Very good list, minus the overrated and obligatory Pink Floyd entry.

Yep.....even I own that album!

I thought DSOTM was the consensus pick for that title. Not that I feel that way. I think The Wall is by far on of the most overrated albums ever and I love DSOTM.

I love DSOTM as well, but in the 20 or 30 times in which I`ve attempted to listen to "The Wall" I`ve managed to nod off every time. The only other double album that has the same sleepy effect on me is "Blonde on Blonde".

Maybe a little..Its still a Floyd classic though, it has its place.

I have to agree on "The Wall" is it a bad album... not really. However my issue with is I think of it in context to the Movie was made about it. Now, I think in this case the songs work well within the context of the movie, you get the visuals that are required to truely appreciate the songs in all their glory. Within the movie they are great as they help move along and tell the story in a great way. Now take away the visual aspect of it all, and you are left with a series of songs on there own... Now as an album, without the visuals to go with it, it just doesn't work the same for me.

I think if they were to cut down the album to a single disc, it would be a more fulfilling experience to me. It just has so many songs that feel like filler to without the video to go with it, the songs by themselves are not that strong a lot of the time.

It is in my opinion Pink Floyd's most overrated album because of that.

10. The Apostasy- Behemoth
9. The Chainheart Machine- Soilwork
8. Blackwater Park- Opeth
7. Something Wild- Children of Bodom
6. The Gallery- Dark Tranquillity
5. Scream Bloody Gore- Death
4. Pride/Fall- Noumena
3. Demigod- Behemoth
2. Effigy of the Forgotten- Suffocation
1. One Sent from the Golden Hall- Amon Amarth

Erm, can't really list these albums in order, but here are some that have impacted me in one way or another. I also believe that I've posted here before, but as I remember my taste was absolutely horrific. Thought I'd do an update :thumb:

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Still remains one of my favorite albums of all time. The lyrics on here are ridiculously universal and almost anyone can relate with them.

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Aphex Twin - Richard D. James Album
Looove Aphex Twin. This album really opened my eyes to what electronic music is capable of. With ambient pieces one minute then acid house the next, what's not to love?

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Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum
One of the more recent artists I've been getting into. This album will knock you on your ass and take you to the end of the rainbow if you let it. Not much albums can do that for me :crazy:

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Shpongle - Ineffable Mysteries From Shpongleland
The titles says it all, pretty mind blowing stuff :rofl:

David Bowie - Low
A pretty moody album. Listening to this you could tell he was experimenting with his sound i.e.(What in the World). For me this album is a stand out for the fact that it could be listened to in any type of mood and come off as great.

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Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
One of the happiest sounding album I've ever heard. Great use of schizophrenic electronica along with a polethra of other sound effects with interesting and to some extent nonsensical lyrics/phrases thrown in. I really love this album :tramp:

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A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory
If Aphex Twin's Richard D. James album introduced me electronica then The Low End Theory did the same for me with hip-hop. Q-Tips flow on here are great and rivals many other hip-hop artists out there. The use of samples on here are great to, primarily jazz :drummer:

I think "The Wall" is great, but it would have made an awesome single album.

In no order...

Black Sabbath, We Sold Our Soul For Rock n Roll
This album introduced me to one of the single greatest metal bands of all time, and threw me into a new world of music. Highly, highly influential to me.

The Beatles, Abbey Road
Really, what is there to say? The side A is simply sublime, all ending in the insanely addicting, trance-inducing, "I Want You (She's So Heavy)." Side B is mind blowing, filled with fun, psychedelic songs, every single one merging into one another. An early influence on my listening, I have my mother to thank for this fantastic album.

Metallica, Metallica
Yeah yeah. They sold out. Whatever. This is by far NOT my favorite Metallica album, nor does it even have that many great songs on it... but before I heard it I hated all metal, after I listened to it, I just wasn't sure. Right after hearing it front-to-back for the first time, I was literally confused. My musical world was changed. Right after this I heard "Ride The Lightning" for the first time, and nothing was ever the same.

Alice Cooper, A Fistful Of Alice
Well. Now we're getting serious. I bought this on a whim because I knew his famous song, "School's Out." That was one of the best whims I ever had. This album is simply essential for anyone new to Alice. It has all of his hits, performed fantastically. My mind was seriously blown the first time I listened. Alice is now one of my all time favorite artists/bands (depending on the era), and if you haven't given him a serious listen I highly recommend this album.

Big & Rich, Horse Of A Different Color
Quite honestly, this is not a favorite album of mine, nor is it one that I listen to often. But when I was a kid, my dad was spinning this at a near-constant rate after he bought it. It was incredibly important growing up, and is incredibly important to me. So yeah. If you like really fun, rowdy, upbeat country, give it a listen. Just don't expect much substance.

