Recently I saw a people talking about the albums that they can listen straight through. As a fan of the album over the single I had to think about this. Here is my attempt to enumerate my no skip albums.
The list is roughly ordered in when I would have found my love for the album. While I knew about the albums, or more specifically the hits, the list is for when the album transcended into a no-skip album. No soundtracks or greatest hits allowed.
Rubber Soul and Revolver by The Beatles
I was raised a Beatles fan and would listen to this album endlessly. For Christmas one year my brother and I got a karaoke setup with a tape of Beatles songs. I would listen to it non-stop. These two albums are still my two favorite Beatles albums, even as I explored their earlier work (which I love) and their later work (which I also love).
Highlights: Tomorrow Never Knows; And Your Bird Can Sing; Norwegian Wood; and In My Life
Cracked Rear View by Hootie And The Blowfish
This album dealt with lots of loss that I (still) couldn’t relate to. The bangers still bang and even the tracks that didn’t get airplay are fantastic. Despite my contempt for country music, I’m glad Darius Rucker found an audience beyond his early work. He is simply too talented to sit on the sideline.
Highlights: Hannah Jane; Not Even The Trees
Stunt by Barenaked Ladies
One Week took over the world just as I got my first CD player for my room. Stunt almost never left that CD player.
Highlights: Call and Answer; Light Up My Room; Alcohol
Astro Lounge by Smashmouth
As the weather gets warm I think of hanging with friends on the beach while blasting Astro Lounge. All-Star took all the oxygen out of the room, but I think it is the worst song on the album.
Highlights: Come On, Come On; Radio; Who’s There; Can’t Get Enough of You Baby
Sublime by Sublime
While growing up, Sublime was probably my favorite band and this album is why.
I usually have an aversion to remixes of a song once the original gets into my head. Both version of What I Got are a rare exception. The Doin’ Time Pharcyde remix being another entry on the list.
The second half of the album is more mellow and just as good as the hit parade first half.
Highlights: Under my Voodoo; Doin’ Time; Paddle Out; Garden Grove; What I Got; Same in the End; Get Ready; Pawn Shop
In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson
I distinctly remember buying this album at Sam Goodie with friends, then going to Wendy’s. This is probably my favorite album ever. Do You Remember and If I Could are absolutely stunning songs.
Jack Johnson came around to a local music festival during COVID and I MISSED IT. I have so many regrets.
Highlights: Do You Remember; Constellations; If I Could; Breakdown
London Calling by The Clash
The Only Band To Ever Matter leave the constraints of punk to fuse it with rockabilly and reggae. Released in the final weeks of 1979, and it could be the best album of the 70s or 80s. You don’t see many double albums this solid, front to back.
Joe Strummer works to start a revolution in the opening lines of the album. A call to action.
If you are a fan of punk rock watch the Punk: Attitude documentary by Don Letts. You can usually find a pirated copy on YouTube.
Highlights: Brand New Cadillac; Spanish Bombs; The Guns of Brixton; Revolution Rock; Train in Vain; The Right Profile; Lover’s Rock
The Battle of Los Angeles by Rage Against The Machine
An absolutely stacked first half of an album. Any song on this album could have been in a Tony Hawk game soundtrack. Sleep Now In The Fire music video is pretty iconic. Especially since there is someone on the street holding up a Trump 2000 sign.
As the years go on, there is a strong cultural trend to look back negatively on the hip hop infusion with rock. Rage Against the Machine stands head and shoulders above their peers and is exempt from that negative feeling.
Highlights: Sleep Now in a Fire; Born of a Broken Man; War Within a Breath; Testify
Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
No stellar tracks because they all seem to blend in together. This album should be experienced from beginning to end.
Highlights: Money; Time
Bring It All Back Home by Bob Dylan
My daughters would like it when I sang them lullibies to put them to bed. I can only sing Twinkle Twinkle so many times, so I would sneak in Mr. Tambourine Man. They still ask me to play it for them. I guess I passed along my love for Dylan.
Highlights: Love Minus Zero; Gates of Eden; Mr. Tambourine Man; Subterranean Homesick Blues
OK Computer by Radiohead
My pick for the greatest alternative rock album. Slightly edging out In Rainbows, also by Radiohead. In 2017 the band recently released songs previously slated for the album but didn’t make the cut. There are even killer songs in reject pile.
Before you say it. Yes, I listen to Fitter Happier without skipping.
Highlights: Paranoid Android; Let Down; Electioneering; No Surprises; I Promise (2017); Man of War (2017); Lift (2017); Lull (2017)
Sgt Pepper’s Lonley Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
Even after the novelty of this album wears off, you’re left with great Paul McCartney songs.
