View Full Version : Overrated albums (and why)?
bruce-leroy
22-07-2005, 00:45
OK Computer - Radiohead
Ok, so I wouldn't say its a bad album (or crap or whatever) but I do think it is very overrated. By this, I mean its frequent appearance over the years in the top five of greatest ever albums lists (in magazines, polls etc), and quotes such as (from NME) 'Truly, this is one of the greatest albums in living memory...'
Well, I have news for NME as it isn't. The Bends is much better, for example. ;) OK Computer has some decent tunes, but I think its a bit too downbeat. No Suprises is ruined by Thom Yorke's mumbling (intentional?) of the lyrics. This hadn't occured to me until It was mentioned somewhere (don't remember where now). So I put on the album, and he just mumbles through the song, apart from the "No Surprises" bit. :shrug: What is the point of that?
Now, I'm sure there are plenty on here who love this album ( ;) ), so please don't flame me. I'm not saying its a crap album, but just waaaaayy too overrated.
Which heavily raved about albums do you feel are not as good as they are supposed to be (and why)?
SIMON ADEBISI
22-07-2005, 06:10
Anything by Pete Doherty/The Libertines.
LouBarlow
22-07-2005, 07:29
Slint - Spiderland.
It is a very, very good record (with the finest final track ever) but it is a perfect example of a record that is 'cool to love', which I hate...
Anything by Oasis - One trick pony band with lofty aspirations to be little more than a cover band. Riding on their first album whilst showing no apparent development stylistically, incredibly boring looking live too, rooted to the spot with a light show hoping noone will notice... I really don't like them.
Radiohead
22-07-2005, 07:50
"Well, I have news for NME as it isn't. The Bends is much better, for example."
In your opinion. And that's the thing with arguing about this type of issue - it's so subjective as to make it almost pointless. My feeling is that The Bends is a fairly standard rock album made good my some superb playing and vocals. It's easy to forget just how different OK Computer sounded amidst the plodding anonymity of Britrock.
That, for me, is why OK Computer shows The Bends the way home.
Anything by Oasis - One trick pony band with lofty aspirations to be little more than a cover band. Riding on their first album whilst showing no apparent development stylistically, incredibly boring looking live too, rooted to the spot with a light show hoping noone will notice... I really don't like them.
I agree with you on that one
Kirs-tea
22-07-2005, 08:04
Anything by Oasis - One trick pony band with lofty aspirations to be little more than a cover band. Riding on their first album whilst showing no apparent development stylistically, incredibly boring looking live too, rooted to the spot with a light show hoping noone will notice... I really don't like them.
Too right! :thumbs:
Over-rated - Anything Ash have ever done.
SIMON ADEBISI
22-07-2005, 08:29
Over-rated - Anything Ash have ever done.
No way. Kung Fu is the best 2 minute pop song ever.
No way. Kung Fu is the best 2 minute pop song ever.
Naaa, Song 2 is, despite the fact it is over-played. :)
Kirs-tea
22-07-2005, 08:38
X&Y by Coldplay.
I know people are going to go off on one now but I'm sorry, the album is extremley over-rated! :brickwall
Jagged Little Pill - It's nothing special.
Kirs-tea
22-07-2005, 09:03
OK Computer - Radiohead
Ok, so I wouldn't say its a bad album (or crap or whatever) but I do think it is very overrated. By this, I mean its frequent appearance over the years in the top five of greatest ever albums lists (in magazines, polls etc), and quotes such as (from NME) 'Truly, this is one of the greatest albums in living memory...'
Well, I have news for NME as it isn't. The Bends is much better, for example. ;) OK Computer has some decent tunes, but I think its a bit too downbeat. No Suprises is ruined by Thom Yorke's mumbling (intentional?) of the lyrics. This hadn't occured to me until It was mentioned somewhere (don't remember where now). So I put on the album, and he just mumbles through the song, apart from the "No Surprises" bit. :shrug: What is the point of that?
Now, I'm sure there are plenty on here who love this album ( ;) ), so please don't flame me. I'm not saying its a crap album, but just waaaaayy too overrated.
Which heavily raved about albums do you feel are not as good as they are supposed to be (and why)?
