1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (AOTY Edition)
Comments (497)
We all know of the famous book of certified classics that everyone should hear at least once in their life. Taking the idea, I have decided on a community list idea...
If you're looking at this list, you MUST give me ONE album to add to it. ONE album that you think everyone should listen to at least once. Whether it's a favourite album of yours, or one of the worst you've ever experienced. Whether it's a stone cold classic, or an obscure oddity that nobody has ever heard of before. Whether it's a dance-pop record from the current year with 5000+ ratings, or a harsh noise album from the '80s with 5 ratings. Throw that album that you think everyone should hear at least once at me and I'll add it to the list.
Every user can only add ONE album to the list, so make it count!
![青葉市子 [Ichiko Aoba] - 0](https://cdn2.albumoftheyear.org/100x/album/2013/57860-0-1.jpg)
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2w
I do hope you're still adding dude, I'll forever preach for The Papercut Chronicles by Gym Class Heroes
2w
Nurture already made this list, so I'm going to suggest M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming.
2w
if it isn't on there already: divorce laywers i shaved my head - jordaan mason and the horse museum
4w
High Violet by The National is my pick. Had to resist the urge to say Harry’s House, it’s the best imo but everyone here seems to disagree
1mo
I was looking for it on the list lol turns out im stevie wonder in the making! ummm how about Actor by St. Vincent?
1mo
Marquee moon- Television
If it’s already on here, El Jardin de Los Presentes by Invisible
If it’s already on here, El Jardin de Los Presentes by Invisible
2mo
@GreatNorthern that's already on the list, so if you want to add another one, go for it
2mo
I don’t got anything better to add hmm The Adventures of Pad Chennington by AmyReal & Clumsy Duckling
2mo
Since somebody didn’t follow the rules of the list, allow me to choose Swimming- Mac Miller
2mo
3mo
Nice list. I love community projects. Roxal Trux's deconstruction of rock should be on here:
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/7040-royal-trux-twin-infinitives.php
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/7040-royal-trux-twin-infinitives.php
3mo
this is the version I meant
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/199938-black-kray-crack-cloud-over-arts-kitchen.php
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/199938-black-kray-crack-cloud-over-arts-kitchen.php
4mo
@leftearlobe I'm only taking one pick per user, so if you could narrow it down, I'll add it
4mo
swimming-mac miller, the blueprint-jayz, illmatic-nas, like everything by david bowie lol, and when we were friends by the backseat lovers are pretty great projects
4mo
@Eomann fr tho.
Also surprised it took this long for anyone to mention Bob Dylan... and he still isn't on the list lmao
Also surprised it took this long for anyone to mention Bob Dylan... and he still isn't on the list lmao
4mo
No Springsteen? No Bob Dylan??? Just one Beach Boys?!?! Absurd, a must-hear list needs some of those three!
If I had to choose one tho, probably Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." That title track is a top 10 songs contender fr
If I had to choose one tho, probably Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." That title track is a top 10 songs contender fr
5mo
Tool - Ænima
Tough choice for me tbh because "Metallica - Metallica" and "Deftones - White Pony" both have their own importance for their respective artists, but looking at how important of an album it is for not only for Tool, but for progressive metal as a whole, I think it wins over the pick for me (plus, Tool is my favorite band, so of course I have a bias). Plus, while I think the aforementioned albums are can be listened to in any order of their discography, I think Ænima should really be listened to first before hearing Lateralus, 10,000 Days, and so on.
Tough choice for me tbh because "Metallica - Metallica" and "Deftones - White Pony" both have their own importance for their respective artists, but looking at how important of an album it is for not only for Tool, but for progressive metal as a whole, I think it wins over the pick for me (plus, Tool is my favorite band, so of course I have a bias). Plus, while I think the aforementioned albums are can be listened to in any order of their discography, I think Ænima should really be listened to first before hearing Lateralus, 10,000 Days, and so on.
5mo
あらためまして、はじめまして、ミドリです。 or somethging I can't japanese just the midori album with the titties
5mo
I might go with the former bc I feel as if grae is not widely appreciated to be the masterpiece I feel it is
5mo
Super conflicted between Moses Sumney's grae and Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
5mo
Let’s do Pieces of a Man - Gill Scott-Heron. Amazing subject matter expressed through impecable writing and performance, I think it’s an absolute essential.
5mo
I feel a strange sense of power knowing that whichever album I say will be put in the list.
5mo
@Irissssssssssss tbf Homogenic was destined to be picked at some point. I'm glad to have a less well known album that may not have made the list otherwise
5mo
Casiopea's self titled album is a fantastic jazz fusion record that doesn't get nearly enough love as it should. Would be sick to see that one added
5mo
Wait Homogenic wasn't added before? Damn if I had known I totally would've made it my pick, but I'm glad Diorama gets to be on this list regardless
5mo
if The Low End Theory (by A Tribe Called Quest) isn't in here by the end of this i'll cry.
5mo
'Homogenic' by Björk. Holy frick is Jóga such a beautiful song. definitely deserves a spot on this list.
6mo
love this list; was gonna add when the pawn but @HeTriedToPiss already added that
lcd soundsystem - sound of silver
lcd soundsystem - sound of silver
6mo
Rare Americans 2 by Rare Americans is my favourite album. I recommend it everyone hear it at least once.
6mo
For You by Tatsuro Yamashita deserves a spot imo, probably the best city pop album ever made
6mo
such a cool idea!! my nomination has to be Journey in Satchidananda by Alice Coltrane
6mo
@DoomedUser I'm only taking one pick per user, as much as those albums deserve a place here
7mo
my suggestion would be good apollo im burning star iv: from fear through the eyes of madness - coheed and cambria
7mo
@Calupmullings you already have a pick (Vespertine), but if you wanna add that under an alt, that's cool
7mo
Remain In Light by Talking Heads. Possibly one of the best that the New Wave had to offer.
