Opinion

Weekly survey: Most. Perfect. Album. EVER.

Making an album is hard. Artists give it their best, but time constraints, limits on money, and things that sap inspiration are all insurmountable obstacles.

But even with those challenges, there have been those magical times when an artist has been able to create an absolutely perfect album. Not a wasted note. No errant word. The perfect length. The perfect sequencing of songs. The music is not of just the moment but feels timeless. Even the artwork and liner notes cannot be improved. It’s to the point where even God hisself could have done any better.

So what are those unicorn albums?

There’s been much talk about The Cars debut album following the death of frontman Ric Ocasek. It’s an astoundingly strong record from start to finish. Fans of the Chili Peppers will point to Blood Sugar Sex Magick. I often argue for both Who’s Next from The Who and Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine.

There are no right answers here, of course, because we’re encroaching on very subjective, very touchy territory.

Give me your picks for your all-time perfect album. This list might help get you started.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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50 thoughts on “Weekly survey: Most. Perfect. Album. EVER.

  • Kid A, Disintegration, Spiderland, Songs of Faith and Devotion, The Fragile, Ænima…

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  • Though I am sure noone else will pick this but to me the perfect album is Navy Blues by Sloan. Absolutely fantastic from start to finish.

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    • Great choice! I’m going to see them on Oct 9th and I can’t wait!

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  • How they left Abbey Road and Dark Side of the Moon off that list is beyond me!

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  • Queensryche: Operation Mindcrime. Plaintive vocals from the amazing Geoff Tate, driving rhythms, crunching guitar riffs. A unique rock opera.

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  • Pork Soda – Primus, Downward Spiral – NIN, In Rainbows – Radiohead, 10,000 Days – Tool, Gravity Kills – Gravity Kills, Incesticide – Nirvana, Broken – NIN. The new Tool album (Fear Inoculum) can be lumped into this as well.

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  • Paul’s Boutique, Disintegration, The downward spiral.

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    • ooooh. how could I forget Paul’s boutique

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  • Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair

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  • Pearl Jam – TEN

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  • Two come to my mind but one of them is just probably me.

    Without a doubt Bruce Springsteen (Happy 70th) Born To Run belongs on this list. Before anyone says well Meeting Across The River is not that strong. Okay go listen to it with the notion it is the intro to Jungleland. Boom GMA changer.

    Probably just me but I don’t see any flaws in Simple Minds “New Gold Dream”. From the rawness of the title track to the summer anthem like Someone Somewhere in Summertime.

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  • The Beat (Paul Collins Beat) S/T, Radio City (Big Star), Get the Knack, Who’s Next, Abbey Road, London Calling, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, Music from the Big Pink (the Band)

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  • One’s definition will definitely be dependent on the genre of music, but some of the albums I find easiest to listen front-to-back would be:

    * Clash – London Calling
    * David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
    * Van Halen – 1984
    * Jesus & Mary Chain – Automatic
    * Radiohead – OK Computer
    * Weezer – Pinkerton
    * Guns n’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction
    * Bryan Adams – Reckless
    * Built to Spill – Perfect From Now On
    * Nirvana – Nevermind (of course)
    * Interpol – Antics
    * T. Rex – Electric Warrior
    * LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening
    * The Cult – Electric
    * Foals – Holy Fire

    Not to mention the usual suspects. This list just goes and on and on and on…

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    • GnR. I’d forgotten about that perfect firestorm.
      Bryan Adams, while I personally don’t like Reckless, I’d agree that its a full length of perfect pop rock, along the lines of Pyromania in terms of catchy songsmanship. Same goes for 1984, which I AM a fan of. Not my personal pick for VH, but objectively speaking it’s their “perfect” LP.

      You’ve got a great list, with a couple I need to revisit. Thanks

      I’m disappointed in myself for not listing Ziggy or London Calling.

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  • U2 – Achtung Baby
    Oasis – What’s the Story Morning Glory
    Hip- Fully Completely
    Pearl Jam – Ten

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  • Born To Run

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  • Shakespeare my Butt by Lowest of the Low.

    I dare to to find a bad song on that album

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  • I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose is celebrating 10 years of perfection this year. Bombay Bicycle Club nailed it on that debut.

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  • The Mars Volta- De-Loused in the Comatorium, The Avener- The Wanderings of the Avener

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  • Aenima, Lateralus and Fear Inoculum.

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  • Achtung Baby by U2. No other album comes close. Released in 1991. This was my first album. It’s still my favourite. The songs are arranged in the perfect order. The mood of the album is the same all the way through. Every single song is strong. It was given heavy radio play when it was released and it’s still on the radio today as part of the regular set list. I love this album. These songs are brilliant. Gems like
    Until The End Of The World and Ultra Violet take me to new heights when played live.
    Thank you Larry, Bono, Adam and The Edge.

