Perfect albums..

PHOTO%202.jpg
 
Here's a list no one will agree with:

Dream Theater - Images and Words
Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets
Big Head Todd & the Monsters - Sister Sweetly
Ian Moore - Modernday Folklore
Eric Clapton - Slowhand (drugged out and/or alcoholic, but killing it), Journeyman (polished and sober), Unplugged (clean and acoustic and Leavell's piano playing is excellent)
Rush - Counterparts
The Police - Message in a Box...each album is perfect, so all of them together? Perfecter or maybe Perfectest!
John Coltrane - My Favorite Things, Giant Steps
The Beatles - HELP through Let It Be (in order of release, so it includes Abbey Road)
Bob Marley (and the Wailers) - Live, Babylon by Bus, Exodus, Conrontation
Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti, II, Houses of the Holy
Stones - Sticky Fingers
Peter Gabriel - So, Shaking the Tree (despite having five tracks from So...it's missing a few key pieces)
Nickel Creek - When In Rome, This Side
Punch Bros - The Phosphorescent Blues
Ani - Not a Pretty Girl, Little Plastic Castle, To the Teeth
Billy Joel - 52nd Street, The Stranger
Faith No More - The Real Thing
Stevie Wonder - Talking Book, Innervisions
The Band - Music from Big Pink, Rock of Ages
Queen - Sheer Heart Attack, Innuendo, Night at the Opera, A Kind of Magic

Okay, I'll stop...but these are albums I listen to all the way through when I start them. There are quite a few others as well, but this was just a first swipe and I kept thinking of more as I was typing each one. I left out the ones that I agree with that were already listed, but I'm guessing I still duplicated something.
 
Dogsinotpalc said:
Dream Theater - Images and Words
Click to expand...
That's a good pick, and one I'll definitely agree with.

To me, a 'perfect' album contains no clunkers. There are TONS of great, great albums that all have one song or song section that falls flat, maybe having an unfocused track order, making them, again to me, imperfect despite their greatness. I can think of several Beatles albums, Zeppelin, Stones, Hendrix, etc.

But Images & Words, that's one helluva strong album, from start to finish. So great, it's no wonder they tried to replicate its feel with A Dramatic Turn of Events.
 
Funny, I wouldn't include a live album as a perfect album as they usually are like a greatest hits collection with music compiled over a long period of time. I'm not knocking those who did so, but found my interpretation interesting.

I might consider Rubber Soul or Revolver for a perfect album, but everything after that contained experiments that didn't always work for me.
 
Gary Blanchard said:
Funny, I wouldn't include a live album as a perfect album as they usually are like a greatest hits collection with music compiled over a long period of time. I'm not knocking those who did so, but found my interpretation interesting.

I might consider Rubber Soul or Revolver for a perfect album, but everything after that contained experiments that didn't always work for me.
Click to expand...

I think it really depends upon the artist. Marley made great studio albums, but everything went to another level live. Most of my favorite versions of his tunes are on his live albums...different and more energy. Also, in the case of many of the best jazz albums, live is essentially how they were recorded. Improvisational musics get into taking the tunes to a different place with every performance, as such many artists'/bands' best work is from an inspired night when they happened to be rolling tape.

Certainly not looking to argue, but I think a good live album is as valid as a studio album (and arguably a better choice than a greatest hits collection...of which I'm guilty). Of course, some artists are more studio based (or even studio "magic" based) so they either don't do live albums or they're so touched up it's not really live.

Good thought though.
 
Dogsinotpalc said:
I think it really depends upon the artist. Marley made great studio albums, but everything went to another level live. Most of my favorite versions of his tunes are on his live albums...different and more energy. Also, in the case of many of the best jazz albums, live is essentially how they were recorded. Improvisational musics get into taking the tunes to a different place with every performance, as such many artists'/bands' best work is from an inspired night when they happened to be rolling tape.

Certainly not looking to argue, but I think a good live album is as valid as a studio album (and arguably a better choice than a greatest hits collection...of which I'm guilty). Of course, some artists are more studio based (or even studio "magic" based) so they either don't do live albums or they're so touched up it's not really live.

Good thought though.
Click to expand...
I guess my thinking is that the "perfect album" is one of new material that flows and does not have filler tracks. Live albums and greatest hits albums compile material from an entire career and are more likely to be "perfect" by design rather than organically "perfect." That is simply my own twisted thinking, and why I did not include Pete Seeger's "We Shall Overcome" disc, even though I find it perfect.
 
Hard to argue with a lot of what has been posted. At the same time, it's easy to disagree with a lot too, but that's the great thing about music, we're not all supposed to agree and like the same things.

As far a debut albums go, I always thought this was a very strong effort:

MI0000855650.jpg
 
Gary Blanchard said:
I guess my thinking is that the "perfect album" is one of new material that flows and does not have filler tracks. Live albums and greatest hits albums compile material from an entire career and are more likely to be "perfect" by design rather than organically "perfect." That is simply my own twisted thinking, and why I did not include Pete Seeger's "We Shall Overcome" disc, even though I find it perfect.
Click to expand...

