Perfect Albums: List the albums you have to listen to the entire album to truly appreciate..

[LynneSin]

Mine:

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Pink Floyd - The Wall
Radiohead - OK Computer
Yes - The Yes Album
Damien Rice - O
David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Green Day - America Idiot
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown

List your perfect albums. They must be albums that when you play them you have to listen to the entire album not just a song here and there.

[MissMillie]

1. The Blue Jays (Justin Hayward and John Lodge)

It was a project they did together after Seventh Sojourn and before Long Distance Voyager.

You may as well throw in "Days of Future Passed" as well.

[LynneSin]

6. Amen to "Days of Future Passed"

:D

[Blue_In_AK]

33. I would say almost all the Moody Blues albums.

[Captain Hilts]

82. I LOVE me some Moody Blues. But I wish they'd of done an 'unplugged' album. Those boys sure could

sing and write songs.

I'd like to hear Candle of Life without all the electronica in the background.

[bif]

2. "Astral Weeks" by Van Morrison

[A-Schwarzenegger]

116. Amen.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. The three that come off the top of my head:

Smashing Pumpkins--Siamese Dream
Nine Inch Nails--Pretty Hate Machine
Tori Amos--To Venus and Back (studio album)

[rockymountaindem]

4. Darkness on the Edge of Town

[woo me with science]

5. Beatles "Abbey Road" and Fleetwood Mac "Rumours" nt

[edbermac]

8. I'd go with Revolver.

Next would be Sgt Pepper and Abbey Road, though I usually skip past Maxwell's Silver Hammer.

[Steerpike]

12. It's all so subjective...

but, Abbey Road is the perfect album.

[Steerpike]

7. Good Morning

David Bowie Hunky Dory

Deep Purple Machine Head

The Beatles Abbey Road

Tom Waits Closing Time

Montrose Montrose

Led Zepplin Zoso

Black Sabbath Technical Ecstasy

Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde

[EastTennesseeDem]

9. "The Moon & Antarctica" by Modest Mouse.

Yup.

[XemaSab]

46. It's a mighty fine album

:D

[TZ]

10. The Pietasters Oolooloo

Yes its ska. Yes its something Symarip introduced me too. I have to admit, not everything he says about music is off base..:)

[Beetwasher]

11. Lou Reed- New York

Chris Whitley-Living With The Law (If you have not heard of this, get it. Now. Run, don't walk.)
Pink Floyd-Animals (their most underrated album, love it to death. And yes, PF has a lot of perfect albums)
Roger Waters-Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking (It's all downhill for RW after this)
Bruce Springsteen-Nebraska (There's just such a raw, visceral beauty to this album)
Abbey Road

[Amerigo Vespucci]

24. "Strawman" + "Dime Store Mystery" = 2 of the best songs in Lou's entire career...

The Whitley album is amazing..."Dust Radio" is my favorite on that one, but it is absolutely an ALBUM...and "Nebraska" was another attempt...a successful one...by an artist who thought "Yes, I could take the E Street Band into the studio and make another album that sounds exactly like Born To Run or Darkness On The Edge Of Town, but I'd rather do THIS."

:toast:

[Beetwasher]

28. "Scratching These Walls With Some Old Barbed Wire...

Whatever it takes to make the dirt stick"- Chris Whitley

One of my top five albums of all time. Every song, hauntingly beautiful and perfecly crafted. Glad to see someone else who has heard and appreciates this album. It's such a hidden treasure.

As far as New York..."Last Great American Whale" makes me choke up with tears every time I listen to it, same with "Halloween Parade"...the you laugh and smile at "Beginning of a Great Adventure" and "Hold On". Man, just perfect. Perfectly perfect from beginning to end. Also top five album for me.

"It's like my painter friend Donald said to me, stick a fork in their ass and turn them over, their done..."

"I'll take Mahattan in a garbarge bag with Latin written on it that says 'it's hard to give a shit these days'"

:toast:

[Richardo]

13. Just listened to it the other day: The Pretenders

The best opening track ever on a debut album ("Precious")

[Iggo]

14. Not the whole album, but Side 2 of Judas Priest's "Sin After Sin"....

...must be listened to in order and in its entirety, from the very first fanfare notes of Let Us Prey to the final "ta-da" notes of Dissident Aggressor.

