The Worst Albums of 2008

Next weekend I'll post my picks for "the best of 2008."

The list below represents what I consider crap. No, it's not ten, but these are top of mind and what I just don't like despite the hype, Rolling Stone coverage...and your comments.

Metallica - Death Magnetic

   Nowhere near as good as Chinese Democracy. Deal with it.

Linkin Park - Live from SoHo

  I generally just hate this band and all their music.

White Lion - Return of the Pride

  Horrible songs and bad production.

Dokken - Lightning Strikes Again

 See above.

Def Leppard - Songs from the Sparkle Lounge

Hinder - Take It To the Limit

I couldn't pick a single "worst" album if I had to because both the Hinder and Def Leppard discs are just so equally bad. Actually, if someone was pointing a can of hairspray at my head and threatened to spray, I'd probably pick  Songs from the Sparkle Lounge as the absolute worst. I tried to like the album. I gave it a chance. I didn't give it a horrible review because I was sure the disc would grow on me. Hearing the new songs live only further proved how much I detest Songs from the Sparkle Lounge. When you get right down to it the album is just plain...sucky.  No, I didn't expect Def Leppard to recreate Pyromania...but I didn't expect to be wishing for a refund after I purchased the new album either. Woof! What a dog.

Comments

[JT]

I agree with almost everything on the list, though I haven't heard the new White Lion yet. I've heard a couple of the songs live, and they sounded okay. And yes, Def Leppard gets my vote for THE worst...maybe of all time.

[Lucifer]

wow you hate Linkin Park?
havent heard their new stuff, and dont particularly want to, as i never like live albums, but I actually quite like them.
Apart from that, i pretty much agree with the list...

[Bonnie]

Nothing against LP, but I don't understand why they're even *on* this list.

I disagree with "Sparkle Lounge" being the worst, but this is a subjective list so whatever.

[Christian]

I actually like Death Magnetic, but I'd say that ChiDem is better, Metallica did a good album, but they played it safe after St Anger, and tried to do an album of their mid 80s sound, which they are well past being able to do a GREAT job with.

I didn't even listen to the White Lion - give me a break. Same with the new Dokken, although I didn't expect it to be as bad as White Lion surely was.

I'm not sure if I'd suggest Black Ice for this list. It sure isn't great, but it's the AC/DC by numbers that I was expecting it to be.

[Xandra73]

White Lion and Dokken would be on my 'Best of 2009' list for sure. I love both albums. There are some amazing songs on the White Lion album. It needs a few spins, yes, but then it reveals it's beauty.

I love Linkin Park, but their new album is very weak. I was very positiv about it when I gave it a try, but it's simply boring.

Def Leppar and Metallica are okay, just not 'Best album' material.

[gerry gittelson]

you forgot the new WHITESNAKE cd -- sounds like a demo they put together in one afternoon. coverdale's voice actually cracks a few times, and you can totally hear it, but whomever produced simply ignored the mistakes and pushed on ... also includes a live CD of old songs that is nothing more than a cash-in. shame on them ... a lifelong whitesnake fan, i actually bought this CD -- shame on ME!

[John]

What are you talking about!!! Return of the Pride was wonderful and had some kick ass songs on it. Def Leppard was decent but you gotta be kidding me on Dokken. This album rocked all the way through. Standing on the Outside is an amazing single. Dont even get me started on Hinder haha. Your ridicoulous. Hinder and Good to be Bad by Whitesnake were the best of the year. Hinder is rocks!!!

[aXe mAn]

^ I loved the new Whitesnake album...one of the best of the year...according to me.

Some of the worst rock/metal albums of '08;
Guns N' Roses - "Chinese Democracy", Alice Cooper - "Along Came A Spider", Extreme - "Saudades de Rock".

[Xavier]

I have to agree on some and desagree on others.

Metallica and Dokken I wont coment, since they are far out of my music tastes.

1-Disapointments (means I spected a lot and they turn out to be very average or bad ):

- Extreme - "Saudades de Rock".
- Alice Cooper - " Along Came a Spider "
- Whitesnake - " Good to be Bad "
- White Lion - " Return of the Pride "

2-This one is not what I expected but still not bad at all :

- Def Leppard - Songs from the Sparkle Lounge

3- And now a list of big disapointments in the way that I expected some new album with fresh new material and nothing at all...juts touring and touring with same old songs, common guys, if swedish bands can get new albums so often and the production and quality is so high, why cant you ??

