2008: The Worst in Music  

Posted by Campbell in , , ,

I'll need a little more time to compile my best of, but tossing together a list of the most overrated/biggest disappointments of 2008, is fairly easy. Keep in mind that many of these records fell into my own oblivion after only a few listens. And one thing I've learned is that records that at first sound terrible or contrived, can later be reborn. Nevertheless, here's my short list of records that either suck or just don't live up to the hype.

Bon Iver
For Emma, Forever Ago
Oh how I tried. A few folks compared this record to Elliott Smith and Nick Drake. Good lord forgive those people. This is whiney, vapid crap. This man (I think Bon Iver's his "band" name) will be forgotten very soon. Yawn city.

Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
2008's version of The Band? Seriously. Robbie Robertson must be having quite a laugh. I saw these greasers perform at the Treasure Island Music Festival and they sucked. This is generic, recycled basura.

Vivian Girls
Vivian Girls
I only made it through one listen. I doubt there will ever be a second listen.

Foals
Antidotes
Over-the-top 2008 hipster crap. The days of bands like Foals and F**k Buttons will be very short-lived.

Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
Fine, I haven't heard the record, but like the Fleet Foxes, I caught them at a festival, and they were god awful. The wanna-be-cool Dartmouth grads in their Ray Bans and pink Polos near me almost resulted in a trip to the hospital. I'm not sure sure if that trip would've been due to my own coronary or a quick and decisive pummeling.


Vampire Weekend

The Dodos
Visiter
I suppose this one has potential, but two or so listens brought on a very solid nap.

14 comments

Don't Need Anything   says 11/13/08 3:30 PM

i know youll get some crap for these picks but i cant listen to any of them either man...

Anonymous   says 11/13/08 5:32 PM

Yeah,, I can agree with all of these, except for the Fleet Foxes one. I do quite like this, and have listened to it many times. If I remember, it took a while before I really took a liking to it, so keep trying!

Jeff   says 11/13/08 6:15 PM

Haha, I like all these albums. But fair enough.

Campbell   says 11/13/08 7:38 PM

Good to have some notes from some folks with some blogs that are new to me. Treble Media looks quite interesting.

Anonymous   says 11/14/08 8:55 PM

Nice post. I agree with almost all of this - I kept listening to Bon Iver and Vivian Girls trying to see it. But I rather like Vampire Weekend. Yes, they wear pink polos, but the put it all out there - and in a catchy way.

leigh   says 11/16/08 9:35 PM

vampire weekend went to columbia. . . they're kitch, but so many songs about dorms, classes, and taking naps between classes? too much.

Bill V   says 11/17/08 8:46 AM

I like a few of those albums, Bon Iver sort of bores me but I couldn't call it a bad album. I really like Vampire Weekend, quick and catchy, what's not to like?

Agnes   says 11/29/08 2:47 AM

Yes! You're the first person I've come across who doesn't understand the whole Bon Iver obsession thing. I too find it all really, really boring.

I don't mind Vampire Weekend though, but haven't jumped on the hypewagon like the rest of the world has seemed to.

Have to disagree with Fleet Foxes though, I've really taken to them.

Anonymous   says 11/29/08 3:57 AM

Thank you. I did like two of those -- bon iver and dodos -- but I'm with you on all the others. There seems to be a Pitchforky fascination with the style rather than substance. These emperors have no close -- or rather songs. All these hypers are like toddlers who like the box more than the toy that came in it.

ChrisD   says 11/30/08 3:34 PM

I like Bon Iver quite a bit. I suppose one could call it boring. But, my feeling is that there are times and places for all sorts of albums. You can hear, more specifically, my feelings about this album on my Best-of list at my blog. Other than Bon Iver, I'm with you on all of these though. I absolutely deplore Vampire Weekend, and not because of where they went to school, but because of the crap quality of their music. Sounds like one of those albums that a Dave Matthews Band fan could play for their buddies to prove that he was the one with the really "cutting edge" music taste, haha.

Anonymous   says 12/2/08 1:23 PM

Your opinion....

radioflyer   says 12/4/08 2:44 PM

THANK YOU for putting Vivian Girls and Vampire Weekend on this list. Hardly anyone seems to agree with me that this music is awful. Which is fine, but it does get lonely. Well, you are awesome.

Allan   says 12/8/08 8:59 PM

I definitely like a lot of the albums (I think Bon Iver is overrated).

The problems I have is including the Fleet Foxes here and on your honorable mention list.

Why include Vampire Weekend when you haven't listened to the album?

Anonymous   says 12/10/08 8:18 PM

OH MY GOD VAMPIRE WEEKEND WEARS PINK POLOS SO I'M GOING TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK.

Come on. You sound about as tough as a cozy blanket.

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