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blog post Today on Lanarama: All Killer, No Filler Albums!

posted by Lana Gay on Jan 20, 2010

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I recently got a record player with a USB attachment so I can create digital copies of my vinyl collection.

Last night, as I started to record Dusty in Memphis, I realized that once I threw the album into iTunes I would be less likely to listen to it in it’s entirety, as single tracks would show up on my iPod.

This got me thinking about full records; the no duds, all glory kind of albums that are incredible start to finish. All killer, no filler.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FULL CANADIAN ALBUM? INTERNATIONAL?

Toronto’s Criminal Records Top 5 Canadian Albums worth a full listen:

Hawksley Workman - For Him And The Girls
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Wolf Parade - Apologies To The Queen Mary
Hayden - The Closer I Get
NQ Arbuckle - Hanging The Battle-Scarred Pinata

Listen to the interview w/ Criminal Records: play

Post your comments on the blog, tweet us @CBCR3, or email feedback@cbcradio3.com

posted by Lana Gay on Jan 20, 2010

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#1 posted by
tagish156
on Jan 20, 2010

love it

#2 posted by
Party Beard
on Jan 20, 2010

Attack in Black - Marriage

So good. start to finish.

#3 posted by
themountainsandthetrees
on Jan 20, 2010

I rarely skip a song on this album. Also the Wintermitts - Heirloom.

#4 posted by
Savant
on Jan 20, 2010

I'll put my vote in for Twice Removed. Are we voting? I voted!

#5 posted by
sarbear86
on Jan 20, 2010

So many to choose from, but I would have to say Chemical City by Sam Roberts.

#6 posted by
Driftwood
on Jan 20, 2010

For 2009 I listen all the way through to 1. Metric - Fantasies 2. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns 3. Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue 4. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast 5. Patric Watson - Wooden Arms 6. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone 7. Kill the Lights - Fog Area. I also listen to most of A.C. Newman's Get Guilty.

There were so many great albums in 2009!

#7 posted by
MusicSoop
on Jan 20, 2010

I was trying to figure it out but I don't think the Canadian albums I have contain any filler. Bison B.C.... nope. Great Lake Swimmers,... no filler there. Blood's Too Rich and Ghost Notes are awesome the whole way through. Same with The Place Where We Lived and O My Heart or any others, except I gotta say the only one I have that I don't love all the way through is disc 2 of Three and discs 1 and, especially, 3 totally make up for it.

#8 posted by
karbog
on Jan 20, 2010

Neil Young Live at Massey Hall is just pure simplicity and bliss. Love it!

Any Corb Lund album I love to listen the whole way through. That's how you learn all the words. :)

#9 posted by
mistaG
on Jan 20, 2010

Canned Wheat - The Guess Who

#10 posted by
CarawaySunrise
on Jan 20, 2010

...and for a more recent one, Chic Gamine's album.

#11 posted by
MusicSoop
on Jan 20, 2010

Sorry I got distracted from the actual question. At this moment my favorite full Canadian album is Mountain Meadows. All time favorite full album?.... I'm pretty sure that's Vulgar Display of Power.

#12 posted by
balldiggity
on Jan 20, 2010

2112

#13 posted by
TeamQuiggan
on Jan 20, 2010

All Killer no Filler!

Canadian!

Weakerthans - Watermark

International!(American!)

Bomb the Music Industry! - Good Bye Cool World!

#14 posted by
keydive
on Jan 20, 2010

My current favorite full albums are:

International The Antlers- Hospice.

Canadian YSP!WSD! - XXXX (Heartland might usurp this one soon)

#15 posted by
brianf
on Jan 20, 2010

I can't turn off any piece of Joel Plaskett's Three once I've started. And often if I've started with the first side I keep it rolling (rolling rolling) til the end. Perfect for allnighter art sessions.

And Metric - Fantasies is solid back to front too. Hot damn.

#16 posted by
TallulahT
on Jan 20, 2010

Joshua Bartholomew's And So It Begins

#17 posted by
tagish156
on Jan 20, 2010

ooo, good call on that one MusicSoop, definitely no filler in that one

#18 posted by
bpoel
on Jan 20, 2010

Three albums, by looking at play counts in iTunes that are all high and very close in number are from:

Islands - Arm's Way

Hey Rosetta - Into Your Lungs

Timber Timbre - Timber Timbre

#19 posted by
TheRadioHead
on Jan 20, 2010

well, except maybe on my playlists here. Since Criminal Records gets to pick 5, so will I!

