What Were They Thinking?

[KingLouieLouie]

It is hilarious sometimes when your favorite bands were/are in desperate need
"to fill" their albums to the extent that they recorded the worst songs possible....

Case in point.... check-out these 2 songs by Alice-in Chains:

"Nothing Song"
http://a420.v8383d.c8383.g.vm.akama...load.akamai.com/8512/wmp/1/3/7117_1_10_04.asf

"Swing On This"
http://a420.v8383d.c8383.g.vm.akama...wnload.akamai.com/8512/wmp/5/3/479_1_7_04.asf

I wonder why The Beatles subjected their fans w/the following on the "White Album"?

"Wild Honey Pie"
http://a420.v8383d.c8383.g.vm.akama...wnload.akamai.com/8512/wmp/2/6/224_1_5_04.asf

I love The Who obviously... but why did they ever record this?

"Dogs"
http://a420.v8383d.c8383.g.vm.akama...d.akamai.com/8512/wmp/1/129/20599_2_17_04.asf

What's so overwhelming is that Pete Townshend nearly had a nervous breakdown because he was seriously relying on that song to be a hit single, but it barely charted (which inspired him to become serious and work on a masterpiece that eventually resulted in "Tommy'"...

So, which of your favorite bands recorded some of the lamest songs? If possible, please include a link to it......

 

[thirty-two]

It is hilarious sometimes when your favorite bands were/are in desperate need
"to fill" their albums to the extent that they recorded the worst songs possible....

Case in point.... check-out these 2 songs by Alice-in Chains:

"Nothing Song"
http://a420.v8383d.c8383.g.vm.akama...load.akamai.com/8512/wmp/1/3/7117_1_10_04.asf

"Swing On This"
http://a420.v8383d.c8383.g.vm.akama...wnload.akamai.com/8512/wmp/5/3/479_1_7_04.asf

I wonder why The Beatles subjected their fans w/the following on the "White Album"?

"Wild Honey Pie"
http://a420.v8383d.c8383.g.vm.akama...wnload.akamai.com/8512/wmp/2/6/224_1_5_04.asf

I love The Who obviously... but why did they ever record this?

"Dogs"
http://a420.v8383d.c8383.g.vm.akama...d.akamai.com/8512/wmp/1/129/20599_2_17_04.asf

What's so overwhelming is that Pete Townshend nearly had a nervous breakdown because he was seriously relying on that song to be a hit single, but it barely charted (which inspired him to become serious and work on a masterpiece that eventually resulted in "Tommy'"...

So, which of your favorite bands recorded some of the lamest songs? If possible, please include a link to it......

I got errors for each of those links. Is it my Media player? Hmph!

 

[Pariah]

I think Honey Pie is catchy...but still bad.

You caould add John Cougar Mellencamp's "Jackie O" from the "uh-huh" album to the catchy but very, very bad catagory, too.

 

[vince56]

How about Metallica's last 3 albums.

I wanted to hit James Hetfield over the head when I heard "Frantic" for the first time. Or "Fuel."

I still can't believe the same band that created Damage Inc and One created Hero of the Day or Mama Said.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Mama Said

I believe I told this story awhile back..... In 1996, a friend and I were driving back from the mall listening to one of our favorite Detroit radio stations, 101.1 WRIF, who were pretty much known for playing strictly Heavy Metal....

Suddenly, this country flavored tune comes on and we are baffled as to why the WRIF would play such a song.... We started to laugh, but the shock didnt happen until the DJ came on and announced that it was the latest from Metallica, "Mama Said"....We were speechless for moment and then started to burst out laughing hysterically when we both confirmed to each other that the DJ said it was Metallica....I thought I was hallucinating at first.......

They'll never revert back to their former selves, however, at least Megadeth seem to be still a solid band......

 

[vince56]

I believe I told this story awhile back..... In 1996, a friend and I were driving back from the mall listening to one of our favorite Detroit radio stations, 101.1 WRIF, who were pretty much known for playing strictly Heavy Metal....

Suddenly, this country flavored tune comes on and we are baffled as to why the WRIF would play such a song.... We started to laugh, but the shock didnt happen until the DJ came on and announced that it was the latest from Metallica, "Mama Said"....We were speechless for moment and then started to burst out laughing hysterically when we both confirmed to each other that the DJ said it was Metallica....I thought I was hallucinating at first.......

