5 of Kate Bush’s Most Underrated Albums

Legendary songstress Kate Bush is known for a few major albums, particularly the 1985 album Hounds Of Love and The Dreaming from 1982. However, the English singer/songwriter has released 10 albums throughout her career, not counting the occasional compilation or video album. We think a few of those eight records are sorely underrated. Let’s take a look at five of Kate Bush’s most underrated albums of her career!

1. ‘The Sensual World’ (1989)

This underrated Kate Bush album has it all. David Gilmour plays the guitar on “Love And Anger”, Trio Bulgarka provide beautiful vocals to a few different tracks, and the Balanescu Quartet provide their avant-garde string arrangements to “Reaching Out”.

Everyone from Nigel Kennedy to Mick Karn collaborated with Bush on this album. It makes sense why it was partially used for the film soundtrack to John Hudges’ She’s Having A Baby.

2. ‘The Red Shoes’ (1993)

Kate Bush adores film and cinema, and that much is clear in her 1993 album The Red Shoes. It’s pretty common for musicians to release excellent pieces of work when they’re under a lot of duress, and that may be why this album is so good. 

While recording this underrated album, Kate Bush had seen the end of her relationship with Del Palmer and mourned the deaths of her friend Alan Murphy as well as her mother. It doesn’t come across as a tortured piece of work, though. Rather, it feels like Bush is being pulled between her grief and the pressure to “get it together”.

3. ‘Lionheart’ (1978)

Lionheart does not get as much love as it deserves. It’s a sorely underrated early-career album from Kate Bush that came shortly after her debut. We can’t deny that it was a rushed album, as her label really wanted her to ride the wave of her first album. 

Still, it’s quite an accomplishment, considering that Bush was only 19 years old while recording it. It shows a more campy, theatrical side of Bush that fans have since come to love.

4. ‘50 Words For Snow’ (2011)

A lot of diehard Kate Bush fans don’t particularly love 50 Words For Snow. However, we think it’s a warm album that’s perfect for listening to alone while wallowing in your own misery.

It was the first all-original record from Bush since the 2005 release Aerial, and it’s also currently Kate Bush’s last album. Who knows if we’ll ever get another one?

5. ‘Never For Ever’ (1980)

Never For Ever is Kate Bush’s third album, and it’s definitely one of her most underrated works. This album marks the first time Bush started to poke around and produce her own music.

You can hear a lot of different influences on this album, from Bjork to Paul McCartney. “Babooshka” and “All We Ever Look For” are essential listening.

Photo by David Redfern/Redferns

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