# Favorite Band: Best/Worst Albums **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 26, 2005, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471 "2005-09-26T09:49:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/1 "2005-09-26T09:49:29Z")
Name your favorite artist/group and then pick their best and worst CD. Genesis Best: \*Selling England by the Pound. \* Worst: _Calling All Stations_ The best Genesis with Phil Collins is probably \*Wind and Wuthering. \* If you want to exclude _Calling All Stations_ (released after Phil Collins left) then \*And Then There were Three \*is probably the weakest Genesis album ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/2 "2005-09-26T11:19:41Z")
Electric Light Orchestra: Best: Out of the Blue Worst: On the Third Day ABBA: Best: ABBA Worst: The Visitors Blondie: Best: Plastic Letters Worst: The Hunter ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/3 "2005-09-26T12:08:36Z")
The Doors Best: Strange Days Worst: Waiting For The Sun (it was their worst effort, but it was still damn good) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/4 "2005-09-26T12:28:25Z")
Bonzo Dog Band: Best: Tadpoles Worst: Let’s Make Up and Be Friendly (the usual flaws of a reunion album – amusing, but not flat-out hilarious like the rest). Traffic: Best: John Barleycorn Must Die Worst: When the Eagle Flies (It’s telling that the “Very Best of Traffic” Collection has four of the six songs on John Barleycorn and nothing from “Eagle.”) The Who Best: Who are You (just edging out Who’s Next) Worst: The Who by Numbers I’m not counting the post-Keith-Moon albums. “Not to be taken away.” ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/5 "2005-09-26T12:42:35Z")
Tom Waits: Best: _Nighthawks at the Diner_ (my personal favorite, although many prefer _Rain Dogs_ or _Small Change_) Worst: _Real Gone_ (his latest, which I found way too “noisy” and chaotic compared to his earlier stuff) ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Stains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Arrogance\_Stains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Stains)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/6 "2005-09-26T13:04:14Z")
Alice In Chains: Best: **Dirt** (though **Jar Of Flies** makes an awfully close run) Worst: **Sap** (I assume we just speak of official releases, that contain new music…elsing my pick for worst would be one of the 23982 pointless compilations their record company has released since 1996…) ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/7 "2005-09-26T13:56:10Z")
I’m assuming best and worst as favourite and least favourite. Pink Floyd: Best. **Animals** \* Worst **More** \*\* there is some really lame stuff on that. Steely Dan: Best. **The Royal Scam** \*\*\*\*\*\*\* Worst. Just pick anything post Aja. \*\*\*\*\* I know DSotM or WYWH is their best really but since those are tattooed on my brain I can’t see myself sitting down and listening to them these days. For some reason I keep going back to Animals. \*\*\*\*\*\* Since they stopped recording when Roger Waters left. Actually The Final Cut might be the worst but I count that as a Waters solo album. \*\*\*\*\*\*\* I know **Aja** is their _best_ album (excuse me, CD) but it’s so slick it hurts. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/8 "2005-09-26T13:59:56Z")
The Beatles: Best: So hard to tell b/c there are so many. 😃 _Please Please Me_ is just as good as _Abbey Road_ depending on your mood. Worst: _Yellow Submarine._ ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/9 "2005-09-26T14:18:58Z")
**Duran Duran** Best: _Rio_, although _Notorious_ is my favorite Worst: _Pop Trash_, with _Big Thing_ and _Liberty_ close behind ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/10 "2005-09-26T17:28:00Z")
Best: Master of Puppets (Many people will say that their self-titled album aka the black album is the best but I’m old enough to know better. It is easily number two though.) Worst: St. Anger. Doesn’t even sound like Metallica any more. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/11 "2005-09-26T18:06:24Z")
Motley Crue: Best: Dr. Feelgood Worst: Motley Crue by hair over New Tattoo The Offspring: Best: Ixnay on the Hombre. Others would argue for Smash, but I prefer this one with _Gone Away_ Worst: Ignition It was early stuff but I didn’t like it like I like thier first album. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/12 "2005-09-26T18:07:22Z")
I’d say Jethro Tull has the highest number of arguably best albums vs arguably worst albums. They either create a timeless treasure, or a festering pile of pigeon carcasses, rarely in between. That said, Best Tull: Stand Up Worst Tull: Under Wraps ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/13 "2005-09-26T18:38:06Z")
