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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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anyway...overrated albums...you are gonna love me for this...Nevermind. not because it is not 'grungey' but Cobain just cant sing and i dont rate the songs. Dave Grohl is a hero though, and i dont even like the Foos.
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agreed with you until i saw your review of Ten. Now I am into everything from Chopin to Nick Drake to Metallica, and I honestly think Ten is one of the best albums of the last 30 years. The groove is agressive, but moments such as Black are just beautiful songs. To even compare them to Bon Jovi is a capital offence. For one Pearl Jam sound like they genuinely care for what they are saying, secondly I certainly cant find a love song on there and the album lacks any of the ridiculous cheesy genericisms which litter Bon Jovi's shitty catalogue. I think this record is diverse, hard rocking, and with Eddie Vedder on vocals...immensely passionate...his anger feels real, so does his passion. Because it is. To say it doesnt sound grungey sort of misses the point of Grunge. It isnt about whether you like guitar solos, or KISS but about passion, integrity and grit...something this album has in bucketloads. From the seething opener of 'Once' as song about a serial killer, to the sadness of Jeremy, a song powerful because it is true. Dude, you clearly dont like it but I think you have approched it with the blinkers on and you have entirely missed the point.
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I'll vote for Dark side of the moon - I am a Floyd fan and I love Gimore's guitar playing, but I find the the hype surrounding this concept album totally baffling. It spent a staggering 740 consecutive weeks (14 years) on the Billboard album chart in the USA. It's not that consistent - Time, Money and Us and them are great tracks but The great gig in the sky? Great but flawed.
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Hey BlindLemonAde,
Admittedly the White Album is far from flawless and there are several throwaway moments, but it's Pepper that tends to be spoken of in the most hallowed terms and tops lots of 'greatest album' charts, thus it appears here. For all the White Album's flaws, the sheer volume of amazing songs on it seems to hide its transgressions and make them easier to forgive. And I'd rather listen to Revolution 9 than When I'm 64 in almost any context! -
Led Zeppelin IV. After the great opener of Black Dog, the album falls to pieces. From the pub-rock dullness of Rock n Roll, to the pretentious utter awfulness of Stairway, and then you get the insipid Giong to California. Aside from Black Dog, this is Zep's absolute nadir.
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So, how many times have you listened to "Revolution 9" recently ?
And how come you don't dismiss "Piggies", "Rocky Raccoon", "Obla-Di, Obla-da" and "Bungalow Bill" as whimsy, too ? -
Have Nickelback or Creed ever been rated, let alone overrated? ;-)
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You guys/girls have your collective heads up your ass.
Try listening to some of these records again when you're done listening to you Nickelback & Creed CD's. -
WTF - just read the last entry. I was going to buy this but now i'm not sure. Actually, i'm going to anyway - you missed Love from this list so i don't trust your judgement. LOL
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As another album that's always riding high in the 'best ever' charts, I'd add 'Love - Forever Changes' to this list. Because it's BOOOOORRRRRRRIIIIINNNNNNGGGGG!!!!!
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acedrums
Wed 11 Jun 2008, 4:32 pm UTC