Music: Favorite albums lambasted by critics

[Sombastate]

My brother and I were talking about some of the albums that have come out that we love that got pretty poor critical reviews and I was wondering what albums I may be missing out on that some of you guys personally liked, but didn't get much critical acclaim, if any at all.

Some of my favorites:

Panic at the Disco- Pretty. Odd: Second album by the Las Vegas band that saw them going from baroque punk to Psychedelic Rock/Beatles type music. Most of my friends hated it, the public hated it, but i honestly believe its their strongest record. I think from top to bottom its one of the best albums of the last 10 years.

The Killers- Sam's Town:: Another Sophomore effort by a Las Vegas group that was originally detested by critics. It wasn't the follow up to Hot Fuss that everyone wanted, but I also think this is their best album. By the end of the decade, critics warmed up to it and I think Rolling Stones considered it the most underrated album of the decade.

Mumford and Sons- Wilder Mind: Went from their more traditional folk style that was seen on their first two albums to more electric rock, and I happen to think this is their best album. In fact, because of this album i went to see them a couple hundred miles away.

David Bowie- Young Americans: This is a little different because this wasn't necessarily lambasted, but its the oft-forgotten David Bowie record. Not only is this my favorite Bowie effort, but its my third favorite album of all time.

The Doors- Soft Parade: Not the biggest Doors fan, but easily my favorite album by them. Critics gave it unfavorable reviews, most of my friends who are Doors fan consider it one of their weaker efforts, but without a doubt, my favorite album by them.

Bleachers- Strange Desires: Again, not an album that was necessarily hated, but I consider this my favorite album of the decade (tied with the Sufjan Stevens album). The reviews were pretty lukewarm and obviously not how i see it at all.

The Zombies- Odessey and Oracle: Album has a bit of a cult following now, but when it was first released, it was met with indifferent reviews. In fact, the album was received so poorly that it pretty much marked the end for the Zombies. A top 25 album of all time for me.

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[Porn*]

2112 - rush

 

[Jumptheshark]

2112 - rush

never lambasted by good critics


me

any twisted sister or slade cd on my computer

 

[x Tame Impala]

Sam's Town had bad reviews?? As far as Killers albums go, I liked it a lot

(My previous username was Hot Fuss btw)

 

[BonMorrison]

I love Chinese Democracy and think it was one of the best rock albums that year.

Not sure if this counts because it actually got positive critical reviews when it came out but people like to talk about it like it's a pile of ****.

 

[Unhealthy Scratch]

"Wretch" by Kyuss

It's somewhere between the groovy stoner rock they later became known for and a Motorhead-esque balls-to-the-wall punk/metal hybrid. The production isn't great, but the songs are surprisingly very memorable considering it was a bunch of 16-17 year-olds making their first record.

 

[Central PA Hawk Fan]

Pinkerton.

 

[Skrudland]

Pinkerton.

Yep, I spent a week with that album when it came out and told my friends that it may be even better than the blue album. My view didn't get much support but at least there's been some retroactive redemption!

 

[Sombastate]

Sam's Town had bad reviews?? As far as Killers albums go, I liked it a lot

(My previous username was Hot Fuss btw)

Yeah, originally it was really hated. Just a quick search, Rolling Stone gave it 2 stars, Pitchfork gave it a 5 (out of 10) and Entertainment weekly gave it a C.

Hot Fuss was great, but i honestly think that Sam's Town was the better record.

 

[Sombastate]

Also:

George Michael- Listen Without Prejudice: Amazing album, critics didn't like it much as the follow up to Faith. I think its WAY better than faith personally.

 

[Central PA Hawk Fan]

Yep, I spent a week with that album when it came out and told my friends that it may be even better than the blue album. My view didn't get much support but at least there's been some retroactive redemption!

