How about Nebraska?beantownbubba wrote: Born to Run, maybe Darkness, definitely not The River
.
The Search for the Perfect Record
Moderators: Jonicont, mark lynn, Maluca3, Tequila Cowboy, BigTom, CooleyGirl, olwiggum
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
Everyone needs a friend, everyone needs a fuck
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
John Prine-S/T
Steve Forbert-Alive On Arrival
Steve Forbert-Alive On Arrival
- ramonz
- Posts: 1439
- Joined: Sat Apr 24, 2010 6:23 pm
- Location: "Sitting in my room, record player on..."
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
BB King - Completely Well
AC/DC - Back in Black
JJ Cale - Troubadour
AC/DC - Back in Black
JJ Cale - Troubadour
- whatwouldcooleydo?
- Posts: 13693
- Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:44 pm
- Location: Desolation Row
- Contact:
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
I came SO close to posting this. I would also include New Yorksactochris wrote:Metal Machine Music
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
- whatwouldcooleydo?
- Posts: 13693
- Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:44 pm
- Location: Desolation Row
- Contact:
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
I would go Darkness and The River for sure, Nebraska pert near, and Born in the USA "not even"Clams wrote:How about Nebraska?beantownbubba wrote: Born to Run, maybe Darkness, definitely not The River
.
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
-
- Posts: 21751
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:52 am
- Location: Trying to stay focused on the righteous path
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
This falls into that space between "great" and "perfect" for me. Nebraska, and The River for that matter, are great albums by my standards. The River is not perfect because there are too many songs that don't quite measure up (the usual problem w/ double albums anyway). Nebraska, OTOH, might well be a perfect album or it might fall a little short but since I can't really say what a perfect album is I can't really say why I'm not sure about Nebraska.Clams wrote:How about Nebraska?beantownbubba wrote: Born to Run, maybe Darkness, definitely not The River
.
What used to be is gone and what ought to be ought not to be so hard
-
- Posts: 21751
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:52 am
- Location: Trying to stay focused on the righteous path
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
Do you guys actually listen to MMM?whatwouldcooleydo? wrote:I came SO close to posting this. I would also include New Yorksactochris wrote:Metal Machine Music
Yeah, New York is not one that came immediately to mind but it belongs on the short list.
And how could i forget the Ramones? I suspect purists might go w/ the first album but to me Road to Ruin is pretty much perfect. And I meant to include E. Costello's This Year's Model on my original list & was surprised it wasn't there when I looked this morning, lol.
I thought about Dusty in Memphis but it's kinda like Nebraska (and how many times will you ever read that in a sentence?) in that I love it, it's great, but I'm not sure it's perfect. Soul albums other than comps always get short shrift in the "greatest album" discussion because so few were even made as albums as we usually talk about them. And for similar reasons, even the few great soul albums that come to mind aren't really perfect. Which is sad in a geeky way.
Joni Mitchell's Blue and Court and Spark might both belong as might Jackson Browne's Late for the Sky.
What used to be is gone and what ought to be ought not to be so hard
-
- Posts: 21751
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:52 am
- Location: Trying to stay focused on the righteous path
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
Somehow missed this post until just now. This is a great list. No surprise, scotto.scotto wrote:Richard and Linda Thompson, Shoot Out the Lights
Dylan, Blonde on Blonde
The Band, Big Pink
Joni Mitchell, Blue
Eric Dolphy, Out to Lunch
Miles, Kind of Blue
Marvin Gaye, What's Goin' On
Neil Young, After the Goldrush
Mingus, Mingus Ah Um
The Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks
What used to be is gone and what ought to be ought not to be so hard
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
tinnitus, don't dick on Ventilator Blues. It doesn't work on its own, but on the record it's perfect. With that said, I still think Exile is perfectly imperfect and I wouldn't list it.
Nebraska is my favorite Boss record, but for some reason I can't exactly articulate, I wouldn't call it "perfect".
ramonz, I prefer Naturally to Troubadour, but I would have to think a bit before I called it perfect.
4sooner, I think the perfect Prine record is Souvenirs but considering it's all rerecordings I don't think it qualifies...
JR, I completely agree about Old No. 1. Not a thing I would change about that one. Another masterpiece in that vein is Terry Allen - Lubbock on Everything.
Shoot Out the Lights, Blue, Big Pink and Goldrush are all great choices, scotto.
If I were to choose a Lou record, I would probably go for Coney Island Baby over New York (although it would be close).
what about Janis Joplin - Pearl? I know she's somewhat polarizing, but I love that record.
Grace and In an Aeroplane Over the Sea might be worth discussing, as either perfect records or the most overrated
Perfect live record? It's Great to Be Alive, Live at the Star Room (The Killer), Live at the Apollo (James Brown), Live at the Philharmonic (Kris Kristofferson), Live at Folsom or San Quentin.
If compilations count, Hank's Forty Greatest Hits is the alpha and omega.
Not an authority on hip hop, but as far as the classics go, Illmatic is one of the few that I can appreciate and understand the greatness of.
