Overrated Critically Acclaimed Albums

[Tree0404]

Dunno if I think the albums are dated or what, but I find these critically acclaimed albums overrated.

The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds - I know Brando's gonna shit a brick.....A ton of critics have this in their top 5 albums of all time....I'm not sure why...its pretty boring and the lyrics are nothing too great. Its very ahead of its time with the instrumentation.....but its still boring.

Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA - The Boss's pop-rock money maker. There are still some good 3 minute radio friendly rock songs like Darlington County and Workin' on the Highway (actually, they all are about 3 minutes and radio ready). Most critics have Born to Run higher and they're absolutely right too, but many hail this as his 2nd best album. I have it at 5. (behind Born to Run, Darkness, The Rising, Wild & Innocent)

The Beatles - Rubber Soul - Abbey Road's better, Revolver's better. Sgt. Pepper's is kind of overrated too, but not as much as this one.

Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde - Most DO have "Highway 61 Revisited" higher, but some don't. I'm not sure why. I'd take that or "Bringing it All Back Home" over this one. "Rainy Day Women 12 & 35" is not a good song. It did clearly inspire Springsteen to rip off the cover for his Darkness on the Edge of Town album, though.

Van Morrison - Moondance - Yeah, this one had some hits and the title track is a classic, but "His Band & Street Choir" and his vastly underrated "Astral Weeks" are better.

[killuminati003]

I agree with you on the The Beatles and Beach Boys albums you mentioned, but not on Van the Man's or Dylan's. And honestly, I think that The Beatles are a bit overrated as a band but thats just my opinion and it would seem I'm in the minority.

I've never listened to the Springsteen album as an album, if that makes sense...

[Homyrrh]

Yeah for Dylan, at the most Blonde plays second-fiddle (like all his other albums) to Blood on the Tracks...

[Le_Big_Mac]

Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde
The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (more just out of personal taste)
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
John Lennon - Imagine
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

Almost all of these include at least one great song and all are good, but not that good.

[Jon Lyrik]

What's Going On is canonical simply due to the BASSLINES. James Jamerson was the best electric bassist around until Pastorius.

[Ex-Hendrix]

Dark Side is one of the most overrated albums of all time, easily. Good album, don't get me wrong, but it's probably not even the best thing that PINK FLOYD did, and far from the best album of all time that some people make it out to be. Personally, I'd take Wish You Were Here, The Wall, and Piper at the Gates of Dawn before this in the Floyd catalogue. Maybe even Animals.

Once again, not saying it's a bad album, but the people who call it one of the best of all time without even mentioning the other, arguably superior entries in Floyd's catalogue is bewildering to me.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

I won't give you shit for Pet Sounds, although I fail to understand your opinion. I'm more shocked that anyone would include Moondance and overrated in the same breath. Plus, I would hardly call Astral Weeks underrated, since most people consider it to be his masterpiece.

[fixedMind]

Dark Side is one of the most overrated albums of all time, easily. Good album, don't get me wrong, but it's probably not even the best thing that PINK FLOYD did, and far from the best album of all time that some people make it out to be. Personally, I'd take Wish You Were Here, The Wall, and Piper at the Gates of Dawn before this in the Floyd catalogue. Maybe even Animals.

Once again, not saying it's a bad album, but the people who call it one of the best of all time without even mentioning the other, arguably superior entries in Floyd's catalogue is bewildering to me.

I have to disagree with you on this. Dark Side of the Moon is an album of staggering genious, the likes of which come few and far between. I do hold Wish You Were here to be my favorite Pink Floyd album, even though Dark Side has been adopted as Pink Floyd's definetive work. I think if the album hadn't been so publicized for the last 40 years, then the issue of overrated wouldnt exist.
I mean, what does overrated really mean anyway?
That an extraordinary amount of people have listened to something, and that the vast majority enjoyed it? Sure some people tend to hyperbole, but the sentiment of appreciating something vibrant and beatiful still remains.

[detective mills]

The most overrated album ever is Nirvana's Nevermind. Sure it's a good cd but it is given way too much credit for completely changing rock.

