Disappointments/Overrated Albums of 2011 So Far
The Disappointments:
Washed Out – Within and Without
Ernest Greene has made the age-old mistake most sophomore slumps make – he has focused too hard on form, and not on content. Abandoning the sharp pop of the impressive Life of Leisure EP for a bland, boring follow-up, Greene has created a sleepytime comp, but not in a good way.
Tyler the Creator – Goblin
Never since the invention of the good ol’ Internet/blog hype machine has an artist been so lauded and built up to impossible expectations, only to release an irredeemably bad album and lose all that praise.  I mean, man.  What a terrible record.  No one has fallen harder than Tyler the Creator.  At least, not yet.
The Strokes – Angles
This album is a giant mess, with the exception of exactly three songs. Possibly worse than not living up to hype (see above) is watching an established band return after a long hiatus and produce what is arguably their worst effort yet. Â We all know the first two can’t be beaten, but it would’ve been nice to see these guys try.
Radiohead – The King of Limbs
It is apparent that, well inside their comfort zone, Radiohead have settled into trading in hooks for ambient experimentation and a lack of depth or cohesion.  There is nothing memorable here; the group phoned it in for their first mediocre album since Pablo Honey.  Perhaps this is a transformative period, and we can all look back and laugh at this stepping stone record.
REM – Collapse Into Now
At least Radiohead was progressive – most REM albums are always claimed to be a “back to basics” or “return to form,” but this time it’s for real. Â Unfortunately, Stipe, Mills, and Buck forgot to bring the sharp melody and memorable kick back from 1995, and the result is somewhat dated and underwhelming.
The Overrated:
James Blake – S/T
This is a noble debut from an up-and-comer; it shows promise, warts and all. Â Apparently the critics didn’t notice most of the album is not necessarily songs, but experimental sound and structureless production. Â Maybe in the future Blake can rein it in and produce an album worthy of all the praise it’s getting.
Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
I guess I’m missing something here, but the sheer uninspired tone of boredom Vile likes to deliver his songs in is just grating to me. Â I don’t pretend to understand why this album has received the unjust praise it’s received.
Foster the People – Torches
It’s Maroon 5 trying to replicate the hits of MGMT. Â It’s repetitive. Â Its success is uncanny and undeserved. Â “Pumped Up Kicks” is the prime example for an album of one-note structure beating you in the head until it’s stuck in your brain. Â Just because you can’t stop singing it doesn’t mean it’s good.
Juliana Barwick – The Magic Place
I have to give credit here – what Barwick has tried is pretty creative. Â The main instrument here is layers of Barwick’s haunting voice, and the result is original and intriguing. Â Unfortunately, it’s also frankly boring, especially for an entire album.
There’s just not enough here to warrant the praise this sophomore slump has been receiving. Â I feel this is a transitional album, that Vernon just needs to get his creative juices flowing again, instead of letting the celebrity status take control and half-ass a disc that only picks up on the last two tracks.