The worst albums of 2002

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

The worst album I heard all year has to be the Norah Jones album - I've had the misfortune of suffering it at work more than any other album ever. Coldplay only miss out on being my worst by having one song on their album that I thought was quite nice (Clocks, for what it's worth) in spite of that horrible production and that horrible voice. I figured we've had the best, so what's your worst?

― Damian (Damian), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 12:27 (twenty-three years ago)

I like the first song off the Norah Jones album. Put it on a mix CD and it's a nice bit of melodic vocal jazz. I agree the whole album could get a bit soporiphic, but "worst album"? Nah!

Of course, I haven't heard, or listened to the worst album of 2002 which is probably by one of those boring rock revivalist Noun bands.

The most dissapointing album I bought and wihed I hadn't, is probably a toss up between Ms. Dynamite and New Order's Back to Mine.

― phil jones (interstar), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 13:05 (twenty-three years ago)

Bright Eyes.

― paul cox (paul cox), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 13:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Without a doubt, the Adema album (self titled). No, not the big black housey lass from a few years back, this is instead the band featuring Jonathan Davies' step-brother. Sounds bad, huh? It's ten times worse than you'd think. I'm pretty certain its some form of absurdist theatre take on nu-metal, it's that arse-numbingly poor. Dreadful vocals, appalling lyrics, irritating production, half-assed guitar work, appalling musicianship, and the cover art is rubbish as well. Whenever someone tries to defend nu-metal as an artform to you, give them a copy of this. About as enjoyable as stomach cancer.

Most dissapointing is, obviously, "Power In Numbers"

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 13:26 (twenty-three years ago)

Without a shadow of a doubt...

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005V3WA.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

...Korn bassist Fieldy's gangsta-"rap" album

― JoB (JoB), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 14:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Any of the rap shit. Other than maybe Missy E., every single hip hop release this year seemed unoriginal and rehashed.

― maria b (maria b), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 15:20 (twenty-three years ago)

The most dissapointing album I bought and wihed I hadn't, is probably a toss up between Ms. Dynamite and New Order's Back to Mine.

Ha, I put both of these in my year end 10 for the ILx poll.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 17:02 (twenty-three years ago)

doesnt that oasis album own this shit? of course, i didnt hear it but blah blah it still made the nme best list - that should tell u all

― Vic (Vic), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 17:17 (twenty-three years ago)

also the fact that its called HEATHEN CHEMISTRY, ahem

― Vic (Vic), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 17:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Oasis should be mocked a la Michael Jackson these days, but the NME sucks their ass. Damn. Must be some good pussy.

― maria b (maria b), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 22:12 (twenty-three years ago)

Any of the rap shit. Other than maybe Missy E., every single hip hop release this year seemed unoriginal and rehashed.

You heard every single hip-hop release this year? Wow!

― bnw (bnw), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 22:20 (twenty-three years ago)

The Supernaturals' What We Did Last Summer. I am often confused by why people thought Britpop was a bad thing. This clears it all up nicely, though - indigestibly smug lyrics that think they are funny/clever social commentary, but which make "She lives in a house/she's as stupid as a mouse" sound like something other than convenient rhyming, over meh guitars with keyboard clomps Pritt-Sticked on for no reason and no purpose at all. The best song is Life Is A Motorway, which they thought was a comedy bit. Twats.

And I liked Smile as well.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 22:32 (twenty-three years ago)

1. Wilco Yankee Foxtrot Hotel Nonesuch
2. Interpol Turn On The Bright Lights Matador
3. Hot Hot Heat Make Up The Breakdown Sub Pop
4. The Streets Original Pirate Material Vice
5. Sleater-Kinney One Beat Kill Rock Stars
6. Enon High Society Touch And Go
7. Sigur Ros () Fat Cat/Pias
8. Pretty Girls Make Graves Good Health Lookout!
9. Avril Lavigne Let Go Arista
10. Suicide American Supreme Mute

― jack cole (jackcole), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 23:46 (twenty-three years ago)

― jack cole (jackcole), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 23:47 (twenty-three years ago)

whoops, sorry for the 3x post. the internet is against me -- i just know it.

― jack cole (jackcole), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 23:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Hey, that 3x post is OK, it serves to strengthen your Wilco hate.

― Damian (Damian), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 00:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Bright Eyes

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 01:13 (twenty-three years ago)

Wilco hate = PLAYED

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 02:12 (twenty-three years ago)

yeah. wilco's y.h.f. is pretty far, i'd say, from being the worst album of 2002.

