Let's look at..."The Perfect Album"
 

Does it really exist?
An album where every song is as strong as every other one, there's no weird throw-away song, or something shoved in for radio play, or an interlude that breaks up the flow of the album...the song that you ALWAYS try to skip.

For example...
I know many of you are already typing "Dark Side of the Moon dude!" But, the fact is, "Money" breaks that album. It's musically discordant with the rest, it's no where near the same quality as the other songs, and it breaks the flow of the album.


Some nearly great albums:
Kill em' All, Metallica. "Pulling Teeth" breaks that album. You're going 125mph with two hookers in the back seat when someone steps in front of the car playing a harpsichord for a few minutes. I love Cliff, but that should been removed, or at least put at the very end of the album as a coda.

Nothing Shocking, Jane's Addiction. "Thank you Boys" also should have been shoved to the end, it would have been a spectacular coda to that otherwise perfect album. Instead, it's like a piece of glass right in the middle of a rare steak.

Some actual albums that *I* think are perfect:
Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes. Every single song is as good as every other single song, and the whole album can be played front to back over and over again.

Strong Reaction, Pegboy. Perfect blend of post-punk rock. Even the instrumental song is strong enough to be equal to the others. Look them up if you like pure, hard, guitar drive rock and roll.

Doolittle, The Pixies. I didn't listen to them when this came out, because everyone was so into it that it annoyed me and I refused to join in. Decades later, I finally listen and I see why everyone was into it. Yes, there is NO rhyme or reason between songs in this case, but every song is as strong as every other one, and there is a good rhythm of weird/rock-y/pop-y/weird song.

So, OTHER THAN Dark Side, what are your perfect albums, or albums that are perfect EXCEPT for that one stinkin' song...

For me it's:

1. Hotel California, The Eagles.

I can't fault it in any way and I still have a good copy on vinyl. (I was 11 in 1976)
- My son pinched it about 6 weeks ago and wont give it back. :rolleyes:

2. And Justice for All, Metallica. :)

I know he has a tainted legacy but we should also mention Thriller, Michael Jackson.

Neil Young Harvest

Stones Beggers Banquet

Dylan Blood on the Tracks

Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here

Stevie Ray Vaughan Couldn't Stand The Weather

Yes Close To The Edge

Supertramp Crime of the Century

Willie Nelson Stardust

She Keeps Bees Minisink Hotel

Hendrix, Rainbow Bridge.

Neil Young After The Gold Rush

Marvin Gaye What's Goin' On

Who Who's Next

Steely Dan Aja

Rolling Stones Let It Bleed

David Bowie Ziggy Stardust

Eagles Desperado

Byrds Sweethearts Of The Rodeo

Dave Brubeck Take Five

Ramsey Lewis Trio The In Crowd

Trini Lopez Live At PJ's

And many more....

Sgt. Peppers for the win. Any Dire Straits album as runner up.

I can't stand the Eagles. Even back to the James Gang albums, they all sound like they were recorded in a garbage can to my ears.

Oh no... Sacrilege. :( (;))

I think maybe we are getting old. When I was young and poor, and paid for an album, I savoured every moment, every song, every tone on that album. Plus I didn't over think it. I just whole hearted loved it.

Led Zeppelin I
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Santana - 1st Album
The Band - 1st Album
Steely Dan - Can't Buy a Thrill
The Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East
Joe Walsh - Barnstorm
Carol King - Tapestry
Jackson Brown - For Everyman
Elton John - Madman Across the Water
Crosby Stills and Nash - 1st Album
Crosby Stills Nash and Young - Deja Vu
David Bowie - Alladin Sane
Jeff Beck Group - Rough and Ready
The Doobie Brothers - Takin' It To The Street

Asking for perfection sets a high bar-

Not perfect. but I'll add:

Elton John - Madman Across The Water
Paul Simon - Graceland
Carol king - Tapestry
Pearl Jam - Ten
Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
Alan Parsons Project - Turn of a Friendly Card

edit - I see Baz was typing at the same time......

Ballsy move, but I might agree. I even own that album, bought it myself when I was a wee lad when it came out.

Forgot to put Pearl Jam - 10 on my list - but see Late Breaker has my back.

Also the first Emerson Lake and Palmer as well as Trilogy.

The Cars - first album.

Where do you stop?

I could list another 20 or so easily.......

Speaking of tainted legacy.......George Michael's Faith was a hell of an album at the time.

It's still selling well today!

I grew up listening to his music. The whole Pedo thing ruined everything.

Two votes for Tapestry...I'll have to revisit that one. My mom played it on 8-track regularly when I was young.

With artists, sometimes you need to separate the pure artist from the impure human meat bag.

Both M. Jackson and Prince had more pure musical ability in their little toe that almost anyone else listed here, but both were obviously viciously disturbed humans. Ignore the human, embrace the artist...

I've just had a bit more of a think about it. I think I enjoyed the times - maybe 1978, but I loved the album Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street. Loved the music, and we were all kinda "nice kids" back in those days. Thought we were naughty smoking a joint.

Dire Straits - Dire Straits

That debut album redefined my view on guitar playing and rythm.

Boston's first album

^^^ This. Albums were "complete works" not intended to be broken into songs. Though I started with 8-tracks, albums purchased were also recorded on cassettes, and both were listened to start to finish.... no skipping ;).

Digital changed that for some... not me. A collection of songs on a device... not I.

Then I really got into high quality recordings of live shows .... that became 3 cds from start to end. I had 1300 cds loaded into 5 players at one time. Never even considered using the feature that let you flag a song as "skip this one" either...

I just do not have a one track mind :D

Album titles .... too many to list.