[Darth Kenshin]

What's Going On is canonical simply due to the BASSLINES. James Jamerson was the best electric bassist around until Pastorius.

Jamerson is the best bassist, period.

[killuminati003]

The most overrated album ever is Nirvana's Nevermind. Sure it's a good cd but it is given way too much credit for completely changing rock.

I respectfully disagree...

[huBelial]

Beatles hater...

[Sigur509]

Anything by Metallica.

[Ayestrain]

The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

Have a copy of it, liked it okay, but it's a whole new level of critically overrated nerd "rock".

[Tree0404]

The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

Have a copy of it, liked it okay, but it's a whole new level of critically overrated nerd "rock".


Agreed - that goes for a lot "Pitchfork Artists" as well - Spoon, Tapes N Tapes, Andrew Bird, much of Wilco's catalogue, Vampire Weekend, etc. etc. etc.

[Tayzlor]

All those bands are lauded all around the internet--not just Pitchfork. Your tag was meant pejoratively, sure, but one of the biggest illusions on the internet is that Pitchfork is this highly elitist e-zine with its head held high. There needs to be more Pitchfork supporters, really, as they know their shit and are incredibly intelligent writers. I'm aware of the games forum members (I'm referring to no one in particular) play with Pitchfork, co-opt it as something its not, calling it pretentious to prove that you are in no way not--it's kinda silly but I suppose in its way it's a compliment that Pitchfork has advanced such that it has come to represent many things for many different people, be they negative or positive.

I think it just makes a lot of hipsters uneasy that a lot of them are culling music from the same source. So, to compensate for their now perceived decreased coolness they attack the source, their former workhorse. Sample scenario: "Hey have you guys heard this Times New Viking album?" "Somebody's reading Pitchfork..."

Without them, I'd never have heard of my 2008 #1 (El Guincho - "Alegranza!").

When it comes to their Best New Music tag, it's astonishing how little they're off (OK, I don't see the Cut Copy or the High Places but that's only two).

I guess what I'm really trying to say is that Tapes 'n Tapes reek with or without Pitchfork.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

All those bands are lauded all around the internet--not just Pitchfork. Your tag was meant pejoratively, sure, but one of the biggest illusions on the internet is that Pitchfork is this highly elitist e-zine with its head held high. There needs to be more Pitchfork supporters, really, as they know their shit and are incredibly intelligent writers. I'm aware of the games forum members (I'm referring to no one in particular) play with Pitchfork, co-opt it as something its not, calling it pretentious to prove that you are in no way not--it's kinda silly but I suppose in its way it's a compliment that Pitchfork has advanced such that it has come to represent many things for many different people, be they negative or positive.

Some of them are very intelligent and skilled writers. Quite a few of the people they have working there are unbearably snobby. I won't say pretentious, because I've come to hate that word over time, but some of them do have a very snobby and elitist attitude. It's hard to read any of their Radiohead reviews without personally wanting to stab the person reviewing them, and you can almost immediately tell which albums they will dismiss and which ones they'll go apeshit for because they have a tedency to constantly bash certain artists while relentlessly lauding others.

But, I only know this because, like you said, some of the writers there know their shit and are worth reading.

[Tayzlor]

Bah! I forgot to mention their "Kid A" review! That's thee main exception and was written at the very beginning.

[therealjohng]

Anything by Metallica.


Are any of their albums acclaimed at all? Maybe Master of Puppets. Maybe.

[Trail_Blazer]

Metallica - Metallica (Black Album) was critically acclaimed I believe. It's also pretty over-rated for the most part, though I really enjoy it anyway.

[The Heart Collector]

Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde - Most DO have "Highway 61 Revisited" higher, but some don't. I'm not sure why. I'd take that or "Bringing it All Back Home" over this one. "Rainy Day Women 12 & 35" is not a good song. It did clearly inspire Springsteen to rip off the cover for his Darkness on the Edge of Town album, though..

greatest album ever made.

sorry, but this cannot be overrated considering dylan's best songs (visions of johanna / sad eyed lady of the lowlands) are in it.

[therealjohng]

Metallica - Metallica (Black Album) was critically acclaimed I believe. It's also pretty over-rated for the most part, though I really enjoy it anyway.


