Albums that pick you up and take you with them?
December 30, 2011 5:22 PM Subscribe
What are some great, coherent, sing-along-able albums?
I've had David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver, Rock Plaza Central's Are We Not Horses, Andrew Bird's Mysterious Production of Eggs, and Broken Social Scene's Forgiveness Rock Record on particularly heavy rotation lately. I think what I like about all of them is their clever lyrics, thematic coherence as an album, and fluctuation between high and low moods. What are some other awesome, emotionally engaging, musically solid albums?
I've had David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver, Rock Plaza Central's Are We Not Horses, Andrew Bird's Mysterious Production of Eggs, and Broken Social Scene's Forgiveness Rock Record on particularly heavy rotation lately. I think what I like about all of them is their clever lyrics, thematic coherence as an album, and fluctuation between high and low moods. What are some other awesome, emotionally engaging, musically solid albums?
Two that I always sing along with at the top of my lungs (alone in the car, anyway):
Television - Marquee Moon
David Devant and His Spirit Wife - Work, Lovelife, Miscellaneous
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:30 PM on December 30, 2011
Television - Marquee Moon
David Devant and His Spirit Wife - Work, Lovelife, Miscellaneous
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:30 PM on December 30, 2011
The new Black Keys album, El Camino, is really good and fun as hell to sing along with.
posted by dubusadus at 5:41 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by dubusadus at 5:41 PM on December 30, 2011
Quadrophenia?
posted by chazlarson at 5:44 PM on December 30, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by chazlarson at 5:44 PM on December 30, 2011 [3 favorites]
A person can sing along with Beulah without much trouble. The Coast is Never Clear, especially. The songs are sad and catchy.
posted by Francolin at 6:00 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by Francolin at 6:00 PM on December 30, 2011
" ... clever lyrics, thematic coherence as an album, and fluctuation between high and low moods ..." = Bat out of Hell. You didn't say anything about it having to be uncheesy ... and you can definitely sing along to it.
If you also want sublime musicianship alongside great songs with genuinely emotional lyrics, then either Prodigal Son or True Stories from Martin Simpson or Trespasser by Chris Wood.
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 6:04 PM on December 30, 2011
If you also want sublime musicianship alongside great songs with genuinely emotional lyrics, then either Prodigal Son or True Stories from Martin Simpson or Trespasser by Chris Wood.
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 6:04 PM on December 30, 2011
Sorry, also Handmade Life - Hollowpoint is a breathtaking song about a true story; my husband first heard it without knowing what it was about and said it was an incredibly powerful and moving experience under those circumstances. I suppose that's a spoiler warning for a song, if there can be such a thing.
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 6:19 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 6:19 PM on December 30, 2011
Songs: Ohia, Magnolia Electric co. First track.
If it's your thing, then most of the Jason Molina/Songs: Ohia would probably fit the bill, but I think this is the most thematically tied together, and just plain my favorite album.
I like Queens of the Stone Age, Songs for the Deaf for this.
Stevie Wonder, Innervisions and Talking Book. Hotter Than July to some extent.
posted by cmoj at 6:32 PM on December 30, 2011
If it's your thing, then most of the Jason Molina/Songs: Ohia would probably fit the bill, but I think this is the most thematically tied together, and just plain my favorite album.
I like Queens of the Stone Age, Songs for the Deaf for this.
Stevie Wonder, Innervisions and Talking Book. Hotter Than July to some extent.
posted by cmoj at 6:32 PM on December 30, 2011
The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monáe. I mean, who doesn't love a good concept album inspired by Metropolis that also makes you want to dance around like a fool.
posted by grapesaresour at 6:33 PM on December 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by grapesaresour at 6:33 PM on December 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Crowded House Chocolate Cake
posted by myselfasme at 7:09 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by myselfasme at 7:09 PM on December 30, 2011
Ooops, sorry, Crowded House Woodface
posted by myselfasme at 7:10 PM on December 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by myselfasme at 7:10 PM on December 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Can't go wrong with Paul Simon's Graceland. Classic album. Bonus on hand-drumming along with in addition to singing. :)
posted by too bad you're not me at 7:23 PM on December 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by too bad you're not me at 7:23 PM on December 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
I find Depeche Mode pretty good for singing along with. Middling vocal range, moody.
posted by nrobertson at 7:33 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by nrobertson at 7:33 PM on December 30, 2011
This is probably obvious, but Sgt Pepper (the Beatles) is awesome for singing along to.
