Far and away above all other albums, Parade is his most artistic masterpiece.

SOTT doesn't have the whimsy of UTCM, the use of a snare-less snare to create and interesting tone colour along with a lot of other unusual textures. 1999 is heavy on the Linn and stylistically is more concerned with partying and sex.

I can't think of any other album that comes close in artistic vision than Parade. Even down to the artwork.

What do you think?

I think Around The World In A Day and Symbol with the Different Genres of music. Orchestration wise Parade is a Masterpiece and Rainbow Children Ranks Right up with Superb.

mrdespues said:

I gotta say ATWIAD. Same basic era as parade, but the beatlesesque middle eastern feal of the title track, the ladder, temptaion end, pop life bridge, funk on tamborine, rock of America, emotion of Condition, swing of Paisley Park, this is truly one of P's most underatted....shit i didn't even touch on the rhaspberry beret

I agree with mrdespues Parade is fantastic. The basic tracks are great and Clare Fischers orchestrations give the album a sweeping, epic type feel.

There's also lots of contrast that keeps you interested, The pounding Mountains followed by the understated Do U Lie which is in turn followed by Kiss. Everything just seems to work on that record. It's possibly the one album where I wouldn't change any of the tracks.

#1 Lovesexy

#2 Parade

#3 ATWIAD

What is your definition of "artistic"? Is it eclectic? Innovative?