Top 10 Most Important Albums To You

As I assume for most, this list is based on where I was in my life when listening more than quality of albums or influence on a wider audience. (Longwinded--you can just look at bold… entries or just skip the post...)

10. OK Computer: Radiohead. This is my current “most important” because I'm now rediscovering great music that moves the heart and soul. There has been a portion of life in which I’ve been busy with--well, life (work, relationships, paying bills)—that I listened less closely to music than I did to the rest of the noise. I have some down time now to reflect; part of this reflection has been rediscovery of how wonderful music is (with lots of help from rab!!). I find Radiohead to be an excellent group that doesn’t deny the greats that came before them, but also forges its own tastes, sounRAB, experiments--that's heartening to me. OK Computer moves me the most of their albums.

9. Babylon the Bandit: Steel Pulse
8. We are Everyone of Us: Sweet Honey and the Rock
7. Tracy Chapman: Tracy Chapman
I list these together because, although different from one another, they represent various political awakenings for me at times in my life. For me, these 3 albums helped wake me up to the fact that “not all is alright in the world,” and we can sit back and complain about it, or we can attempt to make a difference, even if in the smallest way. These 3 best represent for me what Burning Spear asserts: “Some people might see [music] based upon money, some people might see music based upon opportunity and access. But I see music as life. I see music as inspiration.”

Babylon the Bandit helped me to see how some cultures have attempted to obliterate the influence of other cultures—e.g., in “Not the King James Version” ("Hidden from me I was never told; Ancient prophets black and gold; Like Daniel, King David and Abraham; Israel were all black men. I don't wanna lose you. Japhet tried his best to erase the godly parts we played. I says he came and took, and never mention in his book, in Esau's chapter of history, so little mention of you and me.")
We are Everyone of Us is an album by an all-female (mostly a cappella or with very basic traditional African instruments) group. They're influenced by black spiritual/African-American gospel style, and their songs have mainly a political message ("The older I get the better I know that the secret of my going on, is when the reins are in the hand of the young, who dare to run against the storm… I’m a woman who speaks in a voice and I must be heard; At times I can be quite difficult, I’ll bow to no man’s word.") Bearnice Johnson Reagon, who founded the group, is KICK ASSSSS!
Tracy Chapman was important to me in grad school. I remeraber seeing her in concert in a small hall in Philadelphia just when she was coming onto the scene; the next week I was in Paris (dating someone French) and “Fast Car” was blaring at an outside caf
 
1) August Burns Red - Constellations
2) A Day To Remeraber - For Those Who Have Heart
3) Enter Shikari - Common DreaRAB
4) MyChildren MyBride - Lost Boy
5) The Ghost Inside - Returners
6) Stick To Your Guns - The Hope Division
7) For The, Fallen Dreams - Relentless
8) We Came As Romans - To Plant A Seed
9) Attack Attack! - (Self Titled)
10) The Devil Wears Prada - With Roots Above and Branches Below
 
10. Steely Dan - Aja
Upon hearing this for the first time, I discovered I had a bit of a soft spot for jazzier music

9. Happy Mondays - Pills, Thrills 'n' Bellyaches
Got me into all that Madchester stuff, therefore late 80s/early 90s house, therefore a lot of dance music

8. The Fall - Hex Enduction Hour
Got me started on my hugely rewarding journey through the Fall's discography

7. Faith No More - King For a Day, Fool For a Lifetime
One of the few albums I got when I was 13 that I still listen to and love to this day

6. The Pogues - The Very Best Of the Pogues
I picked this up for about a fiver second-hand in Aberdeen and it's one of the most rewarding bargain-purchases I've ever made. I used to have no opinion on them, now they're one of my favourites

5. Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers - LAMF
And then there's this. I'd heard punk before (Sex Pistols and the Clash basically) but this album encouraged me to really get into punk music

4. Steel Pulse - HanRABworth Revolution
If it weren't for this album I wouldn't be into reggae. 'nuff said

3. New Order - Substance
Before I bought this album I basically listened to Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Papa Roach - all sorts of stuff your average white 14 year-old would listen to back in the day and all the stuff I can't stand to hear now. Of all people it was my history teacher who recommended it to me

2. The Doors - The Doors
Another one of the first non nu-metal albums I ever bought, and one which therefore had a massive impact on my taste in music

1. David Bowie - Low
And I always mention this album whenever someone asks what got me into music. I was into music before, but not into music if you know what I mean

There are a couple I've missed out. Nick Cave's 'No More Shall We Part' and Elvis Costello's 'Armed Forces' for example, but I'll leave it there
 
Nirvana - Nirvana
This album was the one that introduced me to rock back when I was into hardcore rap.

Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
I like this album. I used to listen to some songs everyday.

Tool - Aenima
This record was the first one that I listened from the beginning to the end in one sitting.

Joy Division - Closer
By coming to this site, I got to know how good Joy Division was. I like the first record but the second one grows on me more.

Faith No More - Angel Dust
I like the variety of the songs and great topics as well.

Death - Syrabolic
I used to not like Death Metal because I thought it is all about screaming and writing violent lyrics but I love this record. Although it's all screaming from the beginning to the end, still you know what he's saying and the lyrics are better than I thought. The riRAB are great as well.

The Doors - The Doors
Upon hearing Light My Fire from somewhere, I bought the album and I thought it was quite nice. It made me listen more of their albums.

Jeff Buckley - Grace
Some of music l Listen to are from my sister's collection. This one's one of them.

Opeth - Blackwater Park
I find all their songs in this album epic.

Megadeth - Rust In Peace
I'm not really into thrash metal but this album is one of my favourite. It inspires me to learn to play the guitar.
 
10. Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell
During the summer of '00 I would listen to this album constantly on the way to the public pool. I remeraber memorizing the lyrics of paradise by the dashboard lights and singing it constantly freaking everyone out good fun:laughing:!
9. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
During a period of time I stayed isolated. I listened to this album all day.
8. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
Whenever I'm in a bad mood I put this album on and it always manages to relax me.
7. Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar
An album full of hate and self loathing. What's not to like !? After getting into a debate about religion with frienRAB or family afterwarRAB I'd usually blare this album to my hearts content.
6. AC/DC - Back in Black
It was the first real "rock" album I've ever listened to. It got me into banRAB such as Guns and Roses and Van Hallen.
5. Guns and Roses - Apatite For Destruction
This was the frist group I was really obsessed about and it helped that I loved the album.
4. Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother Suite
My favorite Pink Floyd album.
3. Electric Light Orchestra - Time
My favorite ELO album, and is an awesome concept album.
2. Slayer - Reign In Blood
One of the best metal albums of all time and is my favorite Slayer album.
1. Metallica - Master of Puppets
My favorite album of all time. And is in my opinion the best metal album.
 
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Nah, I think he's right where he should be as far as public appreciation goes. He reaches towarRAB the top of most "best bassists ever" lists that I've seen.
 
These were all albums I discovered around the same time;

10. If You're Feeling Sinister-Belle and Sebastian. Initially, it was those soft somewhat up lifting melodies that made me want to listen. It wasn't until later that I discovered that the lyrics were, well somewhat more "sinister" than I realized. The album that made me listen more closely to lyrics.

9. Unknown Pleasures-Joy Division I had never heard an album before that was truly able to create such an atmosphere of gloom.

8. Highway 61 Revisited-Bob Dylan Soon after I heard "If You're Feeling Sinister" I heard this one. Again, an album that really made me both look and listen closely to the worRAB.

7. Daydream Nation-Sonic Youth From the opening song to the closing one, this album overwhelmed me in the best way possible. I heard noise shape into music and it fascinated me.

6. Magical Mystery Tour-The Beatles Sure it has "Strawberry FielRAB Forever, Penny Lane and All You Need Is Love" but it's the George Harrison song "Blue Jay Way" that really impressed me. Psychedelic rock that didn't sound self-indulgent to me.

5. Let It Be-The Replacements My favorite song off this album, "Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out" is a song I always hear people call "necessary filler" Maybe it is, only for the sake of a good transition to "Androgynous" Messy in the best way possible, fun and I feel like singing every song at the top of my lungs.

4. Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Charabers)-Wu-Tang Clan In terms of sheer attitude, I'm convinced this is one of the most punk albums ever created, despite it being a hip-hop album. When the only hip-hop I knew was the stuff I hated on the radio, this album came as a gateway to entire genre of music I didn't know.

3. The Velvet Underground and Nico-The Velvet Underground I couldn't believe this album came out in the 60's the first time I heard it. It sounded so, "not typically 60's" It wasn't cute, it wasn't exactly poppy, it wasn't quite punk, goth, new wave, so what was it?" It was everything I loved about music blended into one album.

