What are *your* top ten essential LPs?

[Futureman]

I ask because this board has been a source of great recommendations for me. I look forward to your reponses.

Here are my (current) top 10 LPs, in no particular order:

1. Sonic Youth--Daydream Nation
2. Miles Davis--Kind of Blue
3. Led Zeppelin--I
4. Gang of Four--Entertaiinment
5. Minutemen--Double Nickles on the Dime
6. Radiohead-OK Computer
7. Sonic Youth--Washing Machine
8. Pixies--Doolittle
9. Pavement--Slanted and Enchanted
10. Dave Brubek--Time Out

[Paul]

only...ten...does...not...compute...

[vesper]

I'm just glad to see that someone else loves "Washing Machine." I swear, I thought I was the only fan of that album...

On a sidebar, can anyone tell me what is the critics beef with Washing Machine? I always read them putting it down, but always ambiguously.

I don't know that I can pull off a definitive 10, but some that would make their way on...

Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto
Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Radiohead - OK Computer
Lou Reed - Transformer
Tortoise - TNT
Mogwai - Young Team
The Dismemberment Plan - Emergency and I
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew
Modest Mouse - Lonesome Crowded West
VU - VU and Nico
The Beatles - Revolver
Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists...
Do Make Say Think - & Yet & Yet
Hum - You'd Prefer an Astronaut (don't know how I overlooked this one the first time)

-edit to add-

I thought of more and decided that I like Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain more than Slanted and Enchanted. Seriously though, my short list before was not me only *knowing* of a handful of albums, but me knowing that this task is altogether impossible and not worth the digging I would have to do through my collection.

[einzack]

no order:

pixies - surfer rosa
jon spencer blues explosion - orange
godspeed you! black emperor - slow riot
mogwai - young team
dirty three - horse stories
kristin hersh - the grotto
cat power - myra lee
sleater-kinney - call the doctor
throwing muses - untitled
sigur ros - ()

[Susan Kirk]

1. Chris Lucey Songs of Protest and Anti-Protest
2. Armando Piazza Suan
3. Mighty Baby (debut)
4. Battered Ornaments Mantle-Piece
5. Mogol Rhythm of the Turks
6. The Clash (debut)
7. Bonniwell Music Machine Beyond the Garage
8. Pavement Crooked Reign
9. Laghonia Glue
10. The Beatles The White Album

tie for 11: Silver Jews American Water and Big Star Radio City

[jef]

Right now in no particular order and subject to change:

the Kinks - Village Green...
Wipers - Is this Real?
Can - Ege Bamyasi
the Impressions - We're a Winner
Big Star - 3rd/Sisters Lovers
Flying Burrito Brothers - Gilded Palace of Sin
Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime
Replacements - Let it Be
the Clash - London Calling
the Cure - Seventeen Seconds

I guess......

[bitterfruit]

Originally posted by einzack
no order:

sigur ros - ()

Essential? It's interesting and fun, but not essential to me. No disrespect though.

[Miss Tasty Princess]

Is this the criticize other people's choices thread?

I have only one as, after that, it's too tough to choose:

Half Japanese Loud

[bitterfruit]

Nah, seriously. Just saying that I appreciate the album too, but that I don't consider it essential.

[Dayne1234]

My top ten, can't live without, albums...

1. Slanted and Enchanted by Pavement
2. Let it Be by The Replacements
3. Icky Mettle by Archers of Loaf
4. Achtung Baby by U2
5. The Lonesome Crowded West by Modest Mouse
6. Trompe Le Monde by Pixies
7. You are Free by Cat Power
8. () Sigur Ros
9. Bee Thousand by Guided by Voices
10. All Shook Down by The Replacements (tie)
Wish by The Cure

Boy, that was tough. But those are my sentimental favs and represent my life...thus, they are essential to my collection.

[Damo Suzuki]

It changes form time to time. Here goes:

1. Can - Tago Mago
2. The Stooges - Fun House
3. The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat
4. Joy Division - Closer
5. The Pop Group - Y
6. Faust - IV
7. The Fall - This Nation's Saving Grace
8. Disco Inferno - Di Go Pop
9. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
10. Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
11. Nico - Desertshore
12. Charles Mingus - The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady
13. Can - Future Days
14. This Heat - Deceit
15. Can - Ege Bamyasi
16. Public Image Ltd - The Flowers Of Romance
17. Gang of Four - Entertainment!
18. Wire - Chairs Missing
19. John Coltrane - Giant Steps
20. Cluster - Zuckerzeit
21. Tom Waits - Bone Machine
22. Common Sense - Resurrection
23. Spacemen 3 - Perfect Prescription
24. NEU! - NEU!
25. Pere Ubu - Dub Housing
26. Mission Of Burma - Vs.
27. Public Image Ltd - Metal Box
28. The Ramones - Rocket To Russia
29. Throwing Muses - House Tornado
30. The Velvet Underground - Velvet Underground & Nico
31. The Sound - From The Lions Mouth
32. The Teardrop Explodes - Kilimanjaro
33. Slint - Spiderland
34. The Slits - Cut
35. Captain Beefheart - Trout Mask Replica
36. Wire - Pink Flag
37. The Fall - The Wonderful & Frightening World Of the Fall
38. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
39. Brian Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
40. Magazine - Real Life
41. Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
42. Big Black - Songs About Fucking
43. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
44. Cocteau Twins - Treasure
45. AR Kane - I
46. dEUS - In a Bar, Under the Sea
47. Minutemen - Double Nickels On The Dime
48. Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
49. Flaming Lips - Transmissions from the Satellite Heart
50. John Cale - Paris 1919
51. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
52. DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
53. Mc5 - Kick Out The Jams
54. Galaxie 500 - On Fire
55. Wire - 154
56. Bad Brains - I against I
57. Neil Young - Everybody Knows This Nowhere
58. Faust - Faust So Far
59. Durutti Column - The Return Of Durutti Column
60. Bark Psychosis - Hex
61. Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
62. Fugazi - Red Medicine
63. The Breeders - Pod
64. Cabaret Voltaire - Red Mecca
65. The Boredoms - Super AE
66. The Sound - Jeopardy
67. Pixies - Surfer Rosa
68. Stereolab - Transient Random Noise Burst With Announcements
69. Brian Eno/David Byrne - My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
70. The Birthday Party - Prayers On Fire
71. Souls Of Mischief - 93' till Infinity
72. New Order - Power, Corruption & Lies
73. Jesus Lizard - Goat
74. The Au Pairs - Sense & Sensuality
75. Young Gods - Only Heaven
76. Sly & The Family Stone - There's A Riot Going On
77. The Raincoats - the Raincoats
78. Dizzy Gillespie - School Days
79. Kraftwerk - Autobahn
80. Various artist - No New York
81. United States Of America - United States Of America
82. Throbbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk Greats
83. The Soft Boys - Underwater Moonlight
84. Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady
85. Amon Duul II - Wolf City
86. The Beatles - Rubber Soul
87. Can - Monster Movie
88. The Roots - Do You Want More?!
89. Sun Ra - Atlantis
90. ESG - A South Bronx Story
91. Radiohead - Amnesiac
92. Tangerine Dream - Phaedra
93. Suicide - Suicide
94. Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
95. Velvet Underground - Velvet Underground
96. Happy Mondays - Pills, Thrills & Bellyaches
97. Modern Lovers - Modern Lovers
98. Eric B. & Rakim - Paid In Full
99. Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue
100. Alice Coltrane - World Galaxy

