LemonMelon
More 5G Than Man
After perusing this thread, it occurred to me that it might be interesting to discuss what albums would sound as fresh being released today as they did upon their original release. There are multiple factors that affect how an album ages, whether it be the musical trends of years to come, the artists it inspires, or the aging of the instrumentation used. All of these were favorable towards my top 5, which are as follows, in chronological order:
The Sonics - Here Are The Sonics (1965)
Regardless of how you feel about the garage rock revival of the early '00s (I, for one, am not favorably disposed to it, although I feel a handful of great records were spawned from it), it is undeniable that bands like The Hives basically copped their entire sound from this record. And thanks to them and their contemporaries, this record still sounds remarkably fresh. It's also important to note that brash intensity and minimalistic production never really goes out of style.
Compare and contrast:
YouTube - The Sonics - Strychnine
YouTube - The Hives - Tick Tick Boom: Video
Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run (1975)
Despite some occasional signs of pseudo-pretentious '70s bloat in spots (not to mention the synth overload of the otherwise superb She's The One), very few records manage to balance studio gloss and intensity like Born To Run. It channels the youthful freedom of '60s rock n roll with a world-weary, do-or-die feel that, in hindsight, we realize only a "broken hero on a last chance power drive" like Bruce could have provided at that time. Listen to albums like The Killers' Sam's Town and Arcade Fire's Neon Bible and tell me that artists since haven't been just as appreciative.
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979)
In a time where punk was about to cross over into new-wave thanks to artists like Blondie and Elvis Costello, Joy Division created their own little world where light couldn't penetrate, but emotion and intensity certainly could. It would be dubbed "post-punk" in the years to come, as it channeled the intensity of punk rock with a greater emphasis on atmosphere, but it's quite clear upon listening to this record that it was not an intended hybrid. This is an accidental masterpiece, one that would be dissected and applied to other, lesser works in years to come, and has proven to be highly influential. Without it, who knows, maybe U2 wouldn't be the band they are today.
R.E.M. - Murmur (1983)
Assuming one hadn't heard of R.E.M. before, would it be possible for them to guess the date of this album's release within, let's say, 5 years? I would say it would be a great challenge, as I have not, before or since, heard anything that sounds like this in my entire life. It channels Byrdsian guitar jangle while also picking up the atmosphere and rawness of post-punk, but neither properly describes the sound of Murmur. It stands out of time, like an insect in amber, and hundreds of bands have since listened in wonder, contemplating how the fuck this could have happened, and what they can do to replicate it. I'm still waiting.
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989)
Forget everything you know about the Beastie Boys. Forget Licensed To Ill. Forget every hip-hop album you've ever heard. Paul's Boutique is like nothing else you'll ever hear. The record is a labyrinth of samples, pop culture references, and witty asides that is as absorbing as it is impenetrable and beguiling. Nearly every song builds on the one that precedes it, leading up to an epic 12 minute mindfuck of a finale that brings the album full circle. Because it references just about every piece of pop culture one could think of in decades prior, it never focuses on one period, and feels completely unique and not of its time...again, because it's of every time. No one could simulate this record because, frankly, it would just be far too much work. Plus, on a more practical level, clearing this many samples would be a impossible task. Paul's Boutique had its 20th anniversary this year, and if it was simply puzzling in 1989, it's simply astounding in 2009. Maybe it'll feel dated upon its 40th anniversary, but at the halfway mark, it's doing just fine.
The Sonics - Here Are The Sonics (1965)
Regardless of how you feel about the garage rock revival of the early '00s (I, for one, am not favorably disposed to it, although I feel a handful of great records were spawned from it), it is undeniable that bands like The Hives basically copped their entire sound from this record. And thanks to them and their contemporaries, this record still sounds remarkably fresh. It's also important to note that brash intensity and minimalistic production never really goes out of style.
Compare and contrast:
YouTube - The Sonics - Strychnine
YouTube - The Hives - Tick Tick Boom: Video
Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run (1975)
Despite some occasional signs of pseudo-pretentious '70s bloat in spots (not to mention the synth overload of the otherwise superb She's The One), very few records manage to balance studio gloss and intensity like Born To Run. It channels the youthful freedom of '60s rock n roll with a world-weary, do-or-die feel that, in hindsight, we realize only a "broken hero on a last chance power drive" like Bruce could have provided at that time. Listen to albums like The Killers' Sam's Town and Arcade Fire's Neon Bible and tell me that artists since haven't been just as appreciative.
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979)
In a time where punk was about to cross over into new-wave thanks to artists like Blondie and Elvis Costello, Joy Division created their own little world where light couldn't penetrate, but emotion and intensity certainly could. It would be dubbed "post-punk" in the years to come, as it channeled the intensity of punk rock with a greater emphasis on atmosphere, but it's quite clear upon listening to this record that it was not an intended hybrid. This is an accidental masterpiece, one that would be dissected and applied to other, lesser works in years to come, and has proven to be highly influential. Without it, who knows, maybe U2 wouldn't be the band they are today.
R.E.M. - Murmur (1983)
Assuming one hadn't heard of R.E.M. before, would it be possible for them to guess the date of this album's release within, let's say, 5 years? I would say it would be a great challenge, as I have not, before or since, heard anything that sounds like this in my entire life. It channels Byrdsian guitar jangle while also picking up the atmosphere and rawness of post-punk, but neither properly describes the sound of Murmur. It stands out of time, like an insect in amber, and hundreds of bands have since listened in wonder, contemplating how the fuck this could have happened, and what they can do to replicate it. I'm still waiting.
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989)
Forget everything you know about the Beastie Boys. Forget Licensed To Ill. Forget every hip-hop album you've ever heard. Paul's Boutique is like nothing else you'll ever hear. The record is a labyrinth of samples, pop culture references, and witty asides that is as absorbing as it is impenetrable and beguiling. Nearly every song builds on the one that precedes it, leading up to an epic 12 minute mindfuck of a finale that brings the album full circle. Because it references just about every piece of pop culture one could think of in decades prior, it never focuses on one period, and feels completely unique and not of its time...again, because it's of every time. No one could simulate this record because, frankly, it would just be far too much work. Plus, on a more practical level, clearing this many samples would be a impossible task. Paul's Boutique had its 20th anniversary this year, and if it was simply puzzling in 1989, it's simply astounding in 2009. Maybe it'll feel dated upon its 40th anniversary, but at the halfway mark, it's doing just fine.
He messed everything up, didn't he? Is that the only song he wrote that ended up on an album?
Didn't know that, it's good to see that he didn't just write one crap song. Both of those are fantastic songs. 
