What would you rate as the 10 greatest albums of all time?

[Violet_Crumble]

Last edited Sun Nov 3, 2013, 07:50 PM - Edit history (1)

Here's mine, with a bit of built-in personal bias, and in no particular order. These are the ones I love listening to all the way through and don't have a dud on them....

1. Marquee Moon - Television

2. Doolittle - The Pixies

3. Low-life - New Order

4. The Queen Is Dead - The Smiths

5. Zen Arcade - Hüsker Dü

6. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere - Neil Young

7. Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star - Sonic Youth

8. Fun House - The Stooges

9. The Bends - Radiohead

10. Ten - Pearl Jam

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. I would answer this differently every day, I think! But...

Last edited Sun Nov 3, 2013, 09:14 PM - Edit history (1)

Trying to get to 10, and the ones below are my top rated just from what I've loaded into my iTunes, with many apologies to others just as worthy but....such as van Morrison, Suzanne Vega, and countless others. Impossible! But the list below my top of the top, I guess....

Beatles - Abbey Road

Mahler Symphony #2 Bernstein

Pat Metheny Group - The Way Up

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas

Gorecki Symhony #3 by Zinman

Springsteen - Born to run

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

Tomasz Stanko - Lontano

Shostakovich Symphony #4 - Rattle

Gillian Welch - The Harrow and the Harvest

Jethro tull - Thick as a Brick

Miles David - Kind of Blue

Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark

King Crimson - Red

Neil Young - After the Goldrush

REM - Automatic for the People

Radiohead - OK Computer

Sara McLachlan - Fumbling Toward Ecstacy

Stars of the Lid - And the Refinement of the Decline

Steely Dan - Aja

The Who - Who's Next

[Violet_Crumble]

4. Me too. I'm already getting the urge to tweak my list...

I found it interesting that we both listed Neil Young and Radiohead, but different albums. I used to get involved in the pointless flamewars on another forum over which Radiohead album was the best. I've always been firmly in 'The Bends' camp, as there's bits of OK Computer I find a bit sub-par. Mind you, seeing it's Radiohead, sub-par is far better than what you'd get from a lot of other bands

[NRaleighLiberal]

7. I was tempted to list In Rainbows as my favorite Radiohead!

For any of the artists listed, I could pick other releases...Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, many others...just some coin flips!

I've got a jazz collection of 300 plus albums....classical even more - and of course rock (mostly alternative)....and spotify is making exploration of music I am not as familiar with even easier!

[mackerel]

33. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs Excellent!

[oberliner]

2. This is sarcasm/parody, right?

Gotta be.

[Violet_Crumble]

5. No. My list is serious...

Why? Was it me listing Ten at 10 that's the problem? Damn. I knew someone would pick up on that!

You've inspired me to think about changing the one I had listed for Sonic Youth. Just for you, here's 'Confusion Is Sex & Kill Yr Idols. Enjoy...

[oberliner]

10. For all time?

It just seemed to skew so contemporary.

Edit to add: Relatively speaking.

[Violet_Crumble]

11. That's where my 'bit of personal bias' came in, I guess...

Though I did include two from 1970, technically there probably older ones, but I just don't like them or never heard them...

It's interesting to see these sorts of lists in publications like NME where they get people to vote. One from my list that is always near the top amongst some questionable stuff is 'The Queen Is Dead'. That's one album where popular opinion and the opinion of critics meshed, and that's coz it was flawless...

But like NRaleighLiberal said about his list, it really does depend on the mood yr in when yr making the list. I woke up today, saw bananas post about 'Dark Side Of The Moon', and while I'm not that fond of it, I'm thinking it really deserves a place in any list...

[oberliner]

12. Gotcha

In any case, as I recall our musical tastes run very differently so I think my top ten would make you ill.

[Violet_Crumble]

13. Give it a try if you find some time...

I love reading other people's lists, even if I don't like some of the stuff they've got on it. Unless the list you produce looks like this, and then I think it would be something best kept to oneself. I think you'd be safe, though...

1. Hotel California - The Eagles
2. The Long Run - The Eagles
3. Desperado - The Eagles
4. The Eagles - The Eagles
5. On The Border - The Eagles
6. Eagles Greatest Hits (vol 2) - The Eagles
7. One Of These Nights - The Eagles
8. Long Road Out Of Eden - The Eagles
9. The Very Best Of The Eagles - The Eagles
10. Selected Works 1982-1999 - The Eagles

[zappaman]

20. I'd throw in an album by AMERICA, but otherwise

Spot On!

[Glamrock]

23. As far as the Eagles go....

CAB

The Dude, in the back seat of a taxicab that rocks and squeaks
with every bump, is gingerly touching at sore spots on his
face and scalp.

"Peaceful Easy Feeling" is on the radio.

DUDE'S POV

The back of the driver, a large black man with rasta dreds
under a knit cap.

DUDE
Jesus, man, can you change the
station?

DRIVER
Fuck you man! You don't like my
fucking music, get your own fucking
cab!

DUDE
I've had a--

DRIVER
I pull over and kick your ass out,
man!

DUDE
--had a rough night, and I hate the
fucking Eagles, man--

DRIVER
That's it! Outta this fucking cab!

[Fantastic Anarchist]

25. Pink Floyd's earlier stuff, I think, is better.

Dark Side of the Moon is great, but I'd take Saucerful of Secrets or Piper at the Gates of Dawn for my personal list.

[Tikki]

3. My early years...

and after 1980…TBC...


Tikki

[Violet_Crumble]

6. I didn't know most of them except the Beatles until I got to The Ramones...

In hindsight I should have included that one and The Clash on my list....

