Albums which were dismissed upon release, but time has turned them into classics.

[DJ Leon]

Dismissed as the last throw of the dice by a band rapidly disintegrating, since been voted Best Album of all time by Newsnight viewers

A classic indeed, but it was critically acclaimed upon release.

 

[Mammoth]

the shoegazing backlash (and alan mcgee) killed off slowdive's souvlaki and swervedriver's mezcal on their release in the 90's
also interpol's turn on the bright lights was pretty much ignored upon release- wasn't it voted as being the best album ever the other week (or something)?

 

[The Modfather]

Gang of four - Entertainment

 

[The Offspring]

Believe it or not, but when Guns N' Roses first released "Appetite for Destruction" in 1987, it flopped, it wasn't until the release of the second single (Sweet Child O' Mine) a year after the album had been released, that things took off for them.

 

[kevo]

Gang of four - Entertainment

Indeed. Often forgotten how outside the mainstream they were - especially as every angular guitar-based indie band these days seems to use that album as a template!

 

[Gwylan]

Gang of four - Entertainment

No way. Gang of Four were an absolute critics' favourite. Entertainment's in the Rolling Stone top 500 albums of all time.

 

[Sussex Nomad]

Planet Earth - Duran Duran (but you really have to be in your mid to late 40's!)

 

[The Modfather]

No way. Gang of Four were an absolute critics' favourite. Entertainment's in the Rolling Stone top 500 albums of all time.

It may be in the top 500 now, but I am not sure it was 30 years ago.

 

[The Large One]

Pet Sounds (relatively) flopped in America.

Dismissed by Beach Boys fans, at any rate.

 

[Gwylan]

Indeed. Often forgotten how outside the mainstream they were - especially as every angular guitar-based indie band these days seems to use that album as a template!

That's not true either. There were on the fringes of the singles charts and Entertainment reached 45 in the album charts. They clearly weren't a mega-band but they were scarcely performing to one man and a dog. I saw them three times in 1979 and the venues were pretty packed out.

 

[The Modfather]

The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle

 

[Franks Wild Years]

this

 

[Skint Gull]

It certainly does not get the credit it deserves.

Well I certainly credit it with being the start of the killers turning into a slushy, bland pop group and flowers in particular turning into a sell out, Robbie Williams type pop singer.

In fact the same route was taken by Williams himself.....

 

[kevo]

The Killers were better when they supported British Sea Power on their 2003 tour!

 

[Sussex Nomad]

this

No that seriously was awful (coming from a Clash fan)

 

[Spider]

Television - Adventure. A great album, obscured by the fact that the 'best' songs on it were from the Marquee Moon days, nevertheless, a belting album in its own right,

 

[Jesus Gul]

UB40 - Bagariddim

groundbeaking stuff

 

[Icy Gull]

Exile on Main Street got very luke warm reviews for a such a massive band as the Stones. Now features in most top 10 albums of all time

 

[bhaexpress]

What's the Story, Morning Glory got tepid reviews when it was released but is now considered Oasis' best album. Youth and Young Manhood by the Kings of Leon was also well received but a flop in the US but did well here and in fact KoL made the name in the UK.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Exile on Main Street got very luke warm reviews for a such a massive band as the Stones. Now features in most top 10 albums of all time

This is a very good call actually. The public and critics were very divided when it came out. It's now regarded as one of the best albums ever.