Album Recommendations

[Phantasmagoriat]

This thread is for posting your Album Recommendations.

I mean, in this hobby, if there is anything worth investing your time into, it would be expanding your musical horizons.

...so, I'm just gonna post 50 albums I think everyone should listen to, if you already haven't:

• (in no particular order, save for the first 10)
  
  01. Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
  02. The Blues Brothers - Original Soundtrack
  03. Tool - Lateralus
  04. Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
  05. Opeth - Damnation, (then Blackwater Park)
  06. Infected Mushroom - BP Empire (and everything from IM)
  07. Rush - 2112
  08. Blue Man Group - Audio
  09. Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
  10. Cloud Cult - Light Chasers
  
  11. Imogen Heap - i-Megaphone
  12. Annihilator - Never, Neverland
  13. Anathema - A Fine Day to Exit
  14. Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
  15. Judas Priest - Metal Works
  16. Led Zeppelin - BBC Sessions
  17. Death Angel - The Art Of Dying
  18. Auf der Maur - Auf der Maur
  19. Ayreon - The Human Equation
  20. Iced Earth - Horror Show
  21. Old Man's Child - Ill-Natured Spiritual Invasion
  22. Buckethead - Colma
  23. Dio - Killing the Dragon
  24. The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
  25. Frou Frou - Details
  26. In Flames - The Jester Race
  27. Daft Punk - Discovery
  28. Isis - Oceanic
  29. Massive Attack - Collected
  30. Metallica - Master of Puppets
  31. Zero 7 - Simple Things
  32. Alice in Chains - Jar of Flies
  33. Nevermore - Dreaming Neon Black
  34. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
  35. Radiohead - Kid A
  36. Cake - Fashion Nugget
  37. Star One - Space Metal
  38. Nightwish - Wishmaster
  39. Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle-Earth
  40. Supertramp - Supertramp
  41. Ambeon - Fate Of A Dreamer
  42. Megadeth - Rust in Peace
  43. Kamelot - Poetry for the Poisoned
  44. AC/DC - Stiff Upper Lip
  45. Shadow Gallery - Digital Ghosts
  46. The Tea Party - The Edges Of Twilight
  47. Angel Dust - Of Human Bondage
  48. Blackfield - Blackfield
  49. Our Lady Peace - Naveed
  50. Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
  
  51. OC Remix - (awesome, free video-game music remixes)
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Important Notice: These Albums are just what *I* like. Everyone has different preferences. But be aware a lot of what you like is determined by what you have exposed yourself to; so please only recommend Albums if you truly believe you know what you are talking about. That doesn't mean you have to be a music expert or audiophile to recommend an album. But try to keep in mind that what you recommend is a fair estimate of what you truly believe. Maybe throw in a few words to describe why you recommend them too (not that I've done that here... and I don't intend to... for obvious reasons: it's too much work...). And feel free to let others know if you agree on a good recommendation. There's nothing wrong with discussing the music either, although in that case, it may be best to post the recommendation BOTH here, AND start a separate thread to discuss the Musical Artist/Album/Song/Genre Examples etc... too.

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Some Thoughts about my List, Listening, and AMVs:

• Yes, you'll notice it's a bit skewed towards Metal. But in a personal level, there's good reason for that: Metal is typically based around Melody, which IMO is the cornerstone of all music (and even AMVs to a certain extent). I mean, when you actually do a comparison, there are more similarities to masterful symphonic pieces through Metal than through most other forms of music . It just flows. It's easy to focus on. And easy to follow --just like an AMV should be-- So, for me it just seems natural to go in that direction, though you don't have to; but that's just the way I see it. And ofc, there's a lot of non-metal on that list too...
  
  And no, I'm not saying this is music you should put on in the background while you pass the time on the computer (though sometimes that's okay). I mean, actually dedicate some time to lay down, close your eyes, with some headphones on, reasonably loud volume, and let the music take you for an hour, or however long the album is, undisturbed.
  
  • For me, I tend to do this before I go to bed; and just forget. about. everything. else. in. the. world...
    
    Now *this* is the type of stuff I wonder if people still do anymore.
  I think too many people just try to get into the hobby, when they don't know enough about music to even come up with an opinion of what they like. So they just follow what everyone else is doing; and just listen to what's popular (not that popular music is always bad, no no... it's doesn't work that way...) Yet, I'm a firm believer that in AMVs as a hobby, Music is where it should all Start. And I'm not trying to chew anyone out here... but at the same time, that's what I believe. Because once you are comfortable with music, AMVs can basically be viewed as a visual extension of it. (And yes, there's more to it than that, but hopefully everyone can understand what I'm trying to say... I mean... your song generally dictates how your AMV is going to turn out... for the most part...)

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General Guideline for Posting Recommendations: If an album really Surprises you in some way, that is usually an indication of something to recommend.

[Flint the Dwarf]

That's a pretty great list. I'd switch out Dreaming Neon Black for This Godless Endeavor, though. I really think that's just one of the greatest thrash albums ever written. And I'd probably have Cynic's Traced In Air somewhere too.

