Weezer - Best/Worst/Favorite/Overrated/Underrated - Album by Album

I started this last blog series this past year and well, why not give it go with my favorite band to love and hate, Weezer. On this post, I added the "Guilty Pleasure" category for albums and songs that I particularly find myself perplexed that I actually enjoy. It does not apply to every album. 

As always, here are my overly-detailed definitions of terms:

Best - this is obvious, what I think is the best track on the album in terms of composition and what it sets out to do.

Worst - also obvious, although, this definitely has more bias in it than "Best", it should be noted that this song may or may not even be "bad". 

Overrated/Underrated - This is completely subjective but I am basing this category off of "hard-core" Weezer fans. It may or may not align with the broader public's opinions. Also, the Underrated category acts as another way for me to shoehorn one of my favorites into the list.  Finally, if I place a song in the overrated category, it doesn't mean it's a bad song, it just means it's overrated. No more, no less.

Favorite - My personal favorite, not always the best track. It's the song I most connected with or have a special memory associated with. Again, also another way for me to shove a song I really like onto the list. 

So with that out of the way, here we go:

Blue Album

This was by far the easiest album to do this activity on. 

Best: Say it Ain't So

Worst: Surfwax America

Overrated: Only in Dreams

Underrated: The World Has Turned And Left Me Here/Holiday

Favorite: The World Has Turned And Left Me Here

Pinkerton

Best: Across the Sea

Worst: Why Bother?

Overrated: Falling for You

Underrated: Butterfly

Favorite: Across the Sea

Green Album

Best: Island in the Sun/O Girlfriend (this is not cheating, it's my blog and my rules, stop judging me)

Worst: Crab (I kinda even like this dumb song)

Overrated: Smile

Underrated: Glorious Days 

Favorite: Simple Pages 

Maladroit 

Best: Slave    

Worst: Possibilities (one of Rivers Cuomo's laziest songs recorded for an album). 

Overrated: Burndt Jamb 

Underrated: Keep Fishin' (radio edit only)

Favorite: Slave

Make Believe 

Best: The Other Way

Worst: My Best Friend (If I could list this twice, I would).

Overrated: Haunt You Everyday 

Underrated: This is Such a Pity/Hold Me 

Favorite: The Other Way 

Red Album 

Best: The Angel and the One 

Worst: Cold Dark World 

Overrated: Pork and Beans 

Underrated: Dreamin'

Favorite: The Angel and the One/Ms. Sweeney (Ms. Sweeny is on the "Deluxe Edition, sue me)

Raditude 

Best: I Don't Wanna Let You Go 

Worst: Love is the Answer

Overrated: None 

Underrated: (If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To

Favorite: Prettiest Girl In the Whole Wide World (Deluxe Edition, again) 

Guilty Pleasure: I'm Your Daddy (I know, gross, right?)

Death to False Metal 

The studio leftover album that becomes even more insane now that we have 95% of Rivers' demos...how were these songs selected? A random draw from a hat?! 

Best: Blowin' My Stack 

Worst: Losing My Mind 

Overrated: None 

Underrated: Autopliot 

Favorite: Blowin' My Stack

Hurley

Best: Run Away 

Worst: Where's My Sex? 

Overrated: Unspoken

Underrated: Run Away

Guilty Pleasure: Smart Girls (there, I said it and no, I'm not proud of it either).

Favorite: Ruling Me 

Everything Will Be Alright in the End 

Best: Foolish Father 

Worst: Back to the Shack

Overrated: Ain't Got Nobody 

Underrated: I've Had It Up To Here / Eulogy for a Rock Band 

Favorite:  Foolish Father 

White Album

Best: Wind in Our Sails 

Worst: Thank God For Girls 

Overrated: Thank God For Girls 

Underrated: (Girl We Got A) Good Thing

Favorite: Summer Elaine and Drunk Dori/Jacked Up

Pacific Daydream 

Best: Feels Like Summer 

Worst: Get Right 

Overrated: Sweet Mary 

Underrated: Feels Like Summer 

Favorite: Weekend Woman 

Guilty Pleasure: Mexican Fender (I am legitimately embarrassed that I like this song)

Black Album 

I refuse. I hope this album burns in hell. 

Teal

I also refuse this one too....it sucks. It's cynical, lifeless, and isn't worth thinking about. 

OK Human

Best: Aloo Gobi and Dead Roses

Worst: All My Favorite Songs 

Overrated: Numbers

Underrated:  La Brea Tar Pits 

Favorite: Playing My Piano/Mirror Image (I can't disconnect these two).

Van Weezer

Best: Shelia Can Do It (the Homie version is still a hundred times better). 

