Perfection in music

Music, like good reads and great coffee, is food for the soul. Few things on this earth are more enjoyable than fully absorbing all a talented musician has to offer, whether in person or by way of a great album. I had tons of fun compiling Fast Horse’s (read: my) best songs of 2009 write-up, even if it did take me about 18 hours.

Tonight’s drive home from work featured an album I can, after some consideration, confidently describe as perfect. I don’t mean that it is without technical flaw; I’m sure a close listen would turn up a few hiccups here and there. Rather, I mean it is nearly unmatched in its ability to make me giddy. Even depressing, heart-wrenching music makes me giddy in a way — joyful at the songwriter’s skill for putting into words what most just put into mild alcoholism.

The list that follows contains some albums I consider to be perfect. Amazing. For-christ’s-sake-buy-it-now good. This list is far from complete; I plan to add to it over time, but for now, I can’t help but share these incredible works of music.

In no particular order, the first additions to my Perfect Albums list:

• “August and Everything After” by the Counting Crows
• “Lifeline” by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
• “Sky Blue Sky” by Wilco
• “Live at Java Joe’s” by Jason Mraz
• “Purple” by the Stone Temple Pilots
• “Z” by My Morning Jacket
• “Led Zeppelin III” by Led Zeppelin
• “I and Love and You” by the Avett Brothers
• “Return to Cookie Mountain” by TV on the Radio
• “Only by the Night” by Kings of Leon
• “Gold” by Ryan Adams

Perfect. Perfect. Don’t even start arguing with me. Rest assured, though, I’m well aware this list is far from complete. This was mostly compiled off the top of my head. And for the record, the Ben Harper album is the one that prompted this post, but “Sky Blue Sky” is the album I first described as perfect. Thank you, Nels Cline.

What albums would be on your Perfect list?

(Update 7/24/2010: Now that we’re squarely in the middle of summer, I’ve again come across what might be my favorite — not the best; my favorite — album of all time, which should be on this Perfect list: Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti.)

(Update 2/23/2011: How could I forget the Red Hot Chili Peppers?! I hereby add “By the Way” to this list. And for god’s sake: Beck’s “Guero.”)

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