Over-rated or Under-rated Albums

[Alex]

Albums are fickle, they can sometimes make or break a band/singers career. What I'd like to talk about are albums that don't deserve the hype they get.

I was talking to my friend about this and he was saying how most of The Beatles albums are overrated (Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road) I don't have an opinion on the subject as I haven't listened to these albums in full. I would like to say he made a point, he says The Beatles were a great band but these albums didn't deserve the hype they got and I agree with him, some bands albums get all this hype and publcity and sometimes they're not as good as they should be.

An album that I feel is overrated that sticks out in my mind is this one

Yes Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers

I love Red Hot Chili Peppers, but I never understood the hype for this album. Yes there are some famous songs on here (Give It Away, Suck My Kiss, Under The Bridge and Breaking The Girl) and there are some songs I like that aren't as famous (My Lovely Man, The Power Of Equality, Naked In The Rain)
But everyone I talk to says 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the best Peppers album ever' I feel it's not. I honestly think it has quite a few filler songs on it and this detracts from the album.

So what albums do you think are overrated???

 

[The Mark of Zur-En-Arrh]

I was talking to my friend about this and he was saying how most of The Beatles albums are overrated (Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road)

I've never liked Sgt. Pepper's either, Hard Day's Night is my personal fave.

My picks would be:

The Blackening - Machine Head

I used to be a huge MH fan. I'd stand there and scream 'MACHINE FUCKIN' HEAD' with all the other fans. I saw them live so many times, that seeing them again became pointless, because there was never any variance in their performance (much like Slayer, who i also gave up on years ago). Then this album was released, hyped as being MH's equivalent to 'Master of Puppets' by Metallica. However, instead of revolutionising Metal like MOP did, MH just decided to take their average song writing formula, and then extend every song by 3 minutes with nothing but guitar solos and additional chorus repetitions. MH tried to do their own MOP, and ended up doing their own equivalent to St. Anger (not with biscuit tin drumming, but by replacing something good i.e. solos, with additional choruses and solos so fast you can't even make out the notes to tell if it was a good solo or not)

I have tried countless times to try and enjoy this album, and always lose interest half way through the 1st song, which i can't even remember the title of without looking it up, yet when i speak to other MH fans they spout on as if it were the best thing in recorded history.

Plus Rob Flynn bitching like a little girl and refusing to do a festival set, simply because Limp Bizkit played above them at a festival, and THEN spent the whole set telling us that they came purely for the fans and then continued slagging off LB (despite the fact taht the decision was the promoter's, apparently LB deserved all the abuse) and FINALLY told the world that he got everyone to throw abuse at LB and chant 'Fuck LB' when in fact, none of that even happened, made me give up on that band entirely. That highly overrated album had just about done it anyway, but it was the pathetic actions at Sonisphere '09 which sadly i am ashamed to say i was witness to, that signed the death warrant of my love affair with Machine Head.

Second pick would be 'Nevermind' by Nirvana, or scratch that, any album by Nirvana. I can't stand Kurt Cobain's voice and i think out of their entire back catalogue, there's only 3 songs of theirs that i actually like.

 

[.]

Any Nirvana Album, Kurt Kobain was never any good a singer and most of the time the lyrics to his songs were mumbled. In total the band only had 2 or 3 songs

 

[TSG]

Any Nirvana Album, Kurt Kobain was never any good a singer and most of the time the lyrics to his songs were mumbled. In total the band only had 2 or 3 songs

What? That is blasphemy. How in thy HELL can you say this. Kurt Cobain wasn't a good singer? Yeah, and who do you like? Creed? Lil' Wayne? I would guess so, because mainstream artists like these are the ones that brainwash you into thinking they can sing, even though they clearly suck. Becuase Scott Stapp can't sing worth a pile of shit and Lil' Wayne can't convey a message without cussing every other word. You people should be glad people like Kurt Cobain lived. Cobain is a freakin' genius. He was a great singer. How wasn't he. He carried a tune, carried a unique style, had an edginess to his voice and poured emotion into every song he ever recorded and sang live. He was easily the best grunge singer, and easily blew Cornell and Vedder out of the freaking water. He beats Staley too, but at least that one is closer. His lyrics were mumblked? That was part of his style, what made his so great. I love this? You couldn't understand the lyrics? Here, I'll post some of them for you buddy.

Smells Like Teen Spirit: With the lights out, it's less dangerous, here we are now, entertain us, I feel stupid, and contagious, here we are now entertain us.

Come As You Are: Come, as you are, as you were, as I wanted you to be, as a friend, as a friend, as an old memory.

Lithium: I'm so happy, cause today I found my friends, they're in my head, I'm so ugly, that's okay, cause so are you, we broke our mirrors.

