Favorite band who have NO classic albums

I don't think The Verve ever made a truly classic record. About 1/3 of each album was always blah.

lots of rappers actually

I'm not sure how familiar you are with Giant Sand but I just wanted to let you know that they have two in-print greatest hits compilations (one released 15 years ago and the other 10 years ago).

I'm not sure if you buy your music but like I mentioned before, they are both in-print and are highly recommended!

these guys were turdburglars of the highest order, but Every Breath You Take is a very enjoyable comp. Both in its SingleS and Classics versions. And Busta Rhymes, while not a turdburglar (though for some reason I associate him with the Hamburglar), also has a good comp.

Matt, one who burgles turds.

the giant sandwich comp is a singles/rarities collection.

i'm referring to the giant songs vols. 1 + 2 which are greatest hits compilations and might be worth checking out (if only for the tracklistings to compare).

man for a second I wasn't sure if Blount was naming a band or just making a sound effect.

nrugaghaughgghahgahghggggggWHA?

(hee hee)

A case of almosts: take away '69, and I would definitely put Led Zeppelin as my pick.

what in tarnation? I'm not going to defend CLINIC AND THE STROKES with some guy who can't appreciate Zoso and Houses Of The Holy

Maybe I muddled that: four phenomenal songs, two I don't like, five others I'm basically indifferent to--but those five sound okay if I'm playing the whole album through.

For me, that's a classic album, but for most people, I don't think that would qualify.

Gary's Got a Boner and Tommy Got His Tonsils out are fucking awesome!

actually Stink is classic too

every song is great in Let It Be IMO, including their Kiss cover

<i> my four favourite songs--"Let It Be"</i>
I Will Dare?

In fact, I would argue that Westerberg's failure to understand that "Gary's Got a Boner" is an intrinsic part of the Replacement's greatness is exactly why he went about ruining the band, ending up at the rote professional respectability of All Shook Down

(xpost) Yes--guess I think of it as the title track or something...I can understand that argument, and I know that's a side of the band many people love (or at least always wanted it there for that reason, as a kind of ballast). I never liked it, though; it just got in the way for me.

It's not just the songs that make an album a "classic", it can also be albums that mark a notable turning point in popular music (Autobahn), or an album which was noted for its production advances (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band), the way it captures a time/period/mood (Technique, A Hard Day's Night, (What's the Story) Morning Glory?) or successfully captures an artist or band in a less than ideal situation/unusual headspace (Rumours, The Madcap Laughs, Oar) or triumphing against the odds (Everything Must Go, Hysteria) ... it can be the most finely crafted piece of music with the best session musicians and studio personnel (Aja) or a quickly knocked out, yet raw and potent document (Pink Moon) ... it can be the story of a band battling with a producer to create a beautiful work (Skylarking) or something that was created seemingly effortlessly yet resonated with a lot of people (Automatic for the People) or an album with a reputation that has only increased in the years since its release... there's no set criteria, and no set pattern, but you sure as hell know one when you hear it.

OTM

clemenza accept gary's boner into your heart and you will be saved

I mean, you won't see a copy of Trout Mask Replica in every household in the world, and (for example) 'The Blimp (mousetrapreplica)' is hardly what one would call a "standard", but it's still a classic album for a zillion reasons, both relating to the music contained within and the story of how that music came to be.

As Turrican describes it, Let It Be is absolutely a classic album. No exaggeration when I say that it defines 1984 for me far more than Purple Rain or Born in the U.S.A.. Not a big fan of the '80s in general, but I feel lucky to have been just the right age (23) when Let It Be came out.

I'm not a fan of The Replacements, but I know that Let It Be is generally regarded to be a classic for its own set of reasons.

Some of the albums being described as classic on this thread *boak*

accept gary's boner into your heart and you will be saved

Dying at this.

tom d have you said Chou Pahrot on this thread yet?

I did accept Gary's boner into my heart, but, in advance of Monday, there was also a total eclipse going on in there, and basically all hell broke loose.

I think some people consider "classic" to mean famous or maybe infamous; others consider it to mean a measure of aesthetic appeal.

I have no idea, but I'll say WEEN.

I'd say anything in the top 1000 albums on AcclaimedMusic probably should count as a classic album for the purposes of this thread. By that measure, the Replacements and Capt. Beefheart have 3(!) apiece, Fleetwood Mac have 2, Can have 1, and ELO, Wishbone Ash, Blue Oyster Cult have none.

Chocolate & Cheese, 12 Golden Country Greats, The Mollusk and GodWeenSatan are all 24 karat classic albums. also this might be the worst thread in ILM history and I regret clicking on it.

