The Perfect Album, according to Plastic

In 2005, users of the message board and group blog plastic were asked to pick their "Perfect Album."


And the nominee is...



Radiohead's OK Computer (1997).

This was deemed "The Perfect Album" by 13 users. The proposition turned into a bit of a flame war though:

rantor » I can't believe how many people have put OK Computer. And since you're first, I'm picking on you (hee-hee). Going on the "every track is a winner" definition, I have to point out: Fitter, Happier. Any time that comes up on a shuffled playlist, I can't reach the skip button quickly enough. In the context of the album, it (just barely) works for me (mostly because I like to say "like a pig...on antibiotics" in a robot voice — that's just me), but taken by itself feels extremely pretentious and boring. [editor's note: two other ppl said similar things about "Fitter, Happier"]

musicgeekmusic » Gotta agree with you on OK Computer. It's OK at best.

Anonymous Idiot » Forgive me for being snobbish, but in my world a person who thinks that, say, Radiohead's OK Computer is a perfect album not only lacks taste, but has failed to even take music seriously.


The selection criteria

On August, 15 2005, plastic user fishist posed the following situation:

I recently came up against a wall. While sorting my albums of music in the MP3 format, I came to the conclusion that for most, if not all, of the albums I own, there are only a handful of tracks per album that I love. Generally there are a few tracks that are passable and almost always several that are forgettable. This makes listening to an entire album or even mixes of albums set to random less enjoyable than if it was just the best songs per album. So I began purging tracks, saving only the best of each album.

Then I ran into a phenomenon, the phenomenon of the perfect album. An album in which every track is great, each one worthy of being a hit. An album with not a single song I would skip past and nothing mediocre or even average.

I'm only part way through my music library and I've only found a handful. But it piqued my curiosity. What albums would you nominate as a perfect album?

(Read the original post and view all 400 responses on plastic)

The Final Tally



You can hide the
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 and ads if you want a printable version. This list was compiled by Philip Dhingra and posted on my blog Philosophistry. You can also read about how this list was made.
Disclaimer: I get a commission on the CD, mp3, and iTunes sales.

Candidates 4 or more write-ins

  RadioheadOK Computer
     

  Miles DavisKind of Blue
   

  RadioheadKid A
   

  The BeatlesAbbey Road
   

  Pink FloydThe Dark Side of the Moon
   

  The ClashLondon Calling
   

  U2Achtung Baby
   

  AC/DCBack in Black
   

  David BowieThe Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust
   

  John ColtraneA Love Supreme
   

  My Bloody ValentineLoveless
   

  The Beach BoysPet Sounds
   

  The PixiesDoolittle
 

  U2Joshua Tree
 

  Beastie BoysPaul's Boutique
 

  Dr. DreThe Chronic
 

  Guns N' RosesAppetite For Destruction
 

  Marvin GayeWhat's Going On
 

  Michael JacksonThriller
 

  Neutral Milk HotelIn The Aeroplane Over The Sea
 

  Smashing PumpkinsSiamese Dream
 

  Stone RosesStone Roses
 

  The AvalanchesSince I Left You
 

  The BeatlesSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
 

  The CureDisintegration
 

  Violent FemmesViolent Femmes
 

Coalitions 3 write-ins

  AirMoon Safari ...
  Bob DylanBlood on the Tracks ...
  CalexicoFeast of Wire ...
  Dusty SpringfieldDusty in Memphis ...
  Elliott SmithEither/Or ...
  Flaming LipsHit to Death in the Future Head ...
  Fleetwood MacRumours ...
  Green DayAmerican Idiot ...
  InterpolTurn on the Bright Lights ...
  Led ZeppelinII ...
  Miles DavisBitches Brew ...
  NirvanaIn Utero ...
  PavementCrooked Rain, Crooked Rain ...
  Pink FloydAnimals ...
  PoliceSynchronicity ...
  PortisheadPortishead ...
  Public EnemyFear of a Black Planet ...
  Rolling StonesExile on Main Street ...
  Rolling StonesSticky Fingers ...
  Smashing PumpkinsGish ...
  Son VoltTrace ...
  Sufjan StevensIllinois ...
  Talking HeadsRemain in Light ...
  TelevisionMarquee Moon ...
  The Counting CrowsAugust and Everything After ...
  The Postal ServiceGive Up ...
  The PretendersThe Pretenders ...
  The SundayReading, Writing and Arithmetic ...
  Tom WaitsNighthawks at the Diner ...
  Tribe Called QuestThe Low End Theory ...
  Velvet UndergroundThe Velvet Underground & Nico ...
  WeezerThe Blue Album ...
  XTCSkylarking ...

