Worst Albums By Your Favourite Artists? [Archive]

Pachinko

08-27-2006, 01:31 PM

Let's switch it up a bit.

Which albums have your favourite artists/groups made that didn't meet the standards with you?

Well, as for me, No Doubt's worst album had to be "Rock Steady". It was a bit too "pop" for No Doubt, and it seemed to be less of their style. All Madonna's albums have been good; she almost gave 110% on each of her ten studio albums. BUT, the worst, for me, would've been "Like A Virgin". It was really just a singles album, because those were the only songs worth listening too. As for Bjork, I don't like "Selmasongs" that much.

Sae

08-27-2006, 01:44 PM

BUT, the worst, for me, would've been "Like A Virgin". It was really just a singles album, because those were the only songs worth listening too.

So how was it bad if they were all great songs???

For me, It was American Idiot. Now THAT was a string of songs that got too old WAY to fast. :sweatdrop So sad that Green Day changed their image. They just look like posers now. "Good Ridance (Time Of Your Life)" NEEDS to go back on the radio! The people need more freakin GOOD QUALITY music!

*Sae mumbles to self.....*
stupid people releasing stupid stuff about their sex life that NO ONE wants to here about and how "promiscuous" (easy) they are. my god.
*Sae rambles on......*

OKAY! I need to get back on topic! ANYWAYS! *ahem*

Sae

Tremolo

08-27-2006, 01:47 PM

U2's Rattle and Hum is hysterically bad. It kicks off with Bono introducing a live cover of The Beatles' 'Helter Skelter' with, "This is a song Charles Manson stole from The Beatles…we're stealing it back." That's pretension of eye-stabbing proportions. Why the audience didn't riot and tear him limb-from-limb at this inexcusable display of wankery remains to be discovered. They turn their classic track 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' into a gospel song replete with choir - it's the aural equivalent of shitting in your own mouth and gargling bleach to wash it away. There are some awful new songs on it too: 'When Love Comes To Town', 'Love Rescue Me', 'Hawkmoon 269'... the list goes on. Oh, and they play The Star Spangled Banner live. Yay for America! Long live the USA! Oh wait, they're Irish.

How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb was arse, too. U2 sold their soul to Apple; Bono's lyrics became frankly laughable ("freedom has a scent / like the top of a new born baby's head") and his voice got worse; and worst of all, the pre-release hype made it sound completely different to what we actually got ("raw", "punk rock", "masterpiece" >_>).

I don't like Muse's Absolution much, either. It's too dark, too overblown, too long and a real slog to get through. Only 'Hysteria' and 'Time Is Running Out' really do it for me. The rest is rubbish.

Tori Amos' latest The Beekeeper was utterly bollocks. Too quirky for its own good, and crushingly, soul-destroyingly bland. There's not a single memorable song on the thing, and that combined with the pleasant but hardly earth-shattering Scarlet's Walk makes me think that her glory days are pretty much behind her.

Pachinko

08-27-2006, 02:30 PM

So how was it bad if they were all great songs???

Because the singles were good; "Dress You Up" and "Material Girl" were splendid. The album was good for an album, but sucky for a Madonna album.

How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb was arse, too. U2 sold their soul to Apple; Bono's lyrics became frankly laughable ("freedom has a scent / like the top of a new born baby's head") and his voice got worse; and worst of all, the pre-release hype made it sound completely different to what we actually got ("raw", "punk rock", "masterpiece" >_>).
I gotta agree with the Trem once more. U2 stopped, dropped, and rolled with that one...

soundchazer

08-27-2006, 02:31 PM

U2's Rattle and Hum is hysterically bad. It kicks off with Bono introducing a live cover of The Beatles' 'Helter Skelter' with, "This is a song Charles Manson stole from The Beatles…we're stealing it back." That's pretension of eye-stabbing proportions. Why the audience didn't riot and tear him limb-from-limb at this inexcusable display of wankery remains to be discovered. They turn their classic track 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' into a gospel song replete with choir - it's the aural equivalent of shitting in your own mouth and gargling bleach to wash it away. There are some awful new songs on it too: 'When Love Comes To Town', 'Love Rescue Me', 'Hawkmoon 269'... the list goes on. Oh, and they play The Star Spangled Banner live. Yay for America! Long live the USA! Oh wait, they're Irish.

