The best 10 albums ever made ACCORDING TO YOU!

brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,320
OK, Rolling Stone can keep their top ten list.  Let's see yours.  What do you think are the 10 best albums ever made?  Not necessarily your 10 favorite, but the best 10 records based on influence on music, songwriting, composition, musicianship, and impact of soul/feeling/expression on listeners.

I'm listing mine alpha by artist/band because at this level, this differences are tissue paper thin:

The Beach Boys:  Pet Sounds
The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles: Revolver*
Johnny Cash:  At Folsom Prison**
John Coltrane: A Love Supreme
Miles Davis:  Kind of Blue***
Bob Dylan:  Highway 61 Revisited****
The Jimi Hendrix Experience:  Are You Experienced
Robert Johnson:  King of the Delta Blues
Carole King: Tapestry

*George saw Rubber Soul and Revolver as parts A and B, almost like a double album.  I agree, so pretty hard to pick.  Abbey Road is right up there too.
** So much wanted to go with Willie Nelson's, Redheaded Stranger, but too much personal  preference.  But are GREAT!
*** Could just as equally gone with Bitches Brew.  Tough choice!
**** Beats Blonde on Blonde but barely!

"Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!"
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"

"Try to not spook the horse."
-Neil Young













«13

Comments

  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,225
    Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
    John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
    The Beatles - Revolver
    Nirvana - Nevermind
    REM - Reckoning
    Otis Redding - Otis Blue
    Radiohead - Kid A
    NWA - Straight Outta Compton
    Burial - Untrue
    Frank Ocean - Blonde
  • LoujoeLoujoe Posts: 9,812
    some good ones in here. I'll flip to a random 10 and list:
    Bowie-hunky dory
    Randy newman-sail away
    Queen-sheer heart attack
    Joy division-unknown pleasures
    X-wild gift
    Pet shop boys-behavior
    D'Angelo-brown sugar

    Afrika Bambaataa and the soul sonic force-Planet Rock the Album

    Deep purple-machine head
    Solomon Burke-rock and soul

    (I only know 2 from above list)
    I'll try to come up with my own later.
  • rgambsrgambs Posts: 13,576
    Harvest- Neil Young
    Ten or Vs- Pearl Jam
    Led Zeppelin- take your pick
    Have to think about more
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,332
    Pearl Jam - Vs.
    Blind Melon - Blind Melon
    Supergrass - In It For The Money 
    U2 - War
    REM - Out Of Time
    Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti 
    Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere
    The Replacements - Tim or Pleased To Meet Me *struggled to pick one 
    RUN-DMC - RUN-DMC
    The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers 
    www.cluthelee.com
  • MedozKMedozK Tennessee Posts: 9,210
    Loujoe said:
    some good ones in here. I'll flip to a random 10 and list:
    Bowie-hunky dory
    Randy newman-sail away
    Queen-sheer heart attack
    Joy division-unknown pleasures
    X-wild gift
    Pet shop boys-behavior
    D'Angelo-brown sugar

    Afrika Bambaataa and the soul sonic force-Planet Rock the Album

    Deep purple-machine head
    Solomon Burke-rock and soul

    (I only know 2 from above list)
    I'll try to come up with my own later.
    Love that book. It has helped my increase my music knowledge by pointing me in directions that I might not have went myself.
  • ST66483ST66483 Posts: 789
    Beatles - White Album
    Sparks - Kimono My House
    Led Zeppelin - III
    Bjork - Debut
    Beastie Boys - License to Ill
    The Cure - Disintegration 
    Lou Reed - New York
    Neil Young - Live Rust
    Prince - One Night Alone
    Tom Waits - Small Change
  • goldrushgoldrush everybody knows this is nowhere Posts: 7,579
    Pearl Jam - Vs.
    Blind Melon - Blind Melon
    Supergrass - In It For The Money 
    U2 - War
    REM - Out Of Time
    Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti 
    Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere
    The Replacements - Tim or Pleased To Meet Me *struggled to pick one 
    RUN-DMC - RUN-DMC
    The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers 
    Great list
    “Do not postpone happiness”
    (Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)