I think OK Computer is excellent but maybe a tad over-rated. But, I don't think The Bends is better.... My favourite Radiohead album is Hail To The Thief. :)
clarkyboy100
22-07-2005, 09:37
"Well, I have news for NME as it isn't. The Bends is much better, for example."
In your opinion. And that's the thing with arguing about this type of issue - it's so subjective as to make it almost pointless. My feeling is that The Bends is a fairly standard rock album made good my some superb playing and vocals. It's easy to forget just how different OK Computer sounded amidst the plodding anonymity of Britrock.
That, for me, is why OK Computer shows The Bends the way home.
Agree totally. The Bends is fantastic but OK Computer is in a different world. It sounds totally original to me and all of the tracks are inspiring and emotional. I still get the hairs on the back of my neck raised listening to it. As a guitarist as well it is much more interesting to play with some great tempo changes and interesting solos and chord structures. OK Computer is my favourite album of all time. Always!
Overrated - The Libertines. Unbelievably so! :mad:
bruce-leroy
22-07-2005, 10:23
"Well, I have news for NME as it isn't. The Bends is much better, for example."
In your opinion.
Hence the wink smilie. :D And obviously its in my opinion, as I said it. ;) :p
I have the other-worldy and unique 'OK Computer' in my top 3 albums of all time, whereas Radiohead aren't even in my top 100 bands and 'The Bends' does virtually nowt for me.
Ash ? A fabulous, well-equipped indie rock band who I love dearly but it's not as if they have any kind of critical reputation is it ?
I thought this thread was about questioning the canon of rock and pop music ? Which leads me to offer up 'Born to Run' (quite a bit behind 'Darkness ...' and 'Greetings ...' for me) and 'Sergeant Peppers' (leagues behind a good 3 or 4 Beatles albums.)
bruce-leroy
22-07-2005, 10:40
I thought this thread was about questioning the canon of rock and pop music ? Which leads me to offer up 'Born to Run' (quite a bit behind 'Darkness ...' and 'Greetings ...' for me) and 'Sergeant Peppers' (leagues behind a good 3 or 4 Beatles albums.)
It is (can be). :D
SpankySpanky
22-07-2005, 11:37
I thought this thread was about questioning the canon of rock and pop music ? Which leads me to offer up 'Born to Run' (quite a bit behind 'Darkness ...' and 'Greetings ...' for me) and 'Sergeant Peppers' (leagues behind a good 3 or 4 Beatles albums.)
'Seargent Peppers' I agree with, probably The Beatles most overrated album IMHO. But 'Born To Run', 'Greetings From Asbury Park' and 'Darkness On The Edge Of Town' would all be in my top 100 albums. Maybe I like uncompliacted songs that tell a story and have meaningful (to me) lyrics. Maybe I'm just not clever enough to 'get' a band like Radiohead (the band) but I find most of their output just inaccessible and as for Old Thom's vocals, well :gag: . I actually refrained from slagging him off for years because I genuinely thought he had a disability but I've since been assured that he hasn't so I feel better about having a go now. All this is of course IMHO and it's all subjective and I wouldn't say anyone who likes Radiohead is wrong (that would be incredibly patronising of me and that's one human trait I detest almost as much as bad manners) but it just doesn't float my boat.
SS
Prodigy - Fat of the land for me
Disappearer
22-07-2005, 11:58
Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side Of The Moon' - or any post-Barratt Floyd stuff, for that matter.
Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side Of The Moon' - or any post-Barratt Floyd stuff, for that matter.
That's a good one - agree 100%.
Led Zeppelin IV - not one of my favourites of theirs.
EdgeOfVictory
22-07-2005, 14:17
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds. Warmed to it only slightly over 4 years
The Beatles - The White Album & Sergeant Peppers. White Album has some great tracks but too much filler, while Sgt Peppers is just rubbish
Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life. Woefully produced. You can tell it was all synthesised and it puts me right off. And for a double album there's maybe 5 good songs and even then they tend to outstay their welcome (big fan of the 3 preceeding albums though)
Antony & the Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now. Dull and annoying
Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head. Parachutes was a great album. This was dull and not at all the masterpiece everyone makes it out to be
The White Stripes - Elephant. White Blood Cells was great and so is Get Behind Me Satan, but there wasn't that much to like here except Black Math
Franz Ferdinand - because I despise Alex Kapranos and his posse
Jagged Little Pill - It's nothing special.
