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My Top 100 Albums
100
items This is a curated list of my top 100 favorite albums of all time. In no particular order, and across various genres, you'll find a mix of recognizable classics and some slightly more obscure indie projects.
Such a good debut album. Like a lot of people, I found out about this band in the early 90s from MTV and their radio hit No Rain, but then was surprised to find out how good this entire album is end-to-end. It's an energetic pure rock album, with a s...
Blind Melon Self-titled
The pinnacle album from one of my favorite bands of all time. I remember getting this CD set and playing it until they were so scratched up and worn down.
(What's the story) Morning Glory, Oasis
Absolutely zero skips on this Danger Mouse and MF DOOM collab album. One of the most fun and talked about album releases I can remember in my life. Listening to it defintely takes me back to a time and place.
The Mouse and the Mask, DANGERDOOM
Brilliant album by MF DOOM and Madlib. You can listen to this a million different times and it will still sound new and different with each listen.
Madvillainy, Madvillain
The best of 1960s psychedelic and melodic music. Always puts me in the best mood.
Odyssey and Oracle, The Zombies
I probably listen to this album once a week. Rihanna's best in my opinion.
ANTI, Rihanna
the grammys are piled up.
the record, boygenius
This is a top 10 rap album of all time. 🤌
It's Almost Dry, Pusha T
Brilliant, subtle, and poetic. I really connect to the spaciness and sad stories about going through life solo. It's not as polished as channel orange, but it's my favorite of all of his albums and projects so far.
Blonde, Frank Ocean
The best goodbye album of all time. Production on this album is immaculate. And these are some of the most quotable, memorable JAY Z lyrics ever. I played this CD into oblivion in college.
The Black Album, JAY-Z
This album feels like more than music to me. It helps to know the story of Daniel's life and condition to fully appreciate this early work of his. I got to see one of his extremely rare live performances and it was incredible.
Hi How Are You, Daniel Johnston
It's difficult to explain just how good this album is. It's narrative driven, with great beats, and weird british slang. Was very radical for it's time. Most Americans hated it but think it's a great end-to-end album. I still play it.
Original Pirate Material, The Streets
Chaotic and cohesive at the same time. It's probably one of my most listened to records for me post-college. The era that Canadian rock dominated was one of my favs.
Broken Social Scene Self-titled
This album always felt like the score to a film about my life. Zero filler. Layers and layers of instrument, sounds, and vocals. Great songwriting, even if the lyrics are a bit coded and vague at times. They used to open their shows with the song “Ca...
You Forgot It in People, Broken Social Scene
Absolutely zero skips. One of the most innovative and original albums in hip hop history. Perfect balance of insane creativity and smooth sound. The production quality is end-to-end amazing.
Aquemini, Outkast
This album reminds me of the “I bet you can't eat just one" Lay's potato chips ads from the 80s and 90s. Once you start this album there's no way you're not finishing the whole thing.
Pet Sounds (Mono), The Beach Boys
I love how this whole album is sequenced. And how sad and mellow the whole record is. You can hear a lot of their influences, like: Elliot Smith, the Breeders, Grandaddy, Sparklehorse, and Sonic Youth. This is a no skip album for me. I live for sad m...
System Preferences, Earlimart
Extremely experimental and weird rap album from the early 90s. They rap about philosophy, the prison industrial complex, and drugs and society in America at the time. In addition to very high lyrical standard they set here, they also raised the bar o...
Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Wu-Tang Clan
This album will make your heart beat faster. In a good way. Such a good, energetic, album with a unique perspective, and singular vocal tone and sound. I love the drums on this record so much, I feel like that doesn't get talked about enough. There a...
An Awesome Wave, alt-J
The greatest East Coast rap album ever made. He was only 16 years old when he started writing this album which is pretty mind-blowing. Anyway, there's not much else I can say about this one that hasn't already been said a zillion times. It's perfect ...
Illmatic, Nas
This album is so cool and also reminds me a really fun year of my life when I was living in San Francisco. Also got to see them live in Oakland when they were on the tour for this album and it was super good.
xx, the xx
It's perfect beginning to end. The samples he uses and the story behind each sample and how it connects to the concept behind the song's narrative is wild, and open to interpretation. Every time I listen to this album I discover something new. I also...
Donuts, J Dilla
This album fucking rules. Some of the best and most epic indie rock guitar and drums ever. Jim James vocals are so good. The guy has range. His voice is basically another instrument during some of this album. No skips the whole way through. And even ...
