Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Musical longevity & making future classic albums

BattleAngel · 22nd June 2003

I think the masterpieces from Bjork, Nirvana, NIN, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Tool, and probably to a lesser extent, Coldplay (their first one really was a solid album song-to-song) will stand the test of time better than the rest of modern acts. I also think "Bleed American" from Jimmy Eat World has this quality, as does some of the Weezer stuff.

I think to really be an amazing, benchmark setting album that can survive through the years, you've got to have a few things:

1) The ability to invoke a rather specific emotion within a rather broad range of listeners
2) Every song has to be as exceptionally well written as the last, and probably with a significantly different hook from song to song while maintaining a common vibe- the different songs have to fit like a puzzle- we're presenting an album with lots of different moments, not necessarily one portrait of a band
3) The production needs to be consistant (even if recorded in a myriad of studios- one of Queen's albums was recorded in like 6 places yet it's the most smooth and consistant album I've heard)
4) The production can be simple and raw, but with supreme depth to the arrangements that will keep people listening for years and still recognizing new parts (Jimmy Eat World's record has that in spades, The Fragile by NIN, etc.)- to me, there is nothing more fun than discovering little hidden treasures in old tracks I've heard a million times
5) The artists and production team really have to sound like they know what they are doing, and love what they are doing. They need to sound like they were born to do this album- I know that's a little cheezey, but every great album I've heard has given me that impression.
6) There need to be at least 5 moments throughout that just make your jaw drop that you can keep talking about.

The above 6 really also factor in to what makes a classic movie (another something we seem to be in danger of not having these days) but I believe the 6th is what really can make or break an album.

I'll use "Batman" as an example of what I feel is a classic movie that was out only to entertain. Think of the performances in that film and the visual and lyrical "holy shits" that happen throughout and usually in tandem... Jack Nicholson's hand coming out of the vat of acid and subsequently having his face unwrapped, looking in the mirror, and smashing it while howling with psychotic laughter. The line "have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?" Michael Keaton's hilarious moment in Vicky Vale's apartment saying "I'm Batman... *I'm* Batman" trying to practice how to tell her that he's, well, Batman. How about the scene where Joker shoots down the Batman's huge flying vehicle with a super long pistol? The scene where a huge inflatable joker is floating down a major NYC street shooting out money and then poisonous gas?

I could go on and on, but to anyone who has ever seen that movie, you should be going "oh yeah- that was pretty damn brilliant." I haven't seen that movie in probably 7 years, and it's not my favorite movie, but there is no denying the memorability, style, and sheer craft of that film. It was made in 1988 but is way more epic than any modern super hero flick I've ever seen.

I think that by really crafting an album, taking time to really get a seriously killer and unique vibe, making sure there are plenty of moments to keep talking about that still surprise the listener after he's heard the track 50 times, it's still possible to make a classic record. Hell, I'm trying to do one right now!

I think the key to know if you're on the right track is being able to listen to the same songs over and over again and not only still like them but still feel like "yeah- holy shit, we're doing something- god, I want to play this for my mom" lol.

I put together a CD of various artists that I think represents a classic album- this CD, whenever I listen to it, really "does it for me." I'll bring a few copies to the NYC meeting- I really feel like it represents, with the exception of a few songs, album and song "perfection."

22nd June 2003	#3
BattleAngel Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2003 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 954	I think the masterpieces from Bjork, Nirvana, NIN, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Tool, and probably to a lesser extent, Coldplay (their first one really was a solid album song-to-song) will stand the test of time better than the rest of modern acts. I also think "Bleed American" from Jimmy Eat World has this quality, as does some of the Weezer stuff. I think to really be an amazing, benchmark setting album that can survive through the years, you've got to have a few things: 1) The ability to invoke a rather specific emotion within a rather broad range of listeners 2) Every song has to be as exceptionally well written as the last, and probably with a significantly different hook from song to song while maintaining a common vibe- the different songs have to fit like a puzzle- we're presenting an album with lots of different moments, not necessarily one portrait of a band 3) The production needs to be consistant (even if recorded in a myriad of studios- one of Queen's albums was recorded in like 6 places yet it's the most smooth and consistant album I've heard) 4) The production can be simple and raw, but with supreme depth to the arrangements that will keep people listening for years and still recognizing new parts (Jimmy Eat World's record has that in spades, The Fragile by NIN, etc.)- to me, there is nothing more fun than discovering little hidden treasures in old tracks I've heard a million times 5) The artists and production team really have to sound like they know what they are doing, and love what they are doing. They need to sound like they were born to do this album- I know that's a little cheezey, but every great album I've heard has given me that impression. 6) There need to be at least 5 moments throughout that just make your jaw drop that you can keep talking about. The above 6 really also factor in to what makes a classic movie (another something we seem to be in danger of not having these days) but I believe the 6th is what really can make or break an album. I'll use "Batman" as an example of what I feel is a classic movie that was out only to entertain. Think of the performances in that film and the visual and lyrical "holy shits" that happen throughout and usually in tandem... Jack Nicholson's hand coming out of the vat of acid and subsequently having his face unwrapped, looking in the mirror, and smashing it while howling with psychotic laughter. The line "have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?" Michael Keaton's hilarious moment in Vicky Vale's apartment saying "I'm Batman... I'm Batman" trying to practice how to tell her that he's, well, Batman. How about the scene where Joker shoots down the Batman's huge flying vehicle with a super long pistol? The scene where a huge inflatable joker is floating down a major NYC street shooting out money and then poisonous gas? I could go on and on, but to anyone who has ever seen that movie, you should be going "oh yeah- that was pretty damn brilliant." I haven't seen that movie in probably 7 years, and it's not my favorite movie, but there is no denying the memorability, style, and sheer craft of that film. It was made in 1988 but is way more epic than any modern super hero flick I've ever seen. I think that by really crafting an album, taking time to really get a seriously killer and unique vibe, making sure there are plenty of moments to keep talking about that still surprise the listener after he's heard the track 50 times, it's still possible to make a classic record. Hell, I'm trying to do one right now! I think the key to know if you're on the right track is being able to listen to the same songs over and over again and not only still like them but still feel like "yeah- holy shit, we're doing something- god, I want to play this for my mom" lol. I put together a CD of various artists that I think represents a classic album- this CD, whenever I listen to it, really "does it for me." I'll bring a few copies to the NYC meeting- I really feel like it represents, with the exception of a few songs, album and song "perfection."