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We all have albums we stupidly bought because of 1 song (coughcough Jesus Jones coughcough).  We have the albums we maybe only listen to maybe 3-4 songs from.  

The rarest album though are those albums where you can listen to every song. Never press skip. Every song on the album slaps as the kids these days say. To me, only a few albums live in this rarified space.

The good thing today is that we can just buy "Right Here, Right Now" and not be stuck with the rest of that shitty Jesus Jones album.

The bad part is that if we'd just download "Narc" by Interpol, we might not ever hear "C'mere"...

Maybe the concept of album is outdated let alone a perfect album, but anyway, here's my 3 perfect albums.


U2 - The Joshua Tree 1987

I know it's fashionable to bash U2. Don't care. I think they've consistently put out great stuff almost every time. But Joshua Tree is perfect. Every song is killer. From the well known ones like With or Without You to the ones that get no love like Exit. Holds up today. Just perfect.  And, if I'm being honest, Achtung Baby might have higher highs, but I think the low points are ever so slightly lower than Joshua Tree


Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking 1988

Album was released on a Tuesday, I drove to freshman year of college that Saturday, heard Mountain Song on the drive down. First thing after getting unloaded was to find the local record store and buy this. Jane Says got the airplay, but every song on this was a powerhouse, including one of the greatest songs recorded - Ted, Just Admit it.


Faith No More - Angel Dust 1992

If CDs and digital audio could be worn out, I would wear out this album. Everything on it is has its own unique sound and it's all perfect. Yes, even Midnight Cowboy. I listen to this all the way through at least once a month.




What are your perfect albums?

Last edited by Timpranillo
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Born in the USA- Springsteen

The lyrics in those songs are just as timely today. My Hometown is especially relevant. 

Scarecrow - Mellencamp. 

Nobody captures the decline of the family farm better. Growing up on a family farm and knowing even then (mid-80s) that there was no future in it, this album hit home. 

Scarecrow on a wooden cross blackbird in the barn
Four hundred empty acres that used to be my farm
I grew up like my daddy did my grandpa cleared this land
When I was five I walked the fence while grandpa held my hand
Rain on the scarecrow blood on the plow

Pet Sounds - Beach Boys
Rubber Soul - Beatles
The Chronic - Dr. Dre
What's Goin On - Marvin Gaye
London Calling - The Clash
Astral Weeks - Van Morrison
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
Thriller - Michael Jackson

A perfect song, from a perfect album. I know it's highly subjective, but I don't know if anyone will ever write and produce an album as well as Brian Wilson did on Pet Sounds.

Last edited by Chongo

Amen to Pet Sounds and Brian Wilson’s genius...other geniuses point to his genius, which might mean something.

Out of left field:

Main Course- Bee Gees. Jive Talkin’ , Nights on Broadway, Fanny Be Tender. It was a perfect transition album for them from their early days and before the disco phenomenon.

Last edited by Blair Kiel

U2- The Unforgettable Fire

Bob Mould - Workbook

Peter Gabriel - Shaking the Tree

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique

Rufus Wainwright - Want One & Want Two

Steely Dan -  The Royal Scam or any of them.

Elvis Costello - North

Freedy Johnston - This Perfect World

16 Horsepower - Sackcloth and Ashes

Gorillaz - Demon Days

John Hiatt - Walk On

K.D. Lang- Ingenue

The La's - The La's

Pixies - Doolittle

Regina Spektor - Remember Us to Life

Multiple Beatles albums.  

 

I went scrolling through my library and had to stop.  

BTW, people who bash bands/music are fucking idiots and usually waiting for their balls to drop or boobs to come in.  U2 has been around forever so it's easy for dumbfucks that didn't see them come on the scene and the impact they made.  Music is so intrinsically special to the individual.  

It's the strangest little things that entangle our memories with songs.  Even the ones we don't want to admit.  This songs comes to mind every time I think about having sex for the first time. 

 

@Maynard posted:

No, I haven't heard Earthless!  Earth, but not Earthless.  Will have to check them out!

Really gotten into the doom/stoner metal the past few years.  Sleep, High ON Fire, Sunn O))), Electric Wizard...

Can't wait until the weed gets legal all in the US.  Or at least MN.



With Earthless - Start with Sonic Prayer



Now that I think of it, there are 2 really good bands, probably up your alley, from Portland.

Agalloch - Ashes Against the Grain is superb. (disbanded in 2016, but definitely would check out their catalog)

And Grails - Black Tar Prophecies and Burning off Impurities are AMAZING. Haven't done anything since 2017, but still were touring in the Before Times

Last edited by Timpranillo

@Chongo mentioned LZ

Led Zeppelin IV

Just look at the songs on that album. I'm not even a YOOOOGE LZ fan but that album is impressive.

AC/DC - Back in Black

Still love every song on that album - Have a drink on me @Timpranillo while I Shoot to Thrill on my way to Hells Bells.

Tesla - Mechanical Resonance

This one is definitely personal - Nobody else would even consider this album - PLUS I can sing Modern Day Cowboy & sound just like Jeff Keith.

