Listmania!
Best Albums of All-Time!
By an Amazon.com customer
Abbey Road (1990)Abbey Road (1990) by The Beatles
Buy new: $16.99 / Used from: $3.99
Abbey Road is an amazing album, start to finish. Every song on here is great in its own way. My personal favorite is I Want You (She's So Heavy). It is one of the longest Beatles songs and one of their best. Everyone should own this album.
The Beatles (The White Album)The Beatles (The White Album) by The Beatles
Buy new: $29.99 / Used from: $7.99
This album features many of The Beatles bests songs. The holy trio, the triple threat, the triumvirate, and other superlatives apply to The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and Happiness is a Warm Gun. Of course there are many, many other notables on the album, other favs are Rocky Racoon, I Will, Long Long Long, and Mother Nature's Son.
Let It Be... NakedLet It Be... Naked by The Beatles
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $6.13
I feel like this is one of the most slandered and disrespected of all Beatles albums (except maybe the stellar Magical Mystery Tour). I Me Mine, Across the Universe, and Two of Us are my standouts on this amazing album.
ParachutesParachutes by Coldplay
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $3.50
Not overrated. Fortunately, the only song ruined by radio-play and I feel the worst on the album anyway. Trouble, Sparks, and Spies are my favorite tracks. Very chilled out album; Shiver and Yellow are the only upbeat tracks.
DoolittleDoolittle by Pixies
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $3.95
The Pixies were highly influential on great bands from the 90's. This is my favorite album from this band, with songs like Hey, Here Comes Your Man, Wave of Mutilation, and Gouge Away shine today with the same luster as 18 years ago.
Led Zeppelin IV (aka ZOSO)Led Zeppelin IV (aka ZOSO) by Led Zeppelin
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $3.45
This album could have 7 songs composed completely of different pitches of dog farts, the 8th song being Stairway to Heaven. What I still consider to be the greatest song of all-time. Luckily for all of us, this album contains many other great songs. Battle of Evermore and Going to California being my other favorites on the album.
Are You ExperiencedAre You Experienced by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $4.98
Jimi Hendrix proves his worth and fame through legendary songs like Purple Haze, Hey Joe, and the Wind Cries Mary. I love Highway Chile, too. One of my childhood favorites. He is still one of the greatest guitarists of all-time.
The Joshua TreeThe Joshua Tree by U2
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $1.99
U2's breakout album. Sure, they had amazing songs before Joshua Tree, but this combined them all into one album of pure goodness. Bullet the Blue Sky, Running to Stand Still, and In God's Country are personal favorites from the album, though most people absolutely love With or Without You and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For.
WarWar by U2
Buy used from: $0.25
Sunday Bloody Sunday, Seconds, and New Year's Day are in strong contention to be the Second Holy Trio. Very enjoyable album, even today. I was listening to some classic U2 lately and realize how great they were.
PopPop by U2
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $0.50
People hate this album...I love it. Take that as you will. Please, Wake Up Dead Man, If God will Send His Angels, Staring at the Sun, and Do You Feel Loved are all great songs. I would actually argue that this is one of U2's strongest albums.
Neva DinovaNeva Dinova by Neva Dinova
Buy used from: $7.34
This is the first one you probably haven't ever heard of. They are a band from my hometown and have the strongest debut of any band in recent memory. Amazing voice and guitar playing. Dances Fantastic, Anita, Brooklyn, Jesus' Choir, and Lucifer's Lament are flat-out amazing.
The Hate Yourself ChangeThe Hate Yourself Change by Neva Dinova
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $1.07
The follow-up album to Neva Dinova's self-title album. Not AS good, but it definitely holds its own. Strong songs such as Yellow Datsun, Blackest Heart, On/Off and Cold Calls are all awesome songs. Definitely recommended after you have been blown away by their awesome self-titled album.
Blue Sky MiningBlue Sky Mining by Midnight Oil
Buy used from: $0.01
Amazing album from the 80's. It might be nostalgia, but I absolutely love this album and I could easily recite every lyric from every song on the album. In fact, River Runs Red was my favorite song as a kid. Now, I would say Antarctica is my fav on the album.
Yoshimi Battles the Pink RobotsYoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $2.50
Do You Realize??, One More Robot, Fight Test, and In the Morning of the Magicians...nuff said! One of the best mixed albums of the past 10 years, for sure.
XOXO by Elliott Smith
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $3.48
An amazing album by Elliott Smith. His amazing songwriting really shines on this stellar album. XO, Independence Day, Amity, A Question Mark, and Baby Britain are great songs from the album.
Either/OrEither/Or by Elliott Smith
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $5.49
More raw than XO, and many people will say that it is better, too. Speed Trials, Rose Parade, and Say Yes stand out on this awesome album that flows so well from start to finish. My first Elliott Smith album, although it is actually not my favorite.
