CHUD.com Community › Forums › MUSIC › Music › Your Favorite Artist's Worst Songs
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Your Favorite Artist's Worst Songs

post #1 of 102
4/23/08 at 2:20pm
Thread Starter 
I'm new here, so sorry if this is already out there (I looked but couldn't find anything). Anyway...

What are your least favorite tracks from your favorite artists?

"Girls" - Dizzee Rascal: Come on Diz, "I Luv You" was awesome. This isn't.
"High and Dry" - Radiohead: I never liked this song.
"In the Backseat" - Arcade Fire: I love me some Arcade Fire, but Régine Chassagne bugs the shit out of me.
"Mexican Seafood" - Nirvana: A bit unfair to pull from an odds and sods album, but I can't imagine a point in my life where I'd want to listen to this again.
"Babay (Eat a Critter, Feel Its Wrath)" - The Blow: Bad metaphor extended to song length.
"I'm In Touch With Your World" - The Cars: Lone stumbling block on their classic first album.
"Looking for Astronauts" - The National: Looking for astronauts? Really? That's what we're all doing?
"Cowboy Dan" - Modest Mouse: First song of theirs I heard. The reason it took me so long to get into them.
"Rehearsing My Choir" - The Fiery Furnaces: I love the Friedberger siblings and their records (even the grandmother one), but I can't listen to this song.
"World of Hair" - Dan Deacon: Why is this on his record?

And a special shout out to all the painfully unfunny, forced skits and intros that have ever made me press the skip button.
Reply
post #2 of 102
4/23/08 at 2:39pm
David Bowie/Mick Jagger - Dancing In The Street

Marilyn Manson - Heart Shaped Glasses (bleck!)

Nine Inch Nails - The Collector

Bright Eyes - Make A Plan To Love Me

Rasputina - When I Was A Young Girl

Lou Reed - Satellite Of Love
Reply
post #3 of 102
4/23/08 at 2:46pm
I second Heart Shaped Glasses, holy christ was that a terrible song.
Reply
post #4 of 102
4/23/08 at 2:47pm
Major songs that I hate from my favorite bands -

Queen: 'Body Language' (that whole album, 'Hot Space', is their absolute worst effort).
Rush: 'Fly By Night'.
Iron Maiden: 'Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter'.
Supertramp: 'It's Raining Again'.
Van Halen: 'You're No Good'.
Dream Theater: 'You Not Me'.

I betcha I spend most of the rest of the day at work thinking on this...
Reply
post #5 of 102
4/23/08 at 2:52pm
Quote:
"In the Backseat" - Arcade Fire: I love me some Arcade Fire, but Régine Chassagne bugs the shit out of me.
Often when I hate a song but love the album it's on, I'll keep listening to it and end up liking that song eventually. "In the Backseat" is a good example: first I thought it was boring, and then annoying, and then maybe a good way to end Funeral, now it's one of my favorite AF songs of all.

Another one is Björk's "Bachelorette." I love Björk, but for the longest time I couldn't understand why anyone would like that song. Today I don't mind it. Maybe I'm just weak-minded.
Reply
post #6 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:00pm
Tom Waits: a duel between 'Metropolitan Glide' and 'Top of the Hill'
Reply
post #7 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by James Kimbell View Post

Another one is Björk's "Bachelorette." I love Björk, but for the longest time I couldn't understand why anyone would like that song. Today I don't mind it. Maybe I'm just weak-minded.
I LOVE "Bachelorette"! As for Bjork's worst, try pretty much anything off Medulla.
Reply
post #8 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:06pm
Pearl Jam : Yellow Ledbetter

I can't fucking stand that song. Probably because they closed every fucking show for the last 10 years using the same song.
Reply
post #9 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tati View Post
Pearl Jam : Yellow Ledbetter

