I've just heard what might be one of the top ten worst albums ever. A stunning achievement in the so-bad-its-good world. I present Robert Callendar's Musee d' L'Impressionisme.
I've seen this listed as from 1972, but it's gotta be at least a couple years later than that. It's got the stink of '76 all over it. And if you've heard his great Rainbow or his so-so The Way, it's got nothing to do with that psych-lite fake mystical vibe.
No, this is a "concept album" about the birth of expressionist art. Set to music that bounces between the Love Boat theme and A Fifth of Beethoven. Picture a latin/disco groove, with a namby sounding lounge cat singing "he went on holiday/ with Monet." Note to Robert: singing "the impressionist movement" over and over doesn't establish a concept, and it doesn't flow. Fuckin' priceless.
The closest thing to the jaw dropping pretentious awfulness on display here that I'm aware of is "The Beat Goes On" by Vanilla Fudge. Sure, it was a different era, and the sound is miles away, but the intent was the same.
Feel free to cast votes for your favorite awful albums in the comments. Extra credit for good explanations and shares. You can find the Callendar record here (along with lots of other great stuff): http://www.awkwardist.blogspot.com/.
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14 comments:
Took a while to find it -- it's callendEr not callendAr!
http://awkwardist.blogspot.com/2007/05/robert-callender-le-musee-de.html
Request: SHARI ELF - I`m Forcing Goodness Upon You
Thanks!
Re-up Request:Edgard Varese - The Complete Works, v. 1 and v.2
tba thanx for woman malinda , what a congress 'twas....
Could you please repost the Jandek you had earlier? The link is dead. I just saw "Jandek on Corwood" and it was awesome!!! Thank you :)
outright crappest album in the world ever, which still mystifies with its so-bad-it-must-be-a-spoofness, is Hugh Volk's "Mass Medium". I'd love to upload a copy but fear it might break someone's server. As the insert notes: "there is no fan club". Well, there sort of is now.
Some more stinkos:
The Shaggs - really awful...unbelievable...so bad it's both funny and pathetic.
Cathy Berbarian (sp?) - does a baroque take on the Beatles...terrible. so bad that Steely Dan even mentioned her in one of their songs (Your Gold Teeth?)...
- MEESTER MUSIC
i used some of the american doomsday cult record in a rcoding, you can check it out here:http://www.last.fm/music/Cryptids/In+the+Act+of+Adoration+Before+the+Master+of+the+Universe
thanks for the music, it's always appreciated!
I quite enjoy the Shaggs
hey man, i'll say it.... WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU, MAN??? palestinianlightorchestra kicked ass, and this new blog was following suit. c'mon, is it summer vacation? at least talk to us. my man awesometapesfromafrica started posting again after a long silence a while ago, and he is now posting entire tapes. akashaman also came back recently after laying low. the public awaits your reappearance. i am still rocking vivian stanshall. peas.
hey man, i'll say it.... WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU, MAN??? palestinianlightorchestra kicked ass, and this new blog was following suit. c'mon, is it summer vacation? at least talk to us. my man awesometapesfromafrica started posting again after a long silence a while ago, and he is now posting entire tapes. akashaman also came back recently after laying low. the public awaits your reappearance. i am still rocking vivian stanshall. peas.
hey man, i'll say it.... WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU, MAN??? palestinianlightorchestra kicked ass, and this new blog was following suit. c'mon, is it summer vacation? at least talk to us. my man awesometapesfromafrica started posting again after a long silence a while ago, and he is now posting entire tapes. akashaman also came back recently after laying low. the public awaits your reappearance. i am still rocking vivian stanshall. peas.
Incredible, this Musée de l'Impressionisme. Totally camp.
Would love to hear his "The Way", though..
Thanks in advance,
immerst
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