Fifty Favorite Albums

Several rules: (1) I’ve listed these albums in alphabetical order by the artist’s name, rather than in order of preference—though I’ve marked my current top ten with an asterisk. (2) I’ve chosen no more than one album per artist. (3) I’ve tried to be honest, which is why there are so few recognized classics on this list and so many singer-songwriters, indie rock musicians, electronic noisemakers, obscure Scandinavians, and eighties-era alternative bands. —Kevin Brockmeier, September 6, 2021

 

1. Miniatures by Alog

2. Mimikry by Anbb (*)

3. Strange Angels by Laurie Anderson

4. Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys

5. Hats by The Blue Nile

6. Workers Playtime by Billy Bragg

7. Hounds of Love by Kate Bush

8. You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen

9. Sleep No More by The Comsat Angels

10. Boomerang by The Creatures

11. Disintegration by The Cure

12. My Life by Iris DeMent (*)

13. Searching for the Young Soul Rebels by Dexys Midnight Runners

14. Promenade by The Divine Comedy

15. Bodily Functions by Herbert

16. Eye by Robyn Hitchcock

17. Dataplex by Ryoji Ikeda

18. One Man Clapping by James

19. Tin Drum by Japan (*)

20. The Size of Food by Jean-Paul Sartre Experience

21. Beast Box by Luxuria

22. Plastic Planet by Modified Toy Orchestra

23. Astral Weeks by Van Morrison (*)

24. Thunder and Consolation by New Model Army

25. Good Old Boys by Randy Newman

26. Pandemonium Shadow Show by Harry Nilsson

27. Insen by Alva Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoto

28. I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got by Sinead O’Connor

29. Miss America by Mary Margaret O’Hara (*)

30. Architecture and Morality by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

31. Take Me Elsewhere by The RAah Project

32. The Execution of All Things by Rilo Kiley

33. Avalon by Roxy Music

34. Blisters EP by Serpentwithfeet

35. Sparrows Point by Richard Shindell

36. Antologie by Solveig Slettahjell (*)

37. The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths

38. A Fierce Pancake by Stump (*)

39. Melody Mountain by Susanna and the Magical Orchestra (*)

40. Secrets of the Beehive by David Sylvian

41. Laughing Stock by Talk Talk

42. Time Machines by Time Machines

43. Tindersticks (1993) by Tindersticks

44. Bird-Dog by The Verlaines

45. Rain Dogs by Tom Waits

46. Fisherman’s Blues by The Waterboys

47. White+ by White+ (*)

48. Rivers by Wildbirds and Peacedrums (*)

49. Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder

50. Odessey and Oracle by The Zombies


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