I can't fucking stand that song. Probably because they closed every fucking show for the last 10 years using the same song.
Amen, brother.
Reply
post #10 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:16pm
Rush - "Dog Years" from Test for Echo, a real clinker lyrically and musically. Peart must've had an off day writing that one.
Reply
post #11 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
Dream Theater: 'You Not Me'.
If memory serves, even Dream Theater has gone on record to say that "Falling Into Infinity" isn't their best album. I find myself agreeing with James Kimbell, especially when it comes to Dream Theater - I always start off not liking certain songs on their albums. But the more I listen to it, the more I end up loving every song. This works especially in Dream Theater's case because I find that if I'm going to listen to DT, I have to listen to the whole album in one sitting. Their albums are put together in such a way that all their songs are part of a whole. I can't listen to just one DT song. I feel like I'm listening to a snippet of a larger composition.
Reply
post #12 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Don S. View Post
If memory serves, even Dream Theater has gone on record to say that "Falling Into Infinity" isn't their best album. I find myself agreeing with James Kimbell, especially when it comes to Dream Theater - I always start off not liking certain songs on their albums. But the more I listen to it, the more I end up loving every song. This works especially in Dream Theater's case because I find that if I'm going to listen to DT, I have to listen to the whole album in one sitting. Their albums are put together in such a way that all their songs are part of a whole. I can't listen to just one DT song. I feel like I'm listening to a snippet of a larger composition.
Dream Theater was under tremendous pressure to put out an album of commercial material at that time. Many of the demos that they produced were transformed by the producers into more accessible songs, and 'You Not Me' is the biggest example. The demo, 'You Or Me', was a much more DT-like effort, but the whole chorus and feel of the song was changed into 'You Or Me' in the effort to craft a radio hit. The result is just awful.

Regardless of the interference, there are still many worthwhile tracks on 'Falling Into Infinity'.
Reply
post #13 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:37pm
Country House - Blur. A band capable of absolute brilliance, be it pop or more introspective, darker work, this is the nadir of their "Britpop" dalliance. Also, one of their biggest hits.

Little James - Oasis. Only fair to point out their once-rivals' worst ever track, Liam's first recorded attempt at song-writing. Just horrible, juvenile bollocks.
Reply
post #14 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Werewolf Girl View Post
David Bowie/Mick Jagger - Dancing In The Street

Lou Reed - Satellite Of Love
Amen on "Dancing in the Street". Disagree on "Satellite of Love" though. If I had to pick a song from Transformer it'd be "Make Up" I always skip that one.

Quote:
Originally Posted by James Kimbell View Post
Often when I hate a song but love the album it's on, I'll keep listening to it and end up liking that song eventually. "In the Backseat" is a good example: first I thought it was boring, and then annoying, and then maybe a good way to end Funeral, now it's one of my favorite AF songs of all.
I agree with the sentiment, but I just can't come around to this song. Part of it is from seeing them live, I just don't like her. She seems like an annoying Drama Club chick from High School, and though she toned it down some since the Us Kids Know EP, she still seems like a 3rd rate Bjork impersonator to me. Love the band though.

Also:

"My Friend Goo" - Sonic Youth
"Tempted" - Squeeze
Reply
post #15 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
Regardless of the interference, there are still many worthwhile tracks on 'Falling Into Infinity'.

Agreed.

Like I said above, I've grown to enjoy every album they have, with one exception - "When Dream and Day Unite". I could never get into Dominici's vocals.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
Dream Theater was under tremendous pressure to put out an album of commercial material at that time. Many of the demos that they produced were transformed by the producers into more accessible songs, and 'You Not Me' is the biggest example. The demo, 'You Or Me', was a much more DT-like effort, but the whole chorus and feel of the song was changed into 'You Or Me' in the effort to craft a radio hit. The result is just awful.
I remember reading about this. Unfortunate, but at least even at their worst they still put out a decent album.


Edit: Changed out to at.
Reply
post #16 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tati View Post
they closed every fucking show for the last 10 years using the same song.
An exaggeration, yes,(I would venture to put it at 65%) but I know where you are coming from. I could do without ever hearing it again. Actually, same goes for the 10 minute long "Evenflow", which they do play every night.
Reply
post #17 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:51pm
i would go with 90% of the times in the last 5 years?

Also i could go without 10 minute long Rearviewmirror, which i only heard 3 times. But it's annoying. 3 minutes of that song is perfection. Don't fuck it up.
Reply
post #18 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Don S. View Post
Agreed.

Like I said above, I've grown to enjoy every album they have, with one exception - "When Dream and Day Unite". I could never get into Dominici's vocals.
They did a live version of WDaDU in its entirety a couple of years ago to celebrate the album's anniversary. It comes off much better LIVE and with James as the singer, but it's still their weakest effort. You can actually buy this as an 'official bootleg' through their website if you're truly desperate to hear it, but it's really for the hardcore fans of the band...me, for instance.
Reply
post #19 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:52pm
The double shot of "Give It Away/ Under The Bridge" also falls into this category. BSSM is my all-time favorite album, yet remains incomplete on my ipod due to my refusal to have those two songs.


