Your greatest musical "let-downs".

[Just_A_Glitch]

I've never been more disappointed in a band than Evanescence. Fallen was my favorite album for quite awhile, and though it has lost that role now, I still really enjoy the album.

But I've never heard a shittier album than The Open Door. Evanescence is dead to me. I Am The Fallen is where its at now.

There are some others, but nothing nearly as bad as Evanescence.

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

Muse. The album "The Resistance" was pretty meh. Apart from Unnatural selection, i didnt like any of the songs on that album. Also Neutron Star Collision is just bad.

Uprising really did it for me as did MK ultra, the ending harmonies rocked. I also agree neutron star collision was a let down. The resistance is pretty good, the song, and unnatural selection is brilliant. United states of Eurasia didn't agree with me, I dislike muses more droney songs.

 

[Outright Villainy]

OT: I've grown into it now, but Appeal to Reason by Rise Against was something of a disappointment at first (mostly because I'd listened to the best two tracks before I bought it. not making that mistake again)

Yeah, that. Especially since I thought the sufferer and the witness was the best punk album I've ever heard so hopes were high. Still, it has a few good songs, it's just pretty forgettable overall. Probably to do with the fact that they got a new guitarist (again)

OT: any of In flames discography after Clayman, System of a down's Mezmerize/Hynopitse thing, Killswitch Engage's last two albums, and Rage against the Machine never quite lived up to that debut.

 

[tomtom94]

OT: I've grown into it now, but Appeal to Reason by Rise Against was something of a disappointment at first (mostly because I'd listened to the best two tracks before I bought it. not making that mistake again)

Yeah, that. Especially since I thought the sufferer and the witness was the best punk album I've ever heard so hopes were high. Still, it has a few good songs, it's just pretty forgettable overall. Probably to do with the fact that they got a new guitarist (again)

OT: System of a down's Mezmerize/Hynopitse thing

I think its main problem was the pacing. Think about the first four songs: Collapse was fast, Long Forgotten Sons was slow, Re-Education was fast, Dirt Whispered was slow. Almost gave me whiplash. Audience of One was a good song but not really "punk" and the less said about the final two the better...which just dragged down all the work they did with Hero of War and Saviour. (Also am I the only one who liked From Heads Unworthy and The Strength to Go On?)
Hopefully after two years' worth of composing the follow-up will feature some of the guitar riffs they were famous for in the past, although it must be said a lot depends on Zach.

Mezmerize/Hypnotize I also agree with. I'm not sure if it was Daron deciding he could sing, or the pressures of getting two albums out in a year, or a general decline in quality, but the two albums pale in comparison to Toxicity and STA!, and it's a shame. I believe though (as with 21st Century Breakdown) that if they'd cut the mediocre songs (most of Hypnotize along with Lost in Hollywood) and condensed it down to one album, it would probably have been great.

 

[Outright Villainy]

El snip.

Yeah, I think pacing was a huge issue on that album. I liked Re-education, From heads unworthy and Savior was as good as any of their cheestastic songs (like paper wings or like the angel), but the mid paced nature of most of the songs sapped the energy from it. Songs like bricks, drones, worth dying for and survive from the last album were great for kicking it up and keeping the album moving; the new one doesn't really have that with the exception of Entertainment, which is by far my favourite off it because it's so different, and has some energy going for it.

Yeah, I think Mezmerize/Hynoptize would have been better if they cut the crap from both and made it one album, but the bigger issues of Daron being an awful singer, the change of style to something a little more mainstream and uninteresting and the rushed feel of a lot of the songs didn't really bode well for it. Serj's solo album was a bit of a let down too for that matter, and the less said about Scars on broadway. At least the others were good for a couple of listens, but I couldn't get through a single song of that album...

 

[Syphous]

The Offsping's 'Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace'. It was noticeable that The Offspring were slipping with 'Americana' but then they released two of the worst albums ever with 'Conspiracy of One' and 'Splinter', but for some reason I thought with their latest album they might go back to the good old days, and sound good again. Instead it was probably their worst album yet. I was disappoint.

 

[Xan Holbrook]

Scars on Broadway as a whole are a let-down for me. As a massive fan of Serj Tankian and System of a Down as a whole, I was incredibly up for SOB's first record. What I recieved was a sterile, repackaged and soulless version of Hypnotize. In seeing the dichotomy between the members of this band, it's more than obvious as to where the talent in the songwriting department lay - 100% Serj.

 

[tomtom94]

El snip.

Snip 2: Snip Harder

Just out of interest, have you listened to Siren Song? It's got a similar issue with Anywhere But Here (tied with Whereabouts Unknown for worst RA song ever) just killing the pace of the album, but at least on that one there were enough fast tracks to really pick it up and make it overall a good album.

