Ten Most Disappointing Albums of 2008

I have to say the Lost Trailers album was probably the most disappointing thing I heard this year. My already low expectations of it were nowhere near low enough to prepare myself for how amazingly bad it was.

I completely agree with you on the Allison Moorer album. I was really looking forward to it, but it was so flat. It’s been a while now since she’s put out a good CD. I also was disappointed with the new Rodney Crowell disk. I knew I shouldn’t've gotten it — I haven’t liked his last few navel-gazing CDs. But, it got good reviews, so I took the plunge. I gotta get in the habit of thoroughly previewing CDs on iTunes before buying them.

I think the Jackson album was really my biggest disappointment. I wasn’t expecting great things from the others on this list (with the possible exception of Parton), but I had really been looking forward to his album and I didn’t end up liking it much.

The Nelson album might have disappointed me if I hadn’t already prepared myself not to like it due to its producers.

I was hoping for better from George Strait too, though his albums are typically hit or miss for me anyway.

Yep… there’s something to be said for just picking the best 10 or 12 cuts you have and calling it good. Seventeen is a bit much- especially when there’s not a lot of variation.

I thought that Good Time was the biggest disappointment. While it has a few decent cuts, Small Town Southern Man and the Martina duet, it was overall just disappointing.

Yeah, all you Dolly worshippers, where are ya now? Ben, I know you’re somewhere around here just waiting to call Brady a heretic…

“Backwoods Barbie” made the list? Nooooooo!!

And I quite like Jewel’s album, her voice is marvelous and the tracks are all pretty good IMO :)

I can agree w/ “Kellie Pickler” tho, even tho I am a fan of her : /

I don’t have that particular Alison Moorer CD in my collection, but I’m wondering why bringing Buddy Miller on board to produce the album is considered a bad thing.

I was kind of wondering the same thing about Buddy Miller. I don’t know him too well, but I like the one album of his that I have of his.

As for the Dolly album, I liked it fine. It wasn’t good enough to make my top ten list, but I definitely didn’t dislike it. There were just a couple of songs I would have left off.

I agree with Jim about what the problem with the Jackson album is. There were a couple of good songs, but a really boring album over all.

And of course, I was not disappointed by the albums by crossover acts because I never expected much from them in the first place, not even Rucker. Then again, I did hope for better from Jewel.

I agree regarding Alan’s album. And to think we have what, eight more songs from the same session to look forward to on the next album? Uggh!

I actually liked Willie’s album but then, I like Kenny too so his production didn’t offend me as much as it did others.

Oops, sorry, meant “their” and not “there.”

Haha the number one cracked me up. I really didn’t think the Darius Rucker album was country because all it was essentially was a Hootie album without the whole band. I also thought Kellie Pickler’s album was pretty bad as well as Alan Jackson’s full album even though he did have a few good songs unlike Pickler’s which was pretty bad from start to finish.

Dolly’s Album was distinctly average comparatively speaking.

The crossovers were not so bad but their sales do not reflect the quality of their albums but rather that Country music fans are not ‘yet’ ready to welcolm and support their albums.

Jewel’s was consistent- beautiful voice.

Jessica’s was a solid effort and not as contrived or forced as one might have thought.

I didn’t pick up Darius.

Kellie’s was vapid.

Sugarland- Love on the inside was very disappointing to me. I agree Pickler and Houser were big disappointments.
Pickler needs some good songs, thats always been her problem.

Hard to gripe much with this one. The only one I’d say is missing is Play, which I don’t hate as much as Ben but do think was a largely wasted artistic opportunity on Brad Paisley’s part. But again, good stuff.

Mockingbird was the first Allison Moorer album I didn’t buy. I was stoked about the idea of her and Buddy Miller but when you are pulling your inspiration for Ring of Fire from reality TV, you are out of ideas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN9aTTc4IFs

I agree with Dan that Play should have made this list definitely.

And I strong disgree with the inclusion of Heidi Newfield and Dolly Parton as ‘disappointing’. Those were 2 of my favorite albums of the year – and neither artist disappointed me.

The only reason I wouldn’t agree that Play should be included is because I didn’t expect much from it in the first place, since I typically dislike instrumental albums. I did like the Wariner and Owens songs though. I definitely did not hate it with the passion that Ben does.

I thought Backwoods Barbie was hailed as Dolly’s return to “mainstream” country, which to me explained the pop tendencies. But really, we’re calling Dolly “too pop” now? She was always pretty pop, and what does it matter anyway?

Good post, though. I like the distinction between “disappointing” and “worst.”

Taylor Swift’s new album is all bubble gum pop, and her vocals are worse then ever. It is the most over-rated album of the century.

More importantly, it is NOT country. It is pop at its worst. If she wants to be a pop artist so badly, I say, bye bye.

Ditto on every single point and pretty much every comment on the thread. I totally agree with Mike on the Lost Trailers. I love Heidi’s voice and loved Johnny & June, but yeah after that I was pretty let down. Also, is it me or does every Keith Anderson sad song sound the same? I’m not sure that Jessica Simpson should be on the list, did anyone have any kind of positive expectation about her album? Other than her dad I can’t think of anyone who who thought she had a chance. I back Dan and JR…I’m not a fan of Play, let’s add it to the list.

Why not title it what it REALLY is? A Bubblegum Pop Music Top 9 Worst Albums of the year. I am excluding the Alan Jackson album only because he still has not sold out, and, remains what real Country Music is unlike the rest of the listed Country (?) Artists, although this is not one of his best albums. All in all, Modern Country Music, broken down, is only wannabe Pop Music masquarading as something it is not, so, why not give the list it’s proper name, then, when they start making REAL Country Music again, a Country Music list can be established.

“That means it will be coming out!”

Sadly, it does not. I could show you a sizable stack of advances for completed records that never came out.

JJ – “Mockingbird” from someone that also did “The Hardest Part” is very disappointing to me. That’s two bad ones in a row from Moorer. Maybe Steve Earle isn’t the best influence on her musically.

Waoh!! Josh Gracin!! No way, I love his album. Sure maybe it wasn’t worth the four year wait, but still, not as awful at the rest of them up here.

cop out!

I could have done without “Shinola” and the covers of “You Drive Me Crazy” and “Tracks Of My Tears”, but I don’t passionately hate any of those songs. I thought the rest of the album was very good. It’s no “The Grass Is Blue” or “White Limozeen” but I think some concessions were made in a futile attempt to get back on the radio.

Well, these may not be the absolute worst of the worst but then, this is a list of the most disappointing. Willie’s album was horrendous, Alan’s was a bloated affair and I am sooo tired of the washed up pop stars!