Honorable Mentions - Albums

** This list is a work-in-progress. Some of these albums might get UPGRADED, DOWNGRADED, or REMOVED entirely **

6/10s & 7/10s: these are solid, impressive albums overall and are worth a listen but not quite consistently strong enough to be HIGHLY recommended.

Country:

Dwight Yoakam - "Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room" (1988)

Dwight Yoakam - "Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc." (1984)

Dwight Yoakam - "If There Was a Way" (1990)

Dwight Yoakam - "This Time" (1993)

Kris Kristofferson - "Kristofferson" (1970)

Rodney Crowell - "The Houston Kid" (2001)

Electronica:

4hero - "Parallel Universe" (1994)

Air - "Moon Safari" (1998)

Aphex Twin - "Selected Ambient Works 85-92" (1992)

The Art of Noise - "Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise?" (1984)

As One - "Planetary Folklore" (1997) [Not Streamable]

Autechre - "Tri Repetae" (1995)

B12 - "Electro-Soma" (1993)

Biosphere - "Microgravity" (1992)

Boards of Canada - "Music Has the Right to Children" (1998)

The Caretaker - "An Empty Bliss Beyond This World" (2011)

DJ Shadow - "Endtroducing..." (1996)

Four Tet - "Rounds" (2003)

GAS - "Pop" (2000)

Global Communication - "76:14" (1994)

LTJ Bukem - "Producer 01" (2000)

Plug - "Drum N Bass for Papa" (1997) [Youtube only]

Proem - "Socially Inept" (2004)

Special Request - "Soul Music" (2013)

Tim Hecker - "Virgins" (2013)

Wagon Christ - "Throbbing Pouch" (1994)

Film/Video Game Score:

Final Fantasy 7 OST [Disc 2] (1997)

Koyaanisqatsi (1983)

Jazz/Fusion:

Al Di Meola - "Elegant Gypsy" (1977)

Mahavishnu Orchestra - "Birds of Fire" (1973)

Mahavishnu Orchestra - "The Inner Mounting Flame" (1971)

Stan Getz - "Getz/Gilberto" (1964)

Tony Allen - "Rejoice" (2020)

Wes Montgomery - "The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of" (1960)

William Parker - "Mayan Space Station" (2021)

Yussef Dayes - "The Yussef Dayes Experience (Live from Malibu)" (2024)

Metal:

Asphyx - "The Rack" (1991)

Celtic Frost - “To Mega Therion” (1985)

Converge - "Axe to Fall" (2009)

Converge - "Jane Doe" (2001)

Death - "Scream Bloody Gore" (1987)

Dissection - "Storm of the Light's Bane" (1996)

Entombed - "Clandestine" (1991)

Entombed - "Left Hand Path" (1990)

Entombed - "Wolverine Blues" (1993)

Mastodon - "Leviathan" (2004)

Megadeth - "Rust In Peace" (1990)

Necrophagist - "Onset of Putrefaction" (2004)

Opeth - "Blackwater Park" (2001)

Raw Power - "Screams from the Gutter" (1985)

Pop/R&B:

Bjork - "Homogenic" (1997)

Portishead - "Dummy" (1994)

Prince - "Dirty Mind" (1980)

Prince - "Sign O' the Times" (1987)

SZA - "CTRL" (2017)

Wild Beasts - "Smother" (2011)

Rap:

2pac - "All Eyez On You [Disc 2]" (1996)

50 Cent - "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'" (2003)

Boogie Down Productions - "Criminal Minded" (1987)

Clipse - "Hell Hath No Fury" (2006)

Digable Planets - "Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)" (1993)

Dr. Octagon - "Dr. Octagonecologyst" (1996)

Gravediggaz - "6 Feet Deep" (1994)

Ice-T - "The Iceburg / Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say" (1989)

LL Cool J - "Radio" (1985)

Lord Finesse - "Funky Technician" (1990)

Main Source - "Breaking Atoms" (1991)

Public Enemy - "Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black" (1991)

A Tribe Called Quest - "The Low End Theory" (1991)

A Tribe Called Quest - "Midnight Marauders" (1993)

Ultramagnetic MC's - "Critical Beatdown" (1988)

Young MC - "Stone Cold Rhymin" (1989)

Reggae:

Bob Marley - "Natty Dread" (1974)

Rock/Folk:

AC/DC - "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" (1976)

Alanis Morissette - "Jagged Little Pill" (1995)

Albert Collins - "Ice Pickin" (1978)

Albert King - "Born Under a Bad Sign" (1967)

Allman Brothers Band - "The Allman Brothers Band" (1969)

Allman Brothers Band - "At Fillmore East" (1971)

Allman Brothers Band - "Eat a Peach" (1972)

Allman Brothers Band - "Idlewild South" (1970)

