Highs and Lows by Your Favorite Artists

[murlough23]

Yeah, it's another murlough-styled list thread. I like lists; so sue me.

List some of your favorite artists, and with each artist, list their best songs and their worst song. All subject to your opinion, of course.

Here are some of mine:

ARTIST: Best/Worst
Anberlin: The Feel Good Drag/There Is a Light that Never Goes Out
Barenaked Ladies: One Week/She's on Time
Caedmon's Call: Somewhere North/Warrior
Cindy Morgan: They Say it's Love (Stars)/2 Hearts, 1 Love
Dave Matthews Band: Drive In Drive Out/#36
David Crowder Band: Do Not Move/Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven
dc Talk: Supernatural/Let's Roll
Delirious?: Bliss/Stronger
Dream Theater: Panic Attack/I Walk Beside You (though I'm sure there are much worse songs on older albums)
Eisley: Marvelous Things/Tree Tops (or one of the other awkward songs from their EPs)
The Elms: Speaking in Tongues/You're Glowing
Evanescence: Bring Me to Life/All that I'm Living For
Five Iron Frenzy: Every New Day/All that Is Good (though I haven't heard enough of their first album and Cheeses to comment)
Future of Forestry a.k.a. Something Like Silas: In the Burning/Nothing Like You
Incubus: Anna-Molly/Make Yourself
Iona: Murlough Bay/Strength
Jars of Clay: Like a Child/It Is Well with My Soul
Jennifer Knapp: Diamond in the Rough/He's My Lord
The Juliana Theory: Shell of a Man/My Heart Is a Soldier
Kevin Max: Existence/When He Returns (though he's done less desirable songs for random compilations that I can't remember now)
Michelle Tumes: Heaven Will Be Near Me/King of My Heart
Mute Math: Control/Break the Same (which is still a pretty good song)
Newsboys: Lost the Plot/I Got Your Number
Nickel Creek: Doubting Thomas/House Carpenter
Over the Rhine: The World Can Wait/When You Say Love
Plumb: Sobering (Don't Turn Around)/Cure
Radiohead: 2+2=5/Ripcord
Relient K: Forgiven/My Way or the Highway
Sixpence None the Richer: Kiss Me/Love Letters in the Sand (tough call; "There She Goes" comes close.)
Skillet: Thirst Is Taking Over/Rippin' Me Off
Sleeping at Last: Umbrellas/Slowly, Now
Sufjan Stevens: The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders/Kill
Switchfoot: Company Car/Amy's Song
Third Day: Thief/I Believe
U2: Discotheque/Elvis Presley and America
Vienna Teng: Harbor/The Atheist Christmas Carol

[Wildcatblue7]

Artist: best/worst

The Who: Love, Reign O'er Me/Pictures of Lily
The Police: Walking on the Moon or Synchronicity II/No Time This Time
A Perfect Circle: The Hollow/Sleeping Beauty (I'm excluding Emotive)
The Beatles: A Day in the Life/Within You Without You
Led Zeppelin: Achilles Last Stand/Rock and Roll (not kidding in the least)
Lynyrd Skynyrd: That Smell/Tuesday's Gone
Pat Metheny: Minuano (Six Eight)/Offramp
Michael Jackson: Beat It or Smooth Criminal/Ben (haha)
Sting: We Work the Black Seam/Fields of Gold

Oh, didn't read the title.  Some of those, 'specially Zep, I don't really listen to.

[bloop]

Within You Without You

If that's the worst the Beatles ever served up, they really were the best band ever.  I would go with best = "Tomorrow Never Knows"/worst = (I don't know - one of the throwaways on The Beatles like "Why Don't We Do It In the Road".

Rock and Roll

 

[T-Bone]

Just a couple off the top of my head. 

Caedmon's Call:  Standing Up For Nothing/Never Gonna Let Go
Jars of Clay:  Worlds Apart/It Is Well With My Soul (yeah, really no competition here)
Newsboys:  Elle G./Who?
Mae:  Anything/Goodbye, Goodnight
Switchfoot:  The Blues/You
Relient K:  Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet?/I'm Lion O
Dc Talk:  Consume Me/Let's Roll

[Brenden]

ARTIST: Best/Worst
Anberlin: The Feel Good Drag/Like A Rolling Stone
Jars of Clay: Mirrors And Smoke/The Chair
Kevin Max: Fade To Red/The Imposter's Song
Nickel Creek: When In Rome/House Carpenter
Relient K: Which To Bury.../I'm Lion-O
Sufjan Stevens: They Are Night Zombies/Rake
Switchfoot: Dirty Second Hands/Under The Floor
U2: Gone/Crumbs From Your Table
Bob Dylan: The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar/Hurricane
Derek Webb: Ballad In Plain Red (acoustic)/In God We Trust
Pedro The Lion/David Bazan: Rapture/Selling Advertising
Alli Rogers: Right From Wrong/One Body
Anathallo: Hanasakajiji (Four: A Great Wind, More Ash)/Fugue: 24
Andrew Bird: Why?/The Happy Birthday Song

[Wildcatblue7]

If that's the worst the Beatles ever served up, they really were the best band ever.  I would go with best = "Tomorrow Never Knows"/worst = (I don't know - one of the throwaways on The Beatles like "Why Don't We Do It In the Road".

 

I was going with Beatles tunes that I actually am familiar with.  I know they have worse songs in their back catalogue, I just particularly hate that one.

And yes, I hate Rock and Roll (and Black Dog) with a burning fiery passion.

[Brenden]

I was going with Beatles tunes that I actually am familiar with.  I know they have worse songs in their back catalogue, I just particularly hate that one.

I like the remix of that song better, it's actually mixed with a couple other songs that I forget at the moment.

I'd call, "Piggies", the Beatles worst song.

[bloop]

I was going with Beatles tunes that I actually am familiar with.  I know they have worse songs in their back catalogue, I just particularly hate that one.

And yes, I hate Rock and Roll (and Black Dog) with a burning fiery passion.

I can't understand hatred for any of these things, but, um, ok.

Hurricane

I like this one, too, even if it does lack a certain accuracy in the account.

[Brenden]

I like this one, too, even if it does lack a certain accuracy in the account.

I like the song alright, it's just my least favorite Dylan song.

[murlough23]

It Is Well With My Soul (yeah, really no competition here)

I think that "Be Thou My Vision" and the acoustic version of "Liquid" come close. I used to say "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet", but I've sort of made my peace with that one.

[Brenden]

I think that "Be Thou My Vision" and the acoustic version of "Liquid" come close. I used to say "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet", but I've sort of made my peace with that one.

I'll still take any of them over The Chair. It's the only Jars song that makes me convulse in agony.

[murlough23]

I'll still take any of them over The Chair. It's the only Jars song that makes me convulse in agony.

I don't see what's so bad about that one. it's meaning is somewhat obscured now that the movie it was supposed to be tied into is long since forgotten, but it's creatively written and performed. I wouldn't feel compelled to include it in the final cut on a Jars of Clay rarities disc, but it doesn't bother me either.

NP: "Only Alive", Jars of Clay

[Brenden]

I don't see what's so bad about that one. it's meaning is somewhat obscured now that the movie it was supposed to be tied into is long since forgotten, but it's creatively written and performed. I wouldn't feel compelled to include it in the final cut on a Jars of Clay rarities disc, but it doesn't bother me either.

NP: "Only Alive", Jars of Clay

I'm not really sure beyond hating Dan's vocals and the melody line. I haven't listened to the song in years.

[T-Bone]

I think that "Be Thou My Vision" and the acoustic version of "Liquid" come close. I used to say "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet", but I've sort of made my peace with that one.

I haven't heard "Be Thou My Vision" so I can't judge.  I didn't think the acoustic "Liquid" was *that* bad, and "Jesus' Blood.." is fairly boring overall, but I can at least listen to it without cringing. 

[murlough23]

I haven't heard "Be Thou My Vision" so I can't judge.  I didn't think the acoustic "Liquid" was *that* bad, and "Jesus' Blood.." is fairly boring overall, but I can at least listen to it without cringing. 

Re "Liquid": If that were the only version in existence, I'd never know the difference and I'd find it to be an interesting, brooding, creatively performed song about the crucifixion. But it's one of those songs where the original recording is so iconic. A good song shouldn't have to depend on gimmicks such as recordings of monks, slamming programmed rhythms, and a string section to still sound good, and none of that wouldn't mean anything if the core song wasn't so powerful, but "Liquid" was my first impression of Jars of Clay way back in 1995, and any attempt to alter it since then just plain hasn't worked for me. Slowing it down and making it difficult for those who know the original to sing along just kind of sucks the passion out of it. It's supposed to be like, "I don't know jack squat, but THIS IS THE ONE THING THAT I KNOW!", rather than, "Sigh... I guess this... is the one thing... that I know... or something."

[ewok20t3]

A few of my favorites...