[Dayne1234]

Damo...10, not 100. Anyway, some good picks...but with 100, that would be easy to do.

[einzack]

....the nature of such a question allows personal preference in deciding the list.
or did i misunderstand the original question?

..nah, neither do i.

[Damo Suzuki]

Originally posted by Dayne1234
Damo...10, not 100. Anyway, some good picks...but with 100, that would be easy to do.
Haha, yeah. I can't help myself. Just copied and pasted a list I had kicking around. No big deal. The top 10 on it is solid and I stand behind it.

[Throwmymuse]

Top Ten Can't Live Without:

1. Pixies-Surfer Rosa
2. Throwing Muses-House Tornado
3. Yo La Tengo-I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
4. Sonic Youth-(hmm...right now...)Murray Street
5. Led Zeppelin-III
6. The Beatles-Abbey Road
7. Tribe Called Quest-Midnight Marauders
8. Jane's Addiction-Ritual de lo Habitual
9. Tricky-Maxinquaye
10.Nirvana-Unplugged

And I'd probably smuggle GBV's Under the Bushes, Under the Stars in my pants.

[Craig]

For this week......

Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted
Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
The Replacements - Let it Be
Radiohead - The Bends
The Beatles - White Album
Guided by Voices - Bee Thousand
Neil Young - Rust Never Sleeps
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
David Bowie - Hunky Dory

[Longsleeve]

Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run, Nebraska
Bob Dylan - Highway 61, Blonde on Blonde, Blood on the Tracks
Radiohead - OK Computer, Kid A
The Dears - No Cities Left
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue, Birth of the Cool
Tom Waits - Rain Dogs, Swordfish Trombones, Mule Variations
Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart
Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
The Velvet Underground & Nico, Loaded, Live 1969 Vol. 1
Thelonious Monk - Brilliant Corners
R.E.M. - Murmur
Pixies - Doolittle, Surfer Rosa
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
Coltrane - Blue Train, Giant Steps, Love Supreme
Neutral Milk Hotel - Aeroplane
Modest Mouse - Moon & Antarctica, Lonesome Crowded West
Stooges - Raw Power
The Kinks - Village Green, Face to Face
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Being There

[t.d.]

1. Beatles- Revolver
2. Beatles- Abbey Road
3. Pavement- CRCR
4. Weezer- The Blue One
5. Modest Mouse- The Lonesome Crowded West
6. Blur- Parklife
7. Pixies- Doolittle
8. Silver Jews- American Water
9. Flaming Lips- ...Satellite Heart
10. Pink Floyd- Animals

[sharpsponge]

1. Bjork-Vespertine

2. Radiohead-Kid A

3. Charles Mingus-Pale Saint and the Sinner Lady

4. Junior Kimbrough-All Night Long

5. Sonic Youth-NYC Ghosts & Flowers

6. U2-Joshua Tree

7. Fleetwood Mac-Tusk

8. Tortoise-Millions Now Living Will Never Die

9. Tom Waits-Raindogs

10. Philip Glass-Anima Mundi

[stewrat]

In no particular order ......

Beach Boys - Friends
American Music Club - Engine
Zappa - Weasles Ripped My Flesh
Elvis Costello - Imperial Bedroom
Superchunk - Indoor Living
Beatles - Rubber Soul
Gil Scott Heron -Pieces of A Man
Yo La Tengo - Heart Beating ...
Sandals - Endless Summer Soundtrack
Pavement - Crooked Rain CRooked Rain

[kdagnall]

Ten Ten from Taos, NM:
(all great, in no order)
1) Velvet Underground - Loaded
2)Nirvana - Bleach
3)X - Under the Big Black Sun
4)The Germs - Germicide
5)Modest Mouse - Lonesome Crowded West
6)Tokyo Sex Destruction - La Red Soul Communiste
7)Belle and Sebastian - Tigermilk
8)Patti Smith - Horses
9)Neutral Milk Hotel - Aeroplane Over the Sea
10)Juan Garcia Esquivel - Other Worlds, Other Sounds

[maroonwalrus]

Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Wilco - Summer Teeth
Neil Young - On the Beach
Television - Marquee Moon
Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime
Big Star - Radio City
Slint - Spiderland
Tortoise - Tortoise
Mogwai - Young Team
The Beatles - Rubber Soul

Not in any particular order.

By the way, Neil Young is putting out "On the Beach" on CD for the first time in late June...it's been out of print a long time and was only on vinyl. Superb album.

[Jason]

Top 5 albums only

1. Paul Stanley, s/t
2. Ace Frehley, s/t
3. Gene Simmons, s/t
4. Peter Criss, s/t
5. Pavement, Slanted and Enchanted

[SlackMF]

This is a rediculously impossible task. Seriously, I mean the lists posted so far are all so flawed. How can anyone go back and read their list and not see the glaring ommissions? I don't think the Rolling Stones are even on here once!
So... here's my scenario: You are going to live in the biosphere for 6 months and you can only bring 10 records, and they have to be on Matador.