Blue Oyster Cult had no less than 3 classic albums

"Secret Treaties" is a stone-cold classic in my book. But for this thread it seems more constructive to use an objective definition.

also this might be the worst thread in ILM history and I regret clicking on it.

If this doesn't become the new board description, my life is a lie.

Blue Oyster Cult had no less than 3 classic albums

I'm probably the wrong weirdo to ask, but:
Secret Treaties
On Your Feet...
Fire of Unknown Origin
IMO, with three other albums barely relegated to the second tier
(It is permissible to swap Tyranny for On Your Feet... but I like those songs rampaging the fuck out)

I'd say LCD Soundsystem is contender although we'll see what this new album delivers (personally I'm pretty excited by the possibilities given the first three releases). I was super let down by their first album in comparison to the singles and previously leaked tracks - "Tribulations" had been floating around out there for ages. "Daft Punk is Playing in My House" is still the worst song in their catalog, so thin and groove-less compared to the artists Murphy is namechecking and I wish it would forever disappear from their live sets.

Obviously the next two are highly regarded by most but I still find them pretty wobbly all up and held up by some amazing tracks.

ELO obv.

Jon I personally feel Agents of Fortune is pretty perfect AOR menaceb and I meant T&M but FoUO and On Your Feet are great too, Blue Oyster Cult were too amazing

Are we confusing "classic" and "flawless"? If the latter, then many acts whose albums I love -- whose albums I consider "classic" in every sense -- have, as clemenza wrote about the Mats, have imperfect albums. The acts are more endearing that way.

also this might be the worst thread in ILM history and I regret clicking on it.

lol yeah it does seem entirely pointless. just because you don't like one song on an album that is still namechecked in every issue of Mojo doesn't mean it isn't classic.

there really aren't any good answers. i guess you could look for acts before 1966 when singles were the industry focus over albums.

or maybe the one hit wonder you like. the problem is usually if you have a favorite band past seeing them as a one hit wonder you probably like the whole album that hit is on. not sure you can have a favorite band and not consider them classic wo some kind of self delusion involved.

just because you don't like one song on an album that is still namechecked in every issue of Mojo doesn't mean it isn't classic.

Feel like you're over the strike through limit

Haha

Yeah, it was a chore getting that right.

i dunno im fine with Rock As Institution and the music press has always defined what is classic at least in the public sphere. the album itself is most relevant here, feel like classic rock canon is appropriate if we are taking the album seriously as a construct.

now that we have the global internet and instant access post-tangible music things are different and that hegemony is becoming less and less relevant. yet it can still be one valid point of view, observed from the future for all its quaintness and moral failings, to keep in mind while we create our newly democratized, personal historical canons.

I think what's been missed here is the 'favourite' band.

I.e. My fav band The Boo Radleys. But, they clearly have one classic album, "Giant Steps"

Spearmint? Oh but "A week away" so not them either.

How about T Rex? used to be a fav of mine, but does Marc have a classic album? Mmmmmmmm....

The Slider!

See, I like "zip gun boogie" I'd call it a classic and no duff tracks, was surprised to discover its considered his almost worst album.

Maybe my opinion is coloured because (you know this bit) but I don't think so.

gotta be laid back - can any band rival a set of singles like bakerman, white horse, sunshine reggae and fly away?

*greatest artist of all time drops the greatest album of all time*
I Love Music forum: "haha this is mostly shit it has like 3 good songs"

*bargain bin album known as colossal failure and joke in band's discography*

"this is secretly their best album, guys"

How about T Rex? used to be a fav of mine, but does Marc have a classic album?

Marc? Yes, Unicorn.

dr feelgood

Electric Warrior is the canon T.Rex album.

"Daft Punk is Playing in My House" is still the worst song in their catalog, so thin and groove-less compared to the artists Murphy is namechecking and I wish it would forever disappear from their live sets.

agreed that the studio version is pretty lame - from the very first time I heard it I couldn't stop hearing the "Back in Black" riff - but it does sound pretty great live. IMO its their most improved in a live setting, its like 10x more fun and energetic

luda is a good answer

Mazzy Star. There's no reason to classify one album as classic as over - this band has a formula that is effective on any release.

Yeah obviously T-rex have at least Electric Warrior (and I would count The Slider and Tanx too).

the slider is classic

T. Rex self-titled is short, every song is awesome, combines his electric boogie with full-flower fantasy lyrics, and has some of my favorite guitar sounds of all time

TRex sound/production is so incredible in its simplicity and austere perfection.
There's almost nothing but somehow it works and you can enjoy albums of the same thing !

t rex has at least 3 classic albums!!!!

electric warrior and the slider are all time

s/t and tanx are excellent