View Full Version : Crap albums ... that aren't
douglasb
19-02-2007, 13:48
Do you have a soft spot for critically-maligned albums? Not just albums that are obscure, but famous albums that history has consigned to the file marked "Yeah ... but not as good as the first album."
For the defence, I offer "Room On Fire" by The Strokes. And, yeah, it's not as good as the debut, but I played it yesterday and I like it a lot. It has some great riffs, and those Blondie-esque hints of white reggae are quite endearing.
That said, I cannot comment on album #3 'cos the snippets I heard (1st single aside) were :gag: + :cuckoo: + :shrug:
D.
mikegray
19-02-2007, 13:49
The critics hated the self-titled Liz Phair album. I thought it was great.
The Second Coming - Never going to top the first but it really ain't bad!
In Utero was also panned if I recall. :nuts:
Motley Crue- Motley Crue for one.
Be Here Now.
Long, experimental, pretentious? - Yeah
Toe tapping rockathon? oh yeah!
Gold Against The Soul was a grower for me - took about ten years, but got there in the end.
Mr Majestik
19-02-2007, 17:41
Lil Chris by Lil Chris is sorely over looked.
The Elder by KISS always seems to get slated...but I love it :)
LouBarlow
20-02-2007, 16:13
The new Shins record which I adore, when most others seem non-plussed - seen some shocking reviews for it.
Afghan Whigs Black Love got some average reviews, and that record is a corker - The Doors 'Strange Days' also seems to be pretty much universalley 'meh-ed' but I love that too.
LouBarlow
20-02-2007, 16:15
Lil Chris by Lil Chris is sorely over looked.
Interview with your hero here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_6360000/newsid_6361900/6361971.stm
AndyWilson
20-02-2007, 16:28
The Clash's second album - Give 'em Enough Rope - was much derided on release but I always loved it. The same applies to the second Jam album - This Is The Modern World.
SIMON ADEBISI
20-02-2007, 16:50
R.E.M.'s Monster. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY better than critics would have you believe.
Mr Majestik
20-02-2007, 16:56
Interview with your hero here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_6360000/newsid_6361900/6361971.stm
Thanks, i can't get enough of the pint sized rock power house.
BTW why were you on the cbbc site?
boboskins
20-02-2007, 17:16
King for a Day.. Fool for a Lifetime by Faith No More
Cannot for the life of me understand why it got slated as much as it did :cuckoo:
LouBarlow
20-02-2007, 17:18
Thanks, i can't get enough of the pint sized rock power house.
BTW why were you on the cbbc site?
The PC non-nonce-worthy answer, would be that I saw the interview advertised on the BBC website's frontpage :suspect:
carryonline
20-02-2007, 17:26
I always thought Kiss' The Elder was a cracking album but thought I was largely alone in that.
Betty Boo's second album "Grrr" didn't do very well, but since rediscovering it last summer it's rarely out of the machine. Brilliant pop and a vastly underrated musician. A shame that last year's "Wigwam" project was just a little rubbish.
I didn;t know people didn't like 'monster', I think its great. 'Up' was slated and I love that too!
I also like 'be here now' by Oasis :help:
Tony Ferrino
20-02-2007, 17:34
Also New Adventures In HiFi. That whole period of R.E.M. is continually underratted just because of the umpteen millions of people who thought AFTP was the only album they'd ever done.
Every album they've done has got different approaches and textures from the ones before. That's one of the thing I love so much about R.E.M., they never bring out identikit follow-up albums.
SIMON ADEBISI
20-02-2007, 17:36
I didn;t know people didn't like 'monster',
It suffered cos it was the follow up to Automatic For The People.
ace frehley
20-02-2007, 17:42
Also New Adventures In HiFi. That whole period of R.E.M. is continually underratted just because of the umpteen millions of people who thought AFTP was the only album they'd ever done.
Every album they've done has got different approaches and textures from the ones before. That's one of the thing I love so much about R.E.M., they never bring out identikit follow-up albums.