Here's my list (alphabetical by group):
1. Tribute to a Bus
2. The Aim EP
3. Amanita
4. Palomine
5. What would the Community Think?
6. Ride the Fader
7. Eleven: Eleven
8. Under the Bushes Under the Stars
9. Pirate Prude EP
10. Electric Version
11. Wowee Zowee
12. Exile in Guyville
13. Firewater
14. Now I Got Worry
15. Soft Effects EP
16. On the Mouth
17. Electr-O-Pura

Pitiful, I still couldn't do it! Ok, I convince the Biosphere guys to let me bring 15 records and I also convince them that 3 EPs = 1 LP. I decided to select all different artists to maximize the variety! Six months is a long time! Maybe I shoulda brought "What's Up Matador?"....

[scurvy=rad]

I don't get how any of these lists can be flawed when they're everyone's own opinions. Here's my 10 (no order) and if being flawed is wrong, I don't wanna be right.

1. Beatles - Revolver
2. Beatles - Rubber Soul
3. Pavement - Wowee Zowee
4. Pavement - Slanted
5. GBV - Alien Lanes
6. Replacements - Let It Be
7. Replacements - Tim
8. Pixies - Doolittle
9. Pixies - Trompe le Monde
10. Silver Jews - American Water

[Paul]

I'm not dissing on your choices, Mr. Scurvy. But, when an all-time essentials list of 10 only contains 6 artists, it suggests the listmaker needs to hear more records.

[star sign]

10. Sebadoh - Bakesale
9. Cake - Fashion Nugget
8. The Breeders - Last Splash
7. My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything
6. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
5. Radiohead - OK Computer
4. Guided My Voices - Under The Bushes, Under The Stars
3. Lilys - A Brief History Of Amazing Letdowns
2. Teenage Fanclub - Peel Sessions 1990
1. The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour

[tinobeat]

I hate to be a grouch and sure, the lists are everyone's opinion, and so every list is right, because your opinion is always right, come on, look at these lists!

they look like they should be a "SPIN Magazine coolest albums of the 90's" list, the Hipster Handbook "Hip albums from the 60's to now" list, or a "favorite recent purchases" list.

There is no way I could ever make a list of "essential" albums. if I got sent to a desert island or was forced to pare down to 10 albums, I'd choose no music. I'd rather imagine all the music I've heard than force myself to listen to the same 10 records. those scenarios are fantasies though, so it makes the purpose of choosing "essentials" moot.

really, it all comes down to The American Flag's self-titled album. The single most dependable album in my collection.

or something...

[SlackMF]

for saying what I set out to write in the above post! Somehow I got sidetracked and ended up feeding the fire instead. As everyone knows these lists are entirely subjective and so everyone can stand behind the unassailable "it's my opinion" defense, but, really, to me, these lists are very, very sad. It sure looks like everyone is reading the same alternative music guides, surfing the same Pitchfork reviews, and subscribing to the same 'zines. There's nothing on here that hasn't been canonized countless times by the indie cognoscenti. It's symptomatic of an unspoken but very rigid regimen of how to be musically hip. You may think I'm wrong about this but I can't be because it's my opinion.

I don't want a bunch of flak about this, either. I'm not trying to step on anyone's mac. I had an epiphany and wanted to share.

[Throwmymuse]

Haha...really, what did you expect? Truthfully I think the choices are pretty diverse, the only notable exception is that a lot of people picked Pavement-Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. I mean, look what message board this is and then decide to no longer state the obvious. Did you expect a lot of gangsta rap or hair metal? Finally, Futureman started the thread saying he hoped to get some suggestions for his own listening...whats the problem with that? Here's my top ten non-indie/not trying to be hip Lp's.

1. Sepultura-Chaos A.D.
2. Pink Floyd-Animals
3. Pearl Jam-Vs.
4. Aerosmith-Rocks
5. Rolling Stones-Exile on Mainstreet
6. Pantera-Vulgar Display of Power
7. Tom Petty-Full Moon Fever
8. White Zombie-Astro Creep 2000
9. Tool-Undertow
10. Wait...the page ripped in the magazine I copied this out of...oh, its Alice in Chains-Dirt

Ok-metal..definetly not hip, every one hates Pearl Jam, Animals is the forgotten PF album, Alice in Chains was sooo grunge, Aerosmith was always the poor man's Stones, Tom Petty, hey he's no Dylan...that leaves me with one hip choice, but Slack pointed out there were no Rolling Stones so I'll leave it.

[Susan Kirk]

My list is purdy di-voise.

[Craig]

I'm sorry that my list may be too stereotypically hip or whatever the point may be, but I just happen to enjoy Pavement, Tom Waits and Replacements records more than I enjoy Aerosmith or John Mellencamp or Billy Joel. Call me crazy, but I like what I like. I'm at an age now where pretending to be hip really has no value.

[stewrat]

As one who approaches 50, I can tell you that I have over 5000 lps, 2000+7" and thousands of cds. I still have the first lp I ever got (Joey Dee and the Starlighters do the Peppermint Twist). My long winded point is that over the decades, certain pieces of music continue to find their way to my stereo. They make me feel good or challenge me and certainly would seem to provide a level of variety since my moods shift from day-to-day and hour to hour. It's too bad anyone thinks what we like is pathetic or fails to be tragically hip.

[pabost]

You can't win with this bulletin board. If you enjoy the standard indie rock fare, you're labelled "too hip." If you enjoy Justin Timberlake, you're viewed as ironic or unintelligent.

I think it's important to remember that music is, among other things, a form of communication and a way too build community. I can appreciate and do enjoy some very experimental music. Yet, rarely is that music able to be shared with a sizable portion of the population (a.k.a community) nor does such music inspire those old feelings of relationships, comraderie, summer, etc . . . Also in defense of those whose top tens look like they're straight from SPIN, diverse tastes don't necessarily reflect diverse top ten albums of all time lists. If you're a huge Beatles and Pavement fan, their albums alone could occupy a top ten list, with an Isaac Hayes, Ornette Coleman, or Guided by Voices album only making it to #11.

Truth is, this sort of conversation doesn't annoy me. I'm glad that we can have it.

[yovan]

1. Pharcyde - "Bizarre Ride"
2. The Roots - "things fall apart"
3. Nirvana - "In Utero"
4. Operation Ivy - "Greatest Hits"
5. Interpol - "TOTBL"
6. Pavement - "Terror Twilight"
7. Spoon - "Series of Sneaks"
8. D' Angelo - "VooDoo"
9. Mobb Deep - "Mobb Deep"
10. Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs - "Fever to Tell "

The last one is just my current favorite so it makes the list but probably doesn't deserve to.

