One bad track...

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Name an otherwise excellent album which has one AWFUL track. I mean a track which you just cannot stand hearing and have to skip in order to remain sane every tme you play the album. I have a couple of examples :

1) David Crosby's utterly horrific "Mind Gardens" on the otherwise fab "Younger Than Yesterday".

2) Not quite as bad, but still like finding a turd concealed in your sock drawer is, "Don't Tell them You're Sane" on The Jam's " The Modern World". It's Bruce Foxton's 'lyrics' which make me reach for the remote control every time.

― Dr. C, Saturday, 24 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"The bogus man" on Roxy Music's "For your pleasure". It tries hard to be hypnotic but it just plods on and on...

― Michael Bourke, Saturday, 24 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Okay, I'm onto this one:

(1) The dreadfully whinge-drenched faux-rock track "Not Me" (featuring Robbie Grey of Modern English on vocals) prevents IT'LL END IN TEARS, the debut album by 4AD hip studio collective, This Mortal Coil from being virtually flawless.

(2) Sort've a mainstreamy answer, but Andy Summers' histrionic "Mother" taints an otherwise impressive SYNCHRONICITY by the Police.

(3) The pointless and uninspired cover of "Light My Fire" that closes PROTECTION, the othewise brilliant (to these ears) second album by Massive Attack is unfortunate.

(4) Always thought they could have left "Revolution #9" off THE WHITE ALBUM (oops, sorry purists, THE BEATLES) and it still would've been a fine collection.

(5) I don't doubt that the song is irritating by design, but "Fodderstompf" off FIRST ISSUE by Public Image Ltd. generally has me scrambling for the remote.

― Alex in NYC, Saturday, 24 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I remember that when I bought Tricky's _Pre-Millenium Tension_ when it came out, I was so shocked and horrified by what I saw as the wilfull painfulness of "Ghetto Youth" that I sold the album in protest. I'm sure if I heard it now I'd probably like it.

― Tim, Saturday, 24 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Personally, I could do without the opening track to Disco Inferno's 'DI Go Pop' called 'In Sharky Water' - it's a bit lame Joy Division in style, and you wouldn't believe the number of times I've played the CD to people, raving about this group, and that's the first track they hear so they end up not wanting to hear any more . . .

― Vaughan, Sunday, 25 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I always planned to make a tape of REM's 'Out Of Time' with 'Shiny Happy People' left off. I'm not sure that would make it an excellent album but I would at least be able to listen to it without getting angry.

― Nick, Sunday, 25 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ooh, tremendously good call there, Nick. "Stand" also blights another of their albums (GREEN, I think?). REM really need to stop recording those sub-"SESAME STREET" style tunes. Ugh!

― Alex in NYC, Sunday, 25 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

So you're Bob Dylan. Your marriage is on the brink of collapse and you've been drinking too much, but you've got it together to write a collection of magnificent songs about love, women, your relationship, pain, and getting through it. You record the record - twice - and it's going to be a classic. But something's missing.....yes! A jaunty ballad about a bank raid done by someone named after a playing card, which can go right in the middle of the record, and break the mood in two. And why not make it eleven minutes long while you're at it!

"Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts". Fucker.

(Also, good call on "Light My Fire", Alex.)

― Tom, Sunday, 25 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I could name various examples... But let's take it on some Sacred Cows... Electeoneering on Radiohead's Ok Computer... on Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others on Smiths Queen is Dead, Doctor Robert on Beatles Revolver...etc... I'll remember more later...

― Luís Sousa, Sunday, 25 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

At the moment I'm thinking of 'River of Money' from The Go-Betweens' Spring Hill Fair album. Oh dear.... I agree with Tom as well about Blood On The Tracks.

― Ally C, Sunday, 25 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Electioneering" is my favorite track on OK COMPUTER actually. Haha, oh well. And what's so wrong with "Doctor Robert"?

― alex in nyc, Sunday, 25 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

revolution no. 9 is far from being the only crime against humanity on the white album.

― keith, Sunday, 25 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yeah, it's the best thing on it...

― Josh, Sunday, 25 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't see what's the matter with "Some Girls". It doesn't come as close to ruining "TQID" as "Death at One's Elbow" most certainly spoils "Strangeways"...

― Simon, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Just as I was reading this query I was listening to A Guy Called Gerald's "Black Secret Technology", still mindblowing after all these years. Except the bonus track: a fairly irritating vocal thing. Thankfully it's the last track so most of the times I push eject.

― Omar, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Hmmm. Nothing too grisly has come up yet. With 'Light My Fire', it's not that I can't stand it, I just wonder why they bothered putting it on the album. On TQID, whilst 'Some Girls' is inconsequential, the most annoying track has to be 'Vicar in A Tutu' - very close to self parody there. Again, though it doesn't make me run from the room screaming. Another one : "Ernold Same' from Blur's 'The Great Escape'

― Dr. C, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Three Beach Boys songs spring to mind: "Sloop John B" is a monstrous carbuncle on the face of the much-loved friend which is 'Pet Sounds'. "Transcendental Meditation" is the only unlistenable song on the vastly underrated 'Friends'. And on 'Surf's Up', which has its fair share of mediocre tunes, "Student Demonstration Time" sticks out as being especially appalling.

Thanks to this thread, I've been unable to get "Archie the Red Nosed Reindeer" out of my head: it is the low point on Tapper Zukie's otherwise excellent 'Man Ah Warrior' LP. Cheers.

― Tim, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I've never seen what's meant to be so bad about "Sloop John B". Clearly not the best track on PS but it doesnt let the side down too awfully.

And the Great Escape has worse criminals than E.Same - the one about ooh he's a naughty boy is unendurable. But I wouldnt call it a great album in the first place.

"Too Long" off Discovery, anyone?

― Tom, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The first two parts of the 'California Saga' from 'Holland' ('The Big Sur' and 'Beaks of Eagles') are the biggest abominations in the Beach Boys catalogue*, although it's a close run thing. I wouldn't claim that Holland is much good, even without them, so it's not a good example.

* FYI, I haven't heard 15 Big Ones or M.I.U, nor do I want to.

As you say Tom, 'The Great Escape' is also not great, although it gets air time regularly in my house just to hear the fantastic 'Yuko and Hiro'.

