Whether it is the vinyl version, CD, or cassettes, there was an art that is quickly fading amongst bands to express a concept or storyline across all songs of an album sometimes bridging songs with these creative little snippets of recorded sounds. They were meant to be listened to from start to finish, but radio started clipping songs from albums, and now people just pick songs for playlists. So, listening to a whole album is not even occurring to this younger generation. For a jazz musician, it could be that the concept is the use of instruments, or something founded in music theory, or even just an aesthetic that recording at a specific studio gives the sound. This has crossed over into rock and country, but they were more likely to have a focus on a story or another concept.
Pink Floyd were masters of these dark stories, induced by drugs usually. It was so weird to hear snippets on the radio, like Comfortably Numb, or Money being played out of context to the album as a whole. They all were meant to be heard as a whole.
My three all time favorite albums to pull out and listen to from start to finish is...
Third, Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger. Even not being a fan of country music, one can appreciate the way Willie spins his story across many songs that all come together as a whole, a cowboy love story of heartbreak and joy.
Second, Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life. They are all so different and take us through a range of styles and aesthetic reactions. Just a beautifully constructed album as a whole.
And, my all time favorite whole album is The Beach Boys Pet Sounds. To start with, I hate that bouncy beach pop harmony shit of the 50's and 60's. Brian Wilson was the only member of that mediocre band with any real musical talent, and he had talent in genius proportions. Finished before his madness took over his ability to function, it is loaded with all of these musical theory transitions and beautiful story telling that comes together in a wonderful work of art.
I am NOT looking for songs, or even your favorite band... but can you give me some albums that you too enjoy listening to from start to finish?
Pink Floyd were masters of these dark stories, induced by drugs usually. It was so weird to hear snippets on the radio, like Comfortably Numb, or Money being played out of context to the album as a whole. They all were meant to be heard as a whole.
My three all time favorite albums to pull out and listen to from start to finish is...
Third, Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger. Even not being a fan of country music, one can appreciate the way Willie spins his story across many songs that all come together as a whole, a cowboy love story of heartbreak and joy.
Second, Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life. They are all so different and take us through a range of styles and aesthetic reactions. Just a beautifully constructed album as a whole.
And, my all time favorite whole album is The Beach Boys Pet Sounds. To start with, I hate that bouncy beach pop harmony shit of the 50's and 60's. Brian Wilson was the only member of that mediocre band with any real musical talent, and he had talent in genius proportions. Finished before his madness took over his ability to function, it is loaded with all of these musical theory transitions and beautiful story telling that comes together in a wonderful work of art.
I am NOT looking for songs, or even your favorite band... but can you give me some albums that you too enjoy listening to from start to finish?
