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The most overrated albums of all time
MusicRadar names and shames the 'classic' long players that fail to deliver
The MusicRadar Team, Tue 10 Jun 2008, 11:26 am UTC
It seems like every few days there's a new list that claims to compile the best something-or-others of all time.
However, there are times in life where you just have to be cruel to be kind. Even musical geniuses are capable of taking their eye off the ball, and how often have you given a supposed classic record a spin and wondered exactly what other people can hear that you can't?
Take our hand as we lead a procession of sacred cows to the abattoir in the MusicRadar team's run down of the most overrated albums in the history of popular music…
The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Now, don't get me wrong. I love The Beatles. But I noticed recently that I hardly ever delve any deeper into Pepper than giving A Day In The Life an occasional airing on my iPod. Given that I listen to Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver and The White Album on a regular basis, this struck me as odd.
Isn't Pepper supposed to be the most important album of all time? Yes, the production still amazes, and yes, there are a few stone cold classic songs on it. Hell, even the artwork is brilliant.
But as a cohesive album, I just don't see how it hangs together in the way that Revolver or Rubber Soul does. It's just too confused a collection of disparate ideas and sonic sketches, with a 'concept' that even the band themselves got bored with two songs in.
In addition, how any record containing two slices of throwaway whimsy like Fixing A Hole and When I'm 64 can be spoken of in such universally reverent terms is beyond me. And the best Beatles song from the Pepper sessions – Strawberry Fields Forever, of course – isn't even on it. The prosecution rests. (CV)
Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation (1988)
Twenty years after The Beatles established the double-album as a forum for artists to expand and exhaust their musical impulses, Sonic Youth rammed it into a brick wall of redundancy and tedium.
Listen, I'm down with experimental: Glenn Branca, Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno - I get it. But art rock should provoke wondrous thought as it stirs emotions, and unfortunately, the constant thought bubble over my head while I listen to tracks such as Teenage Riot and Providence is, "Tune your guitars already!", and the only emotions I feel are anger and boredom.
Alternate tunings can, of course, be utilised in new and exciting ways (just ask My Bloody Valentine), but the manner in which Sonic Youth grind their axes (this on top of Kim Gordon's mumbled chanting) wears thin quickly. Spending any amount of time with Daydream Nation feels like going to a job you hate - and to me, music should always be the antidote to punching the clock. (JB)
User comments (21)
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I'd have to say just about any pop album out there. Everyone likes it, and it makes me want to destroy the studios they were recorded in to prevent ANOTHER FRECKING POP ALBUM from coming out.
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You are completely wrong about ' Ten ' , one of the greatest rock albums ever written.
Wheres ' Okay Computer ' - constantly rated as Number 1 Album Ever by rabid Radiohead fans , its one of the biggest piles of fetid bat dung ever released. Also bloody ' X & Y ' ! Also ' Reading , Writing and Arithmetic ' - the most overrated of all time , ever. -
All The Beatles albums are great - but Revolver is by far the best IMO. So, Peppers is overrated in that respect.
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Where's "Seven and the Ragged Tiger"? And what the HELL is Sgt. Peppers doing here? I don't think this article has been written for any other reason than to inspire community comment - indeed to grow a community who will buy stuff (as is the usual bean-countingly dumb corporate idea these days).
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How an earth can you put Sgt Peppers in this list let alone dismiss 'Fixing a Hole' and 'When I'm 64' as whimsical. You've clearly lost the plot.
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In anticipation of the abuse that will be directed my way......
I would vote for "Raising sand". I like Robert Plant, but this one........ it's like the Emperors new clothes: am I the only one who can see it? It's not very good. Plus his tour is probably another reason why Zep are not touring yet! -
Come on Mechkov! None of these lists are wholly serious, it's just the nature of reviewing music. As you can see, we all wrote a little bit each and this list even caused arguments amongst the MusicRadar team!
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Following on from the normal, lighthearted stuff on this site,which I thoroughly enjoy, this one really stands out...
Five of the albums you cite are indeed classics and there is nothing anyone can say, whether in jest or serious, that will make them right if they cannot see the sheer value these albums have given our musical heritage. It's simply a wrong call.
Oasis are overblown rip off merchants and Dennis Wilson a poor and minor shadow of his seminal relation, Brian, but the others are, in fact, classic albums and far from overrated - possibly (in the case of Mitchell and Don Van Vliet) underrated.
You can't vote on the truth and being 'controversial' for the sake of it simply makes you look a bit sad and lowers your standing as a reputable source of wisdom. -
C'mon musicradar, WTF?!
Ten by Pearl Jam is probably one of the greatest albums I have ever purchased. I'd say maybe even better than Nevermind, because pearl jam have so much musical talent, creativeness and awesome songs (e.g, Alive, Jeremy, Black, Even flow). So this album is not overrated, it's awesome!!! -
Groove?
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ihitterdal
Thu 26 Jun 2008, 3:22 am UTC