How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb was arse, too. U2 sold their soul to Apple; Bono's lyrics became frankly laughable ("freedom has a scent / like the top of a new born baby's head") and his voice got worse; and worst of all, the pre-release hype made it sound completely different to what we actually got ("raw", "punk rock", "masterpiece" >_>).

I will disagree on Rattle and Hum. While this was U2 at its preachiest, the songs that did click are far better than most of what the band has done after Achtung Baby (which is the best album U2 ever made). Songs like "all I want is you", "When love comes to town" and "Angel of Harlem" are actually quite good.

To me, the lowest points in U2 have been Zooropa, Pop and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. The first 2 because they sounded like anything but U2 and used one too many loops and samplers, and the last one because... well... the group is starting to show its age.

Tremolo

08-27-2006, 02:37 PM

I will disagree on Rattle and Hum. While this was U2 at its preachiest, the songs that did click are far better than most of what the band has done after Achtung Baby (which is the best album U2 ever made). Songs like "all I want is you", "When love comes to town" and "Angel of Harlem" are actually quite good.

To me, the lowest points in U2 have been Zooropa, Pop and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. The first 2 because they sounded like anything but U2 and used one too many loops and samplers, and the last one because... well... the group is starting to show its age.

I like 'Heartland', 'Desire', 'Angel of Harlem' and 'All I Want is You', but I honestly can't stand the rest. I also thought the film that went with the album was one of the most misjudged, cringe-worthy things the band have ever done.

I agree that Zooropa is a bit patchy, but still I'd take it over Rattle and Hum...mainly for 'Lemon', 'Zooropa', 'Stay (Faraway So Close!)' and 'The Wanderer'. I think Pop is severely underrated, if perhaps not as good as I thought it was when I was younger.

I'm in full agreement over Achtung Baby, though. My absolute favourite - definitely their masterpiece and one of the best abums ever made.

soundchazer

08-27-2006, 02:45 PM

Because the singles were good; "Dress You Up" and "Material Girl" were splendid. The album was good for an album, but sucky for a Madonna album.

I'm sorry but Madonna has always been about the singles, not the album concept. Even people in my generation who grew up listening to her knew that. In fact, Madonna was more about the visual concept really... we ate it up like yummy breakfast cereal through MTV.

If she has any merit, is in the fact that she adapted her style to reflect whatever was in fashion at the time. The only trully brilliant album ever made by her was Ray of Light.

Ninja Realist

08-27-2006, 02:55 PM

Pablo Honey was utter dreck.

soundchazer

08-27-2006, 03:01 PM

Pablo Honey was utter dreck.

And yet, it would still beat any Madonna album. But yes, as far a Radiohead goes, that was their low point. Good thing it was right when they were starting, and still managed to produce such a classic as Creep.

Pachinko

08-27-2006, 03:31 PM

I'm sorry but Madonna has always been about the singles, not the album concept. Even people in my generation who grew up listening to her knew that. In fact, Madonna was more about the visual concept really... we ate it up like yummy breakfast cereal through MTV.

If she has any merit, is in the fact that she adapted her style to reflect whatever was in fashion at the time. The only trully brilliant album ever made by her was Ray of Light.

She is is very much about the visuals. Born to perform.

And, I'd hate to argue, but "Ray of Light" wasn't her only 'truely brilliant' album (it is by farrrr my favourite, though). Both "Like a Prayer" and "Erotica" were classics; one recieved much higher publicity, the other faced ridicule. Both were super; check 'em out, because it seems you haven't heard them.

(And, for the most part, many of her album's were based on singles [like Bedtime Stories and Music], but some had much better songs that remained unreleased [American Life, anyone?])

Music, makes the people :bellyemot.:love:

--> Also, since I've been into Goldfrapp quite recently, I must agree with the others in saying that Supernature wasn't as good as either Felt Mountain or Black Cherry.

fugupinkeye

08-27-2006, 04:25 PM

I think the brilliance of Madonna is that she was so damn smart. she kept her connections in NYC when she got famous, and then whenever a new style started to blow up in the underground scene, she'd quick-pick it up, and the mainstream world would hail her for yet another musical 'reinvention'. Smart smart lady.
Makes you wonder how many cool club trends might have never made it past that without her.

OK, Worst album by favorite artists: I'm temped to be a total shit and list every album by Van Halen after dave, but that's too petty.
Personally I would say A Private Heaven - by Sheena Easton, an album she did with Prince. Suddenly the girl next door was sleazing it up, getting videos banned from MTV, terrible terrible stuff. (come to think of it, one could compare it to when Christina Aguilera got all risque and her disney fans freaked out)

But, I suppose I should list something anyone here might actually remember.
David Gray - New Day at Midnight, his last 2 albums (3 if you count lost songs) were the kind where you just let it run, and never skipped a song. But this one, skip, skip, skip,.... that's it?

Kitsurai

08-27-2006, 05:02 PM

This one's obvious.

Led Zeppelin - Presence (1976)

Ironically opening with what could be Led Zeppelin's greatest epic, Achilles Last Stand, I must say this album was definitely their weakest. Although it retained the power and drama of their greatest albums, it's apparent the grandiosity is missing somewhere and that the songwriting lacks the sort of love that made Led Zeppelin the greatest band ever. There was this golden magic in between 1965 and 1975 that gave musicians, especially rock musicians, their ultimate epitome through divine and boundless creativity. After this golden era it became apparent that the music had truly and finally become "defined" with structures and sounds; it's just much easier to market. The "heavy metal" idea that Led Zeppelin defined themselves basically defined Led Zeppelin on this album. The new readily salable genres of metal, disco, new wave, rap, punk etc. were all about to be born, and with that, artists now have to be defined by their genre before they could create their music. Although there's no doubt that many bands would continue to pioneer new and interesting styles through breakthrough albums, these new images kids could relate themselves to have always been restrictive and uncompromising, leaving most of the music as nothing more than a dry heap of rigid and uncreative bulls**t.

soundchazer

08-27-2006, 05:11 PM

And, I'd hate to argue, but "Ray of Light" wasn't her only 'truely brilliant' album (it is by farrrr my favourite, though). Both "Like a Prayer" and "Erotica" were classics; one recieved much higher publicity, the other faced ridicule. Both were super; check 'em out, because it seems you haven't heard them.
[/I].

You are kidding, right? I was a teen when those were released, of course I heard them, and while catchy, they are NOT spectacular. You could make the case for Like a Prayer, but erotica? ugh. That is probably the album I like the least.

punkusa20_2001

08-27-2006, 05:16 PM

papa roach fell off after infest which was a really good cd.

green day fell of way early, long before american idiot.

i felt robbed by stabbing westwards ungod.

and personally matchbox twenty was never able to top you or someone like you.

animanic_critic

08-27-2006, 05:24 PM

She is is very much about the visuals. Born to perform.

And, I'd hate to argue, but "Ray of Light" wasn't her only 'truely brilliant' album (it is by farrrr my favourite, though). Both "Like a Prayer" and "Erotica" were classics; one recieved much higher publicity, the other faced ridicule. Both were super; check 'em out, because it seems you haven't heard them.

(And, for the most part, many of her album's were based on singles [like Bedtime Stories and Music], but some had much better songs that remained unreleased [American Life, anyone?])
I usually recognize Madonna from her hit singles, not albums though. The most influential recent albums to me, by far seems to be Ray of Light and Music. The others are pretty okay to me, but there are some really mediocre ones. By far, I think the worst album she has done is Remixed and Revisited, however, the one that clicked with me seems to be Something To Remember, especially with the singles You'll See and Take A Bow.