Conspiracies 2 write-ins

  Antony & the JohnstonsI Am a Bird Now ..
  Bad ReligionStranger Than Fiction ..
  Beastie BoysCheck Your Head ..
  BeckOdelay ..
  BeckSea Change ..
  Black SabbathBlack Sabbath ..
  Black StarMos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star ..
  Bob DylanHighway 61 Revisited ..
  Bob DylanTime Out of Mind ..
  BostonBoston ..
  Brian EnoHere Come the Warm Jets ..
  Bruce SpringsteenNebraska ..
  Crosby Stills Nash & YoungDeja Vu ..
  Dan the AutomatorLovage ..
  David BowieLow ..
  David Matthew BandsRemember Two Things ..
  De La SoulThree Feet High (and Rising) ..
  Deltron 3030Deltron 3030 ..
  Dire StraitsBrothers in Arms with One World ..
  DJ ShadowEntroducing ..
  Elton JohnTumbleweed Connection ..
  Elvis CostelloImperial Bedroom ..
  Franz FerdinandFranz Ferdinand ..
  George MichaelFaith ..
  Gillian WelshRevival ..
  Godspeed You Black Emperor!Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven ..
  GorillazDemon Days ..
  Ike ReillySalesmen & Racists ..
  Iron & WineOur Endless Numbered Days ..
  Jane's AddictionNothing's Shocking ..
  Jimi HendrixElectric Ladyland ..
  John ColtraneGiant Steps ..
  John Coltrane & Johnny HartmanJohn Coltrane & Johnny Hartman ..
  John LennonPlastic Ono Band ..
  Johnny CashFolsom Prison ..
  Johnny CashLive at Folsom Prison ..
  Joni MitchellBlue ..
  Joy DivisionUnknown Pleasures ..
  Kate BushHounds of Love ..
  Led ZeppelinIV ..
  Liz PhairExile In Guyville ..
  LunaPenthouse ..
  Manu ChaoClandestino - Esperando la ultima ola ..
  MetallicaMaster of Puppets ..
  Miles DavisSketches of Spain ..
  Modest MouseThe Moon And Antarctica ..
  MorphineCure for Pain ..
  Neil YoungHarvest ..
  Neil YoungRust Never Sleeps ..
  Nick DrakePink Moon ..
  Nine Inch NailsPretty Hate Machine ..
  Nine Inch NailsThe Downward Spiral ..
  NirvanaNevermind ..
  NirvanaUnplugged ..
  Pat Metheny GroupBright Size Life ..
  Pearl JamTen ..
  Peter GabrielSo ..
  Pink FloydThe Wall ..
  Pink FloydWish You Were Here ..
  PJ HarveyTo Bring You My Love ..
  PortisheadDummy ..
  PrincePurple Rain ..
  RadioheadThe Bends ..
  Rage Against the MachineRage Against the Machine ..
  RancidIndestructible ..
  Red Hot Chilli PeppersBlood Sugar Sex Magic ..
  Robyn HitchcockGreatest Hits ..
  Rolling StonesBeggars Banquet ..
  Rolling StonesLet it Bleed ..
  RushMoving Pictures ..
  Ryan AdamGold ..
  Sam CookeLive at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 ..
  Sex PistolsNever Mind the Bollocks ..
  Sonic YouthDaydream Nation ..
  SoundgardenBadmotorfinger ..
  SpiritualizedLazer Guided Melodies ..
  Steve Earle and the Del McCoury BandThe Mountain ..
  Stevie WonderSongs in the Key of Life ..
  Temple of Low MenCrowded House ..
  The BeatlesA Hard Day's Night ..
  The BeatlesRubber Soul ..
  The BeatlesSgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band ..
  The BeatlesThe White Album ..
  The EaglesHotel California ..
  The La'sThe La's ..
  The LemonheadsIt's a Shame About Ray ..
  The SmithsQueen is Dead ..
  The StreetsA grand don't come for free ..
  The StrokesIs This It ..
  The VaporsNew Clear Days ..
  Tom WaitsBone Machine ..
  Tom WaitsRain Dogs ..
  U2The Unforgettable Fire ..
  Van MorrisonMoondance ..
  Velvet UndergroundWhite Light / White Heat ..
  WeezerPinkerton ..
  WilcoYankee Hotel Foxtrot ..
  YesClose to the Edge ..
  Yo La TengoAnd Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out ..
  Zero 7Simple Things ..

