Henry’s Music Blog

Hi everybody, and welcome back to Henry’s Music Blog, now back to the usual schedule. Something bothers me when I buy albums, and that’s when I buy an album for one song. Sure, sometimes you’ll find an album that succeeds your expectations, but usually, you’re stuck with one good song amongst a pile of crap. So today, we’re looking at:

Top 10 Great Songs From Not So Great Albums

10.  Get Ur Freak On- Missy Elliot

No matter what, I will always think of Missy Elliot has the better, earlier version of Nicki Minaj. They were both at their times the only prominent female rappers in the business. And during her time, she made two of the best albums during those years in Under Construction and Supa Dupa Fly. But her biggest hit was from her weakest album during that time. Miss E… Under Construction is the least remembered album during that time, but it brought her the biggest hit of her career, “Get Ur Freak On.” Sure, the song is awesome, but the rest of the album? Not even worth remembering.

9. Gone Away- Offspring

Most bands usually follow up their biggest album with one that’s not nearly as popular. And after Smash, the highest selling album on an indie label ever, The Offspring followed it up with Ixnay on the Hombre, an album that really was mediocre at best. Except for “Gone Away”. One of the best of The Offspring’s career, they never quite reached emotional heights like this again. Too bad the rest is meh.

8. Perfect Situation- Weezer

Weezer has had a long and storied career. After a stellar first two albums, their next two offerings were soon forgotten, and their fifth was hated. Make Believe is probably the most hated album in Weezer’s catalogue, and really, it should. Most of the album is just boring, and it just drags. “Perfect Situation”, however, is a gold star in a pile of wheat thins. As refreshing as Weezer’s older stuff, it’s too bad they didn’t go in this direction more.

7. Pepper- Butthole Surfers

Even when the Butthole Surfers were unlistenable, they were at least always interesting. The one exception to that, however, is Electriclarryland, their second to last album. It may have been that it was the 90s, and weirdness had taken over, but that’s no excuse for how comparatively dull this album is, along with one of the worst album covers in history. The only song that really works on the album is “Pepper”, the Beck parody that ended up becoming their biggest hit. Was it as bizarre as what came before? No, but it’s still a bizarre, catchy little number.

6. In the Air Tonight- Phil Collins

I hate Phil Collins. I hate Genesis (I like Peter Gabriel). I hate the album Face Value. It, just like the rest of Phil Collin’s work, is just lame soft rock that would make great ambient music if it wasn’t so bad. But there is one good song here. “In the Air Tonight” manages to be the one shining star in Phil Collin’s toilet of a career. Maybe it’s the eerie synthesizers, maybe it’s the awesome buildup, maybe it’s the drum fill (you know the one), but something about the song just works. Shame about “Su-Su-Sudio”, though.

5. Paper Planes- MIA

Ok, I’m going to admit up front; I don’t like Kala. I feel it’s massively overrated, it’s just chaotic, and that the first album is far better. Yeah, send me as many angry comments as you want, but it still stands. I don’t like this album. That said, “Paper Planes” is a damn good song. Unlike the rest of the album, the song has an actual hook, it’s melodic, it’s catchy, and it’s just a well made song. So yeah, I like this song. So don’t make me put my flame shields up.

4. This is England- The Clash

Cut the Crap is a piece of crap. OH MY GOD LOOK AT ME I’M SO CLEVER. But anyway, the album really is one huge blemish on The Clash’s otherwise untouchable career. So I guess it goes to show how even like this can have one good song. Sure, “This is England” isn’t a “London Calling” or a “Complete Control”, but it’s still a damn good song, and easily the best song on this turd. So let’s now all forget this album exists.

3. Infected- Bad Religion

I admit, ever since I was little, I’ve been a Bad Religion fan. Against the Grain is one of my favorite albums period. But Stranger Than Fiction never really did anything for me. Sure, it’s still stronger than most music at that time, but it was still only decent. Except one song. “Infected” really is Bad Religion’s defining song. Everything about the song just simply works, from the melody to the lyrics to the solo. Get the album if you want, but get the song as a definite.

2.  Beautiful- Eminem

Relapse is absolute garbage. That’s all it is. The whole album is Eminem making dirty jokes with a bad indian accent. You don’t go much lower than that after songs like “Stan”. But even this piece of shit has a good song on it, with the help of Queen. “Beautiful” is one of Eminem’s better angsty songs, and it really does show how effective sampling can be in certain situations. So yeah, avoid the album at all costs, but definitely pick up the song.

1. Spirit in the Sky- Norman Greenbaum

The song is one of the greatest christian rock songs of all time, has what is considered on of the greatest riffs ever, and was ranked #333 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The album doesn’t even have its own wikipedia page. I think you can figure this one out.

Next up, on Saturday: Top 10 Not So Great Songs On Great Albums