All-time greatest albums: What are your top picks?

I just stumbled upon this forum recently and I’m honestly blown away. There are so many different threads to dive into... I’d love for you guys to drop your all-time favorite albums here—I want to see if anyone else shares my taste. Anything goes, really. No genre restrictions and no era limits...

Here’s what my list looks like right now. It’s definitely not final, just what was on my mind at the moment (and there's plenty more where that came from!):

(THE RULE: 1 artist = 1 album!!!)

1. Joy Division - Closer
2. Portishead - Portishead

The rest, in no particular order:

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless (the name says it all, doesn't it?)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call
Pere Ubu - The Modern Dance
PJ Harvey - Is This Desire?
Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen
Garbage - Garbage
Tom Waits - Bone Machine
Ramones - Ramones
Bjork - Homogenic
The Stooges - Stooges
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Public Image Ltd. - Second Edition (aka Metal Box)
Nick Drake - Bryter Layter
Tori Amos - Under the Pink
Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session
The Velvet Underground & Nico - VU & Nico
Sonic Youth - Bad Moon Rising (my personal favorites from the greatest band ever)
Morphine - Good
Mazzy Star - She Hangs Brightly (shout out to "Blue Flower," the anthem for my lost love)
Pixies - Doolittle (takes me back to the good old days)
Belle & Sebastian - The Boy With the Arab Strap
Tindersticks - Curtains
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out
Stereolab - Transient Random-Noise Bursts With Announcements
Patti Smith - Horses
Oasis - (Oasis) Morning Glory (haha, just kidding!)
Stereolab - Transient Random-Noise Bursts With Announcements
Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth
Cat Power - Moon Pix
Brian Eno - Another Green World
Cocteau Twins - Treasure
Gastr Del Sol - Upgrade & Afterlife
Sigur Ros - ( )

...and so on.

rancid - ...and then the wolves come running. That’s all there is to it.

Good grief, this topic again.
It pops up about once a month. 🙄

But fine, I'm bored anyway. 😁

Just off the top of my head:

The absolute classics we all know:
Different Class, Marquee Moon, Dirty, OK Computer, Doolittle, Dark Side of the Moon, Brighten the Corners, Grace...

Ugh, just one album per artist.
That's a tall order for someone like Tom Waits or The Beatles, but let's try.
For Waits, maybe Swordfish Trombones.
Let’s go with Revolver by those guys from Liverpool.
Henry's Dream by Nick Cave.
Dylan's Desire.
Early Björk.
The first Stone Roses record.
16 Horsepower's Secret South.
Morphine's Cure for Pain.
Stories from the City...
At the Drive-In's Queens Casino Out.
Early Foo Fighters, Trail of Dead's Madonna, early Ride.

Honestly, who has the energy to list them all?

That would basically be an 'aerial' version of what Dockstad provides.

What kind of nonsense is even this? Who actually listens to this stuff anymore? 🙂

The best album out there has to be Destroyer 666 - Unchain The Wolves

Right now!

Let's go!

High above the skyline, the hills are ablaze
The witches feast on demonic essence
Calling forth the flames that sparked the Earth
Summoning lightning to strike the world

Begin the assault!
Open fire!

Begin the assault!
Open fire!

Alright
All I could hear was the sound of those damn black jackals
Howling at the moon

Come on, darkness, pull me into your shadows
Come on, evil, spread your demonic wings
Come on, believers, say your prayers
You can't run from Satan's hammer

Come on, darkness, pull me into your shadows
Come on, evil, spread your demonic wings
Come on, believers, say your prayers
You can't run from Satan's hammer

Come on, darkness, pull me into your shadows
Come on, evil, spread your demonic wings
Come on, believers, say your prayers
You can't run from Satan's hammer

Down in the valley, the ruin begins
Satan mocks those with bleeding hearts
Mercy is only for the wicked crowds
On their knees, praying and losing it

Begin the assault!
Open fire!

Begin the assault!
Open fire!

Come on, evil, Satan's hammer is ready to drop
Come on, evil, weather our metal storm

Come on, darkness, pull me into your shadows
Come on, evil, spread your demonic wings
Come on, evil, send in your stormtroopers
You won't escape Satan's hammer

Come on, darkness, pull me into your shadows
Come on, evil, spread your demonic wings
Come on, believers, say your prayers
You can't run from Satan's hammer

Not that garbage, though. 🙂

The Small Faces: Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
Pink Floyd: The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
The Beatles: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band

I don't know.

The best all... of all things??
I have never seen words arranged quite like this before; I honestly can't make heads or tails of them... could you perhaps translate that for us? Any chance?
thanks

Radiohead - OK Computer...

It isn't even about whether the record is objectively "great"—though it is—it’s more about the sheer weight of its influence on my life.
I could probably go on and list dozens of other albums right now... but honestly, I just don't have the energy for it today.

lonegardener14 said:Radiohead's OK Computer...

It isn't just about how great the album is, but more about the massive impact it had on my life.

I feel exactly the same way.

Here’s a few tracks I reckon belong in that legendary tier—you know, those ones everyone just seems to overlook for some reason.😁

1. Enon—High Society... absolute masterpiece.🙏

2. Me Without You—A-Life

3. At the Drive-In—In/Casino/Out

4. Hot Hot Heat—Make Up the Breakdown🙏

5. Mars Volta—Deloused in the Comatorium

6. No Means No—Wrong

7. Morphine—Yes

8. Wire—Pink Flag

And I'll throw in two double albums to wrap things up.

