Best Albums Ever

[Mr. Wobbels 664]

We have a top 100 movies thread, but why don't we have a compiled list of the albums that we love? All genres and artists apply. If you wanna submit more than one album, that's cool too.

 

PLEASE DON'T SUBMIT AN ALBUM THAT IS ALREADY ON THE LIST! (an army of angry ferrets will eat your face)

 

For submissions, please format like this:

 

Album (year released)

Artist

Best known, best, or most inventive song(s) off of album

Genre(s) [if applicable]

 

Description of why you've submitted this album, short list of ratings, awards, or sales figures (if you want to)

If you can add a link to the full album on youtube or something similar, that would be appreciated as well.

 

 

Here's my submission:

 

OK Computer (1997)

Radiohead

"Paranoid Android", "Karma Police"

Alternative/Alt. Rock

 

This album is one of the most critically acclaimed albums of all time, and is my personal favorite Radiohead album. Many people would consider this album as Radiohead's Sgt. Pepper's, not just because of the impact that it had on the music of the time, but also because it marked a turning point in their music. It's one of the most inventive albums of all time (imho) and essentially marked the end of the era of britpop. It's also phenomenal album lyrically and musically.

 

Ratings/Awards:

• NME: 10/10
• Pitchfork: 10/10
• Q: 5/5
• Rolling Stone Album Guide: 5/5
• Won Best Alternative Music album (1998 Grammy Awards)

http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtL0KnlK4ts

 

Nevermind (1991)

Nirvana

"Smells Like Teen Spirit"

Grunge

 

I'm submitting this because of it's impact on all alt music since it was released. If Nevermind wasn't released, the Radiohead wouldn't have become famous (altough the album by them that was made famous by the surge in alt rock popularity was pretty bad) and the same goes with hundreds of alternative rock bands that have been popular since the early 90's.

 

List so far:

 

OK Computer (1997) - Radiohead

Nevermind (1991) Nirvana

Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory (1999) - Dream Theater

Double Eclipse (1992) - Hardline

Animals (1977) - Pink Floyd

A Taste For Bitters (1996) - Chokebore

In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 (2003) - Coheed and Cambria

The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973) - Pink Floyd

Clayman (2000) - In Flames

In the Court of the Crimson King (1969) - King Crimson

Peter Gabriel - (1980)

Deathconsciousness (2008) - Have A Nice Life

X&Y (2005) - Coldplay

Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses (2004) - Slipknot

Aim and Ignite (2009) - Fun.

Abbey Road (1969) - The Beatles

Homestuck Volume 7: At the Price of Oblivion (2011) - Homestuck & Various Artists

Ride The Lightning (1984) - Metallica

The Black Album (1991) - Metallica

Feels (2005) - Animal Collective

Breakfast in America (1979) - Supertramp

Prowler In The Yard (2001) - Pig Destroyer

Loveless (1991) - My Bloody Valentine

Divine Wings of Tragedy (1997) - Symphony X

Moving Pictures (1981) - Rush

Antichrist Superstar (1996) - Marilyn Manson

Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) - The Beatles

Band on the Run (1973) - Wings

American Pie (1970) - Don McLean

The White Album (1968) - The Beatles

Demon Days (2005) - Gorillaz

American Idiot (2004) - Green Day

The Black Parade (2006) - My Chemical Romance

Stadium Arcadium (2006) - The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Black Holes and Revelations (2006) - Muse

Weezer (The Blue Album) (1994) - Weezer

Pinkerton (1996) Weezer

Siren Song of the Counter Culure (2004) - Rise Against

The Sufferer and the Witness (2006) - Rise Against

Billy Talent 2 (2006) - Billy Talent

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009) - Phoenix

Haunted (2000) - Poe

Lateralus (2001) - Tool

Ænima (1996) - Tool

Undertow (1993) - Tool

Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York (1994) - Nirvana

EARL (2010) - Earl Sweatshirt

City (1997) - Strapping Young Lad

Rubber Soul (1965) - The Beatles

Vulgar Display of Power (1992) - Pantera

You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having (2005) - Atmosphere

