What Makes An Album A Classic Album? - Music Banter Music Banter

Go Back   Music Banter > The Music Forums > General Music
Register Blogging Today's Posts
Welcome to Music Banter Forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with over 70,000 other registered members. After you create your free account, you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 1,100,000 posts.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-27-2018, 03:12 PM   #1 (permalink)
Born to be mild
 
Trollheart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: 404 Not Found
Posts: 26,994
Default What Makes An Album A Classic Album?

Obviously there would not be a single answer, but what's your opinion? What elevates an album to the status of classic, either in your own estimation or in the worldview of music fans in general? And while we're at it, are there any albums considered classic that you think do not deserve the honour?
__________________
Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018
Trollheart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2018, 03:25 PM   #2 (permalink)
SOPHIE FOREVER
 
Frownland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: East of the Southern North American West
Posts: 35,541
Default

Basically, it has to have a significant impact on its genre. That can either be through innovating on/inventing the genre or by having crossover appeal and bringing new life to the genre. Not only that, it has to be recognized as well. You can invent a genre, but if another band in your town carries that genre forward without pointing at where they got it from, they're more likely to gain that status as the genre classic.

I don't let how much I enjoy an album influence whether or not I consider it a classic, or at least ideally I don't. This is one of the few instances in music where you'll see me give popularity credibility as a relevant factor.
__________________
Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Frownland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2018, 03:28 PM   #3 (permalink)
one-balled nipple jockey
 
OccultHawk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Dirty Souf Biatch
Posts: 22,006
Default

There’s only one criterion:

Have I declared its unassailability?
__________________

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion

Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND:

https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

OccultHawk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2018, 03:30 PM   #4 (permalink)
SOPHIE FOREVER
 
Frownland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: East of the Southern North American West
Posts: 35,541
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by OccultHawk View Post
There’s only one criterion:

Have I declared its unassailability?
Wrong thread

What Makes An Album A Good Album?
__________________
Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Frownland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2018, 04:53 PM   #5 (permalink)
carpe musicam
 
Neapolitan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Les Barricades Mystérieuses
Posts: 7,710
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Trollheart View Post
Obviously there would not be a single answer, but what's your opinion? What elevates an album to the status of classic, either in your own estimation or in the worldview of music fans in general? And while we're at it, are there any albums considered classic that you think do not deserve the honour?
It's a "Classic" if you never get tired of listening to the album. An album you can always go back to. An album you always have a fond memory of even if you haven't heard it in a while.

It's "Groundbreaking" would be what Frownland said here:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frownland View Post
Basically, it has to have a significant impact on its genre. That can either be through innovating on/inventing the genre or by having crossover appeal and bringing new life to the genre.
Most bands don't invent a "genre" It's more likely they are part of movement where the critics or the public see a shift in the evolution of music. And it's more likely to be just a sub-genre.

I've seem people call obscure albums (that are of no consequence to public) "classic" so there are instances where it can be used subjectively. "Classic" can also be used as if there is some kind of object truth behind calling an album a classic, like VH1 Album Classics series. Rolling Stone has their Greatest Albums of All Time and that is basically what Frownland is saying here:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frownland View Post
I don't let how much I enjoy an album influence whether or not I consider it a classic, or at least ideally I don't. This is one of the few instances in music where you'll see me give popularity credibility as a relevant factor.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frownland View Post
Not only that, it has to be recognized as well. You can invent a genre, but if another band in your town carries that genre forward without pointing at where they got it from, they're more likely to gain that status as the genre classic.
People only understand history if it is presented as a great man theory. So there is this need for a "flag ship" band paving the way with a groundbreaking album ... whatever. And some bands miss the ship to be known as the first, but people will find out years later.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by mord View Post
Actually, I like you a lot, Nea. That's why I treat you like ****. It's the MB way.

"it counts in our hearts" ?ºº?
“I have nothing to offer anybody, except my own confusion.” Jack Kerouac.
“If one listens to the wrong kind of music, he will become the wrong kind of person.” Aristotle.
"If you tried to give Rock and Roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry'." John Lennon
"I look for ambiguity when I'm writing because life is ambiguous." Keith Richards
Neapolitan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2018, 04:56 PM   #6 (permalink)
Account Disabled
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Aalborg
Posts: 7,634
Default

I think it's an inarguable fact that a lot of albums that even music geeks frown at now will be future classics. In that way, old music has it easy when it comes to getting respect.
MicShazam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2018, 04:57 PM   #7 (permalink)
one-balled nipple jockey
 
OccultHawk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Dirty Souf Biatch
Posts: 22,006
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MicShazam View Post
I think it's an inarguable fact that a lot of albums that even music geeks frown at now will be future classics. In that way, old music has it easy when it comes to getting respect.
Name one
__________________

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion

Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND:

https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

OccultHawk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2018, 04:58 PM   #8 (permalink)
SOPHIE FOREVER
 
Frownland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: East of the Southern North American West
Posts: 35,541
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by OccultHawk View Post
Name one
Damn.
__________________
Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

Frownland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2018, 05:01 PM   #9 (permalink)
Account Disabled
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Aalborg
Posts: 7,634
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by OccultHawk View Post
Name one
I can't. Cause there's no way of knowing for sure what will inspire imitators, new genres, etc. Many future classics will be indistinguishable from artistic dead ends in the present.
MicShazam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2018, 05:04 PM   #10 (permalink)
one-balled nipple jockey
 
OccultHawk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Dirty Souf Biatch
Posts: 22,006
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Frownland View Post
Damn.
Oh yeah KL is really hated on.

Nap time!
__________________

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion

Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND:

https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

OccultHawk is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Similar Threads



© 2003-2024 Advameg, Inc.