Actually to find more examples is quite hard - I keep coming back to The Byrds. I can't decide which is a worse crime against humanity than 'Take a Whiff On Me' or 'Yesterday's Train' from 'Untitled'. Strictly it's disqualified from this thread though, by having more than one awful track. No doubt someone will challenge me to name any GOOD tracks from 'Untitled';).

― Dr. C, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The, erm, *cod-reggae* (it hurts to type it) of "Graham Greene" on John Cale's otherwise smashing 'Paris 1919'.

The mention of Tricky brings to mind that abomination "I Like The Girls" from 'Juxtapose' (not a great record by any means, but it has its moments); for some reason Mad Dog's reference to his cruising chum Scrappy Love in the midst of his cringeworthy patter makes me think of cartoon irritant Scrappy Doo *performing the whole rap*. This is something I cannot get out of my head.

― Michael Jones, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Another classic example would be 'L.A. Blues' on "Funhouse" although personally I think it's the shit. I also have heard the same charges levelled at Bjork's 'The Anchor Song' on "Debut". Mmm, Underworld's 'Bruce Lee' on the excellent "Beaucoup Fish" is very bad, which is a shame because it's followed by one of the finest techno tracks of all time, altogether now: 'Kittens'. ;)

― Omar, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It's a good question.

1. I agree with Steady Mike that that Tricky song truly is an abomination.

2. I think 'Electioneering' probably the best thing on OKC, and 'Some Girls' an outstanding track on TQID. Nor is 'Vicar' bad at all. No, no, no: the track that spoils this most vital of all albums has to be 'Never Had No-One Ever'! I am inclined to mention 'Miserable Lie' in despatches too. Or on 'Despatches', if they ever hire me as an investigative journalist.

3. Fair point about Rosemary / Lily etc - by the way, has it ever struck anyone that Costello's 'Starting To Come To Me' (1996) is like a sort of musical tribute to this track?

4. Magnetic Fields: 'Tokyo-A-Go-Go' is cheese, and that's official. And there are some duds on Holiday and Get Lost too, but maybe multiple duds are disqualified. Oh, and on Wasps' Nests, 'Heaven In A Black Leather Jacket' is a just dismal vocal.

5. Oh, and has nobody mentioned 'Before The Sunrise'?

― the pinefox, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

There are multiple duds on Fold Your Hands, otherwise I'd have mentioned "Family Tree".

Best ofs - there was a cracking Four Tops best of a decade or so ago which shoved a dance mix of Reach Out I'll Be There on the end. Aaaargh.

Agreed on "Never Had No-One Ever". A drag, but hardly bona. And on "Death At One's Elbow" come to think of it. The first half of "Miserable Lie" works, and saves the rest, for me.

Orange Juice's Rip It Up has a lot of flaws, but few as big as "Hokoyo" (I think that's what it's called). That kind of tips the album for me from the acceptable pastures of an OK record into being a bit of a dodgy one, but at least you get "Tenterhook" afterwards. Sigh. I miss my turntable.

― Tom, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Time of the Season is the Sloop John B of the Zombies' otherwise brilliant Odessey and Orcale, but at least that out-of-place blemish is tacked on at the end of the record instead of the middle.

― Scott Plagenhoef, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Miserable Lie is okay, but I haven't liked it as much as I used to since I found out Morrissey was singing "Nobody ever looks at me twice" instead over "Nobody ever brings me mice".

― Nicole, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Time of the Season.... OUT OF PLACE BLEMISH!!!"

NO! NO! NO! If O+O has a blemish it's the The Butcher's Tale (is that the correct title - I don't have the album to hand). Anyway,it's the First World War one where the Zombies get unnecessarily and self- consciously 'experimental' over a wheezing squeeze box. For me that distracts from the summer-pop genius of the rest of the album. And that includes 'Time of the Season'! ;)

― Dr. C, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Glugh, what about "Inner Flight" on Screamadelica?

― Jake Becker, Monday, 26 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

dunno if this counts, as its a reissue with extra tracks, but andy's babies, from rattlesnakes (lloyd cole) gets on my tits in an utterly figurative way. i cannot stand it. it ruins it. i could listen to it on repeat play quite happily if this track was not there (and i knew how to program the cd player) i would like to call it 'facetious', but i'm not quite certain about the meaning of 'facetious'. so, it's *possibly* facetious. Shit, did I spell facetious right? I'm going to fetch my dictionary.

― alix., Tuesday, 27 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The utterly unlistenable and frankly bizarre "Oompa Radar" sticks out on the otherwise incomparably seductive FELT MOUNTAIN by Goldfrapp like a runny turd on a prayer rug. Whomever is responsible for the tinnitus-inducing instrumental (not the golden-voiced Allison Goldfrapp herself, I'm guessing, who doesn't even appear on the track) should be dropped from a great height onto jagged rocks.

― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 27 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You mean all the la-la-la's in the middle aren't her? I quite enjoy the track myself...

― Audrey, Wednesday, 28 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Sloop John B is the ONLY Beach Boys song I like (personal story, I can share if you want, it has to do with underwear), and I like Revolution # 9, in theory at least. So, cool.

Anyhow, some random examples: 1) "Dear Jessie" off Madonna's Like a Prayer 2) "Repeat" (either version) off the Manic's Generation Terrorists 3) "Things That You Do" off Jay-Z's Vol. 3 4) "Digsy's Diner" off Oasis's Definitely Maybe

― Ally, Wednesday, 28 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Good call about the Goldfrapp track, Alex. It kinda destroys the mood for me, and whilst I don't hate it, I'm always glad when it's over. Apart form that it's a fantastic album.

― Dr. C, Wednesday, 28 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think it's got something to offer.

― Josh, Wednesday, 28 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

'Natural Beauty' on Neil Young's 'Harvest Moon'. 10 minutes long. Live performance. Enough said!

At least it's at the end of the album, I suppose.

― K, Wednesday, 28 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ooh, Audrey...I suppose you're right. Sorry. Truthfully, whenver it blights my speakers...it's herky-jerky queaze-factor literally has me scrambling up my steps (my stereo's up in the loft) for the >> button. I do think it's a superb album, otherwise. Apart from FELT MOUNTAIN, I'd only heard her contributions to BLOOD by This Mortal Coil and on one track on Tricky's MAXINQUAYE. Is there anything else out there with her voice on it? Back on topic, while I think it's a fine cover, I always felt the cover of "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" on Tricky's MAXINQUAYE felt completely out of step with the rest of the album.

― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 28 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Alex - sure you're not getting Alison G mixed up with someone else? She's not on "Blood" as far as I remember (the Rutkowski sisters, Caroline Crawley, Kim Deal...). She is on Orbital's "Are We Here" though.

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 29 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Pearl Jam's third album Vitalogy is pretty decent - except for a track called "Bugs" which sounds a drunken Eddie Vedder stumbling upstairs to bed, dribbling on about the press, while some idiot decides to give the accordian a try for the first time in their lives.

― Nick, Thursday, 29 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

'Blood on borscht' on Jimi Tenors's 'Out of Nowhere' - smack bang in the middle - horrible.The appalling 'B.O.B.'off Outkast's 'Stankonia'.The Stooges-'We will Fall',Alice Cooper's- 'Black juju'.ballads.

― GEORDIE RACER, Thursday, 29 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Michael....you're absolutely right. Allison Goldfrapp appears on Tricky's MAXINQUAYE (on the track "Pumpkin"), but *NOT* on BLOOD by This Mortal Coil at all....my mistake. I suppose I confused her with Deidre Rutkowski. Sorry about that. Didn't know about her contribution to that Orbital album, though....must go seek that out. Cheers!

― Alex in NYC, Thursday, 29 March 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Under The Influence" and that oral sex skit on the Marshall Mathers LP. Those really do make Eminem sound like yer average 13 year-old schoolyard bully.

― Patrick, Tuesday, 3 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two months pass...

A couple more examples of truly miserable tracks on otherwise excellent albums.

1) Al Jardine's "Take a Load Off Your Feet" from "Surf's Up" (This is much, much worse than "Student Demonstration Time". Much worse.)

2) 808 State's mix of UB40's "One in Ten" on 808:88:98

― Dr. C, Monday, 11 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

nothing, i repeat, NOTHING, is worse than student demonstration time

― gareth, Monday, 11 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two months pass...

Based on 3 listens since buying it at the weekend, "Rock The Shack" from New Order's "Get Ready" is a great example of a spectacularly awful track on an otherwise very good album. Predictably it's the track with the fool B. Gillespie guesting.

― Dr. C, Monday, 3 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Gillespie is no fool.

― Ronan, Monday, 3 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh yes he is.

― Captain Swing, Monday, 3 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Gillespie a minor fool when compared w/ fellow guest star B. Corgan. And aren't New Order bigger fools for chumming round w/ 'em in the first place?

― Andrew L, Monday, 3 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two weeks pass...

"Song of the Viking" from Todd Rundgren's "Something/Anything" (amusing the first time; impossible to listen to after that) "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" from Madonna's "Like A Virgin" (a very bad attempt at straight R&B) "Soul Survivor" from the Stones' "Exile on Main St." (at least they knew to put it last!) "W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" from the Band's "Stage Fright" (sounds hokey and trivial and destroys the atmosphere the other songs have created) "Jealous Dogs" from "Pretenders II" (tuneless, lyrically lame and the LONGESTCUT ON THE CD at 5 minutes)

― Tony S., Wednesday, 19 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I kinda like "Rock the Shack" (despite my better judgement) and "Soul Survivor" (not against better judgement). Doesn't every Stones album have some jerk-off waste of plastic right in the middle? "Country Honk", "Cherry Oh Baby", "Some Girls", "Dear Doctor", "I Got the Blues", aarrgh.

― dave q, Wednesday, 19 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Speaking as someone who loves Treefingers off Kid A,I find Life In A Glasshouse lets Amnesiac down nastily.I think Revolution #9 is great,including that bit when it sounds like John Lennon has just stepped in something really hot.

― Damian, Wednesday, 19 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

hahaha! you're right damian, he sounds *exactly* like he's stepped in something hot 'ooh ooh oooooh'. the acid kicking in one imagines.

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 26 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

HAHAHA thanks for reminding me :).RIIIIIIIGHT!

― Damian, Wednesday, 26 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Pink Turns To Blue," off of Husker Du's Zen Arcade, but not because it's bad. Quite the contrary, in fact--it's so good (and so catchy) a song that it stops the album cold. Whenever I want to be able to listen to the last two sides, I skip it and listen to it later. "Eight Miles High" would have fit in better there, and then "Pink Turns To Blue" would have been the single.

On other posts in the thread: I rather like "Sloop John B," and I think it does fits into Pet Sounds. It sets off the quiet flow of the other tracks quite well. And I like "Revolution #9", too--the White Album has a nice jumbled feel to it, and I can't think of anything that would seem out of place.

― Christine "Green Leafy Dragon" Indigo, Sunday, 30 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

eight months pass...

Belle and Sebastian's Tigermilk deserves a listing on this thread. It's a beautiful album, but I absolutely can not listen to Electric Renaissance. It may turn into an amazing song 30 seconds in, but I wouldn't know, because I've never made it that far.

― lyra in seattle, Wednesday, 12 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

the Gary Barlow of Garage, Daniel Beddingfield on So Solid's mix album.

the excrutiatingly shit Beck track on 10,000hz Legend.

― Wyndham Earl, Wednesday, 12 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Which one? There's two of them, and they both beat the fuck out of "Wonder Milky Bitch".
Speaking of Beck: "Derelict". Fah. Worst track on Odelay, easy. "4,000 Miles" brings down Blackalicious' Blazing Arrow, "Superheroes" is my Discovery skipover track, and when I listen to Stankonia I never stick around for "We Luv Deez Hoes" or however it's spelled.

― Nate Patrin, Wednesday, 12 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Bungalow Bill" and "Honey Pie" on the white album, "Dead On It" on the black album, "Fool on the Hill" on Magical Mystery Tour, "Free" on 1999, "Girl Gone Bad" on 1984, "La La Love You" on Doolittle, "She's So Fine" on Axis: Bold as Love, "Ignoreland" on Automatic for the People, "Lady Jane" on Aftermath, "Sophisticated Bitch" on Yo! Bum Rush the Show.

― J Blount, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

b-b-but jblount, 'la la love you' was awesome!!

and 'bungalow bill' was the pinnacle of the beatles' career compared to the utter duds that shared space with it on the white alb ('ob-la di ob-la da', 'martha my dear', 'i will' -- god i could go on and on listing the suck-ness)

― geeta, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

[before i get flamed on this, i'm not saying i hate the white album - i love about 60% of it, but IMO the other 40% deserved to die]

― geeta, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

'The India Song' on '#1 Record' by Big Star.