And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead... - "Source Tags & Codes" (2002)

Andrew Bird - "Weather Systems" (2003)

Animal Collective - "Merriweather Post Pavilion" (2009)

The Animals - "Animalism" (1966)

The Apples in Stereo - "Fun Trick Noisemaker" (1995)

Arcade Fire - "The Suburbs" (2010)

Arctic Monkeys - "Favourite Worst Nightmare" (2007)

Art Brut - "Bang Bang Rock & Roll" (2005)

Aztec Camera - "High Land, Hard Rain" (1983)

The B-52s - "The B-52s" (1979)

Badly Drawn Boy - "The Hour of Bewilderbeast" (2000)

The Band - "The Band" (1969)

The Band - "Music from Big Pink" (1968)

B.B. King - "Live At the Regal" (1965)

Beach House - "Bloom" (2012)

Beach House - "Teen Dream" (2010)

Beat Happening - "You Turn Me On" (1992)

The Beatles - "With the Beatles" (1963)

Beck - “Guero” (2005)

Beck - "Mellow Gold" (1994)

Belle & Sebastian - "The Life Pursuit" (2006)

Ben Folds - "Rockin' the Suburbs" (2001)

Ben Folds Five - "Whatever & Ever Amen" (1997)

Beulah - "The Coast is Never Clear" (2001)

Big Star - "Radio City" (1974)

Big Thief - "Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You" (2022)

Big Thief - "Two Hands" (2019)

Bill Callahan - "Dream River" (2013)

Black Sabbath - "Master of Reality" (1971)

The Black Keys - "Brothers" (2010)

The Black Watch - "The End of When" (2013)

Bloc Party - "Silent Alarm" (2005)

Blur - "Parklife" (1994)

Bob Dylan - "Blood On the Tracks" (1975)

Bob Dylan - "John Wesley Harding" (1967)

Bob Dylan - "Nashville Skyline" (1969)

Bob Mould - "Silver Age" (2012)

Bob Seger - "Live Bullet" (1976)

Bob Seger - "Night Moves" (1976)

Bob Seger - "Seven" (1974)

BODEGA - “Endless Scroll” (2018)

BODEGA - “Shiny New Model” (2019)

Brian Eno - "Another Green World" (1975)

Brian Eno - "Before and After Science" (1977)

Brian Eno - "Here Come the Warm Jets" (1973)

Brian Eno - "Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)" (1974)

Brinsley Schwarz - "Nervous On the Road" (1972) [Youtube Only]

Broadcast - "Haha Sound" (2003)

Bryan Adams - “Reckless” (1984)

Built to Spill - "Keep It Like A Secret" (1999)

Built to Spill - "There's Nothing Wrong with Love" (1994)

Built to Spill - "You In Reverse" (2006)

Bush - "Sixteen Stone" (1994)

Buzzcocks - "Singles Going Steady" (1979)

The Byrds - "Mr. Tambourine Man" (1965)

The Byrds - "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" (1968)

The Byrds - "Younger Than Yesterday" (1967)

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - "Safe as Milk" (1967)

Carole King - "Tapestry" (1971)

Cat Stevens - "Tea for the Tillerman" (1970)

Cat Stevens - "Teaser and the Firecat" (1971)

Cate Le Bon - "Mug Museum" (2013)

The Chameleons - "Strange Times" (1986)

Champion Jack Dupree - “Blues from the Gutter” (1959)

Charlie Musselwhite - "Stand Back!" (1967)

Cheap Trick - "Cheap Trick" (1977)

Cheap Trick - "Heaven Tonight" (1978)

Chuck Berry - “St. Louis to Liverpool” (1964)

The Church - "The Blurred Crusade" (1982)

Cocteau Twins - "Heaven or Las Vegas" (1990)

Collective Soul - "Collective Soul" (1995)

The Comsat Angels - "Sleep No More" (1981)

The Cool Greenhouse - "The Cool Greenhouse" (2020)

The Cool Greenhouse - "Sod's Toastie" (2022)

Courtney Barnett - "Tell Me How You Really Feel" (2018)

Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Willy & the Poor Boys" (1969)

Crosby, Stills & Nash - "Crosby, Stills & Nash" (1969)

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - "Deja Vu" (1970)

Cut Copy - "Bright Like Neon Love" (2004)

Cut Copy - "In Ghost Colours" (2008)

Dave Matthews Band - "Under the Table & Dreaming" (1994)

David Bowie - "Hunky Dory" (1971)

David Bowie - "The Singles Collection" (1970s/1980s)

Death Cab for Cutie - “Narrow Stairs” (2008)

Death Cab for Cutie - "Plans" (2005)

The Decemberists - “Castaways & Cutouts” (2002)

Deep Purple - "Machine Head" (1972)

Def Leppard - "Pyromania" (1983)

