College Times

Issue date: 1/10/08 Section: Music

Media Credit: Gregory Scaffidi

Music writers Jeremy Iverson and Mike Meyer pick the 10 most disappointing albums of 2007. These aren't necessarily the worst albums of the year, but a collection of letdowns and misfires by artists from whom we've come to expect much better.



SMASHING PUMPKINS - Zeitgeist (Reprise Records)



Musically, the Pumpkins nearly recapture their '90s brilliance, but the album is ruined by Billy Corgan's uninspired vocals and pompous lyrics. - MM



COMMON - Finding Forever (Geffen Records)



The music's not bad, if slightly forgettable, but it's Common's lack of any real insight that makes this one a disappointment. - JI



FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE - Traffic and Weather (Virgin Records)



The pop culture references and nerdy self-deprecation that were once so endearing about Fountains of Wayne just come off as trite and calculated here. - MM



R.E.M. - Live (Warner Bros. Records)



This is what the band does for their first live album? They have truly reached a point of irrelevancy, even to those of us who can be considered hardcore fans. - JI



BEASTIE BOYS - The Mix-Up (Capitol Records)



The Beastie's forays into instrumental jazz and funk worked great as interludes on diverse albums like Check Your Head, but eventually just become redundant here. - MM



STARS - In Our Bedroom After the War (Arts & Crafts)



Their last album was a masterpiece; this one is overproduced and underwritten. - JI



SAGE FRANCIS - Human the Death Dance (Epitaph Records)



With 12 different producers spread across 16 tracks, Francis' latest lacks cohesiveness and suffers from the classic quandary of too many cooks in the kitchen. - MM



JIMMY EAT WORLD - Chase This Light (Interscope Records)



They follow up one of their best, most mature works with an album filled with lightweight pop fare that feels like little more than an attempt to repeat their most popular album. - JI



FOO FIGHTERS - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (RCA Records)



Not necessarily bad, just incredibly boring. This sounds like a collection of filler from the Foo Fighters' earlier, better albums. - MM



ARCTIC MONKEYS - Favourite Worst Nightmare (Warner Bros. Records)



Wherein a great young band manages to completely sap all of the energy from their sound and become a cliché before their career even managed to get going. - JI

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