I did a search of this forum and didn't come up with another thread even similar to my premise here, but I apologize if I missed something.
By "fully-realized" I mean albums that are seemingly perfect. Where every element from song selection to arrangement to production down to the playing order has come together to create an experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. Not necessarily concept albums, but not excluding them either. I've compiled a list of my favorites:
Quote:
Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd
The Bends – Radiohead
Fear of a Black Planet – Public Enemy
Paul’s Boutique – Beastie Boys
Blood on the Tracks – Bob Dylan
Abby Road – The Beatles
Sign o’ the Times – Prince
Ingenue – kd lang
Innervisions – Stevie Wonder
Gaucho – Steely Dan
Kind of Blue – Miles Davis
Eat a Peach – Allman Brothers
Moving Pictures – Rush
Déjà Vu – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Paul Simon – Graceland
Los Angeles - X
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs – Derek and the Dominos
Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes
Under the Table and Dreaming – Dave Matthews Band
Cumbia & Jazz Fusion – Charles Mingus
Getz/Gilberto – Joao Gilberto, Stan Getz, Antonio Carlos Jobim
Chutes Too Narrow – The Shins
A Night at the Opera – Queen
Zoot Allures – Frank Zappa
Blind Faith – Blind Faith
Diamond Dogs – David Bowie
Remain In Light – Talking Heads
Ghost in the Machine - The Police (thank you, Daniel)
Moondance - Van Morrison
Blonde on Blonde - Bob Dylan
Rubber Soul - The Beatles
Speaking In Tongues - Talking Heads
|
The "Albums That Changed Your Life" thread is what spurred me to start thinking about this. It was fun to think back and remember the albums that opened your mind and expanded your appreciation of music. And just like that thread, this is not necessarily a request for your favorite albums (although this list certainly contains most of my favorite self-contained albums). But for your own opinion on albums that transcended the bounds of a "good collection of songs" to become the Fully-Realized Album.
I don't want to place any steadfast rules on this, but if we could avoid greatest hits, live albums or compilations and stick to original studio albums I think it would be more interesting. But by all means, if you have any of these you would like to include, please do, and explain why you think they should be included.
Hope this makes sense to someone else but me.
