Four terrible albums that featured one ridiculously good song

by

As a seasoned gamer who’s been spinning vinyl since the days of 8-track tapes, I can relate to the heartache of finding a gem amidst a pile of duds. The album I’m about to share is one such tale of triumph and tragedy, a rollercoaster ride of emotions that left me with a mix of disappointment and delight.

Imagine this scenario: After purchasing a new album from your beloved musician, you excitedly bring it home and pop it onto your record player, eager to immerse yourself in each promising song. However, just as anticipation peaks, disaster strikes.

The album falls short significantly compared to the artist’s past work and it pales in comparison to most other music. Regrettably, you’ve spent your money on something that seems more like an artistic misstep rather than a worthy addition to your collection. It leaves you feeling somewhat disillusioned with the artist’s creative choices.

However, amidst the darkness, there’s a beacon of hope – a standout track that rescues the album from being discarded. You find yourself repeatedly playing this one track, almost ignoring the rest. The following four tracks, though, shine exceptionally in an otherwise dim realm.

Four fantastic songs from albums that are otherwise terrible

“Creep” – Radiohead (Pablo Honey)

As a hardcore fan, I must admit, it took me aback when I first thought Radiohead had only put out one mediocre album. Who would have imagined that the band behind the inconsistent and foggy “Pablo Honey” would follow it up with “The Bends,” then the groundbreaking “OK Computer”? It was almost like an entirely new, more skilled lineup stepped in. But looking back, I realize early Radiohead was just finding its footing before making musical history.

The unexpected hit “Creep” owes its success to an unintended event during recording. Initially, the distinctive guitar riff before the chorus wasn’t meant to be part of the song, but a fortunate mistake made it so. Despite being played repeatedly, this band’s most famous track remains impressive.

“Under Pressure” – Queen (Hot Space)

1980 saw the monumental success of “Another One Bites the Dust,” and with that resounding triumph echoing in our ears, I can only imagine it was a tempting proposition for the band, particularly Freddie Mercury, to explore the realm of disco music entirely. However, it’s crucial to remember that at their core, they were an unadulterated rock band. While they had the flair for the dramatic, tunes like “Bohemian Rhapsody” wouldn’t be quite as captivating without the electric energy of the guitar-driven headbanging moments.

Title “Hot Space” appears disorganized. The wisest decision Queen made for the track “Under Pressure” was placing it as the final number on the album. This way, its greatness didn’t get overshadowed by additional disco-inspired tunes. Moreover, there is something uniquely captivating about David Bowie and Mercury’s interaction leading up to the song’s climax. “Under Pressure” remains extraordinary and as fresh today as it was in 1982; unfortunately, the rest of the album fails to leave a lasting impression.

“Human Touch” – Bruce Springsteen (Human Touch)

Springsteen has undeniably earned his legendary reputation. From the 1970s through the early 1980s, he and the E Street Band consistently created masterpieces album after album. However, since the release of “Human Touch” in 1992, the quality of his albums has been inconsistent, with some being exceptional while others have fallen short. To put it mildly, some critics argue that “Human Touch” might be one of his least impressive works.

As a die-hard fan, I must say that the opening track on this record, “Human Touch,” truly sets the stage like no other. It shines so brightly that it casts an even more profound brilliance over the rest of the album. If you hadn’t heard anything from the album before diving in, the first listen might leave you with sky-high expectations. However, those expectations are swiftly dampened by the second track, “Soul Driver.” From there, things seem to take a turn for the worse.

“This is England” – The Clash (Cut the Crap)

Three years following “Combat Rock,” the album “Cut the Crap” emerged, appearing as a mere shadow of the Clash’s past glory. Mick Jones had been let go, and the record essentially functioned as a Joe Strummer solo project masquerading under the band’s name. Even Strummer himself distanced himself from the album just a few weeks after its launch, when both critics and fans widely criticized it as abysmal.

The miracle is that “This is England” was part of the album. It would have fit on earlier Clash records which is probably the highest compliment that can be paid. The song is also one of the last pure punk songs of the era. It works as a requiem for the subgenre.

Read More

2024-11-06 14:00