10 rock albums that were trashed by the artists who made them

As a music enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the rich tapestry of melodies and lyrics, I must say that the phenomenon of artists disavowing their own work is both intriguing and amusing. It’s like watching a chef dismiss their signature dish or an author denouncing their bestselling novel.

We are our own harshest critics. It’s an old adage because it’s true. Nobody is going to see the flaws in a piece of art more quickly than the person who made it. Even if said piece of art is beloved by fans across the world.

Artists like rock stars often find themselves fielding questions about their past works, looking back on them with hindsight. They’re frequently put on the spot, having microphones shoved in their faces to discuss each of their albums (provided, of course, they remain relevant). It can be amusingly ironic when an artist openly criticizes or dismisses their own creative output.

The twisted enjoyment that spawned this compilation is for those who share the sentiment, as well as the loyal fans who unwaveringly appreciate these albums despite any comments made by their artists. Enjoy!

15 Big Ones – The Beach Boys

By 1976, Brian Wilson was in a difficult phase of his life. Known for his role as the mastermind behind The Beach Boys, he had stepped away from the limelight due to personal issues. However, during this time, his cousin and bandmate, Mike Love, persuaded him to participate in recording their album titled 15 Big Ones. Initially, the plan was to record only oldies, but as the recording progressed, Love decided to incorporate new originals into the mix. The rest of the band members were reluctantly brought on board with this change.

Wilson was extremely upset. He expressed to Oui Magazine that he felt “displeased” with Love for imposing his will on the band and producing a poor album as a result. “I wasn’t fond of the idea at first, but he essentially compelled us to do it his way,” the American maestro confessed.

One by One – Foo Fighters

The Foo Fighters boast a number of timeless hits and are widely recognized as America’s quintessential Rock Band for Dads. A significant part of their Dad Rock style can be attributed to their lead vocalist and composer, Dave Grohl, who consistently radiates positive energy. However, it is worth noting that Grohl has expressed dissatisfaction with the band’s 2002 album titled One by One.

In 2005, during an interview with Rolling Stone, the iconic lead singer expressed his dissatisfaction with the album. He stated that the recording process was hurried, leading to a final product that didn’t meet the Foo Fighters’ previously established high standards up until then. Grohl admitted, “I was quite disappointed with myself about the last record.” He further mentioned that four songs were decent, but he never played the other seven tracks again in his career. That sounds painful.

Time Fades Away – Neil Young

In the realm of folk-rock, Neil Young’s “Ditch” series is highly revered. This Canadian artist created some remarkable and complex music following his commercial success in 1972. One piece of this trilogy is Time Fades Away, but it’s not an album Young holds in high regard. In fact, he believes it to be his least impressive work.

In 1987, he shared with reporter Dave Ferrin that the record he had produced was, in his opinion, the worst one he had ever created. He explained that the band wasn’t right for him, making the tour a discomfort. He felt more like a manufactured product than an artist, and overall, he considered it a big joke. However, Young acknowledged that the live album serves as a strikingly truthful representation of his state during that specific stage in his career, which was somewhat reassuring.

Be Here Now – Oasis

In the mid-90s, Oasis ruled supreme. They were the most popular band in Britain and even broke through to the US market with songs like “Wonderwall” and “Some Might Say.” However, their album “Be Here Now” (1997) marked a significant change for Oasis.

To set the record straight, I quite enjoy the book “Be Here Now“. Despite being a complete chaos, it has a certain endearing quality and has developed a devoted following in recent times. However, Noel Gallagher, the lead songwriter and guitarist of the band, is not among its devotees. He plainly stated to NME that the songs are excessively long and their lyrics are poor. Additionally, he believed his heavy drug use during recording resulted in solos reminiscent of “Wayne’s World“.

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles

I’ll give you a bit of background first. The album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (released in 1967) was a massive success for the Beatles, and it was especially significant for Paul McCartney, who played a key role in shaping its content. To this very day, he remains fond of the album. However, it was John Lennon, his songwriting partner, who criticized the album following its release.

In an interview with Playboy Magazine, John Lennon expressed his view that Sgt. Pepper’s was overvalued compared to the Beatles’ self-titled album. He felt his own work on the album’s theme was inferior and referred to the upbeat track “Good Morning, Good Morning” as a throwaway piece and described it as garbage. Additionally, he criticized his friend McCartney’s song “When I’m Sixty-Four,” stating that he would never imagine composing such a trivial tune.

Their Satanic Majesties Request – The Rolling Stones

It’s possible that John Lennon felt a bit irked by the overwhelming praise for “Sgt. Pepper’s”, but Keith Richards, being the Rolling Stones guitarist, was in such a state of intoxication in 1967 that he didn’t seem to mind that their psychedelic rock album, “Their Satanic Majesties Request”, was drawing inspiration from the Beatles.

After I sobered up, my anger towards that album only intensified. I labeled “Their Satanic Majesties Request” as a jumble of nonsense, with the songs “Citadel” and “She’s a Rainbow” being the exceptions. In my opinion, the rest of it is just plain junk, as I expressed to Esquire magazine.

Angles – The Strokes

As a devoted music enthusiast, I can’t help but draw parallels between the trajectories of The Strokes and Nas. Let me elaborate on this intriguing comparison. Both artists burst onto the scene with groundbreaking debut albums, followed by sophomore releases that were initially met with critical disappointment but have since been reevaluated as masterpieces.

In simpler terms, Nick Valensi, one of The Strokes band members, expressed his strong disapproval about their recent album-making process. He told Pitchfork magazine that they won’t repeat the approach for their next project, stating “absolutely not” and describing it as “terrible, simply terrible.” Julian Casablancas, the lead singer, shared similar sentiments, acknowledging there are aspects he wouldn’t have done again.

Pinkerton – Weezer

An intriguing case of an artist who has developed criticism towards one of their renowned works. In 1996, Weezer’s second album, Pinkerton, was met with minimal appreciation, but over the years, its gritty songwriting and production have garnered significant acclaim. However, Rivers Cuomo, the lead singer of Weezer, remains unconvinced by its merits.

In a 2001 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Cuomo fiercely criticized the album. He described it as “sick,” using the term in a way that suggests illness or disease. He went on to say that it was a constant source of anxiety because fans who had stayed loyal were mainly drawn to the band due to this very album. In more recent years, Cuomo has softened his opinion towards Pinkerton, but his harsh review remains noteworthy.

Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

1975 marked the transformative moment for Bruce Springsteen when “Born to Run” catapulted him from an unknown New Jersey artist to The Boss. However, this success didn’t sit well with him, as during the album’s recording, he expressed his growing disdain for the songs by the time they were finished.

In the book titled “Talk About a Dream“, he expressed that upon completion, he strongly disliked it. He went on to say that he found it unbearable to listen to, stating that it was the most terrible thing he’d ever heard. Remarkably, despite his initial feelings, he eventually agreed to its release, and history was made in rock music as a result.

Pablo Honey – Radiohead

It’s no secret to those acquainted with Radiohead that their debut album, Pablo Honey (1993), has been a target for rock connoisseurs to criticize. It’s quite common for these enthusiasts to pan the album while adoring the rest of their body of work. This is effortless due to the band members themselves having similar feelings. Thom Yorke openly despised the hit single from the album, “Creep,” labeling the lyrics as inferior.

Ed O’Brien, one of the band members and guitarist, often expressed dissatisfaction about how the album “Pablo Honey” turned out as a complete piece. He repeatedly mentioned that Radiohead were not content with the mixing, which eventually led them to collaborate with their renowned producer, Nigel Godrich, for their second studio album.

2024-11-21 23:31