Top 10 Albums That Bombed So Hard They Killed a Musician's Career
#10: Passage (1977)
The Carpenters
The adult contemporary sound of The Carpenters had aged out of fashion by the late 1970s. The band thus shifted for Passage, but in the wrong direction. The album mingled pop with ambitious avant-garde, culminating in a cover of Klaatus prog rock epic Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft. Some of the more mainstream singles wound up being pretty respectable hits. On the whole, though, the divisive Passage would become the first Carpenters album to sell under Gold certification. It was quite successful outside of the States, but that was enough to signal the bands loss of relevance. It took a Christmas album and Made in America for The Carpenters to bounce back before Karen Carpenters shocking death in 1983.
#9: Summer in Paradise (1992)
The Beach Boys
Though their critical reception took a dive throughout the 1980s, The Beach Boys were surfing on their loyal fanbase into the next decade. Then came the wipeout that was Summer in Paradise. With the notable absence of Brian Wilson, the album mostly features re-recordings, covers and remixes with a 90s pop rock production. As predictably harsh as the critics were, fans were no kinder to this radical departure from the classic Beach Boys sound. The album was the bands worst-selling ever, arguably bankrupting the distributor Navarre. It would be 20 years before The Beach Boys put out new material. Meanwhile, Summer in Paradise has gained a cult following for one reason: it has been out of print since its first issue.
#8: Second Coming (1994)
The Stone Roses
After weak initial sales, The Stone Roses eponymous debut became the sleeper hit to turn Madchester into a global phenomenon. Their sophomore album was highly anticipated, ultimately going Platinum in the UK. However, Second Coming was met with mixed reviews over its much less groundbreaking alternative elements. The mediocre international sales set the album up for a legacy as a dud. Really, it was the bands frustrated response and messy promotional tour that brought tension to a head. The Stone Roses broke up in 1996, their long-term reputation hanging mostly on that legendary first album. Whether that's fair to the now-better-received Second Coming, it did leave the group down for the count.
#7: Chinese Democracy (2008)
Guns N Roses
There was obviously a lot of hype going into Guns N Roses first original album in 17 years, recorded over the course of the interval. That quickly died down after Chinese Democracy disappointingly debuted at No. 3 on the US Billboard 200. It did go Platinum, but far more slowly than expected, even with little radio play and Best Buys exclusive distribution deal. Mixed reviews over the dated style compounded fans frustration with the albums long, troubled production. Infamous conflicts with frontman Axle Rose had already alienated the band that everyone loved. Some have come around on Chinese Democracy, though it's still considered a legendary letdown in rock. Guns N Roses have not released a studio album since.
#6: Van Halen III (1992)
Van Halen
David Lee Roths replacement with Sammy Hagar should have inspired faith in Van Halens capacity for reinvention. But Extremes Gary Cherone didn't impress fans as the new singer, probably because he wasn't the real voice of Van Valen III. Eddie Van Halens heavy involvement in the albums production amounted to what many considered an overblown, overlong vanity project. The idea was at least appealing enough for it to eventually go Gold. Of course, Van Halen practically had a license to print Platinum records before this uninspiring step down. Van Halen IIIs sufficient success was not sufficient in realizing the bands collaborative process or drawing strong live audiences. Cherone left in 1999, and Van Halen didn't release another studio album until 2012.
#5: Mardi Gras (1972)
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Bringing a California flair to Deep South culture made Creedence Clearwater Revival one of the biggest bands going into the 1970s. Unfortunately, Mardi Gras was no party behind the scenes or among fans. A tense production yielded an uninspired country showcase that especially infuriated critics. Sales were strong, but not compared to CCRs previous work. And the promotional tour didnt last long, as the albums failure and other issues prompted the band to break up. Many suspect that frontman John Fogerty facilitated this because of his brother Toms departure and creative conflict with the rest of the group. The junior Fogerty would have a stellar solo career, but Stu Cook and Doug Clifford had a disastrous songwriting debut with Mardi Gras.
#4: Cut the Crap (1985)
The Clash
At least the title of The Clashs last release said what we were thinking. Cut the Crap finds the punk icons indulging in overproduced new wave without Mick Jones. Drummer Pete Howard and bassist Paul Simonon were even removed from the final mix. Joe Strummer didn't sell out his songwriting, but that's lost in the noise of a very 80s sound. The album undersold and was lambasted by listeners. Strummer agreed, his creative conflict with producer Bernard Rhodes marking the final straw in The Clashs internal tension. The band cut out a month before Cut the Crap came out. Fans have since warmed to the album subverting the groups style, but everyone agrees it was a failure they couldn't even come back from.
#3: 143[a] (2024)
Katy Perry
After leaving American Idol and critically falling short with two experimental albums, Katy Perry needed a comeback for 2024. 143 was expected to be a triumphant return to dance-pop that featured a star-studded production. It also featured producer Dr. Luke, despite allegations of sexual assault. Controversy over this only compounded the worst reviews of Perrys career. After debuting at No. 6, the outdated and superficial album dropped off the US Billboard 200 after just two weeks. Critics soon questioned Perrys relevancy in the music industry and even her authenticity as an artist. 143, named for numerical slang for I love you, was so unloved that it certainly set the pop idol back.
#2: Paula (2014)
Robin Thicke
The aftermath of the album Blurred Lines was unfortunate for Robin Thicke. His follow-up was a concept work in response to his then-recent separation from actress Paula Patton. Paula polarized critics with its musical quality and awkwardly confessional lyrics. After a disappointing debut at No. 9, the album plummeted alongside Thickes already controversial image as a suave ladies man. His reputation was further tarnished as his and Pattons divorce got bitter, and allegations of plagiarism and abuse emerged in the coming years. Thicke didnt make another album until On Earth, and in Heaven was released in 2021 to even worse sales. Paula just stands out as a cautionary tale of misguided personal songwriting and botched overnight stardom.
#1: Metal Machine Music (1975)
Lou Reed
Avant-garde and mainstream rock fans alike agreed on Lou Reeds greatness. They also agreed that Metal Machine Music was an experiment too far. The 65-minute-long double-LP consists entirely of electric guitar feedback. Even the critics found this self-indulgent expression to be a grind. Needless to say, casual listeners were not happy. The monumental critical and commercial failure basically ostracized Reed from the popular music industry. Whatever his vague motivations, he did take the opportunity to blend more experimental music into accessible songwriting to consistent acclaim. Even Metal Machine Music has inspired debate about whether its plainly the worst album ever or if theres genius in such subversiveness. Either way, it was the definitive, literal sound of a major music career self-destructing.
What are some other missed notes in your favorite musicians catalogue? Spin it in the comments.
[a]one four three https://youtu.be/KjiuS98MJdE?si=Crk94nN4PH32yW2U&t=104
