your favorite album by (insert artist) is usually considered to be their worst

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For example, maybe your favorite Stones album is "Bridges to Babylon" or your favorite Dylan is "Self Portrait" or your favorite Public Enemy is "Muse Sick N Hour Mess Age"

Gear! (Gear!), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 23:52 (twenty-two years ago)

my favourite PJ Harvey album is "stories from the city..." which seems to be somewhat disliked by her fans...

the surface noise (electricsound), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 23:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Loaded Loaded Loaded!

nate detritus (natedetritus), Wednesday, 21 January 2004 23:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Nick and Jim in agreement shockah.

Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Thursday, 22 January 2004 00:08 (twenty-two years ago)

My favorite Afghan Whigs album is Black Love.

southern lights (southern lights), Thursday, 22 January 2004 00:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Beck's [i]Midnite Vultures[/i] is the first one that comes to mind for me. One of my favorite albums of all-time.

Kareem Estefan (Kareem Estefan), Thursday, 22 January 2004 00:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Midnite Vultures

Let's see, did that work?

Kareem Estefan (Kareem Estefan), Thursday, 22 January 2004 00:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Jawbreaker, "Dear You"

Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Thursday, 22 January 2004 00:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Black Love is considered bad??? By who?? If so, then that album for me as well.

M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 22 January 2004 00:23 (twenty-two years ago)

My favorite album by David Sylvian is usually considered to be his worst.

bahtology, Thursday, 22 January 2004 00:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Which one's that, bathology?

t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Thursday, 22 January 2004 00:50 (twenty-two years ago)

oh sorry. I should have included the title. The collaboration with Fripp called "The First Day" from 93. Most of his fans think that it's too much in the rock idiom.
For me, both musicians really temper each other's bad habits perfectly. Fripp rips, yet refrains from creating mathematical exercises for the legions of eggheads that worship Crimson. Sylvian's compositional skills and vocals are of a high quality as always, but he diverts himself away from the usual melancholy mood that can become slightly grating at times.

bahtology, Thursday, 22 January 2004 01:02 (twenty-two years ago)

"here today, tomorrow, next week" is my favourite Sugarcubes rekkid.

jed_ (jed), Thursday, 22 January 2004 01:04 (twenty-two years ago)

AC/DC's Powerage is easily the least praised of the Bon Scott-era full-lengths. And I worship it.

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 22 January 2004 01:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Scooby Albums

Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 22 January 2004 01:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"Automatic" used to be my fave The Jesus & Mary Chain album. i never listen to them anymore, but i'd probably still go with that one if i had to choose.

but is it really considered to be their worst?

tod (tod), Thursday, 22 January 2004 01:21 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah (I don't know for myself, but I've never seen that not listed as their nadir)

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 22 January 2004 01:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, yeah, and per the other thread, "Kid A" is my fave Radiohead album for sure.

Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Thursday, 22 January 2004 01:27 (twenty-two years ago)

It's probably not considered their worst, but I have loads and loads of time for The Gospel According to the MENINBLACK by the Stranglers.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 22 January 2004 01:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, Why Do Birds Sing? by the Violent Femmes is my favorite (well, after their first album, at least).

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 22 January 2004 01:36 (twenty-two years ago)

PJ Harvey, Is This Desire? - always unfairly dismissed as a failed experiment in electronica, but it's my favourite.

The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Built To Spill, "Keep It Like A Secret"
REM "Life's Rich Paegent"
Husker Du "Candy Apple Grey"
Nick Cave "No More Shall We Part"

nonthings (nonthings), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:08 (twenty-two years ago)

""= italics

nonthings (nonthings), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess every Nick Cave album is somebody's least favorite. My most favorite is "Henry's Dream" which seems to be lots of peoples' least favorite. (Lots of insane people anyway.)

Salmon Pink (Salmon Pink), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:13 (twenty-two years ago)

For me that album's song really work best live -- something about the Briggs production sorta makes it a bit flat.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:14 (twenty-two years ago)

keep it like a secret certainly isn't considered the worst built to spill album. that title goes to either their first or their last.

it's my favorite album of theirs at the moment, i go back and forth between it and perfect from now on.

