Top Albums of All-Time
2009
November
20
This is the 2nd in a series I’ll be doing of questions that some of you asked. If you would like to add your question, go here and do so.
Today I’ll answer a question from Jonathan.
He asked: What are your top 5 favorite albums of all time?
- A Rush of Blood to the Head (Coldplay): I sometimes wonder if they will ever surpass the greatness of this album. I doubt it. Probably impossible.
- Where the Light Is (John Mayer): This live from LA album came on 2 discs and it featured everything that makes John Mayer amazing to me. Acoustic set, blues trio set, full band set. The dude nailed each part with brilliance.
- Transatlanticism (Death Cab for Cutie): I’m not actually sure why I love this album so much, but I just do. And I’m sure I’m not the only one.
- O (Damien Rice): Before everyone knew who he was, I was listening to this album on repeat in my college dorm for months on end. I fell in love.
- Jars of Clay (Jars of Clay): It was the first Christian album that didn’t sound like Christian music to me. One weekend I led worship doing all songs from this album. It was epic. It still remains one of the greatest albums from a Christian artist, ever.
So now that you’ve seen some of my music taste, what do you think?
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Tyler Braun.
So I’ll show my age and say that my favorite Christian album of all time is “Freedom” by Whiteheart. Released approximately around the time you were born……
In my opinion Transatlanticism is Death Cabs best CD and a great choice by yourself.
I just cannot agree with no U2 on there, but at least you have their child, coldplay on there.
Funny, I was just having this conversation with my sister-in-law (nice choices you made, BTW)
1. James Taylor, Greatest Hits (Nothing finer)
2. U2, Rattle & Hum (may seem odd, but I fell in love with U2 and live concerts with this record)
3. Coldplay, LeftRightLeftRightLeft (Love live albums!)
4. Rich Mullins, A Liturgy, a Legacy, and a Ragamuffin Band (The writing, the writing, WOW)
5. Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run (Classic)
I think we have quite similar music taste. Great picks.
I don’t agree with a single one of those. That’s ok though…
Here are a few of mine:
Shane Barnard – Psalms
Marc Broussard – Carenco
Craig David – Born To Do It
Dave Barnes – Brother, Bring the Sun
Amos Lee – Supply & Demand
For some odd reason, with Death Cab, I prefer Narrow Stairs. Like you, I don’t really know why I prefer it to their others, or any other album for that matter.
They’re an enigma that band…
How is Metallica’s “Metallica” CD not on that list? But Damien Rice is? I like Damien, but um…
I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Ha. Give Damien some time. You’ll see.
I like Fireflies (don’t judge).
Owl City! Yay!
I second David’s “yay!”
Come on…Owl City is just now a popular band. They can’t count yet.
Of course, but I’m glad someone mentioned them. Though notice Yonas only mentioned a single song…not the album (which is their 3rd, btw)
Disclaimer: I hesitate with the words “All-Time” attached to this list. This is my favorites, not necessarily what I consider to be “best” of All-Time.
1. Help! – The Beatles (Yesterday has to be one of my All-Time favorites)
2. OK Computer – Radiohead
3. A Liturgy, a Legacy and a Ragamuffin Band – Rich Mullins (hands down my favorite songwriter)
4. Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness – Smashing Pumpkins (if you can put up with Corgan’s voice for a double length LP)
5. Stay What You Are – Saves the Day (this may slide from the list in the future, but it’s there now)
Whooo whoooo David and Christy!
This may get me in trouble but I think Coldplay sucks. Totally overrated.
I probably can’t list 5, but I’ll talk about three specifically.
Are You Experienced – Jim Hendrix – Easily one of the greatest albums of all time. Featured songs like ‘Purple Haze’, ‘Foxey Lady’, ‘Third Stone From The Sun’, ‘Manic Depression’, ‘Hey Joe’ and ‘Fire.’ What amazes me more than anything is that the dude was only 24 when he wrote these songs. I personally know a few people who said the first time they heard the opening of ‘Purple Haze’ and knew they wanted to play the guitar.
The Bends – Radiohead – This is the band Coldplay so wants to be like (along with U2). This album is just an incredible display of this band’s talent, both lyrically and musically.
If you’re talking Christian albums, I would go with DC Talk’s ‘Jesus Freak.’ In my view, it was the album that changed the face of Christian music in our culture. For the 80’s and early 90’s it was dominated by mostly cheesy artists and lousy production. This album took a risk with the whole “Jesus Freak” angle. In addition, DC Talk came under some fire because the video was directed by a guy who directed a lot of Nine Inch Nails videos and because of the lyrics. There were many conservative Christians who felt the work “freak” shouldn’t have been associated with Christ and that people should “care” if somebody calls them a “Jesus Freak.” That was a response to the lyric, “I don’t really care if they label me a Jesus Freak. There ain’t no disguising the truth.”
loving that coldplay!
Here’s mine, I think…
1. Coldplay – Viva la Vida
2. Copeland – Beneath Medicine Tree
3. Mae – The Everglow
4. Audio Adrenaline – Underdog
5. Derek Webb – Stockholm Syndrome
It’ll probably change by tomorrow.
My Top 5 (based on the overall completeness of the album):
The John Contrane Quartet’s “Ballads” – as a jazz lover, I don’t think I am suppose to like this album and yet, to me, it is beautiful.
Prince’s “Purple Rain” – I could write volumes on this but it is not necessary.
Sade’s “Stronger Than Pride” – they have never done a weak album. But their third album represent the best of writing, vocals and instrumentals done right on all accounts.
Metallica’s “Garage, Inc.” – On technical and epic scale, Master of Puppets is the number one rock album ever. But for me, Garage is the most fun. My favorite rock band playing the best covers. That is so cool and so much fun, on 2 albums mind you, that it is hard not to be mentioned as my favorite.
Alison Krauss Union Station Live – I’ll say this once and again, these kids are the sickest in the game. They are punk and metal and classical and jazz and any genre that fuses virtuosity and passion al one into one. When they play and sing, they want to be best and sickest. Their sound is so beautiful that it makes be borderline insane to focus on the greatness of their music. I pick this album because it has my favorite songs from Now, That I’ve Found You and New Favorite. I could have done with zero clapping because that clapping is interrupting the music.
Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Beatles “White Album”
Tapestry Carol King
Petra [Greg X Volz era]
Horrendous Disc by Daniel Amos
Yep all old fart albums
Alan