Albums that should be heard straight through?

Are there any albums that are meant to be heard in the strict track order as it appears? i.e. is something lost in terms of what the artist is trying to convey either musically or lyrically (a story) if you change up the listening order by hitting random/shuffle?

I would exclude classical and concert recordings.

The one that sticks out for me is "The Incident" (disc 1) by Porcupine Tree. And of course early Rush when Peart was in full-on sci-fi/fantasy story telling mode.

I would guess this is way more uncommon in today's music. Anyway, just something I've been thinking about, maybe another meaningless post...

 

Most of Pink Floyd's catalog would qualify.

 

Dream Theater's Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory tells a story through the lyrics and should be listened to in order.

 

Marillion- F.E.A.R.
This band is not too well known, but they have some good music. I would classify them as classic progressive rock. This album's songs are numbered similar to the way Pink Floyd Numbered parts 1-5 and 6-9 in the album Wish You Were Here for Shine on You Crazy Diamond.

 

The Who's Tommy and Quadraphenia and ELP's Brain Salad Surgery too.

And probably The Eagle's Hotel California.

 

Newest Primus album called, Desaturating Seven. It's their rendition of a kid's story book. And it's great.

 

Radiohead - Kid A, The King of Limbs

 

Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, Maad City

 

Toro y Moi - Boo Boo, if you’re into deliberate lo-fi music

 

DMB - Before These Crowded Streets

Goldfrapp - Tales of Us

Admittedly the second is a stretch, but once you listen to the album as a whole, you'll get it.

 

Yes, I love Marillion. I need to get some more.

Basically all prog rock should be heard straight through.

 

Dire straits - comuniqué

 

Anything by Pink Floyd (as said)
Most things by Radiohead
A lot of things by Bowie
Some things by The Beatles
One or two by Led Zeppelin

Also, an edm classic:

 

I agree, I thought that the f.e.a.r album was a great example. One of my favorite songs by them is White Russian, have you heard it?

 

Yes, that one is good. I only have one album, and it's a live one, but it has a good mix. I need to get some studio albums...

 

Bon Iver - 22 a million
Jon Hopkins - Immunity

 

Genesis- Lamb Lies Down On Broadway.

Edit:...and forty years later, Steven Wilson- Hand. Cannot. Erase.

 

Linkin Park's A Thousand Suns, most Pink Floyd albums (*especially* DSotM), as has been stated, Radiohead's Kid A, pretty much any musical or opera, Sinatra's In the Wee Small Hours, My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade, King Crimson's In the Court of the Crimson King, maybe Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti.

 

hello,

i would say all of Sinatra's Capitol period "concept" albums. even the ravers follow a type of story arc, e.g. "Come Fly with Me."

(edit: one of the bummers of the CD re-issues of these is the inclusion of bonus tracks which seem to break that mood.)

 

It's hard to tell sometimes whether listening to an album out of order is jarring due to the artist's intention, or the fact that you've listened to the album so much that the natural rhythm of what you are expecting seems out of wack if you change the order.

A few albums that stand out to me that have a natural progress are The XX/xx, and basically all of Florence & the Machine.