a perfect album

[ironymaiden]

there are a very few perfect albums in the world. they're a combination of artistic merit and association, ones that every song is a gem, or bridges so neatly to the next gem that you don't care. i can think of several in my collection, Paul SimonGraceland, Peter GabrielUsandSo, StingTen Summoner's Tales, on and on. i've had at least two drop out of my life for lack of relevance (i'm not quite so angry these days) nine inch nails pretty hate machine and Liz Phair Exile in Guyville.

tonight i finally got M&C into Easy Street, and i proceeded to pick up a couple gems that i was missing. i'm listening to Annie Lennox Diva, and it is just as good as i remembered. it helps that i first heard it in France, but she still can turn a phrase that melts me.

Catch me and let me dive under
For i want to swim in the pools of your eyes

anyone else got a perfect/near perfect album? was it how you found it, the music or what it said?


(confidential to frabjousdave C checked, it is officially 43,112)

Comments

[frabjousdave.livejournal.com]

I had to stare at that for ten seconds, thinking, "Is this TMI again?" before realizing what you meant.

Congrats to C!

[livingdeadpan.livejournal.com]

For me it's almost always the music. That's what my mind focuses on.

Anyway, in the last five years, at least, it'd be

Badly Drawn Boy, Bewilderbeast
Guster, Keep It Together

[kraftdinnermom.livejournal.com]

I have a few, but the two that come to mind are U2's "All That You Can't Leave Behind" and Sting's "Sacred Love." Ah heck, here's a third, Peter Gabriel's "Us."

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

Must agree with you about "Diva." I also still think that "Dark Side of the Moon" and "Abbey Road" are perfect. And maybe Counting Crows' "August and Everything After," but I've already sung its praises in my LJ.

Near-miss: Santana's "Supernatural," mainly because as big a fan I am of Eric Clapton, I really dislike the duet they play on this disc; it has no cohesion, feels as though it meanders. Everything else, though, is spot-on, which is why it's so frustrating. I could give Clapton a pass just for being Clapton except...this felt too, well, pointless.

Albums

[raevnos.livejournal.com]

U2's The Joshua Tree. Both the music and meaning. Almost everything from Dave Matthews, Tori Amos and Counting Crows comes close to perfect too.

[scarletbronte.livejournal.com]

Blue by Joni Mitchell. So complex, so jazzy, so heartbreaking.

Patsy Cline Greatest Hits - this woman's vocal range is astonishing. So was Yma Sumac's, but she is so hard to find.

The Shirelles Greatest Hits- no one says pop like these gals.

KD Lang - anything by her, but I do really believe she is PC reincarnate.

Gregorian Chants - hard to fault.

Pavrotti and anybody singing anything - I especially like his Butterfly.

It's a Beautiful Day - also hard to find, but such a feel-good album.

god. this list makes me feel so middle-aged.