Most 'complete' album…

As a complete album rather than simply a collection of individual songs that are all great, something that’s difficult to identify a distinct fragment of as anything other than a part of the album, or in that the fragment sounds alone and lost without the rest of the record – rambling definition! – I can’t see past Loveless. Just a beautiful record, perfectly self-contained. I doubt I could name more than three individual tracks without having to look, but I know every note on it.

BBC4 had a Friday night type programme the other week on the subject of the guitar riff which featured an – all too short – segment with Kevin Shields demonstrating how he built up the wall of noise, well worth finding on iplayer if you’re a fan.

I’ve seen MBV many times throughout their lifetime but always feel that their live show suffers a bit from simply being too loud, detracts from it a bit. Still amazing though.

Stop the thread!

Cougar – Moderator

A few people have said Appetite for Destruction. I’d perhaps think that the Use Your Illusion double was a more complete (pair of) albums. Appetite is a stone cold classic and arguably “better”, but Illusion is far more comprehensive and coherent as a piece of musical art as opposed to Appetite’s collection of single-worthy tracks.

(can open, worms all over the place)

What?! Really?!

IMO it’s a handful of (half?)decent tracks and LOADS of B-sides!

Just remembered
Joe Jackson – Look Sharp!
Elvis Costelloe – Armed Forces.

As nobody has said it yet…

Massive Attack – Blue Lines

So much more than just Unfinished Sympathy, as attested to by the fact I often get ‘the big wheel, keeps on turning’ stuck in my head while grinding up a hill on a singlespeed 29’er.

And you will know us by the trail of dead – Worlds Apart
Therapy ? Troublegum.
36 Crazyfists – Snowcapped Romance.
New Race – First and Last.

No wonder I’ve got tinnitus.

Iron Maiden – Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.

So many great shouts, my faith in STW membership is being rejuvenated by musical taste alone.

FNM
Beck
Lou Reed
Dylan
Pumpkins
Doors
Stones
Beatles
Massive Attack
Kraftwerk
Ramones
Fleetwood Mac
even Bill Callahan (inspired shout) all represented and I concur with them all and many others.

May I add:
Paul’s Boutique
Led Zep I,II,III,IV
The Real Thing
Reflektor/Suburbs/Funeral
A nods as good as a wink (to a horse)
The Stooges
Sticky Fingers
The Soft Bulletin
Let’s Dance (seriously!)
Sea Change
The Downward Spiral

Man I could go on. I’m going to source every suggestion on this thread that I havent already heard/don’t already own.
Ain’t moosic great?

Best of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac…

Listen to the guy losing his mind thru his lyrics Dammn

Wait, forgot Murray Street.

Best of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac…

Ah yes. The only REAL Fleewood Mac.

Ooooh, Murray St!

And Daydream Nation/Sister

Doves – Lost Souls/ Last Broadcast.

Led Zep 1 to 4? Physical Graffiti is easily their most complete album, although perhaps that is because half of it is from sessions for the previous five albums. Complete in this case meaning covering the most range of musical styles and influences.

Anyhow, these threads are subjective so I’m out. Just like my Zep!

The Cinematic Orchestra – Ma Fleur

The_Cinematic_Orchestra_Ma_Fleur

Have I missed something here? For me, at least, a “complete” album is one where every single track is worth a serious listen. Most of my extensive collection (on flac, BTW) comprises albums where I only ever listen to a couple of tracks.

That’s my take on it too oldboy – or where “artistically” the album works ideally in its entirety (good ol’ prog concept albums?). The ones I’ve suggested are those where I have to play the whole thing.

Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, great album end to end.
Sasha and Digweed Northern Exposure may be a bit out as it’s a mix, brilliant for the time and genre though. Few mixes are that good.
The Suburbs by Arcade Fire is a good call too.

