After the returns of emails filling up with "perfect" albums began to clog my email box (some of you listed a LOT of perfect albums), I began to think about an old beef of mine, the amount of songs on any given album. The list provided is already vast; and yet, I can see why many of you chose the album that you have. Of course, much of music is subjective so what works for you may not work for me. But still, many of these albums have a similar logic as to why we may identify so deeply with these songs.

Back in the early periods of Rock, largely due, I'm sure, to the storage capacity of vinyl LP, bands and artists were forced to choose a small collection of songs from their fairly expansive recorded tracks. If the collection was too good to leave out, we were awarded with double albums. Regardless, most single LPs were complete with around 8-10 tracks. As you listened to a newly acquired LP and as it became a favourite, you were able to not only enjoy a high-quality (musically, lyrically) recorded track, you only needed to absorb a few of them. Letting them wash over you and thorough you, the songs were absorbed like a soothing balm. And as a result, they stay with you even until this day. Your lists reveal that.

Today, with CD capacity, and the unlimited aspects of downloading tracks, tracks, and more tracks, we begin to lose sight of the album. That is ever more a reality as listeners more overwhelmingly adopt a song mentality (that, in reality, is not a new thing as many, MANY listeners of Top 40 radio were only interested in vinyl 45s, and therefore, were fans of songs and not entire LPs.) Albums are a diminishing concept. I believe it's because we're inundated with too many songs. What seems to be value,are actually reduced-quality songs collectively making up an "album."

I'm beginning to ramble and so do not want to rewrite so I'll close this down with this: Albums of the past are memorable because the few songs on them were heavily concentrated on rather than attention being spread over 15-17 songs. The fact that LPs could only give us only so many songs is now a wonderful thing to me. When you see the list in a few weeks, you'll understand what I'm talking about although I've a feeling many of you already know what I'm talking about.

In the meantime, the Poll continues. Please participate (you'll be glad you did):

I must be crazy.  After our large-scale Underrated Guitarist Poll, I have a similar poll to begin.  But first, my backstory: I had attended my monthly LP Record meet and managed to pick up a nice copy of Mott by Mott the Hoople on vinyl.  It was something that I listened to after playing my newly acquired Houses of the Holy.  A week later and I'm still listening to it.  Every song is perfect.  

Yes, we all have more than a few absolutely pure albums that we remember fondly and that we revisit completely on a continuous basis.  By that I mean that we play every song on the album.  There's no picking favourites because they all qualify, every song.

Mott is one of mine.  Sure, I have more...but not many.  Even favourite albums by favourite bands don't always qualify because there is that one...bad...song on it.  It may not be overly bad but it's typically the one you'll skip over  or play sporadically if only to keep in touch with it.  I have lots more just like that one and those are more typical.  For this poll, I'm looking for those albums that are perfect top to bottom, first track to last.

I'm sure that I'll get inundated with emails for this Poll but this one can lead me - and you - to music I haven't heard before.  I like that.  So once again, we crank up the Poll machine to see which albums, past and current, are perfect.

Have at it by clicking through on the link for Perfect Album.

There is a review of a Projekt Records sampler with Various Artists called Under the Weight of Light as well as a short review of the recently released 2CD collection of rare Ravi Shankar ragas called Rare and Glorious. Both are very recently released sets.

We'll see you on Monday.

Savoy Records will release the latest BoDeans album called Mr Sad Clown on April 6. The album will be issued in DD and CD forms. Savoy also plans the release of a Gin Blossoms title named No Chocolate Cake on June 1.

Varese Sarabande will release a Fleetwood Mac title named Perfect In Everyway. It's scheduled for April 6. They will also release a Gene Autry title on CD called South of the Border: Songs of Old Mexico.

Hollywood Records will release the S/T album by Grace Potter and The Nocturnals on June 8.

Fat Possum Records will release the upcoming new The Walkmen album called The Bell House on April 1.

Psychopathic Records has an Insane Clown Posse album coming on April 6 called Bang! Pow! Boom! Nuclear Version.

Concord Records will release Troubadour Reunion featuring James Taylor and Carole King on May 4.

VP Records will release a Junior Kelly title called Red Pond on April 6.

Rounder Records plan the release of Junior by Kaki King on CD for April 13.

Geffen Records will reissue Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell from Meat Loaf on CD planning for April 27.

A&M/Octone Records will release the S/T release of Paper Tongues in both DD and CD, scheduling for March 30.

The upcoming Peter Wolf (J.Geils Band/Solo) album called Midnight Souvenirs will also be issued on vinyl LP (2LP)on April 13. The CD/DD arrives earlier on April 6.

Eagle Rock Records will release The Final Concert for Roy Orbison on April 13.

Varese Sarabande will release the Soundtrack for the Fringe (Michael Giacchino) TV series on March 23.

C'mon labels...let's have some announcements.