What albums were critically praised, but didn't measure up when it came to expected sales? For me, Carly Hennessy's Ultimate High immediately comes to mind. It's fun, she has a pretty voice, but I guess the project just wasn't marketable at the time of its release.

dude..almost anything I like could count as a "commercial failure"...

because, after all, if it isn't making dollars, then it isn't making sense...

Most stuff recommended here are commercial failures.

Who cares?

I read the other day that Arcade Fire 'Funeral' had sold an ENORMOUS 60,000 copies in the US. Not that many is it?

Thread title said good albums..

*ducks*

No, those are terrible numbers considering the last Modest Mouse went platinum and the new Mars Volta sold 170,000 copies in its first TWO WEEKS of release.

Modest Mouse are on Kidz Bop, fer chissakes. How can anyone take that outfit seriously anymore?

That's because about 400,000 indiablos got the CD off Slsk or ysi.

That's why I said expected sales. If an indie album doesn't go platinum, that doesn't make it a commercial failure. On the other hand, if Peter Gabriel only sold 10,000 copies of his next album, then we could consider that a commercial failure considering his popularity.

Nelly Furtado's second album flopped in the States. I still think it's very good for a commecial pop album. And she was supposed to become a superstar.

Natalie Merchant's last two albums have sold poorly, but that's because she's slammed the brakes on being a pop star on purpose because she's tired of the whole thing. She actually makes more profit off them now that she has complete control over them.

Once you see that "Modest Mouse songs as performed by the Countdown Singers" release, that's when I know it's time to throw my hands up.



I agree that was a good one. I think "Explode" could have been a hit single. She actually just signed to a new label, Geffen/Interscope.

Good choice. That was one of my favorites from 2003.

John Cale's Music For a New Society was noted for selling next to zip while garnering tremendous (deserved, IMHO) critical praise.

jawbreaker's "dear you" was touted as the album that would make them the next green day in 1995, but it sold about eight copies and then they broke up.

everyone's a bastard.

Nice. But she's still one of my favorites. If she's not yours, that's your problem.

Her last two cds have no calico faux-hippie bullshit, nor does much else in her career. You're mistaking "earnest displaced 19th century girl poet" with "faux-hippe." She's not Edie Brickell.

Yesssssssssssss! I hit a nerve.

For a major label, no. For their label, it was awesome. If someone here sold that many, we'd be genuinely excited.

Nope. But if you can't see how sensual and yummy Natalie has been over the years, you've missed out.

One of the most quietly sexy people on the planet. Great voice, great lyrics. Only thing I'd knock her for is too much politeness musically.

I forget which album it was--Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle or Richard Thompson's first solo album--where Warner Brothers took out ads full of critical raves while declaring it the worst-selling album in WB's history.

Reverse publicity? Whatever, it didn't work.

I'd put Bob Geldof, Colin Hay and Mark Knopfler's solo careers in this category. All have very good albums, all very respected in the industry. And all of them tank miserably, saleswise.

The Soundscans I saw this week had it at 137,000, and Soundscan only reports 85% of all CD sales, and it doesn't count iTunes, etc. at all.