[vesper]

Originally posted by SlackMF
for saying what I set out to write in the above post! Somehow I got sidetracked and ended up feeding the fire instead. As everyone knows these lists are entirely subjective and so everyone can stand behind the unassailable "it's my opinion" defense, but, really, to me, these lists are very, very sad. It sure looks like everyone is reading the same alternative music guides, surfing the same Pitchfork reviews, and subscribing to the same 'zines. There's nothing on here that hasn't been canonized countless times by the indie cognoscenti. It's symptomatic of an unspoken but very rigid regimen of how to be musically hip. You may think I'm wrong about this but I can't be because it's my opinion.

I don't want a bunch of flak about this, either. I'm not trying to step on anyone's mac. I had an epiphany and wanted to share.

Let me first point out that this is not an attempt to step on anyone's "mac" either, but I also had an epiphany after thinking about this post earlier this evening (I originally read it this afternoon).

This whole idea of how to be musically hip swings both ways. If someone's musical tastes can be simplified into only following a party-line, then another's musical tastes can be simplified into only defying that party-line. If we are to view, say, my list (which I'm sure many would argue is clipped straight from SPIN or Pitchfork) and say, "Oooh, he just wants to be critically hip," then I suppose looking at someone else's more underground list and saying, "Oooh, he/she just wants to be obscurely hip," is a brilliant and cogent analysis.

I could go through every one of my favorite albums and tell you why I genuinely love it without pulling info from some 'zine (especially since I have no soft spot in my heart for SPIN and I wasn't turned on to Pitchfork until several months ago). Likewise, I'm sure underground aficionados could do the same. This inner bickering is just one group wanting to one-up the other. If you aren't obscure enough then you pander to the indie-shadow-government, if you are too obscure then you are doing it for bombast. In fact, it is neither one of those.

So, in closing, if you have a problem with someone else's list of favorite albums, then just be glad that it isn't yours.

[scurvy=rad]

Originally posted by Paul
I'm not dissing on your choices, Mr. Scurvy. But, when an all-time essentials list of 10 only contains 6 artists, it suggests the listmaker needs to hear more records.

Thanks for the suggestion, Paul. Next time I need help making a decision on anything, I'll make sure I check with the rubmaster first.

[scurvy=rad]

Well said, Vesper.

[Paul]

Originally posted by scurvy=rad
Next time I need help making a decision on anything, I'll make sure I check with the rubmaster first.

Don't buy dyed toilet paper. It's not healthy for your asshole.

No thanks necessary; I'm just here to help out.

[tinobeat]

my post had nothing to do with hip or not hip, or whether its cooler to like pavement of justin timberlake. I could give a shit, really...

what I meant was this:
the lists for the most part included albums that, though great (many of them are among my favorites as well), don't show much imagination on the part of the listmaker. yes, Slanted and Enchanted is a classic, and its inclusion on many lists is expected, but I guess that in my years of music obsession, I've realized that there's a lot of classics that barely get props, because people wouldn't even think to give props. When everyone in the world voted Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and Sea Change the best albums of last year, I had the same reaction. The albums got so much attention that people sort of took everyone else's word for it and said "yeah, it IS the best." But it seems like critical listening on an individual basis isn't a high priority.

Its all opinion, and I'd like to think that there are a lot of differing opinions in the music-lovers of the world. If you think Fashion Nugget by Cake (I noticed that one) is classic and essential, more power to you (I'm with you). If you think Save Yourself by the Make Up is essential, again, more power to you (and me, cos I think that is as well). my post had nothing to do with "hip" vs. "irony." My post just urged people to allow albums to grow and flourish under their own strengths, rather than strengths attached to it by being in the canon. I just can't shake the feeling that whenever Daydream Nation is included in a "best of all time" list, it didn't take much imagination to put it there. I think its an amazing album. But still, when people's "essential" lists seem to perfectly echo the canon, I can't help but think that people listed said records because they felt they should.

I know I'm coming across as a total snob, and I sincerely apologize, really, but I KNOW there's records hiding in your collection that could take the classics out in a barroom brawl, but I think you might not be giving them a chance.

I dunno, I'm rambling on now, but I just wanted to at least attempt to clarify. I guess I was just dissapointed in the total lack of range in most of the lists. I'd like to think people here would be more adventurous in their listening habits (by adventurous, I don't mean "more underground," I mean willing to listen without trying to fit a mold of what one "should" listen to), so I could mine that knowledge for more great stuff I should hear.

[maroonwalrus]

Throwmymuse: ...every one hates Pearl Jam...

There is no shame in liking Pearl Jam...I'm a big fan myself. They're not even close to being a "guilty pleasure," I saw them at the Shoreline Amphitheatre last night and sang along with the 24,999 other people that were there. As fun as all the indie shows I've been to.

[Throwmymuse]

Can't argue with you there...seeing PJ was was also one of my favorite concerts. None on that list are guilty pleasures...just bands I don't listen to as much as one's appearing in my orginal ten...

[star sign]

I should apologize. I mistakenly assumed that this was some sort of "desert island" essentials list, not an actual tally of sound recordings we'd deem "required listening" for our fellow music buffs. Silly me.

Knowing full well that even if I did happen to possess some sort of boombox or Walkman-type device with which to play these CD's, I wisely figured that the majority of remote desert islands wouldn't actually be equipped with functioning electrical outlets, and any supply of batteries I might be carrying surely wouldn't last indefinitely, especially with prolonged exposure to the harsh tropical elements.

Therefore, I picked my ten CD's based on the criteria of personal survival, choosing albums with artwork that might be of some appreciable value when trading with local natives for coconuts and boar meat. I selected CD's whose multi-panel foldouts would, when positioned accurately, aid me in cultivating sustainable crops by acting as both a primitive aqueduct and a makeshift sun shade. Using the rugged plastic jewel boxes, I would fashion hunting tools and utensils, leaving the discs themselves to act as crude dishes in the event I found myself entertaining up to ten dinner guests.

I sincerely feel that with the help of my ten essential LP's, I could manage to eke out a meager existence and, coupled with some degree of luck, make a suitable life for myself as a civilized individual in a savage and untamed realm.