And yet, it would still beat any Madonna album. But yes, as far a Radiohead goes, that was their low point. Good thing it was right when they were starting, and still managed to produce such a classic as Creep.
Don't forget about the other cult classics - Street Spirit and High and Dry. They can also be put on par with Creep ;) Yeah, Radiohead's may be my favorite British band apart from Oasis.

Back to topic: The dud that I can think off on top of my head is Saint Anger by Metallica. Seriously, after Jason Newsted left the band (and now, with Rockstar: Supernova), the band never really look like their former selfs. Plus, apart from Saint Anger, there aren't really anything worthy in there. The album is a real stark difference from its direct previous album - S&M with Michael Kamen, which by far, is one of the best collaborative works they've ever done.

They should have disbanded right after Jason's departure, really. Even I wouldn't be crestfallen if that were to ever happen, since it's better to disband/retire while you're still at the top.

Pachinko

08-27-2006, 06:14 PM

You are kidding, right? I was a teen when those were released, of course I heard them, and while catchy, they are NOT spectacular. You could make the case for Like a Prayer, but erotica? ugh. That is probably the album I like the least.

Well, I personally enjoy "Erotica"... Heh, I'd be the type to call it classic, yes. ~__~ :love:

Seriously, after Jason Newsted left the band (and now, with Rockstar: Supernova), the band never really look like their former selfs.
Agreed! Like, so much! They were great w/ him, 'tis a shame... Everything seemed to go down-hill from there.

Kiba

08-27-2006, 07:27 PM

soundchazer

08-27-2006, 07:30 PM

Don't forget about the other cult classics - Street Spirit and High and Dry. They can also be put on par with Creep ;) Yeah, Radiohead's may be my favorite British band apart from Oasis.

I was talking about the Pablo Honey album specifically. High and Dry and Street Spirit are from the Album "The bends" which is their best album after OK Computer

animanic_critic

08-27-2006, 07:48 PM

I was talking about the Pablo Honey album specifically. High and Dry and Street Spirit are from the Album "The bends" which is their best album after OK Computer
Point taken. Thanks, Doc ;)

Another dud struck my mind - The Masterplan by Oasis. For a band that's arguably the best of its genre and time, this album really let me down - big time. Even though it's merely a compilation album which never made any of the previous albums, when compared to its previous albums, it just didn't shine. It's a good thing they didn't slip further down from there, but I don't know whether the recent ones can duplicate the staggering successes of What's The Story, Morning Glory? and Be Here Now.

Damn, I'd just wish Liam and Noel Gallagher can really put aside their differences. They seem to have reconciled lately, but my gut instincts tell me there's still some bad blood between them.

Kitsurai

08-27-2006, 07:59 PM

Aren't you forgetting CODA? Well I thought it was a larger steaming pile of crap than Presence was, every song on that album just blew.
Dost thou kid? The record wasn't really an album in the strictest sense, but there were some very enjoyable tracks on Coda, especially the four additions on the discography remake. Even though it's pretty easy to see why they weren't included on previous albums, there's still that sense of eclecticism that Presense just did not have. For that reason, and because Coda was more of a Led Zeppelin collection than Led Zeppelin album, I didn't consider it for this thread.

Two-twenty

08-27-2006, 09:05 PM

The Black Keys don't make bad albums. But if I had to choose the least mind-blowingly awesome one, then I'd have to go for their newest album Magic Potion. I don't think it has quite as much punch as all their others.

LadySage

08-28-2006, 12:22 AM

I maintain that my two favorite bands, Rilo Kiley and Barenaked Ladies, have never made an album that was truly bad, but both of their latest albums have easily been their weakest.

