The creative industry is filled with stories of works that gained a cult following long after they were first released or published. However, when it comes to music, quite a few of the iconic albums that today we consider cult classics were initial flops – ignored or shunned by critics and fans until their following releases finally gained steam.

There are a couple of reasons behind what caused these works to become classic albums over time. The first is the constantly shifting and evolving taste of music listeners, who might need time, sometimes decades, to catch up with or fully embrace the vision artists had in mind. The second is the difficulty music critics face when trying to understand and predict new music waves as they appear. Just take a look at how some of the most relevant music magazines changed their mind after panning Charli XCX’s Vroom Vroom, when it became clear it was becoming a massive hit and a game-changer in the pop/hyperpop scene.

Here, we highlight ten times when new music releases weren't met with the success they deserved, only to become classic, iconic albums later. Some of them received good reviews from respectable magazines but were ignored by fans, while others were panned by both fans and critics, only to be re-evaluated in later years. Let's dive in!

1. THE VELVET UNDERGROUND AND NICO – THE VELVET UNDERGROUND AND NICO (1967)

It's unbelievable to think that one of the most crucial albums in the history of rock music was initially a commercial failure. Yet, The Velvet Underground and Nico was largely ignored by critics, radio stations and the audience, selling merely 30,000 copies in five years. Nevertheless, it went on to become a milestone in rock music and an iconic album for the genre, especially in its most experimental branches. It’s now considered a monumental album, blending and transcending music genres into a coherent sonic experience.

2. KING CRIMSON – IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING (1969)

Contemporary critics gave this prog-rock masterpiece lukewarm reviews, most notably the American music journalist Robert Christgau calling it “ersatz s***” when King Crimson's debut album hit the shelves. Luckily, today, In the Court of the Crimson King is rightly considered by many the classic album that brought progressive rock to life, anticipating before any other band the darker atmospheres that would define prog music for decades to come.

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3. BLACK SABBATH – BLACK SABBATH (1970)

The album that opened the era of heavy metal was panned by music critics worldwide, comparing it negatively to Cream and criticising the composition quality of the band. Needless to say, most reviewers stepped back and re-evaluated this work – which is now considered to be a turning point in rock and heavy metal. Despite its initial flop, heavy metal fans worldwide now look at Black Sabbath as an innovative, ground-breaking work and undoubtedly one of the best albums of all time. Its title track is widely regarded as the first doom metal song ever recorded.

4. NICK DRAKE – PINK MOON (1972)

If you’ve never listened to Pink Moon, stop reading this article right now and take some time to dive into this incredible masterpiece. The soothing mood and atmosphere of Drake’s third album are brought to life by a simple acoustic set-up, his warm voice and resigned lyrics.

When compared to his two previous works, many thought Pink Moon was a significant setback in Drake's career because of its stripped-back and intimate sound that ended up weakening his compositions. Or so the critics said. Furthermore, the album hardly sold any copies due to Drake's reluctance to perform live and low-budget promotion.

Today, this iconic album is a cult classic that’s inspired generations of songwriters. Pink Moon is an intimate work of art that exposes the fragility of the author in ways that feel contemporary to this day.

5. MILES DAVIS – ON THE CORNER (1972)

This visionary work by Miles Davis – blending and experimenting with all possible music genres – was an attempt of the jazz guru to attract younger audiences. Unfortunately, it didn't work out as planned, and On the Corner became one of Davis' worst-selling albums, jazz critics panning it for years. It became Davis' last album before temporarily retiring in 1975.

But now, On the Corner is regarded as a crucial album in the way it transcended a variety of genres, jumping from addictive funk rhythms reminiscent of James Brown’s tunes to Stockhausen-style electronic experimentations. Unfortunately, it was so ahead of its time that it took decades for the audience to appreciate Miles' ambition. A signature case of a highly influential album that initially flopped.

