Some albums are just absolute classics of their time. We had more than our fair share of such albums in the 1960s. We also had the public with open minds and ears, ready to listen as new styles of music evolved.
We saw and heard artists experiment with their sounds. Musicians had the freedom then to put down their best work on record. They also pushed boundaries, tried new approaches, and in doing so wrote some amazing songs. It was quite a decade for seminal albums which helped shape future music significantly
And yet some people can't help being harsh critics. They have a negative view of some of those astounding classic albums. Surprisingly some albums seen by many as the best of that period are branded as overrated by others. Here are three of the very top albums of that decade which some people don't rate highly at all.
Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
First up is the Beach Boys with Pet Sounds. Released in 1966 it had a slow start with critics but soon became a huge hit. There was a more ambitious style evident, that was led by Brian Wilson’s production work. With top hits and Beach Boys classic songs like “Sloop John B”, “Wouldn't It Be Nice” and “God Only Knows” on the album what's not to like?
Well if you look up “overrated albums” online this one gets lots of comments and votes. It’s a constant candidate out there. The main criticisms are that it’s shallow, they suggest there’s no depth of content beyond three or four decent songs. Other critics disliked the production from Wilson and didn't want so many close harmonies throughout a record.
The simple answer there is don't play a Beach Boys album if you don't like their trademark sound. At best the critics are saying it's just not as good an album as it’s made out to be. Let's not forget it was great enough to help inspire The Beatles to record their Sgt Pepper classic.
The Beatles - Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Speaking of which, here’s that very album. It’s undoubtedly a classic. One of those seminal albums that changed music and significantly influenced many other artists.
Consider the musical development from the early beat pop style songs from the Fab Four through to this diverse range of stunning tracks. It’s hard to believe there were just a few years between their first album Please, Please Me in 1963 and this in 1967. Sgt Pepper was their eighth studio album in those four years. That's amazingly prolific, especially when you consider the exceptional quality of their music throughout.
There are so many well-known and loved tracks on this album that it feels unfair to call any out individually. In terms of that diverse range and the evolution of the band, there are some great examples worth mentioning. The title track and its later reprise with a fusion of orchestration and rock and the way it sets the scene for the concept of the album is quite unique.
“Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds” is another with a very new style of lyrics and music for the group. “Within You, Without You” is another great fusion, this time from George Harrison bringing Hindustani influences and marking possibly the biggest change from the band’s origins.
Once again though the album has those critics who can't see what all the fuss is about. Their views suggest the songs are below par. Some reckon there is a sag in the middle section of the album, the quality of music becoming dull and tedious at that stage. Others just can't take to the whimsical nature of some tracks and lyrics, others find the eastern influences on the music a distraction. Even the iconic cover art comes in for criticism as “a lurid mess of a front cover” in this terse and hard-hitting Guardian review. It's such a different album and advancement from their earlier songs that perhaps people sadly still find that hard to adapt to.
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
This is often acclaimed as one of, if not the best Van Morrison album. It was just his second studio album and his first for Warner Bros. Records. Yet amidst contract disputes, arguments with his old and new labels, disagreements over musical styles and musicians to record it, it's amazing to think how well it turned out despite all those distractions.
The folk-rock-based songs have jazz tones from the musicians used. The dreamy poetic lyrics from Morrison float over and in amongst the music. There are also bluesy and classical elements in there too. Quite sophisticated work at such an early career recording stage. The album is positioned by many as very significant musically and regularly gets listed in top album rankings.
It does also feature in a lot of debates online in whether it deserves such a status, it’s often referred to as overrated. Those who suggest this usually refer to the songs on the record being boring after the first couple. Too much similarity across the tracks and styles used is also referenced. Others mention an awkwardness between Morrison's vocals and the instrumentation. Perhaps a key point is whether it has not held its place over time.
For me, Astral Weeks is still a great album. The arrangements work well and offer variety, they do give a nod to what's to come from Morrison over the years as he turns to many different styles of music in his future albums. The stream and flow of his lyrics work well and offer a different approach to his pop-based songs on his debut album, Blowin’ Your Mind!