Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/6-albums-that-were-criticized-at-first-now-considered-masterpieces/
Music history loves a good comeback story. Some of the most beloved albums today were initially met with confusion, harsh criticism, or outright hostility. Critics panned them. Fans rejected them. Radio stations wouldn’t touch them. Yet somehow, these records survived their rocky debuts to become cultural touchstones that shaped entire genres.
It’s fascinating how time can completely flip our perception of art. What sounded too experimental or weird at release now sounds innovative and ahead of its time. The albums that follow all share this wild journey from flop to masterpiece. Let’s dive in.
1. The Velvet Underground & Nico – The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
When this album dropped, most people had no idea what to make of it. The dark themes, Lou Reed’s deadpan vocals, and Andy Warhol’s bizarre banana cover art confused both critics and listeners. Radio stations refused to play it. Sales were abysmal in its first year.
Music journalist Lester Bangs later said the album sold only about thirty thousand copies in its first five years, but everyone who bought it started a band. That’s not far from the truth. The record’s raw sound and unflinching lyrics about drugs, prostitution, and urban alienation laid the groundwork for punk rock.
Today it sits on virtually every “greatest albums of all time” list. Its influence on alternative music cannot be…
—-
Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-01-29 07:00:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
—-
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8