Figure 8Figure 8 by Elliott Smith
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $3.93
My personal favorite Elliott Smith album. I love almost every song on the album. Happiness, Junk Bond Trader, LA, Can't Make a Sound, and Son of Sam and Color Bars are always in my playlists. I truly love this album.
Jar of FliesJar of Flies by Alice in Chains
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $0.99
This album and band define the era for me. I Stay Away reminds me of everything that was holy about adolescence. I love it and the album as a whole is great.
OK ComputerOK Computer by Radiohead
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $3.23
Rated by many as the best album of the past 20 years, or ever. I wouldn't agree with that sentiment, but I would agree about its sheer influence and production levels. Paranoid Android, Lucky, Exit Music (For a Film), No Surprises, and Karma Police are amazing and epic. Everybody knows this album and if you don't, you need to.
DisintegrationDisintegration by The Cure
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $2.93
Amazing album full of hits from start to finish. Many people would think that this is a greatest hits album. Most bands would probably sell their souls to the devil for this album to be their greatest hits collection! Fascination Street is one of my all-time favorite songs, not to mention Love Song, Lullaby, and Pictures of You
Automatic for the PeopleAutomatic for the People by R.E.M.
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $0.01
One of REM's best. Drive, Monty Got a Raw Deal, and Nightswimming, among others on the disc display a great deal of the range that REM can show on just one album.
DocumentDocument by R.E.M.
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $1.76
This album is the One I Love, if you know what I am saying. So many great tracks. I am very fond of Oddfellows Local 151 and Fireplace, amongst other songs on the stellar album.
UpUp by R.E.M.
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $0.01
Highly underrated album. Check it out and you will enjoy at least 5 songs (I really like 8) on the album. Highlights are The Lotus and Daysleeper.
CalifornicationCalifornication by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $2.50
Yes, it is a very popular album. If you, by some odd chance have never heard this album or the songs off it, buy it! It is awesome! Album of the Year for me when it came out and received tons of listen time.
Let GoLet Go by Nada Surf
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $4.99
You might remember their MTV hit "Popular". Well, this album is nothing like that. It is truly mind-blowing, though. Killians Red is the best song ever written and La Pour Ca, Blonde on Blonde, Winter of 77, and Paper Boats will gently rock your socks off!
Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? by The Unicorns
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $4.35
The Best album of the past 5 years without a doubt. There is no debating. You will understand when you hear this album start to finish and proceed to listen to it for weeks without end!
BloodsportBloodsport by Sneaker Pimps
Buy used from: $3.97
Received this album for free when I worked at a music store after shilling some stupid products. It was WELL worth it. It contains Grazes, one of the most lyrically awesome and musically powerful songs ever written. There are only 2 songs on this album that I don't listen to. AMAZING!
Kiss + SwallowKiss + Swallow by I Am X
Buy used from: $44.53
Chris Corner from Sneaker Pimps goes solo and goes crazy. Many great trip-hop and techno-inspired tracks. awesome songs that came out of nowhere.
Days of Future PassedDays of Future Passed by The Moody Blues
Buy used from: $3.44
My Dad's one and only rock album he ever loved. poetic songs and tons of atmosphere. Nights in White Satin and Tuesday Afternoon are standouts.
Chaos and Creation in the BackyardChaos and Creation in the Backyard by Paul McCartney
Buy new: $62.98 / Used from: $24.69
The best post-Beatles album by one of the bandmembers, in my opinion. A lot of excellent tunes and it is produced so cleanly that with a good hi-fi, you will swear you are in the studio with Paul. Jenny Wren is amazing!
Dark Side Of The MoonDark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $3.24
The album that defined Pink Floyd as a band. It is an amazingly cohesive, free flowing album from start to finish. Just one listen is probably enough to catch your ear.
Hail to the ThiefHail to the Thief by Radiohead
Buy new: $17.98 / Used from: $1.62
Radiohead's second best album, although that would be heavily debated my many, many people. While I think The Bends is awesome, this album just has so much range! 2 + 2 = 5, We Suck Young Blood, Myxamatosis, and There There are awesome, although pretty much every song is on this album.
Laughing StockLaughing Stock by Talk Talk
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $3.66
Different from any other album on this list. Chilled out and drawn out. A lot of pure instrumentation with few vocals. An amazing album to just relax to and think up ways to cure cancer and such.
Psyence FictionPsyence Fiction by U.N.K.L.E.
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $0.78
DJ Shadow and James Lavell are geniuses. Several amazing guest vocalists on the album and some amazing sampling goes into one of my favorite non-conventional-genre albums ever. Don't miss Rabbit in Your Headlights.