Steve and Remfry are talking about one of their favourite eras in music, so expect 90s references a-go-go as we delve into The Boy with X-Ray Eyes, the debut album from Wolverhampton’s one hit wonders Babylon Zoo. Released in February 1996. It features the single "Spaceman”, which charted at number one on the UK Singles Chart after being featured in a popular Levi’s jeans TV advertisement in late 1995. The album peaked at number 6 on the UK Albums Chart and lasted a total of six weeks in the top 100 (three in the top 40) generally receiving favourable critical reviews.

But time has not been kind to Babylon Zoo or this album, as it’s retrospectively been re-appraised as one of the worst records of all time, hence its inclusion here. The Guardian and Q, who initially published favourable reviews, have named the record one of the worst of all time. In a 1999 Guardian article, critic Andrew Mueller labelled The Boy with the X-Ray Eyes "one of the most hilariously terrible albums ever made". Q staff ranked the LP at number 42 in their 2006 list of the 50 worst records in history, calling it an "album of lumpen MOR rock" that "sank without trace". A 2016 public poll organised by online trade-in site Ziffit.com placed it at number 31 in a list of the 50 worst records ever. But does an album with one of the biggest hit singles that the UK has ever seen really deserve its reputation as one of the worst albums ever made?

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