Five guilty pleasure albums people keep too quiet about liking

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As a child of the 80s, I have fond memories of listening to Phil Collins’ music and seeing him perform live. His album “Serious Hits…Live” brings me right back to those days, despite the fact that he may not be as cool nowadays. The energy and passion that Collins put into his performances were infectious, and this album captures that perfectly. It’s a guilty pleasure for sure, but who cares about being cool when the music is this good?

Do you have any albums in your collection that you’re hesitant to share or play, but secretly enjoy listening to? These could be the songs you don’t openly discuss, yet they still bring you joy when you hear them. There are numerous reasons why a specific album might serve as your “guilty pleasure.

I guess it’s not the usual genre of music you’d find me grooving to. While I’m well-known for my deep love for classic rock and heavy metal, there’s a hidden gem in my collection – an old soul or RnB album that brings a smile to my face every time I listen to it. And let’s not forget about the occasional cheesy pop album that I keep tucked away for those special moments when I just want to let loose and enjoy some tunes!

Despite not being their absolute best or most popular release, this album from a well-known artist could still win your approval. Critics might be tough on it, public opinion may be less than stellar, or perhaps the artist’s appeal has waned over time. However, the album maintains its significance and continues to resonate with you, making it a regular part of your playlist.

Five great guilty pleasure albums

I have quite a few albums similar to that one. Some share a common thread as they evoke fond and joyful feelings, reminding me of the moments when I purchased them or first heard them. Here are five under-the-radar albums that many might not openly admit to owning, still appreciating, or playing regularly:

U2 – Rattle And Hum

In 1988, U2 stirred up both critics and fans with their blend of a studio and live album called “Rattle And Hum.” Some see it as a self-indulgent project overflowing with arrogance, while others view it as an honest tribute to the band’s music in the context of past rock, gospel, and blues legends. Frankly, who would ever associate egocentrism with Bono? Except for Bono himself, naturally.

This album experienced significant sales and achieved commercial acclaim. It’s not just successful, it holds its ground quite well. Musically, it’s solid and boasts several fantastic tracks. It also marked the band’s first UK number-one single with “Desire.” Another hit, “When Love Comes To Town,” featuring B.B. King, was a chart sensation as well. The live songs are an excellent bonus, including some of their best tunes and covers, all sounding fantastic.

This particular U2 album may not be the one most fans would identify as their best or a standout among all they’ve produced, but I wouldn’t call it their worst either. It’s not perfect, and it certainly doesn’t deserve the harsh criticism it sometimes receives. Other U2 records might be more appealing for listeners, yet this one still finds its way onto my playlists from time to time.

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Rolling Stones – Black and Blue

1976 saw the introduction of Ronnie Wood as a member of the band, following Mick Taylor’s departure in December 1974. The recording process for the album “Black And Blue” served as an informal audition for Wood and other potential guitarists vying for a spot within the band, suggesting a relaxed approach to Taylor’s replacement.

Among the first albums I purchased was The Rolling Stones’ one, and due to my scarce resources, it received considerable playback in those days. This is why I continue to appreciate it, even though some critics place it lower on their ranking lists for the band. Its songs show a diverse style, featuring disco, reggae, rock and roll – a mix that’s not unusual for the band throughout their career.

This album isn’t overflowing with instant classics; “Fool to Cry,” however, stands out as an exceptional track that remains impressive. Conversely, “Hey Negrita” with its Latin beat might raise some eyebrows due to its questionable lyrics, so it may be wiser to skip over it these days. Despite being your first purchase, the album has fond associations and is frequently played because of them. Nevertheless, it offers a decent sound quality and is worth revisiting.

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Yes – Tormato

As a die-hard fan, I eagerly anticipated the release of Yes’s 1978 album, “Tormato,” following their stellar comeback with “Going For The One” in 1977. Having witnessed their electrifying live performances and adoring their earlier albums, it seemed like a logical choice to add “Tormato” to my collection. Unfortunately, the band’s plan for a sequel to “Tormato” fell through swiftly, and key members such as Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman parted ways in 1980. It often felt like Yes was a constantly changing lineup of musicians.

As a gamer diving back into the world of music, I’ve got to say that the cover art for YES’s album “Tormato” didn’t exactly catch my eye, and from what I’ve heard, even the band members weren’t its biggest fans. The story goes that one of the designers at Hipgnosis threw a tomato in anger at their initial artwork, and it seemed to stick – literally and figuratively. It’s hard to imagine they kept it, but that’s the beauty of art!

Setting that aside, the music was quite powerful, though it did receive some negative feedback at the time. However, I don’t think it’s a poor album by any means. In fact, people often mention it as one of Yes’s lesser works. Nevertheless, my opinion might be biased because I had the chance to attend their concert at Wembley Arena in London, where they performed with a rotating stage in the center. They were absolutely incredible, and the new tracks sounded great. The question is, does it still get played? And yes, for me it does.

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Phil Collins – Serious Hits…Live

As a music enthusiast myself, I’ve got to admit that I tend to steer clear of greatest hits compilations, given that I own most of the artist’s original albums already. However, if you’re truly fond of an artist, I believe you’ll find value in hearing the lesser-known tracks they’ve produced. But what really piques my interest is a live album! If I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing them perform live, listening to a live album can transport me back to that memorable event.

This 1990 compilation of Phil Collins’ songs performed live is as advertised. As promised in the title, it’s an extensive collection of his hits, each one performed live. The tracks aren’t confined to a single concert; instead, they come from various dates throughout his career.

This album is fantastic if you’re a fan of Phil Collins, but here’s the catch – it seems to have inadvertently found its place on my list of secret indulgences. In modern times, admitting appreciation for Collins’ music might not be as trendy as it once was.

In that era, he was quite an outstanding artist, and his performances demonstrated why. His concerts were exceptional, filled with one hit after another. I happened to catch him on tour a couple of times during his prime. Nowadays, I believe being trendy is unnecessary. Hence, I continue to include this album in my playlists or pull out the original CD to reminisce about those shows and moments.

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Pink Floyd – The Endless River

David Gilmour recently expressed his thoughts on the album and feels it might have been more effectively clarified and marketed to Pink Floyd fans upon its 2014 release. Notably, this was the group’s last album. By that time, Roger Waters had already left the band, and sadly, Richard Wright had passed away a few years prior. Despite Waters having no involvement in this release, Wright’s presence is still audible in certain parts of the album.

The basis for this album is that during the recording process of their previous album, The Division Bell, there were numerous hours of guitar improvisations and jam sessions that remained unused. Some were incorporated into an unpublished work titled The Big Spliff, while the rest were untouched until Gilmour and Mason conceived a plan for them in 2013.

They transformed it into “The Endless River,” an album primarily instrumental and the last one released by Pink Floyd. It may not be their most renowned work, but let’s consider the company it keeps. It’s enjoyable to listen to, though not something to delve deeply into. Instead, it might serve better as background music or a soundtrack for daydreaming, particularly in the 360 reality audio version linked below when using headphones. The album carries typical Pink Floyd sounds and features Gilmour’s signature guitar solos, with Wright’s keyboard work peppered throughout. It shines best in specific settings, moods, and moments.

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2024-11-10 14:00