I'd say that album is more hated than anything.

[notchreturns]

The Joshua Tree

[HannibalGuy]

I'd say that album is more hated than anything.
It's 50/50 I'd say. You've got people who like it, then you got the cliched crys of "sell out" wah wah wah

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Nick Drake - Pink Moon

You are so outrageously wrong it would be hysterical if it wasn't so incorrect.

Anyway, the more I think about it, Moondance is far better than Astral Weeks. Moondance is more structured and doesn't go on and on the way Astral Weeks does. Both are solid albums.

[a7xfan]

the black parade-my chemical romance

decent album, insanely overrated, '3 cheers for sweet revenge' was far superior

also x&y by coldplay, and 'in rainbows' by radioshit, sorry...head

[fixedMind]

'in rainbows' by radioshit, sorry...head

wow, your so clever. :rolleyes:

Seriously, I started to take offence, as Radiohead is one of my favorite bands.
Then I remembered, everybody has their own opinion.

I chuckle at the idea that someone might think avenged sevenfold are better musicians than Radiohead.

[killuminati003]

Not really in the same genre as most of the albums listed here, but still a critically acclaimed album that I think is overrated-

The Love Below (Andre 3000's half of Speakerboxxx/The Love Below)

Worst thing by Outkast (Big Boi's half was amazing tho...) I don't understand why people like it so much. Yeah, he tried something new, but I didn't like it...

[Ayestrain]

the black parade-my chemical romance

decent album, insanely overrated, '3 cheers for sweet revenge' was far superior



My Chemical Romance's "The Black Parade"? Was that album or band ever rated anything by anyone, anywhere?

[redfiretruck]

Kelly Clarkson's "My December" (love her, hated that album) and basically anything by the Beatles (the most overrated band in history). Oh, and the Camp Rock soundtrack.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

You are so outrageously wrong it would be hysterical if it wasn't so incorrect.

Anyway, the more I think about it, Moondance is far better than Astral Weeks. Moondance is more structured and doesn't go on and on the way Astral Weeks does. Both are solid albums.

I went back and listened to Astral Weeks and now I reverse my decision. Both are absolutely perfect. Van Morrison is not mortal.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

wow, your so clever. :rolleyes:

Seriously, I started to take offence, as Radiohead is one of my favorite bands.
Then I remembered, everybody has their own opinion.

I chuckle at the idea that someone might think avenged sevenfold are better musicians than Radiohead.

I listen to Radiohead and even I didn't like that album.

[Rated R]

Kelly Clarkson's "My December" (love her, hated that album) and basically anything by the Beatles (the most overrated band in history). Oh, and the Camp Rock soundtrack.

Beatles eh? I don't get this criticism. Have you listened to their albums fully or just a few songs here and there? I just want to get a gauge of how much of their work you've listened to.

I hate the term overrated...it's pointless

[BubbaStrangelove]

I hate the term overrated...it's pointless



Well, it's more empowering than saying, "This is something everyone except me likes."

Personally, I lean toward, "Everyone's opinions are wrong, because they like this and I don't." <- That one really makes my johnson swell.

[Lost in Space]

The most overrated album ever is Nirvana's Nevermind. Sure it's a good cd but it is given way too much credit for completely changing rock.

/agree
/nod

[Rated R]

Well, it's more empowering than saying, "This is something everyone except me likes."

Personally, I lean toward, "Everyone's opinions are wrong, because they like this and I don't." <- That one really makes my johnson swell.

I never thought of it that way really. I just make blind over-arching statements and disregard differing opinions. If I don't think they exist then I'm always right. Talk about swelling.

[hoojib127]

Exile on Main Street is definitely overrated by today's standards, but there are a couple Stones albums that are even more overrated than that one: Some Girls and Tattoo You (people do realize the latter is largely made up of previous album rejects, right?).