And if by some stroke of ingenuity I ever managed to construct a workable CD player out of driftwood and smooth pebbles, I'd send away for the only album anyone would ever possibly need to carry them through the trials and tribulations of a life of total isolation, Songs Of Leonard Cohen.

[Paul]

All the bitching I do about arbitrary listing is really just a mask for my ineptitude at paring down my large array of favorites into a concise and compact top 10. But just for shits and giggles, I'll give it a go. Assuming everyone's already heard these albums, I'm just making the "desert island" variety of list...

[list=1]
Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine
Pixies - Doolittle
George Harrison - All Things Must Pass
Van Halen - s/t debut
The Church - Starfish
Gang of Four - A Brief History of the Twentieth Century
T. Rex - The Slider
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell
[/list=1]

While this probably doesn't resemble my personal list of best albums, it absolutely represents what I'd need to get by were I forced into permanent solitude.

[i hate working]

1.spoon - girls can tell
2.antonio carlos jobim - wave
3.iron and wine - the creek drank the cradle
4.scud mountain boys - any and all albums......
5.the silver jews - any and all albums......
6.refused - the shape of punk to come
7.aretha franklin - any and all albums......
8.kris kristoferson - jesus was a capricorn
9.enon-high society
10.microphones-dont wake me up












whats the point of argueing about opinions anyway????

[Joseph]

Now I have ten more reasons to fear being trapped on a desert island with Paul! C'mon, Pretty Hate Machine ?!

This is a side of Paul that I'd prefer not to see! FOR SHAME, COX!

[Paul]

Oh, Joseph. Of course we can schedule times for using the boombox. When I'm playing Pretty Hate Machine, you'll be off searching for coconuts. And while you're playing GWAR, I'll make sure to be out of earshot working on our giant S.O.S. message in the sand.

[Joseph]

I will drown you before I let you waste our precious batteries on Paul's Boutique, ya lousy bastard!

[Paul]

Life is too short for petty disagreements...just Shake Your Rump-ah!

[Joseph]

And I'm taking the coconut alarm clock with me, Skipper!

[anagrama]

it changes from time to time but...for now...
limited it to 15.

15. Yo La Tengo - I Can See the Heart Beating As One
14. Folk Implosion - One Part Lullaby
13. DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
12. Radiohead - OK Computer
11. Pixies - Doolittle
10. Nine Inch Nails - Downward Spiral
9. SIANspheric - Somnium
8. Failure - Fantastic Planet
7. Pavement - Wowee Zowee
6. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
5. Modest Mouse - Lonesome Crowded West/Moon & Antarctica
4. Jane's Addiction - Ritual De La Habitual
3. Rage Against The Machine - s/t
2. Massive Attack - Mezzanine
1. Tool - Aenima

Dammit...it does look like something out of Spin magazine.

[anagrama]

Originally posted by maroonwalrus
There is no shame in liking Pearl Jam...I'm a big fan myself. They're not even close to being a "guilty pleasure," I saw them at the Shoreline Amphitheatre last night and sang along with the 24,999 other people that were there. As fun as all the indie shows I've been to.

Pearl Jam havent had a good album since No Code, but they are still a great live band. Theyve lost the ability to create interesting new music, but they are still stellar in live performances.

[anagrama]

Originally posted by tinobeat
I just can't shake the feeling that whenever Daydream Nation is included in a "best of all time" list, it didn't take much imagination to put it there. I think its an amazing album. But still, when people's "essential" lists seem to perfectly echo the canon, I can't help but think that people listed said records because they felt they should.

I know I'm coming across as a total snob, and I sincerely apologize, really, but I KNOW there's records hiding in your collection that could take the classics out in a barroom brawl, but I think you might not be giving them a chance.



Have you ever considered that the reason why Daydream Nation is so widely acclaimed, by the entire indie rock pedigree is because it is a really near-perfect record, and probably the most consistantly good of SY's career. Most people when they write these lists and want to include SY they put down DN, sometimes as a default because its the safe SY record to list...sometimes I say A Thousand Leaves is my fave, but deep down I know how damn good DN is, and how many times Ive heard it...and thats why its on the list. People love listing Nevermind on their faves, but when was the last people actually listened to Nevermind?, and didnt cringe at some parts of it. DN isnt like that. I think it makes it way to top 10 lists because it has an incredible broad appeal to almost anyone that has ever liked alternative rock.

And yes, you are being a huge snob. I can just picture you reading people lists and shifting around uncomfortably and shaking your head and mentally preparing a diatribe about the lists. Man, lists are lists....essential music is a completely and utterly subjective thing, sometimes people take their choices with a high level of defense...people could slander Aenima all they want, but I'll still think its the best album I've ever heard. *shrug*

dont be a snob. its...too cliche by now. we're all snobs, its the defining characteristic of this universe, we should start passively accepting people decisions to like music that we feel is shit.

[tinobeat]

OK, lets see:

Have you ever considered that the reason why Daydream Nation is so widely acclaimed, by the entire indie rock pedigree is because it is a really near-perfect record, and probably the most consistantly good of SY's career.

I don't happen to agree with that, but that wasnt' my point. Its sort of a chicken and egg thing. The indie rock pedigree is practically instructed that DN is "the best sonic youth album," so the universal appeal could just as easily come from the fact that people more often than not, these days, hear DN for with the knowledge that its almost universally agreed upon as the greatest indie rock album ever. that affects how you hear it, for sure. I think its pretty incredible, but I have little desire to listen to it when I've got Sister and Washing Machine hangin out in my collection too. oops!

Most people when they write these lists and want to include SY they put down DN, sometimes as a default because its the safe SY record to list...

this is the part that exactly completely entirely sums up my point on this whole thread. EXACTLY. what I'm saying is that looking over the lists, I felt that people were putting down the safe bet, not what they really listened to more. An album isn't really essential if you barely listen to it, right? (you're right on the ball about Nevermind).

DN isnt like that. I think it makes it way to top 10 lists because it has an incredible broad appeal to almost anyone that has ever liked alternative rock.

alls I'm saying is that while DN is incredible, its on the list for exactly the same reasons Nevermind is, for most people.

