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Paul Simon's self-titled album and "There Goes Rhymin' Simon" (more on these below)
Many early albums by artists who have just taken control of their product have a plethora of great songs. Innervisions by Stevie Wonder is another such example. Released during 1972 he had just emerged from his "teenybopper" era where the producers controlled his product. His tour as opening act for the Rolling Stones that summer signaled this liberation.
While Carole King had been actively writing with her ex-husband Gerry Goffin (I just saw the show "Beautiful" which covered their breakup and relationship" the previous product was largely aimed at a less sophisticated market. I can't help believing (though this was not in the show) that much of Tapestry was held "in inventory" for King's career direction change.
In my opinion Paul Simon's self-titled album and "There Goes Rhymin' Simon" also fall in the category of albums where every song is great. That may have also been "inventory holdback" as his relationship with Art Garfunkel was developing strains.
To be specific, I like rock on the harder side. Always have, always will, I'm 52 and rock nearly as hard as at 22. I wear hearing protection now, though.
In rock, or Prog Rock, there are occasionally concept albums. Concept albums, when they work, are tonally and thematically similar throughout...and if it's a magic tone, the whole album just works.
Rush - Hemispheres (1978): side one is one long multipart song. Side two is three magnificent, separate tracks. All stellar.
Rush - Moving Pictures (1981): their magnum opus. Period.
Rush - 2112 (1976): side one saved the band, side two is pretty good as-well with a few anthems.
Queensryche - Empire (1991) - their magnum opus. Period.
Dream Theater - Scenes from a Memory Part II (1999) - Brilliant concept album, most creative of the lot.
Honorable mentions:
Pink Floyd - the Wall (1979) - Just wow. A three-hanky job.
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1975) - Darn near one long track.
Almost, but whiffed on a few tracks:
Rush - Clockwork Angels (2012) - Darn good final album, couple weak tracks and sketchy 'flow'
Dishonorable Mention:
Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime II (2006) - Hard miss, not every brilliant album needs a follow up. Most don't. They need to re-breakup the band, it's been a tough past c. 15 years living solely on past glory. That's weak.
Actually, speakin' of Rush, the first RUSH with John Rutsey on drums has the best tunes, and it's good from start to finish. Hard rockin' Rush. Led Zeppelin type riffs and song structure. It certainly stands alone among the Rush stuff.
It shows just how much Alex Lifeson's style has transformed over time. I think that's pretty impressive.
Actually, speakin' of Rush, the first RUSH with John Rutsey on drums has the best tunes, and it's good from start to finish. Hard rockin' Rush. Led Zeppelin type riffs and song structure. It certainly stands alone among the Rush stuff.
It shows just how much Alex Lifeson's style has transformed over time. I think that's pretty impressive.
The first Rush album, indeed. Also Fly by Night, lot of blues-y riffs there, too. Caress of Steel was a major right turn of the band...and they went their own way after, album by album.
Alex is anymore the poster child for the Gibson Les Paul, as Geddy likes his Fender Jazz. If the red Lifeson Les Paul Axcess wasn't something like six thousand dollars, I'd pick one up. $1K, I'd have one on my stand right now.
The Who --- "Who's Next"
The Who --- "Quadrophenia"
Sturgill Simpson --- "Sound & Fury"
Garbage --- "Version 2.0"
The Kinks --- "Word of Mouth"
Willie Nelson --- "Stardust"
Willie Nelson --- "Moment of Forever"
Waylon Jennings --- "Honky Tonk Heroes"
The Sex Pistols --- "Never Mind the *******s, Here's the Sex Pistols"
The Ramones --- "RAMONES"
The Clash --- "London Calling"
The Alarm --- "Strength"
Bob Dylan --- "Blood on the Tracks"
Johnny Cash --- "At Folsom Prison"
Dire Straits --- "Brothers in Arms"
Nirvana --- "Nevermind"
Guns n' Roses --- "Appetite for Destruction"
Backyard Babies --- "Diesel and Dust"
Miles Davis --- "Kind of Blue"
Van Morrison --- "Moondance"
The Rolling Stones --- "Sticky Fingers"
The Rolling Stones --- "Let it Bleed"
Genesis - Foxtrot
Genesis - Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (my fave concept album)
Yes - Close to the Edge
Pink Floyd - Animals
Led Zeppelin - II and IV
Kansas - Song For America
Queen - Queen II
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Dream Theater - Images and Words
Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime (my second fave concept album)
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