HTF's Best Albums List (1 Viewer)

[Ben LG]

The movies section on HTF always has tons of reviews and best of lists for film. So I thought, how come the music section is lacking even a remotely close to best of list. Maybe the two channel guys are feeling a bit left out heh

Wouldnt it be a great way to discover/discuss some new artists and different genres if HTF has a sort of reference list (maybe the mods might be able to create an official thread?), where members contributed all of their best of albums? It does not have to only be the best of's from your collection but maybe some recent albums you bought that you thought were good.

Ill kick it off and see how it goes from here, hopefully the list builds up. Some albums I bought recently

Dark Side Of The Moon [SACD Hybrid] Pink Floyd
Absolution [IMPORT] Muse
Showbiz Muse
Long Gone Before Daylight [IMPORT] Cardigans
Best of / Unplugged [IMPORT] The Corrs
Harem Sarah Brightman
Better Dayz 2pac
Chimera Delerium
The Black Album Jay-Z
Live in Dublin The Corrs
A Rush of Blood to the Head Coldplay
Parachutes Coldplay
Fallen Evanescence
The Singles 1992-2003 No Doubt
Stars: The Best of the Cranberries, 1992-2002

 

[TomCW]

Great Idea! I get to plug my current favorites!

Erica Smith - Friend or Foe
http://maidmusic.com/

Grey Eye Glances - A Little Voodoo
http://www.greyeyeglances.com/

Jan Smith Band - Tin Heart
http://www.jansmithband.com/

More later...

Tom

 

[Jason Wilcox]

some nice albums i've bought recently...

-explosions in the sky - the earth is not a cold dead place
-belle and sebastian - dear catastrophe waitress and fold your hands child you walk like a peasant
-the shins - chutes too narrow
-sigur ros - ( )
-mogwai - rock action and happy songs for happy people
-nick drake - five leaves left
-yo la tengo - i can hear the heart beating as one
-cat power - you are free
-yeah yeah yeahs - fever to tell
-godspeed you black emperor- lift your skinny fists like antennas to heaven

 

[Patrick Larkin]

Is this an essentials list? If it is, here is a start for me:

XTC Skylarking
Wilco Summerteeth
Lou Reed The Blue Mask
Feelies The Good Earth
Elvis Costello Imperial Bedroom
Robyn Hitchcock Element of Light
Every Beatles album
Frank Zappa We're Only in it for the Money

...and the list goes on and on and on....

 

[Khoa Tran]

jason you stole half of my albums =(

 

[Sathyan]

OK My list is going to be weighted towards more recent releases (but spans 1942-2003)

I'll limit myself to 5 per genre

CD unless otherwise marked

Pop (English):
Pink floyd dark side of the moon SACD
Dido no angel
*Corrs, The talk on corners
Santana Caravansarai
Lamya Learning from falling


Country:
Mindy McCready If I don't stay the night HDCD
Bering Strait Bering strait
Shania Twain Up! DVDA
Chely wright never love you enough HDCD
Shelby lynne love shelby

Non-English Pop:
Natasha St Pier De l'amour le mieux
Thalia Arrasando
Nightwish century child
Lucero carinos
Les Nubians Princesses Nubiennes

Bluegrass:
*Alison Krauss New Favorite SACD
Alison Krauss Live DVDV
Jerry Douglas Lookout for hope SACD
Bela Fleck Perpetual Motion
Bill Monroe Columbia Historic Edition


Jazz:
Diana krall when i look into your eyes SACD
Diana krall all for you
Miles Davis Sketches of Spain SACD
Choral Concert Trio A Mighty Fortress is our god
Jacintha Lush Life XRCD

Classical:
Shostakovich Jazz Suites DVDA (Naxos)
*Anna Netrebko Opera Arias SACD
*Lara St John Bach Works for Solo Violin HDCD
*Bartok Concerto for Orchestra XRCD (Reiner/CSO)
Bruckner Symphony 7 (Furtwangler)

Classical Crossover:
Bond Born
Emma Shapplin Carmine Meo
Emma Shapplin Etterna DVDA
Vanessa-Mae The Violin Player
Catrin Finch Crossing the stone

* 5 desert island cds

 

[Alan Erceg]

Metallica -- Master of Puppets
Metallica -- ..And Justice For All
Metallica -- Ride The Lightning
Metallica -- Kill Em All

do you need any more ...

