UNIVERSALLY PANNED ALBUMS (THAT REALLY DON'T SUCK)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Are there any albums that are universally panned by critics and fans that really deserve a little more respect than they usually get?  List any that you think belong in this category.  However, you must support your theory.  List at least 5 songs from the album that you think makes it better than it gets credit for.  I’ll start it off with 3 albums:

 

Guns ‘n’ Roses – Chinese Democracy

 

This album faced a huge uphill battle.  First, it took Axl about 250 years to complete it and get it released.   Secondly, he was the only original member of GnR left.  As much as it was anticipated for many years, as soon as it came out it was forgotten.  It pretty much went straight to the cut out bin.  But the album is not that bad.  The guitar playing is pretty dang good.  I could tell you who the guitar player is if I bothered to look it up, but I don’t want to.  Trust me, it’s pretty good.  Listen to these 5 songs if you can and see what you think:

 

• Chinese Democracy

• Better

• If The World

• Sorry

• This I Love

 

Van Halen – III

 

Hey, it’s still the bottom of the barrel as far as VH goes, but it has some redeeming qualities.  It features a couple of solos that really don’t sound much like EVH (Once and A Year To The Day,  the former more so than the latter).  And although Gary Cherone’s style doesn’t really fit VH, he’s still very good. 

 

• One I Want

• Dirty Water Dog

• Once

• Fire In The Hole

• A Year To The Day

 

And finally:

 

Kiss – Music From The Elder

 

I’ve read that Paul Stanley says “The Elder is a good album, just not a good Kiss album”.  Paul, Gene and Bob Ezrin are the dudes that thought this was brilliant at the time.  Why not just stand by your work.  And they really screwed up when they let the record company rearrange the track listing so that a fast song led the album off.  Why not just write a fast song that fit the beginning?  Anyway,  I disagree with him.  I think this is a very good album.  Maybe not as good as Rock And Roll Over or Destroyer, but still good.  The styles of the songs are quite varied compared with quite typical Kiss offerings up to that point.  But the only stinker on the album for me is Odyssey. 

 

• Just A Boy

• Only You

• Dark Light (killer solo by Ace)

• A World Without Heroes

• The Oath

[Scott]

Pick a KISS album, any album!  They always get panned...

[Jon]

Rightfully so, but the Elder is their best album ever period because it's MATURE. 

[Jon]

Toto--anything really?

Maybe not IV. But there's no love from the critics for Toto. Don't know why, they're stellar musicians and know how to write good songs, either mellow or rock.  

[Niels (Mod)]

Ah, Toto!!! Everybody seems to hate "Isolation". I think it's one of the best albums released in the 80's!!

5 good tracks from that one? Easy:

Lion

Angel Don't Cry

Endless

Mr. Friendly

Change Of Heart

[RJhog (Admin)]

Hey, at least Niels follows the highly suggested rules...thanks Niels.

[Niels (Mod)]

I think Odyssey is the best track on The Elder. Good guitar-solo from Paul. Isn't it Paul. Sounds like Paul. Just A Boy and A World Without Heroes are also pretty good. But weren't you just a LITTLE bit disapointed, when it was released in '81? I know, I was!! After Unmasked they needed a very good Rock'n'roll-album, just like Ace wanted at the time.

[RJhog (Admin)]

No disappointment for me at all.  I didn't know at that point that bands could make albums that didn't sound like them.   I thought what they made was what they made, period. 

[Jon]

Queen--Hot Space

Yep, the "disco album". But is it really? Sure, there's some dance tunes on the album, but that doesn't make the album BAD. There's also the typical Queen rock, maybe some missed it since most comes on "side" 2.

Staying Power (really uptempo, yes A DANCE SONG, but really heavy in concert and the speed of Brian May on geetar is awesome)

Dancer (wicker geetar)

Action This Day

Calling All Girls

Los Palabras de Amor

there. ya happy now?

[RJhog (Admin)]

Yes.  Thanks for following the rules after being prompted.  But seriously, I dig Staying Power and Dancer.  I can't really remember the rest, but I'll listen to this again soon.  I think we've discussed it a little before.

[Scott]

Good call on hot space.

[Gordon Williams]

I'll throw in Black Sabbath's final album with Ozzy (back then, anyway)..."Never Say Die".

More diverse than earlier Sabbath albums, it still had some real heavy metal...songs like "Johnny Blade", "Junior'e Eyes", and "Hard Road". Ozzy was at the top of his game, with his vocal work on this release.

There were also a couple of songs that "departed" from the usual Sabbath sound. Drummer Bill Ward was the lead vocalist for "Swinging The Chain"...and even though he's not a great singer, it's still an interesting listen.

And if you listen to "Air Raid", especially the extended ending section, you'll hear a heavy metal band do a damn good impersonation of a jazz band.

And then I'll add UFO's "Convenant". The second release, out of three, from the band after Michael Schenker rejoined. "Walk On Water" was given good reviews...and rightfully so. But "Convenant" was somewhat bashed, even by some UFO fans.

I personally think it is outstanding. MIchael's lead playing on this release was up there with his best works...just excellent phrasing, licks, and feel in his playing. To me, the first five tracks in a row are all great tunes. The second half of the record, while not as good as the first half, is still a good listen.

Just listen to the multi-layered RHYTHM guitars for "Miss The Lights". Or the chunky riff of "Unraveled".  The sing-a-long chorus of "Midnight Train". "Love Is Forever" is no real love song...it rocks!

And finally, it comes with a 7 song bonus disc, recorded live in the USA on the "Walk On Water" tour.