Individual Voices 1 write-in

  311Music .
  801801 Live .
  10,000 ManiacsIn My Tribe .
  54-40Smilin' Buddha Cabaret .
  A Tribe Called QuestMidnight Marauders .
  A3Exile on Coldharbour Lane .
  ABCThe Lexicon Of Love .
  AC/DCDirty Deeds .
  AC/DCHighway to Hell .
  Adam GreenFriends of mine .
  AerosmithDone With Mirrors .
  Afro Celt Sound SystemVolume Two: Release .
  Aimee MannBachelor No. 2 .
  Aimee MannLost in Space .
  Air10000Hz Legend .
  Al DiMeolaCasino .
  Ali Farka Toure & Ry CooderTalking Timbuktu .
  Alice ColtraneJourney in Satchidananda .
  Alice in ChainsSAP .
  American Analog SetFun of Watching Fireworks .
  American Analog SetThe Golden Band .
  Annie LennoxDiva .
  Aphex TwinBoy/Girl EP .
  Aphex Twindrukqs .
  Aphex TwinSaw I and Saw II .
  Aphex TwinSelected Ambient Works Vol. 2 .
  Aphex TwinThe Richard d. James LP (the US WB / Sire CD ver. That includes both) .
  Archer PrewittWilderness .
  Aretha FranklinLady Soul .
  Aretha FranklinYoung, Gifted and Black .
  Art of NoiseThe Seduction of Claude Debussy .
  Art PepperIntensity .
  Astor Piazzolla/Yo Yo MaSoul of the Tango .
  Augustus PabloKing Tubby Meets the Rockers Uptown .
  AutechreEnvane .
  Baaba MaalDjam Leeli .
  Bad ReligionSuffer .
  Bad ReligionThe Process of Belief .
  Barenaked LadiesGordon .
  Barenaked LadiesYellow Tape .
  BathoryHammerheart .
  Beethoven9th .
  Bela Fleck & The FlecktonesUFO Tofu .
  Bela Fleck and the FlecktonesLittle Worlds .
  Belle And SebastianTigermilk .
  BellyStar .
  Ben Folds FiveThe Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Mesner .
  Ben Folds FiveWhatever and Ever Amen .
  Big BudInfinity + Infinity .
  Big Star#1 Record / Radio City .
  Big StarSister Lovers .
  Bill Evans TrioWaltz for Debby .
  Bill HicksRant In E-Minor .
  Bill HicksRelentless .
  Bill WithersLive at Carnegie Hall .
  BjorkHomogenic .
  BjorkPost .
  BjorkVespertine .
  Black CrowesSouthern Harmony & Music Maker .
  Blink 182Cheshire Cat .
  Blink 182Enema of the State .
  Bloc PartySilent Alarm .
  Blonde RedheadFake can be Just as Good .
  Blue Man GroupAudio .
  Blue Oyster CultAgents of Fortune .
  BlurParklife .
  Boards Of CanadaMusic Has A Right To Children .
  Bob DylanAnother Side .
  Bob DylanLive 1975/The Rolling Thunder Revue (Bootleg Series Vol. 5) .
  Bob DylanNashville Skyline .
  Bob MarleySongs of Freedom .
  Bonnie "Prince" BillyGreatest Palace Music .
  BrahmEin Deustche Requiem .
  Brand XLivestock .
  Brian EnoAnother Green World .
  Brian EnoTaking Tiger Mountain by Strategy .
  Broken Social SceneYou Forgot It In People .
  Bruce SpringsteenBorn to Run .
  ByrdsSweetheart of the Rodeo .
  CakeComfort Eagle .
  CakeMotorcade of Generosity .
  CakeTrash Can Sinatras .
  CallaCalla .
  Camper van BeethovenCigarettes & Carrot Juice .
  Camper Van BeethovenKey Lime Pie .
  Camper Van BeethovenNew Roman Times .
  Camper Van BeethovenOur Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart .
  Captain BeefhartSafe as Milk .
  Captain BeefheartTrout Mask Replica .
  Cass McCombsPREfection .
  Cat PowerMoon Pix .
  Cat PowerYou Are Free .
  Chaka KhanI Feel For You .
  Cibo MattoStereo Type A .
  CindytalkCamouflage Heart .
  Cinematic OrchestraEvery Day .
  Cocteau TwinsTreasure .
  CogJust visiting Part 1 and Part 11 .
  ColdplayParachutes .
  CometChandelier Musings .
  CommonBe .
  CranesForever .
  Crash VegasAurora .
  Curtis MayfieldRoots .
  Daniel LanoisThe Beauty of Winona .
  Dark AngelDarkness Descends .
  Darkbuster22 Songs You'll Never Want To Hear Again .
