grunter

What - in your opinion - was the last flat-out "classic" album?

And when I say "classic" album, I mean "one for the ages."

A disc that from opening note to closing note could be put up on a shelf with the best of the best. Y'know, alongside the "Sgt. Pepper's," the "Pet Sounds," the "Joshua Trees," the "Neverminds," the (controversial) "Kid A's."

I'm going to come out and mention The White Stripes' "Elephant" - even though it's not having quite the cultural impact that I thought it would've upon first listen.

What was your last "classic?"

Spike Jonze

That's the first album that came to my mind when I read the topic title. Since you said Elephant, I'll say De Stijl.

evenflow

Radiohead-OK Computer.

Truly an album that can be mentionned in the same breath as Revolver, Pet Sounds or Dark Side of the Moon.

Goat3001

IMO a recent metal album that would be a true classic would be Opeth- Damnation

SAShepherd

First album that came to mind was OK Computer, but I figured that evenflowddt was going to beat me to it. Really, an album that had tremendous critical and popular approval from the get-go.

As for your list, I'd take Kid A off -- there's a considerable range of opinions on that album, way too many people hate that album to make it a "classic." I know you described it as "controversial," but I think the whole point of a list of "classics" is that there is comparatively little disagreement that the album has some merit. I also think the album has to have sold relatively well -- in other words, it broke through to people who might not have bought the album had it not received huge accolades.

I'm tempted to say Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, but I think support for that album has waned, and has some detractors, too. I'm not sure I'll listen to it much 3 years from now.

The Antipodean

Nirvana: "Nevermind"
Radiohead: "OK Computer" (altho I personally prefer Kid A more)
Eminem: "The Marshall Mathers LP"


Still too soon to make a verdict on "Elephant" (I think for anything to be considered a classic ya gotta let it age a few years first) but it definitely is the CD I've listened to most often this year, one hell of a disc.

edclem

very true. they're one of, if not the first metal act to do an album which is a complete departure from "their sound" that is every bit as much of a treasure as the rest of their catalogue

Brain Stew

The Smashing Pumpkins-Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

NotThatGuy

Definately Cracked Rear View Mirror...by Hootie & The Blowfish.

Or my real answer..."vs" (Pearl Jam) or possibly "Nevermind" (Nirvana)


-pedagogue

wendersfan

OK Computer. I think it's the greatest rock album ever recorded, and I'm old enough to have some perspective about it.

Ask me again in five years and I'll see if I feel the same way then as I do now about Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. I've been listening to it constantly for months now...

NotThatGuy

As for OK Computer....I am not a big Radiohead fan...I appreciate their music, etc...but that was a freaking good album.

-pedagogue

DJLinus

Okay, I'll switch up genres and say A Tribe Called Quest's The Low End Theory. Their follow-up, Midnight Maurauders, comes close, though. Unfortunately, there's few truly great start-to-finish hip-hop albums, but this one ranks right up there with all the ones mentioned above (although I may personally disagree with some).

turborobb

Warrant - Dog Eat Dog

gilbertr76

Shouldn't be surprised by my pick:

TOOL - Lateralus

Hollowgen

Led Zeppelin IV

LurkerDan

Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark

Hell, it's not the most recent, but it's the first one that came to mind...

Matt925

Comes very close. I can't think of a better follow up to a classic hip hop album (well, if we are talking about MF Doom...).

Aphex Twin

Aphex Twin - Richard D. James the Album

Has had an enormous impact on scores and scores of artists, including that lazy-eyed "OK Computer" singer.

Aphex Twin

DJ Shadow - Endtroducing

Ushered in a new generation of hip hop.

atlantamoi

First thing that popped in my mind was "Moon Safari" by Air.
It's over 5 years old so I think it can count. I'm sure this will
sound dated 20 years from now, but it will still be a recording
I play. Almost perfect.

Ergyu

Ten

Meatpants

Weezer - Blue Album

Some others:

RHCP - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream

Hiro11

Interpol's "Turn on the Bright Lights" will be around for a while.

Beck's "Sea Change" may be my favorite album by him and it will stand the test of time.

The Streets "Original Pirate Material" is the definitive document of a certain scene... it's going to be here a while.

conscience

These are all of the albums I consider classic. I listen to them all the time and all the way through without skipping any songs. And I think a lot of them will stand the test of time.

---

Tom Waits - Mule Variations

Billy Bragg and Wilco - Mermaid Avenue (Vol. I)

Uncle Tupelo - No Depression AND March 16-20, 1992

Radiohead - The Bends AND OK Computer

Lyle Lovett - Joshua Judges Ruth

Dr. Dre - Chronic

Tool - AEnima

2Pac - All Eyez On Me

SAShepherd

As I thought about the question again last night, Beck's Odelay came to my mind (though it predates OK Computer). I think it's too soon to decide about Sea Change, and I think that there are too many who didn't like the album to permit it to enter the "classic" pantheon.

As with most discussions on here, we do have some definitional disagreement on what "classic" (or "stands the test of time") means...