Most Controversial Albums (not sellouts)

I think 'DSOTM' is overrated too (6 of us now?). None of the songs (except 'Money' and 'Great Gig' maybe) ever sticks to my mind. 'The Wall' is even worse. I like most other PF stuff.

As for 'Topographic Oceans', I used to love it, but I got fed up with it, especially after I discovered lots of other, more interesting music.

DSOTM is prog's Sergeant Pepper - for sure, there are better Floyd albums, but it's still a great piece of work and was hugely influential.

For me, the Wall was utterly reprehensible. 'Comfortably Numb' is a superb song, and I quite like 'One Of My Turns', but overall it was the plodding, uninspired, tedious, self indulgent whining of a narcissistic, solipsistic, misanthropic songwriter who had started to believe in his own hype. If EXACTLY the same album had come out as an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical it would be about as popular on this board as Evita. Had Roger Waters released his portrait of how awful life was as a rock star, and then retired to become a farmer, or had given away all his money to charitable causes and joined the priesthood, then it would be possible to take it seriously. Instead we got 'The Final Cut' and his solo career.

Sweetnighter wrote: Syzygy wrote: DSOTM is prog's Sergeant Pepper - for sure, there are better Floyd albums, but  If EXACTLY the same album had come out as an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical it would be about as popular on this board as Evita. haha love the comparison

Glad you liked it, but the Andrew Lloyd Webber comparison was re. The Wall, not DSOTM.

I was referring to the way that DSOTM is perceived as the definitive Floyd album (and in many cases prog album), in the same way the Sgt Pepper is seen as the definitive Beatles/psychedelic album. I love both albums, but I prefer Wish You Were Here and Revolver.

Totally agree Batts it was a very good album, great pity We didn't get a second and you are a absoloutely right again ABWH was the best Yes album of the 80's but then that wouldn't have been hard would it Batts!!!!

DSOTM is overrated, there are way better PF albums ..... (WYWH, AHM, Animals, PATGOD), but the most overrated PF album is The Wall, for sure. It may have a nice concept, but it's musically not even close to the others .. (possible exception comfortably numb).

Sorry, but what exactly means "controversial" (english 2nd language...) ? Like against the stream?

I think Tull's "Passion Play" and Yes "Tales from the Topographic Oceans": they really divide their fans!

Oh, and add me to the list of people who find DSOTM to be overrated. I mean, it's great and I do like it, but it's hardly the masterpiece that it's regularly touted to be. It's no CTTE people!

ivan_2068 wrote: 666 by Aprodites Child without any doubt: The band started to work this album around the end 1969 or the beggining of 1970 and was ready to be released in 1970, but no record label accepted the risk to release it because: a) The Title: They dared to place the number of the beast as a title, all labels were afraidthat religious groups would boycott the without even listening the album and finding it was a bout the Holy Bible. b) The Concept: The Book of Revelations is the most controversial in the Bible, talks about the end of the world and contains a lot of symbolism that Aphrodite's Child interpreted in their own style. c) Sahlep: The band published and included in the cover that 666 was conceived under the influence of Sahlep. Many groups thought this was the name of a demon when in fact is a Turkish beverage. d) Infinity (Symbol): This track sung by the wonderfull actress Irene Papas is a 5 minutes orgasm with explicit shouts and moanings. As a result 666 was banned until 1972 Vertigo took the risk, but by that point the band had split almost one year before. Iván

Thank you for explaining how they were controversial, thats very interesting, and provocative, i'm going to download the album now (sorry to all i offend by downloading music)