What makes a truly great album?

Originally posted by BobbyD
True, but.....no one would dare consider her albums to be amongst the best of all time. So w/o a nomination, none of her albums would ever enter the equation. See what I mean?

Not really. There probably are people that consider her Albums to be the best. And by your equation she'd beat every decent band of the last 50 years...maybe short of the Beatles.

Great, is something different....that's for sure.

I suppose, Bardock. But then someone nominating any of her albums I would see as someone who hasn't been around long enough to experience the many tastes and sounds of great music, or in this case has experienced other great albums.

Originally posted by BobbyD
I suppose, Bardock. But then someone nominating any of her albums I would see as someone who hasn't been around long enough to experience the many tastes and sounds of great music, or in this case has experienced other great albums.

You are correct as much as I want to disagree with what you just said. 😉

Originally posted by BobbyD
IMO AC, I think there are several criteria that make a good album, and then I will give you an example of one....again in IMO, of one that fits the criteria.

The criteria are as follows, not in any order:
a) sales
b) quantity of songs that made it "mainstream"- (not necessarily some top 40 music chart either)
c) longevity of the songs- (aka-do they still get air time on the radio)
d) longevity of the band- (do people know who the heck they are)

Lastly, bonus points awarded if the album revolutionized music or pioneered a new genre

An example for me would be the Beatles Sgt. Peppers.

So I guess all underground music is rubbish 💃

Yes but if you can stop ruining the thread with things we already know. We all know that in terms of what we hear, everything is subjective. This needn't be debated, we all know it. Good? Great.

No 12 year old girls will be debating here, so if anyone would like to mention sensible suggestions I'd be grateful. Sales and popularity don't equal greatness to anyone with sense or in relation to the quality of the music. Which is what the thread is about.

-AC

Well, I think I know what you're trying to achieve AC, but I'm not so sure it's possible. Would not sales be a good representation of what people think IS good music?

Ok, Ill try and specify some criteria:

1: Great songs
2: Good flow (the songs have to be ordered in a way that it doesnt get repetive or boring)
3: The album has to feel unified, no song must feel out of place.
4: The album is so memorable that you never forget how the album sounds and you can hear the music in your head at any time.

Those are pretty much conditions that have to be met by an album for it to be truly great.

And another thing, lyrics are a nice bonus but I judge greatness purely based on the music.

I will give probs to albums that created or inspired a new genre. But by no means is that enough to make it a great album. In the end, Its all about the music.

Originally posted by BobbyD
Well, I think I know what you're trying to achieve AC, but I'm not so sure it's possible. Would not sales be a good representation of what people think IS good music?

Who is talking about what PEOPLE think? I'm talking about posters on this board posting their opinion of what makes a great album. It's quite clear to anyone with taste that I'm not referring to sales or popularity.

I thought that was obvious (it was).

Disclaimer for those with a lack of anything: The only criteria here is that it be about musical quality in YOUR opinion with regards to what makes a great album to you.

I'll never understand why, when someone makes a reasonable thread, there need be two pages explaining what it's about.

-AC

Well AC, I did give my opinion. Forgive me, if I interpreted what you meant differently.

All you did was respond with the Britney Spears comment. 🙁

If you're looking for what makes a "technically" great album, maybe the thread should have been written differently? If I'm still wrong, then my tastes for what makes something great are different than your tastes for what makes something great, no?

There is no reason to be upset, my friend.

No upset, just bewilderment at how the simplest of tasks is made into an arduous one.

Let's start again:

What makes a great album TO YOU? Not what you think makes a great album universally.

-AC

Well namely, does it have SEVERAL songs (at least half of which) that have a combination of the following: fun to listen to/catchy, possess good sound, have good rythms, good beats, good lyrics, good singing, well played instrumentation, and lastly, perhaps is it inspirational/moving?

To ME, that's what makes a good album. Example GNR's Appetite for Destruction, though I'd also include many others.

Did I do better, AC?

More like it 🙂.

-AC

One word: gestalt.

What makes an album great to me? - If I like it! Self explanatory really, my perception of the pleasure it engenders from me. 🙂

a truely great album has to be able to span decades without sounding dated and easily identifiable as part of a music movement as these things tend to constrict an albums ability to appeal over a long period of time

take guns n roses for example...appetite for destruction is a superb album but while it still sounds good...it also sounds dated

so for me a great album that is timeless would be "blue" by joni mitchell

Great choice. I think a more commendable achievement is also sounding timeless at the time of release.

A lot of Weezer stuff is like that.

-AC