# Critically-Acclaimed Albums that are Unlistenable **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 3, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202 "2011-06-03T15:20:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/41 "2011-06-04T00:46:44Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > (technically, Brian Wilson) Good call. I was really looking forward to this album based on the Mountain O Acclaim it received pre-release. I’ve listened to it twice, and it’s doing nothing for me. Maybe I need some quality time with it (we’ll get a room); I’m not about to throw it on the Trout Mask pile just yet. > I also love Astral Weeks, I’m leaning toward liking Forever Changes (though I don’t quite get why folks slobber over it), and I think Exile in Guyville is a masterpiece. > mmm There’s huge numbers of albums that are critically acclaimed that I can’t understand at all, but that’s not really the same as unlistenable. \*Smile \*is not fantastic, sure, but unlistenable? “Astral Weeks” is one of the greatest songs ever, but I don’t listen to the rest of the album. The “Moondance” side of \*Moondance \*is perhaps the best album side ever, better than the b-side of _Abbey Road,_ but the other side can collect dust for all I care. The White Album has several songs I don’t care for, but at least an album’s worth of true Beatles’ classics. How can it be unlistenable (except for “Revolution 9”. Obviously :))? \*Forever Changes \*is a nothingness, but not awful. It’s better than Van Dyke Parks’ _Song Cycle_, which used to show up on every critic’s list of best 60s albums. I finally broke down and bought it. A bunch of thin, reedy not-quite-tunes. Were all the critics insane? Same for Richard Thompson’s _Shoot Out the Lights_, which the critics genuflect to. Went through many times trying to figure out what they heard and never got it. But none of those are unlistenable. Disappointing, maybe. You could reach your hand into a bin of metal or rap albums and I’d find every single one of them more unlistenable. Big difference. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/42 "2011-06-04T00:56:18Z")
I made it all the way through Nine Inch Nails’ _The Downward Spiral_ (considered to be one of the top rock albums of the 1990s) exactly once in the 10 years I owned it. I tried several times to see if this time I’d “get it”. Eventually I just ripped “Closer” to my computer and sold the CD to the used CD store. I’m another person who was not impressed with Brian Wilson’s _Smile_. It took 37 years to finish and the tracks still feel like random snippets that don’t gel. I know it was supposed to be a series of suites, but it was too disjointed and repetitive for me. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/43 "2011-06-04T01:04:31Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > There’s huge numbers of albums that are critically acclaimed that I can’t understand at all, but that’s not really the same as unlistenable… I know what you’re saying, Exapno. I think most of us recognize that we are taking liberties with the OP. For truly unlistenable, in its strictest sense, I can only site the aforementioned Metal Machine Music and Trout Mask Replica. I’ve tried - and failed - to endure both. I am certain that most metal albums would also qualify, were I to try and listen to them. And by the way, I consider Richard and Linda Thompson’s “Shoot Out the Lights” one of my all-time favorites. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/44 "2011-06-04T01:14:49Z")
Somehow I’m not surprised to find many albums I love listed here. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/45 "2011-06-04T01:20:28Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > Somehow I’m not surprised to find many albums I love listed here. Me too. I’m a little unsure what people mean by an album being “unlistenable” - annoying or unpleasant I could understand. I could also understand a song or album having unbearable emotional connotations, but I don’t think that’s what is being discussed here. Example - I despise Dubstep, and would never choose to listen to it, but sitting with someone who’s playing it and explaining what they see in it is in no way unbearable. But then I’ve been known to listen to Merzbow of my own volition… ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/46 "2011-06-04T01:42:16Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Just about every other Neil Young album. Trans is actually unlistenable. But I can’t think of any others that are that bad. Was Trans actually a critical success? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/47 "2011-06-04T06:17:08Z")
**Bone Machine** by Tom Waits. He has his admirers, I know, I just am not one of them. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/48 "2011-06-04T12:35:45Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > Somehow I’m not surprised to find many albums I love listed here. Neither am I- look, SOMEBODY besides the critics obviously likes _ **Astral Weeks** _ and _ **Forever Changes,** _ and that doesn’t bother me in the least. But the OP asked for albums that critics invariably love that I regard as godawful, and those are two that came to mind right away. But don’t let us Philistines stop you from listening to them 24/7, if you want to. ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/49 "2011-06-04T12:54:11Z")
Tom Waits - The Black Rider Lightning Bolt - Wonderful Rainbow I like them both a lot and have listened to them many times though. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/50 "2011-06-04T13:03:32Z")
