The worst albums of all time?

Oriphiel · 06-12-2017, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Nah. It's been a big thing for a long time around this forum to, in my opinion, unduly bash U2. They're not my favorite band by any means and I think they should've hung it up long ago, but in their heyday they made some good stuff. I think if people heard them today without all the baggage of their fame, they'd recognize some of their music as worthwhile post punk. "I Will Follow" comes to mind as an example of what I'm talking about.

Oh, come on. Deep down, you know that U hate them 2.

**Janszoon** · 06-12-2017, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

Don't worry Janzs, I'm not being trendy, I've hated them for as long as I can remember. Plus, positive opinions from people like you is what has made me revisit and reevaluate my opinion on that album to see if there's anything worthwhile there, but I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

I'm not talking about The Joshua Tree, I'm talking about U2 in general. That's why I mentioned one of their more post punkish songs from earlier in their career, when they were more of a post punk band. The criticism I see from you about them is that they're pretentious, but the only thing about them that I think anyone could reasonably describe as pretentious is Bono's personality. Their actual music, especially prior to Rattle & Hum, is streamlined and simple—not much room for pretense or bloat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oriphiel

Oh, come on. Deep down, you know that U hate them 2.

**Frownland** · 06-12-2017, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I'm not talking about The Joshua Tree, I'm talking about U2 in general. That's why I mentioned one of their more post punkish songs from earlier in their career, when they were more of a post punk band. The criticism I see from you about them is that they're pretentious, but the only thing about them that I think anyone could reasonably describe as pretentious is Bono's personality. Their actual music, especially prior to Rattle & Hum, is streamlined and simple—not much room for pretense or bloat.

I've only listened to Joshua Tree and War since I couldn't find any good reasons there to explore the rest of their discography. Do you think I'd be into Boy? I might check it out soon. I don't know how I can explain the pretension that I find in Joshua Tree to you, but it beats me over the head with pretension every time I hear it. I think it's Bono's singing style. The bloat comes in the form of overreliance on pedals to make a not that interesting product probably.

Check out this simple and non pretentious album.

**Janszoon** · 06-12-2017, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

I've only listened to Joshua Tree and War since I couldn't find any good reasons there to explore the rest of their discography. Do you think I'd be into Boy? I might check it out soon. I don't know how I can explain the pretension that I find in Joshua Tree to you, but it beats me over the head with pretension every time I hear it. I think it's Bono's singing style. The bloat comes in the form of overreliance on pedals to make a not that interesting product probably.

Check out this simple and non pretentious album.

Heh. I never knew you were such a guitar purist!

I'm at work and can't stream the YouTube link you posted but I'll check it out when I get home.

**Frownland** · 06-12-2017, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Heh. I never knew you were such a guitar purist!

I'm at work and can't stream the YouTube link you posted but I'll check it out when I get home.

It's more about the end product than anything.

The album I posted is a single sine wave that only changes in volume. It's a really simple concept, but it's also incredibly pretentious. Posted as a contradiction to your comment about simplicity and directness not leaving room for pretension.

**Janszoon** · 06-12-2017, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

It's more about the end product than anything.

The album I posted is a single sine wave that only changes in volume. It's a really simple concept, but it's also incredibly pretentious.

Ok. Simple in terms of pop music is not the same thing as simple in terms of art music. I thought it was kind of given that you'd understand I wasn't describing U2 in terms of minimalist art music.

**Frownland** · 06-12-2017, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Ok. Simple in terms of pop music is not the same thing as simple in terms of art music. I thought it was kind of given that you'd understand I wasn't describing U2 in terms of minimalist art music.

I did understand what you meant, I just don't agree that simplicity doesn't leave room for pretension. It's kind of a hard thing to objectively establish though, since at its core pretension comes down to intent.

**Frownland** · 06-12-2017, 11:07 AM

I'm listening to U2's album Negativland and it's great! Do they have more stuff like this?

Chula Vista · 06-12-2017, 11:10 AM

I like this. A lot.

**Frownland** · 06-12-2017, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chula Vista

I like this. A lot.

I won't fault you for that.

Listened to it. I thought it was just kind of neutral, not good but not necessarily bad. Then Bono started singing and made the track bad. I just can't stand his singing style, and you've probably seen me mention that bad vocals is the quickest way to make me dislike a track.

Also I couldn't keep from giggling when he defiantly said "mister".

06-12-2017, 11:07 AM	#78 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	I'm listening to U2's album Negativland and it's great! Do they have more stuff like this? __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

06-12-2017, 11:10 AM	#79 (permalink)
Chula Vista Toasted Poster Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: SoCal by way of Boston Posts: 11,332	I like this. A lot. __________________ “The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well, on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.”