Dig Your Own Hole (1997) - The Chemical Brothers

Orbital 2/ Brown Album (1993) - Orbital

Fore! (1986) - Huey Lewis and the News

Origin of Symmetry (2001) - Muse

Absolution (2003) - Muse

Caravan Palace (2010) - Caravan Palace

Contact (2001) - Eiffel 65

Thing a Week 1 (2006) - Jonathan Coulton

Thing a Week 2 (2006 - Jonathan Coulton

Thing a Week 3 (2006) - Jonathan Coulton

Thing a Week 4 (2006) - Jonathan Coulton

Mount Eden (2010) - Mt. Eden

The Best of Red Army Choir (2002) - Red Army Choir

Toxicity (2001) - System of a Down

Almost Human (2000) - Voltaire

Devil's Bris (1999) - Voltaire

Then and Again (2004) - Voltaire

To the Bottom of the Sea (2008) - Voltaire

Individual Thought Patterns (1995) - Death

Never, Neverland (1990) - Annihilator

The Sound of Violence (2011) - Onslaught

In War and Pieces (2010) - Sodom

Alice In Hell (1989) - Annihilator

Ride The Lightning (1984?) - Metallica

Alien (2005) - Strapping Young Lad

Illusions (2011) - Thomas J. Bergersen

Colony (1999) - In Flames

Back To Black (2006) - Amy Winehouse

Waking the Fallen (2003) - Avenged Sevenfold

City of Evil (2005) - Avenged Sevenfold

Hemispheres (1978) - Rush

2112 (1976) - Rush

Master of Puppets (1986) - Metallica

...And Justice For All (1988) - Metallica

Death Magnetic (2008) - Metallica

Ten Thousand Fists (2005) - Disturbed

The Sickness (2000) - Disturbed

The Curse (2004) - Atreyu

Rage Against the Machine (1992) - Rage Against the Machine

I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love (2002) - My Chemical Romance

King Night (2010) - Salem

Bon Iver (2011) - Bon Iver

Homesick (2009) - A Day to Remember

The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) - The Velvet Underground

Slippery When Wet (1986) - Bon Jovi

Hysteria (1987) - Def Leppard

Bad Company (1974) - Bad Company

No More Color (1989) - Coroner

Mental Vortex (1991) - Coroner

Grin (1993) - Coroner

Grow Up and Blow Away (2007) - Metric

Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003) - Metric

Live It Out (2005) - Metric

Fantasies: (2009) - Metric

R.I.P. (1987) - Coroner

Punishment For Decadence (1988) - Coroner

American Life (2003) - Madonna

HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995) - Michael Jackson

Edited March 29, 2012 by Mr. Wobbels

[Crispy 5,561]

Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory (1999)

Dream Theater

The whole goddamn thing.

Progressive Metal

 

This ranks high up there on my favorites list and is a must listen for any fan of rock.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7NvYu20114

[Legendary Emerald 622]

Double Eclipse (April 28th, 1992)

Hardline

"Hot Cherie (cover)", "Taking Me Down", "Everything"

Melodic Hard Rock

 

What can I say? Johnny Gioeli and Neal Schon teamed up to release the best melodic rock record of the decade, even if the US was too infatuated with grunge to notice it.

 

[Mr. Wobbels 664]

Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory (1999)

Dream Theater

The whole goddamn thing.

Progressive Metal

 

This ranks high up there on my favorites list and is a must listen for any fan of rock.

 

A couple of my friends are in a Dream Theater cover band. I haven't listened to much of their music, but I've heard they're very good.

Edited February 29, 2012 by Mr. Wobbels

[Gray 14]

Animals (1977)

Pink Floyd

"Dogs", "Pigs on the Wing parts 1 and 2"

Progressive Rock/Space Rock

 

This is my favorite Pink Floyd album. I really like the concept the album is based on, which is classifying the human race into three different categories named for different animals: dogs, pigs and sheep. Its a very creative concept and a lot different from others Pink Floyd used in their other albums. I also like that there is a bit of a metal influence on this particular album.

