"Perfect" albums

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:02 am

Got thinking about this while Sigh was blaring on my drive to work this morning.

There's lots of albums I enjoy, but there are very, very few that I consider to be perfect. The perfect album is the one that you always listen to without skipping over a single track. Every song on the record is fantastic and there's not a weak link. There's not a filler track or one that you just go 'meh" when it comes on.

There's plenty of albums that I would consider absolute "classics" which are not perfect. I always skip over "Orion" when listening to Master of Puppets, for example. There's a few others that have that one annoying voice over or ambient noise track that takes it down just half a peg. The silly "joke" tracks on Type O Negative albums are a good example...(without it, "October Rust" would be perfect, imo).

I'm curious what people consider to be their personal perfect albums. My short list:

- David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
- Wilderun - Sleep at the Edge of Earth
- Sigh - Scenes from Hell
- At the Gates - Slaughter of the Soul
- Edge of Sanity - Crimson
- Skinny Puppy - Too Dark Park
- Pallbearer - Foundations of Burden
- Bad Religion - No Control
- Agalloch - Ashes Against the Grain
- Frontline Assembly - Implode

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:09 am

Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon
Pink Floyd: The Wall
Pink Floyd: Animals
Pink Floyd: Wish you Were Here
CSN&Y: So Far
Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy
Led Zeppelin: III

McNutt · Post by **McNutt** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:12 am

Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Mastodon - Crack the Skye

Moliere · Post by **Moliere** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:17 am

Guns N' Roses: Appetite for Destruction

Sectoid · Post by **Sectoid** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:21 am

NIN - Pretty Hate Machine
is the first that springs to mind.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:27 am

Too many to name and so many I come back again and again.

I think The Wall is probably the best piece of 20th century western art, so it kind of wins by dafault but for reasons I can't explain James Laid is the one I come back to the most, I think, and it's not a concept album, it's just a collection done right. Second is probably Peter Gabriel's Peter Gabriel... Security or The The Soul Mining... So many albums...

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:34 am

Moliere wrote:Guns N' Roses: Appetite for Destruction

Sectoid wrote:NIN - Pretty Hate Machine

Both of those were pretty close to my list too, but I never really liked "My Michelle" (GnR) or "The Only Time" (NIN).

After looking through my collection again, I think I probably need to add Bad Religion's "No Control" to my list. Slayer's "Reign in Blood" is on the fence as well.

Trent Steel · Post by **Trent Steel** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:38 am

LordMortis wrote:I think The Wall is probably the best piece of 20th century western art, so it kind of wins by dafault...

Some others I will add (in no particular order)...

Pink Floyd: The Final Cut
Roger Waters: Amused to Death
Rage Against the Machine: Rage Against the Machine
The Beatles: Abbey Road (edit - yes, I can tolerate "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" enough to call this album perfect)
The Refreshments: Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:48 am

Skinypupy wrote:
Moliere wrote:Guns N' Roses: Appetite for Destruction

Sectoid wrote:NIN - Pretty Hate Machine
Both of those were pretty close to my list too, but I never really liked "My Michelle" (GnR) or "The Only Time" (NIN).

My fatal flaw for Appetite was always "Paradise City".

Trent Steel · Post by **Trent Steel** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:53 am

ImLawBoy wrote:
Skinypupy wrote:
Moliere wrote:Guns N' Roses: Appetite for Destruction

Sectoid wrote:NIN - Pretty Hate Machine
Both of those were pretty close to my list too, but I never really liked "My Michelle" (GnR) or "The Only Time" (NIN).
My fatal flaw for Appetite was always "Paradise City".

Does not compute.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:56 am

Trent Steel wrote:
ImLawBoy wrote:
Skinypupy wrote:
Moliere wrote:Guns N' Roses: Appetite for Destruction

Sectoid wrote:NIN - Pretty Hate Machine
Both of those were pretty close to my list too, but I never really liked "My Michelle" (GnR) or "The Only Time" (NIN).
My fatal flaw for Appetite was always "Paradise City".
Does not compute.

I always hated the chorus.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:57 am

Trent Steel wrote:
ImLawBoy wrote:
Skinypupy wrote:
Moliere wrote:Guns N' Roses: Appetite for Destruction

Sectoid wrote:NIN - Pretty Hate Machine
Both of those were pretty close to my list too, but I never really liked "My Michelle" (GnR) or "The Only Time" (NIN).
My fatal flaw for Appetite was always "Paradise City".
Does not compute.

I was never a big GnR fan. I was too busy discovering late 80s punk, goth, and industrial music during their rise but "Paradise City" is still synonymous with the drug addled brain of those late teen years.

... I wonder how many OOers are parents of late teenagers right about now...

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:59 am

Here is my cut down list in some sort of subliminal order I assume.

Fucked Up - David Comes to Life
Arcade Fire - Funeral
The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
Nirvana - Nevermind
Alice in Chains - Jar of Flies
NIN - Pretty Hate Machine

McNutt wrote:The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

I want to agree but then I think about Sloop John B which IMO tonally doesn't fit the album. And I love their rendition of it. It just feels shoehorned in to me.

I want to also say Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot but sometimes I can listen through it and marvel at it; other times some of the (probably intentional) tonal/tempo inconsistencies make me skip half the songs. It is a challenging album.

Edit: I forgot Pretty Hate Machine which I think is the *perfect* industrial album and deeply important. I recall hearing it in early 90 at the beginning of high school. And it didn't really explode for what like ... 2 years. I had a lot of discussions back then about how Trent revolutionized "home recording"...which was a little overblown but not too far off considering youtube's eventual rise.

McNutt · Post by **McNutt** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:07 am

malchior wrote:
McNutt wrote:The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
I want to agree but then I think about Sloop John B which IMO tonally doesn't fit the album. And I love their rendition of it. It just feels shoehorned in to me.

Totally understand. Sloop John B is out of place on this rather subdued album. It doesn't fit, yet that's exactly what makes it fit, if you know what I mean. It's all so chill and then, bam, Sloop John B, then chill again. "What the hell was that?"

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:10 am

McNutt wrote:Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime

Sectoid wrote:NIN - Pretty Hate Machine

I'm not really sure what else as I don't generally don't listen to full albums anymore. I'm sure there would be some Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots.

McNutt · Post by **McNutt** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:12 am

I'm going to have to add Mastodon's Crack the Skye. It demands to be heard in one sitting. I listened to it for the first time on a long drive and was blown away.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:26 am

For those hating on Appetite for Destruction, go back and listen to it again - but this time, try to ignore Slash and Axl. Instead, focus on the rhythm section - because they're criminally underrated and IMHO more important for the sound on that album.

I'd have to really think about this as it's pretty rare for me to enjoy a complete album anymore. There's been some good suggestions though so far.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:28 am

malchior wrote:Alice in Chains - Jar of Flies

This one's so close, but "Swing on This" is just such a mismatch with the rest of the album. I always found myself turning it off after "Don't Follow".

Interesting to see Pretty Hate Machine come up so often, as all I usually hear about that album is how poorly it has aged. (Not that I agree, mind you...I still really enjoy it.)

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:33 am

Most early-to-mid Bowie albums -- Ziggy Stardust, Diamond Dogs, Aladdin Sane...the David Live! double album is a great compilation of these songs.

Genesis: Foxtrot
Queen II
Dark Side of the Moon

I wore the groove off all of those.

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:35 am

They've made themselves into a bit of a parody now, but I've listened to U2's Achtung Baby probably more than any other album and can't think of a single song I would skip.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:36 am

Smoove_B wrote:For those hating on Appetite for Destruction, go back and listen to it again - but this time, try to ignore Slash and Axl. Instead, focus on the rhythm section - because they're criminally underrated and IMHO more important for the sound on that album.

I'd agree about Izzy and McKagan, but Adler was a mediocre drummer, at best.

Hell, even I can play along with most of his riffs, and I'm a freaking terrible drummer.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:36 am

Smoove_B wrote:For those hating on Appetite for Destruction, go back and listen to it again - but this time, try to ignore Slash and Axl. Instead, focus on the rhythm section - because they're criminally underrated and IMHO more important for the sound on that album.

I'd have to really think about this as it's pretty rare for me to enjoy a complete album anymore. There's been some good suggestions though so far.

Who's hating on it? I said that the chorus on one song keeps it from being a perfect album for me. LM said he was never a big GnR fan, but he hardly hated on the album.

[edit]Oh, and SkinyPupy said he didn't like "My Michelle." Still, hardly hating.[/edit]

Sectoid · Post by **Sectoid** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:38 am

I'd also say
Depeche Mode - Violator
is pretty damn perfect. I don't think I could skip a track if I wanted to.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:45 am

Skinypupy wrote:I'd agree about Izzy and McKagan, but Adler was a mediocre drummer, at best.

I can't speak to his technical skills, but the sound of GnR substantially changed after he cracked out and they had to go with Matt Sorum. I think most (all?) of the songs people remember from the Use Your Illusion double album were written when Adler was still in the band.

ImLawBoy wrote:Who's hating on it? I said that the chorus on one song keeps it from being a perfect album for me.

Fair. I am trying to get my mind around liking all the songs and it's just such a rare thing for me to do. I was reading the comments like the album wasn't enjoyable because of one song (or part of one song). Cheerfully withdrawn!

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:45 am

malchior wrote:I forgot Pretty Hate Machine which I think is the *perfect* industrial album and deeply important.

Hmmm... It was my 2nd industrial album to fall in love with after Land of Rape and Honey. It holds up better but I might say of the things we label as Industrial Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste hit more "Industrial" notes that lasted longer. There was too much normal keyboards in PHM to such a representation.

But this stroll down memory lane causes me to bring up two more game changers

Nothing's Shocking and Beelzubba The former was the bridge from pop to underground like no one since Lou Reed and the later change the MTV generation.

And absolutely yes Beelzubba is fantastic from beginning to end. If you beg to differ you are clearly wrong, wrong, wrong.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:47 am

Smoove_B wrote:
ImLawBoy wrote:Who's hating on it? I said that the chorus on one song keeps it from being a perfect album for me.
Fair. I am trying to get my mind around liking all the songs and it's just such a rare thing for me to do. I was reading the comments like the album wasn't enjoyable because of one song (or part of one song). Cheerfully withdrawn!

Oh, no. I love the album and think it's one of the greatest records of the '80s.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:47 am

LordMortis wrote:And absolutely yes Beelzubba is fantastic from beginning to end. If you beg to differ you are clearly wrong, wrong, wrong.

I can agree with this statement. I still listen to this album regularly - it's good.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:51 am

Smoove_B wrote:I am trying to get my mind around liking all the songs and it's just such a rare thing for me to do. I was reading the comments like the album wasn't enjoyable because of one song (or part of one song). Cheerfully withdrawn!

Same here...hence the topic.

There's probably a hundred albums that I could put in the "almost perfect" category (Appetite being one of them), but there are very, very few that cross that line into perfection.

Carpet_pissr · Post by **Carpet_pissr** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:54 am

Sectoid wrote:I'd also say
Depeche Mode - Violator
is pretty damn perfect. I don't think I could skip a track if I wanted to.

+1

Also REM's Out of Time, Green, and at the time of release U2's Joshua Tree and Achtung, Baby

stimpy · Post by **stimpy** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:05 pm

Down - Nola

Scuzz · Post by **Scuzz** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:08 pm

Blue Oyster Cult......On Your Feet, Or on Your Knees

McNutt · Post by **McNutt** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:08 pm

Smoove_B wrote:
Skinypupy wrote:I'd agree about Izzy and McKagan, but Adler was a mediocre drummer, at best.
I can't speak to his technical skills, but the sound of GnR substantially changed after he cracked out and they had to go with Matt Sorum. I think most (all?) of the songs people remember from the Use Your Illusion double album were written when Adler was still in the band.

Adler's departure change the sound of the band completely. Sorum might be a better technical drummer than Adler, but Adler was better for GNR. Well, when he was sober.

nasai · Post by **nasai** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:10 pm

Kansas - Leftoverture
Pink Floyd - The Wall
Peter Gabriel - Security
Beatles - Abbey Road
Kate Bush - The Dreaming
Gojira - L'Enfant Sauvage
Devin Townsend - Epicloud
Shining - BlackJazz

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:11 pm

And now I have "Born to Love Volcanoes" stuck in my head. Stupid thread.

stimpy · Post by **stimpy** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:13 pm

Scuzz wrote:Blue Oyster Cult......On Your Feet, Or on Your Knees

Love it.
One of the best memories I have was driving up to a concert in my buddy's black limo with the BOC logo flag hanging from the antenna, just like the album cover.
People were freaking out thinking it was the band.......

Captain Caveman · Post by **Captain Caveman** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:25 pm

Carpet_pissr wrote:
Sectoid wrote:I'd also say
Depeche Mode - Violator
is pretty damn perfect. I don't think I could skip a track if I wanted to.
+1

Also REM's Out of Time, Green, and at the time of release U2's Joshua Tree and Achtung, Baby

Out of Time is great but not perfect. "Shiny Happy People" is on it.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:26 pm

Yes - Close to the Edge (only 3 songs, which one are you going to skip?)
Roger Waters - Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking - the album is one long story, can't be interrupted.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:37 pm

Shiny happy beavers building dams

McNutt · Post by **McNutt** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:43 pm

Captain Caveman wrote: Out of Time is great but not perfect. "Shiny Happy People" is on it.

God damn I hate that song.

Captain Caveman · Post by **Captain Caveman** » Thu Aug 17, 2017 12:48 pm

McNutt wrote:
Captain Caveman wrote: Out of Time is great but not perfect. "Shiny Happy People" is on it.
God damn I hate that song.

What's so funny about peace, love, and shiny happy people holding hands?