Ten albums the critics rated as the worst ever in history

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As someone who has spent countless hours spinning records and listening to music from various genres and eras, I must say that these albums have certainly had their moments of struggle.

At times, it seems as though high-profile music reviewers and you might be listening to different versions of the same album. While an album may sound fantastic to you, it could receive harsh criticism from certain critics, focusing on aspects that appear insignificant in terms of musical value.

Perhaps they’re gushing over a recent album, praising its innovative approach and unique style, claiming it marks a shift in the artist’s direction. However, when you listen to it, you find yourself confused and unable to connect with the music, leaving you feeling as if you’re witnessing the emperor wearing no clothes, musically speaking.

Well, it could be that they’re spot on with their opinions. Critics have the ability to evaluate truthfully and objectively, expressing their genuine thoughts. This is especially true when a highly acclaimed artist’s work falls short of expectations.

Two albums top the critics list as the worst ever in history

On multiple instances, bestsellingalbums.org has brought attention to albums that critics universally panned. By examining various magazine rankings of the least successful albums, the site has identified which ones received the most negative reviews, making for intriguing reading.

This opinion is shared by multiple individuals rather than being solely one person’s view, but how reliable is it? To find out, let’s examine a few entries to see if they hold up. Two albums are consistently ranked as some of the worst ever based on this combined assessment. These albums show up most frequently in the lists and ratings we analyzed.

Metallica – St. Anger

Metallica’s album, titled “St. Anger“, managed to sell more than 5 million copies upon its release in 2003. This marked a five-year gap since their previous album, as it was the first one they put out since then. Jason Newsted had departed from the band before this album was recorded, and Bob Rock filled in on bass during production. Later, Robert Trujillo took over the bass position within the group after this particular album was released.

The title of this album isn’t just symbolic; it’s woven throughout the entire composition. You won’t find soft, radio-friendly rock tunes here. Instead, expect raw emotion, intense anger, fierce passion, and a lot of powerful melodies. It’s not their greatest work, but to call it one of the worst albums ever might be overly critical.

The Clash – Cut The Crap

In 1985, the song “Cut The Crap” emerged from a duo comprising half of the iconic band The Clash. Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon formed this half. Prior to the album’s release, they had dismissed Mick Jones and Topper Headon from the group. Upon its unveiling, Strummer distanced himself from it, ultimately disbanding The Clash as a musical entity.

A disappointing conclusion, showcasing the mediocrity and worn-out punk feel of the album, which wasn’t appreciated only by Strummer but also by numerous critics and listeners alike. The album was generally panned, suggesting it fell short of the standards expected from a renowned band like theirs. In essence, the album could easily be included in the worst albums list.

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Eight more albums were rated as the worst ever by critics

The jury is still out though on those critic’s views. Of those two albums, they’ve called one right as a worst ever album. For Metallica, it’s not as clear cut. So let’s look at some more evidence from that list. Here are the next eight records that appeared most often on worst albums lists. 

Motley Crue – Generation Swine

For Motley Crue, this album served as an experimental venture, given their reputation as a leading metal rock band with a generous dash of glam. However, the introduction of sampling, drum loops, and futuristic sounds gave it a 1990s vibe that seemed out of place. Unfortunately, it didn’t resonate with fans, who found it rather uninspired. One critic even likened it to overcooked spaghetti – limp in texture. It seems the critics were on point with their assessment.

David Bowie – Never Let Me Down

Is it truly believed that a David Bowie album, specifically “Never Let Me Down,” is considered one of the worst ever? While this record wasn’t a masterpiece from the legendary rock artist, fans had hoped for more after his previous release, Tonight, in 1984 underperformed. Unfortunately, Never Let Me Down didn’t deliver as it was lackluster. The collection of songs seemed disorganized and reflected a creative low point for Bowie. To top it off, Bowie himself later called it his lowest point and labeled it an awful album. This opinion is also shared by critics.

Genesis – Calling All Stations

After Phil Collins departed, this is what was left of Genesis – often labeled by some as Phil Collins and his supporting act. However, it’s crucial to mention that Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks remained part of the group, both being exceptionally talented musicians. Unfortunately, their album Calling All Stations didn’t quite hit the mark. It lacked the appeal and didn’t produce any notable Genesis songs or hits. In all honesty, there’s not much incentive to listen to it, according to many critics.

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Kiss – Music From The Elder

1981 saw the release of a concept album from legendary rockers Kiss. Initially, it was largely overlooked and the band opted against touring it. Over time, it’s become less of a rarity on live setlists but still doesn’t seem to sit well with the band members. While some positive reviews have emerged over the years, there remains an underlying discomfort among the band about this album. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s one of the worst albums ever made, but in terms of Kiss albums alone, it certainly stands out. Critics haven’t assigned a score to it.

Lou Reed – Metal Machine Music

Wow, I can’t believe what Lou Reed did with this album! It seems like he was missing some essential elements, such as catchy tunes and melodies. Instead, it feels more like a collection of noise, feedback, guitar, and amp effects. Honestly, it just didn’t do it for me. Let’s move on to something more enjoyable. Easy pickings for the critics, I’d say.

Van Halen – Van Halen III

In a somewhat puzzling turn, “Van Halen III” stands as the band’s eleventh studio production. Due to Eddie Van Halen’s extensive involvement in the project and the absence of usual bandmates, it is often labeled as resembling a solo album more closely.

The main criticisms are that the album brought nothing new, just more Van Halen style music. Perhaps the critics and reviewers were tired of it by then. Every band needs some new fresh approaches, this wasn’t it. As with others above it’s not necessarily a bad album nor a worst ever, it’s just not a great one. A miss by the critics on this. 

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Billy Idol – Cyberpunk 

The words concept album are again a warning. There are probably more bad than good concept albums. In terms of Cyberpunk, many people struggled to understand what the concept or linking themes was about. 

Innovative in its approach, the album was heavily influenced by Idol’s fascination with technology. He embraced cutting-edge digital methods to produce the record. Moreover, Idol was a pioneer in leveraging the internet and digital platforms for album promotion – a practice not widely adopted at that time. While it might not seem revolutionary today, this methodology was indeed forward-thinking back then.

As a devoted fan, I must admit that the album received its fair share of critique, and the concept behind it raised quite a few eyebrows. The backdrop and cyber themes might have been a bit overpowering, and the musical style seemed like a significant departure from my favorite punk rock artist’s roots, both as a solo act and with Generation X. It’s not necessarily one of his standout performances, at least that’s what I gather from the critics’ reviews. However, I remain hopeful that there might be hidden gems within this album that I haven’t yet discovered.

Black Sabbath – Forbidden

Occasionally, it happens that key and talented band members are absent, such as Cozy Powell and Neil Murray in Black Sabbath’s case. However, the absence of Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler left a significant void. Despite this, Black Sabbath managed to release their 18th studio album titled Forbidden.

This music is primarily for dedicated fans and collectors; it holds less appeal for others. Some might find the tunes rather subdued for the band, dull, and lacking excitement or the signature Ozzy style. In simple terms, it’s not a great album, best to steer clear of it. The critics’ opinions align with this assessment in multiple aspects.

Do the critics get their worst ever albums in history right?

Here are some of the most critically panned albums from the bestselling list in music history. While not every album on this list is universally considered as one of the worst ever made, a strong case can be made for at least seven of them. The remaining three albums, however, have sparked some debate among critics regarding their true merit.

Of course, there are many more albums in people’s minds and record library that could qualify and be listed, potentially many worse than these. So once again personal opinion will always play a part.

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2024-10-08 13:00