Here it is, as promised. When Sigz started his Top 50 Albums thread a few months ago, I was really enjoying following it, and thought it was a fantastic idea to really think about your favourite albums and put them into such a list, so I immediately started doing the same. Like Ian, I've tried to make it as "all time" as possible, although it does still include some more recent additions as I've chopped and changed it over the last week or so in preparation for starting this thread. I'm pleased with it now, and the best thing is that I get to listen to each album again as I do the write-ups.
I have very diverse listening habits, and I think the final result reflects that pretty well. The one thing I have excluded is classical/orchestral/choral music, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the majority of works come in multiple recordings and interpretations and rarely is there a 'definitive' one; and secondly, a large portion of the genre comes in a format that is not really comparable to an album. While there are some works that I adore and would have loved to include, I just couldn't rank them so decided to exclude them entirely. Everything else, however, was fair game, so hopefully it'll throw up one or two surprises!
I'll try and post an update or two a day if I can, although I make no guarantees on that front. I do, however, guarantee that I won't forget about it for weeks (which, admittedly, I have been known to do in the past.... but not this time!)
Et voila:
50. Kings of Convenience - Riot on an Empty Street [2004]This is my go-to album when I want something completely chilled out, and it has been for years. It just evokes a real feeling of happiness and contentedness in me. For those who don’t know, Kings of Convenience are a Norwegian folk duo, and while a large focus of their music is simply the two of them playing acoustic guitars and singing softly, they do a wonderful job of incorporating other acoustic instruments such as piano and violin. This particular album has a very serene yet somehow enthused atmosphere throughout, and there are few experiences more relaxing than sitting out in the sun with a cold beverage of your choice and letting their sultry voices wash over you.
49. Metallica - …And Justice For All [1988]That’s right, Metallica. They were my favourite band for a short while when I was in my late teens (back when I had favourite bands
) and they’ve made a lot of very good albums, but no other compares to this, which is thrash (well, ish) metal at its best. The music is heavy, intelligent, engaging and generally brilliantly written and the lyrics are, arguably, the best they’ve penned. What I love most is the surprising amount of variety; despite a very consistent tone throughout, the style and tempo changes loads, and even the album’s weaker moments are good enough to get me headbanging! The one thing that stops the album from being higher on my list is the somewhat weak production, but otherwise it’s magnificent.
48. The Antlers – Hospice [2009]So, I only discovered these guys in my song roulette when orcus sent me a song by them, and to be honest I don’t have much to add from the update I posted, other than the fact that it says a lot about the quality of this album that I can confidently place it in my top 50 having not known it that long. The thing that, for me, really makes it so wonderful is the vocals. The music itself is gorgeous and most of the melodies are truly lush, but Peter Silberman’s sweet singing just takes it to another level entirely. They have a new album coming out around now, and I cannot wait to hear it!
Topic: Top 50 Albums, v. ariich (Read 58120 times)