STP Best: Core (although Purple was a fantastic record too) Worst: Tiny Music (but I refused to listen to anything after No. 4 came out, so Thank You could very well suck more) The Meat Puppets Best: Too High to Die Worst: Golden Lies ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/14 "2005-09-26T19:17:36Z")
**Talking Heads** best: Remain in Light worst: True Stories (listenable, but merely ‘good’ as opposed to otherwise brilliant) **Jefferson Airplane** best: Volunteers worst: Long John Silver **Patti Smith Group** best: Easter worst: Wave **Grateful Dead** best: Skullfuck (1971 LP - officially titled ‘Grateful Dead’) worst: Shakedown Street **Kate Bush** best: the Sensual World worst: the Dreaming **Peter Gabriel** best: So (an obvious choice, but inarguable) worst: the one with “Steam”, can’t remember the title offhand. (again, not a _terrible_ record, but not exactly up to his usual high standards.) **the Police** best: Reggett de Blanc worst: Synchronicity (Sting at the full-flowering of his “I am the most brillliant songwriter of all time!” egomania) **Joni Mitchell** best: For the Roses worst: Shadows and Fog ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/15 "2005-09-26T21:54:22Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > **Peter Gabriel** > best: So (an obvious choice, but inarguable) > worst: the one with “Steam”, can’t remember the title offhand. (again, not a _terrible_ record, but not exactly up to his usual high standards.) Huh? I consider \*So \*to be one of Peter Gabriel’s weakest efforts. Surely Peter Gabriel I, II, III, or _Security_ can be considered much better albums than So. \*Us \*is the album which has Steam. I’ll agree it isn’t one of the best. As far as the Best…hard to say. The first 3 are so different. My favorite is probably Peter Gabriel II. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/16 "2005-09-26T22:07:44Z")
Oh, and the Donnas… Best: Spend the Night just beats out The Donna’s Turn 21 Worst: Gold Medal. What a terrible follow-up album once they found commercial success. I even prefer their pedestrian stuff they wrote when the were in high school to this one. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/17 "2005-09-26T23:50:27Z")
Pink Floyd: Best: The Wall. Worst: This is a hard one. Worst in “fewest amount of great stuff”, or worst as in “most amount of bad stuff”? Percentage or total? The album with the least good stuff overall is **Atom Heart Mother**. Just 3 good short pop songs. The album with the most bad stuff overall is **Ummagumma**. I skip over the instrumental selections and Ummagumma’s version of Astronomy Domine, in order to get to the genius that is The Narrow Way, Grandchester Meadows and SSoSFAGTiaCaGWaP. Least good stuff, percentage-wise? Atom Heart Mother, again. While 3 of the tracks are good, they aren’t **great**. Most bad stuff, percentage-wise? **More**. While the songs on the first quarter of the album are truly excellent, the instrumental stuff that takes up the rest of the album is truly horrible. (For those who think I have something against post-barrett pre-DSOTM Floyd, my second most favorite Floyd album is Obscured By Clouds [yes, recorded after DSOTM, but I think it’s clear it belongs in the p-B p-DSOTM era rather than the Big Four era. Now, don’t ask me what Floyd Era The Final Cut belongs in, I haven’t a clue.] ---
**Author:** ![usar\_jag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@usar\_jag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usar_jag)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/18 "2005-09-27T00:04:06Z")
**R.E.M.** Best: (tie) Murmur, Automatic for the People Worst: Fables of the Reconstruction (it has its moments, but it was largely phoned-in) ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/19 "2005-09-27T00:14:02Z")
> [@usar\_jag](#): > > **R.E.M.** Worst: Fables of the Reconstruction (it has its moments, but it was largely phoned-in) Odd, but _Fables_ is the only R.E.M. album I _like!_ It’s dark and moody in spots, lots of the words are indecipherable, and many of the tunes are first-rate. _Can’t Get There From Here, Driver 8_ and _Feeling Gravity’s Pull_ should have been singles! It seemed to me they were building up to something on their first works, nearly reached it on _Fables_, then abandoned it and went in a whole other direction. Maybe it’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471/20 "2005-09-27T00:27:50Z")
**The Magnetic Fields** Best - “69 Love Songs Vol. 1” Worst - “I” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-band-best-worst-albums/323471.md?page=2)