Gorillaz, Demon Days
Love love love this album. It introduced me to rap (non-gangsta) and showed me that modern pop could have real substance. It has a very dark feel to it, but is still bouncy and fun. Always throw it on when on trips with my brother. Lots of good memories with this album.

The Clash, London Calling
Well. Didn't even get into this album until right before I joined this site, but I can honestly say that it has changed my life. I had heard a lot of different punk before The Clash... Sex Pistols, Green Day, Misfits, etc etc etc... I'd heard a lot of good stuff. But I kept hearing that this album was imperative to get. So I happened upon it for cheap at my local used book store and bought it, just to give it a shot. Second best whim of my life. Has changed the way I view all music, even the genres themselves... it made me ask the question, "Genres are so clear cut... but do they have to be? Why can't they be mixed, matched, and messed with at random? Why CAN'T a punk band play reggae or jazz songs?" I had already been contemplating these things, but this album made it serious.

Creed, Human Clay
Once again, not something I would necessarily recommend as a very serious musical achievement... very standard, catchy, post-grunge. Typical, boring, modern rock. But I listened to it a ton when my father bought it back in the day. Basically introduced me to all harder rock, considering the heaviest thing I had heard up to that point was some of Beethoven's crazier, faster pieces. Very inspiring for a sheltered boy such as I.

Santana, Shaman AND Supernatural
Okay, so I lied up in the Gorillaz section. Technically, Carlos Santana showed me hip hop for the first time, before I truly knew what it was. Once again, childhood albums from my father. Unlike the others, I highly recommend both of these. The songs are incredibly varied in style, but most are enjoyable, and all show off Santana love of music. Also, yes, I am cheating by putting these together. I couldn't decide which was more important.

Megadeth, Greatest Hits: Back To The Start
Another greatest hits. This album came after my initial introduction to metal, but I was still listening to mostly Metallica, Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden. My brothers listened to Megadeth, but I just couldn't stand them, because of Dave Mustaine's awful, awful singing. So my brother gave me this and told me to listen. I did. Afterwards, I realized that not only was his terrible singing not hurting the fast, angry thrash, it was ENHANCING it. This album basically opened my ears to all terrible singers (hahaha), and let me listen to the likes of Motorhead, The Sex Pistols, and eventually The Clash without clenching my fists in annoyance.

So there we go. I have loads of other albums that I like more than these, or listen to more often, or aren't rock at all (heck, I didn't even touch jazz)... but these are definitely some of the most influential. I hope my random, write-as-I-think style made any sense at all.

Not in any particular order:

The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967) by The Velvet Underground
AMMMusic (1967) by AMM
Die Kunst Der Gerausche (2000) by Luigi Russolo
Axis: Bold as Love (1967) by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
I Hear a New World (1960) by Joe Meek
Bert Jansch (1965) by Bert Jansch
Madvillainy (2004) by Madvillain
20 Jazz Funk Greats (1979) by Throbbing Gristle
Led Zeppelin II (1969) by Led Zeppelin
Souvenirs (1989) by Django Reinhardt

Too lazy to elaborate on any of them (sorry). There are A LOT more, but I feel this is semi-accurate list of important albums to me. They definitely helped redefine my taste in music and knocked down preexisting prejudices I had dwelling within me.

The live album version is very good.

Why is The Writings On The Wall by Destiny's Child absent from every list in this thread?

Really though, the top ten most important albums to me probably look something like this:

The Verve - Urban Hymns
Fugees - The Score
Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
Deftones - White Pony
Placebo - Black Market Music
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American
Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights
Elliott Smith - Either/Or
Pixies - Surfer Rosa

Will write explanations later.

Honorable Mentions: Forever Changes - Love, Fleet Foxes, The Artist in The Ambulance - Thrice, Shazam - The Move, Rumors - Fleetwood Mac, Hot Fuss - The Killers.

10. The Unforgettable Fire - U2 :This album has two of my favorite U2 songs. In my opinion, it also perfected their sound.

9: Is This it? - The Strokes.

8. Rubber Soul - The Beatles: The perfect marriage of their pop and experimental styles.

7. Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness - The Smashing Pumpkins

6. Bleed American - Jimmy Eat World: Though not as good of an album, in my opinion, as Clarity this album had a huge impact on me growing up.

5. Willy and The Poor Boys - Creedence Clearwater Revival: What rock and role is supposed to be.

4. Funeral - Arcade Fire: Never Gets old

3. Deja Entendu - Brand New: This album expanded my interests outside of punk music and opened me up to so many amazing styles of music.