― geeta (geeta), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 02:57 (twenty-three years ago)

To reiterate: Fieldy's fargleblaghing Dreams.

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 04:02 (twenty-three years ago)

depends what your criteria for "worst" is, geeta. for me, mediocre is the ABSOLUTE WORST.

― jack cole (jackcole), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 04:46 (twenty-three years ago)

oh, and nate --> I'm merely stating my own opinion about Wilco's album as based on my own aesthetic values -- I could hardly hate a record so blah.

― jack cole (jackcole), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 04:55 (twenty-three years ago)

Archie Eversole, Ride Wit Me Dirty South Style, whose title sums everything about it up.

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 06:12 (twenty-three years ago)

But come on! It involves (a) riding and (b) Dirty South! What's not to like?

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 06:41 (twenty-three years ago)

It would be even more perfect if it were "Dirrty Souf."

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 06:45 (twenty-three years ago)

1. Wilco Yankee Foxtrot Hotel Nonesuch
2. Interpol Turn On The Bright Lights Matador
3. Hot Hot Heat Make Up The Breakdown Sub Pop
4. The Streets Original Pirate Material Vice
5. Sleater-Kinney One Beat Kill Rock Stars
6. Enon High Society Touch And Go
7. Sigur Ros () Fat Cat/Pias
8. Pretty Girls Make Graves Good Health Lookout!
9. Avril Lavigne Let Go Arista
10. Suicide American Supreme Mute

Thanks for the explanations! And by the way, hating what critics like is still quite edgy, so don't doubt yourself next time you feel like posting!

I think the Enon rocked by the way.

Worst, probably Avril, as I couldnt listen to 2 seconds of any of her songs without wanting to kill. Also, I agree that very little rap was impressive this year.

― David Allen, Wednesday, 25 December 2002 06:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Maybe not for album rap, surely, but there were sooooo many great singles!

― Clarke B., Wednesday, 25 December 2002 07:20 (twenty-three years ago)

And by the way, hating what critics like is still quite edgy, so don't doubt yourself next time you feel like posting!

Excuse me, Mr. Allen? I hate to disappoint you but I don't have some hidden agenda built around hating citics or a desire to prove my self "edgy." My apologies for making unannotated list of what I thought about records I have heard and disliked.

― jack cole (jackcole), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 10:02 (twenty-three years ago)

murray street

― Queen G (Queeng), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 14:27 (twenty-three years ago)

Surely the Beck record?

― J (Jay), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 15:58 (twenty-three years ago)

man, i just listened to that sigur ros album for the first time. it is pretty dire. wouldn't be my worst alb of 2002, but...it's dire.

― geeta (geeta), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 17:13 (twenty-three years ago)

Beck = most disappointing, but it had a few moments where he rememebered that he knows how to write lyrics.

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 17:21 (twenty-three years ago)

I respect Jack Cole for many reasons, but that list hurts, man -- except for the Wilco nod. He's right in saying that "mediocre is the absolute worst."

― paul cox (paul cox), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 19:12 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh yeah, and I agree 100% with his inclusion of the S-----s album, O------l P----e M------l.

― paul cox (paul cox), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 19:13 (twenty-three years ago)

Sloppy html will be the death of us all (had to post again to close the italics tag).

― paul cox (paul cox), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 19:15 (twenty-three years ago)

also --> the "no good rap albums in 2002" is pretty off the mark. you have to look both above and below ground. you just can't stare in one spot. you have to move about in different places. i whole heartedly believe that mainstream hip-hop has reached impasse of sorts, especially evident in 2002 (which isnt to say all mainstream hip-hop has been dire, but a large chunk of it has become sedate and defensive.

― jack cole (jackcole), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 19:31 (twenty-three years ago)

I love the Enon album too, can't figure why anyone wouldn't

― J0hn Darni3ll3 (J0hn Darni3ll3), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 19:56 (twenty-three years ago)

for me the music (and not the lyrics) seemed sort of generic.

― jack cole (jackcole), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 20:01 (twenty-three years ago)

Will someone please show me the good hip hop? I'm not being sarcastic, I'd really like to hear some new, good hip hop. Besides El-P.

― David Allen, Wednesday, 25 December 2002 20:48 (twenty-three years ago)

People Under the Stairs - O.S.T.

I like it, at least.

― paul cox (paul cox), Wednesday, 25 December 2002 21:20 (twenty-three years ago)

The Libertines album, "Up the Bracket".

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 26 December 2002 01:26 (twenty-three years ago)

i don't think i heard any 2002 albums yet. ask me next year.