[Tikki]

8. Have seen all on my list perform live, except..The BEATLES, Country Joe & the Fish and Richard Berry

Love your list…btw

If I had to add another before 1980, I add:

I guess you can tell I grew up and live on the West Coast…most of the artists were from the West Coast or W. Texas…


Tikki

[bananas]

9. I just realized it's the 40th anniversary of Dark Side of the Moon

I was going to say that it should be on the top 10 album list, googled it and found out...
http://darkside40.pinkfloyd.com/

[sweetloukillbot]

15. For today only...

No guarantees what tomorrow may bring.
1) Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
2) The Beatles - Abbey Road
3) Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
4) The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main St.
5) The Clash - London Calling
6) Nirvana - Nevermind
7) Peter Gabriel (Melt)
8) Radiohead - OK Computer
9) Richard & Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
10) Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back

Yeah, it may be conventional, but dammit, they're all great albums that move me in ways I can never put into words. And were I not limiting it to one appearance per band, 1/2 the list would be the Beatles.

[brooklynboy49]

29. Nevermind

I really like parts of your list, especially the inclusion of Nevermind.

[mackerel]

31. Some good one there, especially The Clash!

[Whisp]

16. At the moment these are some of my personal favourites

The list will always change.

Roxy Music - Avalon
Dead Can Dance - Spiritchaser
Enigma - MCMC a.d.
Deep Forest - Boheme
Until the End of the World - Soundtrack
O Brother Where Art Thou - Soundtrack
Annie Lennox - Medusa
Neil Young - Harvest Moon '92
Melissa Etheridge - 1988 (Late Sept. Dogs, Bring me Water)
Vanessa Mae - the Violin Player '95

[Lizzie Poppet]

17. Ooooh! DCD!

I was lucky enough to catch the Portland stop of Dead Can Dance's "Spiritchaser" tour (at the Schnitzer, no less...superb acoustics). Quite possibly the very best live musical performance I've ever experienced, and I've experienced literally thousands. I also put it on my top 10* list, along with:

Kate Bush - The Dreaming
New Model Army - The Ghost of Cain
VNV Nation - Futureperfect
Queen - A Night at the Opera
Einstürzende Neubauten - Halber Mensch
Victoria Williams - Loose
Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland
Skinny Puppy - Too Dark Park
Concrete Blonde - Bloodletting

*limiting this to rock/pop...mostly because trying to include jazz and classical puts me in too much of an apples-and-oranges situation

[zappaman]

19. Those are all excellent choices as well!

Mega props for throwing NEW MODEL ARMY on there!

[Fantastic Anarchist]

26. Can't have Skinny Puppy without Ministry, Butthole Surfers, or Revolting Cocks!

Come on now!

VNV Nation and Concrete Blonde are nice picks as well.

[zappaman]

18. All solid choices for the most part

But SOMETHING I LEARNED TODAY is still my favorite First song on a record.

[mackerel]

32. This video does not exist

[Jetboy]

21. I prefer singles to albums but I'll try:

1. Here's Little Richard by Little Richard

2. The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers

3. Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley

4. After School Session by Chuck Berry

5. Jerry Lee Lewis by Jerry Lee Lewis

6. Gene Vincent Rocks and the Blue Caps Roll by Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps

7. Shake Rattle and Roll by Bill Haley and the Comets

8. Fats Domino Swings by Fats Domino

9. Chirping Crickets by the Crickets

10. Buddy Holly by Buddy Holly

[brooklynboy49]

28. Well, there's a good, valid, compelling reason why you prefer singles

The artists you like didn't really do the LP thing a whole lot, except for maybe Elvis. I love so many of the artists you listed, especially Chuck Berry, for my money the true king of rock 'n' roll (with all due apologies to Elvis).

[Glamrock]

22. This month anyway...

In no particular order, of course:

1. Amorica - The Black Crowes
2. Spilt Milk - Jellyfish
3. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
4. Graceland - Paul Simon
5. Let It Be - The Beatles
6. I and Love and You - Avett Brothers
7. Exile On Main Street - Rolling Stones
8. Sigh No More - Mumford and Sons
9. The London Sessions - Howlin' Wolf
10. Tell 'Em What Your Name Is! - Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

[Fantastic Anarchist]

24. I like your style!

I'll have to add:

Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit for Rotten Vegetables

Holiday in Cambodia

Kill the Poor

[brooklynboy49]

27. My Top 10, From 1st to 10th (Today, anyway ;)

1. Rubber Soul (US version)
2. The Doors (debut s/t LP)
3. Aftermath
4. The Clash (debut s/t LP) (US version)
5. Creedence Clearwater Revival (debut s/t LP)
6. Led Zeppelin (debut s/t LP)
7. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
8. The Ramones (debut s/t LP)
9. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols
10.Cheap Thrills

[mackerel]

30. Violet_Crumble you've got some good ones there!

[lovemydog]

34. Changes all the time, but here is today's top ten

1. The Clash - Sandinista!
2. Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
3. Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street
4. Joni Mitchell - Hejira
5. Muddy Waters - Hard Again
6. Charlie Parker - Savoy Sessions
7. Bruce Springsteen - The Wild the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle
8. The Band - The Band
9. Lee Dorsey - Everything Gonna Be Funky
10. Fairport Convention - Halfbricking

[Number9Dream]

35. Always changing according to mood, but...

In no order:

Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd

Live at the Fillmore East - Allman Bros.

Ashes Are Burning - Renaissance

Roxy & Elsewhere - Zappa / Mothers

The Yes Album - Yes

Exile on Main Street - Rolling Stones

Revolver - The Beatles

Romantic Warrior - Return To Forever

Foxtrot - Genesis

Benefit - Jethro Tull