Whole albums in one go!

Charlie Jefferson

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Let's face it, how many albums are that good all the way through and work as an entire, from start to finish listening experience? Notwithstanding the joys of single songs and iTunes culture, which albums work in their entirety? Some simply transport you to a certain place and time and like Lou Reed proclaimed in his New York album sleevenotes work like a good novel should. My current wraparound listens: Endtroducing - DJ Shadow, the oft-mentioned Spirit Of Eden by Talk Talk and Paul's Boutique by the Beastie Boys. Like Lou Reed's NY these albums seem to work best when heard all the way through. Not exactly a scintillating insight, I agree, but anyone else point up some total listening platters?
 
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Anonymous

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I've always believed that 'the album' is the ultimate medium for music. So, great albums that insist on being listened to all the way through... Here's a few:

Hejira - Joni Mitchell

Music Has The Right To Children - Boards Of Canada (most complete electronica album ever)

Marquee Moon - Television

Kind Of Blue - Miles Davis

Homogenic - Bjork

The Bends - Radiohead

Dig Your Own Hole - The Chemical Brothers

Soft Bulletin - The Flaming Lips

Seven Swans - Sufjan Stevens

Highway 61 revisited - Bob Dylan

Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation

Hunky Dory - David Bowie

The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free

Tom Waits - Rain Dogs

Deserter's Songs - Mercury Rev
 

Thaiman

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[quote user="dominic dawes"]Marquee Moon - Television[/quote]

CLASSIC

Does track 4 keep repeating on your cd? my doesn't go to track 5 unless you press skip button (cd is like new btw)
 
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Anonymous

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No, that's just weird.

In the office we're arguing over whether any Beatles album qualifies. The consensus is too many of them have a Ringo song that you alays have to skip past... Nonetheless, I'm going with Abbey Road.
 
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Anonymous

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Always happy to share!
Aimee Mann- Lost in Space
Bob Marley-Legend Deluxe Edition disc 1
Elvis Presley-Artist of the Century disc 2
Alison Krauss-Now that I've found you
AC/DC Back in Black I've already seen some artist ie cds I had never heard of before; thanks for sharing; will check it out soon; this forum is great! :)
 

Simon Lucas

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[quote user="dominic dawes"]
Nonetheless, I'm going with Abbey Road.

[/quote]

No one voluntarily listens to Maxwell's Silver Hammer, surely?

Anyhow, I'd like to offer (in no particular order)

The Smiths - The Queen is Dead

The Congos - Heart of the Congos

Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones

Four Tet - Rounds

Can - Ege Bamyasi

Elvis Costello - This Year's Model

Neil Young - Tonight's the Night

Pixies - Doolittle

Richard and Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
 

Charlie Jefferson

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Cool list of great albums. Bar the Joni Mitchell, which I've never heard, I love certain songs on all of these albums but never thought of any of them as total listening experiences. Funny how we all hear and relate to music in varying ways.

I'm almost with you on The Beatles thing, although I love Revolver, inclusive of Yellow Submarine. Remembrance of things past from childhood, perhaps.

Another couple for the burgeoning list : Rust Never Sleeps - Neil Young & Aja - Steely Dan. Oh, and Side Two of Electric Cafe by Kraftwerk. Ooops, that's cheating isn't it.
 

Clare Newsome

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Classic Capitol-era Frank Sinatra - concept albums years ahead of their name, with themes throughout.

For example, the albums Only the Lonely and In the Wee Small Hours are two of the finest hymns to heartbreak ever recorded. That Ava Gardner had a lot to answer for....
 

JoelSim

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I agree with Talk Talk, it'll really show what your system is capable of too. Also:

Everything but the girl - Amplified Heart

Pink Floyd - Wish you were here

Stone Roses - Stone Roses

Jack Johnson - In between dreams

Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

James Lavelle - Global Underground 23 live in Barcelona

The Beautiful South - Carry on up the charts

Talk Talk - Colour of spring

Kruder & Dorfmeister - K&D Sessions

Doves - Lost souls

Groove Armada - Goodbye country, hello nightclub

Tribe called quest - the low end theory

Anything by The Cranberries
 

Joe Cox

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Well I can't think of many, but then I am a bit fuzzy today... I've mustered:

Goldie - Timeless (not a dud track in sight)

Burial - Burial (demands to be listened to in its entirety)

Gang Starr - Step In The Arena

Sigur Ros - Takk
 

kingnothing83

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My number 1 pet hate is song flickers. Sometimes im one myself! But i think theres nothing better than listening to an album through. I even quite enjoy albums with the odd sub quality song becuase it means you can look forward to the next one! I cant resist suggesting a few of my favourites though, in terms of albums with no weak songs (in my opinion):

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magic

Arcade Fire - Funeral

Metallica - Symphany and Metallica

Nirvana - Unplugged in New York

Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Black Planet (ok probably not in the long term but currently enjoying it!)
 
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Anonymous

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I feel strangely compelled to reply to this - and also to assert my status as the newest member of the WHF team...

again - in no particular order...

