This is probably the best album ever recorded. Nine dramatic, dreamy songs strung togther, forming a concept album about the world's craziness.

Pink Floyd's second-best selling album was made as the band was falling apart. The songs on here are shorter and more conventional than what you'd hear on other Pink Floyd albums. It's also their darkest album, telling the story of an insane rock star.

The Smashing Pumpkins are my favorite 90s band. This is their third album. It has this certain epic vibe to it, with a nice mix of soft prettiness and dark heaviness. It's an emotional journey complete with tons 'o' angst.

My favorite indie rock album. It' actually a compilation of non-lp songs from the first phase of Modest Mouse's career. 12 perfect songs with amazing, quirky (in a sad, lonely sense) lyrics and catchy/jagged instrumentation.

The best music to come out of the 1960s. This is the first album by who a lot of people will agree is the best guitarist of all time. It rocks and bends the mind simultaneously.

I've heard it said that this is destined to be THE classic rock album of the 2000s. Then I heard a whole mess of cynics and naysayers. Whatever. Take a listen and decide for yourself.

Here's where The White Stripes start to experiment a little. It's an eclectic mix, with piano ballads, pop songs, and a funny little bluegrass tune. There are still plenty of rockers, too.

People NEVER shut up about this album. Some trash it, some worship it. I think it's excellent, especially the first six songs.

No one can make riffs like Tony Iommi. This album is the origin of the deep, heavy guitar sound I described under "Siamese Dream". Also be on the lookout for Geezer Butler's psychedelia-ish bass parts.

Speaking of haunting and beautiful, here's a band I discovered this past summer. This album is nice and soothing, but also trippy. Hope Sandoval is by far my favorite female vocalist.

More cool dissonence. Probably the hardest-rocking Sonic Youth album.

I got denied by someone I was very attracted to one day. That week I bought this album. It's the saddest album I own, and one of the most beautiful.

Porcupine Tree (specifically their genius frontman Steven Wilson)has been pregressing since the late 80s. I think this is their best album, a perfect blend of accesibilty and experiementalism. It's also a concept album in the tradition of "Dark Side of the Moon".

A song cycle about self-destruction and inner pain. Very dense and clearly influenced by "The Wall".

A perrenial favorite for crtics. Has "classic" written all over it, with an amazing collage of effects and sounds. It's pretty gloomy, too.

An endlessly enternaining 44-minute prog epic. It's not spacey or cosmic at all, though. In fact, it's almost folky. The satirica; lyrics are also very fun to listen to.

Another very hyped album. I figured I ought to include it in here, because you need to listen to it. The Velvet Undergound are kind of like The Beatles of alternative/underground music.

This is what I'm listening to right now. Awesome epic soundscapes. It's a two-disc album with four songs on it, each clocking in at about 20 minutes in length. Another definitive 2000s album.

The most celebrated band of all time gives Jimi a run for his money on this album. This is where The Beatles conquered popular music with an an astounding variety of pop genres.