One of mine is Commit This to Memory by Motion City Soundtrack. I basically took the title verbatim and know the album word for word. And while I would love if it did, the rest of MCS’s stuff just doesn’t hit the same way.

And if you’re not an album person, maybe a period of time in the artist’s work? Whatever works for you.

*Lots of mentions of hit debut albums that subsequently petered out, which follows with the dreaded sophomore slump that hits many artists. Anyone with mid or even later career albums that stand alone? Those always intrigue me.

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    282 months ago

    M83. “Hurry up we’re dreaming” may not be perfect but it’s a great album all their other stuff pales in comparison to.

    “Wolfmother” by Wolfmother. Period.

    “Cruelty and the beast” by Cradle of Filth, although they had a good run around that time.

    “Origin of symmetry” by Muse. It is the almost perfect sweet spot between too rough and too polished in their discography.

    “Seeds” by TV on the radio.

    “Boy King” by Wild Beasts.

    “Passage” by Samael was peak song writing and composing. A text book concept album. Brilliant.

    “The Four Seasons” by Antonio Vivaldi. Absolute banger, not an album though.

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      42 months ago

      I’m kind of curious, I’ve tried Seeds over and over, but it’s unlistenable to me. Especially compared again Dear Science or Desperate. What is it you like about that album? I really want to like it because it’s probably the last of what we’ll get from them. Got any tips on appreciating it?

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        12 months ago

        I think it’s one of the albums that “just click” and then you try to discover more of that great stuff and it doesn’t work. There’s this mood and vibe in the album I couldn’t find in the others.

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      32 months ago

      “Passage” by Samael

      I’m just going to assume you have never heard Ceremony of Opposites. That’s the only explanation.

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        12 months ago

        I did (and sometimes still do). It’s okay, too doomy and far from being refined. Passage takes the stomping doom metal parts and surrounds them with the right amount of electronic sound, great lyrics, and interesting composing and arrangements. Without Ceremony, Passage wouldn’t exist, tbf, but it gets out maneuvered by its (indirect) successor in every aspect.

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      22 months ago

      Are you a fan of the Four Seasons Recomposed, by Max Richter? I discovered it this past year and have been loving it.

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        22 months ago

        I’m conservative on this one. I like the versions with Anne-Sophie Mutter and the one by Europa Galante the most. Interpretations can be so different, I’m content with that.

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      22 months ago

      Sorry but Return to Cookie Mountain fromTV on the Radio is great, and staring at the sun was on their first album. But I was at peak concert going age in 2003 when that came out so I’m biased toward that.

      Seeds is my second favorite album (after Cookie) and still pretty underrated though.