This is a re-tread thread as I started one just like this a few years back. In the intervening years, albums have sort of fallen out of favor. I’m re-visiting this because I just remembered an album besides Carol King’s Tapestry and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors that I love every song on. Stevie Wonder’s Songs In The Key of Life. Two honorable mentions are Alanis Morrisette’s Jagged Little Pill (don’t like Mary Jane) and Big Boi and Dre Present. . . Outkast (it’s a greatest hits album even though I didn’t know this until recently and greatest hits albums would be a cheat, I think).
Now you tell me what albums you like every song of. And if I can be so bold as to ask that you just don’t drop an album title and keep walking, 'cuz that would be boring. Thanks! Also, a quick search tells me that a few years back was actually 14 goshdarned years ago. Dang!
I probably mentioned these 14 years ago, but I’ll do it again.
Spirit – The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus. Just a perfect rock album that catches your ears from the first chords and keeps up an eclectic mixture of rock, blues, and jazz.
Emit Rhodes – Emitt Rhodes – perfect pop album. All the songs have irresistible hooks.
It’s a Beautiful Day – It’s a Beautiful Day. Just one lovely song after another. “White Bird” is their signature song, but there’s plenty that just as good or better.
Laura Nyro’s Eli and the Thirteenth Confession. Just fucking perfect straight through.
The Band’s second release, commonly called “The Brown Album.” Best modern exposition of what Greil Marcus calls the Old Weird America.
*Stan Getz and J.J. Johnson Live at the Opera House, Chicago 1957 *. My swingingest, smartest live blowing session, the boys on fire throughout, backed by Oscar Peterson at the piano and Herb Ellis on guitar.
When I was ripping CD tracks for my MP3 player, I realized that I could grab any random handful off Fiona Apple’s Tidal and be completely happy with what I got. Weren’t too many albums I could say that about.
REM- Life’s Rich Pageant
U2- War and Joshua Tree
Pink Floyd- The Division Bell although the first track is a bit meh, DSOTM, The Wall.
Led Zeppelin 2- love every track.
Depeche Mode- Violator and Music for The Masses
Tears for Fears- Songs From the Big Chair
Not that you can tell by the list but I grew up in the 80s and these albums all had a lot of play on lp, cassette and cd. There are a few more I can think of but this is enough.
Radiohead - OK Computer
Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
These albums are especially unique because other than a few earlier Radiohead songs, I don’t like anything else from these bands. But these albums rock me to my core.
Others:
Ben Folds Five - Ben Folds Five
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Hot
Pearl Jam - Ten
Nirvana - Nevermind
NIN - The Downward Spiral
The Beatles - Revolver
Blind Melon - Blind Melon
Honorable mention (“greatest hits”):
Barenaked Ladies - Rock Spectacle
Chicago - Chicago IX
6 and 12 String Guitar – Leo Kottke
Whiskey Before Breakfast – Norman Blake
Both are largely instrumental, I admit. I can’t think of any pop albums where I like literally everything on it. There’s always a stinker. Even on Rain Dogs (that would be Blind Love, lord save us).
Funny, Mary Jane is my favorite song from Jagged Little Pill
I agree with Carole King’s Tapestry. Incredible album. As for Stevie Wonder… I can appreciate the talent but his songs don’t do it for me. Or that particular type of pop doesn’t do it for me. “Superstition” is pleasant enough now that it isn’t being driven through my skull by perpetual airplay, but “Isn’t She Lovely” will still send me out of the room if I have the option. (I think it’s the crying baby and domestic choresounds)
some excellent albums IMO, multiple genres:
Yes: Keys to Ascension
Pentangle: Cruel Sister
Harry Belafonte: To Wish You a Merry Christmas
Jane’s Addiction: Ritual de lo Habitual
Alan Parsons Project: Ammonia Avenue
Moody Blues: Days of Future Passed
U2: The Joshua Tree
Pink Floyd: Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Georg Deuter: Aum
Alex de Grassi: Turning, Turning Back
Tori Amos: LIttle Earthquakes
Styx: The Grand Illusion
Kansas: Leftoverture
Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti
I have quite a few entries to this list, and the one most likely not to have been heard by anyone else here is “Fun?”, a marvelous 1993 release by a British band called the Candy Skins. My local college station played tracks from it all the time that summer, and it still sounds just as good.
I’m just going to list one at this point. Rattling off 20 or so albums, they all sort of get lost in the sauce.
Elvis Costello - Imperial Bedroom
It is a complex, smart, very inventive string of songs, each one is brilliant. It feels like a concept album to me, and one I never tire of hearing.
mmm