'Little Miss Strange' on 'Electric Ladyland' by the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Moral: don't let the bass player have a song on yr otherwise flawless rec.

― Andrew L, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, I didn't want to slam McCartney too hard ("Martha My Dear" was in my head earlier tonight, and all I could think was 'the song's about a Goddamn sheepdog'), and "Bungalow Bill"'s Lennon's weakest track on the album. I still get a kick out of "La La Love You", but it screams filler and makes me suspicious of most of side two; I could have just as easily said "Silver", the only recorded moment where Kim Deal doesn't trump Black Francis and the one track I usually skip. It's also permanent exhibit A for why Doolittle isn't better than Surfer Rosa.

― J Blount, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I almost said "The India Song", clearly the weakest and most dated song in the Big Star catalog, but I never actually skip it.

― J Blount, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Everybody Hurts" on REM's "Automatic for the People". Has to be skipped otherwise I can't guarantee for the stereo. The rest of Automatic is not totally exceptional but at least solid.

― alex in mainhattan, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

May I chime in on the Beach Boys tip here:
Sloop John B is ace especially the "Yeah yeah" bits after "I wanna go home". They make the tune.
"Student Demonstration Time" is absolutely horrible and beats me completely why they even bothered to put this bang in the middle of the album. It actually physically irritates me that what could have been the best thing since Pet Sounds was blighted by Mike Love's pompocity. However, "Take A Load Off Your Feet" is very cool and harks back to the wholesome yet drugged paradox of the Smile-era. Definitely a good tune. Surf's Up is brilliant
As for Holland, whoever said the first two tracks of the "California Saga" are the worst thing the Beach Boys ever did is misinformed. They are actually some of the best bits on the album. The third track "California" is pure pants though. "Beaks of Eagles" is recommended despite Al Jardine's pretentious soliloquy which is mitigated by the swooping harmonies during the chorus which are simply divine.

heheh... that put you all in your places eh?

― dog latin, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Kizza Me" on Big Star's _Third/Sister Lovers_. And it's the first song on the album!
"Face Up" on _Low-Life_ by New Order - "Oh, how I cannot bear the thought of you!". Would it have killed 'em to do one more take on the vocals?

― Ernest, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

As for Holland, whoever said the first two tracks of the "California Saga" are the worst thing the Beach Boys ever did is misinformed. They are actually some of the best bits on the album. The third track "California" is pure pants though. "Beaks of Eagles" is recommended despite Al Jardine's pretentious soliloquy which is mitigated by the swooping harmonies during the chorus which are simply divine.

OT damn M.

― dleone, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I never stick around for "We Luv Deez Hoes" or however it's spelled

then you miss one of the guys from Goodie Mob going "you love the way the leather grippin your butt" and that is a shame. I love Dat Song.

Eve's cover of "No No No" by Dawn Penn on Scorpion

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"The Gentleman Soldier" off of the Pogues Rum, Sodomy and the Lash; "Blood" off of Pearl Ham's Vs.

― Lord Custos X, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

'slam mccartney too hard'? is that possible? this is the man that brought you the irredeemable swill that was 'yesterday'! i think it's that strange mccartney combination of squareness and tweeness that makes me so unwell

nominee: 'segue: baby grace' from bowie's 'outside' (actually i have to skip through all the awful segues on that alb). also 'red money' from 'lodger'

― geeta, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Would it have killed 'em to do one more take on the vocals?

You could say that about every song on that album, though. I think the thing that makes "Face-Up" so unbearable is that the music lives down to the horrifying vocals. (It's no surprise that the best songs on that album are "Elegia", which is an instrumental, and "Sunrise", where manic off-key yelping fits the mood of the song.)

― Dan Perry, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Cheating because it's an anthology, but does Dick Dale's "King Of The Surf Guitar" have to have "Mister Peppermint Man" on it? I come to Mr Dale for stonkin' surf geetar, not whatever-the-hell-style- crooning-is-featured-on-that-track.

― Ess Kay, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Reservations" off of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is painfully sappy. Luckily, it falls at the end of the album, so it's easy enough to just change the CD at that point.

― o. nate, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

And I don't know what Nate's talking about - "4000 Miles" is wunderbar.

― o. nate, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

'let's push things forward' on original pirate material. gawd ... i cringe whenever i hear that synthtrumpet.

― fields of salmon, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i'd have to second "la la love you" on doolittle

― dyson, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Most of these tracks you all list I am fine with. "Some Girls..." is actually my favorite track off The Queen Is Dead, I can't see that as inconsequential at all. I agree about Light My Fire at the end of Protection, though. What were they thinking? Heat Miser would have made a fantastic close to the album, they should have left it at that. I also have a problem with "The Anchor Song" on Bjork - Debut. There is another case of a closing track leaving a bad taste in my mouth, on what is otherwise an exceptional album.

― patrick, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I just get sick of hearing Chali 2na everywhere is all.

― Nate Patrin, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Tossin' and Turnin'" stops Tony Toni Tone's House of Music dead in its fucking tracks

― M Matos, Sunday, 16 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"The European Son" on "The Velvet Underground & Nico". "Experimental masterpiece", say critics. "Bah humbug", sez I.

"Tender" on Blur's "13", which apart from that is easily the best thing Blur ever released.

― Daniel_Rf, Sunday, 16 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts". Fucker.
Think of the context: if Dylan is imagining himself as Jack of Hearts, he can fantasize about being the dashing hero who gets the girl in the end. If, onion other hand, he is implying that he is Diamond Jim, he's telling a "she done me wrong song" where he gets killed by his unfaithful, pen-knife weilding hussy of a lover, and can watch her get hung from his vantage point in hell. Typical singer-songerwriter "woe is me" angst.

― Lord Custos v2.3, Sunday, 16 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

let me get this straight: pre-millennium tension is otherwise an excellent album?

― Ron, Sunday, 16 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I like all those songs from the white album. Especially "Martha My Dear". "Fool On the Hill" is wonderful. "Hello Goodbye" is the album-ruining track on Magical Mystery Tour for me. "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" and is really good too. "Never Had No One Ever" is fantastic, I can't believe you're saying otherwise.