    “Put yer good money on the sunrise”
    (Tim Rogers)
  • drakeheuer14drakeheuer14 Posts: 4,500
    Pearl Jam - Ten 
    Audioslave - Audioslave
    Rare Creatures - Rare Creatures
    Frank Sinatra - My Way
    Janes Addiction - The Great Escape Artist 
    Shinedown - Leave a Whisper
    Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced 
    Foals - Everything Not Saved Will be Lost (pt. 1)
    The Growlers - Hung at Heart
    Arctic Monkeys - Live at Royal Albert Hall (I think this should count!) 


    Personal favorites. In no particular order though. 
    Pittsburgh 2013
    Cincinnati 2014
    Greenville 2016
    (Raleigh 2016)
    Columbia 2016
  • cp3iversoncp3iverson Posts: 8,702
    -The Replacements - Let it Be
    -Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
    -The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
    -The Twilight Singers - Blackberry Belle
    -The Gaslight Anthem - The 59’Sound
    -Pearl Jam - Ten
    -Sunny Day Real Estate - How it Feels to Be Something On

    -Radiohead - In Rainbows
    -Prince - Purple Rain
    -Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American
  • cp3iversoncp3iverson Posts: 8,702
    Pearl Jam - Vs.
    Blind Melon - Blind Melon
    Supergrass - In It For The Money 
    U2 - War
    REM - Out Of Time
    Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti 
    Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere
    The Replacements - Tim or Pleased To Meet Me *struggled to pick one 
    RUN-DMC - RUN-DMC
    The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers 
    Didnt know you were a ‘Mats fan!   I could argue that Tim or PTMM are equally as great as Let it Be.  That’s tough. 
  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Southwest Burbs of Chicago Posts: 4,899
    Since it is my list 

    PJ - No Code
    Metallica- Master Of Puppets
    FNM - The Real Thing
    Pink Floyd - The Wall
    Soundgarden - Superunknown
    TOTD - TOTD
    Alice in Chains - Dirt
    Acdc Back in Black
    MJ - Thriller 
    Live  - Throwing Copper
    NIN -  Broken
    EXPLOSIONS - The Earth is not a cold dead place
    Coldplay - A Rush of Blood ti the Head
    MMJ - It Still Moves
    Thievery Corp. Radio Retaliation 
    U2 Joshua Tree
    HENDRIX - The Blues
    Janes Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual
    Def Leppard- hysteria
    Train - Train
    Enya - sheppard Moons
    Mazzy Star so tonight that i may see
    Them - The story of Them
    Spacemen 3 taking drugs to make music to take drugs to
    Yanni- Voices
    Aerosmith - GH1
    Zucchero - Zucchero
    Tool - Fear Innoculum
    Zep X
    Any Beatles compilation like Love

    I think thats is 10, I probably need about 10 more

  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,320
    -The Replacements - Let it Be
    -Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
    -The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
    -The Twilight Singers - Blackberry Belle
    -The Gaslight Anthem - The 59’Sound
    -Pearl Jam - Ten
    -Sunny Day Real Estate - How it Feels to Be Something On

    -Radiohead - In Rainbows
    -Prince - Purple Rain
    -Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American

    Pearl Jam - Vs.
    Blind Melon - Blind Melon
    Supergrass - In It For The Money 
    U2 - War
    REM - Out Of Time
    Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti 
    Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere
    The Replacements - Tim or Pleased To Meet Me *struggled to pick one 
    RUN-DMC - RUN-DMC
    The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers 
    Didnt know you were a ‘Mats fan!   I could argue that Tim or PTMM are equally as great as Let it Be.  That’s tough. 