Edit - I am retarded today.
Reply
post #20 of 102
4/23/08 at 3:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Russ Fischer View Post
Tom Waits: a duel between 'Metropolitan Glide' and 'Top of the Hill'
If I had to pick a Waits song it'd probably be "What's He Building in There". Once Bone Machine set the tone for his 90s output I always felt his stuff was good but repetitive, and that song reaches parody for me. I just think it's so ridiculous.
Reply
post #21 of 102
4/23/08 at 4:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
They did a live version of WDaDU in its entirety a couple of years ago to celebrate the album's anniversary. It comes off much better LIVE and with James as the singer, but it's still their weakest effort. You can actually buy this as an 'official bootleg' through their website if you're truly desperate to hear it, but it's really for the hardcore fans of the band...me, for instance.

Hmm... I may have to check this out. I consider myself a hardcore fan as well; I've enjoyed their music ever since I was introduced to "Scenes From a Memory" by a friend back in 2000. I've been absorbing all of their music ever since. Thanks for the heads-up!
Reply
post #22 of 102
4/23/08 at 4:04pm
The Beatles - 90% of the White Album
Reply
post #23 of 102
4/23/08 at 4:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tati View Post
i would go with 90% of the times in the last 5 years?

Also i could go without 10 minute long Rearviewmirror, which i only heard 3 times. But it's annoying. 3 minutes of that song is perfection. Don't fuck it up.

I agree mostly on RVM, though when the songs revs back up after the slow build of the long solo and Mr. Vedder starts howling "Somethings", I greatly enjoy the rest of the song.
Reply
post #24 of 102
4/23/08 at 4:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Don S. View Post
Hmm... I may have to check this out. I consider myself a hardcore fan as well; I've enjoyed their music ever since I was introduced to "Scenes From a Memory" by a friend back in 2000. I've been absorbing all of their music ever since. Thanks for the heads-up!
http://www.ytsejamrecords.com/

You'll want 'When Dream and Day Reuinite'. It's on both CD and DVD. While you're at it, pick up their covers of 'Master of Puppets' and 'The Number of the Beast' if you haven't done so yet.
Reply
post #25 of 102
4/23/08 at 4:14pm
Outstanding. Thanks, man!
Reply
post #26 of 102
4/23/08 at 4:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsoon Moon View Post
If I had to pick a Waits song it'd probably be "What's He Building in There". Once Bone Machine set the tone for his 90s output I always felt his stuff was good but repetitive, and that song reaches parody for me. I just think it's so ridiculous.
I respectfully disagree wholeheartedly. Atmospheric and creepy plus stellar production and a great set of lyrics in regards to suburban mistrust make for a great song.

If I were doing Tom Waits it would have to be his cover of Big Joe and Phantom 309. I love Nighthawks but that song always sticks out like a sore thumb.
Reply
post #27 of 102
4/23/08 at 4:26pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan S~ View Post
I respectfully disagree wholeheartedly. Atmospheric and creepy plus stellar production and a great set of lyrics in regards to suburban mistrust make for a great song.

If I were doing Tom Waits it would have to be his cover of Big Joe and Phantom 309. I love Nighthawks but that song always sticks out like a sore thumb.
I don't have Nighthawks, so I can't comment. Now that I think on it, I kind of always thought "What's He Building in There" was bad, and it became an in-joke with me and my friends. That probably ruined it forever for me since it cemented it as a joke, not a song. I just listened to it now with what you said in mind, and while I see what you saying, I still feel the its pretty silly. Though like I said, it probably has more to do with me than the song.

I'd also like to add 98% of Jay Farrar's contributions to Uncle Tupelo.
Reply
post #28 of 102
4/23/08 at 4:28pm
The White Stripes - Who's a Big Baby = Worst. Song. Ever

Seriously, try it on. I dare you.
Reply
post #29 of 102
4/23/08 at 4:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul755 View Post
The Beatles - 90% of the White Album
Shut the FUCK up. Really???
Reply
post #30 of 102
4/23/08 at 4:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsoon Moon View Post
I don't have Nighthawks, so I can't comment. Now that I think on it, I kind of always thought "What's He Building in There" was bad, and it became an in-joke with me and my friends. That probably ruined it forever for me since it cemented it as a joke, not a song. I just listened to it now with what you said in mind, and while I see what you saying, I still feel the its pretty silly. Though like I said, it probably has more to do with me than the song.
Oh, no doubt it's a silly song, particularly so on an album like Mule Variations. But silliness doesn't necessarily indicate quality. It doesn't get much sillier then Zappa's "Catholic Girls" but it's still a pretty great song.