Worst: Hero 

Overrated: 1 More Hit 

Underrated: None thus far 

Favorite: I Need Some of That (it's dumb, I get it, but what can I say? I like it). 

Nirvana: Best/Worst/Favorite/Overrated/Underrated - Album by Album

 Hello All,

I started a new series reviewing some of my favorite artist's discography. Last time I did the Beatles and that was really fun, so I'm back to revel in my own self-righteous opinions. This time I'm covering another big favorite of mine...Nirvana.

 As always, here's my overly-detailed definitions of terms:

Best - this is obvious, what I think is the best track on the album in terms of composition and what it sets out to do.

Worst - also obvious, although, this definitely has more bias in it than "Best".

Overrated/Underrated - As I typically don't talk to people about the Nirvana nor am I reading much about them these days...so, this is just a general, what I think others think. Also, the Underrated category acts as another way for me to shoe horn one my favorites into the list.  Finally, if I place a song in the overrated category, it doesn't mean it's a bad song, it just means it's overrated. No more, no less.

Favorite - My personal favorite, not always the best track but the one I connected with the most or have a special memory associated with.

Bleach

Best: "About a Girl"
Worst: "Paper Cuts" 
Favorite: "About a Girl"/"Love Buzz"
Overrated: "About a Girl"
Underrated: "Love Buzz"/"Blew"

Nevermind

Best: "In Bloom"/"Drain You" (this was tough, this album has so many near perfect gems)
Worst: "Stay Away"
Favorite: "In Bloom"
Overrated: There's the obvious choice, and that that would be correct but I'm going to go with every beginning guitar player's go-to "Come As You Are" (and for the record I love this song)
Underrated: "On a Plain"

Hormoaning

Included because, hey, why not? Let's do an unnecessary deep dive on a EP that was only regionally released and consists of mainly cover songs?

Best: "Aneurysm" (such a cool tune)
Worst: "Even in His Youth" (and this is a decent track too)
Favorite: "Turnaround" (maybe my favorite cover of any song by any band)
Overrated: "Aneurysm" (just here because it has to be the only song the general public knows about) but this was
Underrated:Everything except "Aneurysm" but I guess "D-7"

Incesticide

Best: "Aneurysm" (well, this is awkward but yeah, it fits the bill again)
Worst: "Big Long Now" (yawn)
Favorite: "Turnaround" (again, it's here but it's that good) & "Son of a Gun"
Overrated: "Sliver" (I still love it)
Underrated:"Beeswax"

In Utero

Best: "Heart Shaped Box"
Worst: "tourette's" (it ain't that bad either)
Favorite: "All Apologies"/"Dumb"/the first 30 seconds of"Scentless Apprentice"
Overrated:"Rape Me"
Underrated: "Very Ape" and "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter"


Unplugged in NYC

Best:"Where Did You Sleep Last Night?"
Worst: "Pennyroyal Tea" (ok sorry, it's not the greatest but if you've heard the rehearsal footage with Pat Smear trying to sing backup vocals, this is X1000 better...it's like they were too afraid to tell him he was off key).
Favorite:"Man Who Sold the World"
Overrated: "Pennyroyal Tea"(gotta pick something)
Underrated: "Oh Me"

From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah

I don't wanna do this album. It's a fine compilation of live tracks, I mean it's good but I don't listen to it much anymore. Off the top of my head, my personal faves are "School", "Spank Thru" and of course, you guessed it, "Aneurysm"

With the Lights Out - Box Set 
After pining after a box for almost a decade, the box set finally came out and by then, I was not the hardcore Nirvana fan I used to be. I couldn't really justify spending hundreds of dollars on the set and the "Best of" set I had already heard 90% of it on bootlegs. So, suffice to say, I don't have a list of either. I'm tired and can't list anymore Nirvana songs this late either!

The Beatles: Best/Worst/Favorite/Overrated/Underrated - Album by Album

Hey I'm bored during a pandemic and I got idea for a new blog series.

 I am happy I'm not dying (yet), and I hope you're staying safe as well! We're in a new world and frankly, I want the old one back.

Anyway, with this series, I will be exploring my favorite artist's discography with quick lists off the album. The good news is, if you think my opinions stink, the blog itself will be a pretty quick read. Suffice to say, this was pretty hard to do. There were some amazing Beatles songs that didn't make the cut and singles like "Rain" that aren't on a proper "album". That said, the challenges made it more fun too.

As always, here's my overly-detailed definitions of terms:

Best - this is obvious, what I think is the best track on the album in terms of composition and what it sets out to do.

Worst - also obvious, although, this definitely has more bias in it than "Best".