Rilo is interesting because of their ever-evolving sound. Takeoffs and Landings was charming in its simplicity and was mainly Jenny Lewis's wonderful voice with acoustic guitar. The Execution of All Things, arguably their best album, was extremely original and varied, and really musically interesting. But More Adventurous...meh. I enjoyed it immensely, but it was much less interesting than either of their previous albums. They seemed to be heading toward more mainstream appeal, which is likely no accident, since they signed on with Warner Brothers shortly after. I'm personally very apprehensive about their next album.

Mana

08-28-2006, 08:41 AM

My favourite band, Jack Off Jill, only released 2 albums >_>; Still, I'd have to say that their worst "album" was a CD released by their recording studio after they broke up featuring old, unreleased songs, and some remixes. It's terrible because it's portrayed as being rare songs and whatnot, but in reality its stuff that they found back in a closet somewhere and decided to release without any of the band members earning royalties on the sales. People -_-;;

As far as their real music goes, it's hard to pick a "worst" out of 2 albums =\ Both are somewhat different, and the newer one is definitely more refined than the older, but it doesn't make it better. Neither album has a sinmgle song I dislike. I guess that's what I get for picking odd favourite bands ;_;

Emeraldas

08-28-2006, 12:50 PM

A lot of my favorite artists seem to lose their touch as they get older, Ani DiFranco and Tori Amos in particular (they aren't the worst two, but the two that I loved the most).

Ani has been on a downward spiral ever since Revelling/Reckoning, 1/3rd of which was just random sounds and guitar noises. It had a handful of good/listenable songs on it, but for the most part it felt like a gimmick. I would say the two that followed, however, Evolve and Educated Guess, are tied for her worst. After her divorce, she seemed to start just plucking numbly at the strings.

Like Trem already said, Tori Amos's worst effort by a landslide is The Beekeeper. I think it was a review on Amazon that put it best: it sounds like something you'd find in your mother's SUV. I remember listening to an interview in which she said that her daughter, when she was born, kind of "kicked out" a lot of her demons. I hope that doesn't continue to translate to her talent and passion being "kicked out."

Matt Pond PA let me down big-time with their last album, Several Arrows Later. I don't know when exactly their cover of "Champange Supernova" appeared on The O.C., but it seemed to have inspired them to go the more "radio-friendly" route. It's still a good album, but lacks all the originality that made me fall in love with them.

I'm sorry but Madonna has always been about the singles, not the album concept. Even people in my generation who grew up listening to her knew that. In fact, Madonna was more about the visual concept really... we ate it up like yummy breakfast cereal through MTV.

If she has any merit, is in the fact that she adapted her style to reflect whatever was in fashion at the time. The only trully brilliant album ever made by her was Ray of Light.

Was it really necessary to double-post? You've already hit the 5,000 mark, what more do you want?

And give it a rest, already; these are just others' opinions. If you're going to dump all over everyone's input, at least give a reason why.

NausicaaBoy

08-28-2006, 12:51 PM

Dj dean - tunnel trance force 21

LakiDash

09-04-2006, 07:23 PM

An interesting topic...let me see if I can push my fanboyism aside for a moment.

The Yellow Submairne and Let it Be by,well, who else, The Beatles are their most lackluster albums. But there are reasons behind this. Yellow Submarinewas mostly an orchestral album, full of George Martin's stuff from the movie. Only a few new songs were recordered, none of them that good. However, in 1999 they released a soundtrack to the movie with all the songs in it, and it was great. But the stuff they recorded specifically for the movie wasn't so hot. As for Let it Be...it was just a doomed project. Phil Spector can't top Martin when it comes to Beatle's recordings, and they were admist too much turmoil to make anything good. However, Across the Universe is one of my fav. Beatles songs.

Anything after Roger Waters left Pink Floyd hasn't been too great, but then again I think Floyd's[B] best was Piper at the Gates of Dawn, but that's me.

