Auteur albums

I'm sure there's a better name for it than this, but I'm talking about those albums that are intentionally all over the place, a "journey through the artist's mind" that generally contains

• something undeniably brilliant
• one-off "genre experiments" of varying quality
• an overlong runtime
• at least one track that threatens to ruin the entire album
• some attempt at humor

Todd Rundgren's three big 70s albums (Something/Anything, A Wizard A True Star, and Todd)
The Beastie Boys' 90s discs
Nearly all of Zappa's albums
Underworld's Drift series
Motorpsycho's Demon Box (they have a reputation for making a lot of albums like this but I think this is the only one that really counts)
Ween's Chocolate and Cheese & La Cucaracha (again, they have a reputation for doing this but most of their albums usually have some central theme)

So is this "a thing" or "not a thing"? If so what examples do you have?

Ariel Pink's albums surely fit this category, even if they typically contain more than one song that threatens to ruin the entire thing.

I would also place Adam Green in this group.

Unfortunately, I think many people might pass over this thread, thinking it's a poll of albums by The Auteurs.

Unfortunately, I think many people might pass over this thread, thinking it's a poll of albums by The Auteurs.

Along those lines, I think this fits the bill:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51qNrc41gqL._SY355_.jpg

Frank Black's Teenager of the Year

Well, I know you know Shiina Ringo's 'Kalk Samen Kuri no Hana' right?

Cody ChesnuTT's Headphone Masterpiece

Who's that young British guy with all the vocal overdubs? (Checks notes) Jacob Collier. He ticks all those boxes for me.

Well, I know you know Shiina Ringo's 'Kalk Samen Kuri no Hana' right?

ah, that's a good one

had no idea there's a band called "The Auteurs", whoops

They're pretty good. You're missing out.

The White Album seems to check all those boxes.

Sandinista! would do it, too.

I'd make a case for Scott Walker's Bisch Bosch, more so than The Drift. Even if it's not exactly a one-off, it ticks all the boxes and he simply let it rip creatively, and actively pushed the limits to see how far he could go/how far the corners of his mind would be.

melon collie and the infinite sadness

Pygmalion
A Seat at the Table
Tusk
The Top
Electric Ladyland
Miss America
Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter
Third/Sister Lovers

Sign O the Times

Aphrodite's Child's "666" would qualify for this:
something undeniably brilliant - ymmv, I love it
one-off "genre experiments" of varying quality - numerous
an overlong runtime - tbh, yes
at least one track that threatens to ruin the entire album - couple of crappy ballads
some attempt at humor - a lot of the narration

The recording was marked by tension, as the ambitious nature of Vangelis and Ferris' concept clashed with Demis Roussos, Loukas Sideras and Silver Koulouris' wish to continue with the psychedelic pop direction that had brought them success.[4][5] Vangelis, Roussos and Sideras were also accompanied by their partners, further adding to the strain. Engineer Roger Roche reported that they enjoyed playing together but would not speak to each other after they finished a take.[5] Vangelis blamed commercial pressures for the tensions,[6] stating, "It was too sophisticated for the group. I realised that I couldn't follow the commercial way anymore, it was very boring."

And speaking of that beastly number, Mansun - Six is absolutely one of these, down to the last criterion

Cross-posting Walter Wegmuller's Tarot from the albums that welcome you thread.

I'm not sure if there's anything that threatens to ruin the album more than anything else, or maybe it all does depending on your tolerance. It's certainly a cornucopia.

oh yeah 666 is a great example

Revisted Teenager of the Year to confirm my memories, and man, Frank Black with a reggae beat on "Fiddle Riddle" is the turd in punch bowl.

jordan: the comeback