And yes, you are being a huge snob. I can just picture you reading people lists and shifting around uncomfortably and shaking your head and mentally preparing a diatribe about the lists.

heh heh.. I write long diatribes because I'm bored at work and have lots of time to write, and tend to be long-winded about anything. anyway, see, at first I was worried that I was being a snob, but then you perfectly summed up my argument in a very non-snobby way, so I take that back. I was making perfect sense without looking down on anybody's taste, not snobby at all. thanks for the reprieve. like I said before, I could give a shit what's on your list if you really love that stuff. but the lists just reeked of everybody listing records you're "supposed" to list instead of what you want to list.

people could slander Aenima all they want, but I'll still think its the best album I've ever heard. *shrug*

I was happy to see that on your list, because knowing your blather on the boards, you really love Tool, and so its an essential for you. You didn't care whether the other knowitalls here would give you shit or not. The only complaint I had with the lists, I'll reiterate, is that *some* of them just read like people putting albums on in order to have a "proper" list that would be universally praised and "safe" as you put it, rather than a personal fave list. That's not snobby at all. quite the opposite, I'd say. the later lists are pertty interesting at times.. some stuff I haven't heard of that I'll have to check out...

dont be a snob. its...too cliche by now. we're all snobs, its the defining characteristic of this universe, we should start passively accepting people decisions to like music that we feel is shit.

sorry if I'm too cliche... oooh, really burns, bro... I don't think its a defining characteristic at all. Why does one immediately become a snob just because they like a certain kind of music? Its a stereotype you love perpetuating, I've noticed, even happily including yourself. its weird...

I'm completely comfortable with the fact that I disagree with most people in the world about music. note I didn't say mine was better. I don't look down on anyone for their music tastes, and though I jokingly jab at people who like Bright Eyes, I don't judge them as people... message boards make everyone seem more caustic than they really are.

[vesper]

Okay, good, great, I'm happy to see that you rank Sister and Washing Machine (the latter being my all-time favorite Sonic Youth disc, second tape I ever bought) above Daydream Nation, but can someone PLEASE tell me what people's problem is with WM??? I seriously don't get it...I'm not familiar with SY's work before Sister, so I don't know if diehards just hate because that's what they should do or what.

And while I actually agree with most of what you say, tinobeat, I think it's also very easy just to write off someone because of that. I seriously do listen to Getz/Gilberto and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain all. the. time. I can't say that for many of my discs, they really are just that good. Take Joy Division for instance. Closer is an album that the indie mind-control squad is just reeling to have rotating in every stereo across the world. Low and behold, while I like it, I rarely find myself listening to it.

I don't know, I'm just spinning off on a tangent now. What I really want to get out of this is an answer to the first question, heh.

[tinobeat]

I dunno, some people love Washing Machine, some hate it. I have no idea why. For me its the last truly great SY album. 1000 Leaves was nice, Murray Street is pretty good, but both of them are short of the greatness SY was/is capable of. NYG&F just blew... sorry.

Anyway, I'm sure you DO listen to Crooked Rain and Getz/Gilberto all the time. All I was asking rhetorically (and then it sort of got blown out of proportion), is that people list what they truly believed was the best themselves. If that list is all agreed-upon classics, then great, if not, then great. But when it seemed like everyone's list was just agreed-upon classics, then it looked like everyone patting themselves on the back for knowing which albums they're supposed to like, instead of thinking which albums they do like.

anyway.. yeah...

[hottt]

in no order

pavement - wowee zowee
spoon - series of sneaks
neutral milk hotel - in the aeroplane over the sea
of montreal - gay parade
modest mouse - lonesome crowded west
grandaddy - sophtware slump
smiths - louder than bombs
built to spill - perfect from now on
shins - oh, inverted world
microphones - it was hot, we stayed in the water

i know they are all pretty recent, i should probably do something about that.

[t.d.]

Top Ten Non-Critically Acclaimed Classics:

In no order:

Stone Temple Pilots- Tiny Music
Oasis- Be Here Now
Cake- Prolonging The Magic
Superdrag- Head Trip In Every Key
The Presidents of the United States of America- s/t
The Rentals- Seven More Minutes
Nada Surf- The Proximity Effect
Everclear- Sparkle and Fade
Alice In Chains- Unplugged
Rage Against the Machine- s/t

Hey they are all from the 90's, but if I went back beyond that it would be influenced by critics and I know how there is no place for them on this board.

[Joseph]

...but I would rather listen to Bee Hear Now* than anything by Pavement any day of the fuckin' week. And scoff all you like, but Sparkle and Fade had more good songs on it than Spoon has in its whole back catalog (for the record, Sparkle and Fade had two good songs).

*That's the one with "Wonderwall," right?

[t.d.]

I was only being partly ironic, those cds meant a lot to me as I was growing up.

Wonderwall was on 'Whats the Story Morning Glory' which is a definate classic, but is too critically acclaimed to be placed on this list.

I didn't know that anyone hated Spoon, I knew there were some that hated Pavement; but Spoon? Those guys have never hurt anybody.

[vesper]

Alright, tinobeat, now I completely understand where you are coming from and agree wholeheartedly.

(and yeah, nycg&f is horrid. nevermind [what was it anyway] being the only decent track on that album)

[anagrama]

I was nearly going to list Alice In Chains' Unplugged too.
As much as Nirvana's Unplugged was...ridiculously good, the AIC unplugged is one of best (if not THE best) live album's I've ever heard. And arguably the best in the Unplugged series.

[tinobeat]

my favorite unplugged episode of all time back in the day was the Soul Asylum one. The quiet songs obviously translated well into the acoustic setting, but they did a great job of rearranging the more rockin ones to suit the quiet setting, as opposed to just playing them on acoustic guitars the same way they'd play them electric. Also, a great cover of "To Sir, With Love" with Lulu herself guesting on vocals, and ending with a great cover of "Ooh La La," with the other guitarist (whose name I forget) on vocals.

The Pearl Jam one was so-so, save for the incredible stretched-out version of "Porch," though I could have done without Eddie writhing around, standing on his stool, writing "pro-choice" on his arm while the band rocked out. Nothing against the political statement, but it came across as contrived, and took camera time away from the band, who were doing much more interesting things.

ah, the memories...

[lester1/2jr]

1. Mobb Deep- any
2. GBV- any particularly "Waved Out"
3. The Stooges- any
4. Popul Vuh -Hosianna Mantra
5. Ghost- any especially Lamarabi rabi
6. Marvin Gaye -any especially "Here my Dear" and "WG On"
7. Dusty in Memphis
8. Capone N Noriega
9. The Skatelites "Ska boo da ba" studio 1 in general
10. Love Peace and Poetry - South American psychedelic music


Honorable mention: ---- Big L "the Big Picture" probably the greatest album of all time.

