Music Topic 2) Albums hated that you love

[bassist_25]

There's been some debate in the polls forum that Rockpage doesn't have enough music-related topics, so I thought I'd create a few.

In this thread, I was wondering what are some albums by popular bands that are generally disliked by the hardcore fans and critics, yet you really enjoy.

For me, an album I always loved, but is usually considered the black sheep of the band's catalog, is Hear in the Now Frontier by Queensryche. It was really a depature for the band; and while there are a few half-ideas on the album, I think they put some really strong material on there too, such as Sign of the Times, Some People Fly, and spOOl. Tate's vocals are great, and I really like Eddie Jackson's bass tone on this album.

Another album I dig is Poison's Native Tongue. They dropped the party band image and lyrical content with this album and really tried to make a serious effort. I dig CC as much as the next guy, but Ritchie Kotzen is five times the player that CC is. Too bad he was screwing Rikki's wife. I dig every song on this disc, and I think that the guys really stepped it up artistically with some of the tunes, especially Stand.

Let's hear some of the albums you dig that aren't very popular.

[SavageHeart]

I like this topic!!! It will get me thinking...but right off the top of my head, I really like Music from the Elder by KISS....definitely not one of the popular ones.

[EyesOfAnguishbassist]

I couldn't agree more, I love all of Poison but I thought Native Tongue ruled..

Also, I thought that Metallica's St Anger was good, I dont think it was groundbreaking stuff but i really dug it.

[Merge]

I really liked Metallica's "Black Album", even though die hard Metallica fans hated it. I also think that Creed's "Human Clay" is one of the top modern rock records ever recorded, and we know what most musicians think of Creed.

[Hawk]

I loved it. Then I hated it. HATED IT. Now, when no one is around, I like it. Iron Butterfly, Inagodadavida (someone spell that for me).

[Banned]

The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour". Most critics don't rank it among their best albums, but it has more drop-dead brilliant songs than Sgt. Pepper IMHO.

Van Halen's "Diver Down". Their most diverse record by a long shot, and just a lot of good fun. It always cheers me up.

[Jim Price]

I could come up with a list of these types of albums, but for the moment, here are a few that come to mind:

Since I've been listening to it this evening, Kansas' Monolith album. It wasn't necessarily slammed or hated, but it was never given the accolades of Leftoverture or Point of Know Return, even though I thought it was a fairly strong album.

I always liked Ozzy's The Ultimate Sin, even though a lot of Ozzy fans don't include it in their favorites list. Judas Priest's Point of Entry and Ram it Down are two more I can think of. And although it gets trashed because both Joe Perry and Brad Whitford left the band at the time and weren't on it, I always liked Rock in a Hard Place by Aerosmith.

Those are a few I can think of at the moment, I'm sure more will come to me later...

[Banned]

I like this topic!!! It will get me thinking...but right off the top of my head, I really like Music from the Elder by KISS....definitely not one of the popular ones.

OMG! When I read the title of this thread 'The Elder" was the first thing that popped in my mind! A world without Heroes, Mr. Blackwell, I, Whoa! This is weird... I Need a beer.

[metalchurch]

Paul, this is a cool topic!

I would have to agree w/ Jim and Jimi on their choices.

Here's a few more that I like that weren't very well received by fans/critics:

Dio - 'Lock up the Wolves' (1990) - The title track is one of the only songs played live, so not many Dio fans get into this one, but I love all of his albums really. Strange Highways was another good one.

Iron Maiden - 'Fear of the Dark' (1992) - Most all Maiden fans I know hate this one, but I think it has excellent songs, and great production.

Mercyful Fate - 'Dead Again' (1998) This is one of Fate's best albums ever, and it has all of the classic riffage and of course the ear shredding screams and doubled vocal lines that have become their trademark sound.

Cannibal Corpse - 'Vile' (1996) - Their first one without Chris Barnes, and I think it's just as brutal as the older shit. 'Devoured by Vermin' 'Mummified in Barbed Wire' 'Disfigured' Brutal is the only word I have for this. George Fisher delivers the goods on this.

Judas Priest - 'Defender's of the Faith' (1984) This was always one of my fav's next to Sad Wings and Painkiller. There's some great song writing on here, but it is generally over shadowed by Screaming for Vengeance.

And lastly I give my honorable mention to a band that keeps going. They do their thing regardless what anyone thinks or says.
They piss alot of people off and I love that about them. Their lyrics aren't exactly PC, and they don't get down with the good lord, but I have alot of respect for them for staying true to themselves.
Here's to the most insanely brutal band ever........
Deicide!!!
Pick an album.

[DrumAndDestroy]

Mine is Liberal Animation by NoFX (1988...Re-released in 1991).

It is some of the craziest guitar stuff I have ever heard by any band of any genre. Great dueling leads and what not.

All the punks I know who love NoFX hate this record. You metal guys just might like it


Other albums I like that other fans despise...any post dookie green day, and post dude ranch blink 182, bad religion 'no substance', bad religion 'the new america'...well for punk rock, the list could go on and on i think.

[ZappasXWife]

Well I like different music than many of you but here goes...these are under-rated relative to the artist's other endeavors. IMHO.

