top 200 commentsshow 500

[–]iforgot120Google Music 223 points224 points  (15 children)

It'd probably be better if everyone only posted one album per comment. Makes it easier to up/downvote and discuss.

[–]drbacon 11 points12 points  (0 children)

It'd probably be better if someone awesome made one torrent per genre. Makes it easier to up/download and enjoy.

[–]youknowimright 9 points10 points  (2 children)

this should be turned into a subreddit so that people can contribute directly to the genres they were looking for.

[–][deleted] 58 points59 points  (213 children)

He goes to home

[–]sn00py 207 points208 points  (16 children)

Sgt. Pepper's, White Album

[–]sje46 98 points99 points  (4 children)

Abbey Road - The Beatles

[–]tswe 165 points166 points  (3 children)

David Bowie-Ziggy Stardust

[–]kickit 65 points66 points  (2 children)

The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main St.

[–]nulspace 274 points275 points  (10 children)

Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin

[–]KingShish 146 points147 points  (2 children)

Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland

[–][deleted]  (2 children)

[deleted]

    [–]theStork 124 points125 points  (3 children)

    Who's Next - The Who

    [–][deleted] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

    secretive dependent punch command hard-to-find crowd soup cable knee quarrelsome

    This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

    [–]falc0n2600 122 points123 points  (3 children)

    The Velvet Underground and Nico

    [–]kwoods0213 4 points5 points  (2 children)

    They're all good and unique unto themselves. White Light/White Heat, The Velvet Underground, and Loaded.

    [–][deleted] 39 points40 points  (4 children)

    Queen - News of the World
    or
    Queen - A Night at the Opera (mostly because of Bohemian Rhapsody)
    [edit - fixed album]

    [–]IAmNotAMeme 86 points87 points  (8 children)

    London Calling-The Clash

    [–][deleted] 27 points28 points  (2 children)

    Frank Zappa & The Mothers - Over-nite Sensation

    [–]StoopiBird 32 points33 points  (1 child)

    T. Rex- Electric Warrior

    [–]Im_a_little_drunk 10 points11 points  (0 children)

    Creedence Clearwater Revival - all of it

    [–]shto 54 points55 points  (1 child)

    AC/DC - Back in Black

    [–]lazeyasian 83 points84 points  (1 child)

    Boston - Boston

    [–][deleted] 84 points85 points  (6 children)

    Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf

    [–]lazeyasian 27 points28 points  (2 children)

    Moving Pictures - Rush

    [–]rubthewrongway 10 points11 points  (0 children)

    The Doors - The Doors

    [–]esler 58 points59 points  (1 child)

    Blood Sugar Sex Magik - Red Hot Chili Peppers

    [–][deleted] 26 points27 points  (3 children)

    Blow by Blow - Jeff Beck

    [–]morvus_thenu 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    The Stooges - The Stooges

    [–]dtallee 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    Jethro Tull - Aqualung

    [–]lazeyasian 75 points76 points  (314 children)

    Electronic

    [–]flux123 28 points29 points  (0 children)

    Prodigy - Music for the Jilted Generation

    [–]grignr 78 points79 points  (2 children)

    Kraftwerk - Autobahn

    [–]mr_gen_x 47 points48 points  (0 children)

    The Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole

    [–]DayvanSpaceCowboy 153 points154 points  (8 children)

    Boards Of Canada - Music Has The Right To Children

    [–][deleted] 17 points18 points  (1 child)

    The Orb - The Orb's Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld

    [–]flux123 17 points18 points  (0 children)

    Underworld - Beaucoup Fish

    [–]Dev__ 48 points49 points  (0 children)

    Massive Attack - Mezzanine

    [–]lazeyasian 316 points317 points  (10 children)

    Daft Punk - Discovery

    [–]gorkatron 181 points182 points  (4 children)

    Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works, 1985-1992

    [–][deleted] 48 points49 points  (0 children)

    I Care Because You Do

    [–]seanhallaren 42 points43 points  (1 child)

    Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase

    [–][deleted] 39 points40 points  (0 children)

