What makes a classic album?

[exploder]

Personally I think it's something like this:


Music: It should bring something new and/or unique to it's genre, and have appeal for both the mainstream and the non-mainstream. If it just sounds like the same stuff that you've heard before, it usually won't turn out so good, and will be boring. Also, sometimes using skits and interludes can link songs together and even make the album like a movie.

Lyrics: Not every song should have the same subject. Try to mix things up with different themes. Also, writing about stuff in your life is usually a good way to go, just don't get repetitive with it. You should be creative and/or playful with the way you write your lyrics. Just don't write a bunch of pointless metaphors and big words stuck together and say that it's sophisticated art with meaning or whatever (looking at you, hipster bands).

Artwork: The album artwork should have a unique theme that fits the sound of the album. Try to make the back cover and booklet as interesting as the front cover. Also, colors can contribute very much to the feel of the album. Try to pick a color that matches the setting that the album puts you in as a result of it's sound. Colors can symbolize different things and emotions. Don't make a generic album cover that has been seen before countless things. If the album cover doesn't look how the music sounds, it can put people off.

Promotion: If you want the album to become successful, promote it! Make music videos and show them to the public, but make sure that your video is something entertaining for both the mainstream, and the non-mainstreams. Plus, your presence and character/personality in interviews and when you play live can draw people in. If you're being lazy and bored when playing live and in interviews, not many people are gonna be interested.

so....what do you think?

[GNFfhqwhgads]

Your title and post don't go together at. ALL.

[hiimSMAP]

Sales.

[Lameboy19]

Sales.

u so funi


an album becomes "classic" due to it's influence and (somewhat) critical acclaim

nowadays classic when it comes to music is a radio format that means 20 years or older, however a classic in the sense you are talking about has no set formula and only gets to such a pedestal status by being a great album for it's respective genre

[GNFfhqwhgads]

an album becomes "classic" due to it's influence and (somewhat) critical acclaim

It doesn't need critical acclaim. Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath were nearly unanimously meh'd by critics.

[exploder]

It doesn't need critical acclaim. Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath were nearly unanimously meh'd by critics.

Rush,too.

[FlyGuyLXI]

Rush,too.

Yeah, apparently 2112 was the album that would make or break them, that they were on the edge of failing.

[hiimSMAP]

u so funi

Was it really that obnoxious? D:

[Lameboy19]

Was it really that obnoxious? D:

well the more I think about it, I guess sales do play some point but usually a classic album will sell enormously high Thriller or insanely low Pinkerton and that adds to it's "classic" mentality

but at the time when I read your post I though you meant that sales implied that it was good, my mistake.

[Witticus]

I find classic albums to be the ones that don't just aim to be ambient noise to get you through a work day, but the ones that inspire. The ones that speak to you, change your view on the world, and possibly drive you to create your own music. Also it helps that a classic album be timeless so it stands well over the years and still shines bright among the constantly growing pile of derivative music.