We’ve made it to that time of year again. We begin our top 10 lists with the traditional top 10 worst tracks reviewed in 2022.
We’ve been exploring the mid 90s for the most part this year. While we did learn a lot about music from those days, trying to find some really good music ended up being a bit harder then expected. So, the results are a bit disappointing. Still, we did find some good tracks.
Of course, this list isn’t about the good tracks. So, like the many years before, we are going to be counting down the worst tracks we’ve heard all year. There were certainly a number of duds and some of them didn’t even make this years list. So, let’s find out what really didn’t end up working out this year for us.
10. Mariah Carey – Always Be My Baby
(RIAA)
While the vocals are decent enough, the hollow and cliche lyrics did nothing for this track. The backing element really did nothing for this track. As such, the mediocrity of this track allows it to barely slide into this years list.
5.5/10
9. Blur – Stereotypes
(RIAA)
In what is perhaps the biggest surprise in this list is the fact that this ends up being the worst performing pop track this year. Normally, pop music dominates these lists, but the pop music is surprisingly absent by comparison. At any rate, this track features bland vocals and simplistic lyrics. While synths to prevent this track from being a complete fail, it isn’t enough to save this one from making it into this years list.
5.5/10
8. Manic Street Preachers – Everything Must Go
(RIAA)
This track makes it into this years list for one very big reason: mastering. The drum kit and other elements almost completely drown out the vocals and make them unintelligible. The general lack of bass didn’t really help things either.
5.5/10
7. Beck – Where It’s At
(RIAA)
The last time we reviewed a track from this band, it turned out pretty good. That track almost scored high enough to make it into the top 10 best tracks list. So, it makes it even more surprising how bad this track ended up performing on this years list. In this case, the lyrics seemingly ran out about half way through the track. Stuffing those empty spaces with random sounds just didn’t work. As such, this track ends up being a barely passable track.
5.5/10
6. The Tragically Hip – Ahead By a Century
(RIAA)
This is one of those tracks we were told is one of the best tracks of all time. So, we came into this one rather excited. After all, this is a track that helped to make this band big, right? Well, as it turns out, this track definitely isn’t for us. For us, this is a low energy track with excessively light guitars that only stop this one from becoming a major flop. With lyrics stretching out and out of sync back-up vocals, the only thing that is impressive about this track is the fact that it isn’t getting a failing grade here.
5/10
5. Super Furry Animals – Something for the Weekend
(Commercial)
Most of these lists feature a clean sweep by the major record labels. This track manages to block the clean sweep this year – and it even gets all the way to the top 5 to boot. What really turned this track sideways is the dated sound and awkward notes being hit by the vocals. The out of tune piano at the end just makes this one just that much more bland to the point of nearly failing altogether.
5/10
4. Sloan – The Lines You Amend
(RIAA)
This years worst performing passable track belongs to this one. Whats particularly grating about this track is that this is another one of those Beatles soundalike tracks. The aimlessly meandering lyrics did this track no favours. The OK vocals is probably the only thing that prevented this track from winding up being a fail altogether.
5/10
3. The Wallflowers – One Headlight
(RIAA)
This years top performing failed track earns a top 3 spot in this years list. In this track, the guitars end up making this track sound like something you hear at a bar that you are meant to ignore. That’s the good news. The vocals are mediocre and the lyrics are flat in this one. So, an overall flop for us.
4.5/10
2. Mötley Crüe – Misunderstood
(RIAA)
This years runner up belongs to this track. Some elements do try to take this track into an interesting direction, but the track fails to get there. Bad strings and strange guitars didn’t win us over. Combine this with vocals that are unintelligible speech fry and you have a recipe for a flop of a track.
4/10
1. Stone Temple Pilots – Big Bang Baby
(RIAA)
This years worst track for us belongs to this one. While we had a close contest this year, this track manages to edge out the competition in overall bad quality. For one, the lyrics don’t make a whole lot of sense. At the same time, the lyrics are also repetitive. To make matters worse, the track ends part way through the main chorus. The vocals have a case of sounding nasal and high pitched. To top it all off, the guitars are left on auto-pilot throughout the track. Not only is this a track to avoid, but it is also the worst track we’ve heard all year.
4/10
Honourable Mentions
Since we’ve had our share of duds this year from exploring the mid 90’s, we, of course, have a full slate of honourable mentions to join this years top 10 list. So here are some tracks that didn’t quite make the list this year.
The Cure – Strange Attraction (RIAA) A track with hard to understand lyrics. This track didn’t quite escape this years list and makes this artist a repeat offender.
6/10
The Rembrandts – I’ll Be There For You (RIAA) The theme from the not funny TV show Friends boasts artificial happiness that ends up being more annoying than anything else.
6/10
Def Leppard – Slang (RIAA) Backing elements do save this track to some degree, but the awkward lyrics really held this particular track back.
6/10
Hanson – MMMBop (RIAA) A track that has nearly impossible to understand lyrics. It also ultimately ends on an awkward note.
6/10
Brother Cane – And Fools Shine On (RIAA) The track that didn’t quite make this years top 10 list goes to this one. This track has repetitive guitars that make this one a dry track to listen to. The hard to understand vocals didn’t do this track a whole lot of favours.
5.5/10
Well, that’s it for the first list. Join us tomorrow as we look back at the worst games we’ve played all year.
Drew Wilson on Twitter: @icecube85 and Facebook.
