Ten albums that were dramatically dissed by the artists who made them

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As a music enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the rich tapestry of tunes that have shaped our cultural landscape, I find myself compelled to share my thoughts on these albums that have left indelible marks in the annals of rock history.

I wrote recently about ten records that critics had put in their worst-ever album list. Among those were a couple where one or more of the artists involved had also declared their dislike for their own album. David Bowie on Never Let Me Down and the Clash on their final album, for example. That’s rarely a good sign. 

When such an event occurs, there’s typically a significant delay before comments follow. During this time, the artist often gains a clearer, more objective perspective. This newfound clarity tends to bring a sense of realism when they reflect on that specific piece from the past.

This reflection led me to consider other albums criticized by an artist, either solo efforts or instances where bandmates express their feelings. Not every band member necessarily shares these negative views. Sometimes, they keep quiet about it, while others may not openly voice their opinions.

Ten albums that seemed extremely disliked by the performer that created them

Here are numerous instances, even some from highly recognized creators. We’ll examine ten such cases, where the artists themselves were not particularly fond of their own creations.

The Smiths – The Smiths

1984 saw the release of The Smiths’ first album, which is astonishing considering its rocky production process. Initially, an attempt was made to record it, but that version had to be discarded during production. Nevertheless, it became highly successful and marked a significant breakthrough for the band.

It’s unexpected that Morrissey expressed dissatisfaction with it, or perhaps this is just another instance of his melancholic outlook. He has voiced his displeasure with the album’s production and mix, even after a second attempt. His signals suggest that the album wasn’t up to the mark for release. However, the music industry seems to have a different opinion. This isn’t the first time such a disparity has been noted in Morrissey’s case.

Morrissey – Kill Uncle 

For now, let’s focus on Morrissey’s solo career. Following the disbandment of The Smiths, he put out several albums independently. One noteworthy album from 1991 is titled “Kill Uncle.” It’s worth noting that Morrissey himself has provided some captivating descriptions of this record.

In his 2013 autobiography, Morrissey expressed some vivid opinions about the album. He believed it was negatively impacted by “session musicians’ embalming fluid,” describing it as “pallid and unappetizing” and also as “the unwanted orphaned spirit.” Despite this, it managed to perform well on the charts.

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The Strokes – Angles

I must admit, as a devoted Strokes fan, I can’t help but express my disappointment with their 2011 album “Angles”. After a five-year hiatus since their last album, I was eagerly anticipating new music, but the process seemed less than smooth. The absence of frontman Julian Casablancas during studio sessions certainly added to the tension. Despite his contributions being mostly remote – with him recording his vocals separately and sending emails with ideas for the project – it felt like something was missing from the usual creative dynamic.

It’s not surprising later on that Casablancas expressed dissatisfaction with the album not being the sound he envisioned. Guitarist Nick Valensi also felt strongly that the recording sessions were disappointing, especially in Casablanca’s absence. Since then, it has been made clear by Valensi that this wasn’t how he preferred to record an album, and it’s not one he would want to redo.

Pink Floyd – Atom Heart Mother

Right now, David Gilmour is making headlines due to the release of his latest solo album titled “Luck And Strange”. Critics are praising it and he’s embarked on a tour to showcase it. Gilmour expresses great pride in this new record, calling it his finest work since the Pink Floyd album, “The Dark Side Of The Moon”.

Gilmour has been quite critical of an earlier Pink Floyd album, Atom Heart Mother, which was released in 1970. Despite occasionally performing “Fat Old Sun” from the album live, he has expressed his dislike for it over the years, even going as far as to call it dreadful and the band’s artistic low point. In fact, he has been quite harsh in his criticism, labeling the album as “s***.” So, it seems that Gilmour isn’t exactly recommending this album.

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Nirvana – Nevermind

At times, I find myself appreciating the sincerity and critiques when it’s evident an artist isn’t entirely satisfied with their work, even if it’s widely acclaimed. Yet, there are instances where I feel they might be overly critical about a highly regarded album. For instance, Kurt Cobain had a contentious perspective towards Nirvana’s blockbuster album, Nevermind.

