perfect albums

[James T]

Time for more..

Love - Forever Changes
Neil Young - Harvest
Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Slowdive - Souvlaki
Nick Cave - Let Love In
Pink Floyd - Animals
Luna - Penthouse
Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express
Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Bunny Wailer - Blackheart Man
Jackson C Frank - Blues Run The Game
Pulp - Different Class

[spzretent]

Led Zep 2 is fantastic but how many times can you listen to Moby Dick? That riff is incredible but the drums are dull!

C'mon! You are seriously taking one dull drum riff and letting that queer the Lp for you? So many great(er) moments on that LP than any other LZ lps for me.
I saw them w/John Bonham and he went off on this(what seemed like hours) 35 minute drum solo. Wanna talk about tedious or dull?
37 years later that may sound cool. But at the time it was torture.

[runcible]

Led Zep 2 is fantastic but how many times can you listen to Moby Dick? That riff is incredible but the drums are dull!

C'mon! You are seriously taking one dull drum riff and letting that queer the Lp for you?

Yes but we're talking perfect albums. Led Zep 2 is a masterpiece generally and I love it but that drum solo stops it being actually perfect. I love The White Album but with the horror that is Revolution 9 no way can it be called perfect!

Next subject is albums that would be perfect if the band hadn't included one silly moment.

The Beatles - Revolver (I stopped liking Yellow Submarine when I was about 12) & Abbey Road (ruined by 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' and 'Octopus's Garden')
The Yardbirds - Little Games (ruined by 'Stealing')
The Beta Band - The 3 EPs (ruined by 'Monolith')
Cream - Disraeli Gears (ruined by 'Mother's Lament')

[TheWarmth]

Ha-ha! "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" sucks big time. I can give a pass to "Yellow Submarine" and maybe "Octopus's Garden," though. I still think Revolver is a perfect album. "When I'm 64" bugs me a little, but Sgt. Pepper is otherwise flawless to me.

[runcible]

"When I'm 64" bugs me a little, but Sgt. Pepper is otherwise flawless to me.

I love that song - it does more than be silly and the little bits where it flies off in the middle is lovely. I love loads of those Beatles 'Granny songs', but the ones I mentioned before are always skipped these days.

[scratch]

It is a bit unfair to talk about perfect albums...
a short instrumental thing that goes stale for 30 seconds and you´re out even if the rest of the album is perfect.

so there are only two perfect albums ever made:
Low by Bowie
Remain in light by Talking heads

running lengths 38:48 and 40:10..
when including the cd bonus tracks they are of course far from perfect

[runcible]

so there are only two perfect albums ever made:
Low by Bowie
Remain in light by Talking heads

I get bored on side 2 of Low but I'm with you on Remain In Light. And Fear of Music too. What about Ziggy Stardust by Bowie? Station To Station? Aladdin Sane? Hunky Dory?

Perfect Prescription? Beyond criticism. Playing With Fire? Also. Lazer Guided Melodies? Man this is easy!

[angelsighs]

If i'm gonna hear anyone drum solo it might as well be Bonham. i have no problem at all with the (rather short) solo on the studio Moby Dick.
surely Living Loving Maid is the weak point on that album? to be fair though LZ1-IV and Physical Graffiti are all contenders here. truly a formidable catalogue.

When I'm 64 is a damn well written song and again I have no problem with it.
Maxwell Silver Hammer is shit.
but I quite like Octopus's Garden!

we could get all philosophical and say that what actually makes a perfect album is its imperfections, maaaan..

[jadams501]

Some repeats, but hey...:
Radiohead - Hail to the Thief

Wow, I wish I liked this album as much as you. I was once an enormous Radiohead fan, and it was actually this album that pretty much broke me of that. I find that much of it seems forced and paint-by-numbers. I'm a big fan of There There and a couple of other other tracks, but find 2+2=5 to be a listless rehash of Lewis, Sail To The Moon whiny and morose, We Suck Blood to be simply awful, etc. There are great songs but I'd love to hear how it's perfect!

"Don't Hold Me Close," "The Waves Crash In" and "Borrowed Your Gun" are three of my favorite tracks from A&E. As far as I'm concerned, that trilogy of songs if the highlight of the album. If I were to complain about any of the songs from that album, it'd be "I Gotta Fire" and "Yeah Yeah," which are both pretty forgettable.