[Joseph]

In a pathetic sort of way, I've actually been thinking about this thread for the past few days...there's no way I could pin down just ten albums that I cannot live without, but I do know that the following would probably make the cut:

Angel Dust by Faith No More
At Budokan by Cheap Trick
Billion Dollar Babies by Alice Cooper
Blessed Are the Sick by Morbid Angel
Gentlemen by the Afghan Whigs
Imprint by Vision of Disorder
Peaceful Death and Pretty Flowers by Dead Horse
Pony Express Record by Shudder To Think
Scream, Dracula, Scream! by Rocket from the Crypt

After that, I have no idea...Manic Compression by Quicksand, maybe. California by Mr. Bungle, probably.

Oh, and something by Scurvy!

[Paul]

Originally posted by Joseph
Oh, and something by Scurvy!

*hearts Joseph*

[DefenderOfPants]

1. the smiths - strangeways, here we come
2. pulp - different class
3. the 6ths - wasps' nests
4. pavement - terror twilight
5. hefner - boxing hefner
6. jonathan richman - surrender to jonathan
7. the magnetic fields - 69 love songs
8. morrissey - bona drag
9. weezer - weezer (1994)
10. belle & sebastian - the boy with the arab strap

hmm...

[lester1/2jr]

Holiday is way better than 69 love songs

[DefenderOfPants]

i like 69 love songs more. "i don't want to get over you" is my favourite magnetic fields song, and it always has been.

[Paul]

...it always has been.

Since 1999, anyway.

If pressed on the issue, I'd probably pick Holiday too.

[DefenderOfPants]

i didn't start listening to the magnetic fields until 2000. "i don't want to get over you" was the first song i heard.
so... always. not from the begining of time, mind. not even from the begining of the magnetic fields. just for as long as i have had a favourite magnetic fields song.

[bitterfruit]

"The Book Of Love" is my favorite MF tracks. I am just really getting into Holiday.

[tinobeat]

whatever that "I want to beat you black and blue" song is on Holiday.. that's my favorite. it gets the stupid 12-year old in me to laugh like Butthead..

[lester1/2jr]

"softly faaaalling" that is quite a centerpiece. I wasn't trying to diss 69 love songs. It has much better production, for example. But I think it focuses mre on the lyrics and is performed in a fancier sort of environment. Okay that makes no sense. Any way, how about Holiday vs Wasps Nests? I think it's real close.

[box elder]

I thought this thread was about *your* favourite songs? My top 34 are below, and depending on my mood or the day any one could be my favourite.

Frank Black - Teenager of the Year
Beastie Boys - Check Your Head
Bob Marley - Exodus
Camper Van Beethoven - II & III & Plus
The Clash - S/T
Daniel Lanois - Acadie
Dinosaur Jr. - You're Living All Over Me
Eleventh Dream Day - Beet
The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms
Husker Du - Zen Arcade
Interpol - TOTBL
Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking
Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville
Manu Chao - Clandestino
MC 900 FT Jesus - Welcome to My Dream
Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
New Pornographers - Mass Romantic
NoMeansNo - Small Parts Isolated and Destroyed
Pavement - S&E/Wowee Zowee (dead heat)
Pixies - Surfer Rosa or Bossanova
Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation of Millions...
REM - Life's Rich Pageant
Radiohead - The Bends
Rancid - S/T (2000)
RHCP - Mother's Milk
Sebadoh - Bakesale
Sloan - Smeared
The Smalls - S/T
Stevie and the Jicks - S/T
Superchunk - On The Mouth
Bob Mould - Workbook
Tragically Hip - Road Apples
Ween - The Mollusc
White Stripes - De Stijl

Pardon the somewhat alphabetical nature of my list, I just went through my muzak coll'n and wrote 'em down as I saw them. And I'm not here to defend my favourites. Whether or not these albums are the 34 Best of All Time is moot; they're my favourites, based on what I've been exposed to and my history. Peace.

[evil_speakers]

"Canuckistan"... I like that. And I usually hate the term "Canuck", but your Frank reference makes it all okay. Round there, Canuckistan way, hey hey....

How can Teenager be on there and not his s/t debut? Not to mention all his other amazing records, particularly Dog In the Sand and his new one which comes out in Sept. (it's really, really good).

[box elder]

I hear you. In my mental lichert scale, Frank's s/t gets 9.6 and TOTY gets 9.8. They're both incredible, but I lean towards the second album. I guess it's because his first didn't have a song like "Bad Wicked World" and/or "Thalassocracy".

And his new stuff, while great live, doesn't charge me up the same way as the earlier. Aside from some great songs like "St. Francis Dam Disaster" and "Modern Age", that is.

[evil_speakers]

Indeed, many of the newer songs are better live. They "charge me up", as you say. In particular, Jane, The Queen of Love, I Want Rock n Roll, Massif Centrale, Hermaphroditos, Whiskey In Your Shoes, and many, many others. I fluctuate between Orange and TOTY being my favourite. At the momment, it's TOTY, and it usually is, but there I times when I feel Orange is the more cohesive record. That being said, I love Teenager for it's wild diveristy. It has long been my "desert island" record.

[eli]

My top ten or so are as follows:

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane
Neko Case - Furnace Room Lullaby
Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted
Steely Dan - Katy Lied
Sugar - Copper Blue
They Might Be Giants - Lincoln
Archers of Loaf - Icky Mettle
Neil Young - Decade
Avalanches - Since I Left You
Johnny Cash - Unchained
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Elvis Costello - This Year's Model
Fugees - The Score
PJ Harvey - Rid of Me
Morphine - Cure for Pain
Six String Drag - High Hat
Ween - The Mollusk
Sly and the Family Stone - Stand

These are the ones that I can listen to over and over again and never get tired of. Some appear on previous lists, but they're all personal faves.

-Eli

[impossible]

I am surprised to see so many people listing Neutral Milk Hotel! I do think the album is somewhat of an anomaly, in that there is nothing else in my collection quite like it, but like a Beefheart album, say Trout Mask Replica, I can't honestly put it in a bag that only fits ten albums. I would go nuts.