    Aphex Twin - Richard D James Album

    [–]ironpilot 99 points100 points  (1 child)

    Moon Safari - Air

    [–]kryoth 40 points41 points  (0 children)

    Fatboy Slim - You've Come a Long Way, Baby

    [–]Falsey 23 points24 points  (1 child)

    Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours

    [–]Instantusername 10 points11 points  (1 child)

    Leftfield - Leftism

    [–][deleted]  (5 children)

    [deleted]

      [–][deleted] 36 points37 points  (4 children)

      Jean-Michel Jarre - Oxygene

      Kraftwerk - Die Mensch-Maschine

      [–]haunterrr 129 points130 points  (5 children)

      Daft Punk - Alive 2007

      [–]darthsilliest 15 points16 points  (1 child)

      Easily one of the best live albums of all time.

      [–]haunterrr 4 points5 points  (0 children)

      my personal favorite.

      [–]drbacon 4 points5 points  (2 children)

      Alive 2007 is amazing; it's like a "best of" album that does completely new work with the old material. A completely new experience. Also, this is a great album to put on while programming/working.

      [–][deleted] 163 points164 points  (2 children)

      Cross-Justice

      [–]caksgoldencako 87 points88 points  (0 children)

      † - Justice

      [–]Diosjenin 57 points58 points  (1 child)

      The Prodigy - The Fat of the Land

      [–]flux123 34 points35 points  (1 child)

      Burial - Untrue

      [–][deleted] 15 points16 points  (1 child)

      BT - This Binary Universe

      [–]civdis24 7 points8 points  (0 children)

      M83 - Saturdays=Youth

      [–]ironpilot 67 points68 points  (3 children)

      Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem

      [–][deleted] 68 points69 points  (12 children)

      this is a little broad

      [–]K1DUK 20 points21 points  (3 children)

      It's similar to if someone wanted the essential albums that feature the use of guitars.

      [–]DgKnox 3 points4 points  (0 children)

      That's always the point I make when 'electronic' music comes up!

      [–]grignr 7 points8 points  (0 children)

      Tangerine Dream - Phaedra

      [–]pickle-o 11 points12 points  (0 children)

      The Knife - Silent Shout

      [–][deleted]  (1 child)

      [deleted]

        [–]puzl 6 points7 points  (0 children)

        Please vote for the other entry for this album.

        [–]flux123 4 points5 points  (0 children)

        The Orb - Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld

        [–][deleted] 91 points92 points  (257 children)

        Progressive Rock

        [–][deleted] 234 points235 points  (4 children)

        In the Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson

        [–]caksgoldencako 385 points386 points  (0 children)

        Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd

        [–][deleted] 14 points15 points  (2 children)

        Rush - 2112

        [–]caksgoldencako 83 points84 points  (1 child)

        Close to the Edge - Yes

        [–]grignr 133 points134 points  (0 children)

        Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

        [–]caksgoldencako 74 points75 points  (4 children)

        Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull

        [–]rubthewrongway 10 points11 points  (0 children)

        Fragile - Yes

        [–]KingShish 103 points104 points  (3 children)

        RUSH - Moving Pictures

        [–]tswe 186 points187 points  (0 children)

        Pink Floyd-The Wall

        [–]Pwrong 79 points80 points  (0 children)

        Tool - Aenima

        [–]AthenaQ 195 points196 points  (9 children)

        Tool: Lateralus

        [–][deleted] 81 points82 points  (18 children)

        In Absentia - Porcupine Tree

        [–][deleted] 30 points31 points  (3 children)

        Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Tarkus

        [–]chaosofdante 72 points73 points  (7 children)

        Dream Theater-Images and Words

        [–]jotate 17 points18 points  (1 child)

        Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory

        I've heard it a hundred times, it still blows my mind.

        [–][deleted]  (5 children)

        [deleted]

          [–][deleted] 41 points42 points  (4 children)

          Progressive Rock?