It Still Moves, My Morning Jacket
This album was so pervasive that even my grandmother new every single song beginning to end. This album reminds me of middle school.
The Score, Fugees
A concept album based on the popular video game The Oregon Trail. Flawless album. Amazing that Midlake made this.
The Trials Of Van Occupanther, Midlake
So narrative driven it has a companion screenplay that goes with it. Critics and people hated on this when it came out but I think it holds up and is a really cool album end-to-end and established Childish Gambino as serious artist.
Because the Internet, Childish Gambino
Killer Mike and El-P are so good on this album. I think this is their best, and most personal work together as RTJ. Really, really, really good.
RTJ4, Run The Jewels
I seriously thought this band was going to be bigger than the Beatles. This album is a mellow moody vibey atmospheric indie garage rock album that is so perfect. This album has always been super underrated.
Ambulance LTD Self-titled
If this is somehow your first time listening to Fiona Apple, I wouldn't start here, instead I would start with Extraordinary Machine, but this album is a masterpiece. I think we all needed this one.
Fetch The Bolt Cutters, Fiona Apple
One of the most influential albums of all time. I had never heard anything that sounded like this and I still haven't really. I like how this album has a sense of humor while also being real.
Supa Dupa Fly, Missy Elliott
Remember when this album broke the internet? 🤣 This album famously is about when JAY Z cheated on her and her journey through that process. This songwriting, the sound, the visuals, were all time best.
Lemonade, Beyoncé
The chain definitely remains unbroken. I played this on loop for a year or so. Never gets old.
Rumours, Fleetwood Mac
The main theme and concept through this album are questions about wickedness vs. weakness. I love the progression through this album and how the feel changes throughout. Insanely thoughtful and considered album.
DAMN., Kendrick Lamar
It's hard to pick a favorite Kendrick album, but I think this one is mine. This album is the story of his come up and the burden of fame. This visuals and videos that he made for this album are some of my favorite of any artist ever.
To Pimp A Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar
This is the story of a kid growing up in Compton, Los Angeles, California and navigating the pitfalls of gang life around him. Top tier debut album from an artist who cares so much about their craft and doesn't care what people think. Also one of my ...
good kid, m.A.A.d city, Kendrick Lamar
This album isn't about the details of recording or production. It's all about vocals and hearing the tone and quality of her voice in every song. This album is full of some of her greatest hits and plays very nicely the whole way through.
Whitney Houston Self-titled
I had this on cassette and it was one of my most cherished tapes of early 90s R&B. Love them so much and the concept behind this album and all of their work is so thoughtful. Huge fan. This is a perfect album.
Crazysexycool, TLC
I know that Illinoise is everyone's favorite Sufjan record of all time, but this one is my favorite. This album is slow, stripped down, and completely devastating. It's about a son yearning for the mother he never knew. I think it's Sufjan's most per...
Carrie & Lowell, Sufjan Stevens
This album is so crazy good and still holds up as a regular go-to for me. Sade is always one of my most listened to artist on Spotify every year.
Diamond Life, Sade
I traded another kid at school a Sir Mix-a-Lot CD for this and it was one of the best trades I ever made. I loved whatever the hell this genre of indie-folk-spoken word-rock-poetry-pop was, I loved it. “Loser” is a still a go-to karaoke song for me t...
Odelay, Beck
I think this is Tyler's best full-length album. It's got a mellow, neo-soul vibe and lyrically it's some of his best and most mature and personal songwriting. It's always a fun listen.
Flower Boy, Tyler The Creator
This album starts with my all-time favorite Blondie song “Hanging on the Telephone”. I love Debbie Harry. This will always be a top tier album for me.
Parallel Lines, Blondie
When I was in college I used to get very high and listen to this album end-to-end. It's a complex soundscape of electronic, dance, and 90s alternative. The blend of catchy melodies and avant-garde production makes this one both accessible and challen...
Post, Björk
This was THE album of the summer in 2018. He knew what he was doing with this one. That's all I'll say.
DAYTONA, Pusha T
What can I say? They were right and I love this album.
OK Computer, Radiohead
So much I love about this album, especially the post 9/11 love letter to New York City.
To The 5 Boroughs, Beastie Boys
A Sonic Youth-esque indie rock classic. It's moody and fun and surprising. Younger me would be very happy to hear how well this album still holds up.
