My Favorites

Some context for the list, criteria, disclaimer, etc.

For my first post outside of the introduction, which by the way, I hoped you found at least a little funny and enjoyable to read, I thought it would be nice to start my blog off with my current list of my favorite albums of all time. Now, I do not claim any kind of objectivity with this list. This list is just as personal and subjective as anybody else's favorites list. I say this because I still have not been able to listen to every album I've ever wanted to. I feel like even nowadays, I have a long way to go. As a result, this leaves the opportunity for me to discover another album in the future that will absolutely blow me away and leave me stunned yet again, at least in the way my top five did in the past.

Now while I shouldn't say that my list is tentative, as that would make me look fickle or indecisive, I would be straight up lying to everyone if I didn't admit that to some minimal extent, my list is subject to change every now and then. If you're someone who believes that if this were truly a "greatest" or an "all time favorites" list then it shouldn't really change. Idealistically, I would completely and utterly agree with you. But let's realistic here: People change, and sometimes that includes the things they like and what they're into.

It's precisely for this reason that I took Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon off my list before I published this post. It's because that album is so old to me at this point; that so much has happened in my life since when I first got into it, that it just feels like an album from a completely different era, an era that I don't remember much from and intend to keep it that way. The album does almost nothing for me now, as I've heard so many other albums that just dwarf the experience I once had with Dark Side of the Moon. I do however, enjoy it every now and then for the sake of nostalgia. Keep in mind that I initially listened to that album casually when I was searching for new music in the summer of 2007. Que the three year dad rock phase that would follow. Ugh, I know, forgive me.

In terms of criteria for an album to have made it on my list:

1. It had to have blown me away in some form or another by at least the end of it. When I listened to the album, I was literally surprised by how well done the album was, taking into great consideration the production, the instrumentation, the vocals, and yes, even the lyrics.

2. It gave me the "Oh my god...this is so beautiful, how did I never know about this?" moment.

3. I hold some kind of personal/emotional attachment to an album. All these albums mean so much to me. As cheesy as that sounds.

4. The album made me go through some sort of experience that I don't normally have when I usually listen to albums.

Quick reminder: I will actually be reviewing some of these albums in the future, but I promise to keep these particular reviews at a minimal as I'm fairly certain that most of these albums are already well known. At least I feel like they are.

On a final note, I just wanted to say that if there are albums on the list that you don't know about, maybe give them a try. You'll be surprised at what you might like. I know I was completely caught off guard by most of these.

And with that, I give you my favorite albums of all time: 

1. OK Computer- Radiohead

2. In the Court of the Crimson King- King Crimson

3. Loveless- My Bloody Valentine

4. Spiderland- Slint

5. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea- Neutral Milk Hotel

6. The Suburbs- Arcade Fire

7. The Velvet Underground & Nico- The Velvet Underground

8. Kid A- Radiohead

9. Deathconsciousness- Have A Nice Life

10. Pink Moon- Nick Drake

11. Surfer Rosa- Pixies

12. Daydream Nation- Sonic Youth

13. Ágætis Byrjun- Sigur Rós

14. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy- Kanye West

15. The Glow, Pt. 2- The Microphones

16. Ænima- Tool

17. White Light/White Heat- The Velvet Underground

18. Mechanical Animals- Marilyn Manson

19. Teen Dream- Beach House

20. Dummy- Portishead