Do you think Hope is underrated?

[snakes&ladders]

Out of about 50 'music experts' I met this summer, only about 20 knew who she was and what she did and only about 9 knew which band she sang in!!! The ones who did know Hope didn't think she was so special. So what do you think? Is Hope underrated or just 'unknown'??!

[coradin]

I was just listening to some Mazzy Star while web surfing and chanced upon this site. Hope is definately underated and even some people who know some Mazzy Star music think thats her name. Ah well.

Just my 2cents. Her voice is so amazing.

[snakes&ladders]

So, unfortunately, my impression was not far-fetched . I think it's the negative influence that such so-called celebs transfer to better artists like Hope.....I mean let's face it, all this hullaballoo on Michael Jackson (RIP) being the King of Pop is HIGHLY OVERRATED in my book....and even his rather PLASTIC 'music' is HIGHLY overrated as well! It's time the kids got back to listening to some REAL music otherwise they might think peeps like Jacko are God on Earth:(!

[mcalldp]

Mazzy (where Hope's main commercial success started) is a very particular type of sound, it may not be for the masses. However, the fans of hers don't seem to be fair-weather fans but rather very dedicated. So, I think that her music may not fit the profile for everyone but if you look at her fan-base she's held in high esteem.

I'm fine with that, The person needing to hear some up-beat commercial bit on their way into work may not be the Mazzy/Hope type and that's fine. Maybe not so much under-rated as more of a niche' market?

[snakes&ladders]

I gather that I might not like Hope if she goes too "commercial", you know what I mean?!! But I'm sure there are ways and ways of "going commercial", e.g. I don't like Jacko's music but I go crazy over Outcast...their music stems from the same roots, but the latter are WAAAAY better. Of course, music is highly subjective too......luckily!
Oh well, I guess I will always prefer Hope's and MS's music to other sounds.....she never let's me down

[nil_by_mouth]

I don't think this is any reflection on her music, but it does reflect on her noteriety - she simply does not court the public's attention, and as a result does not get very much coverage either via the press, or through broader exposure. She seems introverted, to say the least, and is private with it too.

She is an outstaning talent, of that there is no doubt, but the fact that she has released five albums in almost two decades means that audiences move on...or forget. It's not to say they don't like her music, simply that she's not top of mind. She also doesn't tour much and seldom does interviews - there really isn't very much to keep her in the public eye.

As an aside...it's also part of the reason why people think her name is Mazzy Star, and don't realise that was a band name. There is little information out there to more casual fans to separate the two. None of this is criticism, it's just observation. I suspect she wouldn't have it any other way....just look at the quote on the front page of this site, where she talks about being nervous about playing in front of 300 people....

[DaveP]

I would have to agree with nil - Hope is certainly an introvert and doesn't want to be playing in large crowd settings. The stage setup and lighting keeps her sort of hidden in that sense.

The thing for me is that I have really liked her music and have been listening since the Mazzy Star days and would love to hear more, so I really hope that this CD has success at least enough to give Hope the drive to do another one and not in 8 years.

[SoftDevil]

Hope is underrated by the wrong people, and is well-rated by the right people...

And I like it like that! (and I'm sure she does, too).

[snakes&ladders]

DITTO!!! I couldn't have said it better SD:):)