Perfect Albums
Jason Burk, on episode 110 of the Hemispheric Views podcast, posed a question. He asked listeners to think of a perfect album, one you don’t skip any of the tracks on and listen to all the way through in one sitting, usually without moving. This topic is right up my alley. I’ll think of as many as I can here. But, I may go back and add to this list over time.
Nas - Illmatic - This album is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. It’s the perfect hip-hop album. In ways, it was rather miraculous it came together the way it did. With production from an array of producers like Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Large Professor, and Q-Tip, it’s crazy this project was even cohesive. Further, they brought their best for this album. Add in Nas’ lyricism, who was still a teenager at this point, there wasn’t a step missed anywhere. There’s a reason this album is the bar for so many.
Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels - The first entry from El-P and Killer Mike as a duo was a breath of fresh air for me. At a point where the mainstream was really getting watered down, it was really feast of famine for me as a listener. Either I hated your album or I mostly loved it. At this point I still gave song by song 1–5 star ratings on albums as I listened to them. RTJ hit fives on each one. El-P’s production continuously hits you with left uppercuts while El and Mike return with right uppercuts lyrically. It solidified my argument that if you put lyrical MCs on an album with the kind of beats the mainstream was getting, then you could sell records. The duo have released three records since with the same mentality as this one.
Common - BE - This was Common’s resurgence album. The Chicago MC united with Chicago producer Kanye West (before he changed his name and started wearing red hats) and the result was magic. It had the grittiness of many 90s hip-hop albums, but, was much more refined. Kanye was in a zone at this point of using African drum samples combined with old soul records and it provided the warmth needed to pair with Common’s genuine warmth as an individual. I always find myself happy listening to this album, even when the stories told aren’t the happiest. There’s hope in this album.
D’Angelo - Voodoo - One of the results of the Soulquarians’ stay at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, this album is the bar for neo-soul albums. There’s a jazz vibe with this joint, as D’Angelo wasn’t afraid to try something new. In ways, this album is spiritual to me.
Erykah Badu - Mama’s Gun - Another one of those Electric Lady sessions, everything I said about Voodoo I could also say about this album. Erykah’s work with Roy Hargrove on this album was special.
Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism - Death Cab have a song on their album We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes called “Company Calls Epilogue”, which frontman Ben Gibbard said was the song where he figured out exactly how he wanted to write songs. Transatlanticism is the first full album after that moment. At the same time, it feels like Death Cab as a whole found their groove sonically. The sequencing is spot on and Gibbard presents a vulnerability which sets the mood for this project. It’s all relatable for me.
Nothing - Guilty of Everything - I discovered Nothing accidentally. It was through bands like them that I discovered I really like shoegaze. Nothing is thunderously loud, to the point you can barely hear the vocals at times. Yet, there’s a vibe with it. However, if you dive in and follow the lyrics to each track, you’ll pick up on everything. It’s that point where you feel the emotion in every track. And now I love shoegaze.
Robert Glasper - In My Element - My gateway drug to modern jazz. Now, I followed artists like Roy Hargrove and Trombone Shorty before this. But, this was the album that locked me in. It’s important to know Robert’s company. He was once roommates with singer Bilal, is friends with Common, the Roots, & Erykah Badu, and is heavily influenced by the late producer J Dilla. There’s hip-hop and soul DNA all over this album, yet, it’s fully a jazz album. It shows just how intertwined the genres are, if anything. Maybe it’s that familiar territory that made this easy to listen to, but, it works in my book.
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme - The perfect jazz album. Period.
Pearl Jam - Ten - The front runner of the big grunge releases in 1992. Every track on this is single-worthy.
