Second Chance
After listening to the demo release of Corelia’s album “New Wilderness”, I started reflecting on other albums with less than ideal production. I’m sure there are more, but here are several off the top of my head. Also, I tried to avoid debut albums since they generally have less refined production. |
| 1 |  | August Burns Red
Messengers
It’s a challenge to listen to this album front-to-back. The cymbals take over the entire album and leave your ears ringing for hours, sometimes days. I appreciate ABR releasing a remastered version of "Messengers". Listen to this version of the album if you want to relive your youth and/or show off your beastly eardrums. |
| 2 |  | August Burns Red
Messengers Remixed
Listen to Messengers 2.0 if your sensitive ears have become old and weak like mine. |
| 3 |  | Between the Buried and Me
The Silent Circus
I feel like this album is comparable to "Alaska", but merely suffers due to the dated production. It would be cool to hear a remastered version. |
| 4 |  | Dance Gavin Dance
Acceptance Speech
This album was severely overproduced. The entire album is hidden behind a digital veil. Fortunately, "Acceptance Speech" received a remaster and although "Acceptance Speech 2.0" isn’t perfect it provides a more organic listening experience. |
| 5 |  | Dance Gavin Dance
Acceptance Speech 2.0
Doom & Gloom |
| 6 |  | Deftones
Gore
There’s something about this album that doesn’t click. Personally, I don’t mind the shoegaze influences, and although the content and lyrics are weak in comparison to previous releases, I don’t think they bring the album down too much. The only thing I can pinpoint is that the production doesn’t resemble what I have come to expect from a Deftone’s album. |
| 7 |  | The Fall of Troy
In the Unlikely Event
Somehow a vocal track of Thomas Erak, attempting to sing, was mistakenly overlayed on top of the album. |
| 8 |  | Karnivool
Asymmetry
The album isn’t bad, but it lacks the dynamic power found on "Sound Awake". The big movements found throughout the album are sonically subdued, which is a shame. |
| 9 |  | La Dispute
Panorama
Post “Wildlife,”while the instrumentation has faded into the background, Jordan’s vocals have served as the sole dynamic element. However, the vocal track on this album is mixed too low, resulting in an album where all of the songs feel the same. |
| 10 |  | letlive.
The Blackest Beautiful
I can’t think of an album with worse production...although I’m sure several exist. If you haven’t listened to this album and want to know what it’s like, imagine a weak, helpless sloth trying to get out of a puddle of mud. |
| 11 |  | Norma Jean
Meridional
Although this is one of my favorite albums, I wish that it had received the same mastering as its successors. Despite its creative elements, "Meridional" often feels one-dimensional. |
| 12 |  | Thank You Scientist
Stranger Heads Prevail
I thoroughly enjoy this album, but the production is quite flat in comparison to "Maps of Non-Existent Places" and "Terraformer". Ultimately, the pop elements both elevate and save this album, and I can only imagine what this album could have been if the production had helped breathe life into the album. |
| 13 |  | The Used
The Canyon
I get it...most of their albums are notorious for being overproduced and I’m sure that adding a live and/or raw feel to the album seemed like a great idea on paper. However their vision was poorly executed and someone along the way should have been honest enough to let them know. It’s a shame because there are many decent ideas spread throughout the album (e.g., gospel choir in “The Nexus”). Regardless, I think it would be neat if they went back into the recording studio to create The Canyon 2.0, or at least re-recorded several select songs from the album. |
| 14 |  | Corelia
New Wilderness
My inspiration for creating this list. |
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