Same, loved it when it came out and didn't understand what people wanted from them. Its nice that everyone came around eventually but I always wonder what their trajectory would have been had that album been a success from the start

 

[Porn*]

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/schmi...rst_reviews_of_all_time__work_in_progress_/6/

#129

 

[Hippasus]

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/schmi...rst_reviews_of_all_time__work_in_progress_/6/

#129

That was a great review (not the Rolling Stones one). It was multi-angled by focusing on their perception by the music press as well as how Johansen and the rest of the band perceived themselves. I wouldn't have thought perceptions by themselves would be enough to derail a band, but who knows?

 

[PBandJ]

I love Chinese Democracy and think it was one of the best rock albums that year.

Not sure if this counts because it actually got positive critical reviews when it came out but people like to talk about it like it's a pile of ****.

Yup, I love that album.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

 

[Acadmus]

The Killers- Sam's Town:: Another Sophomore effort by a Las Vegas group that was originally detested by critics. It wasn't the follow up to Hot Fuss that everyone wanted, but I also think this is their best album. By the end of the decade, critics warmed up to it and I think Rolling Stones considered it the most underrated album of the decade.

I don't have the album, but I've heard a couple of the singles and like them well enough. Likely the lack of critical acclaim came from the change in sound of dropping the faux English accent...which apparently came from overuse of autotune.

I stopped reading Rolling Stone about 3-4 years after starting, so I don't know much about how albums I like are reviewed, excepting to say I liked Grant Lee Buffalo and Catherine Wheel in the 90s, two bands who received critical raves that didn't translate into commercial success.

 

[Porn*]

That was a great review (not the Rolling Stones one). It was multi-angled by focusing on their perception by the music press as well as how Johansen and the rest of the band perceived themselves. I wouldn't have thought perceptions by themselves would be enough to derail a band, but who knows?

you clearly didn't read the review for 2112 lol who is johansen?

 

[Hippasus]

you clearly didn't read the review for 2112 lol who is johansen?

Haha okay, I'm confused. I thought you were talking about #126, which sort of read like a review of reviews of that particular album, and that was what I called great. Johansen is mentioned in that review. He was the lead singer of New York Dolls. The review was about the s/t debut album by that band.

I haven't heard any Rush albums, so I can't comment on that.

 

[beowulf]

I don't look at music reviews so I really have no clue what music I listen to has received good or bad reviews. I just listen to what I like no matter what others think.

 

[Shareefruck]

People always say that like it's a point of pride, but doesn't that just keep you stuck in your own comfort zone? By all means, make up your own mind, but I think impressionability is a good thing too, to a degree. Everything eventually gravitates back to your authentic impressions over time anyways.

I don't hear people argue this very often-- it's always treated like a bad thing.

 

[Mount Suribachi]

Also:

George Michael- Listen Without Prejudice: Amazing album, critics didn't like it much as the follow up to Faith. I think its WAY better than faith personally.

Dunno about the States but the critics fawned over it in the UK (and quite rightly - I don't like George Michael or his music, but I have to admit that's a great album)

 

[Sombastate]

Dunno about the States but the critics fawned over it in the UK (and quite rightly - I don't like George Michael or his music, but I have to admit that's a great album)

It was poorly received out here because of "Faith." It was a different record than Faith, and critics couldn't handle it in the states for whatever reason.

I consider it his best album.

 

[Porn*]

I rarely pay attention to reviews. I only know 2112 was destroyed at the time because the members of Rush mentioned it in a documentary as to how they thought their careers were over with their 2nd album lol

 

[Gordon Lightfoot]

I don't look at music reviews so I really have no clue what music I listen to has received good or bad reviews. I just listen to what I like no matter what others think.

How do you even know where to begin? With the sheer amount of releases and accessibility to almost everything I need a starting point.

 

[Shareefruck]

Yeah, it's not like we have the luxury to listen to absolutely everything and make up our mind about which are good. You'd miss out on alot just trying stuff based on random whims and instincts. And let's be honest, what ends up happening is, instead of being influenced by critics, you'd just end up influenced by what's marketed and what other people talk about/listen to, which is the same thing, if not worse.

I like keeping an eye out for what critics/criticky people think because if you're going to be influenced by something, it might as well be by people who are actually passionate about the music.