Wintersleep-Welcome to the Night Sky

Deadly Snakes-Porcella

Basia Bulat-Oh My Darling

Jon Rae Fletcher-Oh Maria

YSPWSD-XXXX

OK, I'm cheating, also Moses Mayes-Second Ring, and Patrick Watson-Close to Paradise, and Junior Boys-So This Is Good Bye. Oh, and Jill Barber's Chances, and Shout 4 Out's Reintigration Time. Oh! and Beast...

As for international, without a doubt, it is Infected Mushroom's Vicious Delicious. If I get the courage to put that in the car stereo, I know it will live there for 2 or 3 weeks.

#20 posted by
alexg
on Jan 20, 2010

Julie Doiron's latest, "I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day": no duds. And I like how Joel Plaskett's "Ashtray Rock" manages to be a concept album without being pretentious. It's playful and reminds me of the good ol' highschool days. It's like a memoir (fictional?) in musical form. As for classics, I have to agree with CarawaySunrise and would even say that Blue can't be topped.

#21 posted by
boders
on Jan 20, 2010

Canadian:Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site

International:Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream

#22 posted by
canadajen
on Jan 20, 2010

Our Lady Peace- Clumsy

Oldie but goodie

#23 posted by
cmm740
on Jan 20, 2010

Canadian: Patrick Watson's "Close to Paradise"

International: Bob Dylan's "The Freewheelin'"

#24 posted by
tagish156
on Jan 20, 2010

While most of us still listen to albums in their entirety casual music listeners don't so much anymore. Is the album dying? I hope not but singles are getting to be the way to do it since people can just pick what they like and put it in their playlist. Itunes encourages this when you can just buy the one song you like. I dunno, other thoughts on this?

#25 posted by
biffordblue
on Jan 20, 2010

For some older Canada, I've got to go with Neil Young - On the beach, you've even got some of the Band rockin out on it. For Canada these days I've also got to go with Timber Timbre, just too spooky.

#26 posted by
Christine McAvoy
on Jan 20, 2010

All time Canadian favourite for playing through the entire thing?

Death From Above - You're A Woman, I'm A Machine

if I'm in a DFA mood, the whole thing is played through, and then probably repeated.

I'm also partial to: Feist's The Reminder (there was also a phase where I'd play her colab record on repeat), Hawksley Workman - For Him and The Girls (and almost all his other albums), Hayden's Skyscraper National Park AND The Tragically Hip - Fully Completely AND Music At Work (and their new stuff

MOST RECENTLY:

Said The Whale - Mountains Disappear

The Zolas - Tic Toc Tic

Aidan Knight - Vertisicolour

Metric - Fantasies

The O'Darling (i think its self titled)

The Racoons - Islomania

#27 posted by
whiskeybottoms
on Jan 20, 2010

CANADIAN

Buck 65 - Talkin' Honky Blues

Leonard Cohen - The Future

REST OF THE WORLD

Bettye Lavette - Scene of the Crime

Blind Melon - Soup

Buju Banton - Til' Shiloh

Ellis Paul - Speed of Trees

#28 posted by
Christine McAvoy
on Jan 20, 2010

the one i listen to almost every othere day...

Hollerado's Record In A Bag (and Demo in A Bag before that..it has a song called My Friend Sally...favourite Hollerado song ever).

#29 posted by
MusicSoop
on Jan 20, 2010

Blind Melon! I forgot about that album but it's gotta be one of the best ever.

#30 posted by
Funhog
on Jan 20, 2010

Black Mountain - Into the future!

#31 posted by
Christine McAvoy
on Jan 20, 2010

I am seriously out of it... I called STW's album Mountains Disappear instead of Islands Disappear... (because everytime its overcast/foggy in Vancouver and the mountains go under the colours, that is what I think).

I also spelt Aidan's album wrong: Versicolour

I forgot Hey Ocean's Its Easier To Be Somebody else too... it was my summer music when it came out.