[HughBeaumont]

15. The Mothers of Invention - "We're Only In It For the Money"

Marvin Gaye - "What's Going On"
Melvins - "The Maggot"
Mr Bungle - self titled
Legendary Pink Dots - "Crushed Velvet Apocalypse"
Explosions in the Sky - "The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place"
Brian Wilson - "Smile"

[arbusto_baboso]

16. Big Country - The Crossing

Brilliant from beginning to end. The musical equivalent of TS Eliot poetry.

[nomorenomore08]

55. +1

I always say that if William Wallace had had Big Country as his soundtrack, he might've whupped the English singlehandedly! :)

[SoxFan]

99. +2

I hate how so many people think of Big Country as a novelty act, when this is one of the most solid albums of the last 30 years.

[progressoid]

17. Talking Heads - Remain in Light

Used to listen to a lot of "albums" from beginning to end but that one is the only one I've done that to in a while.

[Tikki]

18. These:

RAMONES.....Ramones
Electric Music For Mind and Body.....County Joe and The Fish
This Year's Model/My Aim Is True.....Elvis Costello and the Attraction
X....Los Angeles
James Ray.....If You Gotta Make A Fool of Somebody
All Hendrix
KRLA/King of the Wheels.....Bobby Fuller Four
Primordial Ooze Flavored.....The Unclaimed
Hit It (EP).....Red Cross (Redd Kross)
Dr. John.....Gris Gris/Babylon.....

and there are more, so much more...



Tikki

[NightWatcher]

19. add Pink FLoyd's ANIMALS and Radiohead's Kid-A

[slay]

32. I'll agree with Animals and add Jethro Tull's "Thick as a Brick"

[XemaSab]

68. Everything

Everything... in its right place.

DAMN that album is the last 4 months of 2001 for me. :(

[unpossibles]

20. Dark Side, The Final Cut, The Wall

Faith No More - King For A Day...Fool For A Lifetime
Mr. Bungle - California
Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses and Thick As A Brick
Steely Dan - Aja
Hedwig And The Angry Inch soundtrack
Queen - everything from Queen II up to News of the World
Paul Simon - The Capeman

[darkstar]

21. Rundgren: A Wizard, A True Star

[Amerigo Vespucci]

23. Hell yes.

I sent in the postcard that came with the original vinyl album. As a result, my name is on the poster that came with the follow-up album, "Todd."



The thing I loved about A.W.A.T.S. was that it was the "anti-follow-up" to the hugely successful commercial breakthrough "Something / Anything." It was a definite Neil Young / Frank Zappa / John Lennon / Lou Reed move in that he knew EXACTLY what his fans expected and wanted in a follow-up, and he gave them something else. That's what artists do. If you are continually trying to please 100% of the people 100% of the time, you are not a rock star. You are an organ grinder's monkey, clutching your little tin coin cup in fear.

:toast:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

22. Beatles' "Abbey Road," Mellencamp's "Scarecrow," Neil Young's "Ragged Glory..."

Humble Pie - Performance Rockin' The Fillmore

Allman Brothers Band - Live At The Fillmore East

Montrose - Montrose (1st album w/ Sammy Hagar)

David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name

Joni Mitchell - Hejira

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

Miles Davis - A Tribute To Jack Johnson

Creedence Clearwater Revivial - Cosmo's Factory

Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic Pillow

Grateful Dead - Grateful Dead (a.k.a. "Skull & Roses")

Grateful Dead - Europe 72

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Quicksilver Messenger Service (first album)

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Happy Trails

Neil Young - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

Neil Young - Rust Never Sleeps

Faces - A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse

Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?

Cream - Disraeli Gears

Cream - Wheels of Fire

...and many, many more.

:toast:

[av8rdave]

85. Glad to see someone mention Rust Never Sleeps

One of the greatest albums of all time. A great balance between beautiful acoustic work and raw, overdriven rock and roll.

Would also have to go with Rush's Snakes and Arrows, R.E.M's Document, and Dire Straits Brothers in Arms.

Oh...and Jethro Tull's Stormwatch. An underrated album that actually flows very nicely.

[Orsino]

25. ABC's The Lexicon of Love n/t

[6000eliot]

105. +1

Also, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John, despite the sexist and homophobic third side.