I agree Dark Side of the Moon really is that good (though I think I still prefer Piper at the Gates of Dawn and Meddle), and was arguably the last 'home run' album Pink Floyd made; then Roger Waters became increasingly dictatorial on all subsequent works. :(

No way is Rubber Soul overrated. It's generally regarded as rock's first 'all killer, no filler' album. If any Beatles album would be regarded as overrated (though none really could, IMO), it would have to be Sgt. Pepper. I think that album's main flaw is that it's too Paul-heavy...and most of his songs for the album weren't as ambitious or as sophisticated as John's or even George's; they sounded more like Revolver castoffs. The album would've been much better had it kept both "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" on it (in the place of "Getting Better" and "Lovely Rita") and George's trippy "Only a Northern Song" instead of "She's Leaving Home."

[QUENTIN]

Blonde on Blonde, Dark Side of The Moon, Astral Weeks, Rubber Soul, and Nevermind are all among the top 20 albums of all-time. That is all.

[bankholdup]

.

[Buck Turgidson]

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (more just out of personal taste)
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

I will find you.

I will tranquilize you.

I will tie your shoes together.

I will place your hand in a bowl of warm water.

I will pop a balloon next to your ear.

It's the least that you deserve.


Big ups to Tree for whizzing on Pet Sounds, but he's wrong about Moondance (although he's right to have such a high opinion of His Band And Choir, which is Moondance's equal.)

Here's one for you: Thriller.

I know it was a singles machine, but it's always gotten effusive praise from Rock critics (much of which owes to the fully justified veneration with which The Q is viewed), but I think, at this late date, it's okay to admit it: that record's a tub of offal.

[Sigur509]

If X&Y is considered critically acclaimed, then I would nominate it. Speed of Sound, Fix You, Talk, and the hidden track are great, but as a whole and compared of the other three albums they have out, its overrated. They could have done a lot better.

Im confusing overrated and 'not that good' again.

[Le_Big_Mac]

I will find you.

I will tranquilize you.

I will tie your shoes together.

I will place your hand in a bowl of warm water.

I will pop a balloon next to your ear.

It's the least that you deserve.

Hey, hey, I never said Kind of Blue was a lousy album. As much as I'd like to think the album lives up to its hype, jazz just isn't my thing. And What's Going On, granted the title track is one of the greatest songs of all time, I probably owe another listen.

[Buck Turgidson]

Before I heard Kind of Blue, Jazz wasn't my thing, either.

[Jon Lyrik]

Kind of Blue IS overrated, not because it isn't great, but because it's not even one of Davis' top five albums.

And yes, What's Going On has some of the best James Jamerson basslines ever. That alone would make it not overrated.

[Jon Lyrik]

Oh, and Moondance is definitely overrated. Let's face it, the sax solo on the title track just ruins it.

Thriller is only overrated when compared to Off The Wall.

[Captain Goliath]

I'll probably get flamed to oblivion for my first two, but here goes:

Radiohead - In Rainbows
Sure, its an okay album. But the fact that it was released for free on the internet does not automatically make it a great album, or at least not th album everyone makes it out to be. When I listened to it, the tracks were somewhat bland and kinda just blended into each other. It also doesn't help that Radiohead has a huge cult-like fanbase. I have a theory that they could put their name on a turd and millions of people would buy it. Anyway, back on track, once you see past the gimmick of this album, I really don't think its that great. At least not as good as 'OK Computer'.

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
When it comes to overrated albums, I find this one to be at the top of the list. Reccomended to me by a friend, who told me it would change the way I think of music. I don't know if it was the high expectations I had, but in no way did it change the way I listen to music in any way. To me, it just sounds like your generic Alt-country band. Sure, the lyrics are above-average and the vocals are unique, but in no way is this album deserving of the constant praise it gets from, well, just about everyone.

Nirvana - Nevermind
Kinda self-explanatory. Would in no way be as popular as it is today had Kurt Cobain not eaten a bullet 15-ish years ago. Just kinda your typical grungy alt-rock band. I remeber reading somewhere that before Cobain's suicide, Pearl Jam were bigger than Nirvana. Can't say whether I know its true or not.

[Jon Lyrik]

Nirvana was enormous at the time, and yes, influential with or without Cobain's death.

