Twice this weekend, first on late-night TV and then at Target, I was confronted with Buzz Ballads, a collection of alt-rock balladry–the compilation’s marketers obviously using the term very loosely if “Doll Parts” is a “ballad”–that aims to be the nostalgic makeout disc for the generation that remembers every word to “Jeremy.” Each time, I was struck with the same thought: “This record is comprised of some of the worst music I’ve ever heard.” But which was the lamest of them all?
(I went instinctive and voted for Live.)
And just in case you need to refresh yourself for research purposes:
1. It’s Been A While – Staind
2. Lightning Crashes – Live
3. Jumper – Third Eye Blind
4. Hemorrhage (In My Hands) – Fuel
5. Glycerine – Bush
6. If You Could Only See – Tonic
7. A Long December – Counting Crows
8. Hanging By A Moment – Lifehouse
9. Santeria – Sublime
10. Doll Parts – Hole
11. The World I Know – Collective Soul
12. Wasting My Time – Default
13. Here’s To The Night – Eve 6
14. Everything You Want – Vertical Horizon
15. Linger – Cranberries
16. What It’s Like – Everlast
17. Desperately Wanting – Better Than Ezra
Apparently this song wasn’t big enough to deserve a video.
18. Someday – Sugar Ray
I voted for Everlast, but I agree that “Freshmen” wins easy if that was on there. Is it possible that whoever compiled this album hated that song enough to leave it off too?
And what of Semisonic? “Closing Time” is just too 90s to not have on a compilation like this.
@The Notorious T:
Far and away! Staind is the worst excuse for a “rock” band I have ever heard.
@dennisobell: I think Default wins the suck contest if for no other reason that it was ripping off Staind, the erstwhile winner of this contest.
Default wins, Staind places, Eve 6 shows.
@Jack Fear: No way, dude. “What’s Going On” is, at worst, only 75,000 times as bad as anything on this list.
I forever associate “Jumper” with an ancient season of Road Rules. One episode’s competition consisted of who could make the “better” crappy homemade PSA on suicide scored to that song. That makes it cool, right?
For the record, that Better than Ezra song is pretty kick-ass. And it had a good video, too… they’re playing in a terminal at LAX at like 5 in the morning.
@The Notorious T: Totally. My vote went to Staind because it came out right around the time I lost all tolerance for alternative top 40 radio.
Man, there are a few songs on here that I grew to like because of their ubiquity. I suppose it’s a mental defense mechanism – you have to find something to enjoy about these MOR “rock” songs when your insomnia forces you to watch hours upon hours of MTV2 (in 2001, of course).
Ok Seriously, I don’t know how anyone could consider Hanging by a Moment as one of the worst songs. Hanging by a Moment is an amazing and awesome song, and it has great lyrics. After all, it was the most played song of 2001. God, you people obviously don’t know good music. Lifehouse rocks.=)