Most Mediocre Album?

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Not sure, offhand, one side of my brain is pushing for "Sports" by Huey Lewis and the News, the other side is pushing for "Scarecrow" by John 'Cougar' Mellencamp.

So...what was the most mediocre album evah?

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Rockist.

― Huk-L, Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Fat of the Land.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:39 (twenty-one years ago)

POSTAL SERVICE

― still bevens (bscrubbins), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Collective Soul, Blender

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Dead Media

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Pretenders "Packed!"

― Elvis is Dead, Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:50 (twenty-one years ago)

"Fly or Die"

― Wooden (Wooden), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Palookaville is up there.

― The Good Dr. Bill (Andrew Unterberger), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Relative to critical acclaim that Stone Roses debut and also anything by the libertines

― hull hole (hull hole), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:59 (twenty-one years ago)

i think hail to the thief is pretty mediocre.

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 14 October 2004 19:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Oasis AT THEIR VERY BEST were on the low end of mediocre. On a good day.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 14 October 2004 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)

the warm jets - future signs

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 14 October 2004 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)

anyone else remember that one? thought not, ITS TOO MEDIOCRE FOR ANYONE TO REMEMBER!

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 14 October 2004 19:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Alex so completely OTM.

― Wooden (Wooden), Thursday, 14 October 2004 19:22 (twenty-one years ago)

The 2nd Quasi record. Bland city.

― adam (adam), Thursday, 14 October 2004 19:38 (twenty-one years ago)

lemonheads 'its a shame about ray'. mediocre in a huge way.

― tyler (tyler), Thursday, 14 October 2004 19:49 (twenty-one years ago)

2nd Quasi record? What? The first two are untouchable.

Unless you're talking about their third, 'Field Studies'?

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Thursday, 14 October 2004 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Is the Quasi album, 'Sword of God'? That, and 'Holy shit!' are just blah. Talk about treading water.

― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 14 October 2004 20:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't it 'Hot Shit!'? Just saying...

― Nowell, Thursday, 14 October 2004 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, but that does not make it any better.

― righteousmaelstrom, Thursday, 14 October 2004 21:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Come Away With Me

― mottdeterre (mottdeterre), Thursday, 14 October 2004 22:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Flesh + Blood because so much other Roxy Music is so not mediocre and if I'd heard this one first who knows, I may have stopped there.

― Thea (Thea), Thursday, 14 October 2004 22:26 (twenty-one years ago)

"Oasis AT THEIR VERY BEST were on the low end of mediocre. On a good day."

I'll second this. I never understood the hype. Was it the constant yawning?

― peepee (peepee), Thursday, 14 October 2004 22:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Now that I think about it, all Quasi records. I never understood how people could work up any emotion at all about this band.

― adam (adam), Thursday, 14 October 2004 22:55 (twenty-one years ago)

In retrospect, the Strokes are pretty dang mediocre too.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 14 October 2004 23:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Alex, 2 for 2.

― peepee (peepee), Thursday, 14 October 2004 23:03 (twenty-one years ago)

"Come Away With Me" is the one, probably.

It took me longer than anyone else I know to figure out why Nellie McKay's record is titled "Get Away From Me."

― Thea (Thea), Thursday, 14 October 2004 23:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Even though it's fashionable to trash them, Oasis's Definitely Maybe is a very good album, and it sounds NOTHING like "Wonderwall." It was back when they didn't sound like they were trying to be someone else.

Anyway, I think the Cranberries should win this mediocre album award. Their first two albums had some really good singles, but everything else was absolute shit

― King Korn Karn, Friday, 15 October 2004 00:05 (twenty-one years ago)

"Wondewall" is Oasis at their best though. "Definitely Maybe" is lacking in production and musical variety.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 15 October 2004 00:14 (twenty-one years ago)

How about Rod Stewart, Out of Order? He could actually win for Most Mediocre Decade.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Friday, 15 October 2004 00:19 (twenty-one years ago)

"Wondewall" is Oasis at their best though.