 

[Kazuki Fuse 534]

A Taste For Biiters (1996)

Chokebore

Days of Nothing, It Could Ruin Your Day

Indie Rock

 

 

A really great album for when you're just chillaxing. Sorta depressing themes but that's part of the appeal to me.

[Halfblood 363]

Album: In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 (2003)

Artist: Coheed and Cambria

"A Favor House Atlantic", "Blood Red Summer", "Three Evils (Embodied in Love and Shadow)"

Progressive Rock

 

In all honesty, this whole album is astonishing. I love Claudio's songwriting and the story behind the music; I bought it along with their first album back in 2003 and it was the best musical purchase I have ever made. I've realized some critics of Coheed have a hard time getting used to Claudio's singing voice, but I find that it's unique, rich, and so very expressive.

 

My favorite track:

 

http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLetxYab9hE&feature=related

[SrFrog 924]

The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)

Pink Floyd

Money, Brain Damage

Progressive Rock

At around 50 million albums sold The Dark side of the Moon stand as the second best-selling album worldwide.

http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-j3xITvYQY

The Wall

Pink Floyd (1979)

Another Brick In The Wall, Comfortably numb

Progressive Rock

This thing about this album is that it can dive and use human emotion to tell a story.

http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQWszrZHBPI

Edited February 29, 2012 by SrFrog

[Cynic 336]

Clayman (2000)

In Flames

Bullet Ride

Melodic Death Metal​

 

Clayman is the epitome of In Flames. It was their last true melodic death metal album, and it was perfect. The melodic parts were more harmonious then previous albums, and the heavy parts were-you guessed it-heavier then the other albums. Anders Fridens' voice is also one of the best he employs on any of his albums, alternating from a glass-shattering shriek, to a monstrous growl(Not used very often on this album.), to a beautiful sing-whisper(The second album where he sang on, so he was quite shy about it.) The instrumentals are quite amazing as well, Jesper Strömblad's guitar playing is both creative and technically impressive, Daniel Svensson uses his double bass drum like a monster, and although the bass gets a little lost in the mixing, Peter Iwers' is quite impressive as well-when you can hear him.

 

http://youtu.be/klF0b7XlEL4

[Ethereal Cereal 84]

In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)

King Crimson

'21st Century Schizoid Man'

Progressive Rock

 

Where does one even start with an album as iconic as King Crimson's debut? Without the machinations of Robert Fripp, the Progressive Rock world wouldn't be even remotely the same. Each individual track crafts its own soundscape and stands strong by itself, but the intro track starts the album off with a bang and rips the listener's attention away from anything else he may have been doing at that time. Musically, very intense, more intense than most anything else around at the time, between the dark and somber style of songwriting (coupled with the grating dissonance of guitar noise and free-form Jazz) and the downright morbidity of some of the eloquently-written lyrical passages. For example:

 

"The wall on which the prophets wrote

Is cracking at the seams.

Upon the instruments of death

The sunlight brightly gleams.

When every man is torn apart

With nightmares and with dreams,

Will no one lay the laurel wreath

When silence drowns the screams?"

 

Each individual song is essentially a jam session, and especially with tracks like Moonchild, it's easy to become lost in the music as it slowly drones on. The plus side to this is that it's not uncommon to see things added or improvised during a live performance, so you don't always know what to expect.

 

http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBfCzhYbWBk

 

And one of my personal favorites off the album,

 

http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNzFUs2ikno&feature=related

 

The crescendo from 3:46 to 4:00 is the best moment of that track, easily.

Edited February 29, 2012 by CadenceAndCascade

[FIMChangedmylife72 57]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZFPE3qVV3g&feature=channel_video_title

 

In 1989, the album was ranked #45 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Albums of the 80's".

In 2000, Q magazine placed the album at #53 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever.

In 2006, Q placed the album at #29 in its list of "40 Best Albums of the '80s", the only Gabriel album to make the top 40.

Allmusic ^[1]PopMatters (very favorable)^[2]John McFerrin (10/10)^[3]George Starostin (10/10)^[4]Robert Christgau B−^[5]Rolling Stone ^[6]Piero Scaruffi

(7/10)^[

[Kazuki Fuse 534]

Oh god, King Crimson is fantastic. You win so far IMO.