I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One, Yo La Tengo
Pearl Jam are the Grateful Dead of grunge music and this is still their best album. It's super good beginning-to-end.
Ten, Pearl Jam
This is a zero skips R&B album. Insanely cool sound and production quality, and the record has aged so well. I keep going back to this one.
Ctrl, SZA
Smooth jazz and ballad love songs from young Billy Joel. About as classic as it gets.
The Stranger, Billy Joel
Another amazing Radiohead album that's melodic, weird, slightly psychedelic, and very melancholy. “Fake Plastic Trees” will always be a fav track for me. So good.
The Bends, Radiohead
Arguably the best commercial album ever recorded and published. Not much else to say about it that hasn't already been said.
Songs In The Key Of Life, Stevie Wonder
Another album with no skips on it and no filler. It's a very power-pop/new wave sounding album but I've always thought that “Just What I Needed” has almost a punk rock to it. Always been my favorite track. Great album.
The Cars Self-titled
An auto-biographical period masterpiece.
Ready To Die, The Notorious B.I.G.
A really great contemporary R&B album from beginning to end with an original sound and melodies that stick with you for days.
Analogue, ODIE
It's sort of like if you combined the Talking Heads and Animals Collective. Very hard to classify their sound or genre, but it's dreamy and psychedelic and this album plays perfectly front to back. I also got to see a rare live performance the Hemloc...
The Evening Descends, Evangelicals
I love the slowness and expansiveness of this album. Pitchfork described it as, “a long, liquid sound, devoid of sharp points.”
Ágætis byrjun, Sigur Rós
I'm sure a lot of people think this album is overplayed and played out, which I totally get, but it's actually a perfect album. I listened to this A LOT as a teenager. Probably because it sounded dangerous and eerie to me and felt like a window into ...
Led Zeppelin IV
The blueprint for jazz hip hop. This is one of those albums that once you start playing it you can't stop. It will be in heavy rotation for you for weeks. My favorite moment on this album might be when they name check Radiohead on the track “Don't Se...
Things Fall Apart, The Roots
Disclaimer: you might find this album to be totally boring and not your cup of tea, but it's such a solid and classic R&B album and a comfort listen for me. I had this on cassette tape as a kid. The musicianship, the songwriting, the vocal arrang...
II, Boyz II Men
Without this album from Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def, we would not have gotten: Earl Sweatshirt, Kendrick Lamar, JPEGMAFIA, or Blood Orange. I'm glad he chose his own sanity and health over more success in a very broken industry. That makes this album and ...
Black On Both Sides, Mos Def
Oly's finest. This album is a force. It's super energetic, electric, and tough sounding. My favorite band and album from the riot grrrl movement.
Dig Me Out, Sleater-Kinney
This album captured Blur at their best. It has energy, and a sense of humor, and goes beyond the britpop genre into a more broad realm of popular music. It's a great album.
Parklife, Blur
Quintessential shoegaze album. Every millisecond of this album is perfection. Noisey, chaotic, and calming with superb songwriting.
Loveless, my bloody valentine
For some reason my brain decided to store the entirety of the lyrics from this album in my head. Probably because this album is so good. He's easily one of the most creative indie rappers of all time. Highly recommend if you're into alternative hip h...
Labor Days, Aesop Rock
Not a single weak song on this Canadian indie pop rock album. Was definitely one of my favorite albums of 2004. Still gets lots of spins.
The Slow Wonder, A.C. Newman
Perfect dreamy indie pop album. If you're not familiar, they are sort of like a contemporary version of the Beach Boys meets The New Pornographers. A cool, light, surfey, pop-melodic vibey album.
Oh, Inverted World, The Shins
Quintessential Elliot Smith. Elite sad boy core. So good.
Figure 8, Elliott Smith
Critics did not like this album, but I love this project. It obviously has a BSS-esque sound to it, but I just really enjoyed the songwriting and musicianship. And it truly has zero skips on it.
Something For All Of Us…, Brendan Canning
A genuinely remarkable alt indie album. Probably one of the best of this decade. The cadence and pacing of this album is so perfect. Amazing end-to-end listen.
Microcastle, Deerhunter
“Acid Raindrops” is one of my all time favorite indie rap songs. This album is pure fun from beginning to end.
O.S.T., People Under The Stairs
This album is experimental, hypnotizing, jazzy, hi-fi, and relatively up beat. Also, fun fact: the title is taken from a 1971 experimental Japanese film.