Overrated/Underrated - As I typically don't talk to people about the Beatles nor am I reading much about them either, this is just a general, what I think others think. Also, the Underrated category acts as another way for me to shoe horn one my favorites into the list.  Finally, if I place a song in the overrated category, it doesn't mean it's a bad song, it just means it's overrated. No more, no less.

Favorite - My personal favorite, not always the best track but the one I connected with the most or have a special memory associated with.


-----------------------

 Please Please Me & With The Beatles 

Given the lack of original songs, I am just combining these and adding another category. Already with the first two albums and I am already breaking my own rules, I am god of this blog and I do as I like.


Best: "All My Loving"
Worst: "Little Child"
Favorite: "All My Loving"
Overrated: "I Saw Her Standing There" (ducks tomatoes being thrown...something had to go here)
Underrated: "Love Me Do"

Best Cover: "Twist & Shout" (Overplayed? Overrated? Maybe - but still an amazing performance)

 
A Hard Day's Night 


Best: "If I Fell"
Worst:"I'll Cry Instead"/"You Can't Do That"  annoying and "You Can't..." is gross lyrically)
Favorite: "If I Fell"/"I Should Have Known Better" (look, it's my blog, there's two, get over it)
Overrated: "And I Love Her"
Underrated:"Things We Said Today"


Beatles for Sale 
 
Look, I never really listen to this album...so, I'm skipping it, although I am partial to "I'm a Loser" and "I'll Follow the Sun".


Help! 

Best: "Ticket to Ride" (it's just such an amazing pop song, I can't deny its placement here)
Worst: eh, I dunno,"The Night Before" ? That kinda sucks.
Favorite: "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" (another vocal home run- I'm in love with this song)
Overrated: "Yesterday" (duh)
Underrated:"You're Gonna Lose That Girl"/"I've Just Seen A Face"


Rubber Soul

Best: "In My Life"
Worst: "Run for Your Life" (it's just so gross lyrically but I admit it's an ear-worm)
Favorite: "I'm Looking Through You" (one of my all time fave post break-up songs)
Overrated: "In My Life"
Underrated: "Michelle" (Just a perfect twinge of sweetness and wistfulness that makes me feel warm and fuzzy)

Revolver 

Best: "Here There And Everywhere"
Worst: "Doctor Roberts" (it's good but goofy)
Favorite: "I'm Only Sleeping"/"And Your Bird Can Sing"/"She Said She Said" (also like three other songs, I had to stop somewhere).
Overrated: "Eleanor Rigby" and "Yellow Submarine"
Underrated: "Good Day Sunshine" (pure cheese by Paul, but damn, it's good cheese)

Sgt Pepper's 

Best: "A Day in the Life" (someone might track me down and hurt me if I didn't place this here)
Worst: "Within You Without You" (I'm the kinda Beatles fan that gets bummed by a Indian-inspired tune - just too drone-y and boring).
Favorite: "When I'm Sixty-Four" (What can I say? I'm a romantic)
Overrated: "A Day in the Life" (it's true)
Underrated: "Fixing a Hole"

Magical Mystery Tour (I know, I know this barely counts as an album)

Best: "Strawberry Fields Forever" (one of the best songs in the history of pop music)
Worst: "Blue Jay Way" (one of the worst songs in the history of pop music - just kidding but it's bad).
Favorite:"Strawberry Fields Forever"
Overrated: "All You Need is Love" (it hurts me to write this but it's true)
Underrated: "Hello/Goodbye" (not sure if this is even possible, but I'm putting it here)

White Album (I'm cheating, so sue me)

Sides 1 & 2

Best:"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Worst: "Rocky Racoon"
Favorite: "I'm So Tired"/"Happiness Is A Warm Gun"
Overrated: "Glass Onion" (fun but ya know, a little too cheeky)
Underrated: "I'm So Tired"/"I Will"

Sides 3 & 4

Best: "Long Long Long"
Worst: "Revolution 9"  (Should I apologize for this? It was a great choice for the time though)
Favorite: "Long Long Long"/"Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey"
Overrated: "Birthday" (for lack of a better selection...?)
Underrated: "Honey Pie"/"Helter Skelter"

I refuse to do Yellow Submarine. 

Abbey Road

Best: "Here Comes the Sun"
Worst: "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" (this song should not exist and it's everyone who has a brain's least favorite Beatles song)
Favorite: The Melody the ends the album/"Here Comes the Sun"
Overrated: "Something"/"Come Together" (Have you heard the Elvis cover of "Something"? - Don't do it, just don't, it might make you hate it)
Underrated: "Oh! Darling!"

Let It Be

Best: "Two of Us"/"Across the Universe"
Worst: "Dig a Pony"
Favorite: "Two of Us"
Overrated: "Let it Be" (duh)
Underrated: "Two of Us"

Well, there ya have it folks, next up I'm going for Nirvana.