Let downs of 2006

[jonny_rat]

I'm really hoping this doesn't turn into a hateful topic. It's pretty relevant for me, though, in that although I've had a pretty great year for music in general, lots of stuff I've been waiting for has disappointed. This isn't a 'Worst of 2006' thread; much of this stuff is great, though didn't live up to expectations for me.

Muse - Black Holes & Revelations

I'm not a fan in general, but Supermassive Black Hole was fresh-sounding, spacey and wonderful. The rest of the album.. not so fresh. Still great live, though, from what I'm told?

Trail of the Dead - So Divided

The only thing in this list that I found really awful. Almost retroactively justifies all that unwarranted bad press they got for Worlds Apart.

The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

Markedly less fun, interesting or original than Picaresque. 'When The War Came' is a notable high point, though.

'Difficult' sophomore albums - The Killers and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Neither one a disaster; but both a little bland. Also, both were preceded by debut albums with some real stand-out, dance-floor-filling tracks. Where did the sparks go?

[imp]

Islands - Return to The Sea

This album is just no where near as good as the Unicorns record. The lyrics aren't as witty, imaginative, clever, funny or poetic. The flow of words is more stilted and not as natural or easy as they are on the Unicorns record. Similarly, the song structures aren't as imaginative and diverse. In fact, I would say they were mostly rigid and formulaic, (the few exceptions to this were generally reimagined unicorns songs). The use of strings only really becomes anything more than novelty on three or four of the tracks. The Melodies are rarely as infectious, except for Ruff gem, but, again, that was a Unicorns song. Sigh...It's still an OK album, I just expected so much better.

Swan Lake - Beast Moans

I just expected something a little more raucous/bizarre from krug/mercer. It's still a very good album, I just wasn't expecting to have to look for it behind what seems like a thousand walls of reverb. Well, I just didn't want it to be so mellow.

Sufjan Stevens - The Avalanche

I know its just an out takes collection, but... but he's really good!

Hot Chip - The Warning

I don't think the lyrics are as clever/amusing or the songs as soulful as on the first album. Still, I really like the production and it has a few great dance tracks. This probably shouldn't be on here actually, it just took me a while to warm to it.

Well, the main problem here was my own expectations, I guess I should just never anticipate anything ever again.

Oh, and I totally gree about the decemberists, you hit the nail on the head there!

[thingymajig]

Muse - Black Holes & Revelations

I'm not a fan in general, but Supermassive Black Hole was fresh-sounding, spacey and wonderful. The rest of the album.. not so fresh. Still great live, though, from what I'm told?

I was in two minds about BHAR when I first listened to it. However, its grown on me, it's shown they can write a song for the song's sake rather than the sometimes one-dimensional Absolution. And yes, the songs are much better live, except for Starlight, which is actually worse.

As for me, my disappointments are:

Flaming Lips - At War With the Mystics

Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist

The former because it is totally overprocessed and borders on just being annoying, the latter because it has no edge in comparison to their older stuff, plus has poor vocals and lyrics.

[Estuans Vehementi]

I wasn't convinced by Beck - The Information.

Granted I don't like him a huge deal, but I didn't mind Odelay & Sea Change and this just bored and annoyed me.

[PyramidFace]

Yeah, I found The Information pretty disapointing. Flips new one as well for that matter.

[Ben]

Off the top of my head, the Jay-Z and Pharrell albums were hugely disappointing.

[Calashnikov]

Yeah, I was gonna suggest Pharrell's album. The only thing I've heard from the Jay-Z album is the superb live version of 22 Two's that segues into 44 Fours, complete with the 'Can I Kick It' backing track

[Transient Curse]

My disappointment with this album is well documented on this very forum. With time I think I've grown to accept the album as one by a different band, it's not the album I was hoping for and doesn't live up to the standards they'd set themselves on previous releases. Still a bit gutted about it now.

[anewman]

Danielson's Ships is one of the most boring albums I've ever listened to. And I listened to it twice, just to make sure.

I know it's subjective, but usually with stuff I don't like I can still kind of see the appeal - not with this though.

Here is a picture of the cover, because that at least is quite pretty:

[imp]

Brand New

Muse

Trail of Dead

Flaming Lips

All let me down in 06. I'll be back with more because there were TONS of letdowns this year.

oooh. forgot about the flaming lips album. I'm quite happy that I had.

Anybody else think the eraser wasn't all that?