  Dave GrusinThe Gershwin Connection .
  David BowieAladdin Sane .
  David BowieHeroes .
  David BowieHunky Dory .
  David BowieLodger .
  David BowieStationtostation .
  David BrubeckTake 5 .
  David GrayWhite Ladder .
  Dead KennedysFresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables .
  Dead MilkmenBig Lizard in My Backyard .
  Death From Above 1979You're a woman, I'm a machine .
  Deep PurpleDeepest Purple .
  Deep PurpleMachine Head .
  Dennis MillerOff-White Album .
  Derek & the DominosLayla and Other Assorted Love Songs .
  Dexter GordonOther Side of Round Midnight .
  Dexys Midnight RunnersSearching for the young Soul rebels .
  Die WarzauBig Electric Metal Bass Face .
  Dinosaur Jr.Fossils .
  Dinosaur Jr.You're Living all over me .
  Dire StraitsDire Straits .
  DirtbombIf You Don't Already Have A Look .
  Dizzee RascalBoy in da Corner .
  DJ Danger MouseThe Grey Album .
  Donald FagenThe Nightfly .
  Dr. DreChronic 2002 .
  Dr. Octagonand The Octaganoligist .
  Dream TheatreTrain Of Thought .
  Drive-By TruckersDecoration Day .
  Drive-By TruckersThe Dirty South .
  DujeousCity Limits .
  Dust BrothersFight Club OST .
  EBTGTempermental .
  EelsBeautiful Freak .
  EelsElectro Shock Blues .
  Einstuerzende NeubautenPerpetuum Mobile .
  Electric Light OrchestraA New World Record .
  Elliott SmithXO .
  Ellis PaulStories .
  Elvis CostelloPunch the Clock .
  Emmylou HarrisWrecking Ball .
  Eno, Moebius & RoedeliusAfter The Heat .
  Erykah BaduBaduism .
  Eva CassidySongbird .
  EveScorpian .
  F. Schubertlast three piano sonates (Radu Lupu, and then Richter and Pollini) .
  F. Schubertstring quintet (Alban Berg + Heinrich Schiff) .
  F. SchubertWinterreise (Fisher Dieschkau + Gerald Moore) .
  Faith No MoreAngeldust .
  Faith No MoreThe Real Thing & Angel Dust .
  FEARThe Record .
  Fela KutiMonkey Banana/RefuseO .
  Fela KutiShakara .
  FenneszField Recordings .
  FenneszVenice (2004) .
  Fiona AppleWhen the Pawn.. .
  Flaming LipsSoft Bulletin .
  Flaming LipsThe Soft Bulletin .
  Flaming LipsYoshimi Battles the Pink Robots .
  Fleetwood MacBare Trees .
  FloodThey Might Be Giants .
  Foo FightersThe Colour and the Shape .
  Fountains of wayneUtopia Parkway .
  Fountains of WayneWelcome Interstate Managers .
  Frank SinatraDays of Wine and Roses .
  Frank ZappaApostrophe' .
  Frank ZappaJoe's Garage Act 1 .
  Freddie HubbardRed Clay .
  Freestyle FellowshipInner City Griots .
  Front Line AssemblyMillenium .
  FugeesThe Score .
  G. de Machautmesse de notre dame (Ensemble organum) .
  G. MahlerSymphony 2 (NY Philharmonic + Bernstein) .
  G. MahlerSymphony 3 (Boulez + Wiener Philharmoniker) .
  G. MahlerSymphony 5 (Bernstein + concertgebouw orkest) .
  G. MahlerSymphony 6 (Boulez) .
  G. MahlerSymphony 9 (Karajan + Berliner Philharmoniker, live version) .
  Galaxie 500On fire .
  Gang of FourEntertainment! .
  Garbagebeautifulgarbage .
  GarbageGarbage .
  GarbageVersion 2.0 .
  Gavin FridayShag Tobacco .
  Geddy LeeMy Favorite Headache .
  Gene ClarkNo Other .
  GenesisA Trick Of The Tail .
  GenesisFoxtrot .
  George HarrisonBrainwashed .
  GescomKeynell .
  Glenn BrancaLesson 1 .
  Glenn BrancaSymphony 1 .
  Grateful DeadWorkingman's Dead .
  Green Day1039 / Smoothed Out Slappy Hour .
  Green DayDookie .
  Green DayKerplunk .
  Greg DavisArbor .
  Grover Washington, Jr.Winelight .
  Gruvis MaltWith the Spirit of a Traffic Jam .
  Guided By VoicesBee Thousand .
  GZALiquid Swords, Genius .
