Post your favourite albums. Feel free to give an explanation if you fancy. This might not be completely accurate, but I'll list them as they come to mind.
I'll start.
1 - Michael Jackson - Off The Wall
This was the first album I ever owned... on cassette. When I was a wee lad, I used to have this album on repeat throughout the day - whether it was in the car, on my walkman, or on the boot-sale stereo I had in my bedroom, it would basically be on continuous repeat because I didn't have any other music. Michael Jackson is probably the most prevalent influence I've had on music throughout my lifespan thus far, and for that reason this has to be my #1.
2 - The Pharcyde - Labcabincalifornia
For me, this has to be my favourite hip hop album of all time. Every single song on it, disregarding Splattitorium, is an absolute tune. I first picked this up in my early teens, but when I got my driving license at 17, I barely took it out of the CD player. I used to wind my ex girlfriends up whenever they were a captive audience in the passenger seat, being a typical British white guy singing along to every lyric. Labcabincalifornia was the album which projected my hip hop taste in the right direction, and brought my attention to the conscious aspect of the genre.
3 - Black Star - Black Star
I first got my turntables when I was 16 if I remember correctly, and currently my record collection is roughly around the 2,000 mark. Of all those 2,000 or so storage-clogging vinyl, this is probably the most significant one. As it happens, I'd never even been made aware that Talib Kweli and Mos Def worked on something together, and this album found me in the unlikeliest of ways. I got my decks off of eBay, and the seller attached his god-awful 90's trance collection to the listing. Amongst those, Black Star was lurking in the shadows. I fell in love with this album from the first listen, and still listen to it regularly to this day. Immaculate collaborative work from two of the most revered vanguards within hip hop.
4 - Bonobo - Black Sands
I first became familiar with Bonobo's music around 2001 because my friend had Animal Magic. By the time Dial 'M' for Monkey came out, I was completely taken by the atmosphere Bonobo's music created. Every time a new album came out, I became more and more drawn in by Bonobo's work. I think Black Sands took its stage at the plateau of my interests. I managed to grab it the day it was released, but I was really busy and never truly got round to listening to it until I was heading to Hong Kong on a plane. I had no desire to sleep on that plane trip because I was so into this album, particularly 1009 as there was something about that song with regard to the stage I was at in my life. That, and Andreya Triana is an absolute goddess in Stay The Same. Beautiful album.
5 - The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
I spent so long trying to figure out the drums to F*ck You (An Ode to No One), but I don't think I ever came close. Regardless, The Smashing Pumpkins were an absolute huge part of my teenage years, and even though I seldom listen to them anymore, I don't think I can ever really justify making a list of this nature without including what I felt was their best album.
Honorable mentions:
Amy Winehouse - Frank
Dr. Dre - 2001
J Dilla - Donuts
Madlib - Shades of Blue
James Brown - Sex Machine
Tool - Lateralus
Wu Tang Clan - The W
Nirvana - Nevermind
Pixies - Doolittle
MF DOOM - Madvillainy
Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland
Craig David - Born To Do It
KMD - Black B*stards
Zero 7 - Simple Things
TM Juke - Maps From The Wilderness
The Cinematic Orchestra - Motion
A Tribe Called Quest - Beats, Rhymes and Life
Leftfield - Rhythm and Stealth
2pac - Me Against The World
Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage
Weezer - Weezer
The Cardigans - Life
I'm sure I've probably missed some obvious ones, but oh well.
Yep, I have a few albums of Boys II Men and Prince's Purple Rain was my first cassette tape that I was given as a child. A lot of my music interests are based on what I remember growing up, lots of heavy nostalgia. Someone played Return of the Mack the other day on the radio and I just had 90's UK flashbacks, that song dominated the charts.