― sundar subramanian, Monday, 17 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

yeah, yr right about some girls... thats a great song. excellent guitar song

― Ron, Monday, 17 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Why is everyone saying horrible things about "Face up"? It's the perfect inverse to "Temptation" and therefore the lyrics have to be simple. I've always loved the line "Oh how I cannot bear the thought of you", it's perfect for singing along to drunkenly when you hate someone.

― Rob M, Tuesday, 18 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

ELP's comedy tracks

― dave q, Tuesday, 18 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

THOU SHALT NOT DEFECATE UPON ODESSEY AND ORACLE. Butcher's Tale - death; Time Of The Season - rebirth. Pity about that "see all our friends" one ("Lily and Jane and Pete and Emma and OK I made the last two up but surely Dr C you know the one I mean?").

Some other ones which spring to mind:

Run-DMC - Dumb Girl (off Raising Hell)

REM - Everybody Hurts (sorry folks, but it's facile and overcooked)

Tim Buckley - Moulin Rouge (off Starsailor; typically, when they put out TB compilations, the only two tracks off Starsailor they ever use are this and Song to the Fucking Siren)

Pulp - Something Changed (off Different Class) (see Everybody Hurts)

Spiritualized - The Individual (off L&G - Terry Edwards tunes up for five minutes. Brotzmann he ain't)

Clash - Police and Thieves (off 1st album) - Longer and even draggier than Bohemian Rhapsody

Police - Mother (off Synchronicity) - oh damn, did I forget Miss Gradenko?

Liza Minnelli - Love Games (off Results) - not written or produced by Pet Shop Boys, a Hazell Dean cover at that; why was this on there?

Jacko - It's The Falling In Love (off Off The Wall) - Carole Bayer ZZZZZZZSager tasteful AoR yeucch.

Alternative TV - Why Don't You Do Me Right (off The Image Has Cracked) - their songs are so much better, why waste time with crappa Zappa covers?

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 18 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yes, 'Friends of Mine' *does* have an irritating chorus, but works as a fantastic blast of pop after 'Butcher's Tale'. The verse is fantastic - Chris White's ear for a tumbling melody coupled with Argent's cascading music hall piano.

I like Police and Thieves.

― Dr. C, Tuesday, 18 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I hate "Bruce Lee" so fucking much that I've refused to purchase a copy of _Beaucoup Fish_, despite loving almost everything else on the album.

― Dan Perry, Tuesday, 18 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

eep. i just dl beaucoup fish. will investigate said track!

― Ron, Tuesday, 18 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

'Part 4' of Lou Reed's MMM. It isn't as goos as the other three!

― Julio Desouza, Tuesday, 18 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

one month passes...

Nico's version of The End on the album of the same name ruins an otherwise fine album. As if the song wasn't bad enough the first time around...

― Mary, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Pills" on Primal Scream's "XTRMN8R" is so god-awful that it almost single-handedly ruined the album for me.

― Trey Bien, Sunday, 4 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I despise "This is the One" from the Stone Roses S/T.

― Spencer Chow, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

two years pass...

califonia saga beaks of eagles is great! and, i like jardines rambling on it!

― charltonlido (gareth), Saturday, 21 May 2005 19:31 (twenty years ago)

"Don't Stop" - Stone Roses. Not altogether awful, but it would have been better off relegated to B-Side status, especially considering the utter brilliance of the rest of the album.

― Steve Gertz (sgertz), Saturday, 21 May 2005 19:55 (twenty years ago)

Sort've a mainstreamy answer, but Sting's histrionic "King of Pain" taints an otherwise impressive SYNCHRONICITY by the Police.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Saturday, 21 May 2005 20:11 (twenty years ago)

'The Anchor Song' is probably my favourite track on 'Debut,' though the version with the Brodsky Quartet blows it away--just one of her most astonishing performances ever.

― I.M. (I.M.), Saturday, 21 May 2005 20:43 (twenty years ago)

Aluminum on White Blood Cells

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Saturday, 21 May 2005 21:04 (twenty years ago)

FUCK YOU!
"Aluminum" on White Blood Cells is one of the only songs i like on that one

― Aerodynamic (Aerodynamic), Saturday, 21 May 2005 21:21 (twenty years ago)

Dire Straits were quite good at this during the early 80s. First it was "Making Movies" with "Les Boys", then "Love Over Gold" with "Industrial Disease".

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 21 May 2005 21:25 (twenty years ago)

"Revolver" ("Yellow Submarine")

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 21 May 2005 21:26 (twenty years ago)

I'm ASTONISHED that no one has mentioned the single blemish on what's quite possibly the best double album ever made: Stevie Wonder's 'Saturn' on "Songs in the Key of Life".

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Saturday, 21 May 2005 22:02 (twenty years ago)

(3) The pointless and uninspired cover of "Light My Fire" that closes PROTECTION, the othewise brilliant (to these ears) second album by Massive Attack is unfortunate.

I don't get to say "Alex in NYC otm" very often, so I have to make the most of it here.

'Talula' off Tori Amos's Boys For Pele for me, although the BT radio mix improved it immeasurably by giving it a proper beat and stuff...

― The Lex (The Lex), Sunday, 22 May 2005 11:20 (twenty years ago)

I'm ASTONISHED that no one has mentioned the single blemish on what's quite possibly the best double album ever made: Stevie Wonder's 'Saturn' on "Songs in the Key of Life".

Was never really part of the album though, originally part of a freebie EP that came with the album.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 22 May 2005 12:40 (twenty years ago)

abba - super trouper "the piper".
beatles - rubber soul "what goes on".
kiss - hot in the shade " boomerang".
bon jovi - slippery when wet " social disease".
split enz - true colours "choral sea"
icehouse - man of colours "girl in the moon".
alice cooper - trash " trash"
janet jackson - control - "pleasure principle"
these songs are weak but not annoying.

― andante, Sunday, 22 May 2005 13:43 (twenty years ago)

didn't bowie rip off bungalow bill for space odity ? the choruses are very similar.

― andante, Sunday, 22 May 2005 13:59 (twenty years ago)

"Pet Sounds" has an awful title track, while the rest (even the other instrumental) are all brilliant. (No, "Sloop John B" is hardly the highlight, but still nice enough)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 22 May 2005 14:02 (twenty years ago)

Strangely, nobody has mentioned "Voices Of Old People" off "Bookends" yet.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 22 May 2005 14:04 (twenty years ago)

(4) Always thought they could have left "Revolution #9" off THE WHITE ALBUM (oops, sorry purists, THE BEATLES) and it still would've been a fine collection.