9. Smashing Pumpkins—Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness🙏 🙏

10. Minutemen—Double Nickels on the Dime

If I was sticking strictly to a top ten list, though...😁

It feels a little weird to me how people on this forum who only listen to rock, or specifically NBA or noise music, don't even know where to put themselves... I mean, they just list off albums with that exact same sound and stop there.
Man, I love everything from funk and jazz to rock, blues, Samba Soul, mambo, house, Britpop... honestly, I can't even list it all.

Are you guys all just really narrow-minded when it comes to music, or have you seriously never heard anything else in your lives?

And hey, no offense intended... it’s just that the crowd listening to that kind of NBA music tends to be pretty aggressive.
I'm just curious to see what you guys have to say about this.

Man, you’re just one of those lucky ones—you actually vibe with everything the kids are into these days😛

For instance, I didn't even mention a single noise band... there's just the one NBA act... the rest is all just straight-up rock 'n' roll😁

Jessica Lee37 said:I find it a bit strange how the people on this forum who listen to rock, or NBA, or noise... I don't even know where to put them. Do they just list albums based solely on that kind of sound?

Give me a break. I could list a dozen albums from some random genre I don't even listen to. 😁

By the way, I’m convinced there isn't a single group in the world with less capacity for aggression than American punks.

I think I’ll take a crack at putting a list together too:

1. Grace Jones - Island Life

2. Pearl Jam - Ten

3. Samba Soul

4. Jihad and Icons

5. Bjork - Debut

6. Beastie Boys - Check Your Head

7. Peter Gabriel - So

8. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

9. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik

10. U2 - Rattle and Hum

Where the hell is the mamba? Where are all the jazz albums? Where’s the blues?😁 😁 😁 .......and I don't see any French chanson anywhere either..... ts, ts, tztztztz🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Haha, I still need about 10 more spots!....

Seriously, don't mess with me 😛

Pink Floyd - The Wall
Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle
The Prodigy’s *Music for the Jilted Generation*—man, what a trip that was. It really felt like the soundtrack to a specific kind of restless energy, didn't it? It wasn't just dance music; it had this raw, almost aggressive edge that felt like it was pushing against everything else happening in the scene at the time. It captured that sense of being a little bit left behind, a little bit frustrated, yet completely electrified by the sound. Looking back, it’s easily one of those albums that defined an era of electronic experimentation.
The Chemical Brothers—*Dig Your Own Hole*. Honestly, there’s just something about this record that hits different every single time I spin it. It’s one of those rare albums where you can actually feel the grit and the sweat through the speakers—it doesn't just sound like music; it feels like an experience. I was listening to it again last night, and man, that fusion of breakbeats and psychedelic textures is still so ahead of its time. It’s got that raw, driving energy that makes you want to move, but it’s layered with enough depth to keep you thinking. It’s a masterpiece of electronic production—just pure, unadulterated vibes.
Body count—it’s like we were born with a deficit from day one.
Sven Väth - Fusion
David Holmes — Let's Get Killed 🙏
I still find myself coming back to Michael Jackson’s *Thriller*—it really is that kind of record. There’s just something about the production and that sheer, unadulterated pop perfection that holds up, even decades later. It’s one of those rare albums that doesn't just define an era; it practically creates its own universe. Every track feels like it was crafted with such intention. Truly legendary stuff.
Tricky — Maxinquae
digital rhythms — darkdancer
Leftfield—the whole concept of leftism—is such a fascinating rabbit hole to fall down, isn't it? It’s one of those topics that feels incredibly layered, almost like trying to unpack a massive, complex vinyl collection where every single sleeve tells a different story. You start digging, thinking you understand the core principles, and then you realize just how much nuance is tucked away in the margins. It’s definitely more than just a political label; it's an entire spectrum of thought and identity.
Roots Manuva — Run Come Save Me
Air's *Moon Safari*—man, what a vibe. It’s one of those rare albums that feels like a complete escape from reality, isn't it? Just pure, seamless atmosphere.
felix da housecat - devin dazzle & the neon fever
Nils Petter Molvær - NP3
There’s just something about Black Sabbath’s *Paranoid* that hits differently every single time you put it on—it’s practically foundational. It’s one of those rare albums where you can almost feel the heavy, sludge-filled atmosphere through the speakers, isn't it? Even decades later, that raw, driving energy hasn't aged a day.
Transglobal Underground — Rejoice Rejoice
Queen’s *A Night at the Opera*—man, what a masterpiece. It’s one of those rare albums where you can practically feel the ambition bleeding through the grooves. They weren't just making songs; they were building entire sonic cathedrals. Every time I put this on, I’m struck by how much they pushed the boundaries of what a rock band could actually achieve in a studio. It's bold, it's theatrical, and honestly? It's just pure magic.
Galliano—it’s like a joyful noise offered up to the Creator.
Goldie — Timeless

...

👋

Timothy Jones85 is a total joke—honestly, he’s got that exact same obnoxious Hollywood douchebag look as Bruce😁 😁 😁 And since Timothy Jones85 listens to the NBA? Yeah, that’s pretty cringe too🙂 🙂 🙂

Here are a few albums currently fascinating me. They might not be the absolute best in the world, but I love them. 🙂
Rancid - ...And out come the wolves
NOFX - Punk in drublic
Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
The Clash - London Calling
Buzzcocks - Singles going steady
Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros - Streetcore
Fist fra East - Fist from East
NoMeansNo - Wrong
Dropkick Murphys - blackout
Green Day - Dookie