Are there any albums that you realize, intellectually, are terrible...and yet, you just really like listening to it?

Here's a shortlist I can think of.

Prozzak - Hot Show: Listening to this album is like watching a cartoon show. The vocalists are cartoon characters, Simon and Milo, and Simon has...tragic relationship story after tragic relationship. I saw three of their videos back when I thought watching Muchmusic made me hipper than MTV watchers (What was I thinking??), and the cartoon characters are consistant throughout the videos. The music is mediocre at best, and yet...I like the album. (There are a few good hooks, to be fair).

Cake - Comfort Eagle: Another instance where I just like the personality of the band. 'We are building a religion. We are making it bigger.'

Flaming Lips - Zareika: I don't particularly enjoy it actually, but I swear someday I'll pull out four stereos and listen to the four discs in unison. Just because.

I'm a little confused by what the definition of intellectually terrible is. Does it mean it got bad reviews? Or maybe you like it and other people don't? If people like hearing it, doesn't that mean it's good?

I think I get the general idea though. For me, there are certain albums and artists that I listened to during a point in my life that is in some way special, and that because I associate that music with that period of my life, I like the music, even if I know it's not the kind of thing I would normally like so much. Here are some bands and albums that are like that to me.

Barenaked Ladies--One of the first CD's I ever bought was their greatest hits album, and I still love it.

Cravin Melon--An alt-country band whose music doesn't seem too special when I listen to it again. But it still sounds good to me.

Jack Johnson--On and On and Brushfire Fairytales. I haven't even listened to his new album even though my brother bought it.

Eels--I still like the Eels quite a bit, but the reason I think I like most of their stuff so much is just because they were the first band who I really got into. I don't think any of their new stuff will ever sound as good to me as their old stuff, even if it's better.

Always a good topic, BtS.

Perhaps this thread can further illuminate the topic at hand, RL. Any objections to moving this discussion over there and giving an old thread new life?

Now Playing: "Crazy As a Loon" John Prine Fair and Square (Oh Boy)