5 Star Albums: Every Song

storymilo · 12-14-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickenbacker

I guess that which comes closest is R.E.M.'s "Reckoning," but mind you that doesn't mean it's my favorite album ever. It's just very consistently excellent.

Actually a couple of R.E.M's albums are very consistent I thought. Automatic For The People didn't really have a bad track imo.

Rickenbacker · 12-14-2009, 06:35 PM

Oh believe me if anyone is going to go on and on about how consistent R.E.M. is it's me. I'd say that the overwhelming majority of their albums are great, and their first five records especially are consistently fantastic track to track, but Reckoning stands out not as their best album, but as their best collection of essentially perfect pop songs that can hold their own when viewed separately.

The same could be said about Automatic if it weren't for the instrumental number, which while I think is perfectly suited to the mood of the album, is not a great track on its own. And Ignoreland isn't that great either.

storymilo · 12-14-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickenbacker

Oh believe me if anyone is going to go on and on about how consistent R.E.M. is it's me. I'd say that the overwhelming majority of their albums are great, and their first five records especially are consistently fantastic track to track, but Reckoning stands out not as their best album, but as their best collection of essentially perfect pop songs that can hold their own when viewed separately.

The same could be said about Automatic if it weren't for the instrumental number, which while I think is perfectly suited to the mood of the album, is not a great track on its own. And Ignoreland isn't that great either.

Yeah I can see what you are saying. I don't really like this criteria here though.... I don't think that to be a five star album every song has to be 5 stars on its own. But that's just a gripe with the OP, not you.

Also Ignoreland was actually one of my favorites on the album.

Rickenbacker · 12-14-2009, 06:43 PM

The way I see it is that each song on an album has to be great on its own. There's a fine line between an album like this and an album that just flows so perfectly and works so well that it's really one entity rather than a collection of songs, but an important line to recognize nonetheless.

dac · 12-14-2009, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

I think it fits fine in that album.

For me Electioneering spoils it. It just sounds like some knockoff they had leftover from The Bends

Yepyepyep.

GuitarBizarre · 12-14-2009, 08:47 PM

Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet

Probably one of the best albums I have ever heard.

Also, its kind of cheating, since its a one-song album, but The Incident is similarly fantastic, given a few listens.

**Janszoon** · 12-14-2009, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by storymilo

Actually a couple of R.E.M's albums are very consistent I thought. Automatic For The People didn't really have a bad track imo.

It's a great album but "Star Me Kitten" is definitely the weak link.

storymilo · 12-14-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

It's a great album but "Star Me Kitten" is definitely the weak link.

It could be, but I didn't really think it was a bad song. As I said before, I don't really think there's a bad track on the album. It's probably my favorite R.E.M. album that I've listened to.

Rickenbacker · 12-14-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

It's a great album but "Star Me Kitten" is definitely the weak link.

I think it's absolutely melancholy. And in the closing line he says "**** me," so that's all well and good.

noise · 12-15-2009, 08:56 AM

jawbreaker - dear you
dj shadow - endtroducing
oingo boingo - dead man's party

12-14-2009, 06:35 PM	#62 (permalink)
Rickenbacker / Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Conn Posts: 1,338	Oh believe me if anyone is going to go on and on about how consistent R.E.M. is it's me. I'd say that the overwhelming majority of their albums are great, and their first five records especially are consistently fantastic track to track, but Reckoning stands out not as their best album, but as their best collection of essentially perfect pop songs that can hold their own when viewed separately. The same could be said about Automatic if it weren't for the instrumental number, which while I think is perfectly suited to the mood of the album, is not a great track on its own. And Ignoreland isn't that great either. __________________ last.fm rym Talk About the Passion - R.E.M.'s Discography Reviewed

12-14-2009, 06:43 PM	#64 (permalink)
Rickenbacker / Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Conn Posts: 1,338	The way I see it is that each song on an album has to be great on its own. There's a fine line between an album like this and an album that just flows so perfectly and works so well that it's really one entity rather than a collection of songs, but an important line to recognize nonetheless. __________________ last.fm rym Talk About the Passion - R.E.M.'s Discography Reviewed

12-15-2009, 08:56 AM	#70 (permalink)
noise thirsty ears Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Boulder Posts: 742	jawbreaker - dear you dj shadow - endtroducing oingo boingo - dead man's party __________________ my flac collection