 

[Marc Colella]

Aimee Mann: Lost in Space
Aimee Mann: Bachelor #2
Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Fiona Apple: Tidal
Fiona Apple: When the Pawn...
Pete Yorn: musicforthemorningafter
Sarah McLachlan: Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
Keb' Mo': The Door
Keb' Mo': Just Like You
James Taylor: Hourglass
Jon Brion: Meaningless
Magnolia Soundtrack (featuring Aimee Mann)
Magnolia Score (Jon Brion)
The Thin Red Line Soundtrack (Hans Zimmer)
Mark Knopfler: Sailing to Philadelphia
Mark Knopfler: Golden Heart
Coldplay: A Rush of Blood to the Head
Coldplay: Parachutes

 

[Rachael B]

Sum auf zee moist enfluential albans I'z auh-doors....

HOT RATS & OVERNITE SENSATION by Frank Zappa
Herbbie Hancock HEAD HUNTERS
Jean Luc Ponty's IMAGINARY VOYAGE
Dave Brubeck Quartet TIME OUT
IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING & RED by King Crimson
Southern Culture On The Skids PLASTIC SEAT SWEAT
Ramsey Lewis FUNKY SERENITY
Donovan OPEN ROAD & SUNSHINE SUPERMAN & MELLOW YELLOW
Chick Corea & Return To Forever WHERE HAVE I KNOW YOU BEFORE
Todd Rundgren RUNT
Isley Brothers THE HEAT IS ON
B-52's WILD PLANET
The Clash COMBAT ROCK & LONDON CALLING
Poco PICKIN' UP THE PIECES
FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS 1st
Steve Miller band CHILDREN OF THE FUTURE
Taj Mahal S/T
Otis Spann with (most of) Fleetwood Mac THE BIGGEST THING SINCE COLOSSUS
The Paladins YEARS SINCE YESTERDAY
Spirit THE TWELVE DREAMS OF DR. SARDONICUS
Savoy Brown RAW SIENA
Harvey Mason FUNK IN A MASON JAR
Lee Ritenour FEEL THE NIGHT
The Meters, any album!
Derek Trucks Band JOYFUL NOISE
Stan Getz & Jao Gilberto GETZ/GILBERTO
George Benson WHITE RABBIT
Chet Baker CHET
George Clinton/Parliment/Funkadelic - THE BRIDES OF FUNKENSTEIN
Dixie Dregs WHAT IF & NIGHT OF THE LIVING DREGS
Led Zepplin S/T & III & IV
Marc Benno AMBUSH & LOST IN AUSTIN
The Insects, REVOLVER
Rolling Bollos IT'S ONLY ROCK AND ROLL
Buddy Holly & The Crickets GREASTEST HITS
Spyra Gyro MODERN TIMES
Average White Band 1st
Antonio Carlos Jobim STONE FLOWER
Nickel Creek THIS SIDE
Jacintha AUTUMN LEAVES & JACINTHA IS HER NAME
Anthony Wilson Trio OUR GANG
Roxy Music FOR YOUR PLEASURE

 

[JordanS]

Radiohead - OK Computer
Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms
Eagles - Hell Freezes Over

 

[Jeremiah]

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Greatest Hits
Bob Segar - Greatest Hits 2

 

[Sheldon C]

Dammit Alan! Your stole mine!

Ok, for those of you into good metal you probably own Metallica's first four albums (especially #2,3,4). Here are some more metal must haves:

Dream Theater: Train of Thought, Scenes from a Memory, and Images and Words are the best although all DT is outstanding.