Older stuff, Led Zep 4 maybe.

oldboy – Member
Have I missed something here? For me, at least, a “complete” album is one where every single track is worth a serious listen. Most of my extensive collection (on flac, BTW) comprises albums where I only ever listen to a couple of tracks.

slowoldman – Member
That’s my take on it too oldboy – or where “artistically” the album works ideally in its entirety (good ol’ prog concept albums?). The ones I’ve suggested are those where I have to play the whole thing.
That’s pretty much what I said, and it applies to all of the albums I’ve mentioned, and a fair few listed by others.
Of course there are loads with stand-out tracks, with largely fillers, but the whole point of the thread is as oldboy says, odd though that it’s taken six pages for oldboy to notice… 😉
One of the advantages of downloads is I can cherry-pick the tracks I like from albums that I wouldn’t otherwise consider buying.
That may not please artists who consider their album as sacrosanct, and should only be considered as one entity, but I couldn’t give a toss about that; if there’s only a couple of tracks on an album that tickle my (musical) taste buds, then I’m not buying the whole thing to satisfy someone’s ego.
Looking forward to a bunch of new albums this year that’ll probably get played from beginning to end for ages, The Staves new one is looking very promising indeed.

Don’t laugh now I love The Bends but for me it has to be City to City by Gerry Rafferty. Not a bad song on that album but Right down the line gets me every time. As for song writing craft he can’t be beaten.

Does Jeff Waynes War of the Worlds count ?

If not then Dark side of the Moon has it for me .

Dog man star – fits the bill

Add Back in the DHSS by Half man Half Biscuit and Script of the Bridge by the Chameleons…….minor classics, rather listen to them than dark side of hell or bat out of the moon!

Screamadelica or maybe Tales of the Inexpressible

I disagree with a few of the comments above: a “complete” album is more than the sum of its tracks, if you ask me.

I think it comes down to track order, pacing, overall concept, artwork, lyrics etc.

There are a lot of albums where all the tracks are listenable and enjoyable, but “complete” albums take that to the next level.

Bikebouy-Agree with Ray Lamontange, Trouble

Would add:

John Martyn-Solid Air
Alison Krauss-Lonely Runs Both Ways
They Might Be Giants-Flood
Wonderstuff-Hup
Dr Octagon-Dr Octagonolygist

30 Something by Carter.
Liking the shouts for PWEI and The The too.

My votes are:

Peral Jam – Tem
Alice in Chains – Dirt (so much better than anything by Nirvana)
Metallica – Ride the Lightning (I know Puppets is supposed to be their masterpiece but I bloddy hate the Thing That Should Not Be)
System of a Down – self titled
Slipknot – self titled
Devil Driver – The Last Kind Words Ever
Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power
KoRn – KoRn
Slayer – Reign in Blood
Faith No More – Real Thing

Are you experienced by Jimi, its chock full of great stuff and it’s a first album which staggers me even to this day

I blame mindmap for killing this thread.

I see the shout for Yoshimi – and raise you Soft Bulletin , for me, the most complete Flaming Lips album

So today I bought the White Stripes, White Blood Cells; Grandaddy, the Software Slump and the Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots all on vinyl as a result of this thread 🙂

If these trees could talk “Red Forest”

Nice! I have 3 copies of Yoshimi on vinyl including an original Warner and the red pressing. Enjoy !

The most complete albums on my list lately

Tortoise – TNT
The Olivia Tremor Control – Dusk At Cubist Castle
Moderat – Moderat

Loving The Sophtware Slump, how have I never heard of this?!? 🙂

Alice in Chains – Dirt (so much better than anything by Nirvana)

Yeah, ok. Except Alice in Chains were shit.

Yeah, ok. Except Alice in Chains were shit.

Wrrrrroooonnngggggggggg!!!!!!!!

Magnolia Electric Co. By Songs Ohio. Amazing album and so good they renamed the band after the Album subsequently. Just a shame Jason Molina drank himself to death a couple of years ago.

Living Colour – Stain.

Yes – Close to the edge, drama.

Genesis – Selling England, trick of the tsil.

Goldfrapp – Black Cherry

Elbow – Seldom seen kid.

Jack Lancaster and Robin Lumley – marscape (Phil Collins drumming is immense).

Soulwax – Much against everyones advice.

Money Mark – Push the button.

I still don’t know whether Loveless is Genius or a total con job.

So today I bought the White Stripes, White Blood Cells; Grandaddy, the Software Slump and the Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots all on vinyl as a result of this thread

That’s a mighty fine selection of albums…happy listening.

Loving The Sophtware Slump, how have I never heard of this?!?

Under the Western Freeway by Grandaddy is also pretty awesome.

If what we are really talking about is albums that seem to be a single entity rather than a collection of songs, and after seeing it performed live on Monday I’d add Psychcandy