Beat me to it with REM new adventures - was hoping nobody would pick up on that one - took me a while to get into but just behind Green its the best thing for me personally that they have done
nemo5000
20-02-2007, 18:04
Blondies last album from their original period, the Hunter was heavily slagged off, and sold poorly, but I love it.
I don't remember New Adventures in Hi-Fi getting bad reviews just that nobody seemed to buy it which is a real shame as it is a belting album and probably their best since the IRS years.
ace frehley
20-02-2007, 20:40
I don't remember New Adventures in Hi-Fi getting bad reviews just that nobody seemed to buy it which is a real shame as it is a belting album and probably their best since the IRS years.
your probably right - not got a great memory myself, but New Adventures seemed to come out came out with people inc press still talking about Automatic FTP - ask people who claim to like REM and they dont even remember a cd called New Adventures ie, no hit singles
DrVenkman
20-02-2007, 23:44
I said it in the last Oasis thread but 'Be Here Now' has some great songs on there (Barring 1 or 2 fillers). The problem is that Noel was so out of it on Coke and whatever else that he thought the relentless overdubs and endless guitar solos were a good thing.
If I remember correctly, the album is about 71 minutes long, and it's only got 11 songs on it!
If the trend of fan editing movies ever carries over to albums then this one should really get the treatment.
Jeffrey K
20-02-2007, 23:50
I always liked the Rolling Stones' Goat's Head Soup album, often considered one of their worst.
I don't remember New Adventures in Hi-Fi getting bad reviews just that nobody seemed to buy it which is a real shame as it is a belting album and probably their best since the IRS years.
It think it's more that the media had left them alone by then. In general bands/artists can only hold the 'flavour' of the media for 3 or 4 albums and then it's like they move into the background.
By the time that album came out hadn't R.E.M. achieved U2-like status with any album released routinely getting big sales but at the same time, the music press weren't really bothered: new bands (or newly discovered bands) will always be what drives them.
Be Here Now.
Long, experimental, pretentious? - Yeah
Toe tapping rockathon? oh yeah!
Agreed - still listen to that every so often. Quality.
taylora98
21-02-2007, 12:38
The Clash's second album - Give 'em Enough Rope - was much derided on release but I always loved it.
Any album that kicks off with Safe European Home must be a contender for "greatest album of all time". ;)
I'm with you about Goat's Head Soup, it has some great songs on it, even if Keef doesn't suit wah-wah guitar. The fact that the record came after one of the best albums of all time (IMO), probably didn't help it much, but anyway, it's nowhere near as lazy as its own follow up, It's Only Rock and Roll.
DeadYankee
21-02-2007, 13:48
Any album that kicks off with Safe European Home must be a contender for "greatest album of all time". ;)
Absolutely right, it is a storming album. I can see why it was considered gauche by the fashionista punks of the day but it has stood the test of time well.
One album that was panned that I am a fan of is The Final Cut by Pink Floyd. Personally I think that it stands up to scrutiny in every respect and I regularly listen to it
nemo5000
21-02-2007, 14:27
One album that was panned that I am a fan of is The Final Cut by Pink Floyd. Personally I think that it stands up to scrutiny in every respect and I regularly listen to it
Agree with you there. It seems to be overlooked by most, but it is one of my favourite Floyd albums, and as I love all of them, that is saying something.
douglasb
21-02-2007, 14:35
What about "Strangeways ..."? Listened to this on the way to work this morning:
1. Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours
3. Death Of A Disco Dancer
4. Girlfriend In A Coma
5. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
7. Unhappy Birthday
8. Paint A Vulgar Picture
That's not a bad strike rate by any means.
DeadYankee
21-02-2007, 14:41
Yep, I concur douglasb you can't imagine an album of that quality being criticised these days
Agree with the Final Cut. A superb album. Wouldn't it be great if Waters decided to play that in it's entirety on his next tour. :D
As for Strangeways I again don;t recall it being slated by the critics. the lack of love for it by the general public was probably more to do with the fact the band had imploded before it's release and thus didn;t tour the songs.
