Stop grinning. Your album sucks.

​

5. Jane's Addiction
The Great Escape Artist
There was no way Perry Farrell and company were going to shock the world with another Ritual lo Habitual. That much we knew -- if for no other reason than Farrell spends more time these days promoting Lollapalooza Chile than crafting music. But with TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek lending a bass-thwacking hand in the studio for their new album, we hoped that something at least seemingly reminiscent of the punk-slathered art-rock these flamboyant rockers concocted in their heyday would result. Instead, we got what we perhaps should have been expected: a gothic, gloomy attempt at mood-rock that's as appealing as a Dave Navarro STD.

Yes, Jessi J, you made the list. Stop pouting.

Tis' an exciting time of year for music critics. From January through November, carpel-tunnel prone wordsmiths like us often are faced with editorial pressure to "go easy" on certain releases. Or perhaps we are encouraged to throw praise upon hyped albums that probably never deserved it. 

But now is that beautiful month when all such sins of withheld-expression can be forgiven. Because as end-of-the-year-lists are pieced together, it's finally acceptable for writers at last to divulge our feelings about the music that we consumed over the past year.

That "comeback" Limp Bizkit record that we really used as aural punishment for our misbehaving dog? Our apologies. Travis Barker's "innovative" solo release for its choice of guests that in reality was as groundbreaking as Sporty Thievz' "No Pigeons"? Again, please forgive us. It's these sort of misdeeds we want to get off our chest. So, in the rant-like spirit of this shit-talking season, we're unloading on the albums of 2011 that were just flat-out disappointing. We wouldn't lie to you.