Five albums that are impossible to hate
Music is subjective, and its beauty remains immortal in the face of this unrelenting subjectivity.
Differing musical opinions are the source of a lot of internet rows and pub arguments. “What do you mean you don’t like [insert album name here],” one person screams. “Are you joking? You think that [insert artist name here] is overrated?” It doesn’t matter how much we appreciate the fact that subjectivity within art exists, there are some differences we simply can’t wrap our heads around, and subsequently, we don’t begin to entertain the idea that some people would have differing opinions.
That being said, even in an industry as subjective and open to disagreement as music, there are some universal truths that fans always seem able to stick by. These are that there are some albums, some absolute gems, which define a genre and cement a moment so effectively that it’s impossible to consider them anything other than perfect. In other words, there are a few special albums out there which are simply impossible to hate.
So, what are these albums? Well, some of the most-loved pieces of music ever put out into the world are listed below.
Five albums that are impossible to hate:
The Beatles – ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’
The term “concept album” had a pretty loose definition before the end of the ‘60s, as it could apply to any band who was attempting to make a record where the songs were connected in some way. As you may have guessed, this definition could be applied to near enough every album being made at the time, and therefore it was a term that was overused and lost all meaning. That is, until, of course, The Beatles released Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
The album expanded upon the idea of what an album could be. No longer were people confined by strict parameters, and instead, an album could be something fun, something that allowed the creators to dive into the world of fiction. The Beatles did this by creating their own made up band and then releasing an album that was written from the point of view of said band. The album was fun, whimsical and contained some of the best songs the Beatles ever put together. This was the band at their most adventurous, and the result is an album that you can’t help but smile at.
Joni Mitchell – ‘Blue’
How do you even begin to define an artist like Joni Mitchell? It should be illegal for someone to excel in guitar playing, singing and songwriting in the way that she does, as most musicians would sell their soul to possess just one of those qualities. You hear her brilliance throughout her discography, but it most prominently shines through on the album Blue.
This album is widely considered one of the best records she ever put out, and it’s pretty difficult to listen to it and not be moved. The record was written during a period of heartbreak, and as unfiltered longing loomed over her life, the result was one of Mitchell’s most honest and heart-warming LPs ever.
“I felt like a cellophane wrapper on a pack of cigarettes,” she said. “I felt like I had absolutely no secrets from the world, and I couldn’t pretend in my life to be strong. Or to be happy. But the advantage of it in the music was that there were no defences there either.”
Patti Smith – ‘Horses’
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the album Horses, it’s worth us remembering just how much of a pivotal and influential record Patti Smith’s offering actually is. Attitude, poetry, emotion, musicianship, all of it is buried in the core of this record, and the result is a piece of music that you simply have to admit you enjoy.
Every word on this album feels incredibly intentional. Given this is a piece of music that could be read like a novel as well as it can be listened to, it’s pretty hard to imagine that anyone in the musical world is stumbling upon it with anything other than a heart full of excitement. Some 50 years later, it still stands up as one of the most beautiful records ever made.
Marvin Gaye – ‘What’s Going On’
To think that Berry Gordy almost stopped Marvin Gaye from releasing this record. Yes, he may have wanted Motown to be a label which focused on hits and didn’t veer into politics, but Marvin Gaye proves on this album that just because you write about politics, it doesn’t mean that you are then rendered incapable of putting together a beautiful piece of music.
What’s Going On has sadness and turmoil at its heart, as it covers the harrowing topic that is war in a way which feels deeply personal. However, the human way in which Gaye sings these songs, and the heartfelt nature of the album that beats through in every second as a result, make this record a stunning listen that gets its message across loud and clear. If you’re ever unsure whether music can make a difference in hard times, just remember that this album exists.
AC/DC – ‘Back In Black’
When Bon Scott passed away, a lot of people thought that that could mark the end of AC/DC. The band championed hard rock music, and Scott had the perfect voice for such a style. As such, many were confused how the band could ever carry on in the face of such tragedy, but they showed it was possible to do so with their album Back In Black.
This is the first album where the band worked with Brian Johnson, and by teaming up, they managed to release an LP that was a good tribute to Scott, but that also didn’t sound like they were trying to recreate what they had with him. The record saw AC/DC honour their fallen singer, but in a way where they didn’t compromise on the great guitar music they were famed for. How does a rock band pay tribute to one of their own? This is how! You simply can’t dislike it.
