10 Hard Rock Albums With Only One Good Song

Diamond tracks amongst the coal.

Metallica St Anger
Elektra

Every band seems to have that one stinker album in their discography. Despite all of the band's hard work in the studio, sometimes the fruits of labor end up being on the non-listenable side of the music spectrum. That doesn't mean each of these albums are without merit.

Though bands go through different periods in their longevity, no legendary act becomes terrible virtually overnight. Even on bad albums, bands can still muster up their badassery to turn in a few fantastic performances. Amid all the subpar tracks, the occasional stray song will turn up that lives up to the band's usual awesome standard.

These tracks show that the band you know and love is still in there somewhere, but they might just be going through a difficult spot in the studio. Whether it's a happy accident or a glimmer of hope, these songs do their absolute best to save these records from falling into complete boredom.

All of these albums do boast a pretty shoddy execution, but these songs are the shining examples of the band still living up to their potential. Though these albums may have had a specific sonic story to tell, it'll probably be safer for you to pick and choose your way through these songs.

10. It's Hard - The Who

By the time the Who had gotten to their 3rd decade together, the band were operating at half capacity. After the death of monster drummer Keith Moon, the band soldiered on with albums like Face Dances. Though there were still great songs on that record, the Who were still coming to grips with being a shadow of what they once were without Moon's power.

This kept snowballing until they reached It's Hard, which even songwriter Pete Townshend has lambasted for being too overblown. The whole album is caked in an 80's sheen with the band trying to settle into a more electronic vibe rather than their rocking roots. That being said, "Eminence Front" is a classic Who song buried amidst the more tepid cuts. The use of synthesizers by Townshend is truly exquisite along with his vocal performance, which seems to tell a cautionary tale to those adopting the more extravagant lifestyle.

While the song is still played at Who concerts to this day, it was not enough to save the band from each other. Shortly after this record, the band disbanded for nearly two decades before regrouping in the late 90's. It's Hard may be far from perfect, but to miss out on "Eminence Front" would be an absolute crime.

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