    I can't believe I didn't put a Mats on my list.  Probably because in reality, Pleased to Meet Me is their best, yet one I don't love nearly as much as Let it Be or Tim.  But in the big picture, much as all of those are MUST HAVE records for me, I don't see that they broke any ground like, say, Are You Experienced or Highway 61 Revisited.

    This 10 best business is tough!

    Great lists all, by the way!  :smiley:
    "Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!"
    -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"

    "Try to not spook the horse."
    -Neil Young













  • BrainofBGABrainofBGA Australia Posts: 4,379
    Pearl Jam - Vitalogy 
    QotSA - Songs for the Deaf
    Beastie Boys - Paul’s Boutique
    You Am I - Hourly Daily
    Grinspoon- Guide to Better Living
    Kiss - Alive!
    Spiderbait - Ivy and the Big Apples
    Tool - Lateralus
    RHCP - Stadium Arcadium 
    Fleetwood Mac- Rumours

    these are some albums I keep coming back to lately. They’re the ones I really enjoy listening too. I could add Rolling Stones, Beatles, the Who but I’d be putting them in based on what other people might have on their list. 
    Melbourne #1 '98
    Melbourne #2 '03
    Melbourne #3 '03
    Melbourne #1 '06
    Melbourne #3 '06
    Melbourne '09
    Melbourne '14
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,320
    hrd2imgn said:
    Since it is my list 

    PJ - No Code
    Metallica- Master Of Puppets
    FNM - The Real Thing
    Pink Floyd - The Wall
    Soundgarden - Superunknown
    TOTD - TOTD
    Alice in Chains - Dirt
    Acdc Back in Black
    MJ - Thriller 
    Live  - Throwing Copper
    NIN -  Broken
    EXPLOSIONS - The Earth is not a cold dead place
    Coldplay - A Rush of Blood ti the Head
    MMJ - It Still Moves
    Thievery Corp. Radio Retaliation 
    U2 Joshua Tree
    HENDRIX - The Blues
    Janes Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual
    Def Leppard- hysteria
    Train - Train
    Enya - sheppard Moons
    Mazzy Star so tonight that i may see
    Them - The story of Them
    Spacemen 3 taking drugs to make music to take drugs to
    Yanni- Voices
    Aerosmith - GH1
    Zucchero - Zucchero
    Tool - Fear Innoculum
    Zep X
    Any Beatles compilation like Love

    I think thats is 10, I probably need about 10 more


    That's OK, I suck at math as well.  :lol:
    "Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!"
    -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"

    "Try to not spook the horse."
    -Neil Young













  • Spiritual_ChaosSpiritual_Chaos Posts: 30,573
    edited March 2021
    Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
    Neil Young - Harvest
    Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile
    PJ Harvey - Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
    Joakim Thåström - Skebokvarnsv. 209
    Jeff Buckley - Grace
    Leonard Cohen - I'm your man
    ABBA - The Visitors
    The Doors - Waiting for the Sun or Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hil
    Nirvana - Nevermind

    Now, morning meeting at work so can't think about it more. This I guess is more favorite albums than "best albums". Who cares.
    Post edited by Spiritual_Chaos on
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • eddieceddiec Posts: 3,920
    edited March 2021
    Joni Mitchell- Blue
    Jeff Buckley- Grace
    Van Morrison- Astral Weeks
    Ryan Adams- Gold
    Pink Floyd- DSOTM
    Dylan- Blood on the Tracks (I prefer the NY sessions)
    Beatles- Sgt. Pepper's
    Led Zeppelin- IV
    Steely Dan- Aja
    Neil Young- Harvest

    Damn. This is tough. Just went back and bumped U2 for Neil. 

    Post edited by eddiec on
  • rgambsrgambs Posts: 13,576
    eddiec said:
    Joni Mitchell- Blue
    Jeff Buckley- Grace
    Van Morrison- Astral Weeks
    Ryan Adams- Gold
    Pink Floyd- DSOTM
    Dylan- Blood on the Tracks (I prefer the NY sessions)
    Beatles- Sgt. Pepper's
    Led Zeppelin- IV
    Steely Dan- Aja
    Neil Young- Harvest

    Damn. This is tough. Just went back and bumped U2 for Neil. 

