this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2023
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I'm off on holiday tomorrow and will have basically no internet for over a week. So naturally I'm downloading all the media I can think of, just in case of downtime.

Thought it might be fun to solicit some musical suggestions from you lot to help expand my mind. So here we are. What's your ultimate all-time #1 album?

My tastes are pretty eclectic* so feel free to suggest basically anything, and maybe I'll update after holiday and judge what I thought of them all. Or maybe not, you know, that sounds like potentially quite a lot of effort.

Cheers in advance!

* mostly on the alternative / rock side of things but also love various kinds of dance sub-genre on occasion and of course the genre-that-isn't-a-genre-at-all, Eurovision

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

Wish you were here by Pink Floyd

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Underworld - Second Toughest in the Infants - beautiful music and very easy to listen to endlessly.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (3 children)

My "album I've listened to for nigh on 40 years" is Paul Simon's Graceland

Only album from my teenage years that never got old

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

One?!

You mean one from (almost) every year right? With the average scores from Rate Your Music for comparison? I never leave the house without mine.

/ Bob Dylan - The Free Wheelin' Bob Dylan (1963) RYM 3.95 / Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (1965) RYM 4.16 / Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde (1966) RYM 4.15 / The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) RYM 4.22 / Johnny Cash - Live at Folsom Prison (1968) RYM 4.13 / Neil Young - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969) RYM 4.04 / Neil Young - After the gold rush (1970) RYM 4.08 / Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV (1971) RYM 4.10 / David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars (1972) RYM 4.26 / Neil Young - On the beach (1974) RYM 4.08 / Neil Young - Tonight's the Night (1975) RYM 3.94 / Tom Waits - Small Change (1976) RYM 3.77 / Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979) RYM 4.11 / Talking Heads - Remain in Light (1980) RYM 4.26 / The Smiths - Hatful of Hollow (1984) RYM 4.08 / Kate Bush - Hounds of Love (1985) RYM 4.16 / Tom Waits - Rain Dogs (1985) RYM 4.04 / The Smiths - The Queen is Dead (1986) RYM 4.12 / The Smiths - Louder than Bombs (1987) RYM 4.14 / Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation (1988) RYM 4.04 / Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989) RYM 3.93 / Sonic Youth - Goo (1990) RYM 3.80 / My Bloody Valentine - Loveless (1991) RYM 4.25 / Tom Waits - Bone Machine (1992) RYM 3.97 / Sonic Youth - Dirty (1992) RYM 3.70 / Portishead - Dummy (1994) RYM 4.16 / Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible (1994) RYM 3.82 / The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995) RYM 3.88 / DJ Shadow - Endtroducing (1996) RYM 4.13 / Godspeed You! Black Emperor - F♯A♯∞ (1997) RYM 4.15 / Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West (1997) RYM 4.08 / Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Slow Riot for New Zerø Kanada (1998) RYM 4.16 / Tom Waits - Mule Variations (1999) RYM 3.86 / Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven! (2000) RYM 4.21 / Avalanches - Since I Left You (2000) RYM 4.05 / Radiohead - Kid A (2000) RYM 4.25 / Deftones - White Pony (2000) RYM 3.96 / Daft Punk - Discovery (2001) RYM 4.05 / Destroyer - Streethawk: A Seduction (2001) RYM 3.72 / Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002) RYM 3.86 / Boris - Feedbacker (2003) RYM 3.99 / MF DOOM - Madvillainy (2004) RYM 4.33 / Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary (2005) RYM 3.64 / Boris - Pink (2005) RYM 3.87 / J Dilla - Donuts (2006) RYM 4.11 / Tom Waits - Orphans (2006) RYM 3.88 / Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies (2006) RYM 3.73 / Burial - Untrue (2007) RYM 3.98 / Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam (2007) RYM 3.81 / Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007) RYM 4.28 / Portishead - Third (2008) RYM 3.94 / Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion (2009) RYM 3.74 / Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (2010) RYM 3.82 / Death Grips - Exmilitary (2011) RYM 4.12 / Ty Segall - Goodbye Bread (2011) RYM 3.33 / Death Grips - The Money Store (2012) RYM 4.08 / Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! (2012) RYM 3.73 / Deafheaven - Sunbather (2013) RYM 3.72 / Iceage - You're Nothing (2013) RYM 3.42 / Swans - To Be Kind (2014) 4.03 / Death Grips - Jenny Death (2015) RYM 4.01 / Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition (2016) RYM 4.13 / Radiohead - Moon Shaped Pool (2016) RYM 3.94 / Death Grips - Bottomless Pit (2016) RYM 3.91 / Li gua Ignota - Caligula (2019) RYM 3.77 / Sunn O))) - Life Metal (2019) RYM 3.38 / The Strokes - The New Abnormal (2020) RYM 3.73 / Lingua Ignota - Sinner Get Ready (2021) RYM 3.81 / Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You (2022) RYM 3.93

....sorry for the wall of text.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Haha, I see this question unleashed something in you. Bit disappointed that it's not in the form of a spreadsheet though, tbh!

Actually some really great picks in here, seems like we have similar tastes so this will keep me occupied for a while 😅

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells, probably my most enduring album (i.e. the one I've liked for the longest period of time while other tastes have come and gone).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Of course, everyone goes through a Tubular Bells phase at some point. Some of us never quite grow out of it and I'm fine with that :D

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

'Thick as a Brick' Jethro Tull.

More of a grower than an immediate album but, once you tune in, there's so much going on I never get bored.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Seems like I'm gonna have plenty of listening time while we travel, so let's see how long it takes for this one to stick!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory!

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Obviously impossible but probably Music has the Right to Children by Boards of Canada or Journey in satchidananda by Alice Coltrane

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

"Music has the right " is my current go to album while working. Not a big Boards fan, but that album is perfect for background concentration.

"Beaucoup Fish" from Underworld is my go to if I need a pickup while working.

To answe OPs question, one album I could listen to forever, would be hard but a coin flip between Radioheasd In Rainbow, and Burials Untrue

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I love BoC but I think if that was the only thing I had to listen to I would genuinely go mad. Mad in the 'I keep hearing children talking to me backwards' sense.

Their Beautiful House In The Country EP is up there in my favourites of all time

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you want an album with a narrative Jeff Wayne's war of the worlds is pretty brilliant and so the 'the point'.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Never gets old. We went to the live show in Glasgow last year and it was absolutely brilliant!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

A coin flip between Radioheads In Rainbow, and Burials Untrue

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I wouldn't listen to any album forever, but Porcupine Tree's Deadwing is great for listening to again and again.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hex Enduction Hour by The Fall. I never understood the Fall until I heard this album... Mark E Smith's lyrics and voice range from vicious to eerie. I was sold.

I drunkenly insisted on playing its first song 'The Classical' on repeat on my stag do shouting "it's a grower! You'll get it this time! There's 2 bloody drum kits and the bass is great just listen properly!" (On a tiny Bluetooth speaker)

It is great though. Turn it up loud. If you don't like it the first time, just remember to bloody listen properly lol

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Haha I'll bear that in mind! We've all been That Guy at some point I reckon 😅

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Some more often than others...!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Hmmm, well there's one album that I've been listening to since I was about 16, so getting on for forty years. I've listened to it on headphones and hi-fi ranging from cheap to exotic, indoors, outdoors, in cars, every time of day and night, in every type of emotional state, tired, fresh, drunk, sober, straight and high on various narcotics, often at the same time. I've played it to many different people of different ages and backgrounds in different circumstances.

You'll probably hate it!

Tangerine Dream - Encore

Although I do love Hendrix' Electric Ladyland.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Daft Punk - Discovery

The Strokes - Is This It a close 2nd.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Sorry - I can only narrow it down to three:

The Race For Space - Public Service Broadcasting

American Idiot - Green Day

Rumours - Fleetwood Mac

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Two great choices, and I assume from those that the Green Day album is good too lol, I'd stopped listening to them by that point I think. Fun fact we once saw Public Service Broadcasting live, completely by accident, they were just doing a random gig on a stage in Newcastle city centre. Was mint.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Master Of Puppets. Greatest pure metal album ever made.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

"Things We Lost In The Fire" by Low.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Never heard of this, expect a review in about a week and a half :D

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I'm a massive Low fan, so I'd happily take any of their albums if I have to listen to one forever. They started off as the pioneers of "slowcore" but reinvented themselves over and over. Sadly Mimi Parker died in late 2022 and her husband Alan Sparhawk wound up the band, but their distortion heavy "Hey What" was a great finale.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Paranoid by Black Sabbath

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Definitely Maybe by Oasis, not a single bad track and came out at the perfect time for me growing up while discovering my own taste in music.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hmm. Is this the moment I throw off the shackles of the Britpop wars and embrace Oasis despite being on team Blur back in the day? No it's not, that day came a couple years ago as I drunkenly sang along to Don't Look Back In Anger in a pizza shop at 3am with a load of 20 year olds. Never actually heard a full one of their albums though, good shout.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

(What's the Story) Morning Glory? is also a banger, again, not a bad track on there.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Autechre NTS sessions. It's not my favorite album by any means. But it's 8 hours long so it'll take me longer to get bored of it.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Either Vaudeville Villain by MF Doom as Viktor Vaughn or Things Fall Apart by The Roots.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Screw it I'll go find both.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Let me know what you think please

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Await my review in about a week and a half 😄

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Character by Dark Tranquility is definitely one of my favorite albums.

It's an amazing album and very nostalgic for me since it was one of the albums that got me into Melodic Death Metal, my favorite genre.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

One album forever? Tough one.

This might change after some thought, but the first one that popped into my head was Leftism by Leftfield.

However, my favourite band are R.E.M., so I might feel tempted to take one of theirs instead!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think Leftism could still pass for a new release. It, Massive Attack's Mezzanine, and GusGus' Polydistortion would be my top contenders, cuz that shit has not gotten old yet, for me.

Out of Time by REM would be alright, too! If I can skip "Shiny Happy People," ugh.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Three cheers for sweet revenge by My Chemical Romance. Absolutely perfect album in my opinion.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Hmmm difficult it would be between the Beatles and Queen for me

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Chroma Key You Go Now is one I listen to from start to end, so that's the first thing that comes to mind.

Though maybe there would be some more intense thing to listen to piece by piece that would be more appropriate for what might be a really long time.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Too late, gotta go with your gut. Answer locked in!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place by Explosions In The Sky.

Perfect for relaxing and concentrating. I basically have this and Deftones on repeat at work to drown out all the noise.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Something by The Rumjacks. I generally listen to them on the phone or computer, so I'm not sure which songs are from which albums.

On a more personal note, One By One, by Chris Summerill. He's a friend, but the track Away We Go is genuinely one of my favourite songs. Ideal for sitting in the sun with a beer 👍

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

This one is hard, but currently I think I'd have to go with folklore or evermore by Taylor Swift, which I'm sure is going to be very different to most suggestions you'll get!

I'm not really a Taylor Swift fan, but her alternative / country albums from 2020 blew me away, as I'm very much about that style of music. Shame she went back to doing standard pop, I was hoping she'd continue that way.

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