The Rest of the List: Top Albums
Back a couple of weeks ago, I posted a Top Nine: Favorite Albums. This is the rest of the list, which finishes my top 25 albums. Again, as a few people commented on, it’s so hard to pick 9, let alone 25 favorite albums. But based on my personal preferences and how often I listen to some of the records, these are the ones that made the rest of my top 25 list.
- Alice In Chains: MTV Unplugged
The first time I heard Alice In Chains, it was 1990 and they had just released “Facelift” I really wasn’t that into it. It only took a short time before their sound grabbed me and I became a fan. But the album of theirs that I listen to most is “MTV Unplugged” from 1996. The raw and stripped down sound is so clean and fresh. Plus it’s one of the last time’s Layne performed with the band. Just try and listen to this version of “Down in a Hole” without feeling goosebumps. - U2: The Joshua Tree
The music released in 1987 was tops. An excellent year for many bands. U2 was already becoming a household name, but this album made sure no one mistook the band for the military plane. Songs like “With Or Without You” and “Bullet The Blue Sky” forever changed the status of this Irish band. This album is still in constant rotation in my CD player on on my iPod. - Prince: Purple Rain
I found Prince’s music when he released the album 1999. But it was seeing the movie Purple Rain that helped me get more into this funk master’s mindset and his grooves. Even the backwards masking controversy could not stop people from embracing this album. “Darling Nikki” will always bring a smile to my face, and “Let’s Go Crazy” starts off any party with a blast. - Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy
I’ve been a Zeppelin fan since the beginning of their career. And I like pretty much all of their music. This album, released in 1973, came out on top and stayed there. Even missing the title track (which showed up on their next album, “Physical Graffiti”), it still didn’t take away from the tracks like “Dancing Days” and “No Quarter”. In fact, this album contains my favorite Zep song – “The Rain Song” which is almost eight minutes of pure enjoyment. - The Eagles: Hotel California
Even with their country infused sound, the Eagles forever changed the landscape of rock with this 1976 album. Hearing “Life In The Fast Lane” on the radio that year, wiped out any stereotype I had from their previous work. And although I prefer the version of “Hotel California” from their album “Hell Freezes Over”, the original studio version still stands up in its classic format. - Fleetwood Mac: Rumours
If you have ever read the story of the making of this album, you will be amazed that it actually got made. To date, it has sold over 30 million copies and is considered one of the best rock albums ever made. And with songs like “The Chain” (which is my favorite), it’s hard not to keep playing this album over and over. This is the album that gets put on when I leave for a camping trip, driving down the highway and backroads. - Sex Pistols: Nevermind The Bullocks
“God Save The Queen/Her Facist Regime” Opening lyrics that became glued to every punk kid’s memory. Released in 1977, it is the first and only album recorded by the Sex Pistols. It’s also the one that everyone turns to when they think of the start of the punk rock revolution. Raw, unapologetic and dirty, this album has stood the test of time and inspired many followers over the years. - Marilyn Manson: Antichrist Superstar
Not too many people know what a huge fan of Marilyn Manson I am. I’ve seen him twice in concert (2001 and 2008) and have always considered his music misunderstood by most. Most people may remember all of the odd things he’s done over the years, but it’s this 1996 release that will remain one of his best works. Produced by Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), it tells a story of a misguided rock star looking for whatever it can find to satisfy any desire in life. Besides the well-known “The Beautiful People”, songs like “Little Horn” and the title track make this album one I never get tired of hearing. - Rolling Stones: Exile On Main Street
I can’t tell you how many great albums were released in the 70’s. Today most are known as classic rock. Eight years into their career, the Rolling Stones came out with this album. Except for “Tumbling Dice”, there wasn’t a lot of well-known radio hits, but that wasn’t the point of this record. Playing it from start to finish is much more what Mick & Keith and Co. had in mind. Eighteen songs long, it’s easily my favorite, and with many music critics, as well. - Tears For Fears: Songs From The Big Chair
How many times do you hear an album for the first time and think, “This is going to be huge” Tears For Fears second release from 1985 was one of those albums that I heard and uttered the above phrase. “Shout” and “Head Over Heels” were heard everywhere. You couldn’t escape them if you wanted to. And now 23 years later, I enjoy them just as much as when they were in heavy rotation on pop radio. - Notorious B.I.G.: Life After Death
I don’t like too many rap artists. In fact, I can only name four or five that I really count as musicians that matter in the music industry. One had his life cut short, just days before the release of this album. Christopher “Biggie” Wallace knew how to rap. Just listen to “Hypnotize” and “Going Back To Cali” and you’ll hear someone who really spent time perfecting his talent. And to have one of the best selling double albums, it’s a 1996 release that you should really check out. - Pink Floyd: Dark Side Of The Moon
Who knew that in 1973, an long time jazzy blues band was going down a more creative route musically. They had several albums that resulted in their efforts, but it was this album that sticks in most people’s minds as the definitive crown. Spending over 12 years on the Billboard Top 200 list, it’s the one album that most people own and play often. It’s meant to be played from start to finish and you can listen to tracks like “Money” and still be blown away at how well this sounds. - Black Sabbath: Paranoid
The start of the 70’s found the a band from England releasing one of their best selling and most popular albums. “War Pigs”, “Faries Wear Boots” and “Iron Man” are some timeless classics, you can’t help but listen each and every time they are played. They would go on to release six more albums with Ozzy Osbourne at the helm, but Paranoid remains the one that most people know and love. - The Cars: The Cars
An odd lead singer with an even odder name, Ric Otcasek (later changed to Ocasek) helped start this Boston band on its road to success. Their first album is yet another one that must be played from the beginning to the end. And with no gaps between the tracks on each side of the album, it flows perfectly. It’s very common for me to play all of side 2 (which is the final three songs) for a lot of people, just to show how well it sounds. “Good Times Roll” and “Best Friend’s Girl” are the stand out tracks that makes this record a keeper. - The Cure: Pornography
Long considered a goth band, The Cure was always a favorite of mine. In 1982, they released the first of the trilogy of albums [Disintegration (1989) and Bloodflowers (2000) were the other two] that would define their drastic and dread-like sound. “One Hundred Years” and “Hanging Garden” are classic alternative songs that make you want to mosh and sway. - Nine Inch Nails: The Fragile
A double album is not something that’s easy to release, let alone expect the buying public to embrace. Bands like Smashing Pumpkins and Peter Frampton made them work. And so did Nine Inch Nails in 1999. The album is broken up into two: Left and Right. While I prefer the Left side (another one that is great from start to finish), the Right side contains the Grammy-nominated song “Starfuckers Inc.”, which is not only a killer song, its lyrics tell a sordid tale about torn friendships.