Have a listen to Nighthawks, it's well worth the time. It's nothing like what he's doing now but you can see the kernels of what his music will become.
Reply
post #31 of 102
4/23/08 at 5:09pm
Back to the Arcade Fire, I'd say "The Well and the Lighthouse" is their worst. Partly because it comes before "(ATB)" which thoroughly overshadows it, but mostly because, to me, they just seem bored with the song and its story. I don't hate the song, but I do often skip it.
Reply
post #32 of 102
4/23/08 at 5:22pm
While the easy pick would be to choose "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86" (which I don't entirely hate anyway), for the Police, I'd go with "Born in the 50s". It's musically uninteresting and contains this little lyrical gem: "My mother cried / When president Kennedy died / She said it was the communists / But I knew more". Um, okay.
Reply
post #33 of 102
4/23/08 at 5:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Werewolf Girl View Post
Marilyn Manson - Heart Shaped Glasses (bleck!)

Nine Inch Nails - The Collector
We park our cars in the same garage.

Not counting demo material before Pretty Hate Machine, I'd have to add the song he did for Tomb Raider("Deep"). I love the music to it, but the lyrics are fucking awful.
Reply
post #34 of 102
4/23/08 at 5:37pm
I know most people here think the entirety of the DMB catalogue is poop but if you want some real garbage check out "Proudest Monkey" or "Little Thing". Ugh, so terrible.
Reply
post #35 of 102
4/23/08 at 5:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
While the easy pick would be to choose "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86" (which I don't entirely hate anyway), for the Police, I'd go with "Born in the 50s". It's musically uninteresting and contains this little lyrical gem: "My mother cried / When president Kennedy died / She said it was the communists / But I knew more". Um, okay.
I don't mind Born in the 50s. It's not brilliant but not bad either.

Oddly, for me it's a song that I really like that I skip most from The Police. I think Mother is so out of place on Syncronicity that I just skip it all the time. I like it on it's own but it's such an abrasive tune on such a smooth album that I just can't listen to it.
Reply
post #36 of 102
4/23/08 at 5:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsoon Moon View Post
If I had to pick a Waits song it'd probably be "What's He Building in There". Once Bone Machine set the tone for his 90s output I always felt his stuff was good but repetitive, and that song reaches parody for me. I just think it's so ridiculous.
Speaking of parodies, I thought "Road to Peace" from Orphans was someone doing a Waits impression when I heard it on the radio.

As much as I love the guy at his peak, there's a ton of early and late period Waits I can sort of do without. From Swordfishtrombone to most of Mule variations, he's pretty rock solid, but the early stuff can sound a little interchangeable, and I've yet to make it through a listen of Blood Money, Alice, or Real Gone in one sitting, much less Orphans, which is practically an experiment in inconsistency.
Reply
post #37 of 102
4/23/08 at 5:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsoon Moon View Post
I'd also like to add 98% of Jay Farrar's contributions to Uncle Tupelo.
Wow. Tweedy eventually surpassed him, but Farrar had the stronger songs for a while, I'd say. "Whiskey Bottle," "Still Be Around," "Sauget Wind," and "Chickamauga" are easily as good as Tweedy's best Uncle Tupelo songs, if not better.
Reply
post #38 of 102
4/23/08 at 5:58pm
I came in here to say what DaveB said regarding Farrar and Uncle Tupelo. While I'm here, I'll say that I doubt I'll ever listen to anything after the first three tracks of R.E.M.'s Around the Sun again. It's the obvious choice, but it's earned it.

90% of The White Album? Really?
Reply
post #39 of 102
4/23/08 at 6:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveB View Post
and I've yet to make it through a listen of Blood Money, Alice, or Real Gone
I agree. There's some really great stuff on all those albums but you have to wade through some pretty iffy moments to get to them.

I like Road To Peace but I try to pretend it's someone with a Waits fetish singing it.
Reply
post #40 of 102
4/23/08 at 6:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveB View Post
Wow. Tweedy eventually surpassed him, but Farrar had the stronger songs for a while, I'd say. "Whiskey Bottle," "Still Be Around," "Sauget Wind," and "Chickamauga" are easily as good as Tweedy's best Uncle Tupelo songs, if not better.
Ever since a friend lent me March 16-20, 1992 in 8th grade I've been a Tweedy fan. I have never liked Farrar's material in Uncle Tupelo or out. I just can't stand his voice, his phrasing, his songs... all of it. I know he's a talented musician but his stuff is just not for me. I will agree that he was a better song writer in Uncle Tupelo at the beginning but Tweedy lapped him and then some. I don't have UT albums on my iPod, just a playlist with Tweedy's songs.

