Top 25 Albums
A list of albums which I couldn't live without, which are now part of my DNA. Influencing the way I listen to and compose music, and in some cases, my outlook on life. Love these albums to death. I will go in depth on my top 5, the rest will be simply listed. Don't get me wrong though, they are all 10's in my book. Ranking these albums took a long time. Enjoy. |
| 1 |  | Tim Hecker
Virgins
The easiest decision on this list, no album has captivated me, moved me, impressed me, or influenced me as much as this one. It is endlessly creative and cohesive, and is the standard to which I hold all albums. I have gone more into my feelings of this album on my Tim Hecker list, in short it is amazing. |
| 2 |  | Flying Lotus
You're Dead!
Mixing some of my favourite genres of music into one dense, cohesive 40 minutes. This album has become my go to listen no mater the situation, the jazz tracks are absolutely phenomenal, the electronic beat tracks are pure Flylo, and the songs are brilliant (not to mention the featured vocalists and musicians killing it). |
| 3 |  | Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
The album which turned me onto so many fantastic genres of music and albums, without this album I would never have got into any of the albums on this list. It also contains my favourite song of all time, Sleep. All the other tracks are amazing, but 'Sleep' was the track that got me into this band. And happens to be the most moving pieces of music I have ever heard. |
| 4 |  | Swans
To Be Kind
The largest album on this list, in length and in sound. Fantastic repetitive rock songs which carve their way into your skull, love every track on this album equally. Which baring in mind this album is 2 hours long, is a massive accomplishment. Michael Gira and friends are tight as the atoms in a diamond, amazing stuff. |
| 5 |  | John Coltrane
Africa/Brass
My favourite Jazz album, this albums personnel is made of legends, leading to the greatest Jazz track ever, Africa. Each solo is fire, each track is intense, and John Coltrane is as amazing as usual. Listen to it, especially if you think A Love Supreme is Coltrane's only masterpiece. |
| 6 |  | Tim Hecker
Ravedeath, 1972
The first Hecker song I heard was 'In the Fog', which blew me away. It was so beautiful and textured that it I just had to dive into his discography (a week later Virgins was released, good timing or what), this album is easily his most beautiful and spacious. Using gorgeous manipulated organ sounds, processed guitar and synthesizers, Hecker creates the music for a post apocalyptic landscape. |
| 7 |  | Godspeed You! Black Emperor
F#A# (Infinity)
The first Godspeed album which I owned, it took me a long time to get into this album. But now I think this is one of Godspeed's best, and probably their bleakest. Track 2 is especially awesome, featuring in one of my favourite movie scenes. I also think this album has Godspeed's best found sound work, some of the samples and loops could be lengthy pieces in their own right. |
| 8 |  | Flying Lotus
Cosmogramma
My first Flying Lotus album, and probably his best though not my favourite. This album is a dense diverse spacey odyssey, smashing jazz, hip hop and IDM into a boundary pushing album which never gets old. I think this album is a prime example of how creative and diverse electronic music can be. |
| 9 |  | Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada
This EP is so good that it puts every other reverb drenched post-rock band to shame, there is nothing more for me to say about Godspeed which I haven't already said. But I will say if you haven't heard this EP, give it a try. You may end up loving it as much as I do. |
| 10 |  | Madvillain
Madvillainy
The first Hip Hop album I truly loved, and the album which got me into the genre (Accordion is a hell of a track). MF DOOM and Madlib pair to create the best album of both of their fantastic careers, their styles compliment each other so well. |
| 11 |  | Kendrick Lamar
To Pimp a Butterfly |
| 12 |  | John Coltrane
A Love Supreme |
| 13 |  | Battles
Mirrored |
| 14 |  | Swans
The Seer |
| 15 |  | Miles Davis
Bitches Brew |
| 16 |  | Altar of Plagues
Teethed Glory and Injury |
| 17 |  | Dawn of Midi
Dysnomia |
| 18 |  | Flying Lotus
Los Angeles |
| 19 |  | Supersilent
6 |
| 20 |  | Shabazz Palaces
Black Up |
| 21 |  | Quasimoto
The Unseen |
| 22 |  | Radiohead
Kid A |
| 23 |  | John Coltrane
Olé Coltrane |
| 24 |  | Oneohtrix Point Never
Replica |
| 25 |  | Ornette Coleman
The Shape of Jazz to Come |
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