#32 posted by
karbog
on Jan 20, 2010

Two relatively new ones for me:

The Provincial Archive- Nameless Places

The Wilderness of Manitoba-Hymns of Love and Spirits

Non-Canadian:

Muse-The Resistance I have liked Muse for many years and I think they keep coming out with great albums that push boundaries and plus they are amazing live!

#33 posted by
boders
on Jan 20, 2010

Not to long back I listened to the entirety of The Ghost is Dancing's album Battles On back to back 4 times..

#34 posted by
AlexOfAnders
on Jan 20, 2010

I was tempted to say Little Jabs by Two Hours Traffic as I've listed to that CD tons. Not just select songs but start to finish the whole album. Still, I don't feel like it's my favourite album, one of my favourites, quite possibly but not the favourite. I'm kind of tempted to say Destroyer - Bay of Pigs but that's techincally an EP. Actually, I got it!

The Unicorns - Who will cut our hair when we're gone

I love this album and was so happy to find it on vinyl (I assume it was a re-pressing).

International...hmmm...I guess I don't listen to enough international music right now. My brother got me Grizzly Bear and the XX for Christmas which are good but can't really say they're the best. I really like The Elected - Sun, Sun, Sun still so I'll go with that. Anyone know if they're still making music and/or touring?

#35 posted by
Absotively
on Jan 20, 2010

It's not that sad.

Albums are cool, and I think they'll continue. A fair number of people do buy whole albums and listen to them all the way through once or twice, although they may only listen to single tracks after that.

But it's not a major tragedy if people don't generally listen to albums all the way through. A lot of albums do have filler, and why should I have to listen to the filler repeatedly to consider myself a music fan? And if I only like two songs on an album that you like from beginning to end, does that really mean I'm disrespecting the band? Why should I have to like everything? If I'm willing to spend money on the singles but not the whole album, do you really want the band to turn my money away?

I hate the whole "people don't listen to albums and it's a disaster!" meme. It always comes off like a combination of "kids these days got no respect" and "at least I'm a real fan." The music industry is changing, and that might include a change to how albums are viewed. Deal with it.

(Sorry for being so harsh, but this really gets on my nerves)

#36 posted by
larryllama
on Jan 20, 2010

Canadian:Joel Plaskett Emergency - Down At The KhyberOlmer - Olmer

International:Blind Melon - SoupThe Band - The Band (Brown Album - I guess this is mostly Canadian)

and so many more

#37 posted by
whiskeybottoms
on Jan 20, 2010

Blind Melon - Soup is very very underated! I wence everytime someone says that they were a one-hit wonder...that record was Hoon's opus for sure. It's always near my turntable and I love it so much I had the album cover tattooed on my leg along with the lyrics of my all-time favorite song Walk on the other leg.

#38 posted by
kirkofdoom
on Jan 20, 2010

unless I am listening to the radio or driving, I'll always listen to albums in full. I find I get way more out of it that way, rather than just a random shuffle of songs.

As for the question: Beautiful Midnight by Matthew Good Band. I am a huge Matt Good fan (he's probably my favourite artist) and I can't think of any songs from him and/or the band that I don't like. But Beautiful Midnight is almost perfection. There are better songs in his catalogue, sure, but the way the album flows and the "pacing" of it... even the way it almost seems to build to a great climax... perfection.

Same for No Cities Left by The Dears. The whole thing is cinematic and every song just adds to it's epicness. Though, like MG, I don't think I've ever heard a Dears song I didn't like...

#39 posted by
whiskeybottoms
on Jan 20, 2010

HONORABLE MENTION

Against Me! - Reinventing Axl Rose

#40 posted by
rtenewsontwo
on Jan 20, 2010

Phoenix - Its Never Been Like That. Its the only album i have that i can listen from start to finish.

Tommy in Mayo Ireland

#41 posted by
Funhog
on Jan 20, 2010

Old Man's Beard - The River

Although largely unknown by the CBC radio 3 community, this album is very good and I have yet to skip through one song on this album and I've often listened to it on repeat!

#42 posted by
whiskeybottoms
on Jan 20, 2010

I think where the author is coming from is the fact that some of us prefer to listen to what the artist wanted us to hear with their art fully realised. There are albums that you really need to listen to all the way through to understand the hit song. I feel that there are many songs that I would much prefer to listen to the whole album if I'm going to listen to the song at all. One the comes to mind is Grievous Angel by Gram Parsons...you gots to listen to the whole album to fully get it IMHO. The same could be said for any of Nick Drake's records...when those songs are just out there by themselves they loose umph in a way, not that cannot stand alone (obviously, they are that good), but the art of the songs shine when accompanied by the other poetry and rythms blanketing them.