 

Deathconsciousness (2008)

Have A Nice Life

"Bloodhail, The Big Gloom" hell, all of it's great

Shoegaze/Depressive Rock

 

Darker than any black metal album, and more depressing than heroin, this is in my top 5 favorite albums of the new millenium. If you like bands like Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine or just dig slow indie rock, check it out.

 

[Fluttershy4life 150]

X&Y (2005)

Coldplay

Speed of Sound, Fix You (most known)

Alternative Rock

[FIMChangedmylife72 57]

http://www.youtube.c...nel_video_title

 

In 1989, the album was ranked #45 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Albums of the 80's".

In 2000, Q magazine placed the album at #53 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever.

In 2006, Q placed the album at #29 in its list of "40 Best Albums of the '80s", the only Gabriel album to make the top 40.

Allmusic ^[1]PopMatters (very favorable)^[2]John McFerrin (10/10)^[3]George Starostin (10/10)^[4]Robert Christgau B−^[5]Rolling Stone ^[6]Piero Scaruffi

(7/10)^[

 

Forgot the important part. Peter Gabriel by Peter Gabriel aka as Peter Gabriel 3 and melt. 1980

[Marshmallow 1,132]

In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)

King Crimson

'21st Century Schizoid Man'

Progressive Rock

 

Where does one even start with an album as iconic as King Crimson's debut? Without the machinations of Robert Fripp, the Progressive Rock world wouldn't be even remotely the same. Each individual track crafts its own soundscape and stands strong by itself, but the intro track starts the album off with a bang and rips the listener's attention away from anything else he may have been doing at that time. Musically, very intense, more intense than most anything else around at the time, between the dark and somber style of songwriting (coupled with the grating dissonance of guitar noise and free-form Jazz) and the downright morbidity of some of the eloquently-written lyrical passages. For example:

 

"The wall on which the prophets wrote

Is cracking at the seams.

Upon the instruments of death

The sunlight brightly gleams.

When every man is torn apart

With nightmares and with dreams,

Will no one lay the laurel wreath

When silence drowns the screams?"

 

Each individual song is essentially a jam session, and especially with tracks like Moonchild, it's easy to become lost in the music as it slowly drones on. The plus side to this is that it's not uncommon to see things added or improvised during a live performance, so you don't always know what to expect.

 

http-~~-//www.youtube.c...h?v=zBfCzhYbWBk

 

And one of my personal favorites off the album,

 

http-~~-//www.youtube.c...feature=related

 

The crescendo from 3:46 to 4:00 is the best moment of that track, easily.

 

You took the words right out of my mouth. I was going to post this very album!

I'm glad to see that other ponies seem to appreciate progressive rock too!

[LunaShy 167]

Volume 3 The subliminal verses

2004?

[Ethereal Cereal 84]

You took the words right out of my mouth. I was going to post this very album!

I'm glad to see that other ponies seem to appreciate progressive rock too!

 

I'm a huge fan of Progressive Rock. What're some of your favorites?

Edited March 1, 2012 by CadenceAndCascade

[Pony Joe 582]

Aim and Ignite (2009)

Fun.

"Be Calm," "Walking the Dog"

Indie/Alternative Pop

 

More people need to know about these guys! They're incredibly diverse with their instrumentation, and all of their songs are instantly memorable.

 

Abbey Road (1969)

The Beatles

"You Never Give Me Your Money"/"Sun King"/"Mean Mr. Mustard"/"Polythene Pam"/"She Came In Through The Bathroom Window"/"Golden Slumbers"/"Carry That Weight"/"The End" (It's all one song, trust me)

Classic Rock

 

I went back and forth on whether to choose this or "Help!" for the obligatory Beatles entry, but the 16-minute medley at the end puts this one just barely ahead. The Beatles will always be one of the best bands to just chill out to.

 

Homestuck Volume 7: At the Price of Oblivion (2011)

Homestuck (Various Artists)

"Back Rose / Green Sun," "Savior of the Dreaming Dead"

Electronic

 

The Homestuck music team never fails to impress, offering up the best electronic music I've ever heard, and Volume 7 is probably the most consistently great album they've put out. Not to mention, the bonus track "Maplehoof's Adventure" is probably one of the most hilarious songs ever.

