Top 10 Most Unfairly and Harshly Hated Albums

These albums have garnered quite a lot of dislike from fans and/or critics since their release, but they're honestly not that bad. Here is a list of albums that don't deserve the hate they get or need critical reevaluation.

Which much-maligned album by your favorite artist do you think is actually not bad or just underrated?
The Top Ten
Chinese Democracy - Guns N' Roses

If there is one album that deserves the title of the most unfairly maligned album ever, it's this one. Yes, it's very different from GN'R's usual sound and it doesn't feature Slash, but it's actually decent, at least if you take a few tracks, because as a whole, the album is bloated and too long. Still, I think this album deserves more credit than it has received.

Axl Rose's vocal performance throughout the album is outstanding, especially when he belts out unexpected falsettos on tracks like "There Was a Time". Love or hate Axl Rose's vocals, but this guy can sing like no one else in this world. Also, there are plenty of talented guitarists contributing to the album, most notably Buckethead.

Be Here Now - Oasis

This album is often cited as being the death knell of the Britpop movement, but I feel that Pulp's This Is Hardcore (1998) is the ultimate curtain call of Britpop. Be Here Now is a pretty good album in my opinion. It is just that the album is way too long, especially the song "All Around the World," which goes over nine minutes long.

Overall, Be Here Now is not that bad of an album, and people should show a little more respect toward it even though it is not as good as Definitely Maybe or (What's the Story) Morning Glory?. I feel like I have said enough, so I will end this comment here. Goodbye.

One More Light - Linkin Park

The production is dated, and many songs sound like something The Chainsmokers would have made, but it is still better than a Chainsmokers album honestly. I dare you all to listen to the title track without shedding a tear. "Talking to Myself" is also one of LP's most underrated tracks ever and should have been released as a single.

Aside from Mike Shinoda's horrendous verse on "Good Goodbye," the ear-bleeding drop on "Sorry for Now," and the overall dated production, this album is still worth a listen unless you are allergic to electro-pop and prefer their original sound. Also, rest in peace Chester.

American Life - Madonna

This has to be Madonna's most underrated album as well as her most unfairly maligned. Upon release, it was criticized for its political and anti-materialistic lyrics, its glitchy electronic production, its lack of innovation compared to previous albums, and also Madonna's attempts at rapping, her distorted vocals, as well as her "rudimentary" guitar-playing.

Overall, I think this album has stood the test of time and deserves at least one listen. The reason it was overlooked upon release is because it had a botched promotion and because she openly criticized George W. Bush's presidency right before he began the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It also came out around the same time The Chicks (then known as the Dixie Chicks) dissed President Bush during a concert in the UK, and the backlash that ensued. One and a half years later, Green Day released American Idiot in the midst of the presidential elections. Despite openly criticizing Bush's presidency, that album became a smash success, and rightfully so.

Make Believe - Weezer
Caress of Steel - Rush
Mania - Fall Out Boy

Although this album was indeed overproduced and had failed attempts at hopping on trends such as "Hold Me Tight or Don't" (a bland tropical house number) and "Young and Menace" (a bad choice for a lead single), it still had some highlights such as "The Last of the Real Ones," "Church," and "Heaven's Gate." "Stay Frosty Royal Milk Tea" is quite hilarious too, not going to lie. In addition, some FOB fans falsely accused them of selling out when they were merely experimenting.

If this album has 100 fans, I am one of them. If this album has 1 fan, it is me. If this album has no fans, I am dead.

Load - Metallica

This album is a mixed bag, but it's not the disaster some people claim it to be. It has great songs such as "Until It Sleeps" and "Hero of the Day," but it also includes some of Metallica's worst tracks to date, such as "Cure," "Poor Twisted Me," and "Ronnie."

A Thousand Suns - Linkin Park

Linkin Park's most underrated album for sure. While it's very electronic and includes a lot of interludes, it still features some gems such as "Waiting for the End," "The Catalyst," and more.

The Big Day - Chance The Rapper

Hated for just being a "wedding album" and for not being the debut album that Chance fans hoped for. I think Anthony Fantano was extremely harsh when he gave it a 0/10.

The Newcomers

? Can’t Rush Greatness - Central Cee

Central Cee's debut album is not as "mid" as most people make it out to be. It has some good tracks, although it's inconsistent at times.

? C,XOXO - Camila Cabello

This album is probably the most misunderstood album of 2024.

