25: My Favorite Albums Of All Time

Along with films, I spend a good amount of my spare time listening to music.  Here is a list of 25 albums that have the most significance to me.  I am going to list this in alphabetical order because obsessing over one being better than the other gets exhausting really fast. 

Abbey Road (1969, The Beatles)

I know it's a cliched choice but c'mon, it's Abbey Road.  The biggest band in the world comes together one last time to create one of the greatest musical experiences imaginable.  In my eyes, it's clearly their greatest achievement.  The entire album is pure heavenly bliss and all that is good in the world.

Highlights:

Come Together

Something

Oh! Darling

I Want You (She's So Heavy)

Here Comes The Sun

Because

Abbey Road Medley

After The Gold Rush (1970, Neil Young)

This one always manages to speak to me in some way.  It sounds melancholic and defeated, yet hopeful and inspired.  Mystical, yet grounded.  Without a doubt my favorite Neil Young album.  

Highlights: 

Tell Me Why

After The Gold Rush

Only Love Can Break Your Heart

Southern Man

Don't Let It Bring You Down

When You Dance I Can Really Love

Astral Weeks (1968, Van Morrison)

This album is just way too good.  One of the most powerful, whimsical, soulful and plain transcendent records I've ever heard.  It has a uniquely mystical quality that I've never heard duplicated anywhere else.  The perfect soul searching record.


Highlights:
Astral Weeks
Sweet Thing
Cyprus Avenue
The Way That Young Lovers Do
Madame George

Clube Da Esquina (1972, Milton Nascimento)

A near perfect double album.  Milton Nascimento's voice combined with the fantastic arrangements never fail to transport me to beautiful places.


Highlights:
Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser
O Trem Azul
Nuvem Cigana
Cravo E Canela
Um Girassol Da Cor De Seu Cabelo
Clube Da Esquina No. 2
Paisagem En Janela
Trem Do Doido
Nada Sera Como Antes



The Dreaming (1982, Kate Bush)

My favorite pop artist gets full on experimental.  Just about every song is a masterpiece.  I could lose myself into this addictive world endlessly.



Highlights: 
Sat In Your Lap
There Goes A Tenner
Pull Out The Pin
Suspended In Gaffa
The Dreaming
Night Of The Swallow
Get Out Of My House





Forever Changes (1967, Love)

A strong favorite of mine.  This never fails to take me to a dreamy state of bliss.  I'm always dumbfounded by how perfect and unique every song on this record is.



Highlights:
Alone Again Or
A House Is Not A Motel
AndMoreAgain
The Red Telephone
Maybe The People Would Be The Times Or Between Clark And Hilldale
The Good Humor Man He Sees Everything Like This
You Set The Scene






Future Days (1973, Can)

It seems like every music lover has the one Can album that clicks with them the most.  This is certainly mine.  Their most relaxed and earthy record.



Highlights:
Future Days
Bel Air





Hot Rats (1969, Frank Zappa)

One of those records I just can't believe actually exists.  This thing is way too good.   Zappa takes jazz to strange, colorful and endlessly fascinating places.  Absolutely insane instrumentation.

Highlights:

Peaches En Regalia

Willie The Pimp

Son Of Mr. Green Genes

The Gumbo Variations

Hounds Of Love (1985, Kate Bush)

Possibly the most perfect pop record I've ever heard.  It's accessible and catchy, yet endlessly captivating and even experimental at times.  Kate Bush is a true one in a million.

Highlights:

Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)

Hounds Of Love

The Big Sky

Cloudbusting

Jig Of Life

Hello Earth

The Morning Fog

In A Silent Way (1969, Miles Davis)

My go to record when I want to just kick back and let my mind wander aimlessly.  This thing soothes and intrigues me like nothing else.  The atmosphere on both tracks are amongst the greatest I've ever heard.  Takes me to another planet.   

Highlights:

Shhh/Peaceful

In A Silent Way/It's About That Time

In Rainbows (2007, Radiohead)

An unbelievably good record.  This is the Radiohead I like the most.  Their earlier stuff is great too but I feel this era of Radiohead sounds more mature, clean and relaxed.  Every song serves a distinct purpose to creating the overall vibe of the album.  The soundscapes are absolute bliss.  

Highlights:

15 Step

Bodysnatchers

Nude

Weird Fishes/Arpeggi

All I Need

Reckoner

House Of Cards

Jigsaw Falling Into Place

In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969, King Crimson)

A true classic.  Possibly my all time favorite progressive rock record.  These guys were unbelievably ahead of their time.  Every song on here is awesome in their own unique way.

Highlights:

21st Century Schizoid Man

I Talk To The Wind

Epitaph

The Court Of The Crimson King

Kind Of Blue (1959, Miles Davis)

The single most likable and endlessly re-listenable record in my collection.  Listening to this is like putting on a warm, cozy blanket and just embracing the moment.  These songs are subtle, beautiful and ooze of low key cool.  It just might be my favorite album of all time.