Kareem Estefan (Kareem Estefan), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I got into Cave kind of late in the game and this was the first full album by him I ever bought. Consequently, it's still my fav even though I've researched the rest. That happens sometimes. Like the first Elvis Costello record I heard was Armed Forces. Since then I've become a huge fan and love other albums (esp Imperial Bedroom, My Aim Is True, King of America) but AF is still tops.

nonthings (nonthings), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Doug Martsch hates that record, never plays song off it anymore and I've heard many fans describe it as a commercial concession type record. But I'm with you on that and Perfect From Now On.

nonthings (nonthings), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned, just read your capsule review of Henry's Dream on allmusic.com. Nice! Don't know if I agree with you on the production, never had a problem w/ it before. Yr right about Straight To You, tho! My favorite Cave cut EVAH!

nonthings (nonthings), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:27 (twenty-two years ago)

*bows* For me the comparison is between Henry's Dream and Live Seeds, and on the latter the HD songs just *explode*.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw him at the Chicago Theater last year, without Blix, and it was still absolutely one of the greatest shows I've seen. For my money, he's the shit, the most riveting performer. The Bad Seeds are tops, too, all tension and release.

nonthings (nonthings), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Ha bloody ha

Matt (Matt), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I second the Built To Spill.

Ozzy O.-Ozzmosis

Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:38 (twenty-two years ago)

R.E.M. always said that Fables of the Reconstruction was their worst, but as it happens it is not only my favorite R.E.M. record but my favorite record of all time.

Carrie Turner (cjt), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:45 (twenty-two years ago)

R.E.M. - Fables Of The Reconstruction
U2 - October and/or Zooropa

Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I could be wrong, but I swear I read an interview in which REM called Life's Rich Paegent their "Bryan Adams record". I don't know if that qualifies that as "usually considered their worst" but it has to come close.

nonthings (nonthings), Thursday, 22 January 2004 02:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Re Life's Rich Paegent, I think they called it their "John Cougar" album, as they used Cougar's then-producer on it. It rocked out more than previous albums, and I remember it being one of my favorites.

Sean (Sean), Thursday, 22 January 2004 03:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Most of the time, my fave Beach Boys record is Smiley Smile, which for a while was considered at least one of their worst. Now people are coming around.

dleone (dleone), Thursday, 22 January 2004 03:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Lots of people don't like Mogwai's Come On Die Young but I love it.

damian_nz (damian_nz), Thursday, 22 January 2004 03:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Most of the time, my fave Beach Boys record is Smiley Smile

Woo! My favorite for years as well. :-)

Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 22 January 2004 03:19 (twenty-two years ago)

What about The Pixies Trompe le Monde? I played that to death when it came out. I know a lot of people who don't like however.

tipustiger, Thursday, 22 January 2004 05:05 (twenty-two years ago)

like "it"...

tipustiger, Thursday, 22 January 2004 05:05 (twenty-two years ago)


Bowie, OUTSIDE.

Usta be, it took him entire albums/years, to recombine disparate stuff for subgnres here, he does it about every other song.
Of course, with horrid titular opening song and most of the ‘gothic hypercycle’ hoohaw skipped over. (Actually, I love the "I am a broken man" segue.)

"Hallo Spaceboy" is both sui generis and familiar on first listen. Although its only forebear is "Third Uncle," whose design it only follows on the most formalistic fashion.

"Heart’s Filthy Lesson" is sort of like a dance song, except there’s no low end to speak of, and I can’t think of many singles that use whole-tone guitar riffs as central hook.

What hell genre is "Through These Architect’s Eyes"? Big Bonham beat Ayn Rand show tune?

"I’m Deranged" was the only time jungle and Scott Walker and panic attacks needed to be in the same room.

The sole two look-backs are simply delicious: "I Have Not Been to Oxford Town" is like po-mo Turtles; "Strangers When We Meet" is almost "heroes" but funnier and sweeter.

Etc.