A lot of people took issue with Camila's artistic transformation, but honestly, it was not bad at all, and it was probably necessary. Besides, the album received praise from fellow artists such as Taylor Swift, so it definitely means a lot.

The Contenders
Father of All... - Green Day

Yeah, this album does have lots of flaws, but I think the trilogy is a lot worse. FOA does have some good ideas on there at least. It was on number 3 on Fantano's worst songs of 2020 list, but at least he put that Trapt album that sold only around 600 copies in its first week a spot ahead of it. Also, the singer of Trapt is one of the most unlikable people in the music industry and is a terrible person, so that number 2 spot on his list was definitely deserved.

I think the hate on this album is harsh and overblown. It's messy indeed, but I think they just made this album for fun.

Dream Evil - Dio
Reputation - Taylor Swift

This album came out at a time when T. Swift's reputation (literally) was at its lowest, so I think the hate on this album is definitely unfair. A lot of people have taken issue with the album's production and the songs about fame, such as "Look What You Made Me Do" (which is not as bad as people make it out to be).

In the years following its release, however, this album has garnered more positive reviews, with some viewing it as a necessary step for T. Swift's artistic evolution, most notably in her songwriting. Overall, Reputation is to T. Swift what American Life is to Madonna: unfairly maligned.

Jesus Is King - Kanye West

I think this album is hated just for being a gospel album or because it has some of Ye's laziest lyrics to date ("Closed on Sunday, you're my Chick-fil-A"). But it's far from being bad.

Love Explosion - Tina Turner
Pop - U2
The Car - Arctic Monkeys

This album is not exactly for everyone, but many longtime AM fans who love their upbeat indie rock sound hate this album for not being like their old stuff as well as thinking that it sounds like an Alex Turner solo project. It's nowhere near their best and definitely sounds like a watered down version of THBC, but give this album a chance and it's actually not bad. AM has evolved a lot this past decade and always wants to try new things.

Pfft. The only thing I don't like about this album is the fact that none of the singles from this album have a B-side or two. Arctic Monkeys have always included a top-quality B-side on their singles up until The Car. The only two singles released to promote the album contain no B-sides. This is all I have to say. Goodbye.

The Getaway - Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Getaway haters just hate this album because Josh is playing and not their little precious John Frusciante.

Like One Hot Minute and I'm With You, many RHCP fans hate on this album just for not having John Frusciante on it.

Encore - Eminem

I think this album is typically hated for being a disappointing follow-up to The Eminem Show or because it features some of Em's most cringeworthy songs, such as "Ass Like That," "Big Weenie," or "My 1st Single." But it also has some great singles like "Mockingbird," "Just Lose It," and "Like Toy Soldiers," along with some of his most underrated songs ever, such as "Mosh" and "Yellow Brick Road."

Kamikaze - Eminem

I understand it's not one of Em's best releases, but it's always better than Revival. It's typically hated because it tries so hard to be better than Revival, because Em uses a homophobic slur to describe Tyler, The Creator on "Fall," or because it features the song "Venom," which definitely has guilty pleasure value.

Viva Las Vengeance - Panic! At the Disco

I don't understand why this album is hated so much. Sure, Brendon Urie's vocals may sound campy, and his falsettos may be too much for some, but the production is well-executed. In retrospect, it's a nice conclusion for Panic! At the Disco.

Paula - Robin Thicke

Yeah, this album has creepy and TMI lyrics about Thicke's breakup with Paula Patton, but his expressive vocals definitely salvage the album from being a complete train wreck.

Tickets to My Downfall - Machine Gun Kelly

Not a bad album. Sure, it did not reinvent the wheel of pop-punk, but it still feels fresh. It's always better than Mainstream Sellout, which is simply pathetic and sounds like a caricature of pop-punk.

Vultures 1 - ¥$

Okay, this is going to be a controversial pick, but I think the hate on this album is definitely overblown. Yes, Kanye West is the absolute low point of the album, but Ty Dolla $ign is decent throughout, and there are a lot of fiery guest features such as Freddie Gibbs, Playboi Carti, and even Ye's daughter North West. The production is also interesting on some tracks.

I'm not trying to defend Ye's antisemitic remarks and praise of Hitler, because those are inexcusable, but if you take Ye out of the picture, Vultures 1 is definitely a good album.

One by One - Foo Fighters

This is nowhere near Foo Fighters' best album, and some parts of it do feel rushed, but it has hidden gems like Disenchanted Lullaby. I don't think this album is as bad as some fans make it out to be.

8Load More
PSearch List