This thread has sort of lost its focus and I actually forget what the original poster was asking for, but I will list 10 albums that are absolutely essential to my life right now. The list would be different for a deserted island thing, of course.

1. Rahsaan Roland Kirk .:. Rip, Rig, & Panic/Please Don't You Cry Now Beautiful Edith: I probably wouldn't take this on a deserted island foray, but I have listened to this album more times than anything in my collection.

2. John Coltrane .:. Live at the Village Vanguard 1961: This I would take on a deserted island with me. That is really the only way I am going to get enough time to fully absorb this music.

3. Ornette Coleman .:. Free Jazz: Tough choice between this and many of his classic quartet recordings. Eric Dolphy was the deal breaker.

4. Eric Dolphy .:. Out to Lunch! : If anyone on this board is curious as to what I want more music to sound like, go buy this album. This is a defining moment in my listening experience.

5. Walt Dickerson/Richard Davis .:. Divine Moments: Sublime avant-garde duets between two compassionate musicians.

6. Wilco .:. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot: The more I listen to this album, the more I agree with the critic. They have been a fairly recent discovery for me. I almost, and regretably, ignored this entire scene due to all the acclaim. Seems bass-ackwards, no?

7. Sam Prekop .:. Sam Prekop: A very good album. I have a soft spot for this one and would grab it at the last minute on any trip after arguing with myself. "You always listen to this album. Give something else a little more attention..."

8. Stereolab .:. Dots and Loops: Pure sonic joy. I might choose Cobra and Phases as well. To be determined.

I have to admit, I am, to some extent customizing this list as I type. This is all stuff I think most of you could get in to, if you aren't already. I really can't distill my collection down to 10 discs.

9. Toumani Diabate .:. Djelika: Incredible. Wonderful for any occassion.

10. I'm leaving this open-ended because I am indecisive and cannot choose a tenth disc. The tenth disc would be a random selection.

If anyone is interested in any of this music, I would be happy to make a copy of something for you. Much of my favorite music was given to me by friends.

[impossible]

Maybe I will include Pink Floyd .:. Meddle. I was listening to Dead Meadow yesterday and remembered how much I love that album. Everyone should hear this album once.

[TheSadDebaser]

Mission of Burma - Vs.
Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted
Beatles - white album
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Big Black - The Rich Man's Eight Track Tape
Fugazi - 13 Songs
Slint - Spiderland
Hüsker Dü - Zen Arcade
The Replacements - Let it Be
Nirvana - Nevermind
Pixies - Surfer Rosa

[music dude]

Albert Ayler- Live At The Village Vanguard
Sonic Youth- Washing Machine
Ice Cube- Death Certificate
Pavement-Wowee Zowee
Fuck-Conduct
Prince- Sign O' The Times
John Coltrane- Meditations
Royal Trux- Cats and Dogs
U.S. Maple- Long Hair In Three Stages
Polvo- Exploded Drawing
Shannon Wright-Maps Of Tacit
Television-Marquee Moon
De La Soul-De La Soul Is Dead

...some but not all, enough though

[impossible]

http://www.ayler.supanet.com/assets/images/ayler1.jpg

Are you talking about The Village Concerts, Live In Greenwich Village: The Complete Impulse Recordings? Man, that cover art freeks me out.

[music dude]

yes sir you are right, i should never try to name things from memory. the thing that is scary about that album is the first song ghosts, that shit sounds like an excorcism, but in a beautiful non satanic way. thanks for the link

[winterwooskie]

holiday-the magnetic fields
murmer-rem
silly image pillowhead-the silly pillows
american water-the silver jews
alien lanes-guided by voices
a thousand leaves-sonic youth
experimental, jetset, trash, and no star
the boy with the arab strap-belle and sebastian
if you're feeling sinister-belle and sebastian
i can hear the heart beating as one-yo la tengo

[Phairness]

Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville
Radiohead - The Bends
Sloan - Twice Removed
Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Modest Mouse - Lonesome Crowded West
Pixies - Surfer Rosa
Belle & Sebastian - The Boy with the Arab Strap
The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights
Badly Drawn Boy - The Hour of the Bewilderbeast

Ugh, so hard to just pick 10. I also think the recency effect has tainted my list. I really really like Interpol right now but how do you know it's going to pass the test of time? Some bands I didn't include because I like songs from a variety of albums but can't pick just ONE album. My list is more like the ones I think are great from beginning to end and the ones where I know all the words to all the songs.

[cobra killer]

here are some ... in no particular order

The Beatles : Revolver
Ween : The Pod
Sly & the family Stone : There's a riot goin on
The Stooges : The Stooges
3RA1N1AC : Hissing prigs in static couture
The Rolling Stones : Beggars Banquet
Funkadelic : Maggot brain
Sonic Youth : Goo
Beastie Boys : Paul's Boutique
T Rex : The Slider
AC/DC : High Voltage
Dinosaur Jr : You're livin' all over me
Aphex Twin : Selected ambient works 85 - 92
David Bowie : Hunky Dory
Jimi Hendrix Experience : Electric ladyland
Fleetwood Mac : Rumours
Snoop Doggy Dogg : Doggystyle
Air : Moon Safari
The Pixies : Doolittle
The Flaming Lips : Clouds taste metallic
The Human League : Dare
Prince : 1999
Kyuss : Welcome to Sky Valley
Wu Tang Clan : Enter the wu tang ( 36 chambers )
The Lemonheads : It's a shame about Ray
Neil Young : After the gold rush
Slayer : Reign in blood
Digable Planets : Reachin' ( a new refutation of time & space )
The Orb : live 93
The Cure : Boys don't cry
Pavement : Crooked rain, crooked rain
Bonnie Prince Billy : I see a darkness
Dr. Octagon : Dr. Octagonecologyst
Nick Drake : Five leaves left
Motörhead : Ace of Spades
Frank Zappa : Apostrophe/Over-nite Sensation
Simon & Garfunkel : Parsley, sage, rosemary & thyme
Jane's addiction : Ritual de lo Habitual
Lou Reed : Transformer

....................................

[jt. r]

neutral milk hotel: in the aeroplane over the sea
spoon: series of sneaks (re-ish)
beatles: rubber soul
kinks: muswell hillbillies
new pornographers: mass romantic
deerhoof: reveille
microphones: it was hot we stayed in the water
mission of burma: versus
sonic youth: sister
pavement: brighten the corners