My view of Daron as a singer is tainted by the fact that the songs where he takes lead vocals are generally the slow ones that just seem out of place for SOAD but Lonely Day IMO proved that he just couldn't carry a song like Serj. Sadly.

For SOB, I like They Say, but that's about it. It has to be said I wasn't a fan of Serj's solo effort but try listening to Elect the Dead Symphony if you haven't already. It's...epic.

 

[dfphetteplace]

With Teeth from Nine Inch Nails. I love NIN, but I hate that album. Trent made up for it with Year Zero though.

 

[Michael826]

Also, Linkin Park's Minutes To Midnight... Not good at all.

I was going to say that, but after seeing them live it kind of redeemed it for me. I like some of the songs on it, but it's far from their best work. I can respect their reasons for changing styles though...still, holding out for a remix album after this next one.

I agree with you completely. I bought Minutes to Midnight with the highest of hopes, being the fanatical fan i was at the time, and was sorely disappointed. However, I saw them live in Sydney and it really grew on me. Their live performances are amazing.

OT:
Deez Nuts - This One's for You
Metallica - St. Anger
Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy
Drowning Pool - Self-titled
Alesana - The Emptiness
Living Colour - The Chair in the Doorway
House Vs. Hurricane - Perspectives
Ok Go - Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky
Anything by Eminem after the Eminem Show
Powder Finger - Golden Rule
Silverchair - Young Modern
Pearl Jam - Backspacer
Lacuna Coil - Shallow Life

I can't think of anything else right off the top of my head, but that's a fairly decent list of musical fails... in my book, anyway.

 

[Michael826]

The Offsping's 'Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace'. It was noticeable that The Offspring were slipping with 'Americana' but then they released two of the worst albums ever with 'Conspiracy of One' and 'Splinter', but for some reason I thought with their latest album they might go back to the good old days, and sound good again. Instead it was probably their worst album yet. I was disappoint.

Sorry, i forgot to mention this in my list. Couldn't have put it better myself.

 

[Outright Villainy]

Snip 2: Snip Harder

Higlander 2: the Snippening

Yeah, I have Siren song, but honestly I thought it was a lot better than their newest. It was much poppier, but I thought the song writing overall was a lot more consistent, and they can right a damn fine pop punk song if they try. The new one is just schmeh, it doesn't know what it wants.
I actually kinda like anywhere but here, but that's just for the verses and the bridge, I'll admit the chorus is kinda smelly.

 

[tomtom94]

Mesmerize by System of a Down. All their stuff up until then had been awesome- their self-named album was heavy, thrashy and rough and awesome. Toxicity kicked untold ass. Steal This Album! kept some of the thrashy sound but moved a bit more into some clean vocals/a "cleaner" style. Hypnotize had some absolutely stunning moments. Mesmerize felt like being kicked in the teeth by a walking turd and then being forced to listen to its farted rendition of Beethoven.

Okay so maybe it wasn't that bad, but it was still pretty disappointing for them.

You should try Hypnotize, aka "Filler: The Album".

 

[Michael826]

Also, Linkin Park's Minutes To Midnight... Not good at all.

I was going to say that, but after seeing them live it kind of redeemed it for me. I like some of the songs on it, but it's far from their best work. I can respect their reasons for changing styles though...still, holding out for a remix album after this next one.

I agree with you completely. I bought Minutes to Midnight with the highest of hopes, being the fanatical fan i was at the time, and was sorely disappointed. However, I saw them live in Sydney and it really grew on me. Their live performances are amazing.
Nu Metal is also a dead genre (More or less). They needed to break away from that sound if they were going to retain their commercial appeal. Unfortunately, the results weren't very good. You can't blame them for not trying, though.

OT:
Deez Nuts - This One's for You
Metallica - St. Anger
Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy
Drowning Pool - Self-titled
Alesana - The Emptiness
Living Colour - The Chair in the Doorway
House Vs. Hurricane - Perspectives
Ok Go - Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky
Anything by Eminem after the Eminem Show
Powder Finger - Golden Rule
Silverchair - Young Modern
Pearl Jam - Backspacer
Lacuna Coil - Shallow Life

I can't think of anything else right off the top of my head, but that's a fairly decent list of musical fails... in my book, anyway.

 

[Mr. Mike]

Arctic Monkeys with Humbug. It was such a departure from their style, deciding to go with the slow-tempo songs.

This. And Muse's latest album, The Resistance. I could dig Black Holes and Revelations because it still sounded like Muse. Expanding their horizons and going a tiny bit more pop-ish but still sounding like Muse. Their latest album however, is horrendous. Where are Bellamy's awesome, memorable guitar riffs? Where are the crazy rock-outs? It's all been replaced by far too much ballad-ish, piano driven drivel. I hope they actually sound like Muse on their next album.