Top Ten Things That Make a Music Album Good
A good combination of songs, for that matter. Something to stretch to everything the artist can do. Better still when mixed in between albums.
Not all good album is unique.
Examples: Sympathy For The Devil - Rolling Stones - He introduces himself
Baba O Riley - The Who - Keyboard Intro, and ending of the song reminds you you're in for a good album
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles - We Hope You All Enjoy The Show
Pacing is really the most important thing to me. Bad pacing can kill an album. Great pacing can make an album so much like a journey.
Nobody will listen to the same album that is the exact same as many other albums that have been made. Its just the same thing over and over again. But if there is an album that is unique and stands out, and by that I mean its different, It's probably better than the normal thing you see.
Examples:
St. Anger - Metallica - Ok, so I admit this is a terrible album, but its also the most unique, as the songs are more different and experimental. Its not the same "Heavy Thrash Madness" like all the others, but has different stuff. For example, they removed the guitar solos, added different drumming, and had more screaming.
The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd - This isn't your normal Prog Rock album, this is more of a Space Rock Journey, which sounds more like a 42 minute song, than just a normal collection of songs. Not only that, but the genre of this album is not nearly as easily defined as other Prog Rock albums, because the songs while complex, do not feel like it.
An album that has all songs that sound the same is not going to do very well. Its just the same old thing over and over again. However, if an album has completely different songs that do not sound anyways like, then it'll be better.
Example: Master of Puppets - Metallica - Master of Puppets contains a few thrash classics like Battery and Damage Inc., Master of Puppets and Disposable Heroes. Disposable Heroes has several different melodies and riffs throughout the song, and Master of Puppets has the classical section in the middle of the song. The Thing That Should Not Be, Leper Messiah, and Orion are big heavy metal classics, while not as fast, are still very great. Out of all three of those, Orion would be the best because its an instrumental, Cliff Burton's final bass solo, and the slow part in the middle, as it should be considered one of the greatest works Metallica has ever done, and their best instrumental. You also get a ballad, Welcome Home (Sanitarium), although not as ...more