Best Name For An Album

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I always want to do a list of the top 100 titles, but it would probably be too much work. I'm thinking resonant phrases, magnificent slogans, perfect single words - but if you want to go the wacky route I can't stop you.

― Tom, Wednesday, 17 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Tarkus. The mere utterance of this word could make me laugh in a deep depression. Granted, I immediately think of the half-armadillo/half- tank image that's on the cover, but really -- just say the word and try not to feel silly. Brilliant title.

― Andy Kellman, Wednesday, 17 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Too tired to actually think of any right now, but (tangent alert) last night I dreamed that the next REM album would be called "Roadmaps For Grey Nomads". Don't ask me *why*, though...

― Tim, Wednesday, 17 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I vote for 'The Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like Pricks' by Flux of Pink Indians, circa 1987. 'Barbarous English Fayre' by King of the Slums is another good one.

― Adams, Wednesday, 17 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

We're Only In it for the Money, Sheik Yerbouti (may other Zappa albums), A Plea for Tenderness (perhaps it's only good when viewed with the charming cover art), Black Caesar, Black Godfather, Sticky Fingers, Some Old Bullshit, Let it Be (the 'Mats; that's what makes it good), Let's Get it On (duh...), Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven (and anything else as flagrantly arty and obnoxious...), The Who Sell Out...

― JM, Wednesday, 17 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Galaxie 500's 'Today' has always seemed the perfect single word title to me. Although when the Beach Boys used it it seemed a throwaway choice. All about context. 'Closer' and 'Still' are pretty good too.

Oh, there's so many long ones:

'It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back' 'Fear of Music' 'Before Hollywood' 'The Rise & Fall' 'What's Going On' 'The Queen Is Dead'

Albums I've never heard, but like the titles of:

'You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This' 'Kick Out The Jams' 'Super Trouper' 'My people were fair and had sky in their hair, but now they're content to wear stars on their brows.' 'King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown' 'Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols' 'Become What You Are' 'There's No Place Like America Today'

Trying to think of terrible albums with great names. Difficult. All those 'x goes y' ones are fun.

The Beatles were shit with album titles, weren't they? I suppose 'Revolver' is OK, but 'Rubber Soul'?? I mean for crying out loud. What can you expect of a band who called itself 'The Beatles', though.

― Nick Dastoor, Wednesday, 17 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Trapdoor Fucking Exit Harsh '70s Reality Eusa Kills Fish That Sparkling Bubble Lick My Decals Off, Baby Half Machine Lip Moves Confusion Is Sex

Album titles I'm just waiting for someone to use: Awop, Detritus, The Third Door.

― Otis Wheeler, Thursday, 18 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The Correct Use of Soap, 154, For How Much Longer Must We Tolerate This Mass Murder, Aqaba (no idea why, I just like the word), Get Lost.

― Paul Steeples, Thursday, 18 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Nobody's mentioned Felt yet, which is a bit surprising. "Let The Snakes Crinkles Their Heads To Death", "The Pictorial Jackson Review", "Ignite The Seven Cannons", "Forever Breathes The Lonely Word". Ace.

Japanese noise artists are easy pickings for the sheer bravura of the syntax; Mr Keiji Heino alone has been responsible for all of the following:

"Execration That Accept To Knowledge" "Book Of 'Eternity Set Aflame'" "Decided Already The Motionless" "Beginning and End, Interwoven" "I said, This Is The Son Of Nihilism" "Are you the one? The one who can console skepticism stained this deep" "Saying I Love, I Continue To Curse Myself" "The Wound that was given birth to must be bigger than the wound that gave birth" "I saw it! That which before I could only sense..." "Don't be afraid. Even if your nerves snap, you can tie them to a fragment of the universe..."

Not sure these are actually 'good', or merely daft.

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 18 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Bloody Hell! I'd not come across "Are you the one? The one who can console skepticism stained this deep?" before - now THAT is a chat-up line.

― Tom, Thursday, 18 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Don't bother Tom - it doesn't work. Except on Christians.

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 18 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

jello biafra: "if evolution is outlawes, only outlaws will evolve"

― torey luvullo, Thursday, 18 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Together Alone" "Security"

― Kim, Saturday, 20 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

so many dead c nominations, i think they spent all their time making up the titles instead of writing songs.

i like 'the comforts of madness'

― , Saturday, 20 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

When the Manics' "The Holy Bible" first came out, I remember thinking what a definitive statement that title was, using such a sacred, revered phrase for a set of songs which portrayed humanity as vicious, hateful, irredemable, and heading for its own complete destruction. Not my favourite ever, but it seemed pretty definitive at the time.

Oh, and "What We Did On Our Holidays". I've always wanted to use that, for some reason. Fairport Convention's second album (and a Style Council video, curiously enough).