As somone who got into the smiths and Pink Floyd after they were about I'm surprised anyone can knock those albums. IMO the worst Floyd album-and it picked up ok-ish reviews is 'the division bell'it's just so 80's and takes itself a bit seriously
DeadYankee
21-02-2007, 15:30
As somone who got into the smiths and Pink Floyd after they were about I'm surprised anyone can knock those albums. IMO the worst Floyd album-and it picked up ok-ish reviews is 'the division bell'it's just so 80's and takes itself a bit seriously
Yes, but then that really is no Pink Floyd album but a Gilmour album and, as much as I adore his guitar work, he cannot write songs and is about as humorous as watching your family being butchered by Katie Melua
That's my favorite Smiths LP, didn't know it was disliked.
Yes, but then that really is no Pink Floyd album but a Gilmour album and, as much as I adore his guitar work, he cannot write songs and is about as humorous as watching your family being butchered by Katie Melua
Good point-no need to pick on the lovely Katie Melua though.
Unfashionable as it may be, I actually found the first ordinary boys album pretty decent too
Mr Majestik
21-02-2007, 15:58
Good point-no need to pick on the lovely Katie Melua though.
She would proberly make a better mass murderer than a recording artist.
Adore by the Smashing Pumpkins.
R.E.M.'s Monster. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY better than critics would have you believe.
that's the first one that sprung to mind.
Seemed to get a real "meh" response when it was first released.
LouBarlow
21-02-2007, 18:58
I remember OK Computer getting *** star reviews across the board when it came out - I thought that was about right, but many claim it one of the best records of all-time now :nuts:
Similarly, I remember distinctly Select (remember that mag?) giving Be Here Now ***** and hailing it as an instant classic, confirming the band to be better than the beatles.
Mr Majestik
22-02-2007, 10:42
Similarly, I remember distinctly Select (remember that mag?) giving Be Here Now ***** and hailing it as an instant classic, confirming the band to be better than the beatles.
It was Q that gave it 5 stars.
(See also Razorlight)
Johnny Vodka
22-02-2007, 10:52
I remember OK Computer getting *** star reviews across the board when it came out - I thought that was about right, but many claim it one of the best records of all-time now :nuts:
:shrug: IIRC OK Computer got a lot of excellent reviews at the time (definitely in Select), which it deserved. Fact is it was one of the best records in a long time and I'm not sure many have bettered it since. (Certainly not any Canadians with beards. ;) )
SheepDip
22-02-2007, 10:56
I think Monster might have not been so panned if it wasn't an REM album. It's way different from any of their others :shrug:
SheepDip
22-02-2007, 10:58
Anyone think "A Present for Everyone" from Busted wasn't as good as their first one ;)
LouBarlow
22-02-2007, 11:06
:shrug: IIRC OK Computer got a lot of excellent reviews at the time (definitely in Select), which it deserved. Fact is it was one of the best records in a long time and I'm not sure many have bettered it since. (Certainly not any Canadians with beards. ;) )
Now I know you're having a laugh Vodka!
Thommy Yorke did have a beard when he recorded the album, it is true, but it definitely misses something through not having enough Canada in the mix.
It's a good record, but too patchy to be anything other than that.
OK Computer patchy? :nuts:
Off top of my head there's only 'fitter happier' which isn't really a proper song. The rest of them are absolute dynamite. Out of interest, do you like the later Radiohead albums?
LouBarlow
22-02-2007, 11:13
Yes I do.
Patchy moments on OKC for me = Let Down, Fitter Happier, Electioneering, No Surprises (man that's some dreary **** right there)
It's the second side of the record that fails it, in my opinion.
fair enough, let down is the only one I don't find to be bordering on genius. I think the three following albums have all had some great songs but also more filler, ditto Yorke's solo effort
another one I like that was generally slated was the album by white town (of 'your woman' fame). Generally seen as a one hit wonder but I still occasionally listen to that album
Johnny Vodka
22-02-2007, 11:39
Yes I do.
Patchy moments on OKC for me = Let Down, Fitter Happier, Electioneering, No Surprises (man that's some dreary **** right there)
It's the second side of the record that fails it, in my opinion.
Let Down, in particular, is an astonishingly good track.