[outsyder]

Nearing Cobain's death, Pearl Jam was bigger. This was mainly because Kurt stopped touring due to the medical concerns brought forth by his heroin addiction, and In Utero was a less radio friendly effort on the part of the band that turned off a lot of casual fans, who instead turned to the more arena-friendly Pearl Jam who hadn't changed much since Ten was released.

So if bigger is defined by commercial popularity, then yes, Pearl Jam was bigger. But for a band that only released three albums and were only on a label for 5 years, Nirvana has certainly had a bigger impact.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Eric Clapton- Slowhand
I don't like Clapton's solo stuff anyway but that album just bores the shit out of me.

The Beatles- Let it Be
Weakest album by far. No sense of comradery within the band since they were about to break up anyway.

The Police- Synchronicity
I don't love The Police but they've done much better than this.

Arcade Fire- Funeral
I like Neon Bible a lot better.

Bob Dylan- Desire
Sort of where Dylan started his weak phase.

[Captain Goliath]

Nearing Cobain's death, Pearl Jam was bigger. This was mainly because Kurt stopped touring due to the medical concerns brought forth by his heroin addiction, and In Utero was a less radio friendly effort on the part of the band that turned off a lot of casual fans, who instead turned to the more arena-friendly Pearl Jam who hadn't changed much since Ten was released.

So if bigger is defined by commercial popularity, then yes, Pearl Jam was bigger. But for a band that only released three albums and were only on a label for 5 years, Nirvana has certainly had a bigger impact.

I forgot to add myself that I do thoroughly enjoy "In Utero", and feel that it definately doesn't get the praise it deserves. I don't know, "Nevermind" was just 'meh' for me. Really just don't see whats so "influential" about it, tbh. Eh, we all have our opinions, I guess. But I do agree with you about Nirvana having an overall bigger impact on music. So yes, although I do have respect for Cobain/Nirvana, I still find them somewhat overrated.

[bankholdup]

Nearing Cobain's death, Pearl Jam was bigger. This was mainly because Kurt stopped touring due to the medical concerns brought forth by his heroin addiction, and In Utero was a less radio friendly effort on the part of the band that turned off a lot of casual fans, who instead turned to the more arena-friendly Pearl Jam who hadn't changed much since Ten was released.


To be fair, Cobain also had serious back problems.

[outsyder]

Stomach, although he was never off heroin long enough for doctors to give an accurate prognosis.

[bankholdup]

Stomach, although he was never off heroin long enough for doctors to give an accurate prognosis.

Ah, that's right, stomach. And I call myself a fan...

[Rated R]

I forgot to add myself that I do thoroughly enjoy "In Utero", and feel that it definately doesn't get the praise it deserves. I don't know, "Nevermind" was just 'meh' for me. Really just don't see whats so "influential" about it, tbh. Eh, we all have our opinions, I guess. But I do agree with you about Nirvana having an overall bigger impact on music. So yes, although I do have respect for Cobain/Nirvana, I still find them somewhat overrated.

I don't know how you can say you "don't see what's so influential about it". Nevermind was a shock to the rock system. It's a well crafted and well produced album as well as having some very well written lyrics and melodies. While simplistic it hit the right chord in a lot of disenchanted youth at the time and after. It was raw. That's why it was influential, and I thought this was obvious. I get you think it's overrated, and I hate to argue semantics but not liking it and saying you don't see what's influential about it are two different things. The influence it had on pop and rock music/culture is obvious whether you like the album or not.

And to say it wouldn't be as influential if it were released today or if Cobain hadn't died is asinine. It already had a huge impact on rock music at the time of it's release. I prefer In Utero as well, but there is no denying that Nevermind is what made Nirvana.

[ElderPredator]

Every single album ever released by "The Beatles". They're the most overrated band of all-time and John Lennon's music was nothing special in my opinion.

[Rated R]

Every single album ever released by "The Beatles". They're the most overrated band of all-time and John Lennon's music was nothing special in my opinion.

Can you elaborate as to why? I'm not trying to be a dick, I'm just curious. I recognize The Beatles aren't going to be everyone's fave (in fact they're nowhere near my top). What is it about their music that doesn't hit you in the way it hits others?

They're hit and miss with me by the way.