The best 10 albums ever made ACCORDING TO YOU!

F Me In The Brain

I just don't feel I know enough about that list of factors to make a proper top 10.  
I know what I like!

brianlux

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!

brianlux

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.

tempo_n_groove

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_groove

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_groove

Spiritual_Chaos said:

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 Simmons

I prefer Rid of Me more, but Stories is a great one too. Takes me back to 2001.

Spiritual_Chaos

tempo_n_groove said:

Spiritual_Chaos said:

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

tempo_n_groove

Spiritual_Chaos said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Spiritual_Chaos said:

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_groove

Tim Simmons said:

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.

pjpjpaul

"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"

1 Berry Is On Top by Chuck Berry (influenced Keith Richards, Brian Wilson and countless others)

2 Elvis Presley- Elvis Presley (his influence was enormous. Springsteen, Petty, and many more loved his music/style/image)

3 Kind of Blue- Miles Davis (his impact was felt not only in the jazz community but people like Duane Allman also held him in high esteem for his virtuosic improvisational skills)

4 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band- The Beatles (as far as pure cultural impact this may be close to the top. So many artists and bands were influenced by it and music changed because of it.)

5 The Dark Side of The Moon- Pink Floyd (It is a unique sonic experience that remains unmatched in terms of its ability to be simultaneously  complex musically and lyrically simple.)

6 Thriller- Michael Jackson (this album was so popular its influence on music and culture can still be heard in music by artists like Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars).

7 Straight Outta Compton- NWA (this album cemented Gangsta Rap as a legitimate and commercially viable form of art. It was violent and volatile but also charismatic. It influenced countless hit records in the 80s, 90s, 2000s, and today).

8 King of the Delta Blues Singers - Robert Johnson (although it's cultural impact was delayed a bit many bands and artists have consider Johnson a crucial influence and the British blues explosion in the 60s definitely owes him and other originators a debt of gratitude).

9 Lady Soul- Aretha Franklin (she was/is a diva deserving of her own category. Her voice has so much soul and her impact on music cannot be denied.)

10 Nevermind- Nirvana (This album and really several others as well helped define a generation with a new sound, new image, and new ways of looking at the world. Gone were the hair bands of old. Kurt was the antithesis of a rock star and yet thurst into the role and the results were tragic but the art he left in his wake will forever inspire others).

Honorable Mentions-

The Band- The Band (Americana/folk rock)
The Velvet Underground and Nico- The Velvet Underground (art rock/alternative)
American Beauty- The Grateful Dead (jam bands) 
Ramones- Ramones (punk rock) 
Is This It- The Strokes (rock/"garage rock revival")
Kid A- Radiohead (art rock/electronic/experimental)
Paranoid- Black Sabbath (metal)
Loveless- My Bloody Valentine (shoegaze)
Unknown Pleasures- Joy Division (post-punk)
Are You Experienced? - Jimi Hendrix Experience (blues rock/psychedelic rock)
The Stooges- The Stooges (proto punk)
What's Going On- Marvin Gaye (soul)
Master of Puppets - Metallica (metal)
Run DMC- Run DMC (hip-hop)
Blue- Join Mitchell (singer/songwriter)
Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen (rock) 
Appetite for Destruction- Guns N' Roses (hard rock) 
Back In Black- Ac/DC (hard rock) 
London Calling- The Clash (punk/rock/ska...)
Highway 61 Revisited- Bob Dylan (folk rock)
Live at Folsom Prison- Johnny Cash (country)
Doolittle- Pixies (indie rock)
Murmur- R.E.M. (college rock/indie/alternative rock)
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot- Wilco (indie rock)
Daydream Nation- Sonic Youth (indie/alternative/experimental)
Tommy- The Who (rock)
Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys (pop/baroque pop/experimental pop)
Rumors- Fleetwood Mac (Pop Rock)
Dummy- Portishead (trip-hop)
Violator- Depeche Mode (synthpop)
The Downward Spiral- Nine Inch Nails (industrial)...
Sweetheart of the Rodeo- The Byrds (country rock)
Graceland- Paul Simon (world music) 
Exodus- Bob Marley (Reggae)
The Best of Muddy Waters- Muddy Waters (Blues)

Lots of others I'm forgetting here just so many great albums that have defined genres and culture at different times. 

Gibson

Edited below.

brianlux

pjpjpaul said:

"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"

1 Berry Is On Top by Chuck Berry (influenced Keith Richards, Brian Wilson and countless others)

2 Elvis Presley- Elvis Presley (his influence was enormous. Springsteen, Petty, and many more loved his music/style/image)

3 Kind of Blue- Miles Davis (his impact was felt not only in the jazz community but people like Duane Allman also held him in high esteem for his virtuosic improvisational skills)

4 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band- The Beatles (as far as pure cultural impact this may be close to the top. So many artists and bands were influenced by it and music changed because of it.)