I would also add Richard Buckner - Devotion + Doubt.
Nebraska is my favorite Boss record, but for some reason I can't exactly articulate, I wouldn't call it "perfect".
ramonz, I prefer Naturally to Troubadour, but I would have to think a bit before I called it perfect.
4sooner, I think the perfect Prine record is Souvenirs but considering it's all rerecordings I don't think it qualifies...
JR, I completely agree about Old No. 1. Not a thing I would change about that one. Another masterpiece in that vein is Terry Allen - Lubbock on Everything.
Shoot Out the Lights, Blue, Big Pink and Goldrush are all great choices, scotto.
If I were to choose a Lou record, I would probably go for Coney Island Baby over New York (although it would be close).
what about Janis Joplin - Pearl? I know she's somewhat polarizing, but I love that record.
Grace and In an Aeroplane Over the Sea might be worth discussing, as either perfect records or the most overrated
Perfect live record? It's Great to Be Alive, Live at the Star Room (The Killer), Live at the Apollo (James Brown), Live at the Philharmonic (Kris Kristofferson), Live at Folsom or San Quentin.
If compilations count, Hank's Forty Greatest Hits is the alpha and omega.
Not an authority on hip hop, but as far as the classics go, Illmatic is one of the few that I can appreciate and understand the greatness of.
I would also add Richard Buckner - Devotion + Doubt.
E quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle.
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
Thanks for clarifyingbeantownbubba wrote:This falls into that space between "great" and "perfect" for me. Nebraska, and The River for that matter, are great albums by my standards. The River is not perfect because there are too many songs that don't quite measure up (the usual problem w/ double albums anyway). Nebraska, OTOH, might well be a perfect album or it might fall a little short but since I can't really say what a perfect album is I can't really say why I'm not sure about Nebraska.Clams wrote:How about Nebraska?beantownbubba wrote: Born to Run, maybe Darkness, definitely not The River
.
Everyone needs a friend, everyone needs a fuck
-
- Posts: 21751
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:52 am
- Location: Trying to stay focused on the righteous path
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
I'm practicing for when I run for office. It's those unknown unknowns that'll getcha every time.Clams wrote:Thanks for clarifyingbeantownbubba wrote:This falls into that space between "great" and "perfect" for me. Nebraska, and The River for that matter, are great albums by my standards. The River is not perfect because there are too many songs that don't quite measure up (the usual problem w/ double albums anyway). Nebraska, OTOH, might well be a perfect album or it might fall a little short but since I can't really say what a perfect album is I can't really say why I'm not sure about Nebraska.Clams wrote: How about Nebraska?
What used to be is gone and what ought to be ought not to be so hard
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
Big Star - No. 1 Record.
it's my least favorite Big Star record, but I do think it's perfect for what it is.
it's my least favorite Big Star record, but I do think it's perfect for what it is.
E quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle.
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
I can understand why there's a shortage of aughts records (it's harder to judge when records are that recent), but there's a serious lack of 90's records in our lists. 80's are scarce as well, but I think production values highly factor in that regard (I know they did for me) but surely there should be more albums from the 90's.
Two I can think of that might qualify are Gentleman and Wildflowers. Maybe Unplugged in New York (if live records count)
Two I can think of that might qualify are Gentleman and Wildflowers. Maybe Unplugged in New York (if live records count)
E quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle.
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
Done mentioned it.Clams wrote:Car Wheels
E quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle.
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
Todd Rundgren-Something/Anything
Not one of my personal favorites but definitely belongs in this discussion.
Edited to add Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs.
That one is a personal top 10
Not one of my personal favorites but definitely belongs in this discussion.
Edited to add Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs.
That one is a personal top 10
- Tequila Cowboy
- Site Admin
- Posts: 20230
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2010 6:12 pm
- Location: The Twilight Zone, along with everyone else
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
If you're looking for the aughts I'd add
Everything You Thought Was Right is Wrong Again- Slobberbone
Love You Just the Same- Centro-Matic
And from earlier has Goodbye Yellow Brick Road been mentioned?
Everything You Thought Was Right is Wrong Again- Slobberbone
Love You Just the Same- Centro-Matic
And from earlier has Goodbye Yellow Brick Road been mentioned?
We call him Scooby Do, but Scooby doesn’t do. Scooby, is not involved
-
- Posts: 21751
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:52 am
- Location: Trying to stay focused on the righteous path
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
Really? Not just personal favorites? Not merely Top 100 or 200 albums? But absolutely perfect?Tequila Cowboy wrote:Everything You Thought Was Right is Wrong Again- Slobberbone
Love You Just the Same- Centro-Matic
Like I said, I'm not sure what a perfect record is but these don't feel like it to me.
