LoginWhat makes an album "Classic" ?
Pandoras Folly
12 years, 9 months ago at Aug 17 3:58 - With the amount of people declaring every good new release by an artist "classic" within the first few months of its release, it makes me wonder what people think qualifies an album to be a "classic." Or how to predict if an album will be considered one in the future. I have a few ideas of my own, but I would like to hear what other people think.
eze
12 years, 8 months ago at Aug 24 13:50 - Well, basically my opinion is that its a matter of time.
A "Classic" album is one that stands out through time, or that could be heard many times over and over and still has the same effect on you.
In my personal experience, the album Dookie from Green Day is a classic album for me because it marked a phase in my life and I could listen to it front to back, over and over, and even listening to it now makes me feel the same way I did when I first heard it.
that's my opinion.
cheers!
A "Classic" album is one that stands out through time, or that could be heard many times over and over and still has the same effect on you.
In my personal experience, the album Dookie from Green Day is a classic album for me because it marked a phase in my life and I could listen to it front to back, over and over, and even listening to it now makes me feel the same way I did when I first heard it.
that's my opinion.
cheers!
4crazyweldermen
12 years, 8 months ago at Aug 25 16:44 - An album that no matter what era it was created in, or what era it's being listened to...has the same effect and power it had whilst created.
Pandoras Folly
12 years, 8 months ago at Aug 28 6:12 - I think that an album can be considered a classic if it did something no one else did at the time and changed the way music was recorded in the future. So even an album that doesn't sound great can be a classic depending on what point of view your looking at. But I agree with both of your points of view as well.
Deleted user
Deleted
10 years, 2 months ago at Mar 1 22:51 - Sales don't mean jack fucking shit mate.
What makes a classic is albums that changed everything and were innovative.
For example:
Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue
In the aftermath of it's success, it inspired so many clones covering the album to death, and pushed Jazz into the Modal era of heavy soloing and quintets pushing their songs longer rather than relying on short work like before.
Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced?
The album that started the loud guitar work AKA Heavy Metal that still plagues radios to this day. No one played rock as loud as hard as Jimi, and ever since, everyone wants to try and be him. He's been dead for over 40 years and still inspiring clones.
LOL at Green Day making a classic. I'm sure if I said that about Marilyn Manson or Nine Inch Nails, someone would come to leave a snide little comment about how my music sucks.
What makes a classic is albums that changed everything and were innovative.
For example:
Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue
In the aftermath of it's success, it inspired so many clones covering the album to death, and pushed Jazz into the Modal era of heavy soloing and quintets pushing their songs longer rather than relying on short work like before.
Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced?
The album that started the loud guitar work AKA Heavy Metal that still plagues radios to this day. No one played rock as loud as hard as Jimi, and ever since, everyone wants to try and be him. He's been dead for over 40 years and still inspiring clones.
LOL at Green Day making a classic. I'm sure if I said that about Marilyn Manson or Nine Inch Nails, someone would come to leave a snide little comment about how my music sucks.
Moderator
Michael S
10 years, 2 months ago at Mar 2 10:25 - I'd have to say something that stands the test of time - a truly great album is a defining moment in an artist's career and, like some have said above, is just as powerful and moving today as it was in the past. There is no such thing as an instant classic; that's simply a marketing ploy.
Fleetwood Mac's Rumours is a classic.
The Beatles' Rubber Soul
Pink Floyd's The Wall
Norah Jones' Come Away with Me
All classic albums. All as close to perfection as the artist could get at that time; not necessarily their all time best but, as a whole, close to perfect. There are many out there but none start that way.
Fleetwood Mac's Rumours is a classic.
The Beatles' Rubber Soul
Pink Floyd's The Wall
Norah Jones' Come Away with Me
All classic albums. All as close to perfection as the artist could get at that time; not necessarily their all time best but, as a whole, close to perfect. There are many out there but none start that way.
xxixii
10 years, 2 months ago at Mar 2 14:51 - I think a classic album is one which
1 - is consistently good - the vast majority of albums have 2 or 3 decent tracks and the rest is weak to say the least
2 - is kind of timeless or nailing a specific time spot on
3 - can be appreciated for multiple reasons - lyrics, music, production, performance
4 - has some historical gravitas, some context/relationship to the real world
5 - can be interpreted differently as you age
I dont think ANY album has pulled off all 5 but some get close with 3 or 4 of those points
1 - is consistently good - the vast majority of albums have 2 or 3 decent tracks and the rest is weak to say the least
2 - is kind of timeless or nailing a specific time spot on
3 - can be appreciated for multiple reasons - lyrics, music, production, performance
4 - has some historical gravitas, some context/relationship to the real world
5 - can be interpreted differently as you age
I dont think ANY album has pulled off all 5 but some get close with 3 or 4 of those points
william maxey 83
10 years, 1 month ago at Mar 19 23:44 - longevity