200 Favorite Albums (all-time)
 

This list contains 200 of my favorite albums of all-time. I tried to select albums from various genres, years and decades (although some decades are more prominent than others, it wasn’t a conscious decision to be honest) to keep the list from being too monotonous. And while I happen to prefer some genres to others (then again, who doesn’t?), I’m more or less open to anything as long as I find it good.

This list is by no means an objective one (I wonder how one can even begin to craft such a list, the mere thought of it is frightening to me), as it simply contains the albums that stood out the most to me throughout the years for one reason or another and those that stuck with me the most and influenced the way I listen to music. The list is arranged in alphabetical order, with the only exception being the Top 10, because it’s the only thing that hasn’t changed in a long time, and probably won’t at this point. I tried to stick to a one album/artist rule to make room for as many artists as possible but it was a difficult rule to follow for some artists since a few of them released albums that I care about almost as equally as each other so I ended up including a maximum of two albums for said artists.

https://zadigscognac.wordpress.com/2...vorite-albums/

Thanks for the list, I recognize and appreciate lots of albums on it and so will be checking out those which are unfamiliar.

Thanks! And I hope you'll find the unfamiliar ones enjoyable.

You've got good taste. Not too many surprises overall, but you having Spring Heel Jack and a few others are certainly interesting. Thanks for putting this together!

Checking it out now. Nice!

Thank you!

What’s your second favorite XTC record?

Probably English Settlement

It’s become a cliche to hate Tool but I am that cliche.

Do you understand why I feel this way?

It's alright. We like what we like and dislike what we dislike!

I don’t even mean it confrontationally because I love your list. But are you saying there’s no rhyme or reason for it? Because without getting sidetracked into a Tool discussion, which I’ve done a few times already, I’m just wondering as a fan can you see what I might find so disagreeable about them or do you think it’s me and I just don’t get it?

Nah, you might dislike Tool for the same reasons I like them, and as a Tool fan myself, I definitely understand why they don't appeal to everyone, and the same can apply to any other artist. On my list I tried to give reasons as to why I like each album to make where I'm coming from more understood.

Super big time love. Was it a hard decision not to include Spirit of Eden?

For this album specifically, I'd say no. While I like Spirit of Eden too, I'm more fond of the textures on Laughing Stock so I had this one in mind from the beginning when I was making this list. Glad to see you like this one too!

I actually agree that Laughing Stock is just a smidgen better. It has this kind of almost supernatural melodic sense.

This one is really tough. In fact, it’s my favorite Stooges record, too, but If i included this I’d have to include one more and you have the two per band rule so what’s your second favorite Stooges record and why isn’t it on the list?

I would say their self-titled, but it has a few tracks I don't care for that much, which is why I decided to include just Fun House, because it's fire from start to finish. And since I was already planning to include Iggy Pop's The Idiot, I didn't see the need to include two Stooges records.

This is also my favorite Sonic Youth record. However, even though I love Daydream Nation I like Sister, Evol, and Confusion is Sex all much more. I’m just ignoring the SYR records here but out of those three which is your favorite?

Also do you have SYR fave?

I like SYR4: Goodbye 20th Century

I'm a boring ****bag so most of those mean little to me - no offence to your taste, anyone here will tell you where mine is up - but there are a few I know and agree with.

Soul Mining by The The - agree 100% on the piano on "Uncertain Smile". Jesus wept. What a solo! Every track on that album is gold. I think I prefer Infected, but it's close. Mind Bomb is okay but has far more weak tracks on it.

Pawn Hearts by VDGG - One of the best VDGG albums, worth it for "A Plague of Lighthouse-Keepers" alone.

Third by Soft Machine - I started reviewing them as part of my History of Prog Rock journal, did not like the first two but this one really clicked and changed my mind about them. Superb album.

Purple Rain by Prince. Total classic; Prince goes rock and rewrites the whole bloody genre almost. Maybe. Sadly missed.

Kind of Blue by Miles Davis - One of the only jazz albums I can listen to, of those I've heard. Just beautiful.

Hemispheres by Rush - Classic. Big Rush fan.

Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree - I have an uneasy relationship with Wilson. Some of his stuff - band and solo - I really like, but a lot of the time I find it overly pretentious, long and boring. I think I only listened to this album once, but don't remember hating it.

