Ok.. so.. I'm a real album-oriented type of guy.. I definitely want every track to shine, but.. not every album delivers.
Perfect albums are recordings that lack a single throwaway track.. every track finds its place, not a single one floats by.. not only that, they also flow seamlessly!
Know what I mean?
Well, let's hear 'em.. I'd love to find a few new albums to add to my collection. I'll start:
"Sea Change" by Beck First of all, I know a ton of people dislike this album because it's such a huge departure from Beck's usual mix-and-match craziness.. yet, I believe this album truly flows like no other, and the atmospheric touches by Nigel Godrich really give this album some serious life! It's really great for those times when you're feeling low.. or just looking to mellow out to some truly engrossing music. Each of the tracks also sound totally unique from each other, especially when played in order.
You're free to disagree, this is just my personal opinion!
The New Pornographers Twin Cinema ...And, to be honest, their other two albums. Their albums consist of pop gem after pop gem executed with the perfect mix of synth, guitar, piano, and harmonic lyrics. After every track, you're looking forward to the next one, and none are worth skipping. While their first two achieve this effect, Twin Cinema works doubly well with a fantastic opener and a fantastic closer (and great songs in between!).
"Live At Leeds" The Who. Over all of these many years I have never once tired of this album. I get excited, wound up, jazzed and hyped every time I listen to it. I believe it to be the finest live album extant.
"Darkness on the Edge of Town" - Bruce Springsteen
It not only features some of his best known songs ("Badlands" "Promised Land" "Racing in the Street"), but the "lesser known" songs–"Candy's Room" "Adam Raised a Cain" and "Factory"–are among his finest tunes.
Born to Run and Born in the USA get all the accolades, but this is a landmark Springsteen record.
Posted by Arthur2Sheds 'Darkness on the edge of Town'
How uncanny! When I looked at this thread earlier, these were among the albums I was considering. Also, 'Who's Next'.
Oh, could I feel as I have felt, or be what I have been, Or weep as I could once have wept, o'er many a vanished scene; As springs in deserts found seem sweet, all brackish though they be, So, midst the withered waste of life, those tears would flow to me.
Originally posted by Flargimmer: "Sea Change" by Beck...You're free to disagree, this is just my personal opinion!
I think a lot of people here would agree with you and I am one of them.
Now "perfect," that is a word that cannot and shouldn't be lightly thrown around. When I think of a perfect album many come to mind and I don't think it's fair to just rant off a list of perfect albums so I will offer one that might be my most favorite album of all time: The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds.
I suppose some young 14-year old kid said that Twin Cinema consisted of "pop gem after pop gem executed with the perfect mix..." and I believe that the same can be said about this one. However, I think that what Brian Wilson did with this album is truly remarkable. He was able to collect all of his current and past influences’ ideas, blend them with brilliant thoughts he already had in his head, and argued and won to be able to put out this album. He skillfully married all of his concepts to create this stunning work of art. Song to song, the album is cohesive and tight—a perfect album from top to bottom. It's obvious why this album fueled the fire for four guys from Europe to go on to make "the best album of all time”—largely because of these beautiful and gorgeous Sounds.
Originally posted by FragileKidA: I think a lot of people here would agree with you and I am one of them.
Now "perfect," that is a word that cannot and shouldn't be lightly thrown around. When I think of a perfect album many come to mind and I don't think it's fair to just rant off a list of perfect albums so I will offer one that might be my most favorite album of all time: The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds.
I suppose some young 14-year old kid said that Twin Cinema consisted of "pop gem after pop gem executed with the perfect mix..." and I believe that the same can be said about this one. However, I think that what Brian Wilson did with this album is truly remarkable. He was able to collect all of his current and past influences’ ideas, blend them with brilliant thoughts he already had in his head, and argued and won to be able to put out this album. He skillfully married all of his concepts to create this stunning work of art. Song to song, the album is cohesive and tight—a perfect album from top to bottom. It's obvious why this album fueled the fire for four guys from Europe to go on to make "the best album of all time”—largely because of these beautiful and gorgeous Sounds.
Originally posted by Nhazghaal: I'll go with two - only heard them both recently (criminal) and I guess they're both pretty obvious.
Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde The Beatles - Revolver
I too just purchased Revolver recently. It took me a while to realize it's brilliance. I've owned Blonde On Blonde for a few years. I just doesn't do it for me, not like Highway 61 Revisited did.
Sonic Youth's "Daydream Nation" is definitely one of those albums. it's been the soundtrack to many a late night roadtrip for me. there's definitely a seamless connection between the songs, but i wouldn't call it flowing between the songs so much as falling into the next song. it's definitely the kind of album you need to chew on abit, it may not go down smooth (most of my friends hate it, but i absolutely adooooore it). every track is essential to the moody haze, even "providence", which is essentially an answering machine message played over white noise and piano.
I'll add Picaresque, by the Decemberists. All of the songs are little stories of some horrible misfortune or another. There are happy tracks (The Infanta, and to a lesser degree, 16 Military Wives, though in music only), but the songs detail suicide by jumping off a cliff because someone was disowned by his family, a drowning, a disastrous injury while playing a sport, a captured spy, a long-lost love who died at sea, a revenge, and another drowning.
Actually, all of my very favorite albums I wouldn't catagorize as "perfect". Blood on the Tracks, Marquee Moon, Wish You Were Here, Kid A...I wouldn't say any of these are "perfect" because each one has one or two songs that are weaker then the rest of the album. Part of that is that each of these have a few songs that are simply incredible.
Part of my criteria for a perfect album is that there is never a song you want to skip or that is weaker then the rest. In that case, there just really isn't a perfect one out there. One album that I really haven't owned long enough to make such a bold statement about is Van Morrison's Astral Weeks. Ask me again in a year and I'll let you know
I'll save ya a yr of thinking, less. Astral Weeks is perfect.
Oh, could I feel as I have felt, or be what I have been, Or weep as I could once have wept, o'er many a vanished scene; As springs in deserts found seem sweet, all brackish though they be, So, midst the withered waste of life, those tears would flow to me.
Originally posted by less_success: Blood on the Tracks, Marquee Moon
Thank you! Give me "Blood On the Tracks" or "The Times They Are A-Changing" over any other Dylan album. And for a live album, how can you top "Stop Making Sense"?
The Violent Femmes s/t album is perfect... the majority of us I think will agree on this one (and if you don't go listen to it once or twice )
Oh, could I feel as I have felt, or be what I have been, Or weep as I could once have wept, o'er many a vanished scene; As springs in deserts found seem sweet, all brackish though they be, So, midst the withered waste of life, those tears would flow to me.