Depeche Mode - "Violator" (1990)

Derek & the Dominos - "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs" (1970)

Devo - "Freedom of Choice" (1980)

Dinosaur Jr. - "Bug" (1988)

Donovan - "Greatest Hits" (1960s)

Doug Sahm - "Doug Sahm and His Band" (1973)

The Dream Syndicate - "The Days of Wine & Roses" (1982)

Drive-By Truckers - "A Blessing and a Curse" (2006)

Dry Cleaning - "New Long Leg" (2021)

Ducks Ltd. - "Modern Fiction" (2021)

Duran Duran - "Rio" (1982)

Echo & the Bunnymen - "Heaven Up Here" (1981)

Elf Power - “Creatures” (2002)

Elf Power - "A Dream In Sound" (1999)

Elf Power - "Walking with the Beggar Boys" (2004)

Elliott Smith - "Elliott Smith" (1995)

Elliott Smith - "Roman Candle" (1994)

Elton John - "Tumbleweed Connection" (1970)

Elvis Costello - "Armed Forces" (1979)

Eternal Summers - “Correct Behavior” (2012)

Eternal Summers - “The Drop Beneath” (2014)

Eternal Summers - “Every Day It Feels Like I'm Dying” (2018)

Eternal Summers - “Gold & Stone” (2015)

Fergus & Geronimo - "Funky Was the State of Affairs" (2012)

Ferron - "Phantom Center" (1990)

Ferron - "Shadows On A Dime" (1984)

Fiona Apple - "Extraordinary Machine" (2005)

Fleet Foxes - "Fleet Foxes" (2008)

Fleetwood Mac - "Fleetwood Mac" (1975)

Foster the People - "Torches" (2011)

Frank Zappa - "Hot Rats" (1969)

Fugazi - "13 Songs" (1989)

Future Islands - "The Far Field" (2017)

Galaxie 500 - "On Fire" (1989)

Gang of Four - "Entertainment!" (1979)

Gospel - "The Loser" (2022)

Graham Parker - "Howlin' Wind" (1976)

Graham Parker - "Squeezing Out Sparks" (1979)

Grateful Dead - "American Beauty" (1970)

Green Day - "Dookie" (1994)

Guardian Singles - "Guardian Singles" (2020)

The Guess Who - “Canned Wheat” (1969)

Guns N Roses - "Appetite for Destruction" (1987)

Guster - "Keep It Together" (2003)

Guster - "Lost & Gone Forever" (1999)

Hall & Oates - "The Very Best of Hall & Oates" (70s/80s)

The Hold Steady - "Stay Positive" (2008)

Hot Water Music - "Finding the Rhythms" (1995)

Hot Water Music - "Fuel for the Hate Game" (1997)

Hot Water Music - "No Division" (1999)

Hound Dog Taylor - “Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers” (1971)

Huey Lewis & the News - "Sports" (1983)

Husker Du - "Flip Your Wig" (1985)

Husker Du - "New Day Rising" (1985)

Husker Du - "Warehouse: Songs and Stories" (1987)

Husker Du - "Zen Arcade" (1984)

Iggy Pop - "Lust for Life" (1977)

Jackson Browne - "Late for the Sky" (1974)

Jackson Browne - "Saturate Before Using" (1972)

The Jam - "All Mod Cons" (1978)

James Booker - "Classified" (1982)

Janis Joplin - "Pearl" (1971)

Jeff Beck - "Truth" (1968)

Jeff Buckley - "Grace" (1994)

Jefferson Airplane - "Surrealistic Pillow" (1967)

Jen Cloher - "Jen Cloher" (2017)

Jerry Lee Lewis - "Live at the Star Club, Hamburg" (1964)

Jimi Hendrix - "Are You Experienced" (1967)

Jimi Hendrix - "Axis: Bold as Love" (1967)

Jimmy Eat World - "Bleed American" (2001)

Jimmy Dawkins - "Fast Fingers" (1969)

John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers - "Blues Breakers" (1966)

John Prine - "John Prine" (1971)

Johnny Winter - "Second Winter" (1969)

Joni Mitchell - "Blue" (1971)

Journey - "Escape" (1981)

Joy Division - "Unknown Pleasures" (1979)

Kings of Convenience - "Quiet is the New Loud" (2004)

Kings of Convenience - "Riot On An Empty Street" (2004)

Kitchens of Distinction - "Strange Free World" (1991)

Klaus Johann Grobe - "Im Sinne der Zeit" (2014)

Kurt Vile - "Smoke Ring for My Halo" (2011)

The La's - "The La's" (1990)

LCD Soundsystem - "Sound of Silver" (2007)

Led Zeppelin - "Led Zeppelin" (1969)

Led Zeppelin - "Led Zeppelin II" (1969)

Led Zeppelin - "