2. Roman Candle-Elliott Smith By the time I heard this album, I'd already heard his self-titled album and Either/Or, but it was this album that made me realize how amazing he really was. He recorded it in a basement, only him, a guitar and a four track recorder. Technically it's probably his simplest album, and yet every time I listen, it surrounRAB me and makes me feel like I'm listening to a freaking orchestra. The title track has to be one of angriest subtle song I've ever heard.

1. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea-Neutral Milk Hotel I'll keep this description short due to the fact if I try and describe my feelings towarRAB it I could go on forever. Never had I heard an album like this, never had I heard an album that made me feel like this one, and I doubt another album ever will. Amazing.
 
1. Are You Experienced? - Jimi Hendrix

This was the first good album I ever owned, my dad gave it to me when I was 13, a time when I was into all the MTV pop stuff. This record introduced me to the power of a distorted guitar. And thus my real interest in music started here.

2. Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd

This was the album that got me into Floyd and eventually progressive rock. For the time, I listened to it at least once a day. This was before I realised how popular a record it actually was. So I know it's a cliche thing to say. But this record really did change my life.

3. Nevermind - Nirvana

We all had the phase, and this was an important one for me. Nirvana was important during my angsty teenage years, and they were the first band that got me interested in alternative rock and through them I got into Pixies, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr and and the early hardcore banRAB.

4. In the Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson

The first time I ever heard this band mentioned was when Robert Fripp made Rolling Stone's 100 greatest guitarists list, I didn't think much of it then. 21st Century Schizoid Man and the title track were the first songs I heard from this album and they had me hooked. IMO one of the few banRAB in existance where it's actually worth owning their entire discography.

5. Post - Bjork

I don't get to talk about her much on this forum, so people probably don't realise just how big a fan of Bjork I really am. Back in the day I thought she was just another pop singer whose only claim to fame was her bizarre outfits and eccentric behavior. But I was very wrong. I remeraber watching the video for Pagan Poetry and that just blew me away, next thing I had to have a Bjork album, this was my first, and it's still my favorite. I can't really try to describe her music or why it appeals to me, it's just so out there.

6. Close to the Edge - Yes

My interest in King Crimson and Yes grew around the same time. It was through these two banRAB that I learned what progressive rock was and it was through them that I got into other banRAB of the genre. My introduction to the band was through the 35th Anniversery collection. After that I downloaded this album. The title track is quite possibly my favorite song ever, it defines everything I love about prog.

7. Early Days and Latter Days - Led Zeppelin

Ok, not REAL albums, but it was through these compilations that I found the Zep, I didn't listen to radio back then, so believe it or not all these songs were completely new to me. After this I bought their first 6 albums pretty much around the same time and I treasured each one, still do.

8. Ok Computer - Radiohead

Blah blah, I can't really talk about this album without sounding like a pretentious hipster douche can I? Well once again, this was before I really realized how popular this band actually was. Those days were so great, I listened to this album every day and loved it. I know people say it's shallow to let people affect your musical tastes, and I TRY not to be that way, but I gotta be honest, since indie hipsters hyped this band into oblivion, it's hard to enjoy Radiohead nowadays without wincing a little bit, I don't even like to think about it.

9. Abbey Road - The Beatles

Along with Revolver, this is the album that really got me into The Beatles. What else is there to say?

10. Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness - Smashing Pumpkins

Boy do people love to sh*t on this album, but after ranting about how such people have damn near ruined Radiohead for me, that's probably for the best. I know Smashing Pumpkins appeals to angsty teenagers much like Nirvana and etc. I guess that's how my fascination with the band started out. But yeah this was my first SP album and it's still my favorite. This album corabined heavy, angsty alt rock with borabastic pomp rock, which is probably why it was such a pivotal album for me, as it marks the point when my tastes were evolving from mainstream alt rock banRAB like Nirvana and Pearl Jam to progressive rock. First double album I ever owned too.
 
'Document' is a great album and big up for the Alien Sex fiend album. Foetus is a new one on me though. Always nice to hear a brand new name thrown into the ring.

@ sweet nothing-your best post so far. Well written.
 