  Hawksley Workman(Last Night We Were) The Delicious Wolves & Lover/Fighter .
  HieroglyphicsThird Eye Vision .
  HoleLive Through This .
  Huey Lewis and the NewsFore .
  Huey Lewis and the NewsSports .
  HumDownward is Heavenward .
  HybridWide Angle .
  Ian Dury & The BlockheadsNew Boots And Panties .
  Imani CoppalaLegend of the Cowgirl .
  IncubusS.C.I.E.N.C.E .
  Iron MaidenIron Maiden .
  J. Geils BandLove Stinks .
  J.S. BachBminor mass (Herreweghe) .
  J.S. Bachconcerto for two violins .
  J.S. Bachein musikalisches Opfer (Academy of St Martin in the fields, Neville Marriner) .
  J.S. Bachgoldberg variations (Glenn Gould, 1980) .
  J.S. BachMatthew Passion (Herreweghe or Solti one .
  JamesLaid .
  James TaylorFire and Rain .
  JapanGentlemen Take Polaroids .
  Jason FalknerCan You Still Feel? .
  Jean Jacques PerreyThe Amazing New Electronic Pop Sound .
  Jean Michel JarreEquinoxe .
  Jean Michel JarreOxygene .
  Jeff BeckBlow by Blow .
  Jeff BuckleyGrace .
  Jim Kweskin Jug BandJug Band Music .
  Jim O'RourkeEureka .
  Jimi HendrixAre You Experienced? .
  Jimi HendrixBand of Gypsys .
  Jimmy Eat WorldClarity .
  Joanna NewsomThe Milk-Eyed Mender .
  Joe JacksonLook Sharp .
  Joe JacksonNight & Day .
  Joe Jackson's Jumping JiveJoe Jackson .
  John ColtraneBlue Train .
  John MartynSolid Air .
  John MartynSweet Little Mysteries Disc One .
  John PrineS/T .
  Johnny CashAt Folsom Prison .
  Johnny CashAt San Quentin .
  Johnny CashUnchained .
  Jon AndersonOlias of Sunhillow .
  Joni MitchellHejira .
  Jorma KaukonenQuah .
  Joy DivisionCloser .
  Joy DivisionLes Bains Douches .
  Joy DivisionUnknown Pleasures. Closer is .
  JuciferCalling All Cars On The Vegas Strip .
  Junior BoysLast Exit .
  Juno ReactorLabyrinth .
  Jurassic 5Power in Numbers .
  Jurassic 5Quality Control .
  Kathleen EdwardsFailer .
  Keith JarrettMy Song .
  KentVapen Och Ammunition .
  Kevin GilbertShaming of the True .
  King CrimsonDiscipline .
  King CrimsonThree of a Perfect Pair .
  King's XGretchen Goes to Nebraska .
  KISSCrazy Nights .
  KISSKISS Alive! .
  KraftwerkComputer World .
  KraftwerkThe Man Machine .
  Kruder & DorfmeisterK&D Sessions .
  L. van BeethovenSymphony 3, 5, and 9 (Karajan, 1960s set) .
  L. van Beethoventhe late piano sonates (Gould, Pollini, Richter, or Gilels) .
  L. van Beethoventhe late string quartets (Alban Berg quartet) .
  LabradfordMi Media Naranja .
  LambFear of Fours .
  Laura NyroNew York Tendaberry .
  Led ZeppelinI .
  Led ZeppelinPhysical Graffiti .
  Lee RitenourOn the Line .
  Lee RitenourWes Bound .
  Leonard CohenSongs of Love and Hate .
  Little GrizzlyWhen it all comes to an end, I will stand alone .
  LiveMental Jewelry .
  Loreena McKennittThe Mask & the Mirror .
  Lou ReedBerlin .
  Lou ReedMetal Machine Music .
  Lou ReedTransformer .
  LowThings We Lost In The Fire .
  LTJ BukemEarth Volume 1 .
  LTJ BukemJourney Inwards .
  Lucinda WilliamsCar Wheels on a Gravel Road .
  Lyle LovettJoshua Judges Ruth .
  Lyle LovettLyle Lovett and His Large Band .
  M.I.A.Arular .
  MaidenKillers .
  MaidenPiece of Mind .
  Mark KozelekWhat's Next to the Moon .
  Marshall CrenshawField Day .
  Martha and the MuffinsThis is the Ice Age .
  Mason JenningsBirds Flying Away .
  Massive AttackBlue Lines .
  Massive AttackMezzanine .
  Massive AttackProtection .
  Matthew DearLeave Luck To Heaven .
  Matthew Good BandBeautiful Midnight .
  MC ChrisLife's a Bitch and I'm Her Pimp .
  McCoy TynerLand Of Giants .
  MegadethPeace Sells, But Who's Buying? .
  MeshuggahChaosphere .