― unknown or illegal user (doorag), Thursday, 26 December 2002 05:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Both the Jay-Z and the Missy Elliot albums are very good - the consensus arrayed against the former baffles me, actually.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 26 December 2002 11:44 (twenty-three years ago)

the nas album is also very good - wow
'the last real nigga alive' is just WOW
killian wins, 'up the bracket' is fucking abhorrent
pipping the datsuns to the winning post by only a hairy
testosterone charged sloppy sweat bead
CUNTS

― _, Thursday, 26 December 2002 15:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Do y'all like the newer Enon more than Believo, tho? I don't think High Society is bad at all, but it doesn't grab me like Believo at all.

― Adam A. (Keiko), Thursday, 26 December 2002 16:27 (twenty-three years ago)

three weeks pass...

the boss - the rising

― ben boxer, Tuesday, 21 January 2003 02:33 (twenty-three years ago)

o, Oasis is the bitch of this thread, surely?...

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 03:01 (twenty-three years ago)

I really hated the Vines.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 03:21 (twenty-three years ago)

oh yeah, the Vines are terrible. so's Hot Hot Heat, they're like the Canadian Vines. Uh, what else, beside the obvious...Nelly sucked much ass last year, as did, uh, did Patti Smith do anything? Just a greatest hits, huh? Well that either doesn't count or counts twice.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 03:28 (twenty-three years ago)

I didn't think much of the new GBV album. I've been a fan since the early 90s, but Universal Truths and Cycles was a huge disappoinment. Actually, the last few albums have been collective disappoinments. While every record has a couple of fantastic songs, there's an increasing amount of filler.
I think Pollard's spreading himself too thin. I realize he has a rabid fan base that buys every Fading Captain release, lining Sir Bob's pockets, but in the long-term, I think he'd be better served by releasing one damn fine album.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 03:34 (twenty-three years ago)

I think Beck wrote "Lost Cause" about Rob Pollard.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 03:35 (twenty-three years ago)

I still go see GBV in concert, but I'm refusing to spend any more on the band's peripheral releases. I was tricked into blowing $100 on that damn Suitcase box set. I'm stronger now.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 03:39 (twenty-three years ago)

That Jon Spencer album also aged pretty fast. I used to spend months with a new JSBX release. I may have listened to Plastic Fang four or five times.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 03:40 (twenty-three years ago)

2002 and 2003 may well be some real '90s hangover years. especially for once and former matador bands.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 03:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, I think the magic is fading, the light dimming and the glitter no longer glittering. Many of those bands are struggling for relevance.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 03:44 (twenty-three years ago)

JSBX was better than they've been since Orange in 2002, they just didn't zig when everybody (ie, nerds) wanted them to.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 03:44 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't care if they zig or zag, just release an album that I feel like listening to three weeks after it's released.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 03:48 (twenty-three years ago)

In two years it'll still sound good. Whereas the AcmeSeries, is sort of like Thanksgiving Turkey.

You pieces of shit.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 03:52 (twenty-three years ago)

See, I really enjoyed the AcmeSeries, particularly Xtra Acme. And I've enjoyed JSBX throughout their different incarnations, but I just didn't feel the last record.
And, yes, I am a piece of shit.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 03:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Lambchop - Is A Woman
Amon Tobin - Out From Out Where
Nightmares On Wax - Mind Elevation

Not cos they're unmitigatedly awful, but because they're shoddy, lazy, slapdash or complacent compared with the artists' previous efforts. Disppointment is a hard feeling to shake, thus dud.

― Charlie (Charlie), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 04:06 (twenty-three years ago)

Okay, think of it like this
What if Plastic Fang was a RFTC alb and not JSBX? Then it would be one of their best in the last 7/8 years.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 04:14 (twenty-three years ago)

oops, I forgot:

You pieces of shit.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 04:14 (twenty-three years ago)

heh, the JSBX is their best since Orange easy

You pieces of shitt

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 05:03 (twenty-three years ago)

I've gotta admit. I've lost interest in Rocket From the Crypt as well. I might have made a mistake, but I haven't even considered picking up Live from Camp X-Ray. And I've got to agree if Plastic Fang was a RFTC album, it would be their best in the last seven or eight years. I still wouldn't feel it.
Steaming piles of feces.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 05:24 (twenty-three years ago)

the vines were bad, comparably only to the trail of dead in their ability to convert lazy music into attention.

but you know what really sucked ? the ikara colt record.