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    • If have to agree with your description of AB, while not my personal favourite, and I listed a completely different U2 LP on my list, AB is lightning in a bottle in terms of songcraft and sequencing. I happened to listen to it last night. Objectively, it’s their most generally appealing package (errr… well, Adam’s “package” notwithstanding)

      Though, personally, it’s not the U2 LP I return to most when I hanker for a hunk of… U2.

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  • Obviously Sgt Pepper, Abbey Road and Dark Side of the Moon. As for albums released in the last 30 years, I’d add Rage Against the Machine’s debut album. And because Canadian albums are always the most underrated, I’ll add Gordon by Barenaked ladies and Matthew Good Band’s Beautiful Midnight.

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  • Jeff Buckley – Grace
    Radiohead – OK Computer
    R.E.M. – Automatic For the People
    The National – High Violet
    The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls in America

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  • Ramones – debut
    Rancid – …And Out Come The Wolves
    Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation
    Pink Floyd – Wish You Were here
    Nirvana – Nevermind
    Pennywise – Land Of The Free
    Metallica – pick any pre Black Album

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    • Great list.

      Great Rancid LP. 🤘🏻
      I’d rate Ruby Soho as one if the best songs ever, it’s just magic.

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  • My favorite is certainly Icky Thump from the white stripes, on my french side le décor from Stefie Shock honorable mention to Cake golden nugget and Foo Fighters The Colour and the Shape

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  • I think Pearl Jam 10 is a great album front cover to last song! The album defined a feeling for a generation and continues to strike a chord. The cover of the band doing an all-for-one pose is timeless and considering the band has been together as long as they have it seems to have worked.

    Cheers,

    Graeme

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  • Genesis The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway!!!

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  • The Clash – London Calling. The cover photo captures so much and the song list captures them at probably their most creative.

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  • Rubber Soul by The Beatles. We crossed a bridge with them when that LP came out. Music was never the same.

    Then there was Abraxas by Santana. The recording studio and the stereo became instruments.

    Third on my list is Abbey Road by the Beatles. Frank Sinatra said that “Something” is the greatest love song ever. He should know.

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  • Oh boy that’s not really fair-just one! But there is one album (I also believe vinyl is the ultimate listening experience) that I have always enjoyed every time I take it for a spin….That is Eric Clapton’s “Backless” 1978 RSO Records …TX…D

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  • Between the Buried and Me – Colors

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  • Led Zeppelin
    Led Zeppelin II
    Led Zeppelin III
    Led Zeppelin IV
    Fully Completely
    Only By The Night
    Lateralus
    Appetite For Destruction

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  • Red Headed Stranger – Willie Nelson.

    Not in the right category but it is perfect.

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  • Unknown Pleasures – still considered to be a classic

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  • Ten – Pearl Jam.

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  • Sum 41’s “all killer no filler” is fantastic. I also really like The Heavy’s “the hurt and the merciless”. Honourable mention to USS’s “advanced basics”. Not sure it qualifies as a complete album but I could listen to it on loop for hours.

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  • London Calling – The Clash

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  • I’ll just throw in my standard top 3 “desert island” discs:

    Nebraska – Bruce Springsteen
    Alive 2007 – Daft Punk
    Undertow – Tool

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  • It was mentioned in the article but I thought of it before I read that part. The Cars debut album. I rediscovered it a few months back when I got it on vinyl. I had forgotten how incredible it is.

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  • Agree with many things already listed above. Also:
    Yes – Close to the Edge
    Almost every XTC album
    Rush – Moving Pictures
    M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
    Men Without Hats – Rhythm of Youth
    Seal – S/T 1
    Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Welcome to the Pleasuredome
    Cheap Trick – In Color
    Supertramp – Crisis? What Crisis?
    and of course…Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of War of the Worlds 🙂

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  • Wisconsin Death Trip from Static X
    I can listen to this album from start to finish over and over

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  • A Grand Don’t Come for Free – The Streets

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  • Led Zeppelin II
    KID A
    Exile on Main Street
    The Blue Room
    The Stone Roses
    The Unforgettable Fire
    Nothing’s Shocking
    “Express”
    Disintegration

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    • Oh, and
      It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
      Bitches Brew
      Rocket To Russia

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  • Rio – Duran Duran. Nine tracks of perfection, no filler.

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  • There are many, but Rage Against the Machine’s debut album is almost untouchable in this category.

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