It seems like these days it’s harder than ever to keep up with music. The internet certainly had democratised the whole process, but that just means there’s more to sort through until you find something you like.

Occasionally, the world does the dirty work for us. For one reason or another, whether it’s widespread critical acclaim, non-stop radio play, or good old media coverage, we get told we must listen to a particular band or album or face cultural doom.

Is it just us or have you noticed how more times than not, these albums basically get lost in your record collection after you’re over the initial, media-generated buzz? Granted, it’s not true for everybody.

We recently noticed the phenomenon and we decided to compile a list of albums that were critically hailed and near inescapable when they first came out, but to which the years have not been kind. Either we realised they weren’t as good as we were told or we just plain don’t listen to ’em anymore.

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine