The Fully-Realized Album
 

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:

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. :)

OK - Great thread idea, MM. :icare:

Here's my list (several overlaps with yours it seems):

Allman's - Peach
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
Barenaked Ladies - Maybe You Should Drive
Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Beatles - Abbey Road, Revolver, Let It Be, Sgt Pepper
Eric Clapton - Slowhand, 461 Ocean Blvd
Counting Crows - August and Everything After
Cream - Disraeli Gears
Derek & The Dominoes - Layla etc
Dire Straits - Dire Straits, Love Over Gold
Ian Dury - New Boots and Panties
Eagles - Hotel California, One Of These Nights
ELO - Out Of The Blue, A New World Record
Emerson Lake and Palmer - Pictures at an Exhibition
Fairport Convention - Liege and Lief
Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours, Heroes are Hard to Find
Genesis - Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Grateful Dead - Workingman's Dead
Guns & Roses - Apetite for Destruction
George Harrison - Cloud 9
Iron Maiden - 7th Son
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Don McLean - American Pie
Meatloaf - Bat out of Hell
Metallica - Ride the Lightning
The Mission - Gods own Medicine, Children
Muse - Absolution, Black Holes & Revelations
Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine
Nirvanah - Nevermind
Pink Floyd - Animals, Dark Side of the Moon, Meddle, Wish you were Here
The Police - Ghost in the Machine
Polyphonic Spree - The Begining Stages
Queen - Day at the races, Night at the Opera
Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks
Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends, Sounds of Silence
Carly Simon - No Secrets
Paul Simon - Graceland, Hearts & Bones
Sisters of Mercy - First & Last & Always, Floodland
Snow Patrol - Final Straw
Spock's Beard - Snow
Springsteen - Born in the USA
Ringo Starr - Ringo
Suzanne Vega - Suzanne Vega
Jeff Wayne - War of the Worlds
Yes - 90125, Close to the Edge


I have WAAAAYY too much music...

Impressive list, Daniel. :icare:

Music appreciation is soooo sek-say. :p

I know I have a bunch more just bubbling under the surface. I can feel it. Thanks for participating!

I just scrolled through my media player and wrote down the best ones. There's others

I was looking at tit thinking we need a "Best Debut Album" thread, and a "Best Live Album" thread too.

Hmmmm... I know the thread is young, but I'm surprised that The Moody Blues haven't been mentioned yet. I think that most people would go with Days of Future Past as the seminal choice from Justin & co, but What about A Question of Balance & On a Threshold of a Dream?

Daniel, a really good list, but I don't think that the Sex Pitsols ever fully realized their album.

Huzzah for ELO's New World Record, Genisis and Meatloaf. I would also submit that Silly Love Songs from Wings would count.

london calling - the clash
who's next - the who
raw power - the stooges

Silly Love Songs was a single from "Wings at the Speed of Sound", which as a whole is let down by a couple of tracks (for god's sake, there's a track where Linda sang!). :lol:

If you are interested in EBM (Industrial you can move to) then these are a few picks that have been the most fulfilling to listen to.

mind.in.a.box - Lost Alone
mind.in.a.box - Dreamweb
Two albums that make up an ongoing story, which is a surreal reflection of the world. Even if you don't like the music, the bigger picture is impressive enough. It just happens that the individual songs are brilliantly made.

Solitary Experiments - Advance Into Unknown
A full album of powerful songs that are mesmerizing to listen to.

Theatre of Tragedy - Musique
I call this album "The every day album." Not because I listen to it every day, but because it talks about every day things in a unique way, which is something pop music could take a lesson from.

Absurd Minds - The Focus
This album never stops. Every time I listen to it, I never choose a single song out of it, I just listen to the whole thing because its all good.

Dubok - Technicolor
Chilled out electro. Curiously adept for a one-off.

In Strict Confidence - Holy
A culmination of personal revelation and musical maturity by a great industrial group.

Project Pitchfork - Daimonion
Easily this band's best work, in my opinion.

Rotersand - Truth is Fanatic
Fans of Pink Floyd will enjoy this... assuming they also like this genre.

Theatre of Tragedy - Aegis
Not electronic in any way. All I have to say to describe this album is this: Death metal. Opera singer. Olde English.

Just to provide a reciprocal link, take a look at this thread I made: http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...93#post2181793 about debut albums.

I know I can come up with a huge list but the only one I can think of at the moment is

Dave Matthews Band--Stand Up

Under the Table and Dreaming was a well put together album but I think Stand Up shows all the talents of the band and showcases the actual musical talent of all members.

I'll have to compose a list and come back to this thread. Great idea MM and great lists from all!

:thumbsup: Ya you're right. San Ferry Ann. Strangely I miss that album, somebody actually stole it.

On purpose?!? :eek:

go figure.

Barenaked Ladies - Maroon
KISS - Destroyer
Van Halen - Women and Children First
Van Hagar ;) - Balance
Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band - Live Bullet (I know you said no live albums, but this some of their best work. To really appreciate the Silver Bullet Band, you have to see them live, and this album proved that.)
Duran Duran - Seven and the Ragged Tiger
Huey Lewis and the News - Sports
Journey - Escape
Steely Dan - Aja
The Police - Synchronicity
Def Leppard - Pyromania

I just noticed that you included Ghost in the Machine, Daniel. I thought I was the only one so enamored of that album. :)

And I am adding to my list, as well.

Wow impressive lists! I realize there are a few I have to look up.

I dig your music, Hal. Good choices. There's a couple there I haven't listened to, thanks for the recommendations.

I feel obligated to put The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails on this list. Every beat and layer of every song on that album seems perfect to me. And I'm tempted to put The Fragile on here as well....

Some other random ones that I'm betting wouldn't get on this list otherwise...

Wumpscut - Boeses Junges Fleisch (Evil Young Flesh). The songs on this album cover such a great range for me. Fear, anger, sex appeal, beauty, sadness. And he does a fantastic job of using half English, half German lyrics. Some are dance-floor friendly, and the rest are just beautiful to listen to.

Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar. This album did what it set out to do without making any mistakes along the way. All the tracks have their place in the album. I really liked it when I was younger, and this thing still kicks ass all the way through.

It's an EP, but Sin, Sex & Salvation, by KMFDM vs. Pig has the best examples of two of my favorite groups. The tracks on there are flawless (with one skippable track, but whatev.)

On more: Kiss the Goat by the Electric Hellfire Club. Never has satanism been so amusing.


I'm surprised no one's mentioned Tool. Their fans swear by their albums.

Thanks, Hal, for those selections. I don't know any of them, lol, but you have piqued my curiosity to be sure. I'm going to check a few of them out.

and I added Moondance by Van Morrison to my list and the only artist entered twice on my list thus far, Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan.

...nope, I lied, I just added Rubber Soul by The Beatles, as well.

Sean Lennon - Friendly Fire
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Sigur Ros - Aegetis Byrjun
Radiohead - OK Computer
Beastie Boys - Check Your Head
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dreams

Plus many you guys already listed

It was one of the first albums I ever stole. :suave:

Christmas 1980, I was given "Dirk Wears White Sox" by Adam and the Ants (my parents realised that I liked the then current album and didn't realise that Dirk was more punk - I was astonished by how different it was, and loved it). Same year they gave my (older) brother Ghost in the Machine - he wasn't that fussed, and I loved it, so I nabbed it.

So that christmas (aged 10) I got two albums - one talked about the size of God's knob ("The Day I Met God" - Adam and the ants), and the other said that the National Front were cunts ("Rehumanize Yourself" - The Police).

Subversive stuff. :cool:

Hum, no one mentioned Savatage, Edge of Thorns yet. Mind blower of an album.

so what is the context of the National Front?

Well, one of my favs... and a few I can think off the top of my head

Rush, 2112 (it's a concept album, but it's soooo good)
Stone Temple Pilots, Core (debut but awesome through and through)
Beastie Boys, Pauls Boutique (well some others could go here too)
Judas Priest, Screamin for Vengence

I'll have to find the others worthy of mentioning.

elaine radigue: adnos (unbelievable.)
luc ferrari: electronic works (acousmatrix 3)
morton subotnik: silver apples of the moon

john coltrane: a love supreme, interstellar space
eric dolphy: out to lunch
andrew hill: point of departure
john carter: dance of the love ghosts
art ensemble of chicago: fanfare for the warriors

dj/rupture: minesweeper suite

brian wilson: smile

there are more, but i cant think of them right now.
i'll probably add more as my brain recovers from a couple too many maredsous.

The only ones of this list I'm familiar with are Dolphy, Coltrane and Brian Wilson...but I will definitely check some of these others out...always open to new musical enchantments. :)

Paul's Boutique is on my list, too.

and you're right, 2112 is awesome.

Thanks for joining in!

They are (were) an ultra right wing pseudo-fascist British Nationalist group that were big in the late seventies.

I see a lot of good nominations here...John Coltrane, Miles Davis, The Beatles, Meatloaf, The Who, Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Queen...the list goes on and on. Excellent picks.

But, for me...the one truly fully-realized album is...


The envelope, please...


Artie Shaw-The Gramercy Five Sessions.

I've been quitely ruminating on this one for a while. I think I'm going to abstain from a really long list. Maybe I'll add more as they come. I would say:

Jonathan Edwards - Jonathan Edwards
James Taylor - Mudslide Slim
Phish - Junta, Lawnboy
John Hartford - Aereo Plain


I know you said you wanted to avoid live albums m2, but if I was going to pick a DMB album, I'd have to go with

Dave Matthews Band - Live at Redrocks. Two disc set with a bunch of their older material, great performances all around. If I had to go studio, I think I might actually go Remember Two Things.

maybe more later...

I dont see enough of the great women albums here.

A few of my faves, mostly on the mellow side:
Eva Cassidy - Songbird
Bonnie Raitt - Nick of Time
Phoebe Snow - Phoebe Snow
Carole King - Tapestry

I'm going to add Speaking in Tongues to my list. While it's not my favorite Talking Heads album, per se (although I do love it), I think it qualifies. The musical theme, production and progression of songs fit the bill.

Plus, I am playing it this morning, it's the first time my 7-year-old has heard it and she thinks its the most incredible thing she's ever heard. She just can't stop moving her feet. This is so wild!!, she says. :lol:

My daughter (6 3/4) went overboard the other day when I played Emerson Lake and Palmer's Live version of the Peter Gunn theme... :lol:

Soundgarden - Superunknown
the whole cd could be made into a singles collection, but at the same time blend together to make a musical orgasm

Ran through my collection, and I think these all fit the description:

A Perfect Circle - Mer de Noms
Anathallo - Floating World
Ani Difranco - Reprieve
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Badly Drawn Boy - The Hour of Bewilderbeast
The Beatles - Abbey Road
Beck - Sea Change
Bjork - Homogenic
Brian Wilson - SMiLE
Bright Eyes - Fevers and Mirrors (the whole, though not great, exceeds the sum of its parts)
Failure - Fantastic Planet (ditto)
Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
Great Lakes Myth Society - Great Lakes Myth Society
Iggy Pop - American Caesar
Mew - and the Glass Handed Kites
Nickel Creek - Why Should the Fire Die?
Radiohead - Kid A
Radiohead - OK Computer
Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
Tom Petty - Wildflowers
Tool - Lateralus (didn't like Aenima)
The Wrens - The Meadowlands

I'm embarassed to admit that I forgot to add SMiLE to my list.

Thanks for reminding me.

One thing I will downplay is production. Some bands have the luxury of a megamillions corporation behind them that can afford to make every sound perfect and others just don't have that opportunity. Here are my contributions:

Clutch - self-titled
Death - Human
Faith No More - Angel Dust
Fear Factory - Demanufacture
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Ministry - Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed & the Way to Suck Eggs
Mr. Bungle - Disco Volante
Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power
Sentenced - Amok
Sepultura - Chaos AD
Slayer - Reign in Blood
Tool - Lateralus

Yes, I agree but with the stipulation that good production never means over-production.

And I was thinking over the weekend that I should have included Kid A, but then I forgot to.

Kid A's good.

Also re-descovered "Blood On The Tracks" this weekend!

I LOVE that album. Can never get enough of it. The opening strain of Tangled Up in Blue sends me every time. I don't really have a compact list of favorite albums, but if I tried to do so, that album would most likely capture the number one spot.

if you dig blood on the tracks or tapestry, do yourself a favor and get the jonathan edwards album i mentioned above. you've heard "sunshine" before (sunshine go away today, i don't feel much like dancing....). i'm not saying its the worst song on the album necessarily, but it's far from the best. and if you like harmonica play - jonathan edwards could wail. that album is just fucking solid.

edited for redundant-ness

a few more lovely things.

tom waits: nighthawks at the diner; alice
nurse with wound: the sylvie and babs hi-fi collection
muslimgauze: hand of fatima; dome of the rock

old favorites that i forgot about before:

television: marquee moon
pere ubu: dub housing
xtc: drums and wires


i am not sure that indian classical recordings would count in this sweepstakes, but there are three that i am beyond taken with:

pandit ram narayan: in concert at the salle gaveau, paris
pandit v.g. jog: classical violin
pandit pran nath: morning raga

the last one is simply beyond belief. i dont know what else to say about it: pran nath had such command of his voice that in some ways he seems not to quite be of this dimension at all. i imagine that hearing recordings is not the wholesale brain rearrangement experience that seeing him would have been, but he died a while ago and i never got the chance.
so there's this record.
damn.