Bruce Springsteen-Wild, Innocent & E Street Shuffle (I don't like most of his other stuff at all but love this album)
Santana-Caravanserai
Bob Dylan-Infidels
Neil Young-Sleeps with Angels
Cat Stevens-Foreigner
Judas Priest-Sad Wings of Destiny
Pink Floyd-Saucerful of Secrets (spooky!) Has anyone ever heard the sountrack album MORE? Any good? I am curious about it because I downloaded a beautiful song from it called Cymbalene. I like their spooky weird stuff, sick to death of their well-known tunes/albums.

[BDR]

Be careful with this thread ... start expressing your opinion about what music you like and don't like and certain angsty members will start pointing out how you're opinion is wrong ...

"You can't not like (insert album name here)! That's unfounded!" LOL

r:>)

[J Michaels]

Gotta agreee with Ultimate Sin - everyone raves about Randy - and he was great - but I LOVE Jake E Lee's playing, and I think this album is way cool. Plus, Randy Castillo on the drums... Oh yeah.

[orangekick]

Pink Floyd-Saucerful of Secrets (spooky!) Has anyone ever heard the sountrack album MORE? Any good? I am curious about it because I downloaded a beautiful song from it called Cymbalene. I like their spooky weird stuff, sick to death of their well-known tunes/albums.

More is awesome. Get it.

[Gallowglass]

...Santana-Caravanserai...

BITCH!, you stole my album! No, seriously-this album is all but ignored and it is absolutely one of the best things Carlos has ever put his mark on. As far as the lineup is concerned, it is the zenith of early Carlos. In fact, I don't think he ever found a linup that jelled together like this. Listen to Doug Rauch lay down avant-funk basslines that groove like Bootsy on a heavy dose of Eric Dolphy. Greg Rollie and Neil Schon are absolutely great, at times supporting and at times stealing the spotlight from Carlos. It was right after this album that they left to form Journey. Tom Coster is on a few tracks too, I think (at least it sounds like his playing). Michael Shrieve absolutely nails the drum tracks, and he's just a kid on this album. Pure heartfelt genius! Plus, I own a copy in quadraphonic, I know you are all jealous now!

[Vette Lover]

I would have to say Emerson Lake and Palmer - Trilogy

Not a big hit with my crowd but I enjoyed it obsessively!

[313]

The one that comes to mind is Starz "Coliseum Rock". I remember reading the many negative reviews in Kerrang, etc. I still bought the album, and to this day I think it totally kills. The guitar work on the title song is monstrous!

[DirtySanchez]

Pretty much everything I listen to.

[Possessed]

King's X Pick an album.
This band is so friggin good and nobody want's to give them the time of day other than their hardcore fans. I have continually tried to spread the word about this band to family and friends but most people just don't get it. They seem to be well respected by musicians and the like but the average listener doesn't think they are anything special.
I just don't understand why they don't have any #1 hits because they write some truly inspiring and catchy tunes.
Also how does Nickelback get so huge and King's X isn't? They are pretty much in the same genre and King's X are way better songwriters. IMHO.
Answer that one for me.
(covers head and waits for the stones to start falling)

[bassist_25]

King's X is an amazing band.

[BDR]

I concur. King's X has always been a favorite of mine.

r:>)

[Bag]

King's X Pick an album.
This band is so friggin good and nobody want's to give them the time of day other than their hardcore fans. I have continually tried to spread the word about this band to family and friends but most people just don't get it. They seem to be well respected by musicians and the like but the average listener doesn't think they are anything special.

Insert Overkill for King's X and those are my feelings exactly. They've got 15 studio albums out, so they must be doing something right. I think they get better with every album too. The new one, "Immortalis" kicks some serious ass.

I think it all depends on how much "push" the label puts behind a band. They can saturate the radio airwaves with a song/band and most mindless people/sheep will run out and buy it.

[Ron]

I really dig the vocal harmonies that King's X brings to the table.
Great band.

[bassist_25]

I like how King's X sounds huge as a three piece, but they don't do a lot of overdubbing on their albums.

Cheesy as it sounds too, I like the fact that they have a positive message with their music, which is a nice change of pace while we're living in a time when a lot of the lyrical content in rock music is "I hate my mom. I hate life, and I hate my dog."

[Possessed]

I totally agree with all your comments.
Whenever I'm feeling a little down I just pop in some King's X and their music never fails to make me feel better. They have a positive message without being to "preachy" I think they got stuck with the Christian label and it hurt them because a lot of people who listen to mainstream music aren't into Christian Rock. They even stated that they are not a Christian band. They are Christians that happen to be in a rock band. But that never seemed to sway anyone's opinion.

Anyone ever hear the song "Picture" from the album "Ear Candy"
So much emotion and so much meaning. That song gets me all choked up.
Plus Dug's voice is amazing. Even Ty Tabor's voice has a great tone to it even though he is not as technical as Dug.

I learned a lot about singing lead and harmony by listening to King's X.

OK I'll move on to another artist/album.
Deconstruction/ Dave Navarro's other band between Jane's Addiction and the RHCP. Very west coast trippy funky heavy weirdness.