Heart-Shaped Box: She eyes me like a Pices, when I am weak, I've been locked inside your heart-shaped box for weeks, I've been drawn into your magnet, tar-pit trap, I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn back.

Those are words from a troubled, yet genius mind and soul. I DARE you, DARE YOU to write more talented lyrics than that. That's right, you can't. You barely have enough talent to put together a non-spam post. Oh, and those lyrics, that's more than "2 or 3 songs", you might be bad at math, but, yeah, that's four.

Point blank, Nirvana were amazing, Kurt Cobain was a true music god, Nevermind was one of the greatest albums ever, and in no way overrated, and neither are In Utero or Bleach. You fail.

 

[Papa Shango]

Now, I'm not that big into Nirvana, grunge was just never my thing. But what kind of moron would actually insult a musician the caliber of Kurt Cobain? The man had the kind of talent and passion that 90% of the popular artists out there today couldn't even dream to have!

 

[Kanye South]

Lil' Wayne can't convey a message without cussing every other word.

You really shouldn't make statements you can't back up.

[YOUTUBE]UDmcPsPKkiU[/YOUTUBE]

Wayne doesn't curse once in this song, I believe. I might be wrong, but from what I hear, he's not cussing. And so what if he does? He's a rapper. They cuss. Tupac did it. Biggie did it. There aren't many (good and/or successful) rappers who rap without profanity. Don't try selling me that ''if he's mainstream, he's shit'' argument. Lil Wayne is very poetic.


"I am sittin' on the clouds, I got smoke comin' from my seat
I can play basketball with the moon, I got the whole world at my feet
Playin' touch football, on marijuana street
Or, in a marijuana field, you are so beneath my cleets
Get high, so high, that I... feel... like... lying
Down in a cigar, roll me up and smoke me 'cause...
(I feel like dying)"


"Rock star lifestyle might not make it,
President got him in the White house naked,
I look at the clock and it says right now,
get a pound break it down, blow it like trial,
Panetela Dutchy wine in my tall glass,
Young Money baby, big sh-t like a horse ass,
stacks in my backpack, shades on, hat back,
Bugatti bat black, where they do that at?
South beach Miami hoe, Im probably with tammy toe,
my life is a video and the women want they cameo,
I just want the panty hoes and I’m higher than Geronimo,
and I got them tools, tell em boys to get mechanical,
now pop that p-ssy like a four four,
I turn her round and bend her over like a low blow,
it’s young money baby, we the f-cking greatest,
we don put the other n-ggas on a hiatus,
beat ya b-tch with a pump if she denied data,
cos I’ll serve anyone like a blind waiter,
I’ll make my girl cum first then I’ll arrive later,
I shake you p-ssy’s up, Im her vibrator, hahe,
keep getting money like hell yeah,
this sh-ts so good it don’t even smell bad,
and you can tell dad, that I’m muthaf-cker,
you n-ggs bet not slip, ice road truckers,
lightpole barrel, chopper stoopid along,
New Orleans n-gga, I get super Dome,
loyal to the game, the game been good to me,
still spitting fire, you n-ggas wood to me,
we on n-gga, let let them hoes know,
Young Money lay em down like old folks,
you coming with it, we coming for it,
plenty to go around, now watch the money orbit,
real sh-t people, now just absorb it..."

And that's not even the lyrics to the whole song. Lil Wayne makes you feel the good life through his lyrics. While he is different from artists like Tupac, who use the real and often tough to swallow images of the hood life to portray the true feelings of a "thug", Lil Wayne is still a beast in the aspect that the music he makes describes the happier side of fame. You live the Good Life through Lil Wayne's music.

Sorry if this seems like blind, random, Lil Wayne defense. But it was blind, random Lil Wayne hate.

 

[Tastycles]

Kid A by Radiohead. OK Computer is, rightly, seen as innovative and clever. Kid A is a pretentious piece of shit. Songs like Tree fingers are not only terrible, they aren't even that clever. The album thrives on trying to challenge its audience, but all it actually is is audio porn for a load of pretentious fan boys. It is a criminally overrated album, completely designed for critical appraisal rather than anything actually good.

 

[LSN80]

I think Creed's first album was pretty decent, then it was all downhill from there. "Weathered" might be the most pathetic, repetitive drivel I've ever heard. And it sold millions upon millions of copies! The sad thing about the cd is you can't tell the difference between 7 or 8 of the songs. Same exact theme. Similar lyrics. The music sounds exactly the same. Scott Stapp and the boys broke up shortly after that, and should have stayed that way forever. This may be the most overrated, overplayed cd of all time. Every time i heard one of their songs off that album it was 4 minutes of my life I can never get back.