They'll never revert back to their former selves, however, at least Megadeth seem to be still a solid band......

KLL, just go get Dream Theater's new DVD "Live at Budokan." You're a closet progger, I know it

 

[Gee!]

progger

I even looked this up on dictionary.com. Is this a misspell?

 

[KingLouieLouie]

KLL, just go get Dream Theater's new DVD "Live at Budokan." You're a closet progger, I know it

You know I like Progressive music!

We've discussed some bands previously, however, for some reason I've really gotten more heavily into Independent music recently and of course can never stop listening to my favorite Classic Rock bands.......

One of my friends back in MI (who plays the drums/guitar) was responsible for getting me into that Genre...(even though I've always liked Yes, Asia, and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer)..but he got me into Fear Factory, Iced Earth (I know theyre more Heavy Metal, but have some Progression to their sound), and I believe another band he played me was called Clockwork (who seemed decent).....

I sometimes listen to sHeavy, Electric Wizard, Orange Goblin, and Kyuss...

Several people have different interpretation as to what defines "Progessive" though.....

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Any post-AJFA Metallica....

The Black Album was the beginning of the end....

 

[Cardinal Bob]

Not to derail the Metallica discussion, but I think Pearl Jam's "Spin The Black Circle" was Eddie Vedder's attempt to prove that the public would buy anything they released (after the success of "Ten"), regardless of the fact that it was senseless noise.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Not to derail the Metallica discussion, but I think Pearl Jam's "Spin The Black Circle" was Eddie Vedder's attempt to prove that the public would buy anything they released (after the success of "Ten"), regardless of the fact that it was senseless noise.

Yeah...I agree.... It seemed that Pearl Jam was always experimental with their EPs....Another one was 1995's "MerkinBall" which was definitely a departure from the sound they had on "Vitalogy".....

I see nothing wrong in a band exploring different terroritories with their sound (as long as they dont sell-out and still somehow manage to continue to be loyal to their original sound).... its the best way to gain newer fans (without costing any of their "faithful followers").....Never want to be too one-dimensional......

 

[jw7]

"Swing on This" is a great tune. My 3rd favorite song on "Jar of Flies"

 

[KingLouieLouie]

"Swing on This" is a great tune. My 3rd favorite song on "Jar of Flies"

What are your first 2 faves from "Jar of Flies"?

Here's mine in order:
"Don't Follow"
"No Excuses"
'I Stay Away"
"Rotten Apple"/'Nutshell (are tied)
"Whale/Wasp"
"Swing On This"

It seemed that Alice-in-Chains would end their albums with the weakest song (except of course on "Dirt" with "Would?")..... Okay.. "Over Now" was an excellent way to end "Self-Titled"..so I'll give them credit... but "Love Song" on SAP (even though its hysterical) and "Real Thing" from "Face Lift" were horrid compared to other songs on those respective albums....

 

[jw7]

What are your first 2 faves from "Jar of Flies"?

Here's mine in order:
"Don't Follow"
"No Excuses"
'I Stay Away"
"Rotten Apple"/'Nutshell (are tied)
"Whale/Wasp"
"Swing On This"

1 - Stay Away
2 - No excuses

And no, I am not joking, I love the jazz bass on Swing with the "AIC" sound mixed in. I'm just weird that way

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I thought of this thread earlier today when I listened to Queen's "Radio Ga Ga"...

Don't get me wrong....that's not necessarily the "worst song possible", however, it's definitely "rubbish" compared to their classics (including "I Want To Break Free"...released on the same album "The Works").....

 

[thirty-two]

Hanson:

Thinking of You
Speechless
Look at You
In the City
Hey

maybe not so much "what were they thinking?" more like: these songs suck, imo.

 

[Chaplin]

Yeah...I agree.... It seemed that Pearl Jam was always experimental with their EPs....Another one was 1995's "MerkinBall" which was definitely a departure from the sound they had on "Vitalogy".....

I see nothing wrong in a band exploring different terroritories with their sound (as long as they dont sell-out and still somehow manage to continue to be loyal to their original sound).... its the best way to gain newer fans (without costing any of their "faithful followers").....Never want to be too one-dimensional......

