This post started out with a much heavier topic than I wanted for a Friday night. So, I’ve postponed that one for next week. Instead, let’s revisit part of the conversation I had with my friend, Spencer, yesterday evening over a couple of dark pints, shall we? It may not be any less controversial, but It will certainly be a hell of a lot more fun.
When Spencer and I get together, we always have a ton of topics to talk about. But my favorite is music. And we talk about it a lot. Like, we could probably go on for days talking solely about the bands which were born out of the Los Angeles hair metal scene of the 80s. But I’ll spare you any more of that digression. One other topic which came up for us last night was the idea of perfect albums. And that’s what I want to explore a bit tonight.
For me, perfect albums are different from favorite albums, or even best albums. Perfect albums, in my book, have that magical combination of songwriting, performance, production, and packaging. They are simultaneously both of a time and timeless. Essentially, they’re flawless.
As I type these words, my intention is to list 11 of what I consider to be perfect albums. No greatest hits. No compilations. No EPs or live albums. Just a complete, well-thought out full-length release. Also, please note that 11 is an arbitrary number, based solely on my love of “This Is Spinal Tap”. There are obviously more than 11 perfect albums in the universe, but tonight is not the night to try and name them all. Nope, this is just an exercise to gather together what could probably be an extensive list of dozens down to less than a dozen.
So, in chronological order, here goes:
• John Coltrane– A Love Supreme [1965] • Beach Boys- Pet Sounds [1966] • Beatles– Revolver [1966] • Janet Jackson– Control [1986] • Cocteau Twins– Victorialand [1986] • Guns N Roses– Appetite for Destruction [1987] • Madonna– Like A Prayer [1989] • Beastie Boys– Paul’s Boutique [1989] • Public Enemy– Fear of a Black Planet [1990] • Slayer– Seasons in the Abyss [1990] • My Bloody Valentine– Loveless [1991] • Jesus Lizard– Liar [1992] • Liz Phair– Exile in Guyville [1993] • Melvins– Houdini [1993] • Soundgarden– Superunknown [1994] • Björk– Post [1995] • Failure– Fantastic Planet [1996] • DJ Shadow– Endtroducing..... [1996] • Cornelius– Fantasma [1997] • Fiona Apple– When the Pawn … [1999] • Pedro the Lion– Control [2002] • Queens of the Stone Age– Songs for the Deaf [2002] • Sigur Rós– ( ) [2002] • Mastodon– Crack the Skye [2009]
Well, I tried. It’s way too hard to limit this to 11. And if I continued to think about it, I’d probably be able to add another two dozen before bed. But that’s the great thing about music: There’s always more to discover and discuss. Feel free to add your own perfect albums to this list, and we can talk about them together sometime.
Mood for Trouble
03 February 2023
Perfect from now on.
This post started out with a much heavier topic than I wanted for a Friday night. So, I’ve postponed that one for next week. Instead, let’s revisit part of the conversation I had with my friend, Spencer, yesterday evening over a couple of dark pints, shall we? It may not be any less controversial, but It will certainly be a hell of a lot more fun.
When Spencer and I get together, we always have a ton of topics to talk about. But my favorite is music. And we talk about it a lot. Like, we could probably go on for days talking solely about the bands which were born out of the Los Angeles hair metal scene of the 80s. But I’ll spare you any more of that digression. One other topic which came up for us last night was the idea of perfect albums. And that’s what I want to explore a bit tonight.
For me, perfect albums are different from favorite albums, or even best albums. Perfect albums, in my book, have that magical combination of songwriting, performance, production, and packaging. They are simultaneously both of a time and timeless. Essentially, they’re flawless.
As I type these words, my intention is to list 11 of what I consider to be perfect albums. No greatest hits. No compilations. No EPs or live albums. Just a complete, well-thought out full-length release. Also, please note that 11 is an arbitrary number, based solely on my love of “This Is Spinal Tap”. There are obviously more than 11 perfect albums in the universe, but tonight is not the night to try and name them all. Nope, this is just an exercise to gather together what could probably be an extensive list of dozens down to less than a dozen.
So, in chronological order, here goes:
• John Coltrane– A Love Supreme [1965]
• Beach Boys- Pet Sounds [1966]
• Beatles– Revolver [1966]
• Janet Jackson– Control [1986]
• Cocteau Twins– Victorialand [1986]
• Guns N Roses– Appetite for Destruction [1987]
• Madonna– Like A Prayer [1989]
• Beastie Boys– Paul’s Boutique [1989]
• Public Enemy– Fear of a Black Planet [1990]
• Slayer– Seasons in the Abyss [1990]
• My Bloody Valentine– Loveless [1991]
• Jesus Lizard– Liar [1992]
• Liz Phair– Exile in Guyville [1993]
• Melvins– Houdini [1993]
• Soundgarden– Superunknown [1994]
• Björk– Post [1995]
• Failure– Fantastic Planet [1996]
• DJ Shadow– Endtroducing..... [1996]
• Cornelius– Fantasma [1997]
• Fiona Apple– When the Pawn … [1999]
• Pedro the Lion– Control [2002]
• Queens of the Stone Age– Songs for the Deaf [2002]
• Sigur Rós– ( ) [2002]
• Mastodon– Crack the Skye [2009]
Well, I tried. It’s way too hard to limit this to 11. And if I continued to think about it, I’d probably be able to add another two dozen before bed. But that’s the great thing about music: There’s always more to discover and discuss. Feel free to add your own perfect albums to this list, and we can talk about them together sometime.
See you tomorrow?