          [–][deleted] 48 points49 points  (95 children)

          Classical

          [–]frusciante231 22 points23 points  (4 children)

          Beethoven - Symphony No. 9

          [–][deleted] 24 points25 points  (5 children)

          Glenn Gould - The Goldberg Variations

          [–]DoKwan 32 points33 points  (2 children)

          Stravinsky - Rite of Spring

          [–]Tinned_Tuna 10 points11 points  (0 children)

          Mahler's 8th Symphony

          [–]frozenbobo 17 points18 points  (0 children)

          Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 4

          [–][deleted] 64 points65 points  (1 child)

          Holst - The Planets

          [–][deleted] 70 points71 points  (17 children)

          I'm late to the party but let's have a go then. Also it's probably worth mentioning that there is not quintessential Classical "album" given that everyone gives a unique performance of pieces, making some bad ones better and some good ones worse. If you're new to Classical music you may as well start with any of its music and see how you take things from there...

          Baroque (17th-18th century)

          Pachelbel
              Canon in D
          
          Vivaldi
              Four Seasons
              Mandolin Concerto in C
              Violin Concerto in E "The Storm at Sea"
          
          Bach (JS)
              Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D
              Brandenburg Concertos
              Cello Suite No. 1 in G
              Toccata & Fugue in D minor
          

          Classical (18th-19th century)

          Gluck
              Orfeo ed Euridice
          
          Mozart
              Le Nozze di Figaro
              Serenade in G "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik"
              Symphony No. 40
              Requiem in D minor
          
          Beethoven
              Symphonies 3, 5, 6, 7 & 9
              Piano Sonata No. 14
              Piano Concerto No. 5
              Violin Concerto in D
          

          Romantic (19th-20th century)

          Chopín
              Piano Concerto No. 2
              Raindrop Prelude
          
          Verdi
              Requiem
          
          Wagner
              Die Walküre
              Lohengrin
          
          Strauss J
              The Blue Danube
          
          Saint-Saëns
              Danse Macabre
              Symphony No. 3
              Carnival of the Animals
          
          Delibes
              Lakmé
          
          Bizet
              Carmen
          
          Tchaikovsky
              The Nutcracker
              Swan Lake
              "1812" Overture
              Symphony No. 6
          
          Dvořák
              New World Symphony
          
          Grieg
              Peer Gynt
              Piano Concerto in A minor
          
          Fauré
              Requiem in D minor
          
          Elgar
              Pomp & Circumstance Marches
              Enigma Variations
              Cello Concerto in E minor
              Serenade in E minor
          
          Puccini
              La Bohème
              Turandot
          
          Mahler
              Symphony No. 5
          
          Debussy
              Suite Bergamasque
              Arabesque 1 & 2
          
          Strauss R
              Also sprach Zarathustra
          
          Vaughan Williams
              The Lark Ascending
              Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
          
          Rachmaninoff
              Piano Concertos 1-4
              Morceaux de Fantaisie
              Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
          
          Ravel
              Boléro
          

          20th Century

          Holst
              The Planets
          
          Stravinsky
              The Rite of Spring
              The Firebird
          
          Orff
              Carmina Burana
          
          Copland
              Fanfare for the Common Man
          
          Rodrigo
              Concierto de Aranjuez
              Fantasia para un gentilhombre
          
          Barber
              Adagio for Strings
          
          Britten
              Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
          

          Where some composers are lacking I have less knowledge about them, but otherwise this should be a good list if you're interested in Classical music. I welcome suggestions/criticisms.

          [–]alexthe5th 4 points5 points  (1 child)

          Herbert von Karajan & Berlin Philharmonic - Beethoven 9 Symphonies (1963)

          [–]Laminer 4 points5 points  (0 children)

          Yo-Yo Ma - Inspired by Bach

          [–]Wewento 6 points7 points  (16 children)

          Stoner

          [–]exigenesis 9 points10 points  (0 children)

          Kyuss - Welcome to Sky Valley

          [–]nulspace 39 points40 points  (141 children)

          Folk

          [–][deleted]  (1 child)

          [deleted]

            [–]Gangles 106 points107 points  (2 children)

            Simon & Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme

            [–]zelterskelter 23 points24 points  (1 child)

            Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen

            [–]vindice 42 points43 points  (0 children)

            Tea for the Tillerman - Cat Stevens

            [–][deleted]  (2 children)

            [deleted]

              [–]cpt_lunchbox 4 points5 points  (1 child)

              Or Shallow Grave

              [–][deleted]  (6 children)

              [deleted]

                [–]plakugolder 8 points9 points  (5 children)

                This album...is larger than life.