Well, first, Spin the Black Circle was a semi-hit (and IMO the worst song ever recorded by the band). Vitalogy was certainly more experimental than Vs. or Ten, and I thought it was a poorly orchestrated attempt to not have to rely on Eddie Vedder's voice to become another instrument. And it failed, because Pearl Jam's sound was based on Vedder's voice being a compliment to the guitar work, rather than the guitars complimenting his voice.

Second, Merkinball was a special case--Neil Young was touring and using Pearl Jam as his backing band instead of Crazy Horse. Because of that, PJ decided to put out the 2-song EP. "I Got ****" is actually a great song if you take it for what it is--a strongly Neil Young-influenced rock song.

But Pearl Jam learned the hard way that being experimental isn't always the best way to go--No Code was an unmitigated disaster (and their worst album), and while Yield wasn't horrible, it wasn't until Binaural when they finally regained something of their past success. Unfortunately, it's fizzled because Binaural just doesn't have the staying power of the band's first three albums.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Well, first, Spin the Black Circle was a semi-hit (and IMO the worst song ever recorded by the band). Vitalogy was certainly more experimental than Vs. or Ten, and I thought it was a poorly orchestrated attempt to not have to rely on Eddie Vedder's voice to become another instrument. And it failed, because Pearl Jam's sound was based on Vedder's voice being a compliment to the guitar work, rather than the guitars complimenting his voice.

Second, Merkinball was a special case--Neil Young was touring and using Pearl Jam as his backing band instead of Crazy Horse. Because of that, PJ decided to put out the 2-song EP. "I Got ****" is actually a great song if you take it for what it is--a strongly Neil Young-influenced rock song.

But Pearl Jam learned the hard way that being experimental isn't always the best way to go--No Code was an unmitigated disaster (and their worst album), and while Yield wasn't horrible, it wasn't until Binaural when they
finally regained something of their past success. Unfortunately, it's fizzled because Binaural just doesn't have the staying power of the band's first three albums.

First, I must admit that Pearl Jam was probably my least favorite band during the "Grunge era", but I began to finally get interested in them afterwards...

Perhaps it was "a must" for Pearl Jam to go the route they did because McCready (he was able to showcase his vastly overshadowed talents on Mad Season's "Above") and Gossard, Ament, and Irons had to finally emerge from just being regulated as Eddie Vedder's "back-up" group and they had to reinvent themselves after the "Grunge" movement died... Plus, several bands were "copying" their sound, so they had to explore some "unchartered terroritories" so they wouldnt "sink into nothingness"..... I mean...Pearl Jam managed displayed their talents as musicians at their best on Neil Young's "Mirror Ball".....

I think what inhabited Pearl Jam to a certain extent is Vedder's monotone voice, which restricts them to a degree....he prevents them from expanding their sound (contrary to how Bono's range enables U2 to successfully venture from one end of the spectrum to another).....

Gossard and Ament were able to even prove themselves capable w/Mother Love Bone and also on Temple of the Dog with Chris Cornell's superior vocal delivery....

I must give them credit where it's due...At least they've managed to last all these years (despite their faults) where several of my favorite bands from that era "succumbed" more ways than one.....

 

[Chaplin]

I disagree a little bit with you--take for example, Ten. True, a lot of the songs sound similar--Black/Jeremy, Alive/Even Flow, etc. But Vedder is at the top of his game on that album, and like him or hate him, he does have an incredible voice.

When you get to Vs., however, things change a little bit. There is a little bit more of an edge to the group with songs like Rearviewmirror or Animal, but still able to retain its melodic roots with a song like Dissident, and the much quieter Daughter (which is still to this day, their best live song). And then you have the acoustic songs, Indifference and Old Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town. And you cannot deny that one of PJ's most popular songs, and one that remains popular as a song, not just a Pearl Jam song, is the one that never appeared on an album, Yellow Ledbetter.

The point is that I disagree with you in that you feel they were "restricted" because of the rhythm of Vedder's voice. On the contrary, his voice was in essence another instrument for them to use, and they used it to magnificent effect. That is a huge reason why they have the most staying power out of all the grunge bands of the era (with maybe the exception of Nirvana, but we'll never know what might have been with them).

The problem is that because they were copied so much (Creed immediately comes to mind), people started holding Pearl Jam responsible for all the crap that was put out by other bands. To me, that isn't fair, and they agree apparently, since they keep belting out albums. At least they aren't just an "average" band, they aren't nearly as good as they were in the early- to mid-90s, but they still have a lot of talent.