And for something a bit more recent...(I'll probably make more posts later). Maladroit from [B]Weezer is probably their worst record. I mean, I love the tracks Keep Fishin' and Dope Nose, but the album definetly feels rushed, seeing as it was released within a year after the great(but in my opinion over-hyped)Green Album.

bwing55543

10-02-2006, 05:57 AM

I'd have to say the Beatles' Let It Be. While I liked the song itself, the only other song on the album I liked was "Across the Universe", which was originally supposed to be on Abbey Road, which I thought was one their best albums. I myself didn't hear the Yellow Submarine album, but I know if you have Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Magical Mystery Tour, you have the entire Yellow Submarine soundtrack with the exception of the songs that only appeared in the movie, which stunk anyway.

L-sama

10-02-2006, 11:05 AM

I honestly didn't like No Doubt's Rock Steady all that much. I mean, it wasn't TOO bad, but I still think that it's the worst of the five. Some of the songs just didn't seem to feel like they belonged, especially Underneath it All. I just didn't like the sound of it.

soundchazer

10-02-2006, 11:23 AM

An interesting topic...let me see if I can push my fanboyism aside for a moment.

The Yellow Submairne and Let it Be by,well, who else, The Beatles are their most lackluster albums. But there are reasons behind this. Yellow Submarinewas mostly an orchestral album, full of George Martin's stuff from the movie. Only a few new songs were recordered, none of them that good. However, in 1999 they released a soundtrack to the movie with all the songs in it, and it was great. But the stuff they recorded specifically for the movie wasn't so hot. As for Let it Be...it was just a doomed project. Phil Spector can't top Martin when it comes to Beatle's recordings, and they were admist too much turmoil to make anything good. However, Across the Universe is one of my fav. Beatles songs.

Let it be is an enigma to me for several reasons:

a) It was recorded BEFORE Abbey Road, and yet the quality was not there (one would assume that the Beatles would have had more issues by the time they recorded Abbey Road. Or maybe it was because they knew it was going to be their last recording together that they put some extra effort to it).

b) Why was Phil Spector chosen over Martin?

c) Why did Spector felt the need to add an Orchestra for the Long and Winding Road? In Let if Be Naked, we get to hear how the song was intended, and the orchestra was really nothing but overkill. Maybe he was just trying to outplay Martin, and failed miserably.

I agree though, as an album completely done by the Beatles (Yellow Submarine was in reality a soundtrack), it was of really poor quality, even if the title song is a classic.

LakiDash

10-06-2006, 07:54 PM

Well, as far as I know, With Spector, he happens to like putting lots of orchestra in anything he's a part of. Just hear The Ramones's End of a Century. That's a odd mix of simple Ramones punk and Spector's "Wall of Sound" style.. Let it Be...Naked is much better, I must agree.

Dirty Harry

10-06-2006, 10:18 PM

Tsuuzetsu by MUCC. It's just pointlessly loud and awful, but forgivable because it's super early. Not recommended listening if you're trying to get into the group.

KidKolt

10-14-2006, 10:14 PM

The worst album ever released by one of my favorite artists was "Destroy What You Enjoy" by Powerman 5000. I've listened to Powerman since I was in middleschool, man. I saw them go from Cheezy JAzz fusion metal stuff (awesome), To cheezy Sci-Fi B movie metal (Amazingly awesome), to semi-pop-punk crap (meh), and I loved them the whole way. Now Spider, the lead singer, is wearing F****ING EYE SHADOW!!! WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?!

Zeek

10-17-2006, 09:51 AM

shut your mouth and open your eyes- AFI

LadyYuina

10-17-2006, 02:02 PM

Evanescence. I completely abhor their album that has been recently released. I only like one song from the entire CD which is "Call Me When You're Sober". As for the reason as to why I don't like the CD I think it was because of her lyrics... most of them (literally all) had the same sorta theme in my opinion. Like about love, bleeding, crying, darkness, soul... blah, blah... And the way they were sung didn't catch my groove. :eyebrow: