Not One Wasted Second; The Pursuit of the Perfect Album - article discussion

I'm going to put in a mention for The Heavy's 'The House That Dirt Built', the greatest band that no-one has ever heard of. I remember buying the CD after hearing one of the tracks played on a late night Radio 1 show (when they played proper music). It's a mix of rock and soul. A couple of the tracks have been used in films and tv ads, so will sound familiar. A hidden gem.
 
I'm going to put in a mention for The Heavy's 'The House That Dirt Built', the greatest band that no-one has ever heard of. I remember buying the CD after hearing one of the tracks played on a late night Radio 1 show (when they played proper music). It's a mix of rock and soul. A couple of the tracks have been used in films and tv ads, so will sound familiar. A hidden gem.
Agreed, a great album that I had forgotten about :thumbsup:
 
I tried listening to it. Wife turned sound off !
 
So many great choices, best thread for a while

Previous shout outs

Prodigy fat of the land
Prince Sign of the times
Sade diamond life
KD sessions a blast from the past
Jean Michael Jarre oxygene


New to the mix

Florence and the machine lungs , (massive breakthrough album)
Lana del Rey born to die, (a slice of subverisve americano highs lows light and shade a great end to end story telling album)
Oasis what's the story or definitely maybe (gritty local heros)
Amy Winehouse back to black , a great album of a tortured sole at top of their game
I'm with you on all of those choices and offer up
Portishead - Dummy (her voice is just haunting)
Dua Lipa - Dua Lipa (poptastic)
Happy Mondays - Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches (they didn't live in the slow lane)
 
Agreed, a great album that I had forgotten about :thumbsup:
My wife would do the same with some of the best selling albums of all time, Pink floyd DSOTM is terrible according to her :)
 
If you are into world music, Bongeziwe Mabandla´s album ´iimini´ is magnificent, both in terms of musical performance as well as recording quality.

 
If such a thing exists, then these are, based on personal taste only, some contenders -

The Doors - The Doors
Led Zeppelin - II
Pink Floyd - DSOTM
Pink Floyd - WYWH
Queen - Night at the Opera
 
OK, some have already been mentioned but here goes...

Studio Albums
1. Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
2. Pink Floyd - Meddle
3. The KLF - The White Room
4. Fish - Vigil In a Wilderness Of Mirrors
5. Mark Knopfler - Privateer
6. Runrig - Heartland
7. AC/DC - Back In Black
8. AC/DC - Highway to Hell
9. Bruce Springsteen - The Rising
10. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

Live Albums
1. Runrig - Once In A Lifetime
2. Dave Gilmour - Live At Pompeii
3. Queen - Live Magic
4. The Blues Brothers - A Briefcase Full Of Blues
5. Whitesnake - Live In The Heart Of The City
6. The Who - Live At Leeds (full version)

Soundtracks/Compilations
1. The Blues Brothers - Original Soundtrack
2. Saturday Night Fever OST (solid gold!)
3. The Cotton Club OST - John Barry
4. Madonna - The Immaculate Collection
5. This Are Two Tone (RSD 2020) Compilation

I'd better stop there... ;-)
 
Jeff Wayne - War of the Worlds (1978)
Rick Wakeman - The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

When I was a kid in the 70s I’d listen to both perhaps every other week. 40 odd years later still doing the same and can’t say that about any other single album.
 
Dire Straits- On every street. Such a well recorded, easy to listen to CD and every track excellent. Very “Nashville “ sound imo.
 
Not seen it on the list...

human league - dare
 
I have three that do it for me

Abbey Road
Sheet Music -10cc
Court and Spark - Joni Mitchell


Honourable mentions

Bridge Over Troubled Water
Making Movies
The Kick Inside
 
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The Verve - Urban Hymns
Chef Raekwon - Only Built for Cuban Linx
Gza - Liquid Swords
Wu Tang Clan - 36 Chambers
Oasis - Definitely Maybe
Nas - Illmatic
Radiohead - OK Computer
Marilyn Manson - Holy Wood
Ghostface Killah - Ironman
Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele
 
I'd put INXS's Kick in there.
 
Purely off the top of my head without really thinking about it...

Deep Purple - Made In Japan
Shawn Phillips - Collaboration
Led Zeppelin - II
Agnes Bernelle - Father's Lying Dead On The Ironing Board
Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick
Faust - clear album
Culture - Two Sevens Clash
Wishbone Ash - Argus
Tom Waits - Blue Valentines

that's it. Now to go listen to some Tom...:hiya:
 
It's hard to think of an artist or a band that has made a consistently great album. OK Computer's first side is damn near perfect for me but the second side just isn't as great. Even Dark Side of the Moon has it's weaker tracks. There are only 3 albums that I think are prefect from the very first track to the closing one. Animals by the Floyd is in my opinion their best album and The Beatles Sgt Pepper. Songs From the Big Chair by Tears for Fears is my favourite album of all time. Their first album The Hurting is almost up there and their 3rd The Seeds of Love is almost up there but Songs From the Big Chair is flawless in my humble opinion and is sonic and lyrical perfection .

(10) Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair (Remastered) - YouTube

And here's a live set they did a few years ago in LA for Spotify :thumbsup:

 
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Crowded House Woodface
Steely Dan Katy Lied
Both perfection for me
 
Perfect studio album - Depeche Mode - Violator, Madonna -True Blue, Air - Moon Safari,

Perfect live album - INXS - Live Baby Live

Perfect compilation - Talk Talk - Natural History, Ian Brown - The Greatest
 
Purely off the top of my head without really thinking about it...

Deep Purple - Made In Japan
Shawn Phillips - Collaboration
Led Zeppelin - II
Agnes Bernelle - Father's Lying Dead On The Ironing Board
Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick
Faust - clear album
Culture - Two Sevens Clash
Wishbone Ash - Argus
Tom Waits - Blue Valentines

that's it. Now to go listen to some Tom...:hiya:
The wonderful Tom Waits 😊 - The Heart of Saturday Night
 
The wonderful Tom Waits 😊 - The Heart of Saturday Night
You know, the first time I heard that I was disappointed. Listened to it once all the way through then didn't bother listening again for a good few months.
Then when I listened for the second time - wow, I was so blown away. It's still one of my favourite albums (and I still feel stupid about not liking it first time, even after all these years lol)
 
LA Woman.
Kind of Blue
In a silent way
A love supreme.
Argus
Strangers in the night (UFO not frankie)
Phaedra
Nothing like the sun

To name a few
Albums of such quality are rare. Perfection, of course, depends on who is listening.
 
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Mention of Phaedra (superb, saw me through many hours of relaxation) reminds me of Aqua by Edgar Froese. The album I had was recorded using some weird and wonderful recording technique that I thought was just a gimmick when I bought it, but listening to it through headphones, wow! there were parts of it when the cans seemed totally silent but there was a thin stream of music running down through my head and keyboard/synth music out there somewhere, out beyond the headphones. I loved it and played it to death. Anyone else remember that?
 

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