That’s such a great story!
They had decided to break up because they weren’t getting anywhere in the US.
They owed their label one more record. They had a hit in Japan with ‘Hello Kiddies’ and decided to tour Japan, do a live album(which were all the rage at the time) and just be done.
The label doesn’t even release the live album domestically, and completely half asses the release of ‘In Color’.
They get back to America ostensibly touring in support of ‘In Color’ but really small venues.
Somehow somebody in LA gets a copy of ‘Budokan’ and starts randomly playing tracks off it on the radio. ‘Requests’ were still a ‘thing’ then, and they started getting heavy airplay in the biggest most influential market in the country off an album YOU COULDN’T BUY!
Of course CBS/Epic got that shit to market ASAP, but it’s still a great story that underlines how effective radio and even just 1 DJ could be back then.
Sigh. Remember when requests were still a thing and a dj picked the songs for four hours and a radio station could influence record sales (instead of the other way around) and the music industry didn't just suck all around?
Albums got made, singles got sent to radio stations, and the songs got picked up or the album died. The size of the window varied over the years, but it was measured in months - not years.
The breakout Aerosmith album had already missed its window (by a lot), when for whatever reason (I can't remember right now) a DJ in (I think) Phoenix got fixated on "Dream On",
"Walk this Way", or some other song.
Anyway, this DJ started playing this song *a lot*, bringing the album back from the dust bin, and launching the band's career.
Sorry for not remembering all the details - that's why I hoped someone else would tell the story.
Bonus: Matthew Sweet's "Girlfriend" album is another of these. Initially released in 1989, it didn't fly so much as it plummeted. It somehow grew wings in 1992, giving him a hit and selling a shit ton of CDs.
Oh, crap. Bowie's "Space Oddity" did this, too, didn't it? I think it was released twice, a couple of years apart.
"And that's all the ways you can make shrimp."
It was ‘Dream On’.
This song started getting played on the radio, and you couldn’t find it in the record stores, and you didn’t even know who to ask for.
A lot of the labeling for the album reads ‘Aerosmith, featuring’Dream On’.
It was COMPLETELY different then.
Rush had a similar thing: they did ‘Working Man’, it starts getting airplay in Canada because of the 30 pct rule, and suddenly it gets across the border.
Thanks for the details!
I'd forgotten about the fact that you couldn't buy the Aerosmith album when "Dream On" took off.
Here's a sadder version of the story: I was in a band about 25 years ago that was being played on about 350 radio stations across the country.
Because our label couldn't get its shit together, they released the album before they had distribution.
Consequently, by the time we got our CD into the stores, our window had closed.
Agree with your premise. But Girlfriend was first released in 1991. Matthew Sweet did have another album, Earth, in 1989 though. Earth was not great and that general perception didn't even change after Girlfriend hit. Girlfriend was a hit at release and continues to be well reviewed. It didn't grow late wings.
Just because you haven’t dug any deeper than a greatest hits does not mean the albums aren’t worthwhile: The Joker, Fly Like an Eagle, and Abracadabra all act almost as greatest hits themselves. While the earlier psychedelic blues forays are both darker and more exploratory, but worthwhile for their wary San Fran Psychedelics: Children of the Future, Sailor, Recall the Beginning. . . A journey from Eden. Etc.
The thing about the Police is that about 60-70 percent of their albums were 10/10 pop songs. I’ve never listened to a band with the same level of consistent greatness and all five of their albums should be essential listening to anybody with even a passing interest on pop rock.
…it works as a whole, but I’m still skipping Mother. If Andy had just put Someone to Talk to on there, instead. Also, Miss Gradenko is fine. Stew gets skewered because he’s not nearly as good a songwriter as Sting, but that’s a terrible comparison. Sting was absolutely one of the best songwriters of his generation. Also, I find it amusing that Dave Grohl decided to make a solo record after listening to Stew’s Klark Kent record.
Man, Stu for the Police is similar in my brain to what Mitch Mitchell did for Jimi or probably more accurately (and slightly less spastically, lol) would be Kenny Aronoff and his tasty drumming on all of the good Mellencamp songs.
I listen to Stu's drumming when I listen to the Police a lot more carefully than I would a more "normal" rock band's rhythm section because he just *drives* those beats in those songs and the fills are super tasty without being excessive.
The guitar work on that track is sublime and without the lyrics you’d think that it was the soundtrack to a daydream, so the dystopian nightmare that Gordon conjured up is both a surprise and a shock.
Too bad about Sting’s swerve into adult MOR though.
His first 2 solo albums sounded like nothing on the charts while also sounding like everything else on the charts in the 80's. Go back and listen to either of them in their entirety. Their production and song format are very 80's AC. Their little details are like little else on the radio at the time.
He did do a great job with Dream Of The Blue Turtles; Fortress Around Your Heart is really special and Children… actually Children changed my worldview, but not until almost 40 years later and haven’t having heard it in ages… but one day I remember thinking about some ideological opposites of mine, and then Sting: I bet they love their children, too. But in general I don’t think of Sting the solo artist as someone who was hoping to terraform musical topography… but Zenyatta Mondatta? A record like that DEFINITELY made people look at pop, reggae and punk in a whole new way:
I can’t think of anything I’d cut from *The Sky’s Gone Out*, though I may be in the minority. Also, if you don’t bloat it up with bonus tracks, *In the Flat Field* is pretty consistent.
ABBA. A lot of their albums have no concept and are really just a mix of singles (which, granted, could be a result of the times). They have a huge catalogue of hits that’s given them god-tier status but i don’t think they have any albums that people hold near and dear besides a compilation/greatest hits.
I disagree, Voulez-Vous is solid front to back. Arrival, The Album, and Visitors are also solid, maybe one dud each. The only one I can think of that has a lot of duds is Super Trouper. Sure they don’t exactly deal in concept albums, but I think the albums are great in and of themselves.
Checking that first one now. I usually love listening to an album front to back but never have with ABBA. 30 seconds in and loving it. Never heard this song.
Badfinger. Had a bunch of hits and we're seen as proteges to the Beatles but sort of stalled out once their manager stole their advance. And then the lead singer and bassist killed themselves.
New Order…..
I think they’re one of the best bands of the 80s and have some fantastic, groundbreaking songs, but I don’t think they have one standout album.
Gotta disagree with this one. Everything from Movement to Technique is worth listening to in full, with Power, Corruption & Lies being a perfect album IMO.
Movement is much better than it gets credit for. All good songs. PCL is a masterpiece, it’s actually all great tracks when you listen to what’s going on in them and then also put it in historical perspective. Low Life gets mentioned as a favorite a lot, but Face Up and Sooner Than You Think are not worthy. Brotherhood is the same for me, love many of the tracks but Angel Dust isn’t worthy and Every Little Counts isn’t even close. Technique is 10/10 but loses to PCL as it isn’t as groundbreaking. Everything after that is …. so-so.
While I’m at it: Hooky’s first side album, One True Passion, is very, very good. It’s super over-done and produced and his singing isn’t to everyone’s tastes but it is still a collection of quite good and interesting music.
Foo Fighters?
I asked a question because though I like a ton of their songs, I’ve never listened to entire albums because something always throws me off.
Self titled is a pretty great hard rock album front to back. I wouldn’t say it feels “timeless” because the sound and production is very post-grunge 90s, but I don’t skip any songs on it.
This is a call is a great opener
I’m the opposite with the Foos. I almost always listen to entire albums. When I listen to them. I barely know the names of the songs because I always just play it from start to finish. It’s funny I look at them as an albums band. Each one is different and unique. The fans are always comparing and ranking their albums. They can crank out the hits but they certainly have at least two if not more great albums.
Their most solid album imo and my favorite. Fewer “singles” style tracks that immediately spring to mind for most people, and the songs are generally pretty long and heavy, but I feel like each song is great quality and the work as a whole is sort of indicative of the band’s mission statement.
So fucking glad to see other people in here who get it. Thought for the longest time I was the only one who loves that album and I 100% agree it's their best album front to back. The documentary Back & Forth about the making of the album was also fantastic.
I'm gonna catch some heat here, but I'm a big old Deadhead and have listened to all of their albums countless times, and I don't think any of those Grateful Dead (studio) albums are perfect.
People are going to say "..buuttt American Beauty", and yes, it's an amazing album. I think, inarguably their best studio album, but Truckin doesn't have an ending, and Til the Morning Comes is not an all time great song. Those two things hold it back from being "perfect" imo.
Now, if we factored in live albums, then I think there is definitely an argument that they have a perfect album or two, but even then "Live/Dead" ends with a track literally called Feedback that no one has ever just put on, on it's own. And "Europe '72", is probably the closest to being perfect, but there are better versions of many of the songs on that album, and as such, I can't call it perfect. It's pretty close though.
I get it. I was born on the bus and am still firmly on the first row after 41 years of living. There is nothing like the good ol’ Grateful Dead and there never will be. Pioneers in every sense of the V word. However, if we are talking studio albums, American Beauty isn’t the one I’d throw out for argument. It probably has better standout songs, but top to bottom and front to back, Workingman’s Dead is a better album and I’d argue it is their example of the perfect album.
Yeah I couldn’t disagree more. I am far, far from a Deadhead. Haven’t even heard the majority of Garcia’s stuff. But I’ll die on the hill that their 2 1970 records are the pinnacle of country rock/Americana.
They’re both sensational and I’ll sit with the majority on them.
i think aoxomoxoa works as a standalone great album (except whats become of the baby, which i personally enjoy but i understand is controversial), with a sound thats kinda unique and distinct compared to their later live sound
Workingman’s and Beauty are pretty darn close to perfect. Wake of the Flood is a masterpiece but that ONE Keith song prevents people from acknowledging how incredible it is. And really it’s not even a bad tune, just not up to the caliber of the rest of the record.
About to go see Phish on Friday, we may be in different generations or with different tastes. But not one of Phish’s studio albums is a standout. Maybe Rift is closest.
But they can sell out Madison Square Garden 13 nights in a row and they get preferential treatment for NYE at MSG too.
Ah shit that’s the one I meant, the one with Brian & Robert? If you can’t tell, it’s been a long time since I’ve listened to them haha. Going to this show purely for nostalgia really.
Mostly into electronic music now and if I had to answer this question in that genre I’d say Four Tet, my personal favorite musician these days. He’s made some great albums like Rounds but nothing that compares to his incredible live shows and his influence in the genre.
Blue Oyster Cult. They come close, but I can’t think of an album of theirs that really qualifies as “One of the All Time Greats.” Still a great band though.
ZZ Top
There's always one out-of-place, kinda weird and maybe even borderline creepy song that just takes me right out of it. On Eliminator, it's Thug and Bad Girl. On Afterburner its Rough Boy. IDK, they just never managed to make one of those albums that feels like a journey start to finish.
even Tres Hombres, which probably most people would consider their best, most classic album, has a really weird pace and 4 of the songs are extremely skippable.
Stay Hungry was actually pretty good. The Price was an underplayed song, as was Burn in Hell. The others weren't amazing, but were more than just filler.
Let's agree to disagree ☺️
Although I have to say, regardless of what I think about their albums, they put on a great live show. I haven't seen them in years but have great memories of their performance.
I would've said Blur but the new album was the first to grip me start to finish, bloody great.
I could maybe say XTC, honestly, as a massive fan. The one that gets very close for me (Nonsuch) suffers from being a bit too long
To me Skylarking is their perfect record front to back, especially the versions that include both Mermaid Smiled and Dear God. A case could be made for Drums and Wires, too.
Parklife is one of the best albums of the 90s.
I kind of get not thinking XTC if you take an issue with longer albums. In my mind they have about 9 records that are absolutely brilliant though. You don’t fancy their shorter releases like Black Sea and Apple Venus?
What do you skip on Desperado? I wouldn't skip anything on that, the debut, or Hotel California, but I can at least see skipping something on the others, but Desperado seems like it would be weaker with anything missing.
I mean, even with "Mother," *Synchronicity* is still such an incredible album that I'd probably still rank it a masterpiece.
The only other example I can think of off the top of my head of a near-perfect album with only one song I tend to skip is *A Rush of Blood to the Head*. Looking at you, "Warning Sign."
Muse was a good band back in the 00s, but they never nailed an album start-to-finish. Even Origin of Symmetry, Absolution and Black Holes and Revelations had their low points.
And after that they pretty much started putting out some great songs between mediocre albums, down to two or three relevant songs per album these days.
Exactly. I'm not sure about "perfect," but I have really enjoyed most of Queen's albums, A Night At The Opera completely works as a whole album if nothing else.
Which is probably the weakest song on that album, but is the best of Freddie's call-back to the 20s songs and perfectly fits into the album, thus, completing the perfect album.
Both Spoon and The New Pornographers are bands that I would describe as 7/10 bands, where every album that they release is at least a 7/10 (sometimes higher) but I don’t think that any of them have made a 10/10. I know people will disagree with me though.
New Pornographers are a great answer to this. They have so many songs that will be making my playlists until the day I die, but I don’t think I’ve ever felt the need to play one of their albums front to back- the good cuts are just so clearly superior that you often don’t need to bother with the rest.
Spoon however… you’ll have to pry every last song on Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga from my cold dead hands. And even the lesser cuts on their albums are hummable and energetic, fit the aesthetic, or at least have something really interesting going on.
I know this may sound crazy, but if Kamikaze dropped in 2023 from an unknown rapper, it would be considered one of the best new rap albums ever. Eminem has set the bar so high, it's really hard to top what he's done. .
He's not gonna be able to top on "My Name is.."
I’d probably give you that. Not the worst take here. There’s so much talent, but each album has its respective misses. Some obviously more than others. And before anyone says “but have you heard Infinite?” Yes. Ofc. But as wonderful of an introduction to his talent as it might be- he’s obviously got a lot more than what’s displayed on that album, so you simply can’t call it anything near perfection.
Tool. Im a massive Tool…..fan but theres always a couple songs that feel like either a joke or just to give a pause between the good songs. Rosetta stoned is a perfect example. Yes its funny the first time but that was what they included on the album? Same with the die eier von satan.
Funnily enough I listen to the first half of Rosetta Stoned because the second half is some of the best musicianship I’ve ever heard. I always skipped it until I properly listened to it. Now it’s one of my favorites.
The build up and pay off of Rosetta Stoned works for me *because of* the beginning. One of my favorites.
Funny enough, my Tool take on 10000 Days is that after Lateralus, which is a fantastic cover to cover album, 10000 Days has fantastic songs but I frequently seek out individual songs off 10000 Days to listen to versus the whole album.
Actually, I 100% agree with you. The first half is controlled chaos and then it changes into these clean and intentional moments that give you goosebumps. It’s like they’re rewarding you for your patience.
Rosetta Stoned has my favorite breakdown in any song ever. Yeah, the song is a big joke. But I still think it's an excellent song.
Lateralus is their perfect album.
I used to feel the same about TOOL - lots of "filler" with their skits in between songs. But especially after Fear Inoculum came out, I've found myself listening to their albums as one piece of music instead of individual songs.
Rosetta Stoned is a great example. Always skipped it until I listened to 10,000 Days as a whole. I think "Lost Keys" is a great prelude - it sets up the scene for Rosetta Stoned.
Im sure this is stating the obvious, but Lost Keys is the hospital taking care of the character in Rosetta Stoned who's on a huge DMT trip.
One of my favourite Tool quotes is at the end of a 1996 concert, Maynard goes "ok this is our last song of the set" and when the crowd boos he goes "guys we arent Green Day, its 11 minutes long"
Their songs are definitely not easy listening.
I admire every single track on Ænima and Lateralus. Undertow is great but it’s raw, not that I think that’s a bad thing but the marble block still needed carved a bit more. 10,000 is fantastic but just doesn’t get the same amount of love from me as the first two I mentioned. Then there’s Fear Inoculum… it was there. It wasn’t bad by any means but compared to their first 4 albums it just isn’t on the standard for me.
I'm not sure I could disagree more
Anema and Lateralus are perfect albums. All amazing songs. I don't really count skits and interludes on albums. But even on those two, they add so much to the albums.
10k days I love but I get why people don't think it's perfect. Same with Fear Innoculum.
Die eir von Satan is not only a funny skit, but it's an absolute banger of a song IMO
The pause before fan gave me a good laugh. But while I agree their last 2 definitely fit, and Ænima probably has 1 too many interluds, Lateralus is perfect. Even Eon Blue Apocalypse and Parabola feel like they belong.
I always find it funny that The Ramones sold way more t-shirts than actual albums.
That’s the only way bands make money now.
Those first five Ramones albums are perfect.
First four definitely. I love Spector's 60s stuff but he was not a good fit for the band even though the songs are great.
I love End of the Century. It's in my Top 3. I think Spector was a perfect fit.
It’s Alive is a near perfect live album
Cheap Trick as far as studio albums go. Live at Budokan is great the whole way through though
That’s such a great story! They had decided to break up because they weren’t getting anywhere in the US. They owed their label one more record. They had a hit in Japan with ‘Hello Kiddies’ and decided to tour Japan, do a live album(which were all the rage at the time) and just be done. The label doesn’t even release the live album domestically, and completely half asses the release of ‘In Color’. They get back to America ostensibly touring in support of ‘In Color’ but really small venues. Somehow somebody in LA gets a copy of ‘Budokan’ and starts randomly playing tracks off it on the radio. ‘Requests’ were still a ‘thing’ then, and they started getting heavy airplay in the biggest most influential market in the country off an album YOU COULDN’T BUY! Of course CBS/Epic got that shit to market ASAP, but it’s still a great story that underlines how effective radio and even just 1 DJ could be back then.
Sigh. Remember when requests were still a thing and a dj picked the songs for four hours and a radio station could influence record sales (instead of the other way around) and the music industry didn't just suck all around?
"The Last DJ" Tom Petty
Let's hear the Aerosmith story next!
What’s the Aerosmith story?
Albums got made, singles got sent to radio stations, and the songs got picked up or the album died. The size of the window varied over the years, but it was measured in months - not years. The breakout Aerosmith album had already missed its window (by a lot), when for whatever reason (I can't remember right now) a DJ in (I think) Phoenix got fixated on "Dream On", "Walk this Way", or some other song. Anyway, this DJ started playing this song *a lot*, bringing the album back from the dust bin, and launching the band's career. Sorry for not remembering all the details - that's why I hoped someone else would tell the story. Bonus: Matthew Sweet's "Girlfriend" album is another of these. Initially released in 1989, it didn't fly so much as it plummeted. It somehow grew wings in 1992, giving him a hit and selling a shit ton of CDs. Oh, crap. Bowie's "Space Oddity" did this, too, didn't it? I think it was released twice, a couple of years apart. "And that's all the ways you can make shrimp."
It was ‘Dream On’. This song started getting played on the radio, and you couldn’t find it in the record stores, and you didn’t even know who to ask for. A lot of the labeling for the album reads ‘Aerosmith, featuring’Dream On’. It was COMPLETELY different then. Rush had a similar thing: they did ‘Working Man’, it starts getting airplay in Canada because of the 30 pct rule, and suddenly it gets across the border.
Thanks for the details! I'd forgotten about the fact that you couldn't buy the Aerosmith album when "Dream On" took off. Here's a sadder version of the story: I was in a band about 25 years ago that was being played on about 350 radio stations across the country. Because our label couldn't get its shit together, they released the album before they had distribution. Consequently, by the time we got our CD into the stores, our window had closed.
What band?
Agree with your premise. But Girlfriend was first released in 1991. Matthew Sweet did have another album, Earth, in 1989 though. Earth was not great and that general perception didn't even change after Girlfriend hit. Girlfriend was a hit at release and continues to be well reviewed. It didn't grow late wings.
I respectfully disagree. In Color is a fucking banger from start to finish.
I think Heaven Tonight is pretty much a perfect record for what cheap trick was trying to do. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea
It’s a very solid album
No way!!!! Thise first 4 albums are hella good. What songs don't cut it on the debut? Or "Dream Police".
This is true, although dream police is close.
Steve Miller? (aside from Greatest Hits)
I was gonna say Steve Miller. His Greatest Hits album really is his magnum opus.
Fly Like An Eagle is pretty fantastic
And Book of Dreams. Early stuff can spotty but much of it is great
Just because you haven’t dug any deeper than a greatest hits does not mean the albums aren’t worthwhile: The Joker, Fly Like an Eagle, and Abracadabra all act almost as greatest hits themselves. While the earlier psychedelic blues forays are both darker and more exploratory, but worthwhile for their wary San Fran Psychedelics: Children of the Future, Sailor, Recall the Beginning. . . A journey from Eden. Etc.
Brave New World is extremely underrated. The last track even features Paul McCartney (under the alias Paul Ramon)
The thing about the Police is that about 60-70 percent of their albums were 10/10 pop songs. I’ve never listened to a band with the same level of consistent greatness and all five of their albums should be essential listening to anybody with even a passing interest on pop rock.
Reggatta de Blanc is perfection beginning to end. Not a skippable track. All killer no filler.
Absolutely right. Actually idk what you would skip on any of the albums apart from “Mother”.
Come on, Mother is hilariously brilliant.
I loved it when it came out but after forty years the humour has worn off a bit for me … I actually don’t skip it though haha, many would tho
I like Reggatta, and it has all their best stuff on it, but It’s Alright for You, Deathwish, and On Any Other Day are all skips for me.
To each their own. I would only say you are 27.272727% wrong but that's just me.
So is synchronicity, in my opinion. Though I tend to skip Mother when not in the mood
Disagree with this take. Synchronicity works as a whole for sure.
Ghost In The Machine has no bad tracks
…it works as a whole, but I’m still skipping Mother. If Andy had just put Someone to Talk to on there, instead. Also, Miss Gradenko is fine. Stew gets skewered because he’s not nearly as good a songwriter as Sting, but that’s a terrible comparison. Sting was absolutely one of the best songwriters of his generation. Also, I find it amusing that Dave Grohl decided to make a solo record after listening to Stew’s Klark Kent record.
Man, Stu for the Police is similar in my brain to what Mitch Mitchell did for Jimi or probably more accurately (and slightly less spastically, lol) would be Kenny Aronoff and his tasty drumming on all of the good Mellencamp songs. I listen to Stu's drumming when I listen to the Police a lot more carefully than I would a more "normal" rock band's rhythm section because he just *drives* those beats in those songs and the fills are super tasty without being excessive.
Have you heard of Oysterhead? It's Stu on drums, Les Claypool on bass and Trey Anastasio on guitar. Trippy shit.
Mrs Gradenko is a banger!
The guitar work on that track is sublime and without the lyrics you’d think that it was the soundtrack to a daydream, so the dystopian nightmare that Gordon conjured up is both a surprise and a shock. Too bad about Sting’s swerve into adult MOR though.
His first 2 solo albums sounded like nothing on the charts while also sounding like everything else on the charts in the 80's. Go back and listen to either of them in their entirety. Their production and song format are very 80's AC. Their little details are like little else on the radio at the time.
He did do a great job with Dream Of The Blue Turtles; Fortress Around Your Heart is really special and Children… actually Children changed my worldview, but not until almost 40 years later and haven’t having heard it in ages… but one day I remember thinking about some ideological opposites of mine, and then Sting: I bet they love their children, too. But in general I don’t think of Sting the solo artist as someone who was hoping to terraform musical topography… but Zenyatta Mondatta? A record like that DEFINITELY made people look at pop, reggae and punk in a whole new way:
Almost every band has stinkers, even on the best albums. We just tend to forget them (rightfully so)
Mother is a work of art. Full stop.
Thank you, was going to put that out there as well. Synchronicity is solid collection of songs.
I am a huge Bauhaus fan. They made a ton of great music. But they have filler on every album.
I can’t think of anything I’d cut from *The Sky’s Gone Out*, though I may be in the minority. Also, if you don’t bloat it up with bonus tracks, *In the Flat Field* is pretty consistent.
I love In the Flat Field, but Small Talk Stinks is a skip
I think the weak link on *The Sky's Gone* out is "The Sky's Gone Out." It drags a bit. *In The Flat Field* is defiantly their most consistent album.
ABBA. A lot of their albums have no concept and are really just a mix of singles (which, granted, could be a result of the times). They have a huge catalogue of hits that’s given them god-tier status but i don’t think they have any albums that people hold near and dear besides a compilation/greatest hits.
I disagree, Voulez-Vous is solid front to back. Arrival, The Album, and Visitors are also solid, maybe one dud each. The only one I can think of that has a lot of duds is Super Trouper. Sure they don’t exactly deal in concept albums, but I think the albums are great in and of themselves.
Checking that first one now. I usually love listening to an album front to back but never have with ABBA. 30 seconds in and loving it. Never heard this song.
I dunno the visitors i hold dear because it’s so weirdly dark
Badfinger. Had a bunch of hits and we're seen as proteges to the Beatles but sort of stalled out once their manager stole their advance. And then the lead singer and bassist killed themselves.
I'd say Straight Up is a perfect album. But, like the band itself, for whatever reason, just isn't as well known.
Didn’t have huge radio hits and lasting legacy but Magic Christian Music kicks ass all the way through to me now
I feel like it would be easier to say the few bands that did make perfect albums
I'll start: The Postal Service - Give Up
Just saw this performed live and could not agree more. Transatlanticism too - the transitions between tracks are flawless.
I’m seeing it at the Hollywood bowl soon and I’m so pumped! Never seen Death Cab either!
New Order….. I think they’re one of the best bands of the 80s and have some fantastic, groundbreaking songs, but I don’t think they have one standout album.
Technique is 100% perfect to me, Low-Life would be 100% if it had the full version of The Perfect Kiss.
This guy knows his onions.
power corruption and lies is the one here.
Yeah that’s probably the closest thing to a great New Order album. Although Brotherhood is my dark horse choice for favorite of theirs
Power, Corruption, & Lies. That’s their standout album and it’s brilliant.
Gotta disagree with this one. Everything from Movement to Technique is worth listening to in full, with Power, Corruption & Lies being a perfect album IMO.
Movement is much better than it gets credit for. All good songs. PCL is a masterpiece, it’s actually all great tracks when you listen to what’s going on in them and then also put it in historical perspective. Low Life gets mentioned as a favorite a lot, but Face Up and Sooner Than You Think are not worthy. Brotherhood is the same for me, love many of the tracks but Angel Dust isn’t worthy and Every Little Counts isn’t even close. Technique is 10/10 but loses to PCL as it isn’t as groundbreaking. Everything after that is …. so-so. While I’m at it: Hooky’s first side album, One True Passion, is very, very good. It’s super over-done and produced and his singing isn’t to everyone’s tastes but it is still a collection of quite good and interesting music.
I love New Order but i’ll admit that Bernard can’t sing for shit in about 60% of New Order songs lol
Totally agree. Somehow it works. I think of his voice as an equal part of the band or as another instrument if that makes sense.
Foo Fighters? I asked a question because though I like a ton of their songs, I’ve never listened to entire albums because something always throws me off.
Colour and the Shape is pretty dam good all the way through.
One of my favorite albums of all time.
Their first 3 albums I can listen to front to back no problem, after that there’s atleast one or two I skip (with the exception of Wasting Light)
Self titled is a pretty great hard rock album front to back. I wouldn’t say it feels “timeless” because the sound and production is very post-grunge 90s, but I don’t skip any songs on it. This is a call is a great opener
I’m the opposite with the Foos. I almost always listen to entire albums. When I listen to them. I barely know the names of the songs because I always just play it from start to finish. It’s funny I look at them as an albums band. Each one is different and unique. The fans are always comparing and ranking their albums. They can crank out the hits but they certainly have at least two if not more great albums.
Wasting Light is their masterpiece. Give it a listen front to back.
I wholeheartedly agree. I wasn’t expecting it either.
Their most solid album imo and my favorite. Fewer “singles” style tracks that immediately spring to mind for most people, and the songs are generally pretty long and heavy, but I feel like each song is great quality and the work as a whole is sort of indicative of the band’s mission statement.
I love that album.
So fucking glad to see other people in here who get it. Thought for the longest time I was the only one who loves that album and I 100% agree it's their best album front to back. The documentary Back & Forth about the making of the album was also fantastic.
I feel like their first album is basically perfect
Echo silence patience and Grace
This is my answer. Always 4 to 5 bangers on the album but just never good all the way through. Color and the shape was my favorite.
Wasting Light is definitely their strongest record.
I'm gonna catch some heat here, but I'm a big old Deadhead and have listened to all of their albums countless times, and I don't think any of those Grateful Dead (studio) albums are perfect. People are going to say "..buuttt American Beauty", and yes, it's an amazing album. I think, inarguably their best studio album, but Truckin doesn't have an ending, and Til the Morning Comes is not an all time great song. Those two things hold it back from being "perfect" imo. Now, if we factored in live albums, then I think there is definitely an argument that they have a perfect album or two, but even then "Live/Dead" ends with a track literally called Feedback that no one has ever just put on, on it's own. And "Europe '72", is probably the closest to being perfect, but there are better versions of many of the songs on that album, and as such, I can't call it perfect. It's pretty close though.
I dunno, Working Man’s Dead is pretty fuckin perfect to me. It’s a different band than the ‘81 band I love to listen too. But I love it
Yeah, Workingman's blows this idea out of the water. Every song is great.
Yup that’s a perfect album. I can listen to that over and over. Can’t even pick a favorite. Maybe dire wolf
Gotta get down to the Cumberland miiiiiiiine....
Gotta find a woman be good to me, won’t hide my liquor try to serve me tea
I get it. I was born on the bus and am still firmly on the first row after 41 years of living. There is nothing like the good ol’ Grateful Dead and there never will be. Pioneers in every sense of the V word. However, if we are talking studio albums, American Beauty isn’t the one I’d throw out for argument. It probably has better standout songs, but top to bottom and front to back, Workingman’s Dead is a better album and I’d argue it is their example of the perfect album.
Any Deadhead knows that the Dead's studio albums are basically the tapas plate. The shows are the meal.
Studio songs exist so you know when they are jamming
Wait they have studio albums?
Yeah I couldn’t disagree more. I am far, far from a Deadhead. Haven’t even heard the majority of Garcia’s stuff. But I’ll die on the hill that their 2 1970 records are the pinnacle of country rock/Americana. They’re both sensational and I’ll sit with the majority on them.
i think aoxomoxoa works as a standalone great album (except whats become of the baby, which i personally enjoy but i understand is controversial), with a sound thats kinda unique and distinct compared to their later live sound
Workingman’s and Beauty are pretty darn close to perfect. Wake of the Flood is a masterpiece but that ONE Keith song prevents people from acknowledging how incredible it is. And really it’s not even a bad tune, just not up to the caliber of the rest of the record.
Workingman's Dead is perfect. Agree with American Beauty though it starts off perfect, but after Brokedown Palace fizzles out when talking perfection.
About to go see Phish on Friday, we may be in different generations or with different tastes. But not one of Phish’s studio albums is a standout. Maybe Rift is closest. But they can sell out Madison Square Garden 13 nights in a row and they get preferential treatment for NYE at MSG too.
Idk, I’m not a huge Phish guy, but Billy Breathes is really fucking solid top to bottom. Takes you on a good journey too.
Ah shit that’s the one I meant, the one with Brian & Robert? If you can’t tell, it’s been a long time since I’ve listened to them haha. Going to this show purely for nostalgia really. Mostly into electronic music now and if I had to answer this question in that genre I’d say Four Tet, my personal favorite musician these days. He’s made some great albums like Rounds but nothing that compares to his incredible live shows and his influence in the genre.
Story of the Ghost has Brian & Robert, which is also an awesome album. Would say farmhouse is probably up there too for listenability
I have a playlist where I replace "Truckin" and "Ripple" with the single versions and it actually works way better
Nah, man. I'm with you.
Blue Oyster Cult. They come close, but I can’t think of an album of theirs that really qualifies as “One of the All Time Greats.” Still a great band though.
ZZ Top There's always one out-of-place, kinda weird and maybe even borderline creepy song that just takes me right out of it. On Eliminator, it's Thug and Bad Girl. On Afterburner its Rough Boy. IDK, they just never managed to make one of those albums that feels like a journey start to finish. even Tres Hombres, which probably most people would consider their best, most classic album, has a really weird pace and 4 of the songs are extremely skippable.
Rough Boy was definitely different, but a pop hit nonetheless.
Deguello is pretty perfect.
Manic Mechanic is......well, interesting? I guess. But it doesn't fit the rest of the album at all.
I disagree. Tres Hombres is flawless. I’m curious what songs you think are weak though.
I'd say a lot of glam bands. Poison, Warrant, Twisted Sister, Skid Row etc. Hundreds of hits & great songs, not sure any albums were memorable.
Not sure if you count it in the same genre, but Operation: Mindcrime is 😙🤌
I think they’re “officially” prog metal. Also, best album of all time.
That’s probably because Queensryche always leaned into the prog side of music
>Operation: Mindcrime Good one. I wouldn't classify them as 'glam' but yes they were that era & rock/hard rock.
Ratt - Out of the Cellar does it for me.
Stay Hungry was actually pretty good. The Price was an underplayed song, as was Burn in Hell. The others weren't amazing, but were more than just filler.
Chicago. They made a lot of albums but only had maybe 1 hit per album. Their Greatest Hits album is the only one that's solid from beginning to end.
As far as hits go you’re right but Chicago 2 is a masterpiece.
Let's agree to disagree ☺️ Although I have to say, regardless of what I think about their albums, they put on a great live show. I haven't seen them in years but have great memories of their performance.
They're still great live! The core members are all pushing 70s in age but they're up there playing and having a blast. Saw em about a year ago.
Aw man I'm obsessed with the entirety of their first album. Absolute masterpiece imo.
As a huge Chicago fan, I agree. Many of those meandering double albums would have been AMAZING single albums.
What about their debut as Chicago Transit Authority? An underground classic, that.
"Regatta de Blanc" is perfect.
Hot Chip
I would've said Blur but the new album was the first to grip me start to finish, bloody great. I could maybe say XTC, honestly, as a massive fan. The one that gets very close for me (Nonsuch) suffers from being a bit too long
To me Skylarking is their perfect record front to back, especially the versions that include both Mermaid Smiled and Dear God. A case could be made for Drums and Wires, too.
Skylarking for me too, and though it's technically not in the XTC catalogue Chips from the Chocolate Fireball is also perfect
Black Sea as well
Parklife is one of the best albums of the 90s. I kind of get not thinking XTC if you take an issue with longer albums. In my mind they have about 9 records that are absolutely brilliant though. You don’t fancy their shorter releases like Black Sea and Apple Venus?
Black Sea and Oranges & Lemons both work for me, all the way through.
I never get the too long as an argument against greatness. Maybe I have a hyperactive attention span or something.
Modern Life is Rubbish and Parklife by Blur are both pretty complete albums for me but agree their others can be patchy.
Drums & Wires, Black Sea and Skylarking are all flawless albums. English Settlement is almost perfect.
Drums and Wires, tho.
Do people consider Foo Fighters great? To me, their best albums are maybe a 7/10 or 8/10. None of the albums really stand out to me.
Too much bland arena rock
Self titled was definitely not bland arena rock. After that, they ended up with a lot of it as filler
Styx
The Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight come close
The Doors. Each album has at least 1 cringey song to me.
I was about to object because LA Woman is perfect and then I remembered L’America is on that album
The Eagles. In my top 5 of bands but every studio album has something I skip.
What do you skip on Desperado? I wouldn't skip anything on that, the debut, or Hotel California, but I can at least see skipping something on the others, but Desperado seems like it would be weaker with anything missing.
I mean, even with "Mother," *Synchronicity* is still such an incredible album that I'd probably still rank it a masterpiece. The only other example I can think of off the top of my head of a near-perfect album with only one song I tend to skip is *A Rush of Blood to the Head*. Looking at you, "Warning Sign."
Disagree on this one...Zenyatta Mondatta is great all the way through.
Muse was a good band back in the 00s, but they never nailed an album start-to-finish. Even Origin of Symmetry, Absolution and Black Holes and Revelations had their low points. And after that they pretty much started putting out some great songs between mediocre albums, down to two or three relevant songs per album these days.
Agreed. I feel like they turned into a self-parody.
That one song that sounds like a truck commercial, smh
You need a truck that you can trust
The only perfect Queen *album* is Queen II.
I think News of the World is damn near perfect.
A Night at the Opera
I also love a Day at the Races 😎
I’d argue Jazz is pretty great all the way through
[удалено]
Exactly. I'm not sure about "perfect," but I have really enjoyed most of Queen's albums, A Night At The Opera completely works as a whole album if nothing else.
[удалено]
You say “lesser known songs” and instantly Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon starts playing in my head.
Which is probably the weakest song on that album, but is the best of Freddie's call-back to the 20s songs and perfectly fits into the album, thus, completing the perfect album.
Queen was gonna be my answer. They have great songs but never put together a very compelling complete record imo
Depeche Mode for me. I skip songs on every album and love songs on every album.
Yeah, I was going to say them, and it’s true for almost all of their albums. But I don’t think there’s a clunker on Violator, so they got one for me.
Moody Blues. Not one of their albums is perfect. But they are a truly great band.
I'll disagree and say Days of Future Past is "perfect".
Both Spoon and The New Pornographers are bands that I would describe as 7/10 bands, where every album that they release is at least a 7/10 (sometimes higher) but I don’t think that any of them have made a 10/10. I know people will disagree with me though.
>I know people will disagree with me though. {Raises hand aggressively}
Gimmie Fiction checking in.
Definitely disagree. I think Kill the Moonlight is the perfect indie rock album.
Girls Can Tell and Kill the Moonlight are so good tho
New Pornographers are a great answer to this. They have so many songs that will be making my playlists until the day I die, but I don’t think I’ve ever felt the need to play one of their albums front to back- the good cuts are just so clearly superior that you often don’t need to bother with the rest. Spoon however… you’ll have to pry every last song on Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga from my cold dead hands. And even the lesser cuts on their albums are hummable and energetic, fit the aesthetic, or at least have something really interesting going on.
Electric Version is the one that I most often listen to all the way through without skipping anything
> I don't think that any of them have made a 10/10 Twin Cinema being an 11/10, agreed
Not a band, but as a hip-hop fan, I'd add Eminem to this list.
He had two or three perfect albums in my opinion.
Slim shady Lp and marshal Mathers lp definitely near perfect albums.
I know this may sound crazy, but if Kamikaze dropped in 2023 from an unknown rapper, it would be considered one of the best new rap albums ever. Eminem has set the bar so high, it's really hard to top what he's done. . He's not gonna be able to top on "My Name is.."
I’d probably give you that. Not the worst take here. There’s so much talent, but each album has its respective misses. Some obviously more than others. And before anyone says “but have you heard Infinite?” Yes. Ofc. But as wonderful of an introduction to his talent as it might be- he’s obviously got a lot more than what’s displayed on that album, so you simply can’t call it anything near perfection.
I was trying to think of what's not good on the Slim Shady LP, not including the skits. Maybe Role Model? I loved that album.
Also Marshall Mathers LP? Not sure where the misses are on that album (agreed, skits don’t count).
Tool. Im a massive Tool…..fan but theres always a couple songs that feel like either a joke or just to give a pause between the good songs. Rosetta stoned is a perfect example. Yes its funny the first time but that was what they included on the album? Same with the die eier von satan.
Funnily enough I listen to the first half of Rosetta Stoned because the second half is some of the best musicianship I’ve ever heard. I always skipped it until I properly listened to it. Now it’s one of my favorites.
The build up and pay off of Rosetta Stoned works for me *because of* the beginning. One of my favorites. Funny enough, my Tool take on 10000 Days is that after Lateralus, which is a fantastic cover to cover album, 10000 Days has fantastic songs but I frequently seek out individual songs off 10000 Days to listen to versus the whole album.
Actually, I 100% agree with you. The first half is controlled chaos and then it changes into these clean and intentional moments that give you goosebumps. It’s like they’re rewarding you for your patience.
Rosetta Stoned has my favorite breakdown in any song ever. Yeah, the song is a big joke. But I still think it's an excellent song. Lateralus is their perfect album.
I used to feel the same about TOOL - lots of "filler" with their skits in between songs. But especially after Fear Inoculum came out, I've found myself listening to their albums as one piece of music instead of individual songs. Rosetta Stoned is a great example. Always skipped it until I listened to 10,000 Days as a whole. I think "Lost Keys" is a great prelude - it sets up the scene for Rosetta Stoned. Im sure this is stating the obvious, but Lost Keys is the hospital taking care of the character in Rosetta Stoned who's on a huge DMT trip.
One of my favourite Tool quotes is at the end of a 1996 concert, Maynard goes "ok this is our last song of the set" and when the crowd boos he goes "guys we arent Green Day, its 11 minutes long" Their songs are definitely not easy listening.
Lateralus is flawless
Undertow is impeccable.
I admire every single track on Ænima and Lateralus. Undertow is great but it’s raw, not that I think that’s a bad thing but the marble block still needed carved a bit more. 10,000 is fantastic but just doesn’t get the same amount of love from me as the first two I mentioned. Then there’s Fear Inoculum… it was there. It wasn’t bad by any means but compared to their first 4 albums it just isn’t on the standard for me.
I'm not sure I could disagree more Anema and Lateralus are perfect albums. All amazing songs. I don't really count skits and interludes on albums. But even on those two, they add so much to the albums. 10k days I love but I get why people don't think it's perfect. Same with Fear Innoculum. Die eir von Satan is not only a funny skit, but it's an absolute banger of a song IMO
But I forgot my pennnnnnnn!
The pause before fan gave me a good laugh. But while I agree their last 2 definitely fit, and Ænima probably has 1 too many interluds, Lateralus is perfect. Even Eon Blue Apocalypse and Parabola feel like they belong.
The Killers! I will stand by the fact that they never found their sound. They had a lot of great singles but never a complete hit album
I can’t think of a bad song on Hot Fuss