Tommy Sawyer Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 What do you guys think? In my opinion, a perfect double album is impossible to make. By perfect I mean in the leagues of Wish You Were Here, Close to the Edge, Hemispheres, Moving Pictures, etc - NO WASTED TIME and NO FILLER. Can you really think of a full, 90-minute double album with no time wasted? Sure, some come close, some even have about 1.5 albums (60 min) worth of good material, such as...Tales from Topographic Oceans - The Ancient drags a bit in the middle, as well as The Revealing Science of GodThe Lamb Lies Down on Broadway - The middle of Disc 2 drags, after Anyways, but picks up again at the Light Lies Down...Quadrophenia - some 'forgettable' songs mixed in with the classics Others have about a one albums' worth, or a bit more... (45-50 min) Physical Graffiti - may deserve the category aboveThe Wall - SO MUCH MUSICAL FILLER, once you get past the storyline Am I missing any big ones? Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColdFireYYZ Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Some double albums (studio only) that are pretty close to perfect: Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning Amplifier - The Octopus Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway The Who - Quadrophenia Frank Zappa - Sheik Yerbouti Marillion - Marbles (double album version) Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage (triple album) Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (Dream Theater) and Snow (Spock's Beard) are all really good but both have 1-3 tracks I don't care for. So no, I don't think a perfect double album is impossible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Sawyer Posted December 8, 2011 Author Share Posted December 8, 2011 QUOTE (ColdFireYYZ @ Dec 7 2011, 11:44 PM) Some double albums (studio only) that are pretty close to perfect: Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning Amplifier - The Octopus Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway The Who - Quadrophenia Frank Zappa - Sheik Yerbouti Marillion - Marbles (double album version) Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage (triple album) Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (Dream Theater) and Snow (Spock's Beard) are all really good but both have 1-3 tracks I don't care for. So no, I don't think a perfect double album is impossible. That's my point. Some are close, but non have achieved the perfection like the albums I mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good,bad,andrush Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Well i don't know, there's not a second of the lamb I don't love, but I can see why it would be dragged down. Grace for Drowning is just as perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColdFireYYZ Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 QUOTE (Tommy Sawyer @ Dec 7 2011, 11:49 PM)QUOTE (ColdFireYYZ @ Dec 7 2011, 11:44 PM) Some double albums (studio only) that are pretty close to perfect: Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning Amplifier - The Octopus Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway The Who - Quadrophenia Frank Zappa - Sheik Yerbouti Marillion - Marbles (double album version) Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage (triple album) Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (Dream Theater) and Snow (Spock's Beard) are all really good but both have 1-3 tracks I don't care for. So no, I don't think a perfect double album is impossible. That's my point. Some are close, but non have achieved the perfection like the albums I mentioned. But I don't think that its impossible to make a perfect double album. I just haven't listened to enough double albums to know. The ones I listed were the closest to perfect that I've heard. Grace For Drowning is very, very close to perfection. Since its a new album, I want to give it a few more months before I come to any conclusions but I think it may be the only truly perfect double album I've come across. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReRushed Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 The greatest rock album of all-time - London Calling There's nothing pretentious or forced about it. No overblown concepts and storytelling. Everything belongs, everything flows. Albeit, it's only 60 minutes long. But a glorious perfect 60 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadwing2112 Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 QUOTE (ReRushed @ Dec 8 2011, 12:02 AM) The greatest rock album of all-time - London Calling There's nothing pretentious or forced about it. No overblown concepts and storytelling. Everything belongs, everything flows. Albeit, it's only 60 minutes long. But a glorious perfect 60 minutes. Amen. Absolutely nothing was wasted on London Calling. Everything about that album screams perfection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanadoood Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 QUOTE (deadwing2112 @ Dec 8 2011, 01:35 AM) QUOTE (ReRushed @ Dec 8 2011, 12:02 AM) The greatest rock album of all-time - London Calling There's nothing pretentious or forced about it. No overblown concepts and storytelling. Everything belongs, everything flows. Albeit, it's only 60 minutes long. But a glorious perfect 60 minutes. Amen. Absolutely nothing was wasted on London Calling. Everything about that album screams perfection. In my top 10. Just a perfect collection of songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