While "Revolution #9" is the worst one, there are certainly other tracks on that album that should have been kept off too. For instance, "Helter Skelter", "Yer Blues", "Why Don't We Do It In The Road", "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" and "Good Night".

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 22 May 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

Was never really part of the album though, originally part of a freebie EP that came with the album.
Interesting; I never knew that!

For instance, "Helter Skelter", "Yer Blues", "Why Don't We Do It In The Road", "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" and "Good Night".
Wow. Just wow. Seriously? Wow.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Sunday, 22 May 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

Whenever I listen to Twice Removed by Sloan I always skip "Before I Do." To me that song never had any point whatsoever.

I could make a joke similar to the one above regarding bass players' songs and have a crack at the drummer's expense here, but I have liked Andrew Scott's songs on other Sloan albums. Unfortunately, this ain't one of 'em.

― JAS, Sunday, 22 May 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

In The Beatles, the bass player usually wrote the best songs.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 22 May 2005 17:04 (twenty years ago)

that's the second time this week I've heard someone bad-mouth the song Pet Sounds. Jesus, I used to sit in my car and play it at top volume over and over again. I think it's beautiful, melancholy psychedelic faux-exotica, wonderfully arranged and produced.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Sunday, 22 May 2005 21:37 (twenty years ago)

GOT TO GO!
"We Will Fall" (Stooges, s/t)
"One Woman" (Isaac Hayes, HOT BUTTERED SOUL)
"She's Falling Apart" (Flamin' Groovies, FLAMINGO)
"Sex Machine" (Sly & the Family Stone, STAND!)

― Rev. Hoodoo (Rev. Hoodoo), Sunday, 22 May 2005 22:37 (twenty years ago)

"wendy time" on the cure's "wish". yuck. if it wasn't for that song it would be my fave album by them i think.

― bove, Sunday, 22 May 2005 23:34 (twenty years ago)

To be honest Iwonder about the 11th track on Selected Ambient Works 85-92 By Aphex Twin. at least I think it was the 11th track. Just doesn't sound that good to me I guess.

― Tokyo Ghost Stories (Tokyo Ghost Stories), Monday, 23 May 2005 02:03 (twenty years ago)

Strangely, nobody has mentioned "Voices Of Old People" off "Bookends" yet.
-- Geir Hongro (geirhon...), May 22nd, 2005.

oh dude dont be a killjoy, it's a 2 minute interlude. plus it's hilarious - "i've got little in this world!"

― swvl (vozick), Monday, 23 May 2005 02:14 (twenty years ago)

To be honest Iwonder about the 11th track on Selected Ambient Works 85-92 By Aphex Twin. at least I think it was the 11th track. Just doesn't sound that good to me I guess.
-- Tokyo Ghost Stories

I agree - I fast forward on that one.

― moley (moley), Monday, 23 May 2005 02:17 (twenty years ago)

"Stay Positive" on Original Pirate Material
"Fire In My Heart" on Guerrilla
"Next in Line" on Open Doors, Closed Windows
"What Does Your Soul Look Like? (Part Four)" on Endtroducing
"Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)" on Led Zeppelin II

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Monday, 23 May 2005 02:43 (twenty years ago)

The ultimate answer to this thread: "Bull Session with the Big Daddy" on The Beach Boys Today!

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Monday, 23 May 2005 02:50 (twenty years ago)

"Girls", from Dizzee's Showtime. Thanks a taintload, Marga Man.

― Stupornaut (natepatrin), Monday, 23 May 2005 03:08 (twenty years ago)

Aww, I like "Girls." The only real bit of "fun" on the album.

― Candicissima (candicissima), Monday, 23 May 2005 03:21 (twenty years ago)

I'm ASTONISHED that no one has mentioned the single blemish on what's quite possibly the best double album ever made: Stevie Wonder's 'Saturn' on "Songs in the Key of Life".
Was never really part of the album though, originally part of a freebie EP that came with the album.

That EP was great! "Love's In Need Of Love" and "Joy Inside My Tears" shoulda been cut. (Plus all of the Side Three songs had interminable codas 2-3 minutes too long.)

Metallica: Not once, not twice, but four times in a row they reserved Side 2/Track 2 for the worst song! "No Remorse", "Escape", "Leper Messiah" and "Harvester of Sorrow" were the only tracks I'd skip nearly everytime I played their respective LPs. ("Harvester" was admittedly on Side 3 of the vinyl, but I owned the cassette version, therefore Side 2.)

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 23 May 2005 10:27 (twenty years ago)

"Love's In Need Of Love" and "Joy Inside My Tears" shoulda been cut

No, they shouldn't. They are beautiful melodic ballads, and both among the best things he's ever done.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 23 May 2005 10:35 (twenty years ago)

"Girls", from Dizzee's Showtime. Thanks a taintload, Marga Man.

'Girls' is GREAT! I don't think Showtime really has a dud track at all.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 23 May 2005 11:06 (twenty years ago)

Ever hear one of those otherwise classic albums where the worst song was a HIT?

"If You Really Love Me" (Stevie Wonder's WHERE I'M COMING FROM)
"You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" (Stevie's TALKING BOOK)

― Rev. Hoodoo (Rev. Hoodoo), Monday, 23 May 2005 11:44 (twenty years ago)

three years pass...

"Up!" from M83's Saturdays=Youth. The first album in a long time (maybe ever) whose integrity I've violated by deleting one of its songs from my itunes.

― fucking in the streets, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 19:00 (sixteen years ago)

"sweaters" on big science by laurie anderson

― n/a is just more of a character....in a genre polluted by clones (n/a), Wednesday, 26 November 2008 19:16 (sixteen years ago)

not even sure it's bad but it's definitely way more difficult to listen to

― n/a is just more of a character....in a genre polluted by clones (n/a), Wednesday, 26 November 2008 19:16 (sixteen years ago)

"annie christian" on controvery, imo

― some know what you dude last summer (Jordan), Wednesday, 26 November 2008 19:18 (sixteen years ago)

"The Song is Over" on Who's Next. They coulda put "Pure and Easy," there instead and it woulda been fucking killer.

