Welcome to The Misunderstood Record Club

There’s a difference between music you hear and music that changes you.

The Misunderstood Record Club is my weekly deep dive into albums that shaped my sound, challenged my perspective, and still hit hard today. This isn’t background music. These are records that mattered — and still do.

As an independent hard rock artist, everything I write carries fingerprints from the albums that influenced me. The riffs. The dynamics. The vulnerability. The production choices. None of it happens in a vacuum.

Every week, I’ll break down:

The album and artist

Why it mattered then — and why it matters now

Standout tracks

What makes the songwriting and production work

Who should be listening

Some weeks it’ll be a classic.
Some weeks it’ll be underrated.
Some weeks it might surprise you.

But every record will earn its spot.

Why “Misunderstood”?

Because great records often are.

Some were ahead of their time.
Some were dismissed too quickly.
Some were labeled one thing but meant something deeper.

And sometimes, the artists behind them were misunderstood too.

That idea hits home for me — especially as I release my new album, I’m Lonely… It’s My Fault. That record was built on honesty, reflection, and the kind of emotional weight that the best albums carry.

This Record Club is about honoring the music that made that possible.

If you care about real hard rock and alternative albums — the kind with substance, grit, and something to say — you’re in the right place.

This isn’t about trends.

It’s about records that leave a mark.

Welcome to The Misunderstood Record Club.

— Matt Alter