Don't Hold Me Close is one of my all time favorite Spiritualized songs, but The Waves Crash In and Borrowed Your Gun both strike me as relatively weak. I love the outro of TWCI, but both are way too conventionally "indie rock," almost like the Arcade Fire or a similar group. I expect unique, timeless, and distinctive sounds from Spz and those songs were the first time that, for me, J made something that sounded generic and completely grounded in the year they came out. I Gotta Fire isn't one of my favorites, though I do like it a lot, but I would place Yeah Yeah with Cheapster and The Twelve Steps as my 3 favorite Spiritualized rockers.

Next subject is albums that would be perfect if the band hadn't included one silly moment.

The Beatles - Revolver (I stopped liking Yellow Submarine when I was about 12) & Abbey Road (ruined by 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' and 'Octopus's Garden')

I love Maxwell's Silver Hammer and almost anything Ringo sings with the Beatles, so Abbey Road is a perfect album as far as I'm concerned. For me, Here There And Everywhere and Good Day Sunshine (the nadir of Paul's cutesiness with the Beatles and a sad sign of things to come) prevent Revolver from attaining perfection, and Sgt. Pepper just misses the mark on account of "Good Morning Good Morning."

[scratch]

Fear of Music too. What about Ziggy Stardust by Bowie? Station To Station? Aladdin Sane? Hunky Dory?

Perfect Prescription? Beyond criticism. Playing With Fire? Also. Lazer Guided Melodies? Man this is easy!

Fear of music: I Zimbra is boring for a few seconds
Ziggy: Soul love only gets 8/10 by me
Station: TVC15 only 9/10
A lad insane: let´s spend the night.. boooooring
Hunky: Fill your heart definitely doesn´t get 10/10
Perfect prescription: the mixing of tmttos leaves much to be desired - I want more punch on that song
playing with fire is a 9 imho
LGM: I prefer other versions of some of those songs (angel sigh for example) so obviously not perfect in my book.

[Minky]

The first four Zeppelin lp's and The Stones lp's from '68-'72, they could do no wrong. Pretty unbelievable when you think about it. Not a bad song in the bunch. Here are some other albums that fit the bill.

The Velvet Underground - White Light / White Heat
Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
The Cure - Pornography / Faith
Echo & The Bunnymen - Heaven Up Here
Depeche Mode - Some Great Reward / Black Celebration
Seefeel - Quique
Stereolab - Dots & Loops / Peng!
Yes - Close To The Edge
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll / Heaven Or Las Vegas
Kraftwerk - Radioactivity / Trans Europe Express / The Man Machine / Computer Love
Pretenders - Pretenders
Spiritualized - Lazer Guided Melodies

Blah, Blah, Blah

[BVCP206]

For me LGM is a no brainer would also like to throw in Outside Love by Pink Mountaintops and going a little further back Candy Apple Grey by Husker Du.

[TheWarmth]

@Scratch: Are you saying that TVC15 is the reason why you don't rate Station To Station as a perfect album? That's one of the best tracks on the album!

[BzaInSpace]

The Beta Band - The 3 EPs (ruined by 'Monolith')

RUINED ? When the 'Patty Patty Sound' EP first came out it went round and round in the cd player, I think that track/space collage is astounding. I think there are weaker moments on the 3 EP set, probably when they most revert to almost 'normal' songwriting. ('Inner Meet Me' is awesome as well. Just talking about this at the weekend strangely enough...)

Lazer Guided Melodies? Man this is easy!

I dunno about that - 'Symphony Space' never really lights my fire and I like the single version of 'Run' way more than that LP one...

[runcible]

Opinions reversed once again Barry. I hate Monolith - it's an ugly mess that doesn't fit with the rest of that EP.

Symphony Space isn't the best track on LGM but I find it always sounds really nice and segues into Take Your Time beautifully so I love it. I love both versions of Run too and can never work out which I like best. I'd love Jason to dust that off and start playing it again live - it used to be a right stomper.

I'll also chuck in The Black Crowes 'Southern Harmony and Musical Companion' and The Congos 'Heart of the Congos' as being perfect.

[scratch]

@Scratch: Are you saying that TVC15 is the reason why you don't rate Station To Station as a perfect album? That's one of the best tracks on the album!

yes.. I like station, stay and wild is the wind more than tvc15 and golden years. If you can rate one song higher than any other on an album then it can not logically be a perfect album.

If you say tvc15 is better than the least loved song on the album then the album can not be perfect. If you can rate the songs individually then some of them are not perfect, (but bowie´s version of wild is thewind is indeed perfect.)
I think aristoteles definition of perfect is the right one - not "virtually" perfect or perfect by comparision - all of it has to be perfect in itself without any possibility of being better.

[runcible]

I think you taking this to a level no one else is scratch! In my opinion a perfect album is one with no duff tracks. Simple.