― Robin Carmody, Sunday, 21 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

One of my fave is Cave + Bad Seeds' "The Firstborn is Dead". Sounds old-fashioned, solemn, haunting. I love it. Furthermore, it kicks off with "Tupelo"... SOM's cohen-esque "Some Girls Wander By Mistake" is quite beautifully disturbing as well.

Lemme think of a few more...

Music Has The Right To Children. Beggars Banquet. Viva Hate. The Academy in Peril. The Marble Index. FoxBase Alpha. Mysteries of Funk. Modern Life is Rubbish (obviously...).

― simon, Sunday, 21 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"This is Our Music" by Ornette Coleman (not Galaxie 500). "Symbol Systems" by Matthew Shipp.

― Sterling Clover, Sunday, 21 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

multi-panel-not yet nick drake-pink moon (don't know why but it intrigues me) bjork-post

btw, I think a title should only contain one or maybe 2 words.

Ludo

― Ludo, Monday, 22 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"There's a Whole Lalo Schifrin Going On"

― Dr. C, Monday, 22 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Death of a Ladies Man, Marquee Moon, Playing with Fire, Fear, Desert Shore, That Man is Forward, Easter Island .... but my vote for all time best title: STREET HASSLE! (or was that a mini-album?)

― hymie, Wednesday, 24 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I always thought "Hairway to Steven" was hilarious. Although "Locust Abortion Technician" is even better. My favorite album title must be "Daydream Nation", perfect title for a perfect record.

― Omar, Wednesday, 24 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Street Hassle is indeed a full length album. I agree that it's Lou's best title -- but that isn't hard, given his long run of shitty titles. Also works because said album, aside from Berlin, comes closest to putting itself together as a single artifact. Album covers, on the other hand...

Speaking of velvets -- Cale's "Vintage Violence" and "The Academy in Peril" are both excellent titles.

― Sterling Clover, Wednesday, 24 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"BEATLE!" by Space Dust. "1st to the Future" by Space Dust. "No Kissing in Public" by Space Dust.

― Duane Zarakov, Friday, 26 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Lesbian Brainstorm" by Batdorf And Rodney. "Chance Encounter in Deep Space" by Stoney And Meatloaf. "I Asked For Toothpaste & She Gave Me Haemorrhoid Cream" by England Dan And John Ford Coley. "Double Platypus" by Loggins And Messina. "Honk If You Love Anal Sex" by Radiohead. "Animal Crackhouse" by Demis Roussos. "Harsh Postmodern Irony" by the Godz (the Casablanca ones of course, not the ESP ones.) "Trapdoor Fucking Carburettor Dung" by Terry Knight And the Pack.

― Duane Zarakov, Friday, 26 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ah yes, "Music Has The Right To Children". Wonderful. And accurate (if I'd heard that album before I'd heard "For Beginner Piano", I'd never have wanked over the latter).

― Since I Left You, Monday, 29 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I also gave this as the only album I've ever bought because of the title: Richard Pryor's _Bicentennial Nigger_. Pretty confrontational for 1976, I think.

― Mark Richardson, Monday, 29 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Incidentally, Hymie, who has released an album called "Easter Island"?

I ask only because a friend of mine was recording an album of that title with his group, The Psychodelicates. However I don't think it has come out as yet - so who else has used it?

― Robin Carmody, Tuesday, 30 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one month passes...

Steady M: they're not 'good'. They're 'daft'.

Nick D: you're dead right about the Beatles - but I don't agree with many of your other judgements, save the inevitable "The Queen Is Dead".

'isn't anything'. That's interesting, possibly; or possibly not.

'69 Love Songs'? That does a job.

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 28 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

'The Pied Piper Follows Us' is such a fantastic, confident statement of intent that I have to mention that. But for sheer beauty's sake my vote goes to 'Elephant Shoe'. Not a great album overall, but those two simple words alone move me more than most songs.

― Ally C, Wednesday, 28 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

U2 by Negativeland (heh, heh).

― Nick N, Tuesday, 6 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Stands for Decibels - the dBs The Village Green Preservation Society - the Kinks Teenage Symphonies to God - Velvet Crush

This is off-topic, but Felt and Sonic Youth were both great at naming. Omar and Mike already mentioned album titles; also think of the band names - 'Felt' is much more evocative than 'Velvet Underground' - and song titles - "Teen Age Riot" is perfect for the song and fits in so well with the album title and band name.

― youn noh, Tuesday, 6 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Definition = Limitation" by Montauk P.

― Inukko, Wednesday, 7 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Teenage Symphonies to God" was orig. a quote from Brian Wilson, describing how he wanted Smile to sound. So there. Speaking of which, Smile is such an obviously great title that it's been over looked.

― Sterling Clover, Wednesday, 7 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Then the title seems too ambitious for Velvet Crush.

I haven't heard anything on Smile, but from the reviews here, the title seems right, whereas it isn't really for the Ride ep of the same name, but Nowhere is appropriate.

― youn noh, Wednesday, 7 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one month passes...