Quote:
Oddly, for me it's a song that I really like that I skip most from The Police. I think Mother is so out of place on Syncronicity that I just skip it all the time. I like it on it's own but it's such an abrasive tune on such a smooth album that I just can't listen to it.
Yes. I can't stand hearing that song directly after "O My God". Not really fair but I really can't stand "Next To You" anymore. I just hate that song on Rock Band.
Reply
post #41 of 102
4/23/08 at 6:45pm
I'll cast a vote for any Ani Difranco song released post-Little Plastic Castle. I find little not to love on her first bunch of albums, but from To The Teeth on I haven't heard one song I honestly even liked.
Reply
post #42 of 102
4/23/08 at 7:38pm
Monsoon Moon - 'Cowboy Dan' as MM's worst? You gotta be kidding. Of course, I'm biased because it's one of one of my favorites off that album and spent forever learning the main guitar part. If anything, pick on a song on one of their more recent releases. If I had to choose a least favorite off LCW it'd be 'Jesus Christ was an Only Child'. But their worst would not be found on that album.
I'd be with you on 'In the Backseat' by Arcade Fire but as the song builds it improves. Damn if her voice doesn't rake nails across a chalkboard in the intro, tho.

Tati - see if this does anything +/- for your distaste of Yellow Ledbetter
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xLd22ha_-VU
Reply
post #43 of 102
4/23/08 at 7:56pm
The Rolling Stones - Shattered

The Beatles - She Said She Said

Actually, I'd say The White Album is actually 90% good, but I absolutely can't listen to the first few lines of "Happiness is a Warm Gun". The rest of the song is good, but I seldom hear it due to the fact I always stab desperately at the skip button when Happiness starts up.
Reply
post #44 of 102
4/23/08 at 11:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by misfit View Post
90% of The White Album? Really?
I sort of get this. I love the album myself, but as an album. I wouldn't go 90%; not with stand-alone classics like Blackbird, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, I Will, Julia, Mother Nature's Son, Helter Skelter and Cry Baby Cry, backed up by enjoyable novelties like Savoy Truffle, Don't Pass Me By and Back in the USSR. But yeah, who sits down and cues up Revolution #9 or The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill?

(edit) She Said, She Said? The hell you say.
Reply
post #45 of 102
4/24/08 at 1:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammerhead View Post
But yeah, who sits down and cues up Revolution #9 or The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill?
Nobody.

Know why? It's an incredible ALBUM (my favorite Beatles record) that's best heard all at once. No "cueing" required.

Also, don't trust Paul. He picked two Lennon recordings, naturally. And two of his best at that.
Reply
post #46 of 102
4/24/08 at 4:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Parker View Post
Know why? It's an incredible ALBUM (my favorite Beatles record) that's best heard all at once. No "cueing" required.
Sooo... you're agreeing with me.
Reply
post #47 of 102
4/24/08 at 5:59am
NIN - Deep
Reply
post #48 of 102
4/24/08 at 10:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratty View Post
I LOVE "Bachelorette"! As for Bjork's worst, try pretty much anything off Medulla.
I'd agree if that entire album was anything more than just an intriguing musical experiment, and Vokuro wasn't so achingly beautiful.

Personally, I vote Pluto. Along with the fact that it sucks, it throws off the flow of Homogenic so badly.

Also: Tool - Right In Two. 10,000 Days isn't their best work to begin with, but, seriously, aside from the end guitar wankery, a 5th grader could've written that song.
Reply
post #49 of 102
4/24/08 at 10:50am
The problem I have with Homogenic is the version of "All Is Full of Love" that was chosen to close out the album; I prefer the (longer, richer) single mix. I usually put together my own versions of Bjork's stuff, substituting alternate mixes or B-sides that were left off the albums. For Homogenic I made the "All Is Full of Love" adjustment and added "My Snare" (a.k.a. "Nature is Ancient") before "Alarm Call."
Reply
post #50 of 102
4/24/08 at 11:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul McCartney View Post
The Rolling Stones - Shattered
The Stones have entire albums that are worse than this song.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Music
CHUD.com Community › Forums › MUSIC › Music › Your Favorite Artist's Worst Songs