Project 86: Stein's Theme/ 3 Card
Blindside: Sleepwalking/ My Alibi
Mute Math: Control/ Plan B
Tool : Stinkfist/ Parabol (I guess. I like them all.)
Nine Inch Nails: Hurt/ Survivalism
Anberlin: (*Fin) / Ready Fuels
Thrice: Stare At The Sun/ The Earth Will Shake
Mae: The Sun and The Moon/ The Ocean

[Aaron]

A few of my favorites...

Project 86: Stein's Theme/ 3 Card
Blindside: Sleepwalking/ My Alibi
Mute Math: Control/ Plan B
Tool : Stinkfist/ Parabol (I guess. I like them all.)
Nine Inch Nails: Hurt/ Survivalism
Anberlin: (*Fin) / Ready Fuels
Thrice: Stare At The Sun/ The Earth Will Shake
Mae: The Sun and The Moon/ The Ocean

I think Foreign Language is worse than Ready Fuels.

[murlough23]

I think Foreign Language is worse than Ready Fuels.

Way worse. In what twisted world is "Readyfuels" a bad song?

[AldaForPresident]

The only two artists whose entire catalogue I'm comfortable enough with to jugde (well, besides Justin Timberlake, but I didn't figure anyone else would care..):

U2: One/Elvis Presley and America
Over the Rhine: When I Go/Bluer

[bloop]

Smashing Pumpkins:  "Thru the Eyes of Ruby"/"Heave Metal Machine" (alt. from Machina II)
Radiohead:  "Pyramid Song"/"Prove Yourself"

[murlough23]

Radiohead:  "Pyramid Song"/"Prove Yourself"

I honestly don't remember Pablo Honey well enough to tell which of the lesser tracks on it was my all-time least favorite, so I just picked a title from among them at random.

"Pyramid Song" is a damn good pick; it was almost mine as well.

[plvarona]

A few I can think of for some of my favorites:

(Best/Worst)
Jars of Clay: Fade to Grey/It Is Well With My Soul
Jennifer Knapp: Say Won't You Say/Light of the World
Derek Webb: Wedding Dress/Please Before I Go
Caedmon's Call: Mother India/Warrior
Switchfoot: Dirty Second Hands/Amy's Song
Anberlin: Dismantle. Repair./We Dreamt In Heist
Shaun Groves: To Be Honest/Jesus
Andrew Peterson: Mystery of Mercy/Tools
Sleeping at Last: Hold Still/Sing to Me
Nichole Nordeman: River God/Gotta Serve Somebody
PFR: Anything/You
Kevin Max: The Imposter/On and On

[murlough23]

Jennifer Knapp: Say Won't You Say/Light of the World

"Light of the World" is so unorthdox for her, but I really love that song. I especially enjoy that there's a special appearance by Toby Mac that doesn't involve him hamming it up with a cheesy rap. (Even though I like his cheesy raps on some other people's songs.)

Caedmon's Call: Mother India/Warrior

I'd have gone with "Mother India" for purely artistic reasons, but sentiment won the day, which is why I chose my old favorite, "Somewhere North". Tough call either way.

Switchfoot: Dirty Second Hands/Amy's Song

I might be willing to re-evaluate my previous choice of "Company Car", especially after seeing them perform "Dirty Second Hands" live this weekend.

Kevin Max: The Imposter/On and On

I think "On and On" is pretty darn good, actually, though it's kind of awkward to listen to now for the same reason that a lot of Amy Grant's old love songs are.

Some notes on artists I didn't list earlier:

Derek Webb: Wedding Dress/Please Before I Go

I'll say Nobody Loves Me/We Come to You.

Shaun Groves: To Be Honest/Jesus

That one sounds really funny, if you replace the slash with a comma. "To be honest, Jesus, You're the worst song Shaun Groves has ever done."

Anyway, I'll say Should I Tell Them/Bless the Lord.

Andrew Peterson: Mystery of Mercy/Tools

Ap used to be a favorite of mine until his output started to get spotty around the third album. I'll say Nothing to Say/More.

Nichole Nordeman: River God/Gotta Serve Somebody

Hmmm... Every Season/Never Loved You More. This one was tough... I could have gone with Wide Eyed, Gratitude, or I Am for best song.

PFR: Anything/You

Good old PfR! I'll say Wait for the Sun/See the Sun Again. (Hmmm, ironic.) *EDIT: Whoops, forgot about "Prayer for Beslan". Actually, most of "The Bookhouse Recordings" was rather unermarkable.

