[FrenchCanadian]

[Muk]

Outkast- Atliens

[silviophonic]

The first one that popped into my head was:

Tom Waits 'Rain Dogs'

...an eclectic masterpiece that ranges from heartbreaking ballads to skronky weirdness. A classic.

[JustlookingForAGoodTime]

Black Flag-Damaged

[Bushido]

It would need to be cheerful and eternal.

Not necessarily the best album ever, but one I could tolerate for many listens would be: Sgt Pepper - Beatles

[Veloce]

(02-06-2015 12:44 PM)SiverFox Wrote:  

Tool - Lateralus

I've probably logged more hours listening to this album than any other. Pink Floyd wouldn't be too far behind, specifically Meddle, Wish You Were Here, and Animals (Dark Side, while great, was never my favorite album)

It would be easy to rattle off some classical greatest hits, like the Rachmaninoff piano concertos, Vivaldi's 4 seasons, the Bach partidas, any of Beethovens symphonies. Eventually all of it would drive you mad.

You'd need an album that has an element of "dead space", I'd probably go with something ambient like Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks by Brian Eno. This album goes through cryptic themes that evoke the deadness of space (at 8:00), as well as uplifting music that's what I imagine the halls of heaven would sound like (at 15:10).

Eno wrote this music to accompany footage of the Apollo moon landings. He talks about how when he watched that TV footage as a child, the narration ruined it for him and didn't do justice to the powerful imagery he was witnessing. Turn the lights down, lay down, close your eyes, and give it a listen:

[Albertron]

Nas - Illmatic

[Gyaleth]

I'd choose "The Octopus" by Amplifier, an amazing prog-rock band from Manchester that deserves a lot more recognition than what it gets right now. As their third studio album released in 2011, "The Octopus" is without a single bit of exaggeration one of the best musical masterpieces I've ever listened to, and sadly an extremely underrated one. It's complex themes and intricate instrumentation are an audible pleasure that anyone with a taste for experimental rock music should at the very least give a try.

As a preview here's the main single from this album, "The Wave":

[RoastBeefCurtains4Me]

When I saw the title of this thread, I was thinking of Dark Side of the Moon even before the page loaded and I saw the OP. However, while it's an obvious candidate, I don't think I'd pick it. The album I've spent the most time listening to in my life is Rush Exit State Left. It's a double album, so perhaps that's cheating a little. Even though I've played this so many times, I think it would be my best choice.

[Windom Earle]

Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther.

It took me about 5 full listens to even appreciate it, but that's inevitably a sign of a classic album.

Still gets regularly played 9 years after its release.

[Bizet]

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - David Bowie.

[The Lizard of Oz]

[Soma]

Robert Miles - Dreamland

[Mr. Wolf]

Peter Gabriel, Security. Amazing album. Disliked it the first time I heard it in the 80s, but for the past several years I can't stop listening to it. Full through at least once a week.

[Altantis]

(02-06-2015 06:30 PM)Veloce Wrote:  

You'd need an album that has an element of "dead space", I'd probably go with something ambient like Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks by Brian Eno. This album goes through cryptic themes that evoke the deadness of space (at 8:00), as well as uplifting music that's what I imagine the halls of heaven would sound like (at 15:10).

Eno wrote this music to accompany footage of the Apollo moon landings. He talks about how when he watched that TV footage as a child, the narration ruined it for him and didn't do justice to the powerful imagery he was witnessing. Turn the lights down, lay down, close your eyes, and give it a listen:

That's one hell of an album. Probably my favourite ambient record, with Aphex Twin's "Selected Ambient Works Volume 2" a close second. Eno's is more focused and has no deadwood (not to mention some great input from Daniel Lanois), so I'd choose "Apollo".

If I had to choose one album though, I'd go for Pink Floyd's "Animals".

[monster]

Beethoven's Symphonies.

[speakeasy]

Dark Side would be on my shortlist too, but honestly I don't even have a favorite album that jumps way ahead of all others.

Am I allowed to make my own compilation album?

[UroboricForms]

(02-07-2015 08:56 PM)Mr. Wolf Wrote:  

Peter Gabriel, Security. Amazing album. Disliked it the first time I heard it in the 80s, but for the past several years I can't stop listening to it. Full through at least once a week.

"San Jacinto" is one of the most powerful pieces of music ever written for me, in fact there are days when it comes out on top with zero hesitation. The production still sounds like nothing else in the world over 30 years on.

Cool to see some fans of ambient making themselves known. My favourite artist in the style in Steve Roach without a doubt. I strongly recommend The Magnificent Void and Structures From Silence for those who are unfamiliar.

[Swordfish]

if its one album for the rest of your life, it has to be something complex that withstands repeat hearings.

beethoven 7th, puccini, or the complete miles davis.

i'd go with miles - the 70 CD box set

this is technically the only correct answer on this thread

[Veloce]

(02-08-2015 09:53 AM)Swordfish Wrote:  

if its one album for the rest of your life, it has to be something complex that withstands repeat hearings.

beethoven 7th, puccini, or the complete miles davis.

i'd go with miles - the 70 CD box set

this is technically the only correct answer on this thread

If I had to listen to Beethoven's 7th or Puccini for the rest of my life, I'd be dead within a few weeks. I love those pieces but they are way too emotionally engaging.

Good call on the miles though.

[Swordfish]

i bow to your superior wisdom

how about complete works of Beethoven or JS Bach vs complete Miles?

That would be a fairer comparison

[Solus]

[NilNisiOptimum]

I can't decide between "London Calling" from The Clash or "American Idiot" by Green Day

Favorite bands, check
An hour of music, check
Varied styles throughout, check
Contain favorite songs, check (London Calling, Spanish Bombs, Jesus of Suburbia, Holiday)

I'll call it a draw.

[Sanji]

[DJ-Matt]

Steely Dan - Can't Buy a Thrill