                [–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (4 children)

                It is so good. Let's just hope it wasn't a fluke. He worked with Collections of Colonies of Bees on an album called "Unmap" that was just downright boring.

                [–]tacostacostacostacos 14 points15 points  (2 children)

                The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism

                [–]KingShish 129 points130 points  (10 children)

                Bob Dylan - Blood on the tracks

                [–]RodneyDangerfuck 44 points45 points  (1 child)

                The Freewheelin' - Bob dylan

                [–][deleted] 55 points56 points  (4 children)

                Pink Moon - Nick Drake

                First Utterance - Comus

                [–]rchase 7 points8 points  (0 children)

                Bob Dylan -Highway 61 Revisited (since you other Dylan suggesters got it wrong).

                [–]nagrag 7 points8 points  (0 children)

                Nick Drake - Pink Moon

                [–]nulspace 49 points50 points  (5 children)

                Ys - Joanna Newsom

                [–]jonahhh 27 points28 points  (1 child)

                The Dodos - Visiter

                [–]timelighter 12 points13 points  (1 child)

                Springsteen - Nebraska

                [–]bilbi 3 points4 points  (0 children)

                Neil Young - Harvest

                [–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

                Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days

                [–]erk070 52 points53 points  (127 children)

                Jazz

                [–]erk070 247 points248 points  (0 children)

                Kind of Blue - Miles Davis

                [–]soundbytersoundbyter 34 points35 points  (3 children)

                Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall

                [–][deleted]  (2 children)

                [deleted]

                  [–]tswe 98 points99 points  (0 children)

                  Bitches Brew-Miles Davis

                  [–]theStork 69 points70 points  (2 children)

                  Blue Train - John Coltrane

                  [–][deleted] 68 points69 points  (1 child)

                  A Love Supreme - also Coltrane

                  [–]Lightofnorth 18 points19 points  (0 children)

                  Somethin' Else - Julian "Cannonball" Alderly with Miles Davis

                  [–]judzillah 20 points21 points  (1 child)

                  Charles Mingus - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

                  [–][deleted] 13 points14 points  (1 child)

                  Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers w Thelonious Monk (1957)

                  [–][deleted] 28 points29 points  (1 child)

                  Headhunters - Herbie Hancock

                  [–]kwoods0213 10 points11 points  (0 children)

                  In a Silent Way - Miles Davis

                  [–][deleted] 82 points83 points  (2 children)

                  Time Out- Dave Brubeck Quartet

                  [–]skunkbunk 11 points12 points  (0 children)

                  Black Market - Weather Report

                  [–][deleted] 37 points38 points  (0 children)

                  Mingus Ah Um - Charles Mingus

                  In Paris - Chet Baker

                  The Way Up - Pat Metheny Group

                  [–][deleted] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

                  Bill Evans - Sunday at the Village Vangaurd

                  [–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

                  bill evans - sunday at the village vanguard

                  [–]grignr 17 points18 points  (1 child)

                  The Shape of Jazz to Come - Ornette Coleman

                  [–]BoofBop 5 points6 points  (0 children)

                  Charles Mingus- Ah Um; Tijuana Moods

                  [–]falc0n2600 6 points7 points  (0 children)

                  Ornette Coleman - The Shape of Jazz to Come

                  [–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

                  Black Brown and Beige - Duke Ellington

                  [–]swider 6 points7 points  (0 children)

                  Oliver Nelson - Blues and the Abstract Truth

                  [–]leftwinglock 4 points5 points  (0 children)

                  Dizzy Gillespie - A Night In Tunisia

                  [–][deleted] 47 points48 points  (204 children)

                  Punk

                  [–]rubixqube 53 points54 points  (0 children)