A couple of things:
First, please bear in mind I was born in '59, so my musical tastes are heavily 60's and 70's (aka "GrandPa music").
Second, I'll exclude any compilations, greatest hits, best of, soundtracks, or whatever; just original studio releases.

Any album by Otis Redding, but if I narrow it down to one, I'll choose "Otis Blue".
Probably his most classic.
CCR - Bayou Country
Smith - A Group Called Smith
ZZ Top has many albums from the 70's and 80's, up to 1990 or so. Again, to pick just one, I'll go with "Rio Grande Mud".
Almost any Foghat album from 72 thru 79. "Fool For The City" is one of the best.
Bob Seger - Smokin' O. P.'s
Boston - Self-Titled (first album)
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Lots of Johnny Winter albums; two of them are "Still Alive And Well" and "Winter of '88"
Led Zep - II 
Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
Robin Trower - Bridge Of Sighs
Steve Miller Band - "Fly Like An Eagle" and "Book Of Dreams"
Ted Nugent's Amboy Dukes - Tooth, Fang, and Claw
Ted Nugent Self-Titled
Little Feat - Waiting For Columbus 

Good music is timeless.  Great list.  

I love Boston.  They were like Journey where it was fashionable to look down on them.  I'd always tell whatever Rush junkie (I love Rush) who was bashing them at the time to go sing like Brad Delp.  That guy was fucking amazing.

It's up to old farts to tell the youngin's about amazing music they hadn't heard yet.  There's some kid pulling out Grandpa's album stash right now and firing up ZZ Top for the first time.    

@MNPackman posted:

Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast. Not a weak track on it, and "Hallowed Be Thy Name" is a top 5 song.

Iron Maiden is probably the reason I can't hear well today I saw them in concert a few times.  I love The Number of the Beast but personally would put Somewhere in Time as their best album followed closely by Piece of Mind.

I would also have to put Journey Escape high on my list mostly because it helped a young Heckler get lucky once in a while.

Boris, I totally agree on Back and Black (probably the best party album ever) but Highway to Hell is pretty stellar as well.

I was born in 1954, so the 60s & 70s played a huge role in my musical choices.

The Rolling Stones: Get Yer Ya-Yas Out-one of the all time best live albums;  

The Beatles: Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band; inspired by Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys

Pink Floyd: Dark Side Of The Moon; One of the best selling albums, ever!

Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited-Dylan goes electric and we go nuts;

The Allman Brothers: Live At The Fillmore- Another great live album;

The Grateful Dead: American Beauty -Just gorgeous music from Jerry and Co.

Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band: Trout Mask Replica- Pure poetry in a  cacophony of sound.

Neil Young and Crazy Horse: Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere- The Forebear of Grunge Rock. Loved that guitar playing on Down By The River and Cowgirl In The Sand;

Simon and Garfunkel: The Sounds Of Silence- First album I ever purchased, Still solid after all this time;

Jimi Hendrix: Electric Ladyland- Voodoo Chile/Voodoo Child-worth the price of admission, alone!

Bruce Springsteen: Darkness On The Edge Of Town- My favorite Springsteen album. 

 

Last edited by mrtundra
@Henry posted:

Good music is timeless.  Great list.  

I love Boston.  They were like Journey where it was fashionable to look down on them.  I'd always tell whatever Rush junkie (I love Rush) who was bashing them at the time to go sing like Brad Delp.  That guy was fucking amazing.

It's up to old farts to tell the youngin's about amazing music they hadn't heard yet.  There's some kid pulling out Grandpa's album stash right now and firing up ZZ Top for the first time.    

Between hanging around with me and playing Guitar Hero my kids learned about a lot of great old music. But they still like their own stuff which isn't always "good".  But I've learned about a lot of decent music from them too.  

Last edited by PackerHawk
@Henry posted:

I love Boston.  They were like Journey where it was fashionable to look down on them.  I'd always tell whatever Rush junkie (I love Rush) who was bashing them at the time to go sing like Brad Delp.  That guy was fucking amazing.  

I've typically been indifferent to Boston, mainly because it was on the radio every 12 seconds growing up, but...

If anyone wants to follow a really great music YouTube channel, follow Rick Beato. Dude is amazingly talented and one of his best series is "Why is this song great", and after watching the Boston one I was just blown away at how good Boston was.  Beato has really helped show the way music is made, produced, mixed, and made me appreciate a lot more styles of music.

Check this out.

@Henry posted:

Great video.

Tom Scholz literal innovations along with Brad Delp vocals made the band.  It's not like they were amazing musicians.  Fun fact, Tom Scholz's mother invented the glue for Post It Notes.

So basically they're all really smart.

We're coming up on 50 years since that record, and the production still outclasses stuff from 2020. The transition from Foreplay into Long Time still melts my brain.

@Henry posted:


Peter Gabriel - Shaking the Tree



 

Compilation albums are cheating (but this showcases just how good PG is)



@Boris posted:

@Chongo

AC/DC - Back in Black

Still love every song on that album - Have a drink on me @Timpranillo while I Shoot to Thrill on my way to Hells Bells.



Another outstanding selection.  

@Timmy! posted:


Jethro Tull - Aqualung


So good back to front.

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