The most overrated albums (part I)
July 27th, 2007 by Corey Licht in Random BitsSince the Guardian interviewed musicians about overrated albums, I’ve decided to compile my own list. Please feel free to post a comment if you agree or disagree.
Nirvana – Nevermind
This has become the sound of 99X or any “alternative†radio station out there. It’s responsible for spawning some of the most heinous bands ever (i.e., Nickelback, Puddle of Mudd, the Vines). Critics say it’s great, because it brought the underground to mainstream audiences. No, it didn’t. What it did do was bring a watered-down, derivative parody of underground music to the mainstream. In other words, they threw the Pixies, Mudhoney, and the Wipers into a blender and filtered it through Butch Vig’s cheesed-out, pop-metal production. Now it’s considered the album that saved rock or something.
Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
From the amount of press these guys got, you’d think they were the Second Coming. It’s become a habit for the British music press to shit their pants every time a band of scruffy, doe-eyed, twentysomethings comes out of the woodwork (cough, cough, the Strokes). The problem wasn’t as much the album, but the insane amounts of hype it received. Unfortunately, the tunes couldn’t stand up to the hype. Now the band is facing a shit storm of backlash.
Radiohead – OK Computer
Have you ever noticed that the people who mention Radiohead as one of their favorite bands are always dumbasses? Hey, guy, guess what? Radiohead has been aping other bands forever. Sure, it adds some nice space echo and electronic bleeps and farts, but that doesn’t change the fact that “Just†is a rip-off of “Shot by Both Sides,†and “Let Down†is a Stone Roses song. Don’t get me wrong: I loved this album when I was in eighth grade, but I’ve come to realize how remarkably mediocre it is. Let’s face it. There are arguably two great songs on here – “Paranoid Android†and “Karma Police.†The rest is just decent, safe Brit pop with abundant bells and whistles.
Oasis – Definitely Maybe
I have to hand it to these guys for cultivating such hilarious, over-the-top rock-star personas. Their moron-brothers shtick aside, this album is B-O-R-I-N-G. Definitely Maybe is an exercise in how many different ways you can put together the same five barre chords. It’s the British Dookie. With that said, I still have a soft spot for “Live Forever.â€
Pink Floyd – The Wall
I don’t think much needs to be said about this one. It’s the most bloated, self-important album of one of the most bloated, self-important bands. The scary thing is how the band stretched an EP’s worth of material across a double LP.
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July 27th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Dumb-ass, aye? Oh, Corey. As I looked at your list, I thought, “he has to be young.” I’m sure you have grown up in the current American Idol created, I don’t need any talent ’cause I have a good producer, age of music. Otherwise, you would understand the brillance of Thom Yorke and his gang. Their music exemplifies Derrida’s deconstructionism at work in the pop culture scene.
You would understand why “Nevermind” made such an impact, and you would remember why we thought Oasis was cool. These bands did something different at the time, something inspiring that kept the music scene fresh. I don’t see much of that anymore.
While I will agree with you on the Arctic Monkeys, and I waiver on Pink Floyd, I would be interested in what albums you thought were underrated.
July 28th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
I really want to know what kind of a fuck-stick would call Radiohead fans dumbasses. That takes a new kind of moron. Fuck you dude. And fuck your stupid blog.
July 29th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Corey, are you serious? Grow some balls.
July 30th, 2007 at 11:21 am
“Nevermind” can never be over-rated for it’s importance, becasue it killed the Hair Band. Just ask Sebastian Bach. Alswo, keep in mind that Nirvana caused MORE attention by the “mainstream” to Mudhoney, Pixies et al….the mainstream just didn;t like them.
I agree about Radiohead and Oasis.
“The Wall” was the epitome of the concept (rock opera) album, back when albums were novels meant to be listened to as a complete work. For bad examples of that idea, see Styx “Paradise Theater” and the even more heinous “Kilroy Was Here” contianing “Mr. Roboto”.
July 30th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Arctic Monkeys shit-storm of backlash?
Love them or hate them, they’re still critically and popularly adored in the UK. They just headlined both nights of a two-day festival in Manchester, playing to 110K people.
July 30th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
What does overrated mean, anyway? It’s a meaningless cliche.
And how many album productions has Corey Licht been a part of?