#43 posted by
MusicSoop
on Jan 20, 2010

I was surprised it took popular culture as long as it did to pick up on that band and I guess the bumble bee video was a good thing 'cause I'm sure more people listened to them because of that but that album is a masterpiece the whole way through. There's a lot of musicians who died before their time but I always felt the loss of Hoon was the biggest loss. Would've loved at least 6 or 7 more albums outta that guy.

#44 posted by
whiskeybottoms
on Jan 20, 2010

oh no how could i leave off The Guess Who - Wheatfield Soul for best Canadian all killer, no filler? - shame on me.

#45 posted by
AlexOfAnders
on Jan 20, 2010

I think some people might be misguided in their intentions to preserve the art as the artist intended. As long as you gave the whole album a listen to from start to finish, isn't that ideal preserved? Just because you enjoy only N songs out of X doesn't make you less of a fan in my books. It sounds like you give the whole album a chance, and that's what the point should be. Give the album an honest shot as the artist intended it, sometimes the other songs will enrich the ones you love, sometimes they won't.

#46 posted by
Absotively
on Jan 20, 2010

I like listening to full albums. I agree that many albums are better listened to from start to finish.

My complaint is only with people who feel that listening to complete albums makes them superior. But maybe I'm jumping too quickly here. Like I said, this is a subject that really gets on my nerves.

#47 posted by
whiskeybottoms
on Jan 20, 2010

I totally agree. It was nice that they had that commercial success and No Rain is a great song, but Hoon was just getting started. I was actually impressed by the band when they reformed a couple of years ago, I got to see them twice before the new singer, Travis Warren, left. I was very skeptical of them trying a comeback since I've been a diehard melonhead since I was 12, but they did a great job. It's got to be unbelievable to be a musician and lose your frontman and your livelyhood all at once...so, I try not to be too critical when these bands make a try at a comeback with a new frontman. Same thing is happening with Sublime and I'm very supportive of that after thinking about it in those terms and seeing Blind Melon do it.

oh and another for the list - Sublime - 40 oz. to freedom

last one i'll post, promise.

#48 posted by
Absotively
on Jan 20, 2010

Yes!

Except, I would argue that you are under no obligation to preserve the art as the artist intended. You might want to (I do), but you don't have to.

The interpretation and appreciation of art is not in the hands of the artist. The artist can try to influence it, but can't control it. That's just how art is. If I love a particular album from start to finish, and someone else loves the one track they've heard but has no desire to ever even listen to the rest of the album, those are both valid means of appreciation.

#49 posted by
whiskeybottoms
on Jan 20, 2010

I totally feel you there. Those superior folks are just too cool for anything. Most of the time they most likely don't get it, but make their ears suffer through cause they want to make themselves out to be better than a casual listener. I see what you were saying...

#50 posted by
brianf
on Jan 20, 2010

Oh, this is that Gigi thing Lana has been talking about!

http://www.myspace.com/gigitheband

Jeez this sounds like a good time.

#51 posted by
Christine McAvoy
on Jan 20, 2010

Haha Lana! I am editing photos on my computer so when you said my name it almost made me jump, and there was such a pause after you said it that I wanted to say "Yes?"

but then I'd be talking to myself in my apartment...

...and that would be weird.

(PS. DFA'79 is still my favourite, if you play Blood On Our Hands or Little Girl, I will allow myself a 3 or 4 minute dance break)

#52 posted by
AlexOfAnders
on Jan 20, 2010

For sure, that's just how art is. I didn't mean to imply that you are obligated to listen to it start to finish, more that the ideal of enjoying the art as the artist meant it to be enjoyed is preserved (at least, enough for me).

Besides, no matter how much you love a whole album, there's almost always a couple songs that are your favourite and to have to listen to the whole album ever time you wanted to hear your favourite song would make you listen to the band less on a whole.

Personally, I like to listen to whole albums when I either want to give the album my undivided attention or really feel like listening to that artist/album. Otherwise I prefer a mix for normal listening because it stops me from being too narrow in perusing my music library.