[sarge43]

26. Miles Davis' Kind of Blue. n/t

[Initech]

27. Any Opeth album

[Iggo]

73. That's a fact.

It's pointless to listen to just part of an Opeth album.

Except maybe Deliverance. There's a couple of stand-alone songs on there.

[Initech]

74. I like to think of Opeth as a fine wine.

They get better with each release, but that means that with each release it gives their other albums time to age well.

[Iggo]

80. I came to them late (within the last few years)...

...so there was a wealth of stuff already available. A veritable treasure trove, in fact. I am blessed.

[mike_c]

29. The Clash-- London Calling....

eom

[nomorenomore08]

57. +1

Best double album since 'The White Album.' And no, I'm not exaggerating even slightly.

[joeybee12]

30. Donna Summer-Bad Girls, Bruce - Born in the USA, Carole King -Tapestry

More, but those are 3 off the top of my head...they don't record/make albums like they used to...now it's all about getting singles, not creating a complete work.

[mikeytherat]

31. Frank Zappa: Joe's Garage - Acts I, II, and III

mikey_the_rat

[friendly_iconoclast]

51. FZ's Apostrophe('), as well

n/t

[mikeytherat]

70. And Overnite Sensation

mikey_the_rat

[Initech]

75. Zoot Allures and Freak Out should be on the list as well.

[Blue_In_AK]

34. Just for you, LynneSin

Steve Miller Band, Children of the Future. :evilgrin:

[mikeytherat]

35. XTC - Oranges and Lemons and XTC - Skylarking

mikey_the_rat

[LynneSin]

38. See for me it would be English Settlement

because it was my first XTC album

[Captain Hilts]

81. Same here. Still love it. nt

[DangerousRhythm]

64. Definitely these. I love both!

I'm trying to think of my own but it's pretty rough for me because I tend to listen to whole albums as a rule. I like whoever referenced Kraftwerk below too... good choices!

[LynneSin]

36. Forgot to add Alan Parson Project - Tales of Mystery and Imagination

They put the stories of Edgar Allen Poe to music

[Orrex]

37. Roger Waters' "Amused to Death"

[LanternWaste]

39. Tales of Mystery and Imagination, Alan Parsons Project...

Tales of Mystery and Imagination, Alan Parsons Project.

666, Aphrodite's Child

Heaven and Hell, Vangelis

[gratuitous]

40. What's an album?

Damn, you people are old. Nobody listens (or should listen) to a whole CD, or even a whole song. Get the riff and move on. I don't have time to sit around listening to some extended guitar solo or percussion rave at the end of a song. I'm a busy guy! Get me the hook or the great lyric and get on to the next cut from the next one. I'll listen to a hundred albums in the time it takes you geezers to get through one side. And it'll only be the best stuff. That's perfect.

Let's see how many fish I can boat with this line.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

48. Three words.

"Short Attention Span."

:headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

[Ozymanithrax]

41. Kitaro - Silk Road

[lazarus]

71. all four of them

Also, the works of Jean Michel Jarre.

And to be a bit pop, I absolutely love Styx's "Paradise Theater". Soundtrack of my high school life.

[Ozymanithrax]

83. GReat times for music.

[Common Sense Party]

110. I love that album. Kitaro was da man back in the 80s.

[ceile]

42. Catherine Wheel "Adam and Eve" Dixie Chicks "Fly"

[RZM]

93. No Way! A CW reference :)

As I'm sure you know, Adam and Eve was mixed specifically to be enjoyed in one sitting. I also heard once that the basic tracks for Chrome were recorded in one long session with the full band (though I've never confirmed this). Too bad Catherine Wheel never really caught on -- they deserved better, still and always will be one of my all-time favorite bands.

[nomorenomore08]

94. I'd give the nod to 'Ferment' myself, but I haven't heard 'A and E' in its entirety.

I will say, though, that "Delicious" was a GREAT single. :thumbsup:

[RZM]

112. Oh man

Two Catherine Wheel fans????? Absolutely awesome :)

[taterguy]

43. Van Morrison's Astral Weeks

And I'm genuinely surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet

[A-Schwarzenegger]

118. See Post #2.

:)

[kentauros]

44. Tubular Bells - Mike Oldfield

Live (pt. 1)
Live (pt. 2)
Live (pt. 3)

Also by Oldfield - Songs of Distant Earth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htgKN5aA_dI

:D

[Binka]

45. Paul Simon - Graceland

Jethro Tull - Aqualung
The Doors - Soft Parade

[mvd]

56. 100% agree on Graceland

BTW, if we are talking all good songs, my list would be very long. If all GREAT, more limited.

