So, What Makes a Great Album?

Discussion in 'Other Music' started by Sonic, Oct 10, 2010.

  1. #1
    Sonic

    Sonic Searching for the last Chaos Emerald... LPA Super Member

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    In light of the release of A Thousand Suns, there was a lot of positive feedback for the record, but also there was a lot of negative feedback. Such phrases as "this album sucks" and "it just doesn't sound great" were thrown around heavily. I don't want to single out Linkin Park's new album by any means, and this is not a thread to state why A Thousand Suns is good or bad, but more or less to state your opinion of what makes a great album TO YOU.

    A lot of things factor into what makes a great album to a listener, but when it comes down to it, it's all a matter of opinion because everyone likes something different. The biggest thing I think people look at are expectations of the band, mainly because what they've done in the past. As for new bands, it's either everyone likes it, or you're probably never heard from again.

    So, What Makes a Great Album? Share some great albums as well.

    I'll post my opinions later.
     
  2. #2
    Snail

    Snail LPA Super Member LPA Super Member

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    From a personal standpoint, a great album features content in which at least 75 - 80 percent of the content is enjoyable. The album excels further when the content offers some food for thought, and lingers long after the first few listens.
     
  3. #3
    Polychromatic

    Polychromatic Banned

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    I think a good album should have a good length, alot of suprises, and it shouldn't be predictable. I think A Thousand Suns excels in all of those categories.

    Great albums:
    Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
     
  4. #4
    cloudscream

    cloudscream Static

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    For me, a good album, as a single body of work, has a distinct identity of its own. It shouldn't sound too similar with other albums in an artist's or a band's discography. Some artists, especially purist genres (most teenage pop groups, purist metal bands and jazz artists) just write albums with no regard to a distinct "texture" of a record. They just collect eight songs and its an album.
     
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2010
  5. #5
    Dean

    Dean LPA Addict LPA Addict

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    Generally I think an album is great when I like it a lot.
     
  6. #6
    Henry

    Henry Mochiagete, Tokihanashite.

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    In my very own opinion, what makes an album good is:
    -Can make you lost into the music
    -Doesn't make you lose the flow of the whole album (like "collection of songs" album)
    -Should not have more than 2 songs with something similar (the rhyme, melody or structure)
    -Should not similar to the artists/bands previous products in their discography like cloudscream mentioned.

    +To me only: An album is good...
    -When I hit replay button while listening to it.
    -When I turn on my Ipod screen to know what the album/song name is.
    -When I don't skip any songs.
    -When I begin shaking/rhyming/...... my head/legs/feet/hands/fingers....
     
  7. #7
    Ant

    Ant Ambient

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    I disagree. I think an album is great when I like it a lot!

    :lol:
     
  8. #8
    NickelNine

    NickelNine It's the gin talking >>>>> LPA VIP

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    Innovative and timeless music.
     
  9. #9
    iNuBBiN

    iNuBBiN Well-Known Member

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    Mike Shinoda....
     
  10. #10
    Dean

    Dean LPA Addict LPA Addict

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    :p
     
  11. #11
    $pvcxGhxztCasey

    $pvcxGhxztCasey meanwhile... LPA Addicted VIP

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    lots of guitar pedals and drug references and 1930s church organs

    how is one supposed to answer this question? it varies album to album for me, personally, on why it's a great album. i don't have time to sit here and tell you why all of my favorite albums are favorites of mine. some i relate to experiences and a period of my life from years ago, others are just something totally foreign to my ears and i immediately want to relisten over and over because it's so... exciting and new (see: Salem).

    i don't like this question but i tried to answer it anyway.

    UGH.
     
  12. #12
    travz21

    travz21 Muscle Museum LPA Super Member

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    I tried to give Trent a call, but he hasn't been talking to me lately.
     
  13. #13
    Mark

    Mark Canadian Beauty LPA Administrator

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    I ask for one thing and one thing only: No filler. I want to be able to listen to the album front to back, or on random, and not skip a single track.
     
  14. #14
    $pvcxGhxztCasey

    $pvcxGhxztCasey meanwhile... LPA Addicted VIP

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    It's that goddamn baby, man.
     
  15. #15
    Manu

    Manu Seeking tenderness with a dagger

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    There isn't a recipe to make a great album, it that was the case, everybody would do great albums all the time.

    An album is great if after the last song ends you say to yourself "that was great"... That's all.
     
  16. #16
    minuteforce

    minuteforce Danny's not here, Mrs. Torrance. LPA Team

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    I like an album with a distinct sonic and lyrical identity -- and, within that, I really like there to be a sense of consistency. By that, I don't mean that I want every track sounding the same ... but I do want a sense that they all obviously belong together, usually sonically, on the one album. :) This obviously includes concept albums but I actually don't listen to a lot of those ...

    Still, T-Rez is pretty good at getting that kind of thing right, so "The Downward Spiral" and "Year Zero" are among my favourite albums. :)

    I also, yeah, like an album when I don't dislike any tracks on it. ;) This can often tie in with aforementioned sense of consistency, which means I might like a track because of what it is in the context of the work as a whole.
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2010
  17. #17
    Super Sonic

    Super Sonic The Hedgehog LPA Super VIP

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    More than 1 song
     
  18. #18
    Jordan

    Jordan Secret Robot

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    Goddamn Trent should just kill the baby, I'm sure all the music he makes after this will be even worse than the music he made after getting off drugs!

    Pre-baby is the new pre-drugs.

    Album is good when:

    1. All the songs are good
    2. Can fall asleep in a good way to it
    3. Has one amazing song and the rest of the songs compliment it pretty well.

    2 doesn't have to be fully asleep, just being able to chill out comfortably on my beanbag while listening to it is good enough.
     
  19. #19
    Manu

    Manu Seeking tenderness with a dagger

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    Transatlantic's "The Whirlwind" includes only one epic 78-minute song, and it's fucking great.
     
  20. #20
    Jeff

    Jeff WORSHIP LPA Addicted VIP

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    One that's not written by Justin Bieber :shifty:
     

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