I'd have to strongly disagree with that-- at least, in reference to the first two albums. That song sucks. x-post

― King Korn Karn, Friday, 15 October 2004 00:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Come Away With Me rules. Nothing with Bill Frisell on it is the most mediocre anything + I actually think it's quite distinctive and very accomplished and just really pleasant to listen to. It's a Shame About Ray is an inspired choice. In the anti-canonical vein, how about Automatic for the People?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 15 October 2004 00:34 (twenty-one years ago)

White Light/White Heat

― alfalfa romeo (natepatrin), Friday, 15 October 2004 00:49 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not through-and-through great but if nothing else it's too unusual to be the most mediocre.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 15 October 2004 00:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually I have really positive memories of every track on it. None of them are 'good songs' but the whole thing just has a really cool burnt-out feel to it.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 15 October 2004 01:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Well I'll keep nominating it until people get bored of these "overrated/bad/mediocre albums" threads

(disclaimer: "Sister Ray" would be great if it were 2:45)

― alfalfa romeo (natepatrin), Friday, 15 October 2004 01:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Anything from Pablo Cruise (Cruse?) (Cruz?) (Krooz?)

― mottdeterre (mottdeterre), Friday, 15 October 2004 03:18 (twenty-one years ago)

In retrospect, the Strokes are pretty dang mediocre too.

Gasp! A convert! Can we all forget about The Strokes now? Thanx.

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 15 October 2004 05:10 (twenty-one years ago)

NEVER FORGET

― alfalfa romeo (natepatrin), Friday, 15 October 2004 06:34 (twenty-one years ago)

james iha solo album. ugh

― 6335, Friday, 15 October 2004 06:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Sonic Youth - Dirty

― Graeme (Graeme), Friday, 15 October 2004 16:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Pablo Honey is, without a doubt, THE MOST MEDIOCRE ALBUM EVER MADE!!!!

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 15 October 2004 17:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Scarecrow?! How can that go un-challenged? Utterly ridiculous!

First of all, the title song alone removes it from mediocrity. Any album with a song as bitter and affecting as that one is exonerated from the charge. But add to that "You've Got to Stand for Somethin" "Small Town", "Lonely Old Night" and you've got a fucking mid-80s classic!

― frankE (frankE), Friday, 15 October 2004 17:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Graeme is OTM.. Dirty is such a mediocre album by most standards and a terrible one by SY standards.

― Helios Creed (orion), Friday, 15 October 2004 17:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Hootie!

(Come on, Blowfish-loathers, face it: The mere fact that it was a huge hit doesn't make it qualitatively any WORSE, just harder to ignore. Otherwise, logically, their second album would be irrefutably BETTER.)

And, Nate, I've kept silent long enough: You dis White Light, White Heat ONE MORE TIME, I'll have no choice but to politely ask you not to do so again.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Ef that. Dirty > WL/WH. Stuff yr indie purist canon.

― alfalfa romeo (natepatrin), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Sonic Youth - Dirty

That's a very upsetting thing to say. Also, who would have guessed a thread about mediocrity would become an argument about Oasis?

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:32 (twenty-one years ago)

x-post!

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:32 (twenty-one years ago)

white light/white heat is not a classic album either, but it's certainly less mediocre than dirty.

― Helios Creed (orion), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:33 (twenty-one years ago)

(clarification: nearly nobody hates WL/WH but me. Nearly nobody likes Dirty but me. Chalk it up to me being some sort of weirdo and kindly move on because beating up on the minority position is totally fascist, maaan)

Helios, do you hate POWER SLEAZE WAH-WAH ROCK ACTION??? "Sugar Kane" = possibly THE best rock single of the big alt-rock boom

― alfalfa romeo (natepatrin), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:35 (twenty-one years ago)

(only dud track = "Youth Against Fascism" and even that'd make a great instrumental)

― alfalfa romeo (natepatrin), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:35 (twenty-one years ago)

A more serious answer to the thread's original question: Pearl Jam's Vs. My quintessential "loved in high school but will never, EVER revisit" album.