  MeshuggahTrue Human Design .
  MetallicaAnd Justice for All .
  MetallicaBlack .
  Michael HedgesBeyond Boundaries .
  Mike WattContemplating The Engine Room .
  Miles DavisMiles Ahead .
  MinistryJust in case you didn't feel like showing up Live .
  MinutemenDouble Nickels on the Dime .
  MirahYou Think it's Like This but Really it's Like This .
  MisfitsWalk Among Us .
  Mission Of BurmaVs. .
  Moby18 .
  Modern LoversModern Lovers .
  Modest MouseBuilding Nothing Out Of Something .
  Mojave 3Ask Me Tomorrow .
  Monochrome SetEligible Bachelor .
  MorcheebaBig Calm .
  Mos DefBlack on Both Sides .
  Mothers of InventionFreak Out .
  Mr. BungleCalifornia .
  MuseAbsolution .
  Naked CityTorture Garden .
  Nanci GriffithLast of the True Believers .
  Neil FinnOne All .
  Neil YoungOn the Beach .
  Neko CaseBlacklisted .
  Nerf HerderNerf Herder .
  Neu!Neu 2 .
  New OrderLow Life .
  New OrderTechnique .
  New York DollsNew York Dolls .
  Nick CaveThe Good Son .
  Nick CaveYour Funeral, My Trial .
  Nina NastasiaThe Blackened air .
  Nina SimonePastel Blues .
  Nine Inch NailsThe Fragile .
  NKOTBHangin' Tough .
  Not Drowning, WavingCircus .
  Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Michael BrooksNight Song .
  OasisWhat's the story morning glory .
  Ocean Machine (Devin Townsend)Biomech .
  Of MontrealSatanic Panic in the Attic .
  Of MontrealThe Sunlandic Twins .
  OffspringSmash .
  Old 97'sFight Songs .
  Old 97'sToo Far to Care .
  Old Crow Medicine ShowOCMS .
  OpethMy Arms your Hearse .
  OrbitalHalcyon EP .
  OrbitalIn Sides .
  OrbitalOrbital 2 .
  OrbitalPeel Sessions .
  OrbitalSnivilisation .
  Orig Broadway CastRent Soundtrack .
  Os MutantesA Divina Comedia Ou Ando Desligad .
  OutkastStankonia .
  OwenNo Good For No One Now .
  ParliamentMothership Connection .
  Pat Metheny GroupAs Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls .
  Pat Metheny GroupStill Life (Talking) .
  Pat Metheny GroupThe Road To You .
  Patti SmithHorses .
  Patti SmithRadio Ethiopia / Horses .
  Paul SimonGraceland .
  Paul SimonLive at Central Park .
  PelicanThe Fire in our Throats .
  People Under the StairsO.S.T. (Original Soundtrack) .
  Peter HammillNadir's Big Chance .
  PharcydeBizarre Ride to the Pharcyde .
  Phil OchsRehearsals For Retirement .
  PhoenixAlphabetical .
  PilateCaught The Window .
  Pink FloydMeddle .
  Pink FloydPiper at the Gates of Dawn .
  Pink FloydPulse .
  PJ HarveyRid of Me .
  PJ HarveyStories From The City, Stories From the Shore .
  PlaceboBlack Market Music .
  PlanxtyPlanxty .
  Pop Will Eat ItselfThis Is the Day... This Is the Hour... This Is This .
  PortisheadLive at the Roseland in NYC .
  Prefuse 73One Word Extinguisher .
  PrimusFrizzle Fry .
  PrimusSuck on this .
  PrinceDirty Mind .
  PropagandhiHow to Clean Everything .
  Public EnemyIt Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back .
  PulpHardcore .
  QueenA Night at the Opera .
  R.E.M.Monster .
  R.E.M.New Adventures in Hi-Fi .
  R.E.M.Out of Time .
  RadioheadAmnesiac .
  Rage Against the MachineEvil Empire .
  RammsteinReise, Reise .
  RamonesThe Ramones .
  RancidAnd Out Come The Wolves .
  RancidLet's Go .
  Ravi Shankar And Philip GlassPassages .
  Red House PaintersAll of them .
  Redd KrossShow World .
  RepublicaRepublica .
  Robert Earle KeeneWest Textures .
  Robert FrippExposure .
  RobynMy Truth .
  Roger WatersAmused to Death .
  Rolling StonesSome Girls .
  Roxy MusicRoxy Music .
  Roxy MusicStreet Life .
  Rudimentary PeniCacophony .