So there you have it. I guess I could go on with my favorites, which could fill countless blog posts. But we’ll stop a the Top Nine and the rest of the top 25 favorites. Comment away if you have anything to add to this or add your favorites or suggestions.
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About The Author
martymankins
16 Comments
Nice list, I won’t lie and say that much of it is on my Top 25, but that’s the beauty of music. You could’ve seriously put down Debbie Gibson (as Dave joked in the earlier post) and I would’ve accepted that. Music tastes are so subjective and favorite music can be based on so much more than just “is it good music”.
Nice, that looks a lot better… LOL…. Still missing any Rage against the Machine and Zeppelin though….
Shoot, sorry missed houses of the Holy on there…my bad….
brandon That Debbie Gibson. She’s itching for a come back.
breakaway9 Rage is great, but other albums beat them out of the top 25. As for Zeppelin, see #13 above.
We must have been posting at the same time… LOL
I’d probably put Disintegration about Pornography for Cure albums… but the whole trilogy is awesome!
dave2 I really need to get this DVD some day. To see all 3 performed live would be incredible.
17, 20, and 24 are the only ones I’m not so into. I pretty much have everything else on your list. Marilyn Manson and I had close and personal moment once at the Hollywood Palladium at KNAC.com’s Karnival One. He’s a fucker. Even Bret Michaels said so when he and the rest of Poison rescued me…
winter wow… that’s crazy. I’m guessing that wouldn’t have been the first time Manson has been a fucker to someone. Good for Bret and his band. How long ago was this?
I like all that music, whoo!
I can’t agree with most of these, but Houses of the Holy and Dark Side of the Moon (and Paranoid) are definitely on my top list.
And, of course, this is the mystery of the quotient.
motley Nice. surprised you didn’t mention anything about the missing Motely Crue on the list. If I did a Top 50, all of their albums released before 1992 would end up being on this list.
whall It seems any Zep, Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd is on a lot of people’s best of lists.
I think the Karnival One concert was in 2001. I forget because someone *cough*Rott*cough* took my shirt. LOL Basically, one of Manson’s band stepped on me and shoved me and Marilyn was right where he could have caught me to keep me from falling. Instead, he stepped aside and I started to fall onto the stairs. Poison was on the stairs and Bret and CC caught me. Bobby said, “That’s fucked up.” Bret said, “Fucker.” and CC asked me if I was okay. Manson stalked off with his nose in the air.
@winter… wow. that is fucked up. I gather you were backstage during all of this. At least Bret and CC were there.
Couldn’t agree more on 11,16,17,19,24,25.
U2 – The Joshua Tree: by the time this came out I was already a fan as I’d already heard “The Unforgettable Fire” when I was a wee nipper. Those early U2 albums were some of the first albums that I got my mum and dad to buy me. I played The Joshua Tree to death when it came out. I think this album is their masterpiece. One Tree Hill is the highlight I think. I’ve felt a little meh for recent U2 albums to be honest. The Joshua Tree is their last true great album (for me anyway).
Marilyn Manson – Antichrist Superstar: played this album to death when it came out. Love Dried Up, Tied Up To The World and Tourniquet. Oh, and Angel With The Scabbed Wings too. I’m a big fan of darker/goth music in general but when I’m in the right mood, nothing beats turning the volume up on this album.
Tears For Fears – Songs From The Big Chair: another great album but I think I might slightly prefer The Hurting to this album though. It’s a tough decision. Shout, Mother’s Talk, and The Working Hour are superb songs.
The Cure – Pornography: along with Disintegration, this album is a true masterpiece. I must admit the DVD audio rip of their Trilogy DVD Pornography set is actually better than the original album. I play that to death.
Nice writeup sir. I enjoyed reading your take on these albums.
kevin – Why thank you, sir. And I like your take on a few of them, too. “The Hurting” was very cool and I like that one as well (in fact, all TFF I like), but it was how “Songs From The Big Chair” played from beginning to end that makes it perfect.
“Unforgettable Fire” was actually the first CD I ever purchased (back in 1987).
I really need to get the Trilogy DVD.
Marilyn Manson is one of those bands that, like you, I can listen to in the right mood and it just does something, especially when cranked up.