Highlights:

So What

Blue In Green

All Blues

Flamenco Sketches

Laughing Stock (1991, Talk Talk)

One of those records that just creates its own unique world.  Everything falls perfectly into place.  It's the sound of nature.  The atmosphere is otherworldly.



Highlights:
Myrrhman
Ascension Day
After The Flood
Taphead
New Grass




A Love Supreme (1965, John Coltrane)

This record is absolutely insane.  One of the most intense and deeply spiritual things I've ever heard.  It does something magical to the soul; leaving one feeling refreshed, inspired and cleansed.  A life changing album.


Highlights:
Part I: Acknowledgement
Part II: Resolution
Part III: Pursuance
Part IV: Psalm

Murmur (1983, R.E.M.)

Simply one of the most perfect things my ears have ever heard.  I am amazed that 12 songs this consistently good managed to land on the same album.  It has a distinct atmosphere and charm that I haven't heard replicated elsewhere.  It's ethereal but in a uniquely earthy manner.  Its sound is friendly and inviting, yet mysterious and moody.  Best album of the 1980s.  One of the most essential records in my catalogue.

Highlights:

Radio Free Europe

Pilgrimage

Laughing

Talk About The Passion

Perfect Circle

Catapult

Sitting Still

Shaking Through

We Walk

West Of The Fields

My Favorite Things (1961, John Coltrane)

Even though A Love Supreme is my favorite Coltrane record, this is the one I revisit the most often.  Specifically for the self titled track and Summertime, both amongst the greatest jazz songs I've ever heard.  

Highlights:

My Favorite Things

Every Time We Say Goodbye

Summertime

Odessey And Oracle (1968, The Zombies)

The sound of bliss and heaven.  Absolutely love the arrangements and vibes created here.  Every song is memorable in a special way.

Highlights:

Care Of Cell 44

A Rose For Emily

Maybe After He's Gone

Beechwood Park

Brief Candles

Hung Up On A Dream

This Will Be Our Year

Friends Of Mine

Time Of The Season

Pet Sounds (1966, The Beach Boys)

Yeah it's an obvious one but, for a "greatest album ever" type of record, its incredibly personable.  It's so relatable and easy to love.  The melodies are perfect and it evokes all kinds of warm bittersweet feelings inside.  It's the perfect pop album.

Highlights:

Wouldn't It Be Nice

You Still Believe In Me

That's Not Me

Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)

I'm Waiting For The Day

Sloop John B

God Only Knows

I Know There's An Answer

Here Today

I Just Wasn't Made For These Times

Caroline No

Pink Moon (1972, Nick Drake)

One of the greatest records I've ever heard.  Love its minimalistic approach.  There isn't a moment wasted.  What a beautifully organic sound.  It always manages to sound fresh and timeless.

Highlights:

Pink Moon

Place To Be

Road

Which Will

Things Behind The Sun

Parasite

Free Ride

From The Morning

Rain Dogs (1985, Tom Waits)

One of the strangest and most fascinating records to be released on a major label.  There is so much randomness here and I love every bit of it.  It's sleazy, cool, weird and heartbreaking.  Sometimes all at the same time.

Highlights:

Singapore

Clap Hands

Jockey Full Of Bourbon

Tango Till They're Sore

Hang Down Your Head

Time

Rain Dogs

Gun Street Girl

Downtown Train

Anywhere I Lay My Head

Remain In Light (1980, Talking Heads)

People either love or hate this one.  There is truly nothing like this record.  It's from another planet.  My words cannot do it any justice, it simply must be heard to be believed.  A transcendental album experience.

Highlights:

Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)

Crosseyed And Painless

The Great Curve

Once In A Lifetime

Houses In Motion

Listening Wind

Selected Ambient Works 85-92 (1992, Aphex Twin)

The entire record is like a factory of unique soundscapes.  I can't get enough of its airy, minimalist vibe.  

Highlights:

Xtal

Tha

Pulsewidth

Ageispolis

Heliosphan

We Are The Music Makers

Ptolemy

The Velvet Underground (1969, The Velvet Underground)

Simply one of the greatest things my ears have ever heard.   The Velvet's sacrifice their usual experimentation and replace it with all kinds of good sensations while still retaining their distinct sound.   Just about everything I could ask for in music is contained within this album.  It's different from the banana record but every bit as good.

Highlights:

Candy Says

What Goes On

Pale Blue Eyes

Jesus

Beginning To See The Light

I'm Set Free

The Murder Mystery

After Hours

The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967, The Velvet Underground)

Never has an album's massive legacy been so deserved.  Probably the most adventurous and interesting album in my collection.  It's over 50 years old, yet it still sounds fresh and innovative.  What an unforgettable atmosphere.  It never seems to lose its venturesome appeal.  A life changing record.

Highlights:

Sunday Morning

I'm Waiting For The Man

Femme Fatale

Venus In Furs

All Tomorrow's Parties

Heroin

There She Goes Again

I'll Be Your Mirror