What used to be is gone and what ought to be ought not to be so hard
- Tequila Cowboy
- Site Admin
- Posts: 20230
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2010 6:12 pm
- Location: The Twilight Zone, along with everyone else
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
Yes, I think the reason why we struggle to find perfect records past the early nineties is that there is no longer a shared zeitgeist for music. I would define a perfect record thusly:beantownbubba wrote:Really? Not just personal favorites? Not merely Top 100 or 200 albums? But absolutely perfect?Tequila Cowboy wrote:Everything You Thought Was Right is Wrong Again- Slobberbone
Love You Just the Same- Centro-Matic
Like I said, I'm not sure what a perfect record is but these don't feel like it to me.
An album that exists as an un-flawed whole based on the criteria at hand. In other words a record where nothing enhances or detracts from the individual works contained. All the songs have to either add to the whole or augment those that do. In other words the songs, arrangements, sequencing and production exist in a true union with none outshing the others.
We call him Scooby Do, but Scooby doesn’t do. Scooby, is not involved
- whatwouldcooleydo?
- Posts: 13693
- Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:44 pm
- Location: Desolation Row
- Contact:
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
I know I am way in the minority here, but I find Car Wheels to be vastly overrated. I don't think it's anywhere near as good as Sweet Old World and the eponymous, much less being at the masterpiece level it is generally given. Not saying it isn't a great record, I just don't think it's her best/my favorite
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
- whatwouldcooleydo?
- Posts: 13693
- Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:44 pm
- Location: Desolation Row
- Contact:
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
I do and when I do I make sure my lunkhead neighbor does as well!beantownbubba wrote:Do you guys actually listen to MMM?whatwouldcooleydo? wrote:I came SO close to posting this. I would also include New Yorksactochris wrote:Metal Machine Music
I have also been known to bust out the Grateful Dead drums/space record Infrared Roses, though only when my wife isn't home
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
Some Girls
Rubber Soul
Revolver
Night Moves
Harvest
The Joshua Tree
My Aim is True
Rubber Soul
Revolver
Night Moves
Harvest
The Joshua Tree
My Aim is True
Everyone needs a friend, everyone needs a fuck
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
Lydia Loveless - Somewhere Else
Everyone needs a friend, everyone needs a fuck
- whatwouldcooleydo?
- Posts: 13693
- Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:44 pm
- Location: Desolation Row
- Contact:
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
Purple Rain, absolutely no question
Sign O' the Times, debate is allowed but in my book it's perfect (especially when compared to some of the albums listed in this thread)
Sign O' the Times, debate is allowed but in my book it's perfect (especially when compared to some of the albums listed in this thread)
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
To start with, I have to love every single song on an album to deem it perfect. There isn't even a DBT album where I can say that
And I knew when I woke up Rock N Roll would be here forever
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
I'll go far beyond and say that World Without Tears is better than any of those 3.whatwouldcooleydo? wrote:I know I am way in the minority here, but I find Car Wheels to be vastly overrated. I don't think it's anywhere near as good as Sweet Old World and the eponymous, much less being at the masterpiece level it is generally given. Not saying it isn't a great record, I just don't think it's her best/my favorite
Now it's dark.
-
- Posts: 21751
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:52 am
- Location: Trying to stay focused on the righteous path
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
Doesn't "great," "exceptional, "essential" or words to that effect have to fit in there somewhere? Though I'm sure you don't mean it that way, as stated that sounds as much like a definition of mediocrity as it does of perfection.Tequila Cowboy wrote:Yes, I think the reason why we struggle to find perfect records past the early nineties is that there is no longer a shared zeitgeist for music. I would define a perfect record thusly:beantownbubba wrote:
Really? Not just personal favorites? Not merely Top 100 or 200 albums? But absolutely perfect?
Like I said, I'm not sure what a perfect record is but these don't feel like it to me.
An album that exists as an un-flawed whole based on the criteria at hand. In other words a record where nothing enhances or detracts from the individual works contained. All the songs have to either add to the whole or augment those that do. In other words the songs, arrangements, sequencing and production exist in a true union with none outshing the others.
What used to be is gone and what ought to be ought not to be so hard
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
You two are high. Those three are great but they ain't Car Wheels great.Flea wrote:I'll go far beyond and say that World Without Tears is better than any of those 3.whatwouldcooleydo? wrote:I know I am way in the minority here, but I find Car Wheels to be vastly overrated. I don't think it's anywhere near as good as Sweet Old World and the eponymous, much less being at the masterpiece level it is generally given. Not saying it isn't a great record, I just don't think it's her best/my favorite
Everyone needs a friend, everyone needs a fuck
- whatwouldcooleydo?
- Posts: 13693
- Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:44 pm
- Location: Desolation Row
- Contact:
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
Clams wrote:You two are high. Those three are great but they ain't Car Wheels great.Flea wrote:I'll go far beyond and say that World Without Tears is better than any of those 3.whatwouldcooleydo? wrote:I know I am way in the minority here, but I find Car Wheels to be vastly overrated. I don't think it's anywhere near as good as Sweet Old World and the eponymous, much less being at the masterpiece level it is generally given. Not saying it isn't a great record, I just don't think it's her best/my favorite
Son, this ain't a dream no more, it's the real thing
Re: The Search for the Perfect Record
that would be "disintegration" by the cure