 

[Mr. TM]

What's The Story Morning Glordy- Oasis

The album would go on to sell over 10 million albums, around the same time Oasis would compare themselves to Jesus, the same claim that The Beatles had made. The album is even considered as one of the greatest ever by some people, after its 6 singles were well recieved. But out of the 6, the only one I like by Oasis is Champagne Supernova. Don't Look Back in Anger is nothing more than soft rock radio trash. And of course, their pinnacle, Wonderwall. I compare it to Greenday's Good Riddance, of The Reason by Hoobastank as a song that caught on because of people's emotional attentionment to the song.

 

[Alex]

What's The Story Morning Glordy- Oasis

The album would go on to sell over 10 million albums, around the same time Oasis would compare themselves to Jesus, the same claim that The Beatles had made. The album is even considered as one of the greatest ever by some people, after its 6 singles were well recieved. But out of the 6, the only one I like by Oasis is Champagne Supernova. Don't Look Back in Anger is nothing more than soft rock radio trash. And of course, their pinnacle, Wonderwall. I compare it to Greenday's Good Riddance, of The Reason by Hoobastank as a song that caught on because of people's emotional attentionment to the song.

My friend would argue Oasis are one of the most overrated bands ever and none of their albums deserve the praise they get.


Another one I thought of is the self titled album by the Stone Roses

it's not that it's a bad album, it is a great album and one of my favourites, it's just the way people have hyped up the album to be one of the best albums ever and saying there is no fault with it. This in turn killed the Stone Roses second album (Second Coming) because everyone was expecting something similar to the first and slandered it (Second Coming is a good album in its own right)

 

[Alex]

To counter my thread about overrated albums I wish to ask you about albums that you feel are underrated.

For me this album is criminally underrated.

Bleach by Nirvana

Yes Nirvana's debut album is one of the most underrated albums ever, why because everyone blindly says Nevermind is the greatest album by Nirvana (some people don't even bother checking Bleach out because of what they think of Nevermind), it is good but the trouble with Nevermind is it had to much interference by producers and the like (interfering with Post-Production), Bleach doesn't have that, there was no real interference, yes the album is a bit rough but quite a few debut albums are. Bleachhas some great songs on it as well (Blew, Floyd The Barber, About A Girl and Negative Creep to name a few)

If you got the 20th Anniversiry Edition you got songs done at a gig and this includes Molly's Lips (which I hadn't heard before) and Been A Son.

 

[Cookie]

Underrated.

Especially underrated among Beatles fans.

EVERYBODY should have this in their music collection. But they don't. I admit I'm biased since George will always be my favourite Beatle, but this album really is fucking incredible, and I'd probably rank it in my top 10 of all-time. It's really a shame that this gets passed over in favour of Lennon & McCartney's post-Beatles work, because I seriously think it's better. There is an abundance of love and passion in George's work, and I don't want to over-praise the album for those that haven't listened to it, because I really do think it speaks for itself. I agree with the many people who say this is the closest any Beatle has come to a Beatles-quality album after the split.

 

[Kashagi]

Underrated.

Especially underrated among Beatles fans.

EVERYBODY should have this in their music collection. But they don't. I admit I'm biased since George will always be my favourite Beatle, but this album really is fucking incredible, and I'd probably rank it in my top 10 of all-time. It's really a shame that this gets passed over in favour of Lennon & McCartney's post-Beatles work, because I seriously think it's better. There is an abundance of love and passion in George's work, and I don't want to over-praise the album for those that haven't listened to it, because I really do think it speaks for itself. I agree with the many people who say this is the closest any Beatle has come to a Beatles-quality album after the split.

Was gonna say this one, your too right this is the best album by any solo Beatle after their career. Paul and John both had some fantastic songs that in my opinion still top anything George wrote, but neither of them managed to produce such a quality album after the split. It's a pity that Georges following albums continued to decline in quality, with some exceptions like one of the best songs he ever wrote 'When We Was Fab'.

Since I am going on about The Beatles.. I am going to say I believe one of their albums is a tad overrated, and people wont agree with this.. Please dont hurt me..

Revolver, often regarded as one of the most influential albums ever made as well as one of the greatest albums of all time. While I wont argue, I constantly see this album considered to be the best The Beatles ever produced.

While I will agree some of the greatest songs The Beatles ever wrote are on this album such as Eleanor Rigby, For No One, I'm Only Sleeping etc. if you review the album as a whole, it really doesnt hold up.

You have other Beatles albums such as Sgt Peppers or Abbey Road that really feel a joy, that pure energy and excitement rushes through those albums, and not only that but they dont have a bad song on them (in my opinion).