[enemy anemone]

I'm going to try this, but I have difficulty with the best/worst thing. I kind of went with "best of my favorite and worst of my least favorite", if that distinction makes sense. I mean, I have lots of favorites, but I don't presume that all of them are necessarily among the best. even if I know it's subjective, "best/worst" still sounds like an attempt to be as objective as possible. anyway.

Gillian Welch: Revelator/I Had A Real Good Mother and Father (a more amusing juxtaposition would be Orphan Girl for the best, and it would probably be #2, but I have to go with Revelator for #1.)

Emmylou Harris: Prayer in Open D or The Pearl/Red Dirt Girl

Patty Griffin:  When It Don't Come Easy or Top of the World/Tony (I apologize to the real Tony if there was one but I hatehatehate this song) or One Big Love (soley because of the awful monkey/funky rhyme. Emmylou covering this is also a low point. I'm sorry.)

Over the Rhine: All I Need Is Everything or Changes Come/When You Say Love The Poopsmith Song

Kim Taylor: Everything Ends or Telephone/[I really don't know of any lows. of the ones on the studio albums, I like Glove the least--even though I love a couple phrases in it, I just haven't come to like the song as a whole.]

Eleni Mandell: Pauline or Snake Song or Just A Dream/I'm Your Girl or Action is Action [I have a ton of personal favorites but Pauline is the most iconic, I think, and the other two are longer-time favorites of mine.]

Buddy and/or Julie Miller: zomg. there is some overlap on the stuff they've done together and the stuff they've done solo (which is still together), and many of the songs I really don't like are cover songs, so I don't know. I give up. maybe I will try this another day.
also maybe for another day: Tom Waits, Neko Case, and The Violet Burning.

[murlough23]

I'm going to try this, but I have difficulty with the best/worst thing. I kind of went with "best of my favorite and worst of my least favorite", if that distinction makes sense. I mean, I have lots of favorites, but I don't presume that all of them are necessarily among the best. even if I know it's subjective, "best/worst" still sounds like an attempt to be as objective as possible.

That was exactly my intent.

[ewok20t3]

Way worse. In what twisted world is "Readyfuels" a bad song?

You're right. I forgot all about "Foreign Language", which shows it's not that great.
I don't even think "ReadyFuels" is a bad song, it's just one of my least favorite Anberlin songs.

[murlough23]

You're right. I forgot all about "Foreign Language", which shows it's not that great.
I don't even think "ReadyFuels" is a bad song, it's just one of my least favorite Anberlin songs.

That makes more sense to me, though personally, "Readyfuels" is in my top 5 for the band.

[enemy anemone]

I just got the OtR newsletter and it mentioned this month's free download: The Poopsmith Song. I had heard this a while back and I think I have to change my pick for worst/least favorite to this one. I guess  parents who are struggling with pottytraining their tots might appreciate it, but I hate it SO. MUCH.

[bloop]

It made me laugh - it's all I expect from a song with a title like that.

[murlough23]

I just don't want to hear a song about fecal matter from anybody.

NP: "Severed Hand", Pearl Jam

[starhawk]

best/worst

The Benjamin Gate: "Lift Me Up"/ "The Calling"
Bleach: "Farewell Old Friends"/ "Once Again, Here We Are"
Jars of Clay: "Hymn" / "Light Gives Heat"
Joy Electric: "Red Will Dye These Snows of Silver" / "Sugar Rush"
Ladytron: "International Dateline" / "Sugar"
Newsboys: "Break" / "Cornelius"
Skillet: "Fingernails" / "Don't Say Goodbye"
Starflyer 59: "All the Time" / "Old"

[NinjaRob17]

I just got the OtR newsletter and it mentioned this month's free download: The Poopsmith Song. I had heard this a while back and I think I have to change my pick for worst/least favorite to this one. I guess  parents who are struggling with pottytraining their tots might appreciate it, but I hate it SO. MUCH.

Seems like they've been watching too much Homestarrunner as of late. 

Aaand to contribute to this thread....