driventotheedge Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 The White Album is close.....if not for Revolution 9 it would be there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandDesigner Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins. For me, there's not a single weak/unnecessary moment. Not to mention there's about 28 outtakes from it that are also brilliant, and in some cases, better than the tracks that made it onto the album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushgoober Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Some absolute favorites: #1 - Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans #2 - Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Trout Mask Replica #3 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland #4 - Can - Tago Mago #5 - The Beatles - The White Album #6 - Jehtro Tull - Living in the Past #7 - Amon Duul II - Dance of the Lemmings #8 - Amon Duul II - Yeti #9 - Jimi Hendrix - First Rays of the New Rising Sun #10 - The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out! #11 - Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway #12 - Astra - The Weirding #13 - Pink Floyd - Ummagumma #14 - Miles Davis - Bitches Brew #15 - The Future Sound of London - Lifeforms #16 - George Harrison - All Things Must Pass #17 - The Who - Quadrophenia #18 - Pink Floyd - The Wall #19 - Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti #20 - Ozric Tentacles - Erpland #21 - Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde #22 - Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works - Volume 2 Not all are perfect all the way through, but the first 15 on that list I could make an argument for, with only some minor exceptions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akron162 Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Well, we all have our standards for the "perfection", so under my own standards, Focus III is the only double album i know that i can call perfect. But thats only on my own standards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick N. Backer Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 No one mentioned Exile on Main Street? Not only is that a perfect double album, the "extras" released last year with the Deluxe Edition make it a triple album that has no duds. I agree with driventotheedge that Revolution 9 hurts The Beatles. Shame, because that's my favorite studio album ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostworks Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 QUOTE (Akron162 @ Dec 8 2011, 09:49 AM) Well, we all have our standards for the "perfection", so under my own standards, Focus III is the only double album i know that i can call perfect. But thats only on my own standards. well said I'd have to elect Genesis' 'The Lamb', Miles Davis 'Bitches Brew' and David Sylvian's 'Gone To Earth' but that's with much personal prejudice (meaning I 'know' that none of them are perfect, just perfect for me) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circumstantial tree Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 well, I have the CD, but given the amount of tunes it would be a double album, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE all of Kate Bush' album "Aerial". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormtron Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e2/Songs_in_the_key_of_life.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theredtamasrule Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 The thing with a double album is that with so much material and time there's bound to be some rambling...some material not quite up to snuff. Physical Graffiti is, to me, in this category; such a wide range of material and styles but even though I love the album it's not a perfect mix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisible airwave Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 (edited) Got a crapload of favorites. old double albums that can fit on single CD now: Fleetwood - Tusk Who - Tommy Clash - London Calling RS - Exile on Main St. Dylan - Blonde On Blonde Jimi - Electric Ladyland Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation current double discs: Beatles - White Album Genesis - Lamb Lies Down On Broadway Zep - Physical Graffiti NIN - The Fragile B.I.G. - Life After Death Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below PF - The Wall Clash - Sandinista! Prince - Sign O The Times SP - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness Springsteen - The River Who - Quadrophenia Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Forever Edited December 8, 2011 by invisible airwave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
driventotheedge Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 QUOTE (Rick N. Backer @ Dec 8 2011, 07:54 AM) No one mentioned Exile on Main Street? Not only is that a perfect double album, the "extras" released last year with the Deluxe Edition make it a triple album that has no duds. I agree with driventotheedge that Revolution 9 hurts The Beatles. Shame, because that's my favorite studio album ever. Forgot about Exile. Great album. Great call Rick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Union 5-3992 Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 "All Things Must Pass" by George Harrison "Eat A Peach" by The Allman Brothers "Exile on Main Street" by The Rolling Stones "Grace For Drowning" By Steven Wilson "The Incident" by Porcupine Tree "Electric Ladyland" by Jimi Hendrix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostworks Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 QUOTE (Storm Shadow @ Dec 8 2011, 10:50 AM) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e2/Songs_in_the_key_of_life.jpg I love love this album, but couldn't honestly include it for two reasons one, it originally included a 7" with four extra tracks (so it's not a true double) two: Joy Inside My Tears Ngiculela - Es Una Historia - I Am Singing If It's Magic ^ perfection shot... but only just! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nappy2112 Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 I've never heard a perfect single album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fritz44 Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Since London Calling is my favourite album, it should be there, but no! I can't get away with Spanish Bombs. I know, I know many people love the track, but after the first 5 tracks, this just drops the pace too much for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReRushed Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 (edited) QUOTE (fritz44 @ Dec 10 2011, 02:45 AM) Since London Calling is my favourite album, it should be there, but no! I can't get away with Spanish Bombs. I know, I know many people love the track, but after the first 5 tracks, this just drops the pace too much for me. Really? It drops the pace? It's a toe tapper! Remember, "Spanish Bombs" kicks off side 2. And it does so gloriously. I can't help be sing along with the melody. Edited December 10, 2011 by ReRushed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Presto-digitation Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 THE WALL is perfect. Simply the best double studio effort to date and one of the only truly successful filler-less pieces I've heard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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