May have mentioned these before but...
Rain Parade - Emergency Third Rail Power Trip
Plasticland - Wonder Wonderful Wonderland, Salon
The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
Plan 9 - Dealing With The Dead
The Damned - Damned Damned Damned, Machine Gun Etiquette
Humble Pie - Town & Country

[scratch]

I think you taking this to a level no one else is scratch! In my opinion a perfect album is one with no duff tracks. Simple.

that would be an excellent album - not necessarily perfect.
I blame the dark ages for the deflation of that word! aristoteles was reintroduced in the eleventh century but I guess the damage of feudal backwards europe still lingers.

[runcible]

The conclusion then is that nothing is perfect. Which makes the word redundant. 'The Excellent Prescription' doesn't have the same ring...

[TheWarmth]

I think I'm with Mark on this one: can anyone here really say that he/she likes all of the tracks equally on any album, even one considered to be "perfect." I don't see why you can't have one or more favorite songs on a perfect album.

[sunray]

I'm firmly in Scratch's camp here. Unless you consider all the songs on a particular album are equally brilliant then it can't be perfect.

"FIGHT ! FIGHT ! FIGHT! FIGHT !!!!!!!

[runcible]

So that concludes it. Perfection doesn't exist.

[Laz69]

i think it will always come down to what each of us gets from an album upon listen, doubt anyone will every all agree on one album

For me, i think The Boo Radleys "Everythings Alright Forever". From start to finish, as one complete "event", to me its just perfect. Some of the songs might not stand up on their lonesome in some peoples opinion, but the songs, the track sequence and the whole "feeling" the album gives me it perfect in my opinion. It was, is and always will be my LSD album...

[jadams501]

I'd say perfect can include capturing a certain electric moment in the studio -- so even if some of the material isn't great it's of an important/distinctive atmosphere.

Please Please Me is the first example that comes to mind.

[noOne]

- Misfits: Walk Among Us
- Bad Brains: Rock For Light
- Gorilla Biscuits: Start Today
- Ramones: Rocket To Russia
- Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

[angelsighs]

In my opinion a perfect album is one with no duff tracks. Simple.

can't simply be this or then every greatest hits, or even every compilation you make, is a perfect album.

I'd say perfect can include capturing a certain electric moment in the studio -- so even if some of the material isn't great it's of an important/distinctive atmosphere.

couldnt have put it better myself.
it can be more about how the tracks compliment each other, work together, sequencing, and yes create a mood and an atmosphere. more than the sum of their parts etc. even a 'weaker' track that you might not like in isolation might work perfectly in context, because it carries the mood and works in its place. re: LGM I like Symphony Space a lot because it perfectly fits this function. the only blot on that album is the studio version of Take Your Time which is rather soporific and demolished by the live versions. but then should Spz be marked down for being so good live??

[CalTheSpaceman+]

Spiritualized - Songs in A & E
The Stooges - Funhouse
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Mastodon - Crack The Skye
The Verve - A Storm In Heaven
Iron Maiden - Live After Death
Pavement - Brighten The Corners
Deerhunter - Cryptograms
Dinosaur Jr - You're living all over me
The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street

< Only ones i can think of so far

[BzaInSpace]

My 'purfick' albums would have to include

RIOT CITY BLUES by the Primal Scream.

There's nothing there I would change on it or could wish better. It's fucking amazing basically.

And, unlike Screamadelica or even the mighty Evil Heat there's something about this album that makes me want to cry every time I hear it...in a joyful, overwhelmed way of course!

[olan]

Cocteau Twins: Garlands
A Certain Ratio: Sextet
Wooden Shjips: Wooden Shjips
Mogwai: Young Team
Durutti Column: Vini Reilly
Spiritualized: Lazer Guided Melodies

[OT: One of the first times I saw Spiritualized play (I think it was at ICA in 1991) they came on stage as "Otis" from the Durutti Column's Vini Reilly album was playing, my mate said to me "This should be good then" with a massive smile. He was wrong, they were fucking amazing. and as a bonus they were LOUD, when previously been quiet.]

