The Top 10 Obscure Psychedelic Rock Albums, According to Rate

Psychedelic rock is often overshadowed by its more popular cousin, classic rock. However, psychedelic rock is a genre unto its own, with a rich history and discography. Here are ten of the most underrated and obscure psychedelic rock albums, according to critic ratings.

The 13th Floor Elevators – The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators

The 13th Floor Elevators were an American rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in 1965. The band was led by singer Roky Erickson and produced some of the earliest successfully integrated psychedelic rock sounds. Along with The Red Krayola and The Golden Dawn, they released a string of singles and albums that left a enduring mark on the psych rock genre.

The group’s debut album, The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, was released in 1966 to critical acclaim. It is considered one of the first psychedelic rock albums ever made. The band’s follow-up album, Easter Everywhere, is also highly regarded and was ranked #1 in Rate Your Music’s Top 100 Psychedelic Albums poll.

Sadly, the band’s career was cut short by drug addiction and internal conflict, and they disbanded in 1969. However, their music continues to inspire new generations of psychedelic rockers.

Love – Forever Changes

Love’s Forever Changes is one of the best albums of the psychedelic era, yet it’s often overlooked in favor of more canonical works by the likes of the Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, and Jimi Hendrix. Released in 1967, Forever Changes is a beautiful and melancholy record that captures the fragility and innocence of the Summer of Love. Although it was a commercial failure at the time, Forever Changes has since been widely acclaimed as a masterpiece, and it’s worth seeking out if you’re a fan of psychedelic rock.

The Electric Prunes – Underground

The 1966 debut album from The Electric Prunes is a perfect example of psychedelic garage rock. Featuring the hit single “I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night),” the album is a raw and energetic mix of distorted guitars, feedback and echoing vocals. While the album was not a commercial success at the time, it has since been praised by critics and fans alike as one of the best psychedelic rock albums of all time.

The United States of America – The United States of America

This is an incredible album that is rooted in psychedelia, but also has progressive and experimental leanings. It was released in 1968 and is often cited as one of the most underrated and overlooked albums of all time.

2. The Electric Prunes – The Electric Prunes

The debut album from this Californian psychedelic rock band is a true forgotten gem. It was released in 1967 and features some incredible songwriting, musicianship and production values.

3. The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band – Vol. 2

This is the second album from this group and it is often considered their best work. It was released in 1967 and showcases their unique blend of pop, psychedelia, folk and experimental music.

4. The Holy Modal Rounders – The Holy Modal Rounders

The debut album from this American folk rock group is a classic example of 60s psychedelia. It was released in 1964 and features some great songs that are steeped in folk tradition but with a definite psychedelic edge.

5. Love – Forever Changes

Love’s third album is often considered their best work and is regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, not just in the realm of psychedelic music. It was released in 1967 and features some incredible songwriting, musicianship and production values.

6. Savage Resurrection – Savage Resurrection

This is the debut album from this American psychedelic rock band and it is a real gem. It was released in 1968 and features some great songs that blend psychedelic, garage rock and acid rock styles.

7. The Misunderstood – Before the Dream Faded…

The Misunderstood were an English psychedelia group who only released one album before disbandeding. This album was released in 1967 and features some great songwriting, musicianship and production values.

The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band – Part One

The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band – Part One is the debut album by The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, released in October 1966. It was reissued on vinyl in 2013 by Sundazed Records.

The album is notable for its unique blend of garage rock, psychedelic pop, and avant-garde music. It features the band’s now-classic early singles “I Won’t Hurt You” and “A Child’s Guide to Good and Evil”.

In 2012, Rolling Stone ranked The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band – Part One #34 on their list of the “50 Greatest Psychedelic Albums of All Time”.

The Misunderstood – Children of the Sun

The Misunderstood – Children of the Sun
As the story goes, The Misunderstood were an American psychedelic rock band who, despite gaining a cult following in their native Los Angeles, never quite managed to achieve commercial success. In 1968, they recorded an album called Children of the Sun, which was not released until 2006 – and even then, only in limited numbers.

Despite its belated release, Children of the Sun is now considered one of the lost classics of psychedelic rock. It features all the elements that made the genre so thrilling and exciting: searing guitars, mind-bending lyrics, and a sense of adventure that is both exhilarating and slightly dangerous. If you’re looking for an album that will take you on a wild ride, this is it.

The Seeds – Web of Sound

The Seeds – Web of Sound
The Seeds were one of the first American psychedelic rock bands. They formed in Los Angeles in 1965 and released their debut album, A Web of Sound, in 1966. The album is a mix of psychedelic, garage, and folk rock with influential 60s pop sensibilities. The Seeds were not a commercial success, but their music has been highly praised by critics and influential musicians such as Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix.

The Glass Family – Electric Band

The Glass Family – Electric Band is an album of psychedelic rock music released in 1968. It was one of the earliest psychedelic rock albums, and is considered by many to be one of the best. The album features intricate and inventive guitar work, as well as fantastic songwriting and musicianship.

The Human Beinz – Nobody But Me

The Human Beinz were an American garage rock band, formed in Youngstown, Ohio in 1966. The group had a hit single with their cover version of “Nobody but Me”, which reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1968.

The band’s original lineup consisted of lead vocalist and guitarist Bob only album, Turn on a Friendly Light, was released in 1967. It was followed by a second album, Nobody But Me, in 1968. The band’s third and final album, Action!, was released in 1969.

The Human Beinz disbanded in 1970, but reunited for a one-off performance in 2006.

Discography:
Turn on a Friendly Light (1967)
Nobody But Me (1968)
Action! (1969)

The Monkees – Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.

One of the best psychedelic pop albums ever made, Pisces… was unfortunately the last album recorded by the Monkees as a quartet. After this record, Michael Nesmith would leave the group (though he did contribute to two tracks here), and the band would only sporadically regroup until 1986. But Pisces… is a fitting swan song for the band, with its massive budget allowing for lavish experiments like an entire side devoted to an avant-garde sound collage.

The Top 10 Obscure Psychedelic Rock Albums, According to Rate