Highlights: Fixing a Hole; Within You Without You; A Day in the Life
The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground & Nico
What a masterpiece. The album that launched a thousand bands. Lou Reed’s rock and roll lyrics/life with John Cale’s art house sound. It is even beautiful at it’s most atonal (The Black Angel’s Death Song). The catchy lyrics and rhythms cover incredibly deep and subversive topics for 1967, and it still hits today.
If you are a fan of the band I also recommend the Todd Haynes documentary about the band on Apple TV+.
Highlights: Sunday Morning; Heroin; Run Run Run; The Black Angel’s Death Song; I’m Waiting for The Man
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
Eight songs that get better and better as they go. The rumble of a man trying to escape his hometown is contagious. Even for someone who barely moved out of hometown.
My pick for the pinnacle of Bruce’s career.
Highlights: Thunder Road; Jungleland
In Rainbows by Radiohead
Released while I was working at the Help Desk in college. Some of the other student workers found out that the album was sold online only and pay whatever you want. We spent the night shift listening to it on repeat.
Guitar rock at its best.
The live In Rainbows From the Basement is also stellar.
Highlights: Bodysnatchers; Weird Fishes/Arpeggi; Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Is This It by The Strokes
I found this album (along with Stankonia) while visiting my future wife in San Diego. I am transported back to that trip every time I listen to the album. Last Nite was the first song I pirated on our high school computers during computer class. We used audiogalaxy. Great times.
Highlights: Someday; Soma; Hard to Explain; Last Nite
Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan
Dylan going electric. While I love his folk work, I think his electric phase is his best.
His lyrics pair great with a backing band. The freight train blues to the straight rock all works.
Highlights: Desolation Row; Queen Jane Approximately; Highway 61 Revisted; Tombstone Blues
Fleet Foxes and Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes
I found the self-titled Fleet Foxes album shortly before Helplessness Blues released. They are almost a double-album in my eyes. Both are exquisite chamber rock albums.
Highlights: Ragged Wood; He Doesn’t Know Why; Blue Ridge Moutains; Battery Kinzie; Helplessless Blues; Lorelai; Grown Ocean
Cosmos Factory by Creedance Clearwater Revival
CCR had an amazing three album run.
When you do the ooby dooby I gotta be near.
Highlights: Travelin’ Band; Lookin’ Out My Back Door; Run Through The Jungle
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West
It is tough to take Kanye seriously anymore given his behavior, but I can still listen to this album straight through. That is rare for a hip hop album since most of my favorites have filler tracks or skits.
Highlights: Devil in a New Dress; Runaway; Lost in the World
High Violet by The National
Bloodbuzz Ohio, England, and Conversation 16 stick out as the songs of that summer.
Highlights: Terrible Love; Sorrow; Bloodbuzz Ohio; England; Runaway; Conversation 16
Trouble Will Find Me by The National
More up-beat then their previous work. I will watch the Graceless music video on the regular. If anyone wants to get some black suits and recreate it, let me know.
Highlights: Graceless; Don’t Swallow the Cap; Sea of Love; Demons
Modern Vampires In The City by Vampire Weekend
After a disappointing sophmore album, Vampire Weekend killed it with Modern Vampires. Their music is so energetic.
Highlights: Unbelievers; Worship You; Diane Young; Obvious Bicycle
Seeds by TV On The Radio
I found TV on the Radio when Breaking Bad played DLZ in an episode. The Seeds album is my favorite of theirs and I played it non-stop around the time I purchased my house.
Highlights: Lazerray; Seeds; Ride; Careful You; Happy Idiot
Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan
I was late to the Blonde on Blonde bandwagon but if I had the CD, I would have worn it out by now. Making up for lost time.
This solidifies for me that electric Dylan is my favorite Dylan. I could probably do a post ranking Bob Dylan phases.
He plays with half of The Band here, one of my favorite artists of the 60s. A double album that pulls off the no skip designation.
Highlights: Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again; Fourth Time Around; One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later); Visions of Johanna
My Aim Is True by Elvis Costello
I don’t think I find new music like most people. Listening to a movie soundtrack is a great entry point for me to find a new band. Especially when T. Bone Burnett is the music supervisor. The music comes preloaded with some emotional residue from the movie. Sneaks right by my filters.
In this case, the movie was Less Than Zero. Rick Rubin (yes, that Rick Rubin) produced the soundtrack. Ironically, the song that inspired the book and movie’s name is not on the soundtrack. Bret Easton Ellis is a music junkie so I figured I’d dig a little deeper to see why he would name his book after a song.
What I found was love for Elvis Costello. I have a pet theory that all the best television shows about show business from the 90s and 2000s had an Elvis Costello cameo. Not sure why but it’s true! The Larry Sanders Show, 30 Rock and even Fraiser.
Highlights: Miracle Man; Less Than Zero; Pay It Back; Blame it on Cain; Welcome to the Working Week; Mystery Dance; Alison
