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Are You Experienced? closely followed by Electric Ladyland.

I could not agree with you more, Guilbert, despite my choices not reflecting your point!

Your definition of 'album' is spot-on, and there are very few that actually subscibe to that definition. It sounds very much analagous to the ideals of the 'concept album', the exceptional example being Sgt Pepper by the Beatles.

I know how you felt ff.

Bowie plays Aberdeen 1995 (Morrissey in support though he famously did a runner with his band's bus) and I miss it by a matter of weeks cos I was in Oz for a year.

Bowie plays Manchester 2003 but yours truly (although having tickets) misses out cos I'm ill.

Bugger.

Fear Factory-Demanufacture
Dr Dre-Chronic
Eminem-The Marshall Mathers LP
Faith No More-Angel Dust
Strapping Young Lad-City
Oasis-What's The Story (Morning Glory)

Amazing.

I'd certainly agree with Guilbert's note on great albums being a cohesive whole, and the narrative focus of a beginning, a middle and an end always pays off in a way weighter, more sprawling albums sometimes miss. However, we can all name great albums that dismiss these pencilled rules entirely, and rightly so.

Bunch of fives then:

Prince - Sign 'o' the Times. Double genius.

Bowie - Low. Good choice, fellas. Deep in the seventies, Bowie invents the eighties.

Michael Jackson - Thriller. An album so far ahead, the rest are still trying to catch up. Jacko and Quincy Jones were obviously on another planet when they recorded this. Sadly only the latter returned to earth.

Radiohead - Kid A. Not everyones cup of tea, but it's this, and not OK Computer, that's their masterpiece. Everything in its right place indeed.

Joy Division - Closer. The old adage about high pretention leading to high art applies here, methinks. Rocks like a bastard as well.

btw - you've gotta admit head the balls do make the best music, eh.

Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath (Defined an entire musical genre)
Pink Floyd - The Wall (A masterpiece)
Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love (Her masterpiece)
Peter Gabriel - PG3 (A true musical genius at work)
Prince - Purple Rain (Oh Lordy!!)
The Who - Who's Next (Awesome)
David Bowie - Diamond Dogs (My personal favourite)
Marillion - Brave (Hugely under-rated under "New Boy" Steve Hogarth)
Led Zeppelin - Led Zep 4 (Mighty)
Rush - Moving Pictures (Master musicians in excelsis)

Definitely a classic rock bias!

How true Guilbert

Meat Loafs 'Bat out of Hell' has always struck me as a complete album

cheers
B....OZ

good to see oasis morning glory mentioned ;sgt pepper was ok lucy&a day in the life were the best tracks on it.abbey rd was better i thought.revolver[not bad]

Sticky Fingers, Let It Bleed, Steel Wheels, Beggars Banquet, Brides To Babylon..................... the list goes on.