Too right...include anything by the awful Morissette. She is a totally manipulated marketing product, and her music is bland dishwater. I think I saw somewhere that she's released an acoustic version of that album, but it's only available through Starbucks.
Says it all really.
The Boogerman
22-07-2005, 16:09
I think I saw somewhere that she's released an acoustic version of that album, but it's only available through Starbucks.
Was available only from Starbucks pre full release, now generally available.
never quite got the 'Verve' thing. just seemed to be another band to me. same ******* different day.
Which heavily raved about albums do you feel are not as good as they are supposed to be (and why)?
Franz Ferdinand - because I despise Alex Kapranos and his posse
Mmm - that NME job not come through yet then ? ;)
Astral Weeks - Van Morrison. The aural equivalent of Nytol. Dreary, grating, unremarkable jazzy-Celtic hybrid tosh.
Saying that, most much-hyped 'best ever albums' don't live up to their plaudits. One of the few that I found did was 'Dusty In Memphis'.
LouBarlow
22-07-2005, 16:36
Astral Weeks - Van Morrison. The aural equivalent of Nytol. Dreary, grating, unremarkable jazzy-Celtic hybrid tosh.
OMG you are so right - never 'got' this album at all.
Re: The Verve - don't judge them from Urban Hymns - listen to their early stuff, which is excellent - a Northern Soul is an amazing record.
Mr Majestik
22-07-2005, 16:39
Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart is just a load of hippies arseing about isn't it.
Buck Rogers
22-07-2005, 17:11
By the Way- RHCP
I do like the Chilis, particularly BSSM and Californication, but I find this dull.
I think OKC is one of the greatest albums of all time.
sharp_circle
22-07-2005, 17:19
Keane - Hopes and Fears. Why oh why do people like this band. My GF loves them and everytime i'm in her car I'm subjected to its whiney repetitive melodies . The sooner that people realise that they are wingey ***** the better.
MaxNutter
22-07-2005, 17:48
OMG you are so right - never 'got' this album at all.
Re: The Verve - don't judge them from Urban Hymns - listen to their early stuff, which is excellent - a Northern Soul is an amazing record.
agreed, History is absolutely brilliant ...
The Dude
22-07-2005, 18:35
Now don't get me wrong I think The Soft Bulletin by the Flaming Lips is a very good album, but I can't help but feel that the flow of the album is spoiled by 2 versions of 'Race for the prize' and the 2 versions of 'Waitin' for a superman'. If it wasn't for this then it would be be an out and out classic but as it stands for me it's a very good album that is slightly flawed.
Deadwing
22-07-2005, 20:22
Jeff Buckley's "Grace"
It's very well performed and very good overall, but ultimately I find I dont listen to it much - I get bored of it easily. And that is why I think it is over-rated.
Jeff Buckley's "Grace"
It's very well performed and very good overall, but ultimately I find I dont listen to it much - I get bored of it easily. And that is why I think it is over-rated.
Many many years ago I received a promo copy of Live At Sin-E to review and hated it so much it put me off Jeff Buckley for years. Indeed, it was only this year that I decided to try out ( :suspect: ) Grace and I'm so glad I did. Absolutely incredible album.
I've thought of another:
Sex Pistols - Never Mind The ********.
Yes I know it should be taken into historical consideration and it was raw and exciting and cutting edge and ever other cliche - it's a good album but boy does it sound pedestrian these days. And it's not a patch on The Scream and Germ Free Adolescents either.
kohoutec
22-07-2005, 23:08
Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart is just a load of hippies arseing about isn't it.
:notworthy - my thoughts exactly, I've tried, and failed on a few occasions to get into this but just cant see it.
Also going to agree with Grace, a good album - but not due the ever ending arselicking it gets.
Re: The Verve - don't judge them from Urban Hymns - listen to their early stuff, which is excellent - a Northern Soul is an amazing record.