[Daedalus]

The Long Blondes album. Has it been released yet? I've seen nothing of it in the shops. Anyway, over the past two years they'd released a pretty flawless selection of snappy, rough and ready, witty and catchy pop songs. And then when they came to collect them for the length of an album, they fluffed it at the last moment. The recordings and the production tears away all that made those singles so fun. So we're left with stale, perfunctory deliveries, pointless set-piece feedback and what was wry and cool before sounding a bit strained and sad really. My biggest musical disaster of the year I'd say. Oh yeah, that and the Walkmen's. Other than that, some of what others have said:

the Muse album - but then I'm still stuck in the Origin of Symmetry days.

Saturday Night Wrist - though I was quite wary of this even before listening to it, after the 'semi' performance of their last.

So Divided - though, again, their last album didn't raise my expectations.

Beck's one, too - like Guero it just doesn't sound as effortless and natural as pretty much everything up to and including Sea Change.

Bear in mind though that there have been loads of albums this year that have met and even exceeded expectations - Ys and The Life Pursuit are both completely fantastic albums. Also good were the follow-up albums by Mew, Junior Boys and the Scissor sisters.

[Rsdio]

My disappointment with this album is well documented on this very forum. With time I think I've grown to accept the album as one by a different band, it's not the album I was hoping for and doesn't live up to the standards they'd set themselves on previous releases. Still a bit gutted about it now.

I'm with you fella, I doubted if it would grow on me and it hasn't. There's probably a good album in there somewhere, but as far as this year's arty metal stuff goes the Isis album blows it out of the water. Urgh, 'arty metal'.

I'll add my name to the Deftones list too, although I'd not particularly got my hopes up for that after the last one. 'The Obliterati' by Mission of Burma was a disappointment for me even though it's very good, just because it's the first thing they've ever done to 'only' be very good. Similar thing with Chris Clark's 'Body Riddle', Warp really hyped it up which they rarely do so I was expecting more from it than it could deliver.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs one was a big disappointment initially but it's really grown on me over time, I think if their next one is chock full of their more chaotic side it'll seem a much better album - it's like it needs something else to complement it.

[a big boy]

Ater seeing them twice this year 10,000 days has grown on me immensley. I listend to it all the way through last night, and it's definitley taken a while, but I would now honestly put it up there with Lateralus. The real surprising thing is that Jambi and Rosetta Stoned - the tracks that even after 10 listens I wouldn't have given the time of day - are now my favourite on the CD. I know it's annoying to keep hearing 'give it another chance',but, hell, it's a Tool album, and it's every bit worthy of that title... Approaching it with an open mind - knowing that even in the early days Tool songs rarely revealed themselves without repeated listens - rather than writing it off after the first time through might help too.

Otherwise I pretty much agree with Muse, The Flaming Lips, Sufjan Stevens and The Decemberists efforts deserving to be on it. And I'dd add DJ Shadow too - not because of the Hyphy shit, because it actually grew on me - just because, although it's a solid album, that's all it is and all his other stuff is genius.

[Rsdio]

Approaching it with an open mind - knowing that even in the early days Tool songs rarely revealed themselves without repeated listens - rather than writing it off after the first time through might help too.

I've listened to it 15 or 20 times, I just don't think it's that good. Sorry.

A lot of the music I listen to needs a bit (well, often a lot) of effort, but usually I'll know on the first listen if something is good or not - I'll know that if I'm not 'getting' it then the fault lies with me rather than the music. Personally I found the other Tool albums relatively immediate, Aenima I loved from the first listen and Lateralus I enjoyed listening to while it sunk properly into my mind. 10,000 Days I've just found a chore.

It's lead me to consider the horrible thought that I might have grown out of stuff like that, I don't mean that in a patronising way which is how it always sounds. More that I might be turning into a grumpy old cunt who can't appreciate it properly.

[a big boy]

Fair enough, before 10,000 days came out I hadn't listend to them properly for about a year, listening to loads of hip-hop, jazz and electronica in between, so it was a bit of a shock to the system getting back into it all again... I remember when Vicarious first leaked my first impressions were "what the fuck is this shit" and went back to my Scratch Perverts Fabric CD. Then when it first came out I remember thinking a lot of it sounded a bit like it was 'Tool by numbers' - if that's possible - but again that's gone throgh repeated listens and seeing them live, the last time particularly they played a few off Aenima, a couple off Lateralus, Swamp Song off Undertow, and it all worked together perfectly. Particularly in terms of their performance there's no doubt they've still got it.

Obviously, though, you have given it more than a fair chance, so maybe for whatever reason it's just not your bag. I hope it's not an age or generational thing, though. When was the last time you listend to the old stuff, by the way?

[spanky debrest]

I love the Melvins.