> [@Carmady](#): > > I like them both a lot and have listened to them many times though. In what sense are they unlistenable then? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/51 "2011-06-04T13:07:51Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > (technically, Brian Wilson) Good call. I was really looking forward to this album based on the Mountain O Acclaim it received pre-release. I’ve listened to it twice, and it’s doing nothing for me. Maybe I need some quality time with it (we’ll get a room); I’m not about to throw it on the Trout Mask pile just yet. I was working in Borders with some hardcore music sachems when \*Smile \*came out. Of course, they were all ecstatic that this lost masterpiece had finally seen the light of day and played the CD overhead _ad infinitum_. Finally, I walked up to our music supervisor (who now owns a successful record store–no small feat in the age of mp3), looked him in the eye, and said: “Jeff, this is probably the worst pop album I have ever heard.” To paraphrase Opus, it may not be that bad, but Lord, it’s not good. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/52 "2011-06-04T13:28:28Z")
**PIL** -\* Second Edition\* (or\* Metal Box\*) I like some of it, but it seems to be kind of a fuck you to musicality. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/53 "2011-06-04T13:36:36Z")
Anything by Kenny G or Celine Dion. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/54 "2011-06-04T18:21:35Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Anything by Kenny G or Celine Dion. They’re very popular, but you wanna show me any critical raves they’ve received??? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/55 "2011-06-04T18:33:44Z")
I originally found _Loveless_, by **My Bloody Valentine** , to be unlistenable because of the guitars going oscillating in and out of tune in many of the songs on that album. The first time I heard it, it was downloaded from Napster, and I thought I just got a bad rip that sounded like it came from a wonky cassette tape that sped up and slowed down. It took me a few listens to get used to the sound and has since become one of my two favorite albums, alongside _Pet Sounds_. ---
**Author:** ![Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ee7513/32.png) [@Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kim_o_the_Concrete_Jungle)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/56 "2011-06-05T03:21:37Z")
The Shaggs - Philosophy Of the World. The band was three sisters who literally couldn’t play their instruments. But for some reason, their father thought they were destined to be musicians, or something. The music is pretty much completely unlistenable, while at the same time, and endless source of fascination for music critics who are attracted by the idea of “naive” music. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/57 "2011-06-05T04:15:13Z")
> [@Meltdown](#): > > I may be alone in this, but the album “Merriweather Post Pavilion” by Animal Collective (Metacritic score of 89; made many critics’ 10-best lists of 2009) induces mild nausea in me whenever I try to listen to it all the way through. And I’m not saying this in a metaphorical “this stuff is so bad it makes me sick” way – I experience actual physical nausea. Which pretty much makes it unlistenable to me. I came in to post this same album. Its revered by so many music critics and hipsters but I just don’t get it. My other submission is from a well thought of jazz trumpeter whose name I can’t recall at the moment. His schtick is that he had extra valves added to his horn so that he could play half notes or fifths and “all that jazz.” It ends up sounding like Ravi Shankar had unprotected sex with a trumpet. Can anyone remind me of who this is? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/58 "2011-06-05T04:22:27Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > I love this description ; I can’t stand his voice either. He sounds like he’s trying to emulate the kooky vocal style of Neutral Milk Hotel’s Jeff Mangum, but Jeff is a genuinely and unself-consciously strange guy, and Colin Meloy sounds anything _but_ genuine and unself-conscious. I think the opposite - Colin Meloy’s voice can be annoying because it sounds like he has a real speech impediment. It sounds like he has that problem that a lot of children have when they first start speaking - they can’t pronounce ‘R’'s quite right, saying “Thewe” instead of “There”. Most kids outgrow that inability, but some people carry it into adulthood, and that’s what Colin Meloy sounds like. It sounds like he’s struggling to form the words with his mouth and not quite getting it. That said, once you can look past that he’s actually a very good singer. He’s kind of like Bob Dylan - he speech affectation sounds so strong sometimes that it overwhelms the music, but then he can do a song like ‘Lay Lady Lay’ in which it’s clear that he can actually sing. Speaking of Bob Dylan… Surely an album or two of his has to make the list. ---
**Author:** ![inkling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkling)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/59 "2011-06-05T04:25:49Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > For me it’s any Frank Zappa. Sure, they guy has plenty of cool but the music? Sounds to me like a bunch of drunk guys messing around. May be cool and funny if you can sit through it but who would buy more than one album? I’ve heard other people say much the same, but if you make the patience to listen to it, all that “messing around” is incredibly tight. FZ was pretty famous for rehearsing a LOT and requiring musicians in the band to basically be superhuman. In short, it sounds like drunk guys messing around because there was an absolutely astounding amount of effort put into making it sound that way, and it sounds that way because that’s what Frank wanted it to sound like. When I listen to Zappa, I hear consummate musicianship from everyone in the band. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202/60 "2011-06-05T05:44:01Z")
Trout Mask Replica. It is hilariously bad. Most of The Velvet Underground and Nico stinks too, but it is still artistically coherent. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critically-acclaimed-albums-that-are-unlistenable/584202.md?page=4)