5 The Dark Side of The Moon- Pink Floyd (It is a unique sonic experience that remains unmatched in terms of its ability to be simultaneously  complex musically and lyrically simple.)

6 Thriller- Michael Jackson (this album was so popular its influence on music and culture can still be heard in music by artists like Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars).

7 Straight Outta Compton- NWA (this album cemented Gangsta Rap as a legitimate and commercially viable form of art. It was violent and volatile but also charismatic. It influenced countless hit records in the 80s, 90s, 2000s, and today).

8 King of the Delta Blues Singers - Robert Johnson (although it's cultural impact was delayed a bit many bands and artists have consider Johnson a crucial influence and the British blues explosion in the 60s definitely owes him and other originators a debt of gratitude).

9 Lady Soul- Aretha Franklin (she was/is a diva deserving of her own category. Her voice has so much soul and her impact on music cannot be denied.)

10 Nevermind- Nirvana (This album and really several others as well helped define a generation with a new sound, new image, and new ways of looking at the world. Gone were the hair bands of old. Kurt was the antithesis of a rock star and yet thurst into the role and the results were tragic but the art he left in his wake will forever inspire others).

Honorable Mentions-

The Band- The Band (Americana/folk rock)
The Velvet Underground and Nico- The Velvet Underground (art rock/alternative)
American Beauty- The Grateful Dead (jam bands) 
Ramones- Ramones (punk rock) 
Is This It- The Strokes (rock/"garage rock revival")
Kid A- Radiohead (art rock/electronic/experimental)
Paranoid- Black Sabbath (metal)
Loveless- My Bloody Valentine (shoegaze)
Unknown Pleasures- Joy Division (post-punk)
Are You Experienced? - Jimi Hendrix Experience (blues rock/psychedelic rock)
The Stooges- The Stooges (proto punk)
What's Going On- Marvin Gaye (soul)
Master of Puppets - Metallica (metal)
Run DMC- Run DMC (hip-hop)
Blue- Join Mitchell (singer/songwriter)
Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen (rock) 
Appetite for Destruction- Guns N' Roses (hard rock) 
Back In Black- Ac/DC (hard rock) 
London Calling- The Clash (punk/rock/ska...)
Highway 61 Revisited- Bob Dylan (folk rock)
Live at Folsom Prison- Johnny Cash (country)
Doolittle- Pixies (indie rock)
Murmur- R.E.M. (college rock/indie/alternative rock)
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot- Wilco (indie rock)
Daydream Nation- Sonic Youth (indie/alternative/experimental)
Tommy- The Who (rock)
Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys (pop/baroque pop/experimental pop)
Rumors- Fleetwood Mac (Pop Rock)
Dummy- Portishead (trip-hop)
Violator- Depeche Mode (synthpop)
The Downward Spiral- Nine Inch Nails (industrial)...
Sweetheart of the Rodeo- The Byrds (country rock)
Graceland- Paul Simon (world music) 


Lots of others I'm forgetting here just so many great albums that have defined genres and culture at different times. 

Lots of great albums there.  Berry and Presley for sure.  From the "influence" angle, it would be hard not to include something by Muddy Waters, but a specific album of Muddy's would be a tough choice as his influence stems mostly from singles.

pjpjpaul

brianlux said:

pjpjpaul said:

"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"

1 Berry Is On Top by Chuck Berry (influenced Keith Richards, Brian Wilson and countless others)

2 Elvis Presley- Elvis Presley (his influence was enormous. Springsteen, Petty, and many more loved his music/style/image)

3 Kind of Blue- Miles Davis (his impact was felt not only in the jazz community but people like Duane Allman also held him in high esteem for his virtuosic improvisational skills)

4 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band- The Beatles (as far as pure cultural impact this may be close to the top. So many artists and bands were influenced by it and music changed because of it.)

5 The Dark Side of The Moon- Pink Floyd (It is a unique sonic experience that remains unmatched in terms of its ability to be simultaneously  complex musically and lyrically simple.)

6 Thriller- Michael Jackson (this album was so popular its influence on music and culture can still be heard in music by artists like Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars).

7 Straight Outta Compton- NWA (this album cemented Gangsta Rap as a legitimate and commercially viable form of art. It was violent and volatile but also charismatic. It influenced countless hit records in the 80s, 90s, 2000s, and today).

8 King of the Delta Blues Singers - Robert Johnson (although it's cultural impact was delayed a bit many bands and artists have consider Johnson a crucial influence and the British blues explosion in the 60s definitely owes him and other originators a debt of gratitude).

9 Lady Soul- Aretha Franklin (she was/is a diva deserving of her own category. Her voice has so much soul and her impact on music cannot be denied.)

10 Nevermind- Nirvana (This album and really several others as well helped define a generation with a new sound, new image, and new ways of looking at the world. Gone were the hair bands of old. Kurt was the antithesis of a rock star and yet thurst into the role and the results were tragic but the art he left in his wake will forever inspire others).

