Digg this storyAs much of a holy omfgical year in music it was for me, there were also some huge disappointments. Here were the biggest:
 |
:’( | Smashing Pumpkins Zeitgeist [Reprise/Jul 10] |
| The first new Pumpkins album in 7 years was a horribly-produced, steaming pile of shit with Corgan’s vocals turned up 5,313 decibals louder than anything else. Even the album cover is laughable. The only thing remotely decent was Jimmy Chamberlin’s drumming, which is barely audible anyway. | ||
 |
:’( | Interpol Our Love to Admire [Capitol/Jul 10] |
| This album was way better the first two times they wrote it. The third time around, it’s a boring, uninteresting eulogy of a band who once had a world of hype and promise. To add insult to injury, it (terrible cover and all) was released the same day as The Smashing Pumpkins’ Zeitgeist. | ||
 |
:’( | Against me! New Wave [Sire/Jul 10] |
| Perhaps not coincidentally also released on July 10, these folk punks’ fourth studio album showcases the final steps of a band moving completely into the spectrum of mainstream, polished production that does nothing but ruin their sound. RIP | ||
 |
:’( | Tiger Army Music From Regions Beyond [Hellcat/Jun 5] |
| Like Against Me!, these psychobilly’s latest offering suffers from a polished production that does not fit their sound and style at all. Though not a terrible record, their track record has proven capable of much better, making this all the more disappointing. | ||
 |
:’( | 65daysofstatic The Destruction of Small Ideas [Monotreme/Apr 30] |
| These UK post-rockers have done nothing but gone downhill since their stunning 2004 debut. The most recent entry to the band’s catalogue furthers a descent into generic instrumental post-rock that lacks the tumultuous electronic drums and pulsating beats that made their debut so incredible. | ||
 |
:’( | Portugal. The Man Church Mouth [Fearless/Jul 24] |
| Despite an amazing EP at the beginning of this very same year, these Alaskans’ second full-length is hardly daring and fails to deliver on the experimental promises of their previous work. Hardly a worthy adversary to a debut that was one of 2006’s best releases. | ||
 |
:’( | The New Pornographers Challengers [Matador/Aug 21] |
| Though this album was one of the top 75 of the year, it was nonetheless a weak offering from a band who’s previous releases were nothing short of amazing. Challengers is by far the worst from The New Pornographers to date. | ||
 |
:’( | I Heart Hiroshima Tuff Teef [Valve/Aug 13] |
| I had been excitedly awaiting the debut full-length from this band after several excellent EPs. Tuff Teef however, is a bland record filled with unmemorable moments that all run together like a freight train of boring. | ||
 |
:’( | She Wants Revenge This is Forever [Perfect Kiss/Oct 9] |
| She Wants Revenge’s second album is an uninspired set of 80s synth-pop homages that don’t bring anything original to the table. The band’s previous penchant for intensely disconnected darkwave melodies is sorely lacking, leaving behind a lifeless collection of uninspired neo-goth. | ||
 |
:’( | Hard-Fi Once Upon a Time in the West [Warner/Sep 18] |
| Hot off the success of a surprisingly solid debut, these Europeans returned with a second album of trite, semi-indie rock wrapped in a terriblely gimmicky “no cover art” ploy. It doesn’t much matter, as there isn’t anything worth listening to underneath the obvious White Album imitation. | ||
 |
:’( | Foo Fighters Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace [RCA/Sep 25] |
| Dave Grohl continues his journey towards adult contemporary with this latest forgettable entry into mediocrity. Foo Fighters have been steadily declining since Pat Smear’s departure a decade ago, and this album is no exception. | ||
 |
:’( | Hot Hot Heat Happiness Ltd. [Sire/Sep 11] |
| The fourth album by these formerly danceable Canadians sounds like The Strokes on Vicodin playing arena rock. All of the band’s prior strengths have been covered up by overproduction and radio-whore subterfuge. So long :( | ||