Timeless Albums

[Pauro 76]

Showing your age Pauro man, some of those are the wrong side of 15 years old at this stage

I have another for the list, another compilation but not a "best of"
The Beta Band - 3 E.P's

Shocking isn't it. A few of the albums I've grown up with, and they still sound great, sure sign of a timeless album.

A few more...

The Verve - Urban Hymns
Radiohead - Kid A
Supergrass - In It For The Money
Metallica - Metallica
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible/Funeral
Oasis - Definitely Maybe
System of a Down - Toxicity
Blur - Modern Life is Rubbish
Rage against the Machine - RATM
White Stripes - Elephant

A few best ofs..

The Best of New Order
Forever Faithless - Faithless
Their Law - Prodigy
Collected - Massive Attack
The Greatest - Ian Brown

[Wolfie]

Just thought of another "Best of":

Super Furry Animals - Songbook Vol 1

[Beavis]

Compilations and Best of's shouldnt be included as timeless albums. I dont like the concept of greatest hits or compilation albums to begin with. A band's quality should be considered in terms of 40min+ compositions, united by some unifying themes, sounds or at least a mind-set that existed when songs on an album are written/produced/selected/positioned, rather than individual songs with no relation to that preceding or following.
I also think an album must be over 7/8yo to be considered 'timeless'.How can you know if its timeless unless a significant period of time has elapsed?

Anyway what I can think of now:

OK Computer - Radiohead
Kid A/Amnesiac - Radiohead
Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
Animals - Pink Floyd
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
Ten - Pearl Jam
Definitely Maybe - Oasis
Agaetis Byrjun - Sigur Ros
Music For the Gilted Generation - The Prodigy

[noby]

Compilations and Best of's shouldnt be included as timeless albums. I dont like the concept of greatest hits or compilation albums to begin with. A band's quality should be considered in terms of 40min+ compositions

While I agree with your sentiment in a 'Timeless album' discussion, and I am an album fan, there are a lot of valid cases for greatest hits/compilations.

I wouldn't be without all of my Northern Soul compilations, but I doubt a lot of the artists even released an album. Ditto early Motown, and dance genres.
In fact, the album really only became popular in the seventies. Before that, and lately too the focus was on good singles, which sometimes got cobbled together to make an album.

Other bands are just more suited to singles. Madness are a favourite of mine, but once you go beyond the singles there's often a big drop-off in quality.

[Wolfie]

I think theres 2 things going on at once on this thread

1) Some are concerning themselves with specific albums worthy of the mantle "Timeless"
2) Others have concerned themselves with what are the best purchases to make (often including "Best Ofs") that will facilitate Block G amassing a great record collection.

[Schumi]

Mercury Rev: Deserter's Songs and Air: Moon Safari haven't been mentioned yet that I've seen. Both classics.

[noby]

Mercury Rev: Deserter's Songs and Air: Moon Safari haven't been mentioned yet that I've seen. Both classics.

Ooh, yes. And Yerself is Steam.

Wolfie, you're quite right, but where's the harm.

Have we mentioned Big Star yet? You can get #1 Record and Radio City on one cd now. Two timeless albums, one compilation. The best of both worlds.

[ShamrockIreland]

Other bands are just more suited to singles. Madness are a favourite of mine, but once you go beyond the singles there's often a big drop-off in quality.

Madness have 3 amazing studio Lps in One Step Beyond, Absoloutely and Madness 7. A lot of their best stuff wasn't singles but Lp tracks and B-sides

Heres another few great Lps you may not have heard from
1. Beat That- The Purple Hearts(See where Roses etc got their influences from)
2. Setting Sons- The Jam(Snap is a great compo but this LP is gold)
3. Up the Bracket- The Libertines
4. Fresh Fruit For Rotten Vegetables- The Dead Kennedys
5. The Clash on Broadway- The Clash(A triple treat from the Clash everything you wanted and more. Demo versions,unreleased tracks)
5. Red Red Roses for me/Rum Sodamy and the Lash- The Pogues
6. Magnets- The Vapours
7. Johnny The Fox,Vagabonds,Thin Lizzy(1st LP self titled a gem),Nightlife- Thin Lizzy
8. Rory Gallagher-Rory Gallagher
9. Whos Next(Most Who LPs)- The Who
10. Desmond Dekker- Best Of
11. I just can't stop it,Wha Happen- The Beat
12. More Specials

Too many more to mention