Okay music collectors and critics, this is one you will either love or hate, but it's an interesting view either way. The article was written and contributed by Jessica Kane (see below article).
5 “Ground breaking” Albums That Are Horrendously Overrated
They
might be classics, but that doesn't make them good.
Here are just five albums that are unfairly or excessively lauded in
music circles.
1.
Metallica - The Black Album (1991)
The
Black Album
was a critical and commercial success, so much so that many people
held it up as proof that heavy metal could be profitable and not just
a niche market. But how much do you really remember about this album?
More than two decades later, can you name any song other than Enter
Sandman?
While Sandman is admittedly awesome, the presence of one killer song
shouldn't elevate its album into "incredible" or
"unforgettable" territory. It's with a heavy heart that we
have to declare The
Black Album
to be overrated.
2.
Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)
There
are some good tracks on this album. Smells
Like Teen Spirit
is a classic, of course, and Lithium
is one of the best of the genre. Even Something
in the Way
has spawned thousands of mournful covers from kohl-lined bands in
dimly-lit bars. But once you take the romanticism and mythos of Kurt
Cobain out of it, does Nevermind
really stand up to the test of time? Is it really and truly the
golden standard to which rock albums should all be compared? Really?
3.
Pink Floyd – The Wall (1979)
The
favorite album of pretentious music snobs everywhere, The
Wall
is hailed as one of the most innovate artistic expressions in the
history of mankind. It's too bad that The
Wall
is actually kind of terrible when you get right down to it. Strange,
disjointed and lacking memorable songs beyond Another
Brick in the Wall, Part 2,
it simply isn't a good album by any definition. Even worse, you can't
criticize it without millions of angry fans instantly descending on
you and declaring that you don't "get it." We admit it: We
don't get it.
4.
Eminem - The Slim Shady LP (1999)
Eminem
has done some amazing things for the hip-hop industry. Unfortunately,
these things aren't on The
Slim Shady LP.
As soon as you've heard My
Name Is,
you've heard the best of the album, and everything else is a
collection of gross-out humor and shock-jock threats. He deserves a
little slack since this was his first real debut on a major label,
but it definitely isn't on par with his later albums.
5.
Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982)
It
may seem blasphemous to discredit one of the most popular albums of
all time, but honestly, can you name any song in this collection
besides
Thriller?
Even if you remember fun numbers like Billie
Jean,
you probably forgot clunkers like P.Y.T.
(Pretty Young Thing)
and Baby
Be Mine.
That's what most of this album is: filler. The great songs were very
much in the minority, and what's more, they were sandwiched between
the mediocrity in a way that forced you to eat your broccoli before
you got your desserts. That isn't a great album. It's an overrated
one.
These
are just a few of the most overrated albums of all time. What do you
think? Did we get the worst offenders, or did we miss one?
Jessica
Kane is a music connoisseur and an avid record collector. She
currently writes for SoundStage Direct, her go-to place for all
turntables and vinyl equipment, including VPITurntables.
Visit my other blogs and pages here:
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