Emperor Tomato Ketchup, Stereolab
Put this album on late at night and pour yourself a drink. It's an amazing listen the whole way through.
Kind Of Blue, Miles Davis
This is an awesome Sonic Youth album. Some of their most wild guitar work to date.
Murray St., Sonic Youth
Still to this day whenever I hear any song off this album I am mentally transported back in time to the mid 2000s indie sleaze era. I definitely got sick of hearing this back then, but now it's a great album to relisten to and holds a lot of fun memo...
Silent Alarm, Bloc Party
This psychedelic pop album will grow on you. It's warm and fuzzy and weird. So good.
Love Kraft, Super Furry Animals
One of the greatest double rap albums of all time.
All Eyez On Me, 2Pac
This album is like floating down a lazy river. Modern indie lo-fi psychedelic pop rock that is just so insanely good. Sometimes some of his melodies remind me of the Beatles.
Salad Days, Mac DeMarco
Flawless 6 track EP. Infectious beats and melodies that get stuck in your head. I love this record.
Hi Scores, Boards of Canada
I found out about this band when they were opening for Broken Social Scene on tour. This orchestral pop album is love-themed and features great vocals, synths, strings, and guitar. This album takes me back to the year 2005 and myspace days.
Set Yourself On Fire, Stars
This Y2K era indie rock & folk album contains some of the best songwriting I've ever heard across any genre. Listen all the way through, it has an epic ending.
The Sophtware Slump, Grandaddy
Such a strong indie soft-pop album about heartbreak and self-discovery. Perfectly packaged up and great beginning to end.
Heard It In A Past Life, Maggie Rogers
One of my favorite records from one of my favorite bands. This album is a psychedelic and spacey masterpiece.
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, The Flaming Lips
Groundbreaking metal album by Japanese trio Boris. It's heavy, and noisey, and awesome.
Pink, Boris
This album is a classic, fun, in-your-face Beastie Boys album as usual, but the production on this one is insanely high quality and basically what makes this record stand out. I love listening to this with a nice pair of headphones on.
Paul's Boutique, Beastie Boys
One of the most underrated indie rock albums and bands of the 2010s. This album has such a distinct and beautiful sound to it. I always have to listen to the whole thing in it's entirety.
Civilian, Wye Oak
Please enjoy this futuristic high concept alt rap supergroup album that is completely bonkers and amazing. 🛸
Deltron 3030 Self-titled
My favorite snarky UK rapper. They have a lot to say and on this album and they do it so well. Each song is a little journey or mini movie almost and the final track is really unexpected. Such a great experimental rap album.
NO THANK YOU, Little Simz
You know this album. I don't need to tell you about this album. I will add that I did see them on this world tour and it was a really great live show.
In Rainbows, Radiohead
At least he left us with this perfect album.
Grace, Jeff Buckley
Obviously an iconic album. Butch Vig is a genius producer. One of the best postpunk albums of all time.
Nevermind (Remastered), Nirvana
A beautiful narrative-driven album told from the perspective of a Vietnam veteran returning to his home country to witness hatred, suffering, and injustice.
What's Going On, Marvin Gaye
One of the greatest experimental art rock albums of all time. It's tone is cold, atmospheric, electronic, ambient, and mysterious. Yet somehow very cozy and comfortable to settle into. I go back and forth, but this might be my favorite Radiohead albu...
Kid A, Radiohead
John Coltrane's defining album. Recorded in one session. It's one of the coolest jazz recordings from the mid 1960s.
A Love Supreme, John Coltrane
Chris Cornell was so singular in his vocal sound and ability. This album definitely goes far beyond grunge and crosses over into metal, punk, and psychedelia.
Superunknown, Soundgarden
The effortless combination of jazz vocals with hip hop and funky soul. The songwriting quality. The vocal quality. The production value. This is a very elite album from end-to-end.
Baduizm, Erykah Badu
One of the greatest albums about loneliness every made.
At Last!, Etta James
Another perfect soul-pop R&B rock studio album by Sade. A vibe to say the least.
Love Deluxe, Sade
From start to finish this album contains a little bit of everything I love about Elliot Smith.
Either/Or, Elliott Smith
This album contains some of the most icons songs of the mid 90s. Pretty sure I had this on cassette tape. So many hits on this one.
Daydream, Mariah Carey