deleteddeletedover 10 years ago
going by ones that come to mind
classic rock: highway 61 revisited (desolation row and ballad of a thin man), hunky dory, abbey road, lust for life, randy newman's good old boys, transformer, warren zevon
modern rock: tom waits' orphans/small change/mule variations/early years, david sylvian's everything & nothing, j mascis' several shades of why (circle of friends cover), lambchop's mr. m, nick cave's tender prey and push the sky away, volent femmes, t bone burnett's the true false identity
country/folk: fred eaglesmith's 6 volts, gurf morlix's last exit to happyland, doc watson, john prine, james mcmurtry's copper canteen, john moreland's in the throes, johnny cash's american iv, rambling jack elliott's young brigham, townes van zandt's at my window, hayes carll's trouble in mind (i don't wanna grow up cover)
comedy: richard pryor's bicentennial ******, george carlin's you are all diseased, mitch hedberg's mitch all together, joe rogan's rocky mountain high
Get On The Floor! Off The Wall is an amazing tune too, as is I Can't Help It. Roni Size - Brown Paper Bag always reminded me of I Can't Help It, and that tune was a banger. Rock With You and Burn This Disco Out are massive tunes too.
As far as favourite Michael Jackson song of all time, I'd probably say it's Baby Be Mine. There are so many, but I love that song for so many reasons.
I've heard this album before, but I can't think for the life of me where. Might have featured in something like A Different World, or maybe some early 90's film. Honestly, I can't remember. Either way, I just listened to it start to finish after you posted, and I absolutely love it.
Funnily enough I never quite got into Nas, I love a few of his tunes here and there, and what he represents, but he's not been a huge fixture for me sadly, at least not enough to include Nastradamus (which would be my go-to).
I really like your taste in music Bumpers! I take it you're into your Boyz II Men, Prince, Sade, The Police etc? Just an assumption, mind.
Hey Roadman, what's your favourite track off On The Wall? Personally I can't decide amongst She's Out of My Life or I Can't Help It. For overall Michael Jackson song I absolutely love Human Nature.
You have an amazing genre range, and I'm pretty surprised with the music you like being white. not trying to be rude.
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I'm going to drop some of my favourite British R&B and jazz, the scene in the UK during the 80's was amazing and I wish I was around to listen to it live.
52nd Street: Children of the Night
I LOVE this album so much but they're not known so well. Good luck finding their collection, but I highly recommend listening to it. My favourite track is 'Tell Me How It Feels', however the track Children of the Night itself really resonated with me growing up.
Loose Ends: A Little Spice
I think this was quite successful in the US, but there's so many tracks in here the average Brit would know straight away if they heard 5 seconds of it. Hanging on a String is a brilliant track.
Not British, but honourable mention to Janet Jackson's 1814
Rhythm Nation and Come Back to Me, god damn.
Other than the exclusion of Nas I'd say you're all solid on the rap and hip hop front.
i lied, The Run and Go is far and away the best song on that album
deleteddeletedover 10 years ago
time for a typical white girl's favs
1. The 1975, I like it when you sleep for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it came out in february after like 2.5 years of restless waiting. quickly became my favorite album. favorites are Paris and The Sound
2. Mariana's Trench, Ever After discovered this band in 2009 and loved them since. pretty sure i've listened to this album on repeat around 200~ times no lie favorite is By Now
3. Ed Sheeran, x always been a softy for ed sheeran, amazing voice and lyrics (amazing to see live as well) if my friend didn't break my dang cd player in my car last summer i guarantee this would be the album i'd have playing in my car right now favorites are I'm a Mess and Photograph
4. The Script, Science & Faith was my favorite band at one point (the 1975 took over) always loved their music and sound and this album by far is their best, irish accents are a plus favorite song is Science & Faith
5. OneRepublic, Native never been fully into OneRepublic but always appreciated ryan tedder's songwriting and i rly enjoy this album favorite song Burning Bridges
CloudKicker - Let yourself be huge Honestly, i never met anyone who didnt like this album. Its just really great ambiant, his other stuff is more metal but are great too.