7mo
Hounds of Love by Kate Bush. It's got the experimental and accessible sides of her in one album, so the best of hers to get a general idea of Kate as an artist.
7mo
NIN The Downward Spiral, I really wanted to be cool and pick something more niche but I couldn't help it, that album helped me through some shit
7mo
Lost Kids by Stick and Poke https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/390186-stick-and-poke-lost-kids.php
This is a super fun list to grab my next listens from btw good idea
This is a super fun list to grab my next listens from btw good idea
8mo
A Silver Mt. Zion - He Has Left Us Alone But Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms…
9mo
@nospaceallowed you already have a pick on the list and I'm only taking 1 per user, sorry
9mo
@kirbturd I'm only accepting 1 pick per user, so if you can choose between those two, I'll add it
9mo
swans - soundtracks for the blind. not my favorite LP of all time, but i think it deserves a place here.
9mo
@Iriz I was surprised myself. I expected when I made the list that the first 50 or so picks would be filled with Kendrick, Kanye, Bjork, Radiohead, Swans, Pink Floyd, Bowie... but it's good to see a much more diverse range of albums. As essential and deserving of a place as those albums are, I'm glad that the list didn't turn out a recreation of the User's All Time Highest Rated Albums.
10mo
Every list like this must have London Calling. Since it appears no one has suggested it yet, it is my pleasure to do so.
10mo
This is a really cool list idea! My pick would be Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel.
10mo
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips would be my choice, it's a magical, ethereal delve into Neo-Psychedelia and Dream Pop
10mo
Murmuure S/T would be my choice, very biased cause it's one of my favourites of all time but i think its a very beautiful album :)
Also great list, im gonna save it for later!!
Also great list, im gonna save it for later!!
10mo
A I A: Alien Observer by Grouper is my choice. That is a fantastic album in my opinion! While not my favorite, it is definitely one of my favorite albums of all time!
10mo
If I had to pick one album it would have to be Pink Floyd’s the Wall. A generic pick, I know, but I feel like a list like this would be incomplete without it
10mo
a corrupted society at that. all these rotten adults think they know real music but they dont know theyre never free from mid music! i will free this world from its chains! im gonna send calling cards to record labels and make them admit yb better!
11mo
I Will Be My Own Hell Because There Is A Devil Inside My Body by Teen Suicide (melodramatic but really amazing)
11mo
11mo
Don Caballero - American Don. Its an album that changed my life musically and a full blown masterpiece
11mo
@yeqks I'm only taking 1 pick per user. I'll put you down for Powers That B, but let me know if you'd rather one of the other albums
11mo
Def Leppard - Hysteria. A very cheesy 80's rock album, but it's basically the album that started my love for music, and I'd love to see it get added.
11mo
Cout of the Crimson King! Even though it's not my favorite kc record I strongly believe all people who like rock should at least give it a try. Schizoid man is a good start.
11mo
i was gonna recommend tvu + nico bc i was listening to it but props to you putting it in first!
11mo
Gun to my head, I’d say “Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides” by SOPHIE is a Top 10 album of all time for me, so I’d have to pick that one. Fantastic idea!
11mo
aww thats sad But defiantly check them out i love dsbm its that real nerd weepy shit not that mysterious shit you dont hear at the mall
11mo
@VER0 all good picks, but I'm only taking one per user, so...
definitely needing to check out Starless Night and Oppressive Light tho
definitely needing to check out Starless Night and Oppressive Light tho
11mo
a promise - xiu xiu
U-void synthesizer - machine girl
Rebirth - lil wayne
Become the Discovered, Not the Discoverer - merzbow
U-void synthesizer - machine girl
Rebirth - lil wayne
Become the Discovered, Not the Discoverer - merzbow
11mo
Not VER0 coming in with a DSBM album so obscure that not only have I not heard of it, but it hasn't been added to the site already by Amazing Blizzard 😭
11mo
hi its me, world famous AOTY user hydon (with the funky kong profile picture) and I believe that the album Dynamite by Stina Nordenstam is something you MUST hear before you die
11mo
@JustSomeGuy Sorry If I am responding late, but I narrowed it down to this album:
ONE Season 2 Original Soundtrack - Cheesy HFJ
ONE Season 2 Original Soundtrack - Cheesy HFJ
11mo
(I'll be sure to stream Demi Lovato's newest album, HOLY FVCK (2022), to make sure you get some of that streaming money)
11mo
wow, I can't believe a gwen stefani fan random stumbled on my list and gave me a based Autechre pick, and not only that but THE Demi Lovato also giving me a really based album! This day is certainly a day!
11mo
@ScoutTaco I'm only taking 1 pick per user, so if you could narrow it down, I'll add it
11mo
ONE Season 2 Original Soundtrack - Cheesy HFJ
Giant Steps - John Coltrane
HM: Philosophy of the World - The Shaggs
Giant Steps - John Coltrane
HM: Philosophy of the World - The Shaggs
11mo
not even close to my favorite but I feel like everyone should experience Go Tell Fire To The Mountain by WU LYF at some point in their life. peak catharsis right there
11mo
@calebmullings54 so, do you have a pick...? Vespertine is there for Callupmullings and I don't see a pick from you
12mo
James Ferraro
Live at Primavera Sound 2012 is as essential as it gets for electronic music
Live at Primavera Sound 2012 is as essential as it gets for electronic music