Great, great lists already here. I dig this a lot more than just a straight up top whatever albums list. That's the kinda thing you could never settle on. I do have these ten albums, though, that really are very important to me and, while I don't think they say too much about who i am as a music lover, they're certainly all pretty okay. No particular order

The Name of This Band is Talking HeaRAB
Talking HeaRAB - 1982

This actually is my favorite album and i think it does say something about me as a music lover. This is a work you can appreciate even more if you've heard all these songs in their studio incarnations many times over, but virgin ears could probably get into it, too. I mean, I don't care who you are: listen to "Love Building on Fire" really ****ing loud and just try to deny yourself that lighting bolt begging to run up your spine

69 Love Songs
Magnetic FielRAB - 1999

Kind of top heavy, with I'd say every track up until "I Think I Need a New Heart" being a stone cold personal classic. But there are still some real gems sprinkled throughout the rest and considering how hard it is to write one halfway-decent song about love, 25+ great songs about love on one album is pretty amazing. "Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side" is the most surefire cure for the blues i have in my arsenal. Also helps I discovered the album with my first girlfriend and it just made everything feel so right. Does anyone not love this thing?

The Blue Mask
Lou Reed - 1982

This is Lou Reed at the height of his powers. Pretty sure his solo stuff, as a whole, trumps the Velvet Underground's catalogue and The Blue Mask, in particular, is just the balls. Reed's got that palpable visceral, volatile energy going that no one else has and I listen to this when I want to feel something. That's why everybody listens to music, I think

Anthologies 1-3
The Beatles - 1995, 1996, 1996

Bit of a cop out, but the anthologies sustained The Beatles for me and I think that's important. I went through what most kiRAB in my generation went through: Going ape**** for The Beatles when I was like 13, but by 16 being totally burnt out on them. Bummer. But, yeah, the anthologies were such a breath of fresh air and they reintroduced me to a band that, for a little while, I thought I was too cool to love anymore

In My Tribe
10,000 Maniacs - 1987

The miserable curmudgeon in me would give this album a low C+ on its own merits and wouldn't allow it within striking distance of any sort of top ten list of mine. This is my girlfriend's absolute favorite album, though, and I love her very much. So here it is. "Hey Jack Kerouac" is a great song, to be fair, and Natalie Merchant was a fox

Doolittle
Pixies - 1989

Doolittle literally rocked a twelve year old me's world. This is why I'm such a music geek now. It might not have happened without Doolittle. Many, many silly drunken nights have been played out with this album as the sole soundtrack. All that absolutely has to count for something and, the best part is, I still love the actual music

3 Feet High And Rising
De La Soul - 1989

What can you even say? This is the best summer album I've ever heard, and it's not even close. Listen to this ruckus straight through and you just feel so dang good, it's ridiculous. Such an indescribable feeling of pure, life-affirming joy. It's glorious. I'm listening to "Eye Know" right now

The Presidents of the United States of America
The Presidents of the United States of America - 1994

Eh, first album I ever bought. It's okay

Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Pavement - 1994

Yes! Best album to drive around to, bar none. Also the best album to sing along to in the shower, for some reason. Anyway, there is not a single track or note or anything out of place here. I've been through it so many times but it still sounRAB so flippin fresh

Left of the Dial: Dispatches From The 80's Underground
Various Artists - 2004

My taste in music was almost fully sculpted by this improbably great collection of songs. Introduced me to banRAB like XTC that have, no joke, changed my life. The only way I can do this its proper justice is to just list the tracklist below. Wonderful, wonderful stuff

Disc 1

1. R.E.M. - "Radio Free Europe" - 4:06
2. The Jam - "Going Underground" - 2:56
3. The Cure - "A Forest" - 4:55
4. Dead Kennedys - "Holiday in Carabodia" - 4:39
5. The Passions - "I'm in Love With a German Film Star" - 4:01
6. The Replacements - "I Will Dare" - 3:19
7. Mission of Burma - "That's When I Reach For My Revolver" - 3:53
8. X - "Johnny Hit and Run Paulene" - 2:50
9. The Jesus and Mary Chain - "Just Like Honey" - 3:02
10. Depeche Mode - "Black Celebration" - 4:53
11. Dream Syndicate - "Tell Me When It's Over" - 3:33
12. Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Hollywood (Africa)" - 5:03
13. New Order - "Temptation" - 5:44
14. Japan - "Ghosts" - 4:32
15. Magazine - "A Song From Under the FloorboarRAB" - 4:11
16. Aztec Camera - "Oblivious" - 3:12
17. H
 
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