I do actually agree that it's not a perfect album (in the second half); Fittier Happier, Electioneering, Climbing Up The Walls and The Tourist are tracks I'm not that mad on. The rest of the record is pretty sublime, however, and I can't think of any Brit-rock record that has come close to OKC since.
Boozyuzi
22-02-2007, 12:57
Pop by U2 is a great album and it's always being called crap. I guess it could have been better if they had time to finish it but I love it just as it is and I play it more often than Achtung Baby.
I agree about Monster and New Adventures as well - great albums. The last 2 have been pretty poor though.
The Icebun
22-02-2007, 13:03
Pop by U2 is a great album and it's always being called crap. I guess it could have been better if they had time to finish it but I love it just as it is and I play it more often than Achtung Baby.
Agreed - there are some tracks on there that rank up with U2's best :
Mofo
Gone
Staring at the Sun
Please
I've always had a soft spot for The Playboy Mansion as well, even though they've never played it live and no-one mentions it.
There are a couple of weaker songs on there though (Do You Feel Loved especially).
Mr Majestik
22-02-2007, 13:32
I can't think of any Brit-rock record that has come close to OKC since.
Lil Chris.
LouBarlow
22-02-2007, 13:33
:lol:
A worrying affection indeed Mr Maj
Johnny Vodka
22-02-2007, 13:34
Lil Chris.
I didn't know he was British. Looks/sounds like Avril Lavine's younger brother (and that's not a compliment :p ).
LouBarlow
22-02-2007, 13:36
The rest of the record is pretty sublime, however, and I can't think of any Brit-rock record that has come close to OKC since.
British rock is rubbish that's why - have you heard the new Kaiser Chiefs effort? - all the decent music comes from bearded Canadians, and bearded Amerikans at a push...I have been saying this for a long time.
Johnny Vodka
22-02-2007, 14:25
British rock is rubbish that's why - have you heard the new Kaiser Chiefs effort? - all the decent music comes from bearded Canadians, and bearded Amerikans at a push...I have been saying this for a long time.
See my comments in the Kaiser Chiefs thread. :p Indeed Brit-rock is now crap, but that's not to say OK Computer isn't a very good album. It's probably because of that album that I see Coldplay, Razorlight, Kaiser Chiefs, etc as so :shrug: . There's a lot of imagination and attention to detail on OKC. It's not just another stadium rock record.
Robin Davies
22-02-2007, 19:57
fair enough, let down is the only one I don't find to be bordering on genius.
Let Down is my favourite track on the album, an absolute gem!
Let Down, in particular, is an astonishingly good track.
I do actually agree that it's not a perfect album (in the second half); Fittier Happier, Electioneering, Climbing Up The Walls and The Tourist are tracks I'm not that mad on. The rest of the record is pretty sublime, however, and I can't think of any Brit-rock record that has come close to OKC since.
Urban Hymns by The Verve beats it imo. :nuts:
LouBarlow
22-02-2007, 20:30
Wasn't Urban Hymns out first?
A Northern Soul beats them both anyway...oh and my mocking of Brit-rock does not include The Super Furries or Teenage Fanclub if they consider themselves still 'current' as both are geniuses.
Tom Whitaker
22-02-2007, 20:36
Let Down, in particular, is an astonishingly good track.
I do actually agree that it's not a perfect album (in the second half); Fittier Happier, Electioneering, Climbing Up The Walls and The Tourist are tracks I'm not that mad on. The rest of the record is pretty sublime, however, and I can't think of any Brit-rock record that has come close to OKC since.
I was about to hail you for sticking up for it but... you don't like Climbing Up The Walls? It's awesome. And, as an ex-housemate pointed out to me, actually quite sexy :shrug: :thumbs:
Johnny Vodka
22-02-2007, 20:47
Urban Hymns by The Verve beats it imo. :nuts:
Total bore of an album IMO. Anything I've heard by The Verve I've thought hopelessly overrated. I'd choose Spiritualized instead. :p
And to TW, Climbing Up The Walls is probably great by most other bands' standards (and shows Radiohead's desire to do something a bit different), but it's not one of my fave tunes on OKC.