― alfalfa romeo (natepatrin), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Wish Fulfillment is one of my favourite Sonic Youth songs. And I like Youth Against Fascism, except for the video. I've never 'got' the Velvet Underground, but Sonic Youth have never made a mediocre album.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Dirty ain't ALL BAD, I like WISH FULFILLMENT and the aforementioned SUGAR KANE, but as far as SY albums go, it is totally the bottom of the barrel.

xpost

― Helios Creed (orion), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I actually haven't heard an entire John Cougar Mellencamp but, yes, "Scarecrow" is probably his least mediocre single! At the least it's tied with "Jack and Diane".

Nate, I love Dirty. It's possibly their best-selling album (and I'm pretty sure sold more than WL/WH) so don't feel too marginalized;) I don't understand how anyone who listened to like any other 90s alt-rock album could consider Dirty some sort of ultimate in mediocrity but meh. I've written tons about on this board so I didn't say anything before.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

(2xpost. Murray St comes closer to being mediocre IMO.)

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Bad Moon Rising?

― alfalfa romeo (natepatrin), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I used to love the first two albums. Now they almost kind of seem like silly goth-shock-rock and very dated. Still, they're much better than most of what that style had to offer.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Goo is my least favourite. I love Murray St. and Bad Moon Rising.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I've listened plenty to all of them so I shouldn't really pick on any.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:50 (twenty-one years ago)

(Or does that mean that I have more of a right to pick on any of them? Ah, the conundrums posed by obsession...)

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 15 October 2004 18:51 (twenty-one years ago)

most mediocre album is a concept which i don't get. there are so many mediocre albums out there. more than 95% of all albums i'd guess. to find the worst you'd have to listen to all that shit. surely that is not a good investment of your precious time. bye.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Friday, 15 October 2004 19:00 (twenty-one years ago)

most mediocre SY album = NYC ghosts and flowers. dirty is great

― 6335, Friday, 15 October 2004 19:22 (twenty-one years ago)

NYC ghosts & flowers isn't mediocre, it's shit.

― Helios Creed (orion), Friday, 15 October 2004 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

dirty is my fave of sy. sometimes.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Friday, 15 October 2004 19:29 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm not quite that extreme about it, helios. x-post

― 6335, Friday, 15 October 2004 19:32 (twenty-one years ago)

the vocals ruin it for me totally. the only track escaping that is the title track. but, gawd.. worst lyrics of the entire SY catalog, I think, and embarassing spoken word delivery. free city rhymes is kinda pretty until the vocals come in.

― Helios Creed (orion), Friday, 15 October 2004 19:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Sonic Youth sucks.

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 15 October 2004 20:42 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, the vocals are annoying for the most part. some of the music is nice, though..and i like the mixing/recording, so i tend to think of it as just being mediocre. it probably belongs in the 'forgettable' category for me, really

― 6335, Friday, 15 October 2004 21:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I am afraid anything relased by Phil Collins after 1990 would fit in here. Before that, I used to like whatever he came up with....

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 16 October 2004 00:37 (twenty-one years ago)

It was back when they didn't sound like they were trying to be someone else.

On "Definitely Maybe", Oasis were trying to sound like they were Sex Pistols. Like the overrated Sex Pistols, they kind of failed to come up with good stuff. They were a lot better when they were trying to sound like The Beatles.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 16 October 2004 00:41 (twenty-one years ago)

b-b-b-but the Beatles were the living embodiment of the depths of Mediocrity.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Saturday, 16 October 2004 01:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't know which of you will give me an ulcer first.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Saturday, 16 October 2004 01:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Hahahahahaha.
Sorry, sundar. Here...
(*gives sundar a virtual bottle of Milk of Magnesia.*)

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Saturday, 16 October 2004 01:26 (twenty-one years ago)

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