I remember that Fatima Mansions tried to call their album 'BUGS FUCKING BUNNY' - what can I say - classic !

― Geordie Racer, Wednesday, 18 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"More Smack, Vicar?" was also mooted. Good old Cathal Coughlan.

― Tom, Wednesday, 18 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Here's the point where I get jeered off of ILM...

Do You Like My Tight Sweater? - Moloko

― Dan Perry, Wednesday, 18 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Not at all Dan - I remember nearly buying the album cause of that title.

― Nick, Wednesday, 18 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

three weeks pass...

Street Hassle has to be one of the best songs out there, but as for titles I would go with: "Kick out the Jams," "Stop Making Sense," "Taking Drugs to make music to take drugs to," I also like the titles "Before & after Science," "Silver apples of the Moon" there are a bunch more I can't think of.

― brad, Wednesday, 9 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ben Folds Five nearly called one of theirs "Waist Deep in Coke And Hookers", and I always vowed that if I were ever allowed to make a rock record, that's what I would call it.

― Dave M., Wednesday, 9 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Transient Random Noise Bursts With Announcements - Stereolab More Songs About Buildings and Food - Talking Heads Lick My Decals Off, Baby - Cptn Beefheart Candy Apple Grey - Husker Du Entertainment! - Gang of Four

(All good albums too)

― Scott, Monday, 14 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Nothing could top The Talking Heads' "Fear Of Music." Also a brilliant album, not that I'm a big David Byrne fan.

― X. Y. Zedd, Monday, 14 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one year passes...

The Clean Great Sounds Great, Good Sounds Good, So-so Sounds So-so, Bad Sounds Bad, Rotten Sounds Rotten.

― spectra, Saturday, 8 February 2003 00:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Phats and Small - Now Phats What I Small Music!
Salt and Pepa - A Salt With a Deadly Pepa

― Evan (Evan), Saturday, 8 February 2003 02:56 (twenty-two years ago)

uptight!

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Saturday, 8 February 2003 02:57 (twenty-two years ago)

an abridged Grifters discography will do:

One Sock Missing
Crappin' You Negative
Ain't My Lookout
Full Blown Possession
Corolla Hoist/Thumbnail Sketch

― Aaron A., Saturday, 8 February 2003 03:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I always liked the album titles from The Coup:
"Kill Your Landlord" --- or was it Kill My Landlord?
"Genocide and Juice"
"Steal This Album" --- though I think, um, System of a Down just named their last album this. Owell.

― phil-two, Saturday, 8 February 2003 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

two years pass...

REO Speedwagon - You Can't Tune a Piano but You Can Tuna Fish

― Jena (JenaP), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

The Difference Between Me And You Is That I'm Not On Fire
Rainbow in Curved Air

― Dr. Eldon Tyrell (ex machina), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 15:07 (twenty years ago)

Older....Budweiser by GangGreen
I 8 1 B 4 U by GangGreen

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 15:14 (twenty years ago)

I really like "Hellbent on Compromise" by Edwyn Collins. And obviously "Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins" by Sparks is the greatest album title ever.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 15:41 (twenty years ago)

i would've gone for 'My Pain and Sadness Is More Sad and Painful Than Yours' as the pick of the Mclusky titles.

― Lee F# (fsharp), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 15:45 (twenty years ago)

From the Comedy World How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All? - The Firesign Theater.

Almost any Funkadelic album: The Clones of Doctor Funkenstein, Standing On The Verge of Getting It On, Cosmic Slop, Maggot Brain.

― Ken L (Ken L), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 15:47 (twenty years ago)

Don Caballero -- For Respect.

― BlastsOfStatic (BlastsofStatic), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 16:42 (twenty years ago)

Chaotic Dischord - Fuck Off You Cunt, What A Load Of Bollocks

― Colonel Poo (Colonel Poo), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 17:01 (twenty years ago)

Never heard the album or new anyone that did but I still remember from the dust sleeve over 30 years ago "Things may come, things may go but the art school dance goes on forever" by Pete Brown (I think).

― Andrew Gruar (Gruara), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 21:03 (twenty years ago)

Incognegro - Ludacris; They Were Wrong, So We Drowned - Liars

― Steve Gertz (sgertz), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 21:12 (twenty years ago)

Chicken-N-Beer by Ludacris is also amongst my faves.

― Jena (JenaP), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 21:17 (twenty years ago)

C'mon, people....OLDER.....BUDWEISER! I still fuckin' crack up about that twenty years after the fact.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 22:54 (twenty years ago)

When The Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like A King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He'll Win The Whole Thing 'Fore He Enters the Ring There's No Body to batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand And Remember That Depth Is The Greatest Of Heights And If You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where To Land And If You Fall It Won't Matter, Cuz You'll Know That You're Right

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 17 March 2005 00:33 (twenty years ago)

Lock it!

― Ken L (Ken L), Thursday, 17 March 2005 00:38 (twenty years ago)

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