[Music] My Top 50 Albums/Artists Of All Time (1959 - 2015)

in #music7 years ago (edited)

I'm a believer that you can tell a lot about a person from the music that they listen to. I'm not very good at describing myself and my communication skills in general could do with some work, and so I've put together a list of my personal top albums of all time, although I couldn't even begin to decide on how to actually rank them, so they're presented in chronological order. This is just my personal favourites, there are plenty of albums that are considered greats that aren't here.

After finishing it, it feels like I can see my own personal life journey reflected back in album format, which is odd. Let me know if any of these are already on your Listening List, or if any of them will be from now on in the comments down below.

I've restricted myself to one album per artist, but for practically all of the artists mentioned, I'd recommend you look into their discography. There's also a recommended bonus artists for each one for extra listening. Rather than waffle on, here they are!


20th Century

1959

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Modal JazzRegarded by many critics as jazz's greatest record, Davis's masterpiece, and one of the best albums of all time.Wynton Marsalis

1967

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Psychedelic RockTheir debut album, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest debuts in the history of rock music.Led Zeppelin

1968

The Beatles - White Album (or The Beatles)
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Rock/PopTheir ninth studio album, and regarded by many critics as their best and also one of the best albums ever.The Beach Boys

1969

King Crimson - In The Court of the Crimson King
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Prog RockThe bands debut studio album and largely regarded as one of the best albums of all time.Genesis

1970

Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Psychedelic/Folk RockHis debut solo album after splitting with Pink Floyd, with a chequered recording history.The Doors

1971

Nick Drake - Bryter Layter
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FolkThe second of three studio albums by Nick Drake, beautifully polished and melancholy. Jeff Buckley

1975

Queen - A Night at the Opera
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Prog RockTheir fourth studio album, containing the single "Bohemian Rhapsody".David Bowie

1979

Pink Floyd - The Wall
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Prog RockTheir eleventh studio album, and part of a mutli-media project conceived by Roger WatersPorcupine Tree

1992

Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Alternative MetalThe bands debut album, and widely considered one of the best albums ever made.Tool

1998

Massive Attack - Mezzanine
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Trip-HopTheir third studio album, and an incredibly diverse one at that. A regular feature on best-of lists.DJ Shadow

Fatboy Slim - You've Come a Long Way, Baby
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Big BeatHis second studio album is both critically and commercially successful, you'll have heard a few songs from this album for sure.The Chemical Brothers

1999

Moby - Play
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
ElectronicaThe fifth studio album by Moby, and was the UK's biggest-selling independent album of 2000.Groove Armada

Incubus - Make Yourself
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Alternative RockIncubus's third studio album, producing three hit singles and their only album to hit the top ten.Foo Fighters


21st Century

2000

Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Nu MetalThe debut album by Linkin Park, and for anyone who grew up in the 00's, it's an icon for and cherished part of growing up.Limp Bizkit

The Avalanches - Since I Left You
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ElectronicaThe debut album by electronic music collective The Avalanches. Massively underrated in my opinion, and their second album is equally as amazing.LCD Soundsystem

2001

Daft Punk - Discovery
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
ElectronicaThe second studio album by electronic music duo Daft Punk, and it's only gotten better with time. Features heavy sampling and considered a classic example of raw electronic musicDigitalism

Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American (or Jimmy Eat World)
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Alternative RockTheir fourth studio album, and a massive success both commerically and critically. A highly inspirational and pivotal record that should be part of every collection.New Found Glory

Röyksopp - Melody A.M.
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Trip-HopThe debut album by Norwegian trip hop duo Röyksopp. An instant classic.Marconi Union

System of a Down - Toxicity
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Alternative MetalThe band's second studio album, which truely spans multiple genres. Highly influential and often cited as one of the best albums ever.Korn

2002

Finch - What It It to Burn
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Post-hardcoreThe debut album by post-hardcore band Finch, if you like Pop-Punk/Emo you'll love this album.Funeral for a Friend

Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way
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Alternative RockThe eighth studio by RHCP, and my personal favourite. Their entire back catalogue is worth listening to.Nirvana

Bright Eyes - Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground
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IndieThe fourth album by American indie rock band Bright Eyes, founded by Conor Oberst. It's hard to describe Bright Eyes, but each album is something unique, with the sound evolving over time.Cursive

Lemon Jelly - Lost Horizons
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Trip HopThe second and most iconic album by British electronic duo Lemon Jelly. With two hit singles and achieving Gold certification, this is a record well worth checking out.Mr. Scruff

Audioslave - Audioslave
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Alternative RockThe eponymous debut album by rock supergroup Audioslave. The album features the hit singles "Cochise", "Show Me How to Live", "What You Are", "Like a Stone", and "I Am the Highway" and was later certified 3x platinum.Soundgarden

The Roots - Phrenology
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Hip HopThe fifth studio album by hip hop group The Roots, taking over two years to complete. This isn't their most commercially or critically successful album, but it is my personal favourite.The Pharcyde

2003

Easy Star All-Stars - Dub Side of the Moon
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Dub ReggaeThe only cover album on this list, this is a dub reggae tribute to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. It's never left the Billboard Reggae Charts since its release in 2003, which is an amazing feat.Groundation

The Postal Service - Give Up
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
IndieThis is the only album by indie band The Postal Service, a side project between electronic music artist Jimmy Tamborello and Death Cab for Cutie's vocalist Ben Gibbard.Dntel

Brand New - Deja Entendu
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EmoThis is the band's second studio album, and was widely praised upon release for showing the band's maturation since their debut.Manchester Orchestra

Muse - Absolution
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Alternative RockThe third album by Muse, and is considered by many to be one of the best albums of the 21st century.Placebo

Jay-Z - The Black Album
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Hip HopThe eighth studio album by rapper Jay-Z, where he enlisted a different producer for each song. Again, my personal favourite out of his albums.Wu-Tang Clan

2004

Say Anything - …Is A Real Boy/…Was A Real Boy
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Pop-PunkThe second studio album by Pop-Punk band Say Anything, fronted by Max Bemis. This band is one of my favourites, and I highly recommend you check out all their work.Gatsby's American Dream

Bedouin Soundclash - Sounding a Mosaic
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Reggae SkaThe second studio album by this Canadian rock band. The album spawned the hit single "When the Night Feels My Song", which I'm sure most of you will recognise.Sublime

Kasabian - Kasabian
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Electronic RockThe debut studio album by British rock band Kasabian, this is definitely their strongest entry and was a massive hit when first released. Their later albums never quite lived up to expectations.Editors

2005

Motion City Soundtrack - Commit This to Memory
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Pop PunkThe second studio album by Motion City Soundtrack, and produced by Mark Hoppus of Blink-182. This was the band's breakthrough album, and is considered a classic of Pop-Punk.Blink-182

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
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IndieAnother eponymous entry, this was the band's debut album, and my favourite out of their five amazing albums.Tapes 'n Tapes

Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
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IndieThe award winning yet divisive third album by Canadian indie collective Broken Social Scene. I find it hard to describe them, so you're just gonna have to find out for yourselves.Wolf Parade

Beck - Guerolito
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Alternative RockThis is a remix album of Guero, and features all of the songs from regular edition of Guero in remixed forms by a variety of artists, with the addition of "Clap Hands", originally found on the special limited edition of Guero. Highly recommended (of course).Pixies

2006

The Strokes - First Impressions of Earth
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Indie RockAfter getting over their difficult second album, The Strokes released their third hit studio album. Hugely critically and commercially successful record.Cage the Elephant

Hot Chip - The Warning
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Electronic/IndieThe second full-length album by British indie band Hot Chip, it explores the theme of contradiction as well as "slower and darker aspects of electronic music" with the use of "strange violence" in songs.Simian Mobile Disco

Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Anti-folkThe fourth studio album by singer-songwriter Regina Spektor, award nominated and Gold certified. She's a great artist, and deserves a lot more of the spotlight than she gets.PJ Harvey

Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies
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MetalcoreThe band's fourth studio album, this is just an epic listen. Howard Jones' clean vocals really stand out. This was the album that converted me to Metal.Parkway Drive

2007

Boys Night Out - Boys Night Out
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Post-hardcoreThis is the eponymous album by Boys Night Out, the Canadian emo/post-hardcore band. Get Your Head Straight is such a good song.Glassjaw

2008

Does It Offend You, Yeah? - You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
New RaveThis is the debut album by the British new rave band, Does It Offend You, Yeah? This was definitely one of my favourite albums of the New Rave era, which peaked in 2008.Klaxons

Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
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Indie RockThe band's sixth studio album that had four hit singles. I must have listened to this album so many times since it's release. Get it added to your shelves.The Decemberists

Late of the Pier - Fantasy Black Channel
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
New RaveThe first and only album by British New Rave band Late of the Pier. I rediscovered this album recently, and it was definitely underrated at the time, and even now. Get hold of a copy as soon as you can.New Young Pony Club

Anberlin - New Surrender
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Alternative RockThis is the band's fourth studio album, but their first with a major record label. It feels very polished and clean compared to their earlier works. Just an awesome album all over.MAE

2010

Four Year Strong - Enemy of the World
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Pop-PunkThe third album by American rock band Four Year Strong. This is one of their strongest albums, but it's refreshing to hear them mature through each album.Hit the Lights

Gayngs - Relayted
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Indie RockRelayted is the first studio album by Minneapolis indie rock collective Gayngs, and was inspired by 10cc's "I'm Not in Love", every song on the album was recorded at 69 BPM (which may or may not be a great tempo to listen to if you've consumed a certain plant).Volcano Choir

2014

Tycho - Awake
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
AmbientThis is the third album by ambient music project Tycho. Very, very chill and great to listen to while reading or something like that.Bonobo

2015

Tame Impala - Currents
ArtGenreInfoSee Also
Psychedelic PopThe third studio album by Aussie rock band Tame Impala. I only discovered this band in the past couple of years, but they are amazing. Listening to each of their albums is almost like listening to the very evolution of music itself (slightly over dramatic there, only slightly). The Less I Know The Better is a great song.Arcade Fire




Apologies for the screwy table, I'll tidy it up for the next one (I may expand this list up to 100, as the 20th century is looking fairly empty (what happened to Punk and the 80s?)).

What's your favourite album? Or if you enjoy any of these, do let me know in the comments down below, and be sure to give me a follow to stay up to date with the latest Crypto news as well as general Internet and Pop Culture related stuff. Peace!




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How can The Clash not make your list? To each their own... Not familiar with everyone on your list but the one's I do know are spectacular choices.

They were on the shortlist, but didn't quite make the cut. 50 was way too restrictive I think, might have to do a Top whatever for each decade, or maybe genre.
Thanks for visiting!

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Hey man, thank you so much! I've been thinking about writing a post about me, maybe I'll start a draft post over the next few days.
I just read your post and I am so intrigued! I have to read more, you seem like you've lived quite an adventure!
I'd love it if you checked out my girlfriend's profile, she writes stories and poetry plus posts a bit about our animals so you might find it interesting. https://steemit.com/@Calluna
Thanks again dude, and I'm really looking forward to reading more from you! Peace

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Please bookmark Steem BluePaper and Steem Whitepaper and don't miss reading when you have time.
All the Best!!!

Welcome to Steem. Do read A thumb rule for steemit minnows - 50:100:200:25 for starter tips.
Please bookmark Steem BluePaper and Steem Whitepaper and don't miss reading when you have time.
All the Best!!!

Welcome to Steem. Do read A thumb rule for steemit minnows - 50:100:200:25 for starter tips.
Please bookmark Steem BluePaper and Steem Whitepaper and don't miss reading when you have time.
All the Best!!!

this really came in handy while I was looking for new music to listen to.
thx