2. Blood on The Tracks - Bob Dylan: One day I would like to write lyrics half as good as the worst written song on this album. I'll probably never get there.

1. Chuck Berry's Greatest Hits - Chuck Berry: My first love. Girls, Cars, and Rock and Roll.

10. Sula Bassana - The Night
9. Powerman 5000 - Blood Splat Rating System
8. Ozric Tentacles - Jurassic Shift
7. Beck - Guero
6. Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains - The Big Eyeball in the Sky
5. Rush - Test For Echo
4. Tool - Lateralus
3. Aesop Rock - Labor Days
2. Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030
1. Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment

**amended back from R.E.M-Murmur on the basis that there's 2 songs on Murmur that aren't great while QIS is great or nearly great all the way through.

1.) Dog Man Star -- Suede

No other album has stirred me in the same way. Literally transports me to another world :O Melodramatic reaction to a melodramatic album.

2.) Doolittle -- Pixies

Funnily enough made me appreciate poppy catchy things more, I think it's the catchiest thing I've ever listened to. Don't think I've had as much fun with any other album. Plus Black's scream on Tame is awesome

3.) Surfa Rosa -- Pixies

Critical in shaping my tastes and attraction to weird violent sex. Also got me more interested in alternative rock.

4.) Dig Me Out -- Sleater Kinney

Got me listening to female vocalists and moar punk (along with the Pixies)

5.) Kid A -- Radiohead

Not sure yet but this might get me into electronic music which would be ****ing huugggeee

6.) Suede -- Suede

Same effect as Dog Man Star, but to a lesser extent

7.) Spiderland -- Slint

Got me interested in post-rock

8.) Parklife -- Blur

Introduced me to music

9.) The Strokes -- Is This It

This is how I learned about hipsters. I told a friend I liked The Strokes and he almost had a heart attack. Now calls me a hipster every time I talk about my music tastes. Also just had mucho funtimes with this album.

10.) Bullhead -- Melvins

Introduced me to things that aren't alternative/indie rock

In chronological order mostly...

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I listened to this album religiously when I was a teenager. I was a late bloomer of sorts when it came to music and really started my musical identity when I was 14. I remember hearing Bohemian Rhapsody on the radio with my dad, and I knew a few of the bigger classic rock songs. I asked him if that was the greatest song of all time. He told me it was Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. And when we got home, I watched the DVD of this concert, and it all clicked for me. I spent basically a whole year of my life listening to nothing but Led Zeppelin afterwards, and loved every second of it. LZ isn't my favorite band anymore, but they hold a special place in my heart.

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Up until this point, my dad had been feeding me my musical tastes. And while I appreciated what he did, it left me musically close minded to nothing but classic rock from 1965-1980. I had the Beatles whole discography at this point, but I didn't really push my musical limits. I bought this CD at Best Buy (of all places!). It was significant to me because it was the music purchase I made without my dad's input and it was from here on, I began making my own musical choices, even still being very close-minded.

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My favorite genre is progressive rock, without a doubt. And I borrowed this album from a friend when I was 16 years old. I listened to it the first time... and I hated/loathed/detested/violently disagreed with it. BUT I had a 30 GB iPod and only had 8 gigs of music. So I put it on there to justify the other 30 GB's. I heard 21st Century Schizoid Man on shuffle one day, and loved it, not remembering it's King Crimson. I slowly allowed myself to hear the rest of the album, and low and behold, I loved it. And King Crimson became my favorite band.

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I was very influenced by the site, Digitaldreamdoor. I don't remember the list, but I saw three artists (West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, The United States of America and Soft Machine) and ordered 7 CD between them. This combo CD was my favorite by far. It was the first CD my dad considered unlistenable and thus I realized I was onto something.

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Another one of my dad's rules: modern music is bad. The White Stripes helped me get over that unfound fear. This was only 3ish years ago, and it's opened up so many avenues since then for me to discover new music.

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Another rule: you can't spell crap without rap. I don't really enjoy this album anymore, thanks to my listening to other, much better rap. But when I first heard it, I did enjoy it. The reliance on classic rock samples made it accessible for me to listen to and again, opened various possibilities to listen to.

The remaining 4 albums are ones I love so much, even if they aren't significant mileposts represent part of my musical evolution/journey....

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I would say The Inner Mounting Flame, In a Silent Way and Boom would be just on the outside looking in.

Figured since I've mostly been lurking and dicking around, I'd actually try my hand at something a little more substantial. Also, these spoiler tags are awfully unwieldy. :laughing: I was hoping to reduce on the clutter caused by the occasional wall of text.