6. MEGADETH – KILLING IS MY BUSINESS... AND BUSINESS IS GOOD! (1985)

Despite a modest budget of just $8000, Killing Is My Business failed to recoup its costs until the band became popular with its later albums. The album was also largely ignored by critics, who regarded the leader of the band Dave Mustaine simply as the guy who got kicked out of Metallica before they became metal superstars.

Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! was eventually be reissued in 2002 and become one of the band's most beloved albums, thanks to the raw and yet powerful sound of the legendary thrash metal band.  

7. NIRVANA – BLEACH (1989)

The debut album of the band that defined the sound of the 90s garnered generally positive reviews but was largely ignored by listeners. However, after the release of Nevermind, Bleach was reissued by Geffen Records and became the worldwide-known iconic album we know today – it’s sold roughly 2 million copies to date.

Sub Pop, Nirvana's label at the time, didn't promote the album as much as they did with other releases due to the band being relatively unknown at the time, and the heavy sounds included in the album (compared to the other artists they represented at the time). Though perhaps not as powerful as their following publications, Bleach still features some of their most popular anthems like “About A Girl”.

8. SLOWDIVE – SOUVLAKI (1993)

At the time when it was published, the quiet and ethereal atmospheres of Souvlaki were no longer fashionable according to critics, who were more interested in the upcoming Brit-pop wave led by Oasis. Today, Slowdive’s work is considered a classic album of the shoegaze genre, merging soothing voices with ultra-delayed guitar sounds in an enveloping soundscape that still feels timeless.

9. WEEZER - PINKERTON (1996)

Weezer’s second album is perhaps the most incredible example of an influential and iconic album that was initially a flop, trashed by critics and fans before becoming the voice of a generation. When it came out, it seemed everyone hated Pinkerton, including Weezer themselves!

Rolling Stone regarded Pinkerton as the third-worst album of 1996 upon its release, and the album was such a commercial failure that Rivers Cuomo went back to more traditional pop songwriting. For years, Cuomo had very negative feelings towards the darker atmospheres and more personal album lyrics. Still, the cult following Pinkerton has developed over the years made him re-evaluate the album and appreciate its uttermost authenticity.

The more intimate and experimental approach of Pinkerton paid off over time, and the classic album is now one of the band’s most beloved works.

10. APHEX TWIN – DRUKQS (2001)

Probably Aphex Twin’s most divisive album, Drukqs will also be his last album until Syro, released in 2014. Reviewers complained about Drukqs’ similarities to Aphex Twin’s previous albums, as well as its length and flow. It’s a massive concept album, shifting from piano composition to wild drum and bass beats that defined the sound of Richard David James’ music and that of many others that came after him.

Now, everyone agrees that the criticism directed to Drukqs was exaggerated and caused by the high expectations after Aphex Twin’s five-year hiatus. The album is ambitious, bold and innovative and is considered one of his most crucial works by many. I think there’s no better way to conclude this list than with the evocative piano piece, “Avril 14^th”.

OVERLOOKED CLASSICS

In a world where instant gratification is of the essence, it might seem incredible that so many cult classic albums lingered in a music limbo for years, or even decades, before being recognised as the masterpieces they are. Some musicians, like Nick Drake, never saw their works achieving the success they deserved; others went on with their careers and became superstars, despite some setbacks along the way.

The music industry today is much more democratic than it used to be. Up until the early 2000s, when music magazines were the primary source of information on new albums, fans were relying on reviews to choose what to listen to. Nowadays, with the hyper-personalised music selection provided by the streaming services and AIs recommending new music at all times, I wonder if great albums could go unnoticed. Only time will tell.

What's certain is that the audience's taste is constantly evolving, and albums that could be ignored today may become the music milestones of tomorrow. We may well have to revisit this list of iconic albums that initially flopped to discuss more influential works. This is one of the most beautiful and human aspects of all creative arts, and one that won't change anytime soon.

Cover Credit: Christian Bertrand / Alamy Stock Photo

Writer | Marco Sebastiano Alessi

Marco is an Italian music producer, composer and writer. He’s the founder of Naviar Records, a music community and record label exploring the connection between experimental electronic music and traditional Japanese poetry.