After 34 years, expectations for The Stooges' return to the studio were quite high. Unfortunately, the Steve Albini-produced The Weirdness (Virgin-2007) turned out to be not only a blemish on the influential Michigan band's recorded legacy, but with the death of guitarist Ron Asheton in January 2009, the final word on it, as well.
The late, great Miles Davis, after retiring from music in 1975, did not release a studio album for next 6 years, but once he did he continued recording for the next decade until his 1991 passing. While his final batch of studio recordings have their defenders--they're mostly hit-or-miss--sadly, his first salvo from the comeback trail was probably the worst of the lot: the incredibly sub par The Man with The Horn (Columbia-1981), which, for sentimental reasons, we happen to enjoy for the most part, but will readily admit to its bland mediocrity. (The title track is just beyond lame.)
Obviously, we've been thinking about the subject lately and were wondering what albums you guys would put in the same category as The Weirdness and The Man with the Horn. Some of you have made your feelings clear on Guns 'N' Roses' latest, Chinese Democracy, and the rumored upcoming Sex Pistols album, so the inclusion of those two would not be a surprise. (Even though the existence of the latter is hypothetical at this point.) What about Big Star's In Space? Or perhaps Pink Floyd's The Division Bell?
So have at it, people: what worthy artist do you feel squandered the opportunity to return to the good graces of their followers by culminating a prolonged absence with a major dud?
