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