August 1st, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Andy’s logic is faulty (no surprise there): Just because millions of Brits love the Arctic Monkeys doesn’t make them good–they like Blur and Madonna over there, too. ‘Nuff said. Still, these are easy targets, especially for a blog associated with an alt weekly. You want to look brave? Deflate a paper tiger like Pavement or Slint or any of the moronic rappers the ATL’s so damn proud of, like Killer Mike or Gucci Mane or Yung Jock Itch or whoever the hell it is this week. Seriously, what hath OutKast and T.I. wrought?
August 2nd, 2007 at 12:59 pm
The Wall’s verbose in context, maybe, to the entire Floyd catalog, but universally speaking, its contributions to the rock and record industry justify the means. Floyd represents, just as The Beatles did, a moment in time; The Wall epitomizes the high-water mark for progressivism’s beginning–the 70s–when an enormous “concept” album could be concieved and, to boot, sell like hotcakes. If Floyd is or ever was “bloated and self-important” (which could be said about ANY band you don’t like that tacked three more songs than you wanted on their album) they defined it. Thank goodness it was them and, as Dale notes, not those assholes from Styx.
August 2nd, 2007 at 4:18 pm
I was slightly in agreeance with a couple of those albums mentioned, though not for any of the same reasons.
i think you’re one of those pretentious scenesters who has such a jilted and cocky perspective on music that you can’t take time to look past first impressions. sure some of your statements about certain albums might hold up to a casual listener…but you have to remember that bands are creating music for a certain group of people with whom they share relatively similar musical tastes. if you don’t dig on an album the first few timesyou hear it then you tend to rationalize reasons for not liking it. but many of the albums you mentioned, i know, have found their ways into the culture of the alternative children of the 80’s/90’s. even the Wall by pink floyd was ground breaking at the time for showing what a band could accomplish creatively when faced with the ability (funds) to do so. and as far as getting a point across (which is, i will say from being a musician, the most important thing) , pink floyd has surpassed all other bands with few exceptions (stones, beatles, etc). the beauty part of this is that i love to see that people like you do put your thoughts into these neat little blogs so i can identify you and justify my own statements later. open your ears man.
August 4th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Robert Morton-
You no read so good.
I never said anything about the quality of the Arctic Monkeys music.
My sole assertion was that Corey is mistaken when he asserts that the Arctic Monkeys are experiencing a critical or popular backlash. They’re recordings and concerts are still selling well, and the British press (both the music press and the music writers in the regular press) are still slobbering on them.
Carry on with your loathing now.
Hugs,
Andy
August 6th, 2007 at 10:02 am
Andy–much as it pains me to say it, you correct. I akshully not read real much.
I wouldn’t call it “loathing” so much as “fatigue,” btw.
August 6th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
I’m coming back to apologize to Corey. Sorry I cussed you out for calling me a dumbass. I should’ve just been the better man, but my anger got the best of me. I still think you’re wrong though. But that’s my opinion, just as you have your own…ugh.
August 7th, 2007 at 11:10 am
“Overrated” (which I confess to using more than I should) is really just an excuse for dismissive writing — which, ironically enough, is overrated.
It’s rather hip to dismiss albums like “Nevermind” as overrated, and the Pixies/Mudhoney comparisons are inevitable (what, no Melvins or Vaselines references), they miss the point. Even Cobain conceded in interviews they thought “Smells Like Teen Spirit” sounded like a Pixies tune. But you simply have to appreciate its quality on its own merits — influences aside — as well as its pop-cultural relevance. Like a lot of people (and someone a bit older than the average fan), I remember hearing the album and just being awestruck. Sure it was the band’s “accessible” album, but it is also filled with razor-sharp songwriting (Cobain’s “underrated” in this department) and indelible guitar moments as well as confirming Dave Grohl as a kick-ass drummer.
August 19th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
yep, you’re a fuckstick.
what a douchebag… who the fuck are you to pass judgment on anything, let alone some of the greatest albums of all time? who’s overrating it?
you actually sat around thinking about negative things to say about these masterpieces… you, my friend, are a self-absorbed, pontificating prick.
did you really describe Radiohead as “decent, safe Brit pop with abundant bells and whistles”? and “The Wall” as “bloated and self-important”?
what a fucking toolbag. and a bad writer at that. nothing worse than a bad writer with stupid opinions and all the time in world to impose them on everyone else via the internet.
anyway, i’m probably just feeding your ego by replying, but i really needed you to know what a huge douchebag you are. you don’t deserve to listen to this music. get fucked.
–sam