― mike (ro)bott, Tuesday, 21 January 2003 20:58 (twenty-three years ago)

I really really hated the Willie Nelson album, especially b/c it came out at about the same time as his book, which was great. I love Willie Nelson, and named my first child after him (Walls, as in, "Hello, Walls"), and The Great Divide had absolutely none of what makes Willie great. Somebody convinced him that he could be Santana, and he became Santana. Ug.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 21:03 (twenty-three years ago)

Group Sounds had some strong RFTC moments (mainly "Ghost Shark"), but yeah, things have been downhill since Dracula. But Live from Camp X-Ray is actually really good. Straight forward pop/punk (which isn't what I want to hear Speedo doing, for sure), but it's so direct it's pretty invigorating.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 21:05 (twenty-three years ago)

Not just god-awful, but god-awful-yet-praised-damn-near-universally...

THE BLUEPRINT.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 21:06 (twenty-three years ago)

"Heathen", David Bowie (it felt like ppl just went "oh, he's back with Visconti now!" and figured that makes his new album utterly great without even listening to the damn thing; the fact that, when it came to listing "highlights" for those end of year CDs, the novelty tune "A Better Future" cropped up so frequently is telling.)

"Frantic", Bryan Ferry (a bad year for Glam Rock survivors, it seems. Listen to "Cruel", it's the absolute bottom of the barrel- Bryan Ferry makes an honest song about how terrible the lives of working class folks are. Blue collar honesty is what we come to him for, after all.)

"Fantastic Damage", El-P (sorry, Nate!)

"The Rising", Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band ("gee whiz that 9-11 sure was a big tragedy and I bet it must be affecting folk's lives in pretty devastating ways. Anyway folks, we shouldn't give in to the hatred- there's a lot of good in Islamic culture, you know." and on and on and on he goes...irony is dead, long live the platitude! Proof that Springsteen's former ethic really WAS U+K, and that us whiny fans should've been happy to get a good album every six years or so- put him under stress and give him a bland producer and you'll get a mediocre album every year instead.)

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Tuesday, 21 January 2003 23:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Ladies and gentlemen, I gotta tell you RIGHT NOW that Anthony the Manthony will put his vote for Numba one Bloooooze Explosion album with Now! I! Got! drum rolll pleaseeeee.... Worry!

And that RFTC has thoroughly kicked JSBX a.k.a. JS'S B.S. evah since that 1997 high water mark.

soooooooooullll!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 00:08 (twenty-three years ago)

Not just god-awful, but god-awful-yet-praised-damn-near-universally...THE BLUEPRINT.

WHAT!?!? Why do you think so?

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Wednesday, 22 January 2003 01:30 (twenty-three years ago)

Didn't Dream Theater put out a (double) album this year? That's gotta be a contender if prior history is any indication.

― original bgm, Wednesday, 22 January 2003 02:19 (twenty-three years ago)

two months pass...

Am I the only person who thought that "by the way" (RHCP) was fukin terrible?

best albums of 2002 - doves "last broadcast
and oasis "heathen chemistry"

― Karl, Sunday, 23 March 2003 16:37 (twenty-three years ago)

RHCP = Red Headed Clown Posse? you pieces of shit.

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Sunday, 23 March 2003 17:02 (twenty-three years ago)

I doubt I have ever heard the worst album of 2002....

Was "The Ketchup Song" released on an album? :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 23 March 2003 17:05 (twenty-three years ago)

'Heathen' sucked

― dave q, Sunday, 23 March 2003 17:37 (twenty-three years ago)

These albums are so much worse than everything previously mentioned that it isn't even funny. What's wrong with Wilco? I like Wilco!

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00006J6VG.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00006JL4I.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005OM4M.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00006I0BD.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Evan (Evan), Sunday, 23 March 2003 19:25 (twenty-three years ago)

That OK Go album was abyssmal.
It took so many things I like about music and made them wrong.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Sunday, 23 March 2003 20:18 (twenty-three years ago)

All those American Idoa kids have the same chin! Whoa!

― Fivvy (Fivvy), Sunday, 23 March 2003 20:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Was "The Ketchup Song" released on an album?

Las Hijas Del Tomate, or something to that effect. Saw it around, was actually very curious about whether it would just be like fifteen versions of "Asereje", never did purchase it tho.

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Sunday, 23 March 2003 23:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Las Hijas Del Tomate its sitting on my desk. i've been avoiding it. it has 4 versions of the ketchup song on it.

― gaz (gaz), Sunday, 23 March 2003 23:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Creed. Anything they do hurts me.

― threemetalinsects (threemetalinsects), Monday, 24 March 2003 08:17 (twenty-three years ago)

nah, im sticking with the libertines...

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Monday, 24 March 2003 10:05 (twenty-three years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.