[PotatoBaron]

I like the list, there are some great choices, but I wish to make one too. I will avoid retreads.

1 Foo Fighters-Wasting Light
2 Pearl Jam-Ten
3 Black Sabbath-Paranoid
4 Led Zeppelin-IV
5 AC/DC-Back in Black
6 Coheed and Cambria-Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV, Vol. 2: No World For Tomorrow
7 The Doors-The Doors
8 Franz Ferdinand-Franz Ferdinand
9 Incubus-Make Yourself
10 Iron Maiden-Powerslave

11 Metallica-Ride The Lightning
12 Ozzy Osbourne-Blizzard of Oz
13 The Police-Synchronicity
14 Rush-Moving Pictures
15 Rainbow-Rising
16 Van Halen-1984
17 The Who-Who's Next
18 Pink Floyd-Animals
19 Alice in Chains-Dirt
20 Dio-The Last in Line
This list being mostly to complement the prior one, I went for the throat on some of these artists. This list here is mostly for those unfamiliar with the [rock] genre, and I did pull some of the more popular artists for my list intentionally. One of the concerns I have with discussing this sort of topic is that it does lend itself to flame wars, but as the OP said, these are our opinions. My list would have the subtitle "music you should be familiar with in the rock genre" though I did sneak a few newer albums in here.
Thanks for reading!

[Chemikilla]

Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral!

[Hiro The Dragon King]

Let me add to your list with a list of albums from various other genres, though not completely. And to clarify, this is not a list of musical works by artists I believe to be the best, nor is it a list of albums that I believe to be any better than others. This is a simply a list of albums that I believe hold an incredible amount of artistic talent, messages worth conveying, or simply stories needed told. These are in no particular order.

Violet Journey - Orianthi (Panagaris)
-- [This blues album was constructed ENTIRELY by a girl under twenty.]
Imaginaerum - Nightwish
Pomegranate - Astronautalis
-- [Unless you happen to be a history buff, this one may take quite a bit of research.]
This Is Our Science - Astronautalis
-- [This album relates how the artist feels about his art and life to how the philosophers of the Age of Enlightenment felt about their lives and work.]
In The Court Of The Crimson King - King Crimson
-- [The 1969 kickstart to progressive rock.]
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
-- [You need to hear the ORIGINAL version of this album. Five tracks, with the last, 'A Bit of Finger/Sleeping Village Warning', at just over fourteen minutes.]
Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030
-- [A hip-hop space opera. Enough said.]
The Divine Comedy - Milla (Jovovich)
-- [I'll bet that you didn't even know that she could sing, let alone play instruments, let alone instruments you've probably never heard of. And this album was created when she was a teenager.]
Odelay - Beck
A Scarity of Miracles - Jakszyk, Fripp, and Collins
Thirteenth Step - A Perfect Circle
A Thousand Suns - Linkin Park
The Wall - Pink Floyd
-- [Be cautious as to not listen too deeply to this if you are depressed, or even sad, as it will only make it worse.]
Demon Days - Gorillaz
Beethoven's Last Night: The Complete Narrated Version - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
-- [An incredibly inspired rock opera, amazingly narrated by Brian Hicks.]
Frank - Amy Winehouse
Automatic For The People - R.E.M.
Addicts And Drunks (and/or Precious Blood) - Ghosts And Vodka
Ghosts I-IV - Nine Inch Nails
Blood Sugar Sex Magik - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Audioslave - Audioslave
-- [This one is best heard driving through a city late at night.]

And on the note of metal music being closely related to classical music...

Slow, Deep, And Hard - Type O Negative
-- [This may be a tad hard on the ears of some, but it's hard for to believe that Peter Steele doesn't have a background in classical music after hearing this.]

[Flint the Dwarf]

Imaginaerum, really? Wishmaster or Century Child did a much better job. And I'm not a huge Tarja fan... I just think those albums offered a lot more musically. I agree with most of the other stuff on your list, though.

[Hiro The Dragon King]

Did you read my post?

Let me add to your list with a list of albums from various other genres, though not completely. And to clarify, this is not a list of musical works by artists I believe to be the best, nor is it a list of albums that I believe to be any better than others.

If you want to argue, take it elsewhere.

[Flint the Dwarf]

Dang, wasn't trying to offend you. I was just wondering why Imaginaerum over the rest of their discography.

[Hiro The Dragon King]

I'm offended by your unwillingness to read. It's clearly stated that this is not the place to debate album choices and that these aren't necessarily "the best."

I picked Imaginaerum as a recommended album. If you hadn't noticed, Wishmaster is already listed. Century Child is good and all, but it's mostly retread.

The reason I picked Imaginaerum is because it is an incredibly well constructed album that treads new territory and blends many styles. Not only that, but moreso than their other albums, Imaginaerum really drives the message home, especially with 'Song Of Myself'. On that note though, I did think that some of the tracks repeated their choruses a little past their welcome.