Weirdly, the drugs did work, for the first two albums anyway. I did like the 3rd but it pales compared to A Northern Soul and A Storm In Heaven.
edit (forgot lp names - how embarrasing!)
LouBarlow
22-07-2005, 23:51
Controversial maybe, but Screamadelica gets sooo much undeserved press it's not funny.
The 1st half of the record is immense, but the 2nd is average at best - classic my arse.
Agreed, I put it on when mates are round but find myself reaching for the skip button far too often.
raymondlin
23-07-2005, 00:30
Jagged Little Pill - It's nothing special.
:eek: :eek: :eek:
I haven't heard that album in about 3 years until the other day, and it blew me away ! I don't think it is overrated at all. The other albums of hers are a bit of a turd but this one is great !
Kirs-tea
24-07-2005, 10:10
Now don't get me wrong I think The Soft Bulletin by the Flaming Lips is a very good album, but I can't help but feel that the flow of the album is spoiled by 2 versions of 'Race for the prize' and the 2 versions of 'Waitin' for a superman'. If it wasn't for this then it would be be an out and out classic but as it stands for me it's a very good album that is slightly flawed.
But, it's not an -over-rated' album though...... :thinking: :suspect:
never quite got the 'Verve' thing. just seemed to be another band to me. same ******* different day.
I nearly got into an argument with my housemate over that when Richard Ashcroft walked out on the stage at Live 8. "ooh, this should be good" he said, t o which I replied "why?". "well cos he's a genius" he said. I was left a bit stunned, as I never got the whole verve thing either.
:eek: :eek: :eek:
I haven't heard that album in about 3 years until the other day, and it blew me away ! I don't think it is overrated at all. The other albums of hers are a bit of a turd but this one is great !
Funnily enough I was discussing that album with my other half yesterday - we both bought it when it was first released on the strength of hearing You Oughta Know & the much publicised Chili Peppers connection - only to find the rest of the album is largely banal, over-produced, synthetic-sounding pap with some cringeworthily naive lyrics. A few good songs (shame she didn't actually write much of them) meant I did listen to it quite a bit at first, but it fast became boring.
However, I did see her at Glasgow Garage in 1995 (her first UK gig?) and live it was a different matter - her band (featuring a pre-Foos Taylor Hawkins) were amazing & that was really how the album should have sounded.
The Dude
24-07-2005, 12:29
But, it's not an -over-rated' album though...... :thinking: :suspect:
Well it was awarded album of the year by quite a lot of magazines and websites like Uncut, NME etc and is regarded as a modern classic by quite a lot of people who've heard it. So I'd say it's quite highly regarded in my opinion. :)
Johnny Vodka
24-07-2005, 12:42
Controversial maybe, but Screamadelica gets sooo much undeserved press it's not funny.
The 1st half of the record is immense, but the 2nd is average at best - classic my arse.
Very controversial! :D One of my very favourite albums, though I'm way too familiar with it now for it to get regular plays.
I'm gonna agree with people who've been saying Urban Hymns (which is not so much overrated as completely rotten) and Grace. I just can't get to grips with Jeff Buckley, and (as you all probably know by now) I've had a few women stick it on after sex, which is quite scary when all you were after was a one night stand. :lol: :suspect:
Although I like The White Stripes, I reckon their albums are overrated. All of their songs sound the same, so I can generally only listen to a couple of tracks before swapping to something else.
I'd also add Nevermind to the overrated pile.
I'd also add Nevermind to the overrated pile.
I'd agree with that, In Utero and Bleach are far better.
Johnny Vodka
24-07-2005, 12:44
I definitely prefer In Utero, although to be honest I rarely listen to Nirvana these days.
I definitely prefer In Utero, although to be honest I rarely listen to Nirvana these days.
Same here. When I first started playing the guitar I used to listen to them non-stop, but then there's only so much stuff you can play just with power chords.
EdgeOfVictory
24-07-2005, 17:36
I nearly got into an argument with my housemate over that when Richard Ashcroft walked out on the stage at Live 8. "ooh, this should be good" he said, t o which I replied "why?". "well cos he's a genius" he said. I was left a bit stunned, as I never got the whole verve thing either.
Thirded. Always thought they were rather dull. And I've listened to a Northern Soul too
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