15 Most Underrated Hard Rock Bands Of All Time
13. Social Distortion
Social Distortion seems to only be known nowadays as the band punk musicians namedrop to give themselves a shred of legitimacy. While the band didn't have hits as big as bands like the Ramones or Green Day, their unique approach to the genre left an indelible mark on the next generations of players.
Early on, the band was more or less your typical punk outfit mixed with traces of hardcore, but as they progressed from album to album, they began to peel back the layers of their more frenetic sound. As they went on, the band adopted a much rootsier sound that seemed to be informed by heartland rock and the country music of Johnny Cash.
Even though true punks might have seen this as the band's attempt at selling out, the sound of tracks like "Ball and Chain" and "Story Of My Life" became anthems for the Everyman. Rather than coax off their new sound and become too commercial, the band found their niche and continued to deliver their melodic form of punk rock. This not only broke down barriers of what was legitimately punk, but also set the stage for pop punk bands like Blink-182 to go a little more melodic with their tunes. It might not be as fast, but the punk ideals are still firmly intact.