Shall we say your top ten albums? Or as near as you can make it, anyway. I find it quite hard to just pick ten to be honest.
(What's the Story?) Morning Glory - Oasis
Greatest album ever written, by one of the greatest bands. It's impossible to fault a single song on it. It reminds me a lot of my childhood too, since it was released as I was growing up, so it's sort of the soundtrack to my youth.
Origin of Symmetry - Muse
A prime example on how to write a perfectly flowing album. All tracks meld nicely together, and it's easy to lose yourself in it when you listen to it. Even the tracks that are clearly meant as filler are extremely good.
Deadwing - Porcupine Tree
Because of the variety it shows off. It seems to show every different side of the band and their music, particularly the first five tracks. The majority of my favourite Porcupine Tree tracks are on this album.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles
Amazing to think that none of the songs on it ever reached #1 in the charts. It comes from what I think is their best songwriting period; I much prefer their stuff from the later 60s when they were taking drugs etc. A really strong collection of songs.
Revelations - Audioslave
Just edges it as my favourite of Chris Cornell's work ahead of Out of Exile (also by Audioslave). Like Origin of Symmetry, it all flows together really nicely.
Lungs - Florence & The Machine
It's a pretty new album, so it still has to stand the test of time, but I can see that happening. Probably the strongest debut album I've heard since Arctic Monkeys released Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Her voice is simply incredible and I can see a very successful career for her, and her machine.
Boston - Boston
A brilliant example of how to do a debut. It's funny to think that they almost didn't bother releasing an album because of lack of funding, but it's really lucky for the entire music industry that they did.
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - Arctic Monkeys
It's a shame that they've ended how they have, because this was a great start to their career. I remember when it came out, I listened to it pretty much daily and I still enjoy it just as much now.
Kid A - Radiohead
I'm not a huge Radiohead fan, but it's hard not to appreciate this work of genius. I find it really easy to listen to at any time, whereas with most of Radiohead's other stuff I find that I have to be in a certain mood to listen to it.
Urban Hymns - The Verve
One of the best albums from the 1990s. Again, I grew up listening to this, so I'm reminded quite strongly of my childhood when I listen to it. Richard Ashcroft is a really good songwriter.
Honourable mentions should be given to the following:
Leaders of the Free World - Elbow
Definitely Maybe - Oasis
Showbiz - Muse
The Joshua Tree - U2
Grace - Jeff Buckley
Wolfmother - Wolfmother
Out of Exile - Audioslave
Chutes Too Narrow - The Shins
Different Class - Pulp
Bah, I could go on and on.
(What's the Story?) Morning Glory - Oasis
Greatest album ever written, by one of the greatest bands. It's impossible to fault a single song on it. It reminds me a lot of my childhood too, since it was released as I was growing up, so it's sort of the soundtrack to my youth.
Origin of Symmetry - Muse
A prime example on how to write a perfectly flowing album. All tracks meld nicely together, and it's easy to lose yourself in it when you listen to it. Even the tracks that are clearly meant as filler are extremely good.
Deadwing - Porcupine Tree
Because of the variety it shows off. It seems to show every different side of the band and their music, particularly the first five tracks. The majority of my favourite Porcupine Tree tracks are on this album.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles
Amazing to think that none of the songs on it ever reached #1 in the charts. It comes from what I think is their best songwriting period; I much prefer their stuff from the later 60s when they were taking drugs etc. A really strong collection of songs.
Revelations - Audioslave
Just edges it as my favourite of Chris Cornell's work ahead of Out of Exile (also by Audioslave). Like Origin of Symmetry, it all flows together really nicely.
Lungs - Florence & The Machine
It's a pretty new album, so it still has to stand the test of time, but I can see that happening. Probably the strongest debut album I've heard since Arctic Monkeys released Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Her voice is simply incredible and I can see a very successful career for her, and her machine.
Boston - Boston
A brilliant example of how to do a debut. It's funny to think that they almost didn't bother releasing an album because of lack of funding, but it's really lucky for the entire music industry that they did.
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - Arctic Monkeys
It's a shame that they've ended how they have, because this was a great start to their career. I remember when it came out, I listened to it pretty much daily and I still enjoy it just as much now.
Kid A - Radiohead
I'm not a huge Radiohead fan, but it's hard not to appreciate this work of genius. I find it really easy to listen to at any time, whereas with most of Radiohead's other stuff I find that I have to be in a certain mood to listen to it.
Urban Hymns - The Verve
One of the best albums from the 1990s. Again, I grew up listening to this, so I'm reminded quite strongly of my childhood when I listen to it. Richard Ashcroft is a really good songwriter.
Honourable mentions should be given to the following:
Leaders of the Free World - Elbow
Definitely Maybe - Oasis
Showbiz - Muse
The Joshua Tree - U2
Grace - Jeff Buckley
Wolfmother - Wolfmother
Out of Exile - Audioslave
Chutes Too Narrow - The Shins
Different Class - Pulp
Bah, I could go on and on.