- Poison
- Bulletboys
- Warrant
- Pretty Boy Floyd

[don]

sorry, i disagree with metallica, dokken and white lion. and by the way chinese democracy sucks in a major way.

[missy]

The 3 times I have tried to sit down and listen to the new Metallica album, I had to shut it off mid-listen. The production value is SO bad, that it gives me a headache. But I gotta admit, it's fun as hell to play in Guitar Hero (they had access to the master tracks, so this version didn't sound like shit). It is so much to play, that the first time thru, I was literally giddy by the 3rd song. I'm not a giddy person :P. Horrible title, but try playing 'Unforgiven III' on hard on the fake plastic guitar. It's way fun.

I have a very strong negative opinion about the new Axl Rose album, but I gotta admit that I liked the new Extreme album. While it was no self-titled or 'Pornograffitti', it sounded like they picked up where they left off from 'Waiting For the Punchline'. While I don't like that in most bands, it seemed kind of natural and fitting for Gary, Nuno's style. What can I say, I'm a sucker for sweet melodies :)

I have only listned to a few tracks off the new Def Leppard album via Guitar Hero (yes yes, I'm addicted), but I did not like what I heard. I figured that was just because I hadn't liked anything after Hysteria. *shrug*. I haven't heard anything else off the lists above, but I'm sure I could do without most of it. However, how is anything from Alice Cooper bad? I mean, he's the king of bad shock rock! It's' *supposed* to be bad!

[brando n(warrant1390)]

You are absolutly insane..i have lost so much respect for you recentlly allison...u are crazy. ok first of all the new dokken absolutlly kicks ass all the way through. every song is amazing..it sounds like the classic dokken from the 80's..if u think that album sucks than stop llistening to the genre of glam.I feel the same about white lion as i do about dokken. they both returened to there 80's sound and yet you thonk they suck ur nuts. Now i cant stand your fucking attitude towards hinder. you need to fuck off with them ...i mean come on you like britney spears so u shouldnt talk. Hinder and whitesnake totally own the award for best albums of the year

[Heather]

Wow that last comment is out of control. Saying you shouldn't listen to glam because you don't like the new Dokken album?
The old Dokken albums suck, so why should we expect anything different from the new ones.

And seriously.. not everyone likes Hinder. Get over it Brando.

[missy]

Excuse me, but this is Allison's website, not yours. Her opinions are hers. I figure if she pays to spout her opinions (like I do on my site), then she has every right to do so. If you don't like or agree with her opinions, at least be courteous about it. Being an ass is just mean.

Attack ideas, not people. You owe her an apology.

[aXe mAn]

^^^ First of all, I don't think you know what you're talking about if you're calling Dokken "glam". They are not "glam"...they are more along the lines of melodic metal...if you want to get technical.

[Christian]

The Whitesnake CD was OK, but, album of the year ? Also, White Lion didn't 'return' to anything, the washed up singer hired new guys and took the name. It's a new band.

Having said that, there's no need for personal attacks. If you feel strongly about your own opinions, then start your own blog and tell people about it. Either way, don't attack people for disagreeing with you, that's not cool. Everyone has their opinion, and they are entitled to it. The only difference is that Allyson pours her own time into creating a site where she talks about it, and it's cool for people to discuss things, and to disagree politely, but not to attack her for putting some effort in.

[Pat]

Britney Spears was featured the other day.. Why not feature some non glam/metal albums in your list of rubbish albums? I struggle to believe that Def Leppard or Mike Tramp could produce worse albums than Kanye West or Girls Aloud (or Britney Spears) or whoever.

Anyone would think you want a repeat of the George Michael thread..

[JT]

This is the point of lists...to show one person's opinion of a given topic. I disagree with the comments that stated Alice Cooper was the worst of the year...it's in my list for the 10 best of the decade!

Those who thought the new Dokken was great, turn it up! I like one Dokken album, "Erase The Slate," and it is so different than everything else Dokken has done it really doesn't sound much like them. Maybe that's why I like it. The rest of Don's material, I can happily live without. That's my opinion.

[missy]

Woops, I realized that I can't seem to spell Allyson's name correctly. Sorry about that :)

[Rob Rockitt, Hard Rock Hideout.com]

It is funny how so many of the opinions are mixed here.

I like the new Hinder album, as well as Metallica's Death Magnetic.

I agree with Allyson on the Dokken album. Don's vocals just don't cut it for me anymore. Yes, I will agree that the band sounds great, but they would be better off forming a new band with a singer that can get it done. That disc would probably make my worst of list too.