And "Song for Europe" on Roxy Music's Stranded...not a huge blemish, but noticeably below the (granted, impossibly high) standard of the rest of the album.

― Sara Sara Sara, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 19:22 (sixteen years ago)

"Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song" off Todd Rundgren's Todd...

― henry s, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 19:29 (sixteen years ago)

Wow, Nick, that's kind of my favorite song on that record! I guess it all depends on your gut response to that keening violin tone, but I've always thought of "Sweaters" as one of the most accessible/likable tracks.

― nabisco, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 19:30 (sixteen years ago)

'bubblegum' on sonic youth's EVOL

― 6335, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 19:38 (sixteen years ago)

'the baby song' on husker du's 'flip your wig' is the first thing that came to my mind.

― edb, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 19:52 (sixteen years ago)

"one day like this" on elbow's seldom seen kid.

― Simon H., Wednesday, 26 November 2008 19:58 (sixteen years ago)

"Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song" off Todd Rundgren's Todd...

So OTM. There are a few on "Todd" I could do without, but that one has me running to the turntable in a matter of seconds.

― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Wednesday, 26 November 2008 20:09 (sixteen years ago)

surprised no one's called Jazz Police. Though I actually take perverse pleasure in it, and it always reminded me of the Star Trek theme when I was a small child... very small child. I used to find Take This Waltz unbearable by comparison. I point to Jazz Police specifically because I remember someone using the phrase Jazz Police syndrome to refer but exactly to OP's stipulation.

― joe de silentio, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 21:02 (sixteen years ago)

"Sweaters" is what got me to buy Big Science!

"Eagle" on ABBA's The Album is a big skipper for me, and it's the first song - always makes me feel like I'm cheating somehow, but god it's a drag.

"Perfect Circle" on Murmur is a huge snooze that a lot of people love - never have been able to get that. My god does it suck the life out of the room.

Can't stand "Disarm" on Siamese Dream but that might just be overexposure.

I guess basically this is one of those "serious ballads in midst of rock albums" type lists.

― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 21:21 (sixteen years ago)

bubblegum wasn't on Evol. It was tacked onto the CD. The actual album ends in the best way an album can end. A locked groove of Expressway....

― dan selzer, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 21:27 (sixteen years ago)

'the baby song' on husker du's 'flip your wig' is the first thing that came to my mind.

Totally agree - wtf. Not funny, not clever. BORING. Did I miss the joke;the point?

― Fer Ark, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 21:50 (sixteen years ago)

"Hudson Line" on Deserters Songs one of the most horrendous saxophonic cacophonies ever to insult my eardrums.

― ledge, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 22:59 (sixteen years ago)

lyrics and singing also woeful

― ledge, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 23:00 (sixteen years ago)

W.M.C Blob 59. Grotesque by the Fall.

― Sven Hassel Schmuck, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 23:30 (sixteen years ago)

A few I've found...

Burial - Spaceape

When I came to rip this it was removed. Awful - and I enjoyed the Hyperdub 12", Sign of the Dub before then

Boards of Canada - Kaleidescope

The beat! It's just too jarring. They're not ae and this fails.

Burger/Ink - Swiss Made

Why go trip hop after an album of perfect minimalism? I suppose it breaks the spell but it's so sad that it has to end this way

Orbital - Are We Here?

OK, my problem with this is the album edit. The single version fixed it and I should make a version of the album with this but it just comes across as someone who doesn't know what they're doing with drum and bass breakbeats - which I'm guessing they weren't.

Brian Eno - Shadow

Again, it breaks the spell. I can't help thinking if this was somewhere else - like on a John Hassell album I'd like but here it really doesn't work. Another that got skipped when I ripped it.

― Treblekicker, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 23:35 (sixteen years ago)

ooops. It's called Gyroscope, not Kaleidescope.

One more tho'... Hot Chip - Tchaparian

Way too try hard.

― Treblekicker, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 23:40 (sixteen years ago)

Yeah, I have had similar thoughts re "Gyroscope."

― jaymc, Wednesday, 26 November 2008 23:46 (sixteen years ago)

Sloop John B

you are fucking insane, imHo

― k3vin k., Thursday, 27 November 2008 00:49 (sixteen years ago)

I'm really surprised this thread could make it 7 years without someone mentioning "Changes" from Black Sabbath Volume 4.

Of course, I like that song... but most do not.

And yeah... Sloop John B fucking rules!

― Nate Carson, Thursday, 27 November 2008 01:15 (sixteen years ago)

Sugartooth's self-titled album sounds better to me than anything Soundgarden did after Screaming Life. E

xcept for the one track "Shine Boy" where they let the wrong guy sing. God I hate that song.

― Nate Carson, Thursday, 27 November 2008 01:17 (sixteen years ago)

The same is true of Social Unrest's "Now and Forever". Quit letting the bass player (or whoever) have their moment in the spotlight! He doesn't deserve it.

― Nate Carson, Thursday, 27 November 2008 01:18 (sixteen years ago)

Art of Noise - In No Sense? Nonsense! - Roundabout 727
Paul McCartney - Driving Rain - Freedom
XTC - Rag & Bone Buffet - Thanks for Christmas
Fatboy Slim - Gutter & Stars - both Macy Gray tracks

I can't remember the others because I've deleted them from history.

― I'm Richard (Autumn Almanac), Thursday, 27 November 2008 01:22 (sixteen years ago)

Oh and Bohemian Rhapsody from Night at the Opera, but only because it's been hammered to death by AOR radio everywhere.

― I'm Richard (Autumn Almanac), Thursday, 27 November 2008 01:25 (sixteen years ago)

Ride My Llama on Neil Young Rust Never Sleeps

The Other Window on Wire 154

Goon Squad on Elvis Costello Armed Forces

― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 27 November 2008 01:32 (sixteen years ago)

"(1) The dreadfully whinge-drenched faux-rock track "Not Me" (featuring Robbie Grey of Modern English on vocals) prevents IT'LL END IN TEARS, the debut album by 4AD hip studio collective, This Mortal Coil from being virtually flawless."

this is so fuckin' wrong. what a great song.

whenever i see this thread i think of the horrible rap song on that otherwise wonderful style council album.

― scott seward, Thursday, 27 November 2008 01:35 (sixteen years ago)

thirteen years pass...

"Fat Lady of Limbourg" (Brian Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain)

Skipping this track turns it from a 4.5 star album to a 5 star album.