Kurt Cobain seemed to lean towards the rawer sound in their subsequent album, “In Utero“. According to NME, he expressed shame over it, stating that it wasn’t as punk-rock as he desired. He even went so far as to say, “It’s more like a Motley Crue record than a punk rock record.

Foo Fighters – One By One 

Meanwhile, discussing Nirvana, it’s worth noting that Dave Grohl, their drummer, went on to spearhead Foo Fighters. One of their notable albums, released in 2002, was titled “One By One“. This album wasn’t a favorite among the band members, particularly Dave Grohl.

It’s unexpected that an album which sold platinum and won the Grammy for Best Album in 2004 might not hold fond memories for Grohl. This could be due to some challenging studio sessions that left him feeling less than satisfied. In his own words, he considers it as having four great songs and seven others that he’s never played since. However, it’s worth noting that among those four are “All My Life” and “Times Like These,” so even if your opinion differs, there’s no denying that at least a couple of the tracks were well-crafted.

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Black Sabbath – Never Say Die

Ozzy Osbourne from Black Sabbath has never been shy about expressing his thoughts openly and honestly. Direct and frank, he often speaks his mind without reservation. He came in and out of the band at certain points. The creation of their 1978 album, “Never Say Die,” was a mix of events for Osbourne. He departed right before recording, but later agreed to return following persuasion. However, an argument about which songs he would sing persisted. This was his final album with the band for quite some time.

During that period, Osbourne was going through a tough time personally due to his father’s illness and demise. His father’s death, combined with the band’s excessive drug and alcohol use, made things even harder for him. Unfortunately, these events have left him with unpleasant memories. He has been critical of the album, labeling it as his least favorite work and even going so far as to express shame over it, calling it repulsive. There’s no sugarcoating that, is there?

R.E.M. – Around The Sun

2004’s thirteenth studio album from R.E.M., as perceived by many critics and fans, didn’t shine brightly among the band’s discography. Guitarist Peter Buck found it lackluster, while fans might find it unappealing. Backing him up was bassist Mike Mills, who regretted the disrupted recording process due to touring, which he believed caused a loss of focus for the band. Singer Michael Stipe concurred with the lost focus sentiment, but still found some merit in the album’s songs.

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The Who – It’s Hard

Despite The Who releasing their 1982 album “It’s Hard,” which might have led some to believe it was the end for them, Pete Townshend departed the band a year later. It’s possible that this album played a role in his decision. However, contrary to that expectation, both Townshend and Roger Daltrey were still performing as The Who just last year.

While recording “It’s Hard“, the duo frequently clashed and disagreed vehemently. Neither seemed fully invested in the album, but obligations from their contracts and the record label necessitated its release. Unhappiness with the album was mutual. Daltrey shed more light on this when The Who reunited to perform at Live Aid in 1985. In front of a massive audience, he expressed his displeasure about the album to Townsend, saying, “Pete, this is nothing but a pile of garbage and it shouldn’t see the light of day!

The Rolling Stones – Their Satanic Majesties Request

We might want to include one of the most iconic bands in history on our list, given their history of drug issues and frequent disagreements. Given these factors, it’s hardly unexpected that The Rolling Stones are among them. While their 1967 album “Their Satanic Majesties Request” is one candidate for an album with questionable quality, it’s not the only one that could be considered in this context. This assessment is not just a personal opinion of one band member, but rather a widely held view regarding this particular record.

Mick Jagger criticized it for having too much trash, stating most of the songs were meaningless, and lamented the absence of a producer to keep them focused. Bill Wyman disliked the chaotic and unstructured recording process. Brian Jones expressed his unpreparedness to release it promptly and made hasty edits at the end to meet the deadline. Keith Richards straightforwardly labeled it as garbage. Remarkably, that was almost 60 years ago, yet the band continues to tour and produce number one charting albums.

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2024-10-13 13:00