Ian Grey (Ian_G), Thursday, 22 January 2004 06:27 (twenty-two years ago)

my favorite sonic youth is Experimental Jet Set Trash And No Star (I Hope I Got That Right).
From What I Hear Not Alot Of People Like That One

Dude (The Yellow Dart), Thursday, 22 January 2004 06:35 (twenty-two years ago)

shot of love

aleksandr supertramp (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 22 January 2004 06:43 (twenty-two years ago)

A couple more:

The Kinks - Give The People What They Want
Led Zeppelin - In Through The Out Door

Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 22 January 2004 06:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Lifes Rich Pagaent is great. I certainly prefer the brighter production on it to Murmur and their other early stuff. Plus it has "Fall on Me"! Who exactly thinks this album is the worst?

Mike Ouderkirk (Mike Ouderkirk), Thursday, 22 January 2004 07:14 (twenty-two years ago)

The Clash's Sandinista!

Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 22 January 2004 08:01 (twenty-two years ago)

OMG, so there ARE other people whose favourite Whigs album is Black Love! I knew I couldn't be the only one...

In my experience it's not so much that other Afghan Whigs fans think that album is bad, just that they always claim Gentlemen is better.

Flyboy (Flyboy), Thursday, 22 January 2004 09:56 (twenty-two years ago)

The Jesus Lizard's 'Shot', about which I've appealed for people who agree with me it's their best record. Never found anyone.

DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Thursday, 22 January 2004 10:00 (twenty-two years ago)

really this board is the only place where i haven't had to explain why my favorite jay-z record is vol. 2

HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Saturday, 26 December 2015 21:44 (ten years ago)

Stereolab - cobra and phases group play voltage in the milky night (or whatever it's called)

lute bro (brimstead), Saturday, 26 December 2015 22:26 (ten years ago)

"Drama" by Yes

oh this is also my favorite yes album but who in the world considers it their worst

HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Saturday, 26 December 2015 22:36 (ten years ago)

I guess "heaven and earth" hadnt been released yet

frogbs, Saturday, 26 December 2015 22:56 (ten years ago)

I really love Moby's Animal Rights and don't care much for Play or 18.

Tom Violence, Sunday, 27 December 2015 03:11 (ten years ago)

Missy Elliott "The Cookbook" - at least it's the one I've listened to the most out of the five I own.

o. nate, Sunday, 27 December 2015 03:11 (ten years ago)

Monster is my favorite REM album.

pplains, Sunday, 27 December 2015 03:39 (ten years ago)

some days Interpol's self-titled is my fave of theirs, it's so compellingly desperate sounding to me

the naive cockney chorus (Simon H.), Sunday, 27 December 2015 04:14 (ten years ago)

Cold Lake was the first Celtic Frost album I heard.

earlnash, Sunday, 27 December 2015 06:34 (ten years ago)

Chuck by Sum 41

Pentenema Karten, Sunday, 27 December 2015 07:11 (ten years ago)

I like how 'Life's Rich Pageant' was misspelled four separate times in this thread and never spelled correctly

Josefa, Sunday, 27 December 2015 09:30 (ten years ago)

really this board is the only place where i haven't had to explain why my favorite jay-z record is vol. 2

― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Saturday, 26 December 2015 21:44 (Yesterday) Permalink

Right, but surely not even idiots rank this below the majority of his post-Black Album efforts.

Tim F, Sunday, 27 December 2015 12:43 (ten years ago)

Missy Elliott "The Cookbook" - at least it's the one I've listened to the most out of the five I own.

― o. nate, Sunday, 27 December 2015 03:11 Bookmark

disgusting

r|t|c, Sunday, 27 December 2015 13:16 (ten years ago)

Blur - Think Tank

niels, Sunday, 27 December 2015 13:24 (ten years ago)

Antenna is my favourite Cave-In album

Kat?ßas?? (ultros ultros-ghali), Sunday, 27 December 2015 14:14 (ten years ago)

REM - Automatic For The People

― donut bitch (donut), Friday, 23 January 2004 05:46 (11 years ago)

???

The Top is continually written off as The Cure's worst album by rock critics who don't do their homework and just repeat what others said before them. Have they actually listened to that album? To me it's Robert Smith at his purest, craziest, and most creative. Every song is amazing and completely different from the other. They perfectly combine all the different styles The Cure had played with up to then as well as exploring new ones like Eastern sounds and heavier rock. Terribly underrated and definitely one of my all-time favorites.

