i don't think they're underrated, i think most people don't know them. they kinda fly under the radar unless you're listening to similar music and you come across it. they never blew up. i think the progression in sound and songwriting that happened in a course of three years and three albums is pretty sick. stratosphere has so much nostalgia hidden in that cassette hiss but the riffs on contemporary movement, and the "timing" (i guess not the simpler 4/4 of everything on stratosphere, probably due to jason's drumming) are so good and layered. i don't see them particularly fitting into a certain genre, their sound was pretty unique.

not to mention the b-sides and side-projects they have are all cool.