  RundgrenA Wizard/A True Star .
  RundgrenSomething/Anything .
  RushPermanent Waves .
  RushPower Windows .
  SaezJours Etranges .
  Sam PhillipsMartinis & Bikinis .
  SashaInvolver .
  Sasha and DigweedNorthern Exposure, Eastcoast edition .
  Saturday Looks Good To MeAll Your Summer Songs .
  Saturday Looks Good To MeEvery Night .
  Scott walkerTilt .
  SepulturaChaos AD .
  Sergio and Odair AssadLatin American Music For Two Guitars .
  Shelley ManneShelley Manne and his men at the Blackhawk, Vol. 1 to 4 .
  ShinsOh inverted world .
  ShpongleAre You Shpongled .
  Sick Of It AllScratch the Surface .
  Sigur RosAgaetus Byrjun .
  Sinead O'ConnorI Do not Want What I Haven't Got .
  Skinny PuppyToo Dark Park .
  SlintSpiderland .
  SloanBetween The Bridges .
  SloanOne Chord to Another .
  SloanTwice Removed .
  Smashing PumpkinsAdore .
  SmogDongs of Sevotion .
  Sneaker PimpsBecoming X .
  Soft BoysUnderwater Moonlight .
  Sonic YouthDirty .
  Sonic YouthEvol .
  Sonic YouthExperimental Jet Set Trash and No Star .
  Sonic YouthWashing Machine .
  Sonny RollinsSaxaphone Colossus .
  Soul CoughingIrresistable Bliss .
  Soul CoughingRuby Vroom .
  SoundgardenBad Motor Finger .
  Spacemen 3Playing with fire .
  SparklehorseGood Morning Spider .
  SparklehorseIt's A Wonderful Life .
  SpecialsSpecials .
  SpiritualizedLadies and Gentlemen .
  SpiritualizedLive at the Royal Albert Hall .
  SplashdownBlue Shift .
  Squirrel Nut ZippersHot .
  Stan Getz & Joao GilbertoGetz/Gilberto .
  Steely DanAja .
  Steely DanCan't But a Thrill .
  StereolabEmperor Tomato Ketchup .
  Steve ReichMusic for 18 Musicians (the ECM recording) .
  Stevie Ray VaughanTexas Flood .
  StingSoul Cages .
  Stormtroopers of DeathSpeak English or Die .
  Strapping Young LadCity .
  SublimeSublime .
  SugarCopper Blue .
  Sunburst Finish from 1976BeBop Deluxe .
  SuperdragHead Trip In Every Key .
  SupertrampSurely .
  SynergyAudion .
  Talking HeadsFear of Music .
  Talking HeadsStop Making Sense .
  Tanita TikarumLovers in the City .
  Tears For FearsElemental .
  Teenage FanclubBandwagonesque .
  Ten Foot PoleRev .
  Ten Years AfterStonedhenge .
  The Afghan Whigs1969 .
  The Afghan WhigsGentleman .
  The Allman Brothers BandLive at the Fillmore East .
  The AmpsPacer .
  The BankLast Waltz .
  The BeatlesRevolver .
  The BeatlesRubber Soul UK edition .
  The Black CrowesThe Southern Harmony and Musical Companion .
  The BreedersLast Splash .
  The Brian Jonestown MassacreStrung Out in Heaven .
  The Butthole SurfersElectric Larryland .
  The Chemical BrothersLive at the Social .
  The Chrystal MethodCommunity Service .
  The CrampsBad Music for Bad People .
  The Dandy WarholsThirteen tales from Urban Bohemia .
  The Dave Brubeck QuartetTime Out .
  The DearsNo Cities Left .
  The DictatorsGo Girl Crazy .
  The Ditty BopsWhat is the Time .
  The DoorsThe Doors .
  The EaglesGreatest Hits Volume 1 & 2 .
  The EvensThe Evens .
  The FaintDanse Macabre .
  The Gun ClubFire Of Love .
  The High DialsA New Devotion .
  The Jesus and Mary ChainPsychocandy .
  The KinksThe Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society .
  The LibertinesUp the Bracket .
  The MinutemenDouble Nickels On The Dime .
  The NotwistNeon Golden .
  The OrbAdventures Beyond The Ultraworld .
  The Pinkerton ThugsThe Pain and The Pinkerton Thugs .
  The PixiesDoolitle .
  The PosiesDear 23 .
  The PosiesFrosting On The Beater .
  The ProclaimersSunshine on Leith .
  The ProdigyThe Fat of the Land .
  The ReplacementsDon't Tell a Soul .