― Seb, Friday, 23 January 2004 19:59 (11 years ago)

I definitely used to see a lot of that in rock magazines, not just about The Top, but just way more third hand opinions in general. But I was shocked how good The Top was after hearing so much shit about it. Not my favourite but I wish he done more albums like that.

Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 27 December 2015 14:14 (ten years ago)

A Certain Ratio - I'd Like To See You Again (the title track's also my fave song by them)
not a huge fan of Too Each but like Sextet and Graveyard... a lot
(people might rate later one's even lower but of the first 4 my fave's usually considered the worst)

Paul, Sunday, 27 December 2015 15:41 (ten years ago)

The Top was soooo disappointing at the time, except for "Birdmadgirl" possibly my fave Cure song of all time

Paul, Sunday, 27 December 2015 15:43 (ten years ago)

Right, but surely not even idiots rank this below the majority of his post-Black Album efforts.

listen i had a very long argument with someone at a bar once about how vol. 1 is NOT the worst jay record and american gangster is garbage and guy was not having it

HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Sunday, 27 December 2015 15:47 (ten years ago)

anyway monster is also my favorite r.e.m. album. it's so gay

HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Sunday, 27 December 2015 15:48 (ten years ago)

It's quite possibly my favourite of their major label albums. I don't rank it over most of the IRS albums.

EveningStar (Sund4r), Sunday, 27 December 2015 15:59 (ten years ago)

My favourite Pink Floyd album is The Final Cut.

schlep and back trio (anagram), Sunday, 27 December 2015 17:47 (ten years ago)

Roger I thought your schedule was full

flappy bird, Sunday, 27 December 2015 17:55 (ten years ago)

the final cut used to be my favorite floyd record, especially the reissue that spliced in "when the tigers broke free"

now my favorite floyd record is prob meddle

HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Sunday, 27 December 2015 18:00 (ten years ago)

my favorite van morrison album is "the original bang sessions, vol. 2". does that count?

new zingland (rushomancy), Sunday, 27 December 2015 23:05 (ten years ago)

out of time is my favourite rem and that's considered a bit so-so by most people, but I love nearly every moment

canoon fooder (dog latin), Monday, 28 December 2015 00:43 (ten years ago)

I like how 'Life's Rich Pageant' was misspelled four separate times in this thread and never spelled correctly

And still not spelled correctly because the apostrophe was intentionally omitted from Lifes Rich Pageant because Buck and Stipe agreed that "there never has been a good rock album with an apostrophe in the title"
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifes_Rich_Pageant

Elvis Telecom, Monday, 28 December 2015 01:01 (ten years ago)

Anyway, my favorite Love And Rockets album is Hot Trip To Heaven. I may have been the only person who bought it and kept it.

Elvis Telecom, Monday, 28 December 2015 01:48 (ten years ago)

Middle of Nowhere is usually listed as one of the worst Orbital albums, if not the worst. I've seen a couple people defend it here - I think it's incredible.

The Rising Tide is my favorite Sunny Day Real Estate but I wouldn't say it's a lot better than the others

Vinnie, Monday, 28 December 2015 04:01 (ten years ago)

All Shook Down is my favorite Replacements album, and it's barely even a Replacements album (Westerberg plus a cast of thousands).

Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Monday, 28 December 2015 04:07 (ten years ago)

My fave yo la tengo album is president yo la tengo. I have no clue how people rate it but i don't think it is widely acclaimed by critics.

it's the distortion, stupid! (alex in mainhattan), Monday, 28 December 2015 08:21 (ten years ago)

Mastodon's Once More 'Round The Sun is the only album of them I like and I think it's regarded as their worst.

Siegbran, Monday, 28 December 2015 09:42 (ten years ago)

My favourite Wild Beasts album is still Limbo Panto. It's definitely their least critically acclaimed album and the band seem to have almost disowned it. Not sure what other fans would say though.