MaxNutter
22-02-2007, 20:53
British rock is rubbish that's why - have you heard the new Kaiser Chiefs effort? - all the decent music comes from bearded Canadians, and bearded Amerikans at a push...I have been saying this for a long time.
did Bryan Adams ever have a beard?
Wasn't Urban Hymns out first?
A Northern Soul beats them both anyway...oh and my mocking of Brit-rock does not include The Super Furries or Teenage Fanclub if they consider themselves still 'current' as both are geniuses.
No and no it doesn't. :razz:
LouBarlow
22-02-2007, 21:10
You're cruisin' for a bruisin' son.
Verve + Spiritualized, as mentioned by Vodka, are by far stronger perps of the whole epic-space rock - **** me and JV have agreed on something - inform the pope.
LouBarlow
22-02-2007, 21:13
did Bryan Adams ever have a beard?
Yes yes yes, but he grew his beard to hide his pock acne scars which is a side-effect of a skin complaint and not in any way indicative of musical talent., though he has produced a handful of corkers in his time - summer of 69 et al :notworthy
He was bearded during those sessions, no question.
Agree that verve were over-rated but spiritualised? Come on, ok as background music but so far from genius. There were loads of better bands in that era, teenage fanclub already been mentioned, but remember mansun, the charlatans (still going), st etienne, the longpigs (both now forgotten...)
Anyone who's heard Ashcroft solo can tell he is a man of very little genuine talent
LouBarlow
22-02-2007, 21:19
If you have heard A Northern Soul and A Storm in Heaven then you would rethink that statement, unless you were like well crazy - they were genius before trying to sell out with Urban Hymns.
Johnny Vodka
22-02-2007, 21:22
Agree that verve were over-rated but spiritualised? Come on, ok as background music but so far from genius. There were loads of better bands in that era, teenage fanclub already been mentioned, but remember mansun, the charlatans (still going), st etienne, the longpigs (both now forgotten...)
Spiritualized are far from background music. :p I like the other bands you mention (love some of them, in fact), but Spiritualized are quite a different prospect. I know LB disagrees with me on best Spiritualized album, but I think Ladies and gentlemen... is a towering achievement, a beautiful thing form beginning to end. If I was going to jack up some H, I might well pick this as the soundtrack. ;)
More on topic... loads of people were disappointed by DJ Shadow's The Private Press, but I think it's ace. (See also UNKLE's Psyence Fiction.)
Mr Majestik
22-02-2007, 21:27
I'll stand up for Spiritualized as well. Blooming amazing band. Lost it a bit on the last album but i have high hopes for the next one espeically after the Spaceman's near death experiance. (Plus he's got the choirs and orchestras back.)
LouBarlow
22-02-2007, 21:28
Spiritualized are far from background music. :p I like the other bands you mention (love some of them, in fact), but Spiritualized are quite a different prospect. I know LB disagrees with me on best Spiritualized album, but I think Ladies and gentlemen... is a towering achievement, a beautiful thing form beginning to end. If I was going to jack up some H, I might well pick this as the soundtrack. ;)
More on topic... loads of people were disappointed by DJ Shadow's The Private Press, but I think it's ace. (See also UNKLE's Psyence Fiction.)
JV I adore LAGWAFIS and Spiritualized in general, but their debut is still their defining moment for me - notable mention to their/his Albert Hall live album, which is one of the finest live albums of all-time imho...
Johnny Vodka
22-02-2007, 21:41
Lost it a bit on the last album but i have high hopes for the next one espeically after the Spaceman's near death experiance.
True. I was quite surprised to read about that in a Guardian interview recently. Sounds like it happened a while back...
IIRC, Q gave Ladies and Gentlemen... something like 2 stars when it was released. :thinking: :nuts:
Think Screamadelica was awarded a similar mark, and last year Silent Shout got 1.
Why did I ever read Q? :doh:
If you have heard A Northern Soul and A Storm in Heaven then you would rethink that statement, unless you were like well crazy - they were genius before trying to sell out with Urban Hymns.