But that depends too, as some albums are literally one magical show, with the latest set list or in the case of jazz and jam bands, whatever tunes were called that night. While it's still undoubtedly a different vibe than the studio, I'm disinclined to disagree with you.
 
Dogsinotpalc said:
But that depends too, as some albums are literally one magical show, with the latest set list or in the case of jazz and jam bands, whatever tunes were called that night. While it's still undoubtedly a different vibe than the studio, I'm disinclined to disagree with you.
Click to expand...
I'm not saying I'm right; just explaining my twisted way of thinking. :grin:
 
Dogsinotpalc said:
Here's a list no one will agree with:

Dream Theater - Images and Words
Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets
Big Head Todd & the Monsters - Sister Sweetly
Ian Moore - Modernday Folklore
Eric Clapton - Slowhand (drugged out and/or alcoholic, but killing it), Journeyman (polished and sober), Unplugged (clean and acoustic and Leavell's piano playing is excellent)
Rush - Counterparts
The Police - Message in a Box...each album is perfect, so all of them together? Perfecter or maybe Perfectest!
John Coltrane - My Favorite Things, Giant Steps
The Beatles - HELP through Let It Be (in order of release, so it includes Abbey Road)
Bob Marley (and the Wailers) - Live, Babylon by Bus, Exodus, Conrontation
Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti, II, Houses of the Holy
Stones - Sticky Fingers
Peter Gabriel - So, Shaking the Tree (despite having five tracks from So...it's missing a few key pieces)
Nickel Creek - When In Rome, This Side
Punch Bros - The Phosphorescent Blues
Ani - Not a Pretty Girl, Little Plastic Castle, To the Teeth
Billy Joel - 52nd Street, The Stranger
Faith No More - The Real Thing
Stevie Wonder - Talking Book, Innervisions
The Band - Music from Big Pink, Rock of Ages
Queen - Sheer Heart Attack, Innuendo, Night at the Opera, A Kind of Magic

Okay, I'll stop...but these are albums I listen to all the way through when I start them. There are quite a few others as well, but this was just a first swipe and I kept thinking of more as I was typing each one. I left out the ones that I agree with that were already listed, but I'm guessing I still duplicated something.
Click to expand...

I agree with about 75% of those. Most of the rest I haven't heard.
 
tiger roach said:
For some reason that CD didn't grab me right away. Then I saw the movie version, and I said, "Oh. Wow."
Click to expand...

I still haven't seen the movie! But this was one of the first tapes I ever bought on my own. It has stood the test of time for me.

I should probably buy the movie and finally watch it.
 
Stop Making Sense is tremendous, but it's not even the best Talking Heads live album. The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads is glorious. Adrian Belew is pretty great. Who'd have thought?

Still, SMS is absolutely untouchable as a concert film. Nothing else comes close.
 
So many good ones posted already. For me ,I want to add a few :
The Cult - Sonic Temple
Rush - Rush , 2112
Motorhead - Overnight Sensation.
 
Dogsinotpalc said:
Here's a list no one will agree with:

Dream Theater - Images and Words
Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets
Big Head Todd & the Monsters - Sister Sweetly
Ian Moore - Modernday Folklore
Eric Clapton - Slowhand (drugged out and/or alcoholic, but killing it), Journeyman (polished and sober), Unplugged (clean and acoustic and Leavell's piano playing is excellent)
Rush - Counterparts
The Police - Message in a Box...each album is perfect, so all of them together? Perfecter or maybe Perfectest!
John Coltrane - My Favorite Things, Giant Steps
The Beatles - HELP through Let It Be (in order of release, so it includes Abbey Road)
Bob Marley (and the Wailers) - Live, Babylon by Bus, Exodus, Conrontation
Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti, II, Houses of the Holy
Stones - Sticky Fingers
Peter Gabriel - So, Shaking the Tree (despite having five tracks from So...it's missing a few key pieces)
Nickel Creek - When In Rome, This Side
Punch Bros - The Phosphorescent Blues
Ani - Not a Pretty Girl, Little Plastic Castle, To the Teeth
Billy Joel - 52nd Street, The Stranger
Faith No More - The Real Thing
Stevie Wonder - Talking Book, Innervisions
The Band - Music from Big Pink, Rock of Ages
Queen - Sheer Heart Attack, Innuendo, Night at the Opera, A Kind of Magic

Okay, I'll stop...but these are albums I listen to all the way through when I start them. There are quite a few others as well, but this was just a first swipe and I kept thinking of more as I was typing each one. I left out the ones that I agree with that were already listed, but I'm guessing I still duplicated something.
Click to expand...

I remember when Images & words came out- it was a real game changer for me. I felt similar to when I first head Animals as Leaders for the first time- unmistakably groundbreaking levels of technique.

I saw Rush on the Counterparts tour in Toronto, & I've always loved that album. I still have the newspaper ad for the show.

Not familiar w/ most of the rest of the albums Except Physical Graffiti, & the Coltrane albums, & I haven't listened to those in years.

I'd probably consider Claptons "Beano" album to be be perfect. The playing, the tone, great songs. I'll have to dig that one out again, & I'm very glad guys like him & Jeff Beck & "Pagey" are still around.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top