[Burma Jones]

47. Stanley Z. Daniels: Sex for Teens (where it's At)

[pokerfan]

49. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor

Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic

[friendly_iconoclast]

50. Steely Dan- The Royal Scam

It's as if Charles Bukowski or Chuck Palahnuik had a kick ass band and decided to make an album...

[mvd]

52. Hi, Lynne - this is not complete, but I would note..

such Beatles albums such as Abbey Road, Rubber Soul, Sgt. Peppers, Beatles For Sale, A Hard Day's Night, and Please Please Me. Also, a few newer ones like both A Fine Frenzy albums, the new Butch Walker CD, and the Dixie Chicks' albums.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

53. Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime

http://www.queensryche.com/media/audio-releases/operation-mindcrime/

[Bossy Monkey]

54. There isn't one, but Donald Fagen's "Kamakiriad" and Bob Mould's "Workbook" don't miss by much n/t

[southerncrone]

58. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms

[mvd]

65. +1

Underrated sometimes..

[nomorenomore08]

59. Husker Du - 'Zen Arcade'

Stones - anything from 'Beggars Banquet' through 'Exile on Main Street'

Dylan - 'Blonde on Blonde' (young Bob) or 'Time Out of Mind' (old Bob)

Stone Roses - self-titled

Jesus and Mary Chain - 'Darklands'

Jeff Buckley - 'Grace'

Ramones - self-titled and 'Leave Home'

[aquaman]

120. Hell yeah....

Zen Arcade and Darklands are both brilliant!!!

[Duer 157099]

60. Stevie Wonder - The Secret Life of Plants

and of course the Pink Floyd ones already mentioned

[Urban Prairie]

61. Kraftwerk: Autobahn, Radio-Activity, Computer World n/t

[Sebastian Doyle]

62. Get the Knack

It ain't just "My Sharona". It's a great record from start to finish.

Damn shame this band never got the credit they deserved. Even more of a damn shame that half the band is now dead. :(


Here's a little censorship, (notice the revised lyrics) 1979 style -----> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc3KXwd8ZWQ

[keroro gunsou]

63. the who - quadrophenia

that is all.

[mvd]

66. No argument from me

:hi:

[dysfunctional press]

67. moose- high ball me!

moos- high ball me!



morcheeba- big calm



hooverphonic- a new stereophonic sound spectacular

[Kaleva]

69. James Earl Jones narrates The New Testament.

[BlueIris]

72. Tori Amos "Boys for Pele." The last track in key.

And very, very gutsy, if you ask me. Something a lot of fans don't "get." I know I didn't...until I finally, finally listened to it in 2006. Stunning "revelation" in there.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

76. I didn't enjoy BFP as much as her other early albums.

I enjoyed "Caught a Light Sneeze", "Doughnut Song" and "Springtime of His Voodoo" but the rest of the songs on the album just didn't hit me all that much.

Unfortunately, I don't think she's put out a truly solid album since "Scarlet's Walk" and that's just a shame. The last three albums have shown glimmers of promise here and there but overall have been rather disappointing.

[mvd]

107. I think BFP is excellent - though Little Earthquakes is my fave

Agree with you on Abnormally Attracted to Sin, but not on The Beekeeper and especially American Doll Posse. I think ADP shows the most pop smarts she's ever had.

[leeroysphitz]

77. Lou Reed's "Metal Machine Music" n/t

[DevonRex]

78. Physical Graffiti - Led Zeppelin, since somebody already mentioned IV. nt

[LeftOfSelf-Centered]

79. A few I can think of, of the top of my head...

Strapping Young Lad - "City"
Devin Townsend - "Infinity" (I'd add on the four extra demo tracks from the Christeen EP)
The Wildhearts - "p.h.u.q."
Saigon Kick - "Water"
Faith No More - "Angel Dust"

[mitchum]

84. Lou Reed's Berlin

[Arkansas Granny]

86. "The Red Headed Stranger" - Willie Nelson.