  The ReplacementsTim .
  The Sea and CakeThe Sea and Cake .
  The ShinsOh Inverted World .
  The Silver JewsAmerican Water .
  The SmithsHatful of Hollow .
  The SmithsLouder Than Bombs .
  The SmithsThe World won't listen .
  The SoftiesHoliday in Rhode Island .
  The StarsSet Yourself On Fire .
  The StereophonicsPerformance and Cocktails .
  The StillsLogic will break your heart .
  The StoogesThe Stooges .
  The Tea PartyTransmission .
  The TheMindBomb .
  The TheNakedself .
  The TheSoul Mining .
  The Tough and LovelyBorn of the Stars .
  The WeakerthansLeft and Leaving .
  The WhoQuadrophenia .
  The WhoTommy .
  The WhoWho's Next .
  Theviery CorporationThe Mirror Conspiracy .
  They Might Be GiantsFlood .
  Thin LizzyBlack Rose .
  Third Eye FoundationLittle Lost Soul .
  This Mortal CoilIt'll End In Tears .
  Thomas DolbyAliens Ate My Buick .
  Tim BuckleyGoodbye and Hello .
  Tito PuenteDance Mania .
  Tom JonesGreatest .
  Tom PettyFull Moon Fever .
  Tom WaitsClosing Time .
  Tom WaitsFrank's Wild Years .
  Tom WaitsHeart of Saturday Night .
  Tom WaitsMule Variations .
  Tom WaitsSwordfishtrombones .
  Tony Bennett And Bill EvansThe Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album .
  Tony MacAlpineEdge of Insanity .
  Tony MacAlpineMaximum Security .
  ToolUndertow .
  Tragically HipDay for Night .
  TransatlanticSMPTe .
  TrickyMaxinquaye .
  TurbonegroParty Animals / Scandanavian Leather .
  U2All That You Can't Leave Behind .
  Uncle TupeloAnodyne .
  UnderworldBeaucoup Fish .
  Unkle (Shadow and LaValle)Psyence Fiction .
  Urge OverkillSaturation .
  Van HalenFair Warning .
  Van HalenVan Halen I .
  Van MorrisonAstral weeks .
  Velvet UndergroundAndy Warhol .
  Velvet UndergroundLoaded .
  Velvet UndergroundThe Velvet Underground .
  Veruca SaltAmerican Thighs .
  Violent Femmes3 .
  Voodoo Glow SkullsFirme .
  VUVU .
  W.A. MozartRequiem (recent Harnoncourt recording) .
  Wayne ShorterAdam's Apple .
  Weather ReportHeavy Weather .
  Wes MontgomeryThe Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery .
  WhiskeytownStrangers Almanac .
  White ZombieSupersexy Swingin' Sounds .
  WilcoBeing There .
  Willie NelsonRed Headed Stranger .
  WirePink Flag .
  Wu-Tang ClanEnter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) .
  XTCApple Venus .
  XTCBlack Sea .
  XTCDrums And Wires .
  Yeah Yeah YeahsFever To Tell .
  Yo La TengoFakebook .
  Yo La TengoHeart beating as one .
  Yusef LateefEastern Sounds .
  ZappaWaka/Jawaka, .
  Best of Communism: Revolutionary Songs .
  Communist Love Songs .
  Great Voices of French Communism .
  HAIR soundtrack .
  London Acid City Disk 1 .
  Pump Up the Volume Soundtrack .
  The Best of the Red Army Choir: The Definitive Collection .
  The Crow Soundtrack .
  The Judgment Night Soundtrack .
  The Reality Bites Soundtrack .
  The Twister Soundtrack .

About the list

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I read the comments on this Plastic thread between August 15-19, 2005 and tallied all the "perfect albums." In some cases, people's selections were ambiguous. For example, these are cases that I counted as votes: "Damn... I forgot all about that album. LOVE that. Concur." and "I second The Sundays too!" The following cases I did not count as votes: "Good call." or "every album by.."—users should pick their favorite albums, not artists. I may have missed some albums, so email me if you have any issues.

— Philip Dhingra

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