― o. nate, Friday, 28 October 2022 17:35 (two years ago)

I always thought of "Put a Straw Under Baby" as the weak link on that record. "Fat Lady" is I guess the worst on the first side.

― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 28 October 2022 18:44 (two years ago)

Wow, this is crazy talk. I absolutely love "Fat Lady of Limbourg".

― Vast Halo, Friday, 28 October 2022 18:51 (two years ago)

"Put a Straw" is an effective palate cleanser after one of the more typically abrasive tracks, and I've always liked the line: "And they all live in Jesus / It's a family affair". To me "Fat Lady" just kind of drags on to no perceptible purpose.

― o. nate, Friday, 28 October 2022 19:08 (two years ago)

The Andy Mackay sax arrangement is the centrepiece of the track for me. And the verse about the black egg always brings up vivid mental imagery.

― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 28 October 2022 19:11 (two years ago)

yea I agree it's the worst track and the album would still be 43 minutes without it

― frogbs, Friday, 28 October 2022 19:21 (two years ago)

someone upthread mentioned husker du's baby song which is a real vibe and momentum killer on that album and along the similar lines there's "how to skin a cat" which is musically charmless and conceptually anti-cat and just uncalled for

― your original display name is still visible (Left), Friday, 28 October 2022 19:21 (two years ago)

Had to give a listen to Josh Rouse's _1972_ again, and yeah, "Slaveship" still tanks the album's vibe for me. Skip it every listen.

― the body of a spider... (scampering alpaca), Friday, 28 October 2022 19:22 (two years ago)

To me "Fat Lady" just kind of drags on to no perceptible purpose.

Heheh, "drags on to no perceptible purpose" is how very many people would describe the bulk of Eno's oeuvre! (Not me, I hasten to add.)

Yeah, Mackay's brass arrangement is great. What's also delightfully clever is the way that it prefigures Eno's sarcastic conclusion, "That's what we're paid for here."

― Vast Halo, Friday, 28 October 2022 19:23 (two years ago)

"I Got the Blues"

This is the opposite of a bad track.

― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Friday, 28 October 2022 19:23 (two years ago)

I just made an enjoyable playlist of a lot of the tracks mentioned here, reminding myself what a funny thing is musical taste!

"Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song" off Todd Rundgren's Todd...

I don't want to hear that song all the time, but I'd say "In and Out the Chakras We Go" is a greater test of my patience, and I like "Spark of Life".

Metallica: Not once, not twice, but four times in a row they reserved Side 2/Track 2 for the worst song!

This is a pretty good policy if you want to save up your better song for a big finish.

conceptually anti-cat

Agree the "song" is unlistenable but the lyrics are from a satyrical article:

"“How to Skin a Cat” is based off a 100+ year urban legend. The legend’s roots are unknown, but it first gained fame in a prank by the Lacon, Illinois newspaper in 1875. Willis Powell, the newspaper editor, published a classified ad of a cat-and-rat farm looking for investors. The ad gained national prominence, and the cat-and-rat hoax has prevailed until today. The lyrics to this song are copied from the original, 1875 advertisement.

I'd nominate the title track from Tim Buckley's Goodbye and Hello. It's an ambitious composition where each verse has a different melody and chord progression, but the lyrics are terribly overblown generation-gap stuff and the orchestral arrangement drowns out everything else. I don't think he ever played it live which probably shows he didn't think he pulled it off.

― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 28 October 2022 20:16 (two years ago)

Maybe this doesn’t count since it’s last so there’s no actual skipping, but I don’t really ever play “Relevation” off Love’s Da Capo.

― city worker, Saturday, 29 October 2022 01:45 (two years ago)

I really fucking hate "Sea of Madness" on Iron Maiden's Somewhere in Time. it just lumbers along awkwardly due to the tempo of the chorus and the closeness of the harmonies and utter boredom of the track. I like the rest.

Deicide's "Satan Spawn, the Caco-Demon" is probably the worst song on their first two albums, and it BEGINS Legion, I often just skip it and go right to "Dead But Dreaming". it's just a dissonant mess, it is a bit percussive, but even though this is one of their least hooky albums, there's little to like about the song.

Pain of Salvation's "Remedy Lane" is almost perfect, and builds to a thunderous conclusion with "Beyond the Pale", preceding that is the amazing "Waking Every God", and sandwiched in the middle is some boring, generic AOR-sounding ballad called "Second Love", that is just so divorced in quality from the rest of the songs on the album.

― stank viola (Neanderthal), Saturday, 29 October 2022 02:44 (two years ago)

xps I stand corrected I assumed it was some stoned bullshit they made up

― your original display name is still visible (Left), Saturday, 29 October 2022 09:02 (two years ago)

Surprised nobody's mentioned Seamus on Meddle. The fake blues with dog howling noises in the mix... um, no thanks.

― The Ghost Club, Saturday, 29 October 2022 11:54 (two years ago)

Can't believe there was all that Smiths talk at the beginning of the thread and no one brought up the title track on Meat is Murder

― Vinnie, Saturday, 29 October 2022 12:26 (two years ago)

There are no bad tracks on "Taking Tiger Mountain", to suggest otherwise is madness.

― Fronted by a bearded Phil Collins (Tom D.), Saturday, 29 October 2022 12:38 (two years ago)

I always thought “Nothing Like You” on Miles Davis’s Sorcerer was the nadir of the One Bad Track. In addition to sucking, it was recorded five years before everything else on the record, with a different lineup, and it’s not even necessary as filler: the album would be 38 minutes without it, a perfectly acceptable length for the time.

― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Saturday, 29 October 2022 12:48 (two years ago)

That is a bizarre one, wonder what the thinking was

― Josefa, Saturday, 29 October 2022 14:34 (two years ago)

"Nothing Like You" was exhumed as a romantic tribute to girlfriend and cover model Cicely Tyson.

there’s no actual skipping, but I don’t really ever play “Relevation”

Well, you skip turning the record over!

There are no bad tracks on "Taking Tiger Mountain"

Sure, but "Put a Straw" is 7/10.

― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 29 October 2022 15:03 (two years ago)

"Meat is Murder" is a great example... I rarely ever listened to the second side of the album because of that track and the length of "Barbarism".

― Kim Kimberly, Saturday, 29 October 2022 18:33 (two years ago)

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