#53 posted by
wayoutosphere
on Jan 20, 2010

Oh jaysus..!

#54 posted by
Absotively
on Jan 20, 2010

Yes, yes, yes.

That is precisely why I don't understand people who look down on any use of shuffle.

#55 posted by
queencitykid
on Jan 20, 2010

Lowest of the Low - Shakespear my Butt

Royal Wood - Good Enough Day

Neko Case's new one is pretty solid too.

I hear someone has assumed my QCK mantle and has been posting comments. I just want ya'll to know that it hasn't been the original, baby!

Talk about Low!

#56 posted by
MichaelWilson
on Jan 20, 2010

The Constantines - Shine a light

Fully Completely - The Hip

Best complete albums coupled with (should be) international hits.

OOHHH YOUNG LIONS.

#57 posted by
boders
on Jan 20, 2010

Look down on any use of shuffle? who are these elitists? holy crap...I am a big fan of listening to a whole album when I first get it and if it's good that will probably happen more, but I love having a mix of music...I do spend my entire work day with the best mix in my left ear...I don't think I could just have albums back to back

@Christine - Dance party is over, back to photo editing! You've got your walls painted now, any luck on your end table search?

#58 posted by
CDNz1
on Jan 20, 2010

Canadian:

Sons Of Freedom - Sons Of Freedom

International:

Suede - (pick one)

#59 posted by
Christine McAvoy
on Jan 20, 2010

dance party DID happen (haha thanks Lana), as did making tea. And the photos are almost done (they're shots from the Sweetheart show/Pilsner Party from the Media Club on Monday...will be blogged soon).

@boders - no end tables yet, still searching. Kinda thinking that IKEA trip might have to happen...I also need bedside lamps and more pillows...things will be added slowly...if I ever make money/get another photo gig.

back to work...

#60 posted by
SChappellaz
on Jan 20, 2010

I agree about For Him and the Girls by Hawksley Workman. Fantastic album!

Internationally I would say U2's The Joshua Tree and Oasis' What's the Story (Morning Glory).

#61 posted by
boders
on Jan 20, 2010

I too need to make an IKEA trip..I haven't decided if I'll just Canada Line it and carry stuff or bug my friend to drive...I need to go do a browse through a thrift store though. Maybe that will be a plan for tomorrow

#62 posted by
boders
on Jan 20, 2010

Thanks for the pointer the other day that Van already has some DTV OTA. I built this sucker last night. Will be heading over to my friend with an HDTV and ATSC tuner card to test out after work

#63 posted by
CDNz1
on Jan 20, 2010

What make turntable did you get? I've been toying with the idea of digitizing all my vinyl. That's a scary thought...it might take a year.

#64 posted by
AlexOfAnders
on Jan 20, 2010

Homemade antennae eh? What channels does it pick up?

#65 posted by
boders
on Jan 20, 2010

on my analog set it picks up CBC, Global, A Channel, CTV, french channel and 2 others with varying degrees of clarity. But it's design is supposed to be pickup UHF/VHF Digital signals. I'm going to take it over to Steve's place after work as he has a set with a digital tuner. If it works then should be those channels in uncompressed HD...I'll let you know the results (you are in a prime spot to pickup OTA, as I think all the transmitters are on Mt. Seymour..my line of sight goes right through the Shangri-La, so I might get hosed for picking up DTV at my place...

#66 posted by
AlexOfAnders
on Jan 20, 2010

Yeah, I definitely need an antennae cause my set doesn't even managed to pick up CBC! The in set antennae sucks so I get whatever comes through the jack in the wall which is CW11, Comedy Channel, ATPN, CTV News and some channels in other languages. I mostly want the Ceeb but A Channel would be alright too. Do you have an electric drill?

#67 posted by
wos
on Jan 20, 2010

No filler Canadian band albums....Nomeansno's WRONG, Hayden EVERYTHING I LONG FOR and Wintersleep S/T. In fact, the Wintersleep album could quite possibly be my favourite Canadian album of ALL TIME. Insomnia is one of the best songs EVER!!!!!

#68 posted by
wilson111
on Jan 20, 2010

Wolf Parades's Apologize to queen mary is the most all killer album i have ever heard.

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