Slayer: Seasons in the Abyss

Iced Earth: Burnt Offerings and Glorious Burden (especially Gettysburg trilogy). Both trilogies on "Something Wicked" and "Dark Saga" are amazing as well.

Queeensryche: Operation Mindcrime and Empire

In Flames: Whoracle

Megadeth: Rust in Peace (the only really good Megadeth album)

Opeth: Still Life (I just can't get into any of their other stuff, but I love this one).

Iron Maiden: Brave New World (my favorite Maiden album, and yes I have almost all of their stuff)

Pantera: Far Beyond Driven (Everyone else prefers Vulger Display of Power...)

Van Halen: Fair Warning (the last true VH album, and their best)

After Forever: Prison of Desire (WOW, this band is amazing). Afterforever.com

Sepultura: Arise (I'm a sucker for clean thrash metal).

Tool: Lateralus or Aenima

Fear Factory: Demanufacture and Obsolete

Nevermore: Dead Heart in a Dead World

Type O Negative: Bloody Kisses

 

[Greg Walker]

Albums that I have been enjoying lately:

Ken Burns' Jazz
Tracy Chapman
Meet Joe Black Soundtrack
Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits
U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind
Sarah McLachlan - Afterglow

 

[Mike Broadman]

I'm surprised you don't also dig Blackwater Park. Pretty much the same sound and style, and both are amongst my favorite metal albums of all time.

Some random lists and trying to exclude stuff others have mentioned:

Essential albums (limiting one per artist):
Led Zeppelin- untitled
John Coltrane- A Love Supreme (deluxe edition double CD and SACD)
Miles Davis- Kind of Blue (remastered CD and SACD)
Rush- Moving Pictures
Dream Theater- Metropolis 2: Scenes From A Memory
King Crimson- Discipline
Iron Maiden- Powerslave
Frank Zappa- One Size Fits All
Thelonious Monk- Misterioso
Charlie Parker- Yardbird Suite (2-disc comp)
Dizzy Gillespie- Birk's Works (big band collection)
Duke Ellington- 3-disc comps from Columbia and RCA
Genesis- Selling England By the Pound
Peter Gabriel- So
Pink Floyd- Animals
Warren Zevon- Excitable Boy
Bob Dylan- Blonde on Blonde
Mahavishnu Orchestra- Birds of Fire
Charles Mingus- Tijuana Moods
Horace Silver- Song for My Father
Steely Dan- Aja
King's X- Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
Parliament- Mothership Connection
NWA- Straight Outta Compton
Public Enemy- It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Robert Fripp & David Sylvian- The First Day
Paul Simon- Graceland
Porcupine Tree- In Absentia
The Flower Kings- Back in the World of Adventures
Spock's Beard- Kindness of Strangers
Yes- Close to the Edge
Grant Green- Matador
The Beatles- Revolver
Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers- Moanin'
Sonny Rollins- Saxophone Colossus
Radiohead- OK Computer
Pearl Jam- Ten
Marvin Gaye- What's Going On
Stevie Wonder- Innervisions

Best recent albums:
Dream Theater- Train of Thought
Liz Wright- Salt
King Crimson- The Power to Believe
Rush- Vapor Trails
The Flower Kings- Unfold the Future
Peter Gabriel- Up
Wilco- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Radiohead- Hail to the Thief
Dave Holland Big Band- What Goes Around
Jimmy Cobb's Mob

Best live albums:
Dave Holland- Extended Play
Yes- Yessongs
Thelonious Monk- Live at the It Club
Duke Ellington- Newport
Dream Theater- Once in a Livetime
Frank Zappa- Roxy & Elsewhere

Best double albums:
Genesis- The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Dream Theater- Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Frank Zappa- Joe's Garage
The Flower Kings- Unfold the Future
Led Zeppelin- Physical Graffitti

Best box sets:
John Coltrane- complete live at the Village Vanguard
Genesis- Archives, vol 1
Led Zeppelin- complete studio recordings
Miles Davis- complete live at the Plugged Nickel
King Crimson- Great Deceiver