[Halfblood 363]

Aim and Ignite (2009)

Fun.

"Be Calm," "Walking the Dog"

Indie/Alternative Pop

 

More people need to know about these guys! They're incredibly diverse with their instrumentation, and all of their songs are instantly memorable.

 

 

I'm a big indie fan as well, and I love Nate Ruess ever since he was fronting The Format! I like to listen to them while I paint, they're incredibly talented and very underrated, so I completely agree with you.

[Drehgunklew 134]

Ride The Lightning (1984)

Metallica

Fade to Black, For Whom The Bell Tolls, Fight Fire With Fire

Trash Metal

 

 

Metallica (More know as The Black Album) 1991

Metallica

Nothing Else Matters, Of Wolf and Man, Enter Sandman

Progressive Trash

 

 

Nevermind (1991)

Nirvana

Smells Like Teen Spirit, Polly, Breed, Territorial Pissings

Grunge

[Legit101 299]

Album: Feels

Artist: Animal Collective.

Best known, best, or most inventive song(s) off of album: Null.

Genre: Abstract

 

[Shankveld 4,938]

Album: Breakfast in America (1979)

Artist: Supertramp

Best known, best, or most inventive song(s) off of album: The logical song

Genre(s): Progressive rock, pop.

 

I normally like one of two songs by a band, but every song off this album I love. Which has never happened to me before, making this the best album ever. Every song is unique and different, with instrument diversity and just makes you feel good to listen to and sing a long to.

 

Awards/Other Mentions:

-Winner of two grammies in 1980 for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical and Best Recording Package.

-Nominated for Album of the Year in 1980 (also at the grammies)

-Was the number one album in 8 different countries.

-Went Platinum in France, Germany, UK, USA, and the Netherlands.

-Went Diamond in Canada.

-Over 20 million copies sold.

-It was voted #43 in top 100 albums of all time

-It got a 4.5/5 stars according to Allmusic

 

 

http://youtu.be/5k3JVfxluFU

(ignore video artwork, only one I could find that wasn't live)

Edited March 1, 2012 by Shankveld

[Crispy 5,561]

Everyone's probably going to think this is shit, but...

 

Album: Prowler In The Yard

Artist: Pig Destroyer

Best known, best, or most inventive song(s) off of album: Jennifer, Piss Angel, Trojan Whore, Scatology Homework.

Genre: Grind

 

This is still one of the best Grind albums around.

 

The intro isn't for the squeamish.

 

[Kazuki Fuse 534]

I used to really like Pig Destroyer, but then they got buried in my library of other, more awesome grind.

 

Loveless (1991)

My Bloody Valentine

"When You Sleep, Come in Alone"

Shoegaze

 

This album is the epitome of shoegaze (for anypony that isn't familiar with the genre, "shoegaze is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It is so named because the musicians in these bands stood relatively still during live performances in a detached, introspective, non-confrontational state, hence the idea that they were gazing at their shoes. The heavy use of effects pedals also contributed to the image of performers looking down at their feet during concerts.) Absolutely brilliant album

 

Edited March 7, 2012 by stryker

[Evilshy 5,084]

Divine Wings of Tragedy (1997)

Symphony X

Interesting tracks would be Divine Wings of Tragedy (of course). Inqlso really like Pharoah. Candlelight Fantasia is great, too.

Progressive metal, power metal, symphonic metal

 

 

The title song is based on Paradise Lost, the famous Milton book. It also draws from a few other religious texts of that nature, such as Dante's Inferno.

The rest of the album is much like a regular symphony X album; a lot of awesome songs, most with some sort of fantasy theme. If you like this, I recommend checking out Odyssey, it's along the same lines, and ends with an epic retelling of Homer's Odyssey in metal opera form

 

Here's Divine Wings of Tragedy. Warning - 20 minutes of progressive win here. Not for the faint of heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3pJa0flBo0

Edited March 7, 2012 by Evilshy