That's as far as I've got so far. I can tell you put a lot of work into this list, so well done and I'm sure everyone else has the taste to appreciate yours even if I don't, but it's nice to see some stuff in there I can comment on.

I may ramble on further when I get more into your list.

Nice to see you like Bad Moon Rising the best as well, its standard version is already great but the CD version with the bonus tracks is even better! as for the three albums you mentioned, I would say I like Sister the best.

Good to see we share at least a few favorites, and I appreciate the summaries you gave the albums you decided to comment on. And feel free to drop by whenever you want when you see more stuff you can comment on. Cheers!

Originally I had and still have the vinyl but I also already had the Death Valley 69 12 inch single with this cover art https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...1985_cover.jpg and I had Flower somewhere in my collection. So it’s kind of weird thinking of Bad Moon Rising not ending with Death Valley 69. Especially since it’s a sister track to Expressway to Yr. Skull (also listed as s "Madonna, Sean and Me" and "The Crucifixion of Sean Penn") which concludes Evol with a locked groove.

I actually make it a point to not listen to the bonus tracks immediately although I agree Flower, Halloween / Satan is Boring are absolutely essential listening and afaik or remember Echo Canyon isn’t available anywhere else.

Also, I have the original Sister on vinyl with the uncensored cover art.


It’s my favorite Soft Machine record as well.


Imo Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want isn’t only the greatest Smiths song but a serious contender for the greatest pop song ever written. I’ve kept it on repeat so much I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve listened to it more than any other person on earth.

I only have Bad Moon Rising on vinyl, but it's impressive that you own the original Sister version!

Please Please is a fascinating song indeed!

I’m old. I bought it when it came out.

Gonna be predictable and say There's a Riot Goin' On


Gonna be predictable and say Reign in Blood but I have a huge soft spot for South of Heaven

I agree. Great inclusion. When he sings the line “Sail on silver girl” that’s a ****ing jaw dropping moment of incredible beauty.

My favorite is () / this is a rare moment when I’m highly influenced by a video but I love the video for Vaka

I have kind of a weird favorite with Rush: Signals

Perhaps in part because that’s the record they were touring the first time I saw them. A part of me understands that their earlier records from 2112 to Permanent Waves are all objectively better but I love the feeling and ambiance of Signals. I also think Grace Under Pressure is an underrated record. Rush is also one of the only bands where I think it might be fair to include a live record. The critics hate those live records but I love them.

It's a bummer Simon and Garfunkel could never reconcile their differences. As for Rush, I haven't seen many people citing Signals as their favorite, and I don't think I've listened to it in its entirety yet for some reason, I don't remember particularly disliking what I heard from it so I might go back to it later and listen to it properly.

I gave this a re-listen today. It goes hard and is lyrically sound but, for me, it wouldn’t even make my top 200 hip hop albums not mention top 200 of all time all genres records and I’ll tell you why: Killer Mike and El-P sound too much alike. Their voices aren’t adequately distinct and even the guest rappers (besides Gangsta Boo who is easily the most talented person involved) sound basically the same. It leaves the album without sufficient dynamics. I know the critics j izz all over this but I don’t trust them. I don’t think they’re real hip hop fans.

It does have some clever ass and subversive lyrics though.

Hmm...Interesting. I didn't think at any moments that they sounded too much alike, then again maybe because I'm really familiar with both artists, everything was next-level to me about that album.

I think this a good pick but I’m a little unhappy with your dismissal of post-Eno Roxy Music. I especially like Country Life and Avalon.

First time listening to this, very good stuff. Agree that it feels like from another time, not the early 80s.

Also, had no idea that Gone daddy gone is theirs, wow.

That album was huge at my high school.

Unfortunately, while I still enjoy their post-Eno music, it's not as innovative and game-changing as what they used to do during their peak in the '70s.

Yeah I was reading about it's resurgence in the early 90s when the alt. sound was having a boom. Not an American so it went under my radar.

I went to high school in the 80’s so we were just fans not long after it came out.

You old. ;)

This is lovely! I think the only thing I heard from them were the 69 love songs. I really like their sound, not sure why I never explored them further.

Do you know about the Sixths?

69 Love Songs is great too! i and Holiday are also both really good.

Yes I'm on Holiday now and it seems to be even better than the Highway strip. I'm making a playlist. I'm sure not all of the 69 love songs will be worth keeping. Maybe that's what discouraged me from them in the first place.

Never heard. I guess he's one of those people that have a million bands and albums.