Revolver is definitely influential, Tomorrow Never Knows was absolutely unheard of at the time, and is still unique today, but that doesnt mean its a masterpiece, Got To Get You Into My Life and Here, There And Everywhere are classic McCartney pieces. Displaying his fantastic knowledge of melody, but something is missing, perhaps its just me, but these songs feel mechanical, that essential Beatles energy is missing from them, and while they are fine pieces, this criticism really hurts them for me.

Of course this is all my opinion, but I really am not a fan of Doctor Robert as well, and Yellow Submarine despite how fun it is, feels really out of place on the album, and since we are viewing it as a whole album, that does matter.

While the album have fantastic introductions on both sides:

Side 1
Taxman
Eleanor Rigby
I'm Only Sleeping

Side 2
Good Day Sunshine
And Your Bird Can Sing
For No One

It is just my opinion that after the trio on either side, the album takes a damper in quality when it fails to produce songs anywhere near as good as what came before it. Though I do greatly appreciate the album as a major stepping stone for The Beatles and music in general, and I DO think the album is great, I just dont think its one of the greatest albums of all time as people often claim, or the best of The Beatles. I feel that credit goes to Rubber Soul, Sgt Peppers, Abbey Road and perhaps Help!

 

[.]

What? That is blasphemy. How in thy HELL can you say this. Kurt Cobain wasn't a good singer? Yeah, and who do you like? Creed? Lil' Wayne? I would guess so, because mainstream artists like these are the ones that brainwash you into thinking they can sing, even though they clearly suck. Becuase Scott Stapp can't sing worth a pile of shit and Lil' Wayne can't convey a message without cussing every other word. You people should be glad people like Kurt Cobain lived. Cobain is a freakin' genius. He was a great singer. How wasn't he. He carried a tune, carried a unique style, had an edginess to his voice and poured emotion into every song he ever recorded and sang live. He was easily the best grunge singer, and easily blew Cornell and Vedder out of the freaking water. He beats Staley too, but at least that one is closer. His lyrics were mumblked? That was part of his style, what made his so great. I love this? You couldn't understand the lyrics? Here, I'll post some of them for you buddy.

Smells Like Teen Spirit: With the lights out, it's less dangerous, here we are now, entertain us, I feel stupid, and contagious, here we are now entertain us.

Come As You Are: Come, as you are, as you were, as I wanted you to be, as a friend, as a friend, as an old memory.

Lithium: I'm so happy, cause today I found my friends, they're in my head, I'm so ugly, that's okay, cause so are you, we broke our mirrors.

Heart-Shaped Box: She eyes me like a Pices, when I am weak, I've been locked inside your heart-shaped box for weeks, I've been drawn into your magnet, tar-pit trap, I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn back.

Those are words from a troubled, yet genius mind and soul. I DARE you, DARE YOU to write more talented lyrics than that. That's right, you can't. You barely have enough talent to put together a non-spam post. Oh, and those lyrics, that's more than "2 or 3 songs", you might be bad at math, but, yeah, that's four.

Point blank, Nirvana were amazing, Kurt Cobain was a true music god, Nevermind was one of the greatest albums ever, and in no way overrated, and neither are In Utero or Bleach. You fail.

So you are basically saying i am not allowed to express my opinion? The way i see it is that Kurt Cobain was nothing special. Nirvana gained fame as probably the best grunge group but that was a shitty style of music as it was. How do i fail because i never saw Nirvana as a good band? Thse four songs you mentioned are songs you only find good. They only gained fame due to the untimely death of Kobain(Rest In Peace) in my opinion so Dude shut up just because I never saw Nirvana as anything. There is nothing more annoying than people that push their opinions on others so i will keep mine and you keep yours and respect them instead of being a total ignorant dick.

Now on topic i feel Naveed by Our Lady Peace is an underated album as it was one of the only rock albums of '93 not to be a grunge album. It had no success in england or ireland which really dissapoints me.

 

[Twiztid Rodimus]

Underrated:

Icky Thump:by The White Stripes

Besides them being under rated as a whole. (YES I SAID IT. Under rated) This album as a whole is under rated and is looked at as not being as good as Elephant. When in my opinion, Track for track, This is the better album and shows what the Stripes are about more than any of their previous efforts.

My personal Stand out tracks are:
Im slowly turning into you
Icky Thump
Effect and Cause
"300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues"

This album is phenominal with no tracks worthy of skipping, and a great ride all the way through.

Now just in case some people wonder what I mean by the band being under rated, Though they are highly regarded by most magazine and such, is because they're loved for the wrong reasons.

The nostalgic 60;s/70s sound is what gets the pants of the media wet, but the general genius of Jack whites guitar work and lyrics almost never get the right attention that he deserves. And Megs drums, albeit basic, complement Jack perfectly.