I usually use the genius feature in situations like this, but as I searched for some tunes, I decided that I wanted to find an entire album to listen to front to back. This is rare for me as even the best albums usually have their stinkers buried near the end of the album. However, a quick run through yielded a few albums from different genres that I would call "perfect albums" in that they have no songs that are perennial skip 'ems and that each song compliments and fits with all the other tracks. My mission over the next few days is to roll back through each of these great albums first track to last at some point.
My Three Favorite "Perfect Albums" From the Alternative Rock Genre.
3. Parachutes by Coldplay
About a year before they completely blew up with "Yellow," I recall seeing Coldplay on an MTV2 special. "Shiver" was just starting to gain some traction the buzz around these guys was just beginning here in the states. As they played the entire album on that show, I most recall being engaged by the simplicity of the songs and the raw presentation of the music. Guitars went out of tune occasionally, the mix wasn't great, and there were no tracks or loops to fill out the parts being played by the foursome on stage, but there was something beautiful in the muted urgency that ran through each and every song, knitting them together into a seamless package. On the next album, Coldplay started slowly moving away from that to a more polished, bombastic, produced sound that characterized the last two albums. Don't get me wrong, I like the last three albums, but where Parachutes has ten songs that all seem to work together, every album since has had "The Song" accompanied by a few other gems and been rounded out by nice, forgettable tunes.
2. The Blue Album by Weezer
This one was a no-brainer for me and I'm sure many of those who were anywhere from 12-20 when "Buddy Holly" hit the airwaves would agree. This album is arguably one of the most fun albums of all time. From the moment the wall of sound smashes in on the word "Jonas," the album flies through songs whose bouncy feel and quirky lyrics reek of a good time. Even the serious content of "Say It Ain't So" somehow feels right when sung at the top of your lungs with the windows down. I think the best part of the whole thing is that though they're singing about how awesome Ace Frehley is and riding a sufboard to work, you actually feel like these guys are 100% serious. These dudes were passionate about someone destroying their sweaters and that passion was contagious. I firmly believe that this band definitely peaked on the follow-up (Pinkerton), but I would also be the first to admit that while Pinkerton had some of the best stuff they ever did, Weezer's most complete work was (and will always be) The Blue Album.
1. OK Computer by Radiohead
Radiohead is one of those bands that long ago cemented the kind of blind following that allows a band to pretty much do whatever they want. Thom Yorke could record a double-live album of complete silence and the critics/fans would eat it up. However, prior to OK Computer, they were rising alternative-rock darlings whose music was still pretty palatable for mainstream audiences. OK Computer was where their melodic sensibility shown in on Pablo Honey and The Bends meshed perfectly with their experimental leanings that have been more evident as their career has gone on. While the band denies that this album was a "concept" album, the songs all seem to fit together as if they were all parts of a puzzle...even "Fitter Happier" which is more of a track than a "song." This album is so good that it was one of three cassette tapes that I carried in my Toyota for the ten years I had it (the other two? Ray Stevens' Greatest Hits and A Statler Brothers' Christmas).
Effective Score: 6/10
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