10. The Shins "Wincing the Night Away"/Metric "Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?"

9. Carole King "Tapestry"

8. Tori Amos "Little Earthquakes"/"Under the Pink"

7. Boards of Canada "Music Has The Right To Children"

6. Owen Pallett (as Final Fantasy) "He Poos Clouds"

5. of Montreal "Skeletal Lamping"

4. Igor Stravinsky "The Rite of Spring"

3. The Mars Volta "De-Loused in the Comatorium"/"Amputechture"

2. Olivier Messiaen "Turangalîla-Symphonie"

1. Tori Amos "Boys for Pele"

5. Tarkus-ELP

Along with Dark Sidethis album got me into prog.

4. Another Green World-Brian Eno

This really showed me how keyboards can used to great effect, and thus inspired me to learn how to play them.

3. Who's Next-The Who

The first album that stopped me from hating hard rock, but really this album is so much more than "hard rock".

2. Recurring Dream-The Very Best of Crowded House-Crowded House

My first ever album so it deserves a place.

1. Dark Side of The Moon-Pink Floyd

Initially I felt underwhelmed by Dark Side at first, but now I've learnt from my mistake. :hphones:

Having trouble counting to 10?:)

In no particular order

Brian Eno - Music for Airports
Can - Tago Mago
Nujabes - Modal Soul
IAM - L'École du micro d'argent
Sweet Trip - Velocity : Design : Comfort
Tuatara - The Here and the Gone
Louis Armstrong - The Complete Hot Five & Hot Seven Recordings
Melvins - Bullhead
Pharoah Sanders - Karma
P.O.S. - Never Better
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba - I speak fula
Huun Huur Tu - Orphan's Lament
Fennesz - Black Sea
Cocteau Twins - Treasure

^^wahay! another Huun Huur Tu fan

Too much effort. ;)

I enjoyed this post. You have some great albums listed too, Absence is incredible.

:) I am a big fan throat singing/tuvan folk groups, and Huun Huur tu were my introduction to that whole world.

I've never even thought about this before so I figured I'd give it a try.Turned out to be a little easier than picking my top 10 favorites..

1. Weird Al Yankovics', "Even Worse" The first album I remember owning as a child, I wore that tape down listening to "Fat" and now I can't stand the man!

2. Eddie Rabbitt, "The Greatest Hits of Eddie Rabbitt Pretty much just a sentimental pick. He was never a favorite of mine but was my fathers absolute favorite. To this day hearing "I love a rainy night" or "I wanna dance with you" takes me back to being a child riding around in my dad's beat-up pickup with this tape in the player and my dad singing along to me in the most over the top fashion trying to make me laugh.

3. the Beatles "Magical Mystery Tour" The album that started my obsession with music. I discovered my mothers lp's when I was like 10-11 and picked this one because I thought the cover was cool. I listened to it about 5 times through both sides then proceeded to devour the rest of the Beatles catalog. ever since then I've been addicted to music.

4. Tool "Undertow" The first album I bought out of my own pocket. I was so in love with the creepy videos I didn't even care if the rest of the album sucked(it didn't of course).

5. the Smashing Pumpkins, "Mellon collie and the Infinite sadness" Bought this in the throws of my first broken heart. It was my first experience with music aligning with emotions and to this day I wonder if I wouldn't be such a depressive person if this album hadn't reinforced those traits right when my emotions were developing into adulthood.

6. Marilyn Manson, "Antichrist Superstar" The first truly "Heavy" album I owned, I mean Tool is heavy, but this is a whole other level of aggression. This one opened me up to many of my favorite artists and albums.

7. Nine Inch Nails, "the Fragile" In my opinion the best nails album and still in my top 10. this album that made me open my mind musically, it was the first time I found myself liking instrumentals,odd instrumentation and weird time signatures.

8. Converge, "Jane Doe" The most cathartic listening experience ever and easily my favorite album of all time. I've screamed off so much anger, frustration and sadness to this album over the years.

9. Godspeed you! Black Emperor, "Lift Your Skinny Fists Like antennas to Heaven" The most musically epic album ever in my opinion. the best album to listen to when I just want to clear my head and have a purely cerebral listening experience.

10. Final Fantasy(Owen Pallett), "He Poos Clouds" On this list simply because it's the most beautiful album I've ever listened to.

^That's a great list Euronomus, and I loved reading your reasons for picking them, and how your taste and what was meaningful to you evolved over time.

The Weird Al one made me laugh because my brothers were in looove with that one (at the time). Good stuff.

i'm gonna check them out, and Coalesce as well, once the high-speed line is installed

That Converge album was recently recommended to me on here as well. Its one brutal, focused and intense muuuther of an album.