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Coldplay - A rush of blood to the head Best coldplay album imo, green eyes and amsterdam are just too good :)
Pixies ~ Debaser Sherree Chamberlain ~ Wasp In The Room Santigold ~ Santogold Missy Higgins ~ The Sound of White Metric ~ Fantasies Manchester Orchestra ~ I'm Like A Virgin Losing A Child Lupe Fisaco ~ The Cool Jack Off Jill ~ Sexless Demons and Scars Cake ~ Fashion Nugget The Killers ~ Hot Fuss Paramore ~ Brand New Eyes Submotion Orchestra ~ Finest Hour MIA ~ Kala Zero 7 ~ Simple Things The Weeknd ~ House of Balloons Flying Lotus ~ Reset EP
4. Twenty One Pilots - Vessel This was initially a toss-up between Vessel and their most recent album Blurryface, but I like the raw emotion behind Vessel more. While their lyrics are always meaningful and passionate, in this case they are really striking and brutally honest, while mixing rock with rap as well as anyone. Favorite track: Holding On to You
5. The Beatles - The Beatles (White Album) Had to throw in a Beatles album of course! Look, there's so much to choose from the Beatles work, this one just has the most stuff I like. There really isn't a wrong answer when you say which Beatles album is your favorite. Favorite track: Blackbird
1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly I've always been kinda silently into rap, but when I started listening to Kendrick I really vocalized it. So when TPAB dropped out of nowhere I binged it immediately and was blown away. What an album. His writing is superb and the infusion of funk, jazz and hip hop into his songs were stellar. Favorite track: u
2. The Lumineers - Cleopatra This one only came out a couple weeks ago but it's already one of my favorites. Sophomore slump this is not, the Lumineers in my opinion take their recognizable folk rock sound from their debut album and just make it sound so fluid. Only 33 minutes in length and yet somehow they manage to pack in so much emotion and brilliant music into it. Favorite track: Gun Song
3. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City To me, this is where Vampire Weekend went beyond being some gimmicky hipster indie band, and created even better music. Lyrics that really impress and songs that really hit you. It was one of those albums that I couldn't believe I hadn't listened to until I did. Favorite track: Hannah Hunt
May be a bit of a cop out, but I like Bowie quite a lot and these covers are all excellent. I never watched the movies until many years after first listening to this, but I always appreciated the uniqueness of it - Portuguese acoustic Bowie covers.
Favorite Track: Life on Mars
George Winston - December
Terrific piano music, the kind of music you'd expect to hear playing in the background at a Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering with family. I listened to this a ton on cold days when I lived in Buffalo.
Favorite Track: Thanksgiving
of Montreal - Hissing Fauna are you the Destroyer?
of Montral's another band with a lot of great albums, but Hissing Fauna is the first of their's I listened to, and it also is a great transition album from the band's early, twee lo-fi pop to the more heavy funk of the more recent albums. It's a concept album that doesn't really feel like one. Reminds me of being an angsty 15 year old. I've seen them live twice and they put on quite the show.
Favorite Track: The Past is a Grotesque Animal
Here are a few others I enjoy, but don't really feel like going in-depth on.
Melody's Echo Chamber - Melody's Echo Chamber Tame Impala - Lonerism Unknown Mortal Orchestra - II Smash Mouth - Astro Lounge Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul Hall & Oates - The Very Best of Daryl Hall & John Oates Brand New - Your Favorite Weapon Nas - Illmatic Bob Marley - Exodus Spraynard - Funtitled Blink 182 - Take off Your Pants & Jacket The Velvet Underground - Loaded
It's difficult to pick out favorite albums, but these are ones I very rarely struggle to listen straight through. No particular order.
The Beatles - Revolver
Picking one Beatles album is a challenge, but Revolver has a few of my favorite tracks and some of the best drumming Ringo has done with the band. It's a great transitional album from their more pop-ish, early days and the psychedelic works like Sgt. Pepper's and Magical Mystery Tour. I listened to this album a lot on vinyl with an old girlfriend so it serves as a bookmark to memories as a 16 year old, making out in her parent's basement.
Favorite Track: She Said She Said
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
This album is 35 minutes of great tunes, a very easy and pleasant listen. Lots of great singalongs, but the Beach Boys had some terrific harmonies on this album and every song sits well with me.
Favorite Track: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
Mac Demarco - 2
A more recent entry for me, I didn't get into Mac until last year. But in addition to having numerous, catchy songs that are fun to play, I listened to this album straight through on my long walks during my Seattle trip and every time I hear it, it takes me back to those warm days.
Favorite track: Ode to Viceroy
Charles Bradley & the Menahan Street Band - No Time for Dreamin'
I've seen Charles live 4 times now and he never ceases to impress. In addition to having an amazing story and a wonderful personality (I met him once 2 years ago), he really wails on this album. What I love most about Soul as a genre is that it is just that - Charles sings from the heart and gives a ton of feeling behind every word.
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