Love - Forever Changes

Beatles - Rubber Soul

Pink Floyd - Piper At The Gates of Dawn

Byrds - Notorious Byrd Brothers

Mojave 3 - Spoon & Rafter

Mazzy Star - So Tonight That I Might See

Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

Graham Nash - Songs For Beginners

La's - La's

Rain Parade - Emergency Third Rail Power Trip

Charlie Mingus - Tonight At Noon

I'm convinced that these won't be popular - but then, I've never courted popularity... :p

Chris

PS - excuse the lack of photo - I'm working on it!
 
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Anonymous

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[quote user="Simon Lucas"][quote user="dominic dawes"]
Nonetheless, I'm going with Abbey Road.

[/quote]

No one voluntarily listens to Maxwell's Silver Hammer, surely?

Anyhow, I'd like to offer (in no particular order)

The Smiths - The Queen is Dead

The Congos - Heart of the Congos

Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones

Four Tet - Rounds

Can - Ege Bamyasi

Elvis Costello - This Year's Model

Neil Young - Tonight's the Night

Pixies - Doolittle

Richard and Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
[/quote]

You don't look old enough Simon.:O)

Have you heard the later Richard Thompson albums like Mirror Blue or Rumor and Sigh? Terrific, and great sound too. Or how about One World or The Apprentice by John Martyn?
 
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Anonymous

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[quote user="Chris Gilson"]PS - excuse the lack of photo - I'm working on it!
[/quote]

Surely excused. But watcha you gonna dowithit??
 

d_a_n1979

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Pink Floyd - Pulse Live (CD's 1 & 2)
Leftfield - Leftism & Rythm & Stealth
Fischerspooner - #1 & Odyssey
Layo & Bushwacker - Night Works
Underworld - Beaucoup Fish
Jehtro Tull - The Very Best Of
Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band - History of the Bonzos (the oldies will know who Bonzo Dog are)
 
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Anonymous

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Talk Talk, as discussed, but also Laughing Stock IMHO

Marillion - script for a jesters tear

thinks Dire straits, Love over Gold, remembersIndustrial Disease isn't sure anymore

ZZ Top - Eliminator

HHGTTG (but that is cheating)

as is - most classical stuff

Al di Meola, Paca de Lucia, Al McLoughlin, Live at Wotsit just amazing throughout

haven't got my own copy, can't remember if he sings or not - Michael Hedges, Arial Boundaries
 
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Anonymous

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A lot of good ones above that I'd agree with, and I'd add into the mix;

Roger Waters - Amused to Death

Mark Knopfler - Cal (Soundtrack)

I'm sure there are loads more, but I'd agree that an album should be taken as a complete work not just a collection of tracks.
 
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Anonymous

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Joe, yes to Sigur Ros, but surely µg‘tis byrjun rather than Takk?

And Chris, Absolutely to The La's: can't believe I didn't think of it.
 

Simon Lucas

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[quote user="Nigel Proctor"] Or how about One World or The Apprentice by John Martyn?[/quote]

Solid Air's my favourite John Martyn. Or Bless the Weather.

Of course, I heard he's put his foot down lately. Now he doesn't know where it is.
 
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Anonymous

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Ok, I'm gonna chuck in....

Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman

REM - Automatic for the People

Tool - Lateralus

Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape (an album they still haven't even nearly mateched)

That's all I can think of for now, though I'm sure there's more!
 
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Anonymous

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Oh, and Thaiman - yes, Metallica have done some great stuff, but St. Anger? Really?!
 
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Anonymous

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[quote user="jimwall"]
Al di Meola, Paca de Lucia, Al McLoughlin, Live at Wotsit just amazing throughout

[/quote]

I think you mean John McLaughlin... Point of trivia, I was once in a band with a certain Brian Odges, who played bass on McLaughlin's 1969 Extrapolation album.
 
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Anonymous

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Heh, I was quite impressed I got any of it right! Shame I got the easy one wrong though.
 

Anton90125

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Cor! I have so many!?/

1.All the early/ mid Sabbath stuff (When Ozzy was there).

2.Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the moon,Wish you were here and animals.

3.Genesis-Nursery Crimes, Foxtrot, Trick of the Tail

4.Rush- Moving Pictures, A Farewell to Kings,Hemispheres,2112,Caress of Steel

5.Yes-Close to the Edge, Fragile, Going for the One,90125

6.Asia- Asia 1

7.ELP-Brain Salad Surgery ,Tarkus

8.Jethro Tull- Aqualung,Heavy Horses, Broadsord and the Beast,Stand Up ,Living in the Past ,Minstrel in the Gallery

9.Fairport Convention- Liege & Lief, Babbacombe Lee, Tipplers Tales

10. The Pentangle - Basket of Light ,Cruel Sister

11. Alan Parsons - Tales of Mystery and Imagination, I Robot, Pyramid, Eve,The Turn of a Friendly Card,Eye in the Sky

12. PFM- The World Became the World ,Jet lag ,Chocolate kings

13. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King

15. Thin Lizzy- Live and Dangerous

I can listen to all these albums in one go !
 

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