All Star United: Superstar/You You You (Yeah Yeah Yeah)
Anberlin: Dance, Dance, Christa Paffgen/Foreign Language
Audio Adrenaline: Some Kind Of Zombie/Jesus & the California Kid
The Benjamin Gate: Live Out Loud/The Way You Are
Blindside: After You're Gone/Come To Rest
dcTalk: Supernatural/Walls
Earthsuit: Schizophreniac or Noise For Your Eyes/Gummy Buffalo
Falling Up: Islander/Jackson 5
Five Iron Frenzy: Every New Day/Burn (Even Reese thinks this one is terrible)
Furthermore: Melted Vinyl/Mondo Coni
Gorillaz: Feel Good Inc/Man Research (Clapper)
He Is Legend: Either They Decorated For Christmas Early Or They're All Dead/The Widow Of Magnolia
John Reuben: Life Is Short/Breathe
L.A. Symphony: Rise/Charlie Brown
Mars Ill: Sound Off/The Breeze
mewithoutYou: Paper Hanger/Seven Sisters
MuteMath: Chaos or Reset/Without It
Newsboys: Lost the Plot/Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares GOodbye)
The O.C. Supertones: Wilderness/I Love God
P.O.D.: Anything Right/Without Jah, Nothin'
Project 86: Safe Haven/Circuitry (Kinda weird that they're back-to-back on the same album)
Relient K: Life After Death and Taxes/Balloon Ride
Skillet: More Faithful/Rippin' Me Off
Starflyer 59: First Heart Attack/When You Feel the Mess
Steve Taylor: Jim Morrison's Grave/Svengali
Sufjan Stevens: Chicago/Oh God, Where Are You Now? (In Pickeral Lake? Pigeon? Marquette? Mackinaw?)
Switchfoot: Company Car or Learning To Breathe/Underwater
Thousand Foot Krutch: Phenomenon/Brother John
The W's: Alarm Clock/Jason E (Another back-to-back couple)
The White Stripes: Why Can't You Be Nicer To Me?/It's True That We Love One Another

Phew.

[murlough23]

Jars of Clay: "Hymn" / "Light Gives Heat"

 

Surely you jest.

[Harenil]

Tool: Reflections/Wings for Marie (and most of 10,000 days)
Radiohead: Pyramid Song/Sit Down Stand Up
Apocalyptica: Pray!/Seeman (Rammstein cover)
Audioslave: What you Are/Heaven's Dead
The Decemberists: The Mariner's Revenge Song/Sons and Daughters
KMFDM: Terror/Power
Muse: Micro Cuts/Showbiz
Nightwish: Wanderlust (or the Siren, undecided)/Devil And The Deep Dark Ocean
Rage Against the Machine: Wake Up/I'm Housin' (or most of the songs on Renegades)
Rammstein: Heirate Mich/Stirb Nicht Vor Mir (Don't Die Before I Do)
Skindred: Selector/Tears

[T-Bone]

Surely you jest.

I second that.  "Light Gives Heat" is amazing. 

[murlough23]

Tool: Reflections/Wings for Marie (and most of 10,000 days)

I agree about the 10,000 Days thing, but surely there must be worse songs on that album than that one!

Radiohead: Pyramid Song/Sit Down Stand Up

SDSU gets ragged on a lot for being repetitive, but it's one of my personal faves. You have heard Pablo Honey right?

[bloop]

"Pop is Dead" would make a good worst Radiohead pick as well.  SDSU isn't even in the running with me.

I second that.  "Light Gives Heat" is amazing.

Thirded.  Gorgeous song.

I just don't want to hear a song about fecal matter from anybody.

Howdy ho.

I guess I was just in a moment with my son when I first heard that song.

[Harenil]

I agree about the 10,000 Days thing, but surely there must be worse songs on that album than that one!

SDSU gets ragged on a lot for being repetitive, but it's one of my personal faves. You have heard Pablo Honey right?

Meh, probably true, I pretty much picked a song that wasn't Lost Keys/Rosetta Stoned. Wings/10,000 days just doesn't go anywhere. Worst on the album? Possibly not, but I can tell you I don't like listening to it.

And yes, I've heard Pablo Honey. I kinda forgot about it actually. Or wanted to. In which case I'd definitely agree Ripcord.

[bloop]

Ripcord is just musically "meh", but Prove Yourself has embarrassing lyrics to go with that.

[murlough23]

Meh, probably true, I pretty much picked a song that wasn't Lost Keys/Rosetta Stoned. Wings/10,000 days just doesn't go anywhere. Worst on the album? Possibly not, but I can tell you I don't like listening to it.

When it finally gets going, it's a gorgeous and captivating song. It just lingers around in the less-audible range for far too long for me to want to listen to it very much.

I'd still say that "Intension", "Rosetta Stoned", and especially "Viginti Tres" are far worse. (But then it's debatable whether that last one can be considered a "song". It's five minutes long - at that length, a track either needs to be a song, or at least kick-ass instrumental, or be relegated to the B-sides bin, in my opinion.)

And yes, I've heard Pablo Honey. I kinda forgot about it actually. Or wanted to. In which case I'd definitely agree Ripcord.

Sorry to remind you, then.

NP: "Painless", Mae