Sadly, some of our most beloved artists put out records that could and should have been simply, better. I am a fan of every one of the artists on this list and no one is more disappointed than me. The list is compiled from worst disappointment to least disappointing.

1) Interpol – Our Love to Admire.

The first two Interpol records were divine. Both the Arcade Fire and Interpol have taken a page from The Cure with a dark and Victorian sound mixed with a clear pop sensibility. They have managed to be both depressing and optimistic at the same time. The eerie lead guitar lines of Daniel Kessler are intact in this third installment from the
New York based quartet. Smooth and bright, complimenting Paul Banks vocals like peanut butter meeting jelly for the third time. Sam Fogarino still holds a solid backbeat, but this time without Carlos D showing his chops. This is one of the biggest issues on this record. In previous records Carlos D has blasted through each song with excitement and melody. Once upon a time he was the backbone of Interpol. In Our love to Admire he plays a lazy role. Maybe he didn’t fancy the songs themselves? I know I didn’t. Rumors of breakups and make-ups leading up to the recording of the record could have persuaded him to be blasé about the whole process. Next is Paul Banks, the Ian Curtis like, lead singer and songwriter for the group. His songs have never been strong lyrically and have relied mostly on the atmosphere of the album in its entirety. But, with the record being so spotty, his words seem rushed, forced and unimaginative. If you are a fan, you will love the record. If you are a REAL fan, you will see the transparency.

2) The Smashing Pumpkins – Zeitgeist

What the hell? It’s an easy hit but I couldn’t leave it out of the list. The return of one of the 90’s greatest rock bands falls short on all accounts. I am a fan of Billy Corgan; I have everything he’s put out. His masterpiece with the now dead Zwan was closer to a great Pumpkins record than this piece of poorly mixed garbage. Almost as boring as his solo record The Future Embrace, the songwriting is terrible. Sometimes, when a great American band breaks up, one or more members become obsessed with the concept of the group and the sound they created. They sit in their rooms and listen to the good ol’ tapes and tour occasionally with a new group that they have far less interest in. They hear their music from the point of view of a listener. This is what kills them. You can’t expect to write the same songs you wrote in the past and still be inventive. Especially in the case of a whole new lineup for the band, not listening to yourself and just DOING IT is what gets you where you want to be. James Iha is another element that is missing. He knew what to play and when to play it. He could make Billy Corgan cool. His memorable guitar lines from “1979” and “Today” can be found nowhere on Zeitgeist. That’s because he isn’t on it. I could go on forever about not hiring Melissa Auf Der Maur, mixing the album so poorly and letting bad songs that Billy thinks sound like Pumpkins tracks slide into the album. But, I won’t. Don’t waste your money.

3) Jarvis Cocker – Jarvis

I love Pulp. Lyrically Jarvis Cocker has been at the top of anyone’s game. Not this time. His words are boring and about bland topics. Since when do I want to hear one of the greatest poets of our time sing about girls is such simplistic terms? What happened to “Common People?” Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time is nonsense. “Let him read your palm and guess your sign, let him take you home and treat you so fine,” come on! The standout tracks of the album are Black Magic which is the exact melody of “Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James and the Shondells and secret track “Cunts are Still Running the World.” Cunts (to paraphrase), is brilliant. It’s the old Jarvis we are used to. Political, hilarious and vital in message. Hopefully he can bring it back with a sophomore album someday. Jarvis, I know you have it in you.

4) Kings of
Leon – Because of the Times

I think I listened to this one more than any other on the list. I wanted to like it. I believed that the energy and songwriting on Aha Shake Heartbreak was there, somewhere. But sadly after countless listens and confusion over the great reviews it got, I could fool myself no more! This record is arrogant. It is over ambitious and lacking in cohesiveness. The differences between Because of the Times and Aha Shake Heartbreak are profound. It’s less indie rock than grunge rock. Drummer Nathan Followill brings some interesting rhythms to the fold and has grown to be a defining member of this fantastic group. Caleb’s vocal sty lings remain intact, but when I listen to the record, it’s kind of like shooting a cannon ball out of a pistol. Both have potential, but they are in the wrong medium. This is fourth on the list, so I don’t have a whole lot of negative things to say, just that I feel it could have been better.

5) The Good, the Bad and the Queen – The Good, The Bad and the Queen

Let me start out by saying that this is not a bad record. It’s actually a good record and I recommend you pick it up if you get an itch to hear it. The reason why it made the list is that it is a bit boring. The album starts out with “History Song,” one of my favorite singles of 2007. It blends perfectly the bass tones of Paul Simonon with the surprisingly simple drumming of Tony Allen (Fela Kuti). It has a somewhat dazed carnival sound mixed beautifully with Damon’s always spot on voice. The keyboards are eerie, and the guitar, stripped down for a former member of the Verve (Simon Tong). But, sadly, they record becomes very spotty from then on. It picks up a bit with “Northern Whale,” but the track is more like an outtake from the most recent Gorillaz record. Each track for the rest of the record though good, never seemed to fully take flight. Maybe taking Danger Mouse off of the controls and going with say, Nigel Godrich, could have done them some good. Putting Simonon and Tong to more use would make a second record more promising from this super-group. I do dearly look forward to hearing it.