[charlie and algernon]

87. Tommy - The Who

[Doc_Technical]

88. Jethro Tull- "Benefit"

Camel- "Moonmadness"
Rolling Stones- "Sticky Fingers"

[jmowreader]

89. Hmm...that's tough

Sergeant Pepper obviously.

We're Only In It for the Money by the Mothers of Invention

Tull's Thick as a Brick

Pink Floyd's The Wall and The Final Cut

Maiden's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

[ellaydubya]

90. The Last Waltz by The Band

And I love the video/ movie, too!!!

[muriel_volestrangler]

91. Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd) ...

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (Genesis)
Misplaced Childhoood (Marillion)
War of the Worlds (Jeff Wayne)

Yeah, the point is the albums have musical themes they return to. That's what prog rock is for.

[Patsy Stone]

92. Roxy Music - Avalon

Radiohead - The Bends
Beatles - Abbey Road
King Crimson - Discipline

I'm sure there are more (and I agree with your two Pink Floyd choices), but these are the ones that spring to mind immediately.

[CBR]

95. Mine...

Jay-Z: In My Lifetime, Volume 1
Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper's
Kanye West: College Dropout
Clipse: Lord Willin'
Green Day: American Idiot
Dixie Chicks: Taking the Long Way

[redwitch]

96. King Crimson "In the Court of the Crimson King"

I have mentally choreographed a ballet/modern dance performance to that album.

[enigmatic]

97. "Spiderland"- Slint

[aquaman]

121. You got that right!!!

Hey man, how are you????

[fNord]

98. ok

Sublime 40oz to Freedom
Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream
Tool Ænima
Beethoven 5th Symphony
Pink Floyd A Momentary Lapse Of Reason

[Brickbat]

100. REM's Murmur.

[SoxFan]

102. OK, now that's weird...look below

It's a great album, but I'm still partial to Fables.

[Brickbat]

103. Ha! Uncanny.

I like Fables too.

When any song from Murmur comes up on shuffle on my iPod, I always kind of find myself thinking that the singles are sort of weak on their own, but all together as an album, it's excellent. I think some of their other albums are better, but I really like the way that Murmur as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

[SoxFan]

104. Interesting way of looking at it

I feel that way about U2's October. It's obviously not as good as Boy or War (few albums are), but it has a very distinct atmosphere all its own. Taken individually, most of the songs aren't going to grab you, but together, there's a somber atmosphere that seems to work well.

[Common Sense Party]

111. Is there somewhere I can get all the lyrics from Murmur?

I'd love to go back and listen to that knowing what the hell he's saying.

[Brickbat]

119. Aw, cute! Look at the person who thinks there are lyric lists for REM!

;)

[mvd]

108. Automatic For The People, too

One of my favorite albums ever.

[nomorenomore08]

113. How'd I forget that one?

Definitely a candidate for "best album of the 80's," up there with 'Zen Arcade,' 'The Queen Is Dead,' etc.

[SoxFan]

101. REM-Fables of the Reconstruction

I know, it's not the usual choice for their best album (most long-time fans seem to go with Life's Rich Pageant or Reckoning), but I think this is an absolutely beautiful record. It's a strange mix of Southern gothic janglepop, with elements of English folk rock (courtesy of producer Joe Boyd). The single, "Can't Get There From Here", is actually out of synch with the rest of the album, which tends more towards spooky stuff like "Old Man Kensey" and "Feeling Gravity's Pull".

[JCMach1]

122. +1 Their best album

My favorite song: Kohoutek

[Tuesday Afternoon]

106. Van Morrison

yeah.
some other stuff, too.

[Mudoria]

109. Nektar "Remember the Future"

Marillion - Clutching at Straws
Rush - 2112

[madamesilverspurs]

114. Wildflowers - Judy Collins

Washington Square - Village Stompers
Birth of the Beat - Sandy Nelson

Alice's Restaurant.....

--

[Chemical Bill]

115. The Youngbloods - Elephant Mountain n/t

[amyrose2712]

117. Roger Waters- The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking

[JCMach1]

123. I love the Combo of Water's pretentious goofiness, Sanborn and Clapton

This is a very underrated album.

[JCMach1]

124. Pixies- Surfer Rosa

absolutely seminal and 100% good...

Highlights: Where is my mind?, Cactus, Gigantic