 

[Rob P S]

Ryan Adams - Gold
The Ataris - So Long, Astoria
Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill
BoDeans - Joe Dirt Car
Counting Crows - August and Everything After
Cracker - Kerosene Hat
Crowded House - self-titled
Iris DeMent - My Life
Eagles - On the Border
Steve Earle - Train a Comin'
Good Charlotte - The Young and the Hopeless
Green Day - Dookie
John Hiatt - Walk On
Hootie & the Blowfish - Cracked Rear View
The Jayhawks - Tomorrow the Green Grass
The Mavericks - What a Crying Shame
Morphine - Yes
Van Morrison - Moondance
Pearl Jam - Ten
R.E.M. - Automatic for the People
The Replacements - Tim
Son Volt - Trace
Soul Coughing - Ruby Vroom
Uncle Tupelo - Anodyne
Whiskeytown - Strangers Almanac
Wilco - A.M.
Lucinda Williams - Sweet Old World
Pete Yorn - Musicforthemorningafter

 

[Eric Peterson]

Here's my crack at it

Faith No More - Angel Dust
Tool - Undertow
Primus - Sailing the Seas of Cheese
Johnny Cash - Live at Folsom Prison (Restored)
Beastie Boys - Paul's Botique
Peter Gabriel - 3rd Album
Clutch - Clutch
Aimee Mann - Lost in Space
Fiona Apple - When the Pawn...
Tricky - Angels w/ Dirty Faces
Portishead - Dummy
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense
The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta

I could go on and on, but those are the albums that immediately come to mind and that I can put on and listen all the way through countless times and have with every single ablum on my list.

 

[Tim Hoover]

A few albums I would like to add to the ever-growing list:

U2's almighty Achtung Baby
Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska
Mercury Rev's All Is Dream

and my all-time Number One top album of all time, out of print unfortunately, is Catherine Wheel's Adam & Eve.

 

[Zen Butler]

1. Steve Roach- The Magnificent Void
2. Vangelis-Blade Runner Score (Gongo)
3. Bjork-Homogenic
4. David Sylvian-Secrets of the Beehive
5. Aphex Twin- Richard D. James
6. Tom Waits- Swordfishtrombones
7. The Police-Ghost in the Machine
8. Dr. Dre-The Chronic
9. Depeche Mode- Violator
10. David Bowie-StationtoStation
11. Sonic Youth-Daydream Nation
12. Frank Black-Teenager of the Year
13. Van Halen-Fair Warning
14. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds-Murder Ballads
15. Wu Tang Clan- Enter the Wu Tang
16. The Cure-Disintegration
17. Johnny Cash-Live at Folsom Prison
18. This Mortal Coil- It'll End in Tears
19. Jeff Buckley- Grace
20. Boards of Canada- Music Has the Right to Children
21. Bjork-Post

 

[Evan S]

Here are my essentials...(eliminating greatest hits compilations and only one selection per artist)

Happy Anniversary Charlie Brown - GRP collection
Dada - American Highway Flower
Kiss - Dressed to Kill
Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
Tesla - Mechanical Resonance
Robert Cray Band - Strong Persuader
Stevie Ray Vaughn - Texas Flood
Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk
Shawn Colvin - Fat City
Porcupine Tree - In Abscentia
Metallica - And Justice For All
Alison Krauss and Union Station - Live (SACD)
Diana Krall - When I Look In Your Eyes
Ryan Adams - Gold
Van Halen - Fair Warning
Queensryche - Empire (Barely beating out Mindcrime)
Coldplay - Parachutes

I am at work and that's my list off the top of my head but I am sure I am forgetting some. I wish I was home and can look at my collection for this...I'm sure I am doing an injustice to some great artists.

 

[Sheldon C]

Mike,

I do own Blackwater park but I honestly have only listened to it all the way through 4 or 5 times... Still Live had "clicked" by then.

Maybe it needs another chance.