Ambiguous Album Titles

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed
I think the eeriest example is Joy Divisions "Closer"
is changes it meaning depending on how you pronounce it.
It's optimistic to say "ClOw-suuur" which implies < BARRY WHITE VOICE> "c'mon baby and get a little closer." < /BARRY WHITE VOICE>
But its more likely that Ian "Funtime" Curtis meant "Cloh-ZUR" as in something that closes out his musical career.
any other examples?

Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Thursday, 21 August 2003 15:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Jazz Butcher - Illuminate. Not "Light a candle and illuminate the room." Nor "If you would explain it better, you may be able to illuminate us."

Fifth definition: One who has or professes to have an unusual degree of enlightenment. "Only the illuminate will see the beauty in this song."

dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 21 August 2003 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Definitely Maybe

...and even more ambiguent, p'haps, is, or so it seems
Definitely Maybe Singles Box Set

t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Thursday, 21 August 2003 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Revolver

As in, something that revolves like a revolving door? Or, as in the weapon used to take John Lennon's life?

Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Thursday, 21 August 2003 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Revolver like a record on a turntable maybe?

rw, Thursday, 21 August 2003 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

John Frusciante OWNS this thread. I give ye.....

Niandra Lades And Usually Just a T-Shirt

Smile from the Streets You Hold

and

To Record Only Water for Ten Days

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 21 August 2003 16:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I like your take on Closer - i have never thought of the closure thing.

My take on it is that it's about the inability to actually connect with another person, close as we may come to it. Also The word Close (in the UK at least) can be used to describe an airless, or stilfing Atmosphere.

jed_e_3 (jed_e_3), Thursday, 21 August 2003 17:44 (twenty-two years ago)

New Clear Days -- the Vapors
Bitter Suites to Succubi - Cradle of Filth
Take Off Your Pants and Jacket -- Blink 182

chuck, Thursday, 21 August 2003 17:47 (twenty-two years ago)

although i must say that i think there is nothing of the barry whites about the title! its actually using the word to suggest the opposite - im sure there's a term for that but i don't know what it is.

jed_e_3 (jed_e_3), Thursday, 21 August 2003 17:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band OST

Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 21 August 2003 17:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't get those Frusciante titles at all, though.

chuck, Thursday, 21 August 2003 17:49 (twenty-two years ago)

and whats with all these Godspeed You Black Emporer titles? Are they all lifted from obscure Buddhist unix manuals and then translated into Engrish?
I mean, whatthefuck!?

Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Thursday, 21 August 2003 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Lick My Decals Off, Baby

Sean (Sean), Thursday, 21 August 2003 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Not until after you bathe, Beefheart.

Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:01 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Soft Bulletin" is a great album title and an ambiguous one bulletin-bullet/in.

colin o'hara (jed_e_3), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:02 (twenty-two years ago)

r.e.m. - green

fact checking cuz, Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:20 (twenty-two years ago)

()

christoff (christoff), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Ambiguous song title: Come on Eileen.

dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Sheik Yerbouti -- FZ

christoff (christoff), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Chemical Brothers - Surrender
Postal Service - Give Up

As in surrendering in the good way or bad way? To give yourself up to someting great and larger than yourself or to dejectedly remove yourself from some huge, impersonal mass. In the case of the Chemicals, it's probably the former, but that album has a weird sad undercurrent. With the Postal Service I have no idea; that album is happy or sad really depending on what kind of mood I'm in when I hear it.

Tom Breihan (Tom Breihan), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Live Baby Live, INXS

Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

actually, judging from most of the nominations on this thread, ALL album titles are ambiguous.

chuck, Thursday, 21 August 2003 18:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Ambiguous song title: Come on Eileen.

Ha!

All I can come up with is Aladdin Sane.

Salmon Pink (Salmon Pink), Thursday, 21 August 2003 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

A bit of the Closer discussion/debate can be found....

the most depressing album in the world ever

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 21 August 2003 19:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Also JD's Still. Is it "still" as in persisting or "still" as in quiet and not moving?

And a lot of the noms here are puns or double entendres, which aren't really ambiguous.

nickn (nickn), Thursday, 21 August 2003 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Supposedly, New Order's first album, Movement, was meant as a contrasting statement to Joy Division's final effort, Still. Geddit?

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 21 August 2003 20:38 (twenty-two years ago)

New Clear Child, AR Kane
A pretty lousy pun, methinks, but "ambiguous" alright.

also
Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age

t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Thursday, 21 August 2003 20:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Ambiguous artist name -- Entrance (depending which syllable you emphasize).

David A. (Davant), Thursday, 21 August 2003 21:37 (twenty-two years ago)


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.