    That's a good list, right there, and a good decision on the bump.  Hard to argue against any of them, Steely Dan isn't my favorite, but it was a classic record.  Some of the lists I've seen here are populated with bands I haven't even heard OF, let alone heard lol

    Good to see Harvest getting some votes, it's a crazy good album of songwriting, performing, and producing.
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • dankinddankind Posts: 20,839

    Well, today it’s ...

    Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters (it doesn’t need to withstand the test of time, IMO, because it’s already timeless)

    Beach Boys, Pet Sounds

    The Cure, Disintegration

    Jethro Tull, Thick as a Brick

    Bob Marley & the Wailers, Catch a Fire

    Pink Floyd, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

    Public Enemy, Fear of a Black Planet

    Red Hot Chili Peppers, By the Way

    Slayer, Reign in Blood

    Tom Waits, Swordfishtrombones

    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • F Me In The BrainF Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,388
    I struggle with this because the request was for "the best 10 records based on influence on music, songwriting, composition, musicianship, and impact of soul/feeling/expression on listeners"

    Not even sure how to put together a list like that....I don't consider all of those things when thinking of my favorites.  (Don't consider most of those factors when listening, usually?...)

    Like reading what others feel as the best, some great music there and some music for me to check out to see if I enjoy.
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • dankinddankind Posts: 20,839
    I struggle with this because the request was for "the best 10 records based on influence on music, songwriting, composition, musicianship, and impact of soul/feeling/expression on listeners"

    Not even sure how to put together a list like that....I don't consider all of those things when thinking of my favorites.  (Don't consider most of those factors when listening, usually?...)

    Like reading what others feel as the best, some great music there and some music for me to check out to see if I enjoy.
    Yeah, mine could change daily, for sure.

    I guess a good exercise to come up with a good list for me would be to do this every day for a while and see which 10 repeat themselves the most.

    So many I knocked off of this list because they weren't exactly influential or I had another on the list in the same vein (e.g., Beefheart and Zappa fell off because I already had Apple and Waits; Sabbath, Deep Purple, Zeppelin passed over for Tull). Also, how the hell do you decide on a best album by Hendrix, Prince, Bowie? (That last one is especially difficult.)
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • F Me In The BrainF Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,388
    I just don't feel I know enough about that list of factors to make a proper top 10.  
    I know what I like!
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,320
    eddiec said:
    Joni Mitchell- Blue
    Jeff Buckley- Grace
    Van Morrison- Astral Weeks
    Ryan Adams- Gold
    Pink Floyd- DSOTM
    Dylan- Blood on the Tracks (I prefer the NY sessions)
    Beatles- Sgt. Pepper's
    Led Zeppelin- IV
    Steely Dan- Aja
    Neil Young- Harvest

    Damn. This is tough. Just went back and bumped U2 for Neil. 


    Yes, it is hard for sure!  I saw that you put Van Morrison's Astral Weeks on your list and thought, OMG, how did I not include that in mine?   That really is one of the all-time greatest albums ever!
    "Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!"
    -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"

    "Try to not spook the horse."
    -Neil Young













  • brianluxbrianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,320
    rgambs said:
    eddiec said:
    Joni Mitchell- Blue
    Jeff Buckley- Grace
    Van Morrison- Astral Weeks
    Ryan Adams- Gold
    Pink Floyd- DSOTM
    Dylan- Blood on the Tracks (I prefer the NY sessions)
    Beatles- Sgt. Pepper's
    Led Zeppelin- IV
    Steely Dan- Aja
    Neil Young- Harvest

    Damn. This is tough. Just went back and bumped U2 for Neil. 

    That's a good list, right there, and a good decision on the bump.  Hard to argue against any of them, Steely Dan isn't my favorite, but it was a classic record.  Some of the lists I've seen here are populated with bands I haven't even heard OF, let alone heard lol

    Good to see Harvest getting some votes, it's a crazy good album of songwriting, performing, and producing.