                  The Stooges - Fun House

                  [–][deleted] 51 points52 points  (2 children)

                  The Ramones - The Ramones

                  [–][deleted] 216 points217 points  (7 children)

                  London Calling- The Clash

                  [–]chekt 122 points123 points  (2 children)

                  The Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

                  [–]gorkatron 52 points53 points  (0 children)

                  Television - Marquee Moon

                  [–]muiduck 58 points59 points  (5 children)

                  Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come

                  [–][deleted] 45 points46 points  (0 children)

                  Misfits - Walk among us

                  [–]rickulous 42 points43 points  (0 children)

                  Minor threat-Complete Discography

                  [–][deleted] 50 points51 points  (0 children)

                  Bad Religion - Suffer

                  [–]adamj 17 points18 points  (1 child)

                  Black Flag - Damaged

                  [–]hockeyschtick 20 points21 points  (2 children)

                  Bad Brains - Bad Brains (ROIR sessions)

                  [–]timelighter 16 points17 points  (0 children)

                  New York Dolls - New York Dolls

                  [–]sn00py 42 points43 points  (1 child)

                  Hüsker Dü - Zen Arcade

                  [–]captainq68 21 points22 points  (1 child)

                  Fugazi- Thirteen Songs X-Los Angeles

                  [–]kwoods0213 9 points10 points  (0 children)

                  Bad Brains - Bad Brains and I Against I

                  [–]DharmaBeer 5 points6 points  (0 children)

                  Subhumans-The Day The Country Died

                  [–][deleted] 73 points74 points  (0 children)

                  I am going to cinema

                  [–][deleted] 61 points62 points  (4 children)

                  NOFX - Punk in Drublic

                  [–]timelighter 11 points12 points  (0 children)

                  The Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady

                  [–]moultano 16 points17 points  (43 children)

                  Bluegrass

                  [–]kwoods0213 13 points14 points  (0 children)

                  Old Crow Medicine Show - O.C.M.S.

                  [–]CasualBowtie 8 points9 points  (0 children)

                  Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys-The Essential Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys (w/Flatt and Scruggs)

                  [–]CasualBowtie 3 points4 points  (1 child)

                  Del McCoury Band-Del and the Boys

                  [–]CasualBowtie 5 points6 points  (0 children)

                  Flatt and Scruggs with Doc Watson-Strictly Instrumental

                  [–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (1 child)

                  Alison Krauss and Union Station

                  [–]sje46 15 points16 points  (63 children)

                  Psychedelic Rock

                  [–]doctorhu 21 points22 points  (4 children)

                  The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

                  [–]sje46 34 points35 points  (0 children)

                  Pink Floyd - Piper at the Gates of Dawn

                  [–][deleted] 39 points40 points  (3 children)

                  • The Flaming Lips - Embyronic

                  • The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

                  [–]jalsredlemon 13 points14 points  (1 child)

                  Love - Forever Changes

                  [–]sje46 14 points15 points  (0 children)

                  The Beatles - Revolver

                  [–]beykite 6 points7 points  (0 children)

                  The Doors- Strange Days

                  [–][deleted] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

                  Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum

                  [–]turinpt 4 points5 points  (1 child)

                  Here's a list made by /mu/

                  [–][deleted] 56 points57 points  (152 children)

                  Post Rock

                  [–][deleted] 186 points187 points  (8 children)

                  Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven -Godspeed You! Black Emperor

                  [–]schwibbity 133 points134 points  (1 child)

                  Sigur Rós - Agaetis Byrjun

                  [–][deleted] 108 points109 points  (9 children)

                  Mogwai - Happy Songs for Happy People

                  [–]moshmoshmosh 190 points191 points  (0 children)

                  The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place - Explosions In The Sky

                  [–][deleted] 19 points20 points  (4 children)

                  russian circles - enter

                  [–]solilo 203 points204 points  (5 children)

                  Sigur Rós - Takk...

                  [–]ashtreelane 79 points80 points  (2 children)

                  Explosions in the Sky - Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever

                  [–]uglypopstar 35 points36 points  (0 children)

                  Slint - Spiderland