abbott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our logo.

    1h 21m

  8. 07/03/2025

    S9E4 - US Alternative Rock: Pixies (Overrated) & Sonic Youth (Underrated)

    We're discussing two North American behemoths this month! "In 1988, the Pixies sounded like no other band. By 1991, every band sounded like the Pixies" - the Boston band's influence is undeniable, especially from the four albums they made in this time period. But how does the rest of their back catalogue sound - and are they nevertheless overhyped? And while Sonic Youth is another influential band, many of their songs sound arguably too dissonant for a mainstream audience - Babs argues that this is not the case for all of their songs and she feels the band should have better name recognition... Babs recommends watching this live performance of Kool Thing on Hangin' with MTV in 1992 on YouTube - Steve Shelley's drumming is exceptional. You can ⁠find ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the ⁠⁠playlist for this episode on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠- it includes all the songs from Fran's playlists, plus bonus songs from other artists we've discussed during the episode. Download, review, subscribe and get in touch - especially if you have any suggestions for future themes or musicians to discuss. Follow us on social media: it's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@overunderratedmusicpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠@oumusicpod.bsky.social⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky. You can also email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠overunderratedmusicpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mark Abbott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our logo.

    1h 34m
See All (106)

Trailers

About

Do you believe the hype? Fran and Babs talk about bands and artists potentially given undue credit & musicians who should be more famous, by curating five or ten-track playlists to argue their case

Information