    Also a good point.  I can see a strong argument for Aja being on a 10 best list.  It has, after all, inspired enough that it's actually been used as the central focus for some college and university classes.  I didn't include it because for me, what it offers in composition and musicianship, it lacks in the "soul/feeling/expression" category which is mostly subjective.  For others though, it fits the bill in all ways.
    "Pretty cookies, heart squares all around, yeah!"
    -Eddie Vedder, "Smile"

    "Try to not spook the horse."
    -Neil Young













  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,491
    OOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH  Love this!

    In no order!

    Beach Boys- Pet Sounds
    Sublime-40 oz to Freedom
    Metallica-Master Of Puppets
    James Brown-Into the Jungle Groove
    Beastie Boys- Pauls Boutique
    PJ Harvey-Dry  I don't think Alanis Morrissette exists without this album...
    Black Sabbath-Masters of Reality
    The Eurythmics-Sweet Dreams
    The Dead Kennedys-Frankenchrist
    The Misfits-Walk Among us



  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,491
    Loujoe said:
    some good ones in here. I'll flip to a random 10 and list:
    Bowie-hunky dory
    Randy newman-sail away
    Queen-sheer heart attack
    Joy division-unknown pleasures
    X-wild gift
    Pet shop boys-behavior
    D'Angelo-brown sugar

    Afrika Bambaataa and the soul sonic force-Planet Rock the Album

    Deep purple-machine head
    Solomon Burke-rock and soul

    (I only know 2 from above list)
    I'll try to come up with my own later.
    Randy Newman?  Nah man.  All the others are a must though.
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,491
    Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
    Neil Young - Harvest
    Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile
    PJ Harvey - Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
    Joakim Thåström - Skebokvarnsv. 209
    Jeff Buckley - Grace
    Leonard Cohen - I'm your man
    ABBA - The Visitors
    The Doors - Waiting for the Sun or Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hil
    Nirvana - Nevermind

    Now, morning meeting at work so can't think about it more. This I guess is more favorite albums than "best albums". Who cares.
    New PJ Harvey album is that good huh?
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,225
    I prefer Rid of Me more, but Stories is a great one too. Takes me back to 2001.

  • Spiritual_ChaosSpiritual_Chaos Posts: 30,573
    edited March 2021
    Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
    Neil Young - Harvest
    Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile
    PJ Harvey - Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
    Joakim Thåström - Skebokvarnsv. 209
    Jeff Buckley - Grace
    Leonard Cohen - I'm your man
    ABBA - The Visitors
    The Doors - Waiting for the Sun or Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hil
    Nirvana - Nevermind

    Now, morning meeting at work so can't think about it more. This I guess is more favorite albums than "best albums". Who cares.
    New PJ Harvey album is that good huh?
    Is this a joke I'm not getting? (Its from 2000...)

    EDIT: Or maybe 2001 like Mr Simmons wrote above
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,491
    Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
    Neil Young - Harvest
    Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile
    PJ Harvey - Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
    Joakim Thåström - Skebokvarnsv. 209
    Jeff Buckley - Grace
    Leonard Cohen - I'm your man
    ABBA - The Visitors
    The Doors - Waiting for the Sun or Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hil
    Nirvana - Nevermind

    Now, morning meeting at work so can't think about it more. This I guess is more favorite albums than "best albums". Who cares.
    New PJ Harvey album is that good huh?
    Is this a joke I'm not getting? (Its from 2000...)

    EDIT: Or maybe 2001 like Mr Simmons wrote above
    It just came out on vinyl so I assumed it was new.  I didn't know it was that old as I only own her first 3 albums.
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,491
    I prefer Rid of Me more, but Stories is a great one too. Takes me back to 2001.

    Hearing Sheela Na Gig for the very first time set me on my head which is why I put down Dry as a top 10 for me.
Sign In or Register to comment.