[KingHarry]

Pretty much flawless -

The Fall - Peverted by Language
Spacemen 3 - The Prefect Perscription
Spacemen 3 - Playing with Fire
David Bowie - Low
The The - Soul Mining
Pixies - Doolittle
Talking Heads - Remain in Light
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
Suicide - Suicide
Dylan - Blonde on Blonde / Blood on the Tracks

[semisynthetic]

My list would include, but not in any order, the following:

1. Brian Eno-"Taking Tiger Mountain" (by Strategy) c.1974 or Spiritualized-"Pure Phase Electric Mainline" c. 1993
2. Eclection-"Eclection" c. 1968
3. Silver Apples-"Silver Apples" c. 1966
4. Barclay James Harvest-"Octoberon" c.1972
5. Spiritualized-"Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space" c. 1997 AND 2009
6. Roger Waters-"Amused to Death" c. 1991
7. Nico-"The Marble Index" c. 1969
8. Pink Floyd-"A saucerful of secrets" c.1968
9. Lou Reed-"Metal Machine Music" what? (just kidding) replace w/ Brian Eno-Just Another Day on Earth c. 2006
10. The Family Tree-"Miss Butters" c. 1965

[aadamm]

Not bothering listing Spiritualized:

Roots Manuva - Awfully Deep
Modest Mouse - The Moon and Antarctica
Aesop Rock - Labor Days
The Antlers - Hospice
The Knife - Silent Shout

Oh, and I know it's not supposed to be their best because they felt it was too polished and pop, but Nirvana's Nevermind is one brilliant track after another (Lounge Act being the greatest...).

Also, quite probably, "Another Side of Bob Dylan", but I haven't heard it in many years so would like to give it a listen before saying, "Definitely."

[semisynthetic]

Yes, I too believe these to be personal favorites; but the very idea of the "perfect" album either does not exist, cannot exist or the pure speculative notion of perfection is essentially "default" for what do you like most at any given time, like: now; at this moment of temporal passing? Already Changed Your Mind? [Perfect]ly Normal.

[aadamm]

Over-analyzing takes the fun out. Don't worry about it. Back in the day, I'm sure I would have said Faith No More's Angel Dust. Doesn't matter. You can argue that the thread shouldn't exist because the concept of perfection is nebulous. What does that gain us? Are we better off without the thread? I don't get it.

[scratch]

Yes, I too believe these to be personal favorites; but the very idea of the "perfect" album either does not exist, cannot exist or the pure speculative notion of perfection is essentially "default" for what do you like most at any given time, like: now; at this moment of temporal passing? Already Changed Your Mind? [Perfect]ly Normal.

there you go.. we need quantum music that can be entangled with the chemical reactions of our minds and through this information change its properties; bpm, harmonies, everything into something perfectly suited for our moods.
A supermusic existing as many forms at once and of course in the media as well as in our brains...but connected because they used to be (or are) one.

hmm.. wait.. no.. I want the opposite of that fuck perfect - I want to be disturbed

I am going to add cure´s pornography (mentioned earlier by someone) making my perfect-as-fuck-list a threesome.

this thread made me listen to some half-forgotten old favourites again and since nostalgia always is right this thread is a win.

[Kurious Oranj]

Yes, I too believe these to be personal favorites; but the very idea of the "perfect" album either does not exist, cannot exist or the pure speculative notion of perfection is essentially "default" for what do you like most at any given time, like: now; at this moment of temporal passing? Already Changed Your Mind? [Perfect]ly Normal.

OK debbie downer

[semisynthetic]

I did not find fault with the premise of this "perfect albums" thread.

On the contrary, any disagreement with the topic itself only helped to generate a thoughtful discussion of likes and dislikes which may have provided examples of recordings that have been (as yet) unknown or overlooked by anyone of us of reading this thread. This is a good thing. I listed 11 albums that I enjoy for different reasons, not because I believe them to be a presentation of "perfection", but rather a special combination of (sometimes) genius, some luck and hard work that yielded something exceptional. Those who take the time to write their thoughts on this site show they have a love of music and their own distinct expression of viewpoints.

It is my love of music and the enjoyment of sharing thoughts and opinions concerning same that brings me here.

[natty]

Some already mentioned would make my list:

Spacemen 3 - PP
Ride - Nowhere
The Congos - Heart of the Congos

Not sure I've seen:

Miles Davis - Sketches of Spain
Burzum - Hvis Lyset Tar Oss

[toomilk]

London Calling without a doubt.

Perfect and long. 19 songs in perfect running order. Can't be topped for that length.

[acrylicnoise]

Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Beck - Sea Change
Cat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman (and Teaser and the Firecat almost)
Bowie - Ziggy Stardust (Every song on this is wonderful even though the production isn't always perfect)
Sigur Ros - ()
Tom Waits - Alice
Tom Waits - Bone Machine


Special Mention for being Exceptional:
Radiohead - OK Computer
Peter Gabriel - Up
Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker
Ryan Adams - Love is Hell
The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin

I also agree with the Nick Drake comments... didn't want to repeat too much.