They didn't sell out, they just made a classic that the public liked. You can't deny the pedigree of Bittersweet Symphony, Sonnet, Space And Time, Lucky Man and The Drugs Don't Work. I love the previous two but they don't have the anthems man. ;)
Johnny Vodka
22-02-2007, 21:50
They didn't sell out, they just made a classic that the public liked. You can't deny the pedigree of Bittersweet Symphony, Sonnet, Space And Time, Lucky Man and The Drugs Don't Work. I love the previous two but they don't have the anthems man. ;)
IIRC them are all pretty MOR, although I admittedly like The Drugs Don't Work (definitely an affecting tune).
LouBarlow
22-02-2007, 21:57
An affecting tune but totally like bogus - drugs well work all the time.
Mr Majestik
22-02-2007, 22:00
The nhs would be in an even worse state in the drugs didn't work.
Johnny Vodka
22-02-2007, 22:00
An affecting tune but totally like bogus - drugs well work all the time.
In case you don't know, it's about his dad dying. :nono:
"Noel Gallagher of Oasis, a friend of Richard Ashcroft, remarked on the song "I can tell you Richard that the drugs do in fact work, and I suggest that you change your dealer"
:p
It's about cancer drugs and regular drugs supposedly
LouBarlow
23-02-2007, 05:15
In case you don't know, it's about his dad dying. :nono:
Wow I didn't know that - I thought it was about being so out of your brain on the scag, that you end up not feeling the effects of any new dose - hence the drugs not working.
MaxNutter
23-02-2007, 14:38
Wow I didn't know that - I thought it was about being so out of your brain on the scag, that you end up not feeling the effects of any new dose - hence the drugs not working.
you and Cerys Matthews ... :nono:
Come on Lou - you're knowledgeable about music. You must have known.
The drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again.
Loving your comments on the finest album ever made, however. How can anyone diss OK Computer? And call No Surprises a dirge? It's beautiful!
Agreed with the REM comments though - UP and New Adventures are criminally underrated.
I also think that the Eels album Daises of the Galaxy is underrated. And prefab Sprout - Jordan The Comeback.
LouBarlow
23-02-2007, 16:05
Come on Lou - you're knowledgeable about music. You must have known.
The drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again.
Loving your comments on the finest album ever made, however. How can anyone diss OK Computer? And call No Surprises a dirge? It's beautiful!
In all honesty that stage of Verve's career was during my own drug-induced haze stage, so probably didn't decipher lyrics too well...not that I'm a lyric man myself now - one of my favourite songs entire length is made up of the same 3 words repeated - I'm not one for wordsmithery :lol:
No Surprises is just dreary and depressing - it's annoying.
LouBarlow
23-02-2007, 16:13
you and Cerys Matthews ... :nono:
Mmmmm please :luv: :p
MaxNutter
23-02-2007, 18:40
Mmmmm please :luv: :p
10 years ago, maybe just ...
LouBarlow
23-02-2007, 18:41
She still looks well Milfy.
Johnny Vodka
23-02-2007, 19:01
She still looks well Milfy.
Ya think? Bit of a toss up between her and baldy Britney. :p
MonkeyboyUK
27-02-2007, 12:57
They didn't sell out, they just made a classic that the public liked. You can't deny the pedigree of Bittersweet Symphony, Sonnet, Space And Time, Lucky Man and The Drugs Don't Work. I love the previous two but they don't have the anthems man. ;)
"Urban Hymns" is an Ashcroft solo album in all but name...he's gone on record to admit that he bottled it and made a phonecall to Nick McCabe at the 11th hour. Hence the reason it sounds so different (i.e. boring) to the previous albums. Still, better than anything Dickie's come out with since, eh?
Back on topic, some albums I enjoy that the critics didn't:
Kyuss - ...And the Circus Leave Town
Sonic Youth - Experimental Jet Set...
The Beta Band - 1st album
Mercury Rev - The Secret Migration
And as for Q magazine, they also gave The Soft Bulletin ** and The Stone Roses debut *** when they were first released. I mean, come on... :brickwall
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