There isn't a band that can touch them for raw grunt, unpredictability, noise, sweetness and general all-round brilliance. I've been a fan since '93 and a show they did behind the screen of several short Cameron Jamie films in '03 remains probably the most enjoyed live music experience of my life.

But the new one, A Senile Animal, with an expanded (now twin-drummered) line-up simply refused to move me in any way. It just sounded tired, retro and a bit pointless. The experimentalism, adventure and humour has seemed to have left them for the writing of this set.

I am a bit gutted that one of the few punk bands worth listening to have made such a non-event of an LP.

Shame.

[errollw]

Kasabian - Some of their new songs never really got me

[elmo]

Id have to say Empire too

what makes me laugh about these types of threads is that most album mentioned are also in albums of 2006 thread

[Chuck the Plant]

The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

Markedly less fun, interesting or original than Picaresque. 'When The War Came' is a notable high point, though.

It took me a while to get into, and it's indeed less 'fun' than Picaresque. But there really are some beautiful songs on it ('Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)', 'Summersong').

I really lost interest in The Strokes, The Streets, Mars Volta and DJ Shadow this year (all their 3rd album )

[utero2001]

I was a bit dissapointed with Saturday Night Wrist too. Was looking forward for that new record for months after I loved Around the Fur and White Pony. Now SNW never gets played, some people are thinking its gonna be their last effort

and yea 10,000 days does'nt stand up with other TOOL albums, it sounded like Laturalus, but with no imagination and stand out moments

aphex twin - chosen lords - other than a handful of tracks, this lacks the character of his other albums. was good listening, but did'nt feel like anything fresh

[jonny_rat]

It took me a while to get into, and it's indeed less 'fun' than Picaresque. But there really are some beautiful songs on it ('Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)', 'Summersong').

Oh, aye, it's definately a grower. And it's definately beautiful in places. I guess I was just spoiled by Picaresque, really, which was a tough act to follow by any means.

Did you hear Colin Meloy's tribute to Shirley Collins (can't remember if that was this year or not)? That was an interesting little insight into his (and the band's) influences, not to mention very pretty too.

[Billy Brown]

I'm still making my mind up about The Crane Wife. It's certainly not as instantly enjoyable as Picaresque or Her Majesty, but a few tracks are really growing on me. The opening track is lovely, and I really like Laura Veirs so Yankee Bayonet is doing it for me at the moment.

[Rsdio]

Obviously, though, you have given it more than a fair chance, so maybe for whatever reason it's just not your bag. I hope it's not an age or generational thing, though. When was the last time you listend to the old stuff, by the way?

I stick them on occasionally, I don't feel like listening to them that often but it's the same with most things that you listen to obsessively for a time.. They do get a bit worn out. I guess the other consideration is that I stay away from drugs now but I'd probably feel even worse if it was down to that.

[superfunk]

Hybrid - I Choose Noise. Three years of waiting for an album that lacked the melody of Wide Angle and the complexity of Morning Sci-fi. Pah

[Marzipan Travolta]

Pharrel's album has to be the one for me. I didn't expect brilliance but it's like every song on it is the joint worst thing he's worked on in the last 10 years.

Tool would be another one, for reasons stated above.

[Chuck the Plant]

I guess I was just spoiled by Picaresque, really, which was a tough act to follow by any means.

Aye, it certainly was.

Did you hear Colin Meloy's tribute to Shirley Collins (can't remember if that was this year or not)? That was an interesting little insight into his (and the band's) influences, not to mention very pretty too.

No, not heard of it before. Searching for something right now, cheers!

[Guest]

Pete Doherty still not in jail.

[Dapple]

I guess for me it's Playing the Angel by Depeche Mode. Shouldn't really be surprised as I've felt the same about everything since Songs of Faith and Devotion. It's by no means bad, just disappointing.

Still amazing live, though.

EDIT: Back of the class for Dapple - it was released in 2005...Pfft.

[Twinbee]

Seems like Tool are getting the most votes - especially with the addition of mine.

They were one of my favourite bands for a very long time. Lateralus came as a sort-of disappointment, despite it having the truly brilliant Parabol/Parabola on it.

But 10,000 Days doesn't seem to have any actual songs on it. Lots of complicated drum patterns and time signatures, but where are the tunes?

Every time I put it on, I just think it could be time better spent listening to Aenima for the billionth time instead.

Their lacklustre showing at Donington this year didn't help things, either.

[keineboom]

Pete Doherty still not dead.

Corrected.

Camera Obscura for me, something about too much reverb I think, though I know they're almost universally loved round these parts.

The Killers too. Not nearly as good as the lead singer tells us they are, see also Razorlight.