Music: Does an album exist where every track is truly outstanding? (not just good or great)

[Shareefruck]

Just want to get a gauge on this. Sometimes when I'm looking for recommendations, it feels like people will call an album a perfect masterpiece even if they acknowledge that it includes lesser/humbler tracks that they don't think as highly of but still see some merit in, as long as it doesn't hurt the flow of the album. I'm not calling that unreasonable, but let's say that this standard isn't good enough to qualify for what we're talking about here. Do any albums exist where without exception, every track is a perfect highlight/standout, even in isolation, in your eyes? Not just "every song is enjoyable and can be played on the radio." I mean where even the weakest track could be considered a brilliant and flawless stand-out/best track on an incredible album.

If the answer is no, don't reach to find something close, just say that you don't think there are any. Otherwise, list them. Be as critical as possible.

Really curious about what people's honest perception of this is. Do you think that there are tons, just a handful, or do you just accept that nothing is quite that thorough?

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[Eisen]

Just want to get a gauge on this. Sometimes when I'm looking for recommendations, it feels like people will call an album a perfect masterpiece even if they acknowledge that it includes lesser/humbler tracks that they don't think as highly of but still see some merit in, as long as it doesn't hurt the flow of the album. I'm not calling that unreasonable, but let's say that this standard isn't good enough to qualify for what we're talking about here. Do any albums exist where without exception, every track is a perfect highlight/standout, even in isolation, in your eyes? Not just "every song is enjoyable and can be played on the radio." I mean where even the weakest track could be considered a brilliant and flawless stand-out on an incredible album.

If the answer is no, don't reach to find something close, just say that you don't think there are any. Otherwise, list them. Be as critical as possible.

Really curious about what people's honest perception of this is. Do you think that there are tons, just a handful, or do you just accept that nothing is quite that thorough?

They are rare. I only have a handful.
Weezer - Pinkerton
Iron Maiden - Powerslave
Scumbucket - Finistra
New Model Army - No Rest for the Wicked

That's all I can think of right now. I have probably more.

 

[MakeTheGoalsLarger]

sounds like a psychology exercise. You are only going to get albums from some selected types of people. And I'm not one of them. If I really answer the question as it is asked, I have to answer : NO

 

[Stylizer1]

Thriller
Illmatic

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Thriller
Illmatic

x2

Pet Sounds
Boston (debut)
The Cars (debut)
Master of Puppets
Downward Spiral
Dirt

IMO, Hellbilly Deluxe and Dookie. Though I bet I'll get push back on those

 

[Vilbers]

I would go with
Queens of The Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork

 

[Jumptheshark]

Acdc back in black, highway to hell, let there be rock and power age

Eagles. Hotel California

Spirit of the west tripping up the stairs.

 

[Unholy Diver]

Traveling Wilburys Vol 1

 

[bigdirty]

Talking Heads have come close I'd say. To me, Remain in Light and Speaking in Tongues are two of the best albums ever front to back. Now I'll have to go give them another listen and see if they really are as good as I think

 

[SepticFish]

Is it cheating to say Thick as a Brick?

 

[ManwithNoIdentity]

Dark Side of the Moon

 

[Deadpool8812]

Appetite for Destruction

 

[kook10]

Dark Side
Sticky Fingers
Revolver

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

I feel that most of my favorite albums put the bar high enough that even the "weaker" songs are way better than most artists/bands' discographies... In that regard, I think there should be quite a handful of albums meeting here demands. I just listened to Nina Simone's Pastel Blues. That's one.

 

[davemess]

Southeastern - Jason Isbell

At various times over the years every track has been my favourite off this album

 

[kihei]

Kind of Blue--Miles Davis
Loveless--My Bloody Valentine

 

[belair]

No.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Gorillaz: Demon Days
Tame Impala: Lonerism

Off the top of my head. I'll add more as they come to me

Edit: Actually, I think there's plenty of good/great complete albums. Obviously it's all subjective and most may not qualify as "outstanding" but that may bee too rigid of a distinction (no offense Sharee).

Was just talking about this with my wife last night actually. Maybe it's nostalgia, but it seems like newer music focuses less on making a complete album experience now and it's more about the singles and hits. I'm not sure if this is just me being an old man yelling at a cloud type of thing or not.

 

[Mikeaveli]

I think Tago Mago is the only one that really fits that description for me. Most of my other favourite records, while I still think every track on them is excellent, they have tracks that are obviously not standouts when compared to the peaks of the track listing (the title track on Pet Sounds, Design: 1 on Velocity: Design: Comfort, etc.)

Tago Mago is the only album where it reaches such a high peak and also literally any track on it could be my favourite at any given moment. Here Come the Warm Jets also comes close, though it's interesting to me that I probably still prefer VDC over both of those records.

 

[Babe Ruth]

Appetite for Destruction

Agreed. and best album of the 80s, my opinion..

 

[Mikeaveli]

Gorillaz: Demon Days
Tame Impala: Lonerism

Off the top of my head. I'll add more as they come to me

Edit: Actually, I think there's plenty of good/great complete albums. Obviously it's all subjective and most may not qualify as "outstanding" but that may bee too rigid of a distinction (no offense Sharee).

Was just talking about this with my wife last night actually. Maybe it's nostalgia, but it seems like newer music focuses less on making a complete album experience now and it's more about the singles and hits. I'm not sure if this is just me being an old man yelling at a cloud type of thing or not.

You're absolutely right there. A lot of modern artists are making an effort to get that viral single instead of releasing an excellent record, almost like how popular music was before the 1960s. It has also become a trend to just load up an album with 24 tracks to get more streams instead of trimming the album down to its best songs.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Appetite for Destruction

They should have kept shadow of love on it

 

[Oxbow Lakes]

I think Future Days by Can is the one closest to this for me, ”Moonshake” being the ’weakest link’ (still a great little track!) Others that come to mind are Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth, Any Other City by Life Without Buildings and The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, all of them being consistently great thoroughly. Can’t say every track is outstanding though about any album I’ve heard... guess I’m being just picky

EDIT: Yeah, so I definitely should have read the OP... No, i don’t think there is an album like that.

 

[Oxbow Lakes]

I think Tago Mago is the only one that really fits that description for me.

Even ”Aumgn” and ”Peking O.”? Not trying to challenge you or anything, just curious. They are rather divisive tracks for the fans, after all.

 

[Deadpool8812]

They should have kept shadow of love on it

Yeah it was just a B-side back in its original release in 87