Kitchen Person, Monday, 28 December 2015 10:36 (ten years ago)

drukqs might be my favorite aphex twin album

Mr. Snrub, Monday, 28 December 2015 11:06 (ten years ago)

My favorite Scritti Politti album is Provision.

henry s, Monday, 28 December 2015 12:59 (ten years ago)

sometimes provision is my favorite too

HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Monday, 28 December 2015 15:05 (ten years ago)

The only nomination I can think of is Wu-Tang Clan's Iron Flag, with the caveat that I'm not sure what people think of (and haven't listened to) their post-8 Diagrams albums.

Tim F, Monday, 28 December 2015 15:18 (ten years ago)

Mastodon's Once More 'Round The Sun is the only album of them I like and I think it's regarded as their worst.

it's considerably better than the hunter so i can see this

HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Monday, 28 December 2015 15:28 (ten years ago)

Sun Kil Moon's Admiral Fell Promises would have been the obvious answer if this were still 2010.

Evan, Monday, 28 December 2015 15:50 (ten years ago)

that album is so good. i revisited it a few months ago and it's so singular and stark and the songs are all so lovely and digressive

HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Monday, 28 December 2015 15:56 (ten years ago)

It's really his most tasteful and sophisticated release imo.

Evan, Monday, 28 December 2015 17:10 (ten years ago)

I'll go with Mag Earwhig! here. Fun question.

campreverb, Thursday, 31 December 2015 15:11 (ten years ago)

The Spaghetti Incident

Hello Nasty is my favorite Beasties record, but I don't think it's considered their worst

Comprehensive Nuclear Suggest-Ban Treaty (benbbag), Thursday, 31 December 2015 15:52 (ten years ago)

I'll go with Mag Earwhig! here. Fun question.

― campreverb, Thursday, December 31, 2015 10:11 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I think popular opinion still regards this album as better than many of those that followed. It's also hard to know which "era" to associate it with, if you're using that to specify.

Evan, Thursday, 31 December 2015 16:42 (ten years ago)

They're both good but I greatly prefer the second Comus album to the first.

Some Pizza Grudge From Twenty Years Ago (Old Lunch), Thursday, 31 December 2015 16:53 (ten years ago)

Also, Mag Earwhig! is the best GBV album so naturally you favor it.

Some Pizza Grudge From Twenty Years Ago (Old Lunch), Thursday, 31 December 2015 16:54 (ten years ago)

I'm not sure how highly they're rated generally speaking, but I feel strongly that Zero 7 has gotten better with every album. I do know, at least, that I'm in a distinct minority in thinking that their last album was their best.

Some Pizza Grudge From Twenty Years Ago (Old Lunch), Thursday, 31 December 2015 17:00 (ten years ago)

I think you go any GBV lineup that's not 'classic' and you are off the reservation a bit, which is why every list I have seen always has 'Bee Thousand' or 'Alien Lanes' as the best.

I do kind of admire Dylan's 'Self-Portrait' for how terrible it is.

campreverb, Thursday, 31 December 2015 17:11 (ten years ago)

Ohhhh, I just thought of one that should garner some hate mail: while the latter is inarguably a good album with some classic tracks, it's possible that I prefer Saturnz Return to Timeless. And yes, I am referring to both discs (I've listened to 'Mother' in its entirety and enjoyed it numerous times).

Beef Wets (Old Lunch), Thursday, 7 January 2016 22:19 (ten years ago)

really this board is the only place where i haven't had to explain why my favorite jay-z record is vol. 2

― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Saturday, 26 December 2015 21:44 (Yesterday) Permalink

Right, but surely not even idiots rank this below the majority of his post-Black Album efforts.

― Tim F, Sunday, December 27, 2015

I'm continually amazed by how ignorant the twentysomethings are to albums Jay recorded The Blueprint.

definitely used to see a lot of that in rock magazines, not just about The Top, but just way more third hand opinions in general. But I was shocked how good The Top was after hearing so much shit about it. Not my favourite but I wish he done more albums like that.

― Robert Adam Gilmour,

When I bought the album a few years ago, my first listen since early '91, I was amazed by the one-two-three punch of "Shake Dog Shake," "Birdman Girl," and "Wailing Wall."

The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 7 January 2016 22:26 (ten years ago)


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