Honorable Mentions-

The Band- The Band (Americana/folk rock)
The Velvet Underground and Nico- The Velvet Underground (art rock/alternative)
American Beauty- The Grateful Dead (jam bands) 
Ramones- Ramones (punk rock) 
Is This It- The Strokes (rock/"garage rock revival")
Kid A- Radiohead (art rock/electronic/experimental)
Paranoid- Black Sabbath (metal)
Loveless- My Bloody Valentine (shoegaze)
Unknown Pleasures- Joy Division (post-punk)
Are You Experienced? - Jimi Hendrix Experience (blues rock/psychedelic rock)
The Stooges- The Stooges (proto punk)
What's Going On- Marvin Gaye (soul)
Master of Puppets - Metallica (metal)
Run DMC- Run DMC (hip-hop)
Blue- Join Mitchell (singer/songwriter)
Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen (rock) 
Appetite for Destruction- Guns N' Roses (hard rock) 
Back In Black- Ac/DC (hard rock) 
London Calling- The Clash (punk/rock/ska...)
Highway 61 Revisited- Bob Dylan (folk rock)
Live at Folsom Prison- Johnny Cash (country)
Doolittle- Pixies (indie rock)
Murmur- R.E.M. (college rock/indie/alternative rock)
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot- Wilco (indie rock)
Daydream Nation- Sonic Youth (indie/alternative/experimental)
Tommy- The Who (rock)
Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys (pop/baroque pop/experimental pop)
Rumors- Fleetwood Mac (Pop Rock)
Dummy- Portishead (trip-hop)
Violator- Depeche Mode (synthpop)
The Downward Spiral- Nine Inch Nails (industrial)...
Sweetheart of the Rodeo- The Byrds (country rock)
Graceland- Paul Simon (world music) 


Lots of others I'm forgetting here just so many great albums that have defined genres and culture at different times. 

Lots of great albums there.  Berry and Presley for sure.  From the "influence" angle, it would be hard not to include something by Muddy Waters, but a specific album of Muddy's would be a tough choice as his influence stems mostly from singles.

I added his "Best of" to the honorable Mentions due to the fact that it's probably the one that influenced people the most in the 60s. 

tbergs

My current choices accounting for different genres of music I frequently listen to.

1. Thelonious Monk - Straight, No Chaser (was going to go with Coltrane for my jazz pick, but I like this one more) 
2. Elvis Presley - Since albums weren't really what made him a big deal I can't find one to choose from besides his number 1's, but his influence was huge.
3. The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers/Revolver (Their sound just evolved so much around this time)
4. Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy (everything you could want from LZ)
5. Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues (Another hard choice, but overall this album is excellent and spawned an epic tour)
6. Metallica - Master of Puppets (while it wasn't until the Black album that I discovered them, this is the magnum opus)
7. The Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (classic and ahead of it's time)
8. Dr. Dre - The Chronic (I enjoy Snoop, 2Pac, Biggie, et. all, but this was the beginning)
9. Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger (Jesus Christ Pose!)
10. Michael Jackson - Thriller (what a pop masterpiece)

cp3iverson

Some said RHCP “By the Way”.  I dont like the title track but man what an incredible album. 

pjpjpaul

cp3iverson said:

Some said RHCP “By the Way”.  I dont like the title track but man what an incredible album. 

I love the song "This Is The Place" and feel it is vastly underrated. 

dankind

pjpjpaul said:

cp3iverson said:

Some said RHCP “By the Way”.  I dont like the title track but man what an incredible album. 

I love the song "This Is The Place" and feel it is vastly underrated. 

"Don't Forget Me" FTW!!!

cp3iverson

dankind said:

pjpjpaul said:

cp3iverson said:

Some said RHCP “By the Way”.  I dont like the title track but man what an incredible album. 

I love the song "This Is The Place" and feel it is vastly underrated. 

"Don't Forget Me" FTW!!!

Tear.  Venice Queen.  Beautiful album. Dark, good harmonies.  Really underrated

tempo_n_groove

cp3iverson said:

dankind said:

pjpjpaul said:

cp3iverson said:

Some said RHCP “By the Way”.  I dont like the title track but man what an incredible album. 

I love the song "This Is The Place" and feel it is vastly underrated. 

"Don't Forget Me" FTW!!!

Tear.  Venice Queen.  Beautiful album. Dark, good harmonies.  Really underrated

Small random story.  My Uncle was an LAPD beat cop(brother of the one whom wrote to Manson) and he had a book w paroles in it that they picked up in the area and he was one of these people.  Anthony Keitser, occupation Musician.  My uncle told us that everyone in that book would be either dead or in prison.  My sister went and grabber her latest episode of Spin w them on the cover.  My uncle didn't believe it.  He must have seen some things...
Pic was circa 1984.  Magazine was 96.