In no particular order, here are ten albums which I love. I am not going to say that they are objectively my top ten favorite albums because I don't really have favorites per se. Though there are perhaps some albums that I have spent more time listening to than the ones listed below, the ones listed take precedence because they have stood the test of time and are as good now as they were then.
1) Beatles--White Album: I am not really sure why I picked the White Album over any other on this list. I almost picked Anthology 3, but I have not been able to listen to it in years because I lost it. The third anthology was a huge influence on me in high school, and one of my first introduction to the beatles. I love the rawness of it. However, the white album is also great, and personally I think it really captures the uniqueness and creative heights of the beatles.
2) Brand New--The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me: It was hard to choose between this and deja entendu, but I think ultimately tDaGaRIM is a better and more mature album, and provides proof that brand new deserves to be considered as something greater than the "emo" genre from which brand new got its start.
3) Nirvana--Un-Plugged in New York: Ok, I admit, I was not a big Nirvana fan back in the day. However, even back when it first came out, I was enamoured with this album, even if some "true" Nirvana fans generally dismiss it.
4) Jewel -- Pieces of You: What can I say? I am not a big Jewel fan in general, but I am a sucker for anything acoustic.
5) Elliott Smith--???: I am struggling to pick any one album, even though I am certain I want a Smith album on this list. Hmmmm. Definitely not Figure 8. and probably not XO, even though that is a great album. Ultimately, I think I could pick any of three albums: Self Titled, Either/Or, and From a Basement on a Hill.
6) Josh Ritter--The Animal Years: This is a great album, plain and simple.
7) Modest Mouse -- The Moon and Antartica: Modest Mouse, along with Bright Eyes, really changed the way I looked at music. I never really grew up with the opportunity to discover indie music, and so when I discovered MM and Bright Eyes (both at aproximately the same time, which is why I associate the two) I realized there was a whole new musical world out there waiting to be discovered.
8) Third Eye Blind--Self Titled: Just a great album. As good now as it was then. I actually listened to this album on repeat today for about 6 or 7 hours straight on my ipod as I went about my day, and I never got sick of it, which for me is saying a lot.
9) Pink Floyd--DSotM: I listened to this album for 6 straight months in high school. Just ask my sister, we would listen to it everyday on the way to school and it drove her crazy (though thankfully she now more fully appreciates the album). And hey, I never smoked pot in highschool, so don't buy into all the hype. This album is great no matter your current state of being. Though if you get the chance . . .
10) Weezer--Blue Album: This is one of the first albums that I was really obsessed with. I first bought this album aproximately 12 or 13 years ago, but the thing is I can still listen to it today from start to finish and truly enjoy it. I might even enjoy it more now than I did when I first heard it, a true rarity for me. This album represents what pop music ought to be.
11) Ryan Adams--Heartbreaker: OK, this album is just too good not to be on the list. I am kinda surprised i didn't include it in the first place. I don't really know what to say, except i might write a book someday inspired by Oh My Sweet Carolina. One of my favorite songs ever.
Contenders:
Bright Eyes: Fevers and Mirrors
Jason Mraz: Waiting for my Rocket to Come
Postal Service: Such Great Heights
AC/DC: Double Live
Eagles: Hell Freezes Over
Garden State Soundtrack
Sublime: Self Titled
CCR: Chronicles Vol. 1