Also have you listened to The Suburbs by the Arcade Fire?
posted by costanza at 10:45 PM on December 30, 2011
Also have you listened to The Suburbs by the Arcade Fire?
posted by costanza at 10:45 PM on December 30, 2011
I agree with a lot of these suggestions. I think I'll get all the albums I own in this thread out and sing along with them. I'll add Tom Waits' "Small Change". That album has great coherence (musically and thematically), beautiful melodies, and you can always convince yourself that you're singing as well as Tom.
posted by DaddyNewt at 11:07 PM on December 30, 2011
posted by DaddyNewt at 11:07 PM on December 30, 2011
Out of probably hundreds, Arcade Fire's Funeral, R.E.M.'s Fables of the Reconstruction and Lifes Rich Pageant, XTC's Skylarking, Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense and Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace.
Mind, I don't care whether or not I sound any good, I just shriek along anyhow.
posted by droplet at 12:07 AM on December 31, 2011
Mind, I don't care whether or not I sound any good, I just shriek along anyhow.
posted by droplet at 12:07 AM on December 31, 2011
Teenage Fanclub's Grand Prix album.
Seconding anything by REM, but in particular Green does it for me.
All time loud car-singing-with-feeling is Carole King's Tapestry album. Everyone knows the lyrics too, which is great for when you've got a guitar/piano/ group of friends looking for a singalong, or if you're stuck for a campfire crowd-pleaser.
posted by honey-barbara at 3:10 AM on December 31, 2011
Seconding anything by REM, but in particular Green does it for me.
All time loud car-singing-with-feeling is Carole King's Tapestry album. Everyone knows the lyrics too, which is great for when you've got a guitar/piano/ group of friends looking for a singalong, or if you're stuck for a campfire crowd-pleaser.
posted by honey-barbara at 3:10 AM on December 31, 2011
Blood on the Tracks - Bob Dylan
Aladin Sane - David Bowie
Home of the Brave - Lori Anderson
Oh Brother Where Art Thou - Soundtrack
Wrecking Ball - Emmy Lou Harris
posted by doctor_negative at 4:25 AM on December 31, 2011
Aladin Sane - David Bowie
Home of the Brave - Lori Anderson
Oh Brother Where Art Thou - Soundtrack
Wrecking Ball - Emmy Lou Harris
posted by doctor_negative at 4:25 AM on December 31, 2011
The Tubes' Remote Control = concepty & sing-alongy. It's great.
posted by mintcake! at 1:11 PM on December 31, 2011
posted by mintcake! at 1:11 PM on December 31, 2011
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - My throat gets hoarse just thinking about that album.
posted by Never Better at 4:34 PM on December 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Never Better at 4:34 PM on December 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville fills the bill.
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 9:04 PM on December 31, 2011
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 9:04 PM on December 31, 2011
Speaking of Tom Waits: the One From The Heart soundtrack. Cohesive story, and very singable songs. As mentioned above, you can always convince yourself you're singing as well as Tom, and Crystal Gayle gives you something to aspire to.
posted by chazlarson at 11:33 AM on January 1, 2012
posted by chazlarson at 11:33 AM on January 1, 2012
The Modern Lovers
Baxter Dury - Len Parrot's Memorial Lift
The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
Breeders - Title TK
Adam Ant - Friend or Foe
Sleater Kinney - Call the Doctor
Grandaddy - The Sophtware Slump
Sparks - Indiscreet, Kimono My House, and Propaganda.
Metric - Old World Underground
Polvo - Today's Active Lifestyles
Brian Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain (by strategy)
Smog - A river Aint too much to Love
posted by to sir with millipedes at 1:49 AM on January 7, 2012
Baxter Dury - Len Parrot's Memorial Lift
The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
Breeders - Title TK
Adam Ant - Friend or Foe
Sleater Kinney - Call the Doctor
Grandaddy - The Sophtware Slump
Sparks - Indiscreet, Kimono My House, and Propaganda.
Metric - Old World Underground
Polvo - Today's Active Lifestyles
Brian Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain (by strategy)
Smog - A river Aint too much to Love
posted by to sir with millipedes at 1:49 AM on January 7, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jeudi at 5:28 PM on December 30, 2011