What are your A+ albums?
I was talking to ACWF this morning, and I mentioned that Get Behind Me Satan, the new White Stripes album, was about a B+ in my book. It was good, and I could probably listen to it a few times, but it’s not so good that I could go on listening to it forever without getting tired of it. Plus, there are a few songs that I think I might skip if I weren’t in the right mood.
So here’s how the ratings go:
A+: You could listen to this album eternally without skipping any songs
A: You could listen to this album for a long while, and maybe only skip a song once a month
A minus: You could listen to this album for a long while, regularly skipping one song
B+: You could listen to this album for a while, regularly skipping one song
B: You could listen to this album for a short while, regularly skipping one song
B minus: You could listen to this album for a short while, regularly skipping more than one song
C+: You could listen to this album once without skipping any songs
C: You could listen to this album once skipping one song.
C minus: You could listen to this album once skipping more than one song.
D+: There are a few good songs on this album. The rest is skipped.
D: There are 2 good songs, the rest is skipped.
D minus: There is one good song, the rest is garbage.
F: This album is unlistenable
So once again, what are your A+ albums? I couldn’t really think of any this morning, but now I’m thinking that Ruby Vroom by Soul Coughing might be up there. I’ll let you know if I think of any more.
james blunt- back to bedlam
the garden state soundtrack
so far that’s all i got…
“Loses Control” by Hey Mercedes.
I generally don’t skip songs unless I’m on the treadmill and the current tune is inappropriate for running. I have a lot of A albums that I would need to take out of the carousel after about 8 listens.
Even my favorite CDs in the world don’t make an A+…. I can’t listen to a whole CD of one group/person over and over, and I always have a song I can’t stand.
The first Franz Ferdinand album is an A+ for me. In fact, I get weirded out if I hear just one song from the album. I need to hear the whole thing or I feel discombobulated.
Avalon by Roxy Music is another A+ for the same reasons as Franz Ferdinand.
All other albums fit into various categories of listen to some songs; skip some.
ALL Hey Mercedes albums:) (CBK! Yay!)
Also, all 3 Muse albums.
Death Cab For Cutie- Plans
Suzanne Vega 99.9F
That’s the only one I can come up with right now.
A Tribe Called Quest - Peoples Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
Talking Heads - True Stories
All A to A+ albums for me.
i will not answer this question lest i be judged.
(ask me later)
Anything Otis Redding, Zepplin, Joplin, Natalie Merchant, Carol King, Pink Floyd, or Aerosmith. Oh I am sure that there are more…but that is enough of me revealing what a nerd I am.
Jam
I’ll have to think about this one tonight. I’m sure I can come up with a great list.
I will say two albums for sure are A+ for me: PJ Harvey Rid of Me, and To Bring You My Love.
I can probably come up with about 5 more.
to bring you my love is definately good.
Tool: Undertow
I just thought of that one.
Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz
also…
Rush - Moving Pictures
The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
AC/DC - Highway to Hell
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure Soundtrack
That question was A LOT easier to answer about fifteen years ago. I’d think too hard now.
Jimmie’s Chicken Shack - 2 for 1 special
Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
Nada Surf - Let’s Go
Beastie Boys - Paul’s Boutique
Brand New - Deja Entendu
N.W.A - Greatest Hits
Scarlet, I am shocked, SHOCKED!, to find another Hey Mecedes fan in the blogosphere! You are a needle in a haystack, and ultra cool.
hmmm…that is a STRICT criteria.
i’d say Hem’s Eveningland fits that, and their Rabbit Songs as well.
First three Clash albums.
Second Ramones album.
that is damn strict criteria.
A+ ALBUMS:
Yes - Close To The Edge
Prince - Purple Rain
Paul Simon - Graceland
Michael Penn - Resigned
Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
King Crimson - Discipline
OH SO FREAKING CLOSE:
Lyle Lovett - Joshua Judges Ruth
Liz Phair - Whitechocolatespaceegg
XTC - Apple Venus Wasp Star
Dream Theater - Octavarium
Genesis - Selling England By The Pound
Finn Brothers - Everyone Is Here
Bruce Cockburn - Breakfast in New Orleans Dinner In Timbuktu
Wow, Wombat. An art rock and Michael Penn fan. Not too many of us out there, I’d imagine.
Aimee Mann–Lost in Space, Andrew Bird–The Mysterious Production of Eggs, Radiohead–Hail to the Thief AND Kid A, Coldplay’s last album…there are so many close calls, too. I really like Death Cab for Cutie’s Plans lately. This is a tough one!
My significant other wants to vote for the last Muse album, any System of a Down album, Alice in Chains–Dirt and Facelift, Psychotic Waltz–A Social Grace, Haji’s Kitchen, any Radiohead, Metallica–Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets
billy breathes by phish. my all-time favorite album.
Billy Breathes is an A in my book. Picture of Nectar is right there though. Hampton Comes Alive is an A+ because I was at practically every show they’ve played there and therefore present for every song, so I can remember the notes they didn’t play, if you get my meaning.
A+:
Abbey Road. Hands down.
Grateful Dead, Reckoning.
Garcia & Grisman, Shady Grove.
I have this Floyd playlist on my pod that goes Animals > Dark Side of the Moon > The Wall (Film Soundtrack) > The Final Cut, and I listen to that when I’m ‘feeling creative’, so all of those would be A-pluses. I consider it like a suite, of sorts.
A:
Cake > Well, just about all of their music. I do love them so.
System of a Down, Toxicity.
Grateful Dead, Europe ‘72 (Disc 1 in particular, though Disc 2 has some great pigpen)
Bob Marley, Exodus
B:
Siamese Dream, minus Disarm, which I really disdain for some reason (airplay, probably).
Beck, Mutations.
Any Live show by Yonder Mountain String Band, as long as the taper knew what he/she was doing.
Buena Vista Social Cloob Presents: Ibrahim Ferrer (Loved that old guy)
Cracker, Kerosene Hat
Just off the top of my head — but the pod has really spoiled me anymore.
The best of- Robbie Williams. his voice makes me moist :P
A+ Jeff Buckley - Grace.
Right now, Green Day - American Idiot. :)
And there’s a bunch of others, I’m sure. But it’s early.
Some other A+ albums:
Liz Phair-White Chocolate Space Egge
Massive Attack-Mezzanine
Zeppelin III
The Killers
Tool Undertow
Rancid Let’s Go
Greenday, American Idiot
Nickelback, All the Right Reasons
Natasha Bedingfield, Unwritten
Alicia Keys, Unplugged
Mandy Moore, Coverage (I know, I know, but it makes me smile.)
James Blunt, Back to Bedlam
Close, but no cigar:
Billboard Top Ten Hits 1980-1989
Essential Sounds: Michael Jackson
Blues Traveler, Runaround
That’s what I’ve got for now.
So many come close - 1 or 2 skipped songs but I can only give 1 A+.
REM - Green. No question.
Green Day - American Idiot
Led Zeppelin - IV
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Phish - Billy Breathes
Oh I and I thought of one more (because you care sooo much)…Pete Yorn, Musicforthemorningafter
Fiona Apple-When the Pawn
Chipmunks’ Christmas-ha ha, just kidding, that’s a D.
now that there’s a new post, i can answer.
so.
here’s some, not all.
A+…
liz phair- exile in guyville, whitechocolatespaceegg
cranberries- no need to argue
no doubt- return of saturn
nirvana- nevermind, bleach, unplugged
counting crows- august and everything after
beth hart- leave the lights on
rage against the machine- self titled
rem- out of time
Boston: Boston– A+.
Janes Addiction: Ritual De Lo Habitual– A+
Red Hot Chili Peppers: BloodSugarSexMajik — A
David Bowie: Ziggy Stardust– A
Matchbox 20: Yourself or Someone Like You–A-
Just to name a few
I can’t believe the love that “Billy Breathes” and “Whitechocolatespaceegg” are getting here. That kind of blows my mind. Not that they’re not great albums, but I never would have thought this many people would give them A+ grades.
Otis Blue by Otis Redding. Abbey Road is close, but maybe only gets an A.
CBK: Are you kidding me? whitechocolatespaceegg is a GREAT A+ album! Please, I can listen to that album all day long without gettng sick of it.
And now that I actually have read the comments and realized how many people agreed with me (Wombat, I knew there was a reason I liked you)….I don’t know how to finish that sentance.
I’m so go going to name my first born girl Tauren.
That is the best name. EVER!
Oh yeah! 12 Golden Country Hits by Ween.
someone mentioned radiohead, but didn’t mention their best album - the bends.
also don’t forget owen (album: owen). soundtracks are great for music you could listen to eternally - steven warbeck (shakespeare in love soundtrack), yann tiersen (amelie soundtrack), danny elfman (edward scissorhands), etc.
if i add anymore i’m slipping into the A and A- zones… which is fine, but i just don’t want to say something i can’t take back and when i die i end up in a place that loops jagged little pill for all eternity…
Epiphany in Baltimore, Brenda Kahn. I even named my blog after it.
I would also count Bob Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks,” Patty Griffin’s “Living With Ghosts,” and Weezer’s debut in this list.
Okay, I lied, I do have an A+ CD (three of them, even!). I love Bond, and I could listen to the three CDs of theirs that I have over and over without ever skipping a song (although Classified isn’t as good as Born and Shine).
The Turn of a Friendly Card or Eye in the Sky by Alan Parsons Project. Actually most of the Queen albums would get an A+ as well. Thirsty Merc by Thirsty Merc comes close - probably gets an A. Several of The Eagles albums would also get an A. Oh, and anything by Wham! (Just kidding about Wham!)
Good question.
A+
Green Day - American Idiot
Soundtrack to Garden State
Any Bob Dylan greatest hits album
Led Zeppelin IV
Beatles - Sergeant Pepper
Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen
U2 - Achtung Baby
Badly Drawn Boy - About a Boy soundtrack
Nirvana - Nevermind
Sweeney Todd
Les Miserables - International recording
I’m a dork.