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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
Joni Mitchell – Blue (1971)
With the back-to-back smashes Clouds and Ladies Of The Canyon, Joni Mitchell established herself as major force in pop music. Songs like Big Yellow Taxi and Woodstock combined wistful, lighter-than-air melodies with lyrics that held a mirror up to society. On 1971's Blue, Mitchell began to stare increasingly at her own reflection - the results make me wish she got out of the house more.
Raw, confessional songwriting can be spine-tingling - John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band album is a towering testament. But whereas Lennon showcased his therapy-borne insights with sturdy riffs and unshakable melodies, Mitchell, on meandering compositions like My Old Man and California, is all over the place and nowhere.
She has much to say but she spends too much time...not getting around to it. Her singing style, too, gets in the way; it isn't quite a melissma, but it's dangerously close - it's like a buckshot approach, one that leaves many holes but doesn't hit the target.
Maybe a good bottle of Cabernet would help me to appreciate Mitchell's intensity. On the other hand, it might just make me grab my copy of Clouds. (JB)
Pearl Jam – Ten (1991)
Lost in a wash of mediocrity, Ten is the poorest part of the grunge odyssey. The main reason for this is that Pearl Jam are really just a middle American bland rock band who are barely more credible than Hootie and The Blowfish.
As spicy as a natural yogurt, even the most potent cuts like Alive and Jeremy are basically the same song: single note riff, tales of 'real-world' woes that would make even Jon Bon Jovi wince.
They are so 'grunge' that when guitarist Mike McCready was asked what his thinking was behind the solo to Alive, he answered that he was trying to copy KISS guitarist Ace Frehley! KISS for heaven's sake!
While we're at it, where did they get off trying to make Neil Young responsible for their dullard opus? Just because the guy also wears checked shirts and a couple of the band like his songs, it doesn't make him the 'godfather of grunge'. Ozzy Osbourne is a massive fan of the Beatles, but Paul McCartney isn't the stepfather of metal is he? (JU)
Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band – Trout Mask Replica (1969)
First of all, let me just clarify two things: 1) I don't dislike Captain Beefheart - Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) is an enjoyable album. And 2) I appreciate experimental music - I like John Cale and Philip Glass, see? But, for me, Trout Mask Replica is beyond comprehension.
My disdain for this record grows every time it graces a list in the music press. Most recently was Rolling Stone's 500 greatest albums of all time - there it is, that stupid trout-faced cover staring at me from the page, at number 56! Is it really better than Meet The Beatles (number 59) or Purple Rain (number 72)? No chance.
Trout Mask Replica is 28 tracks of rambling vocals, bagpipes, horns and guitars that sound like bagpipes. It's unlistenable and it won't impress your muso mates either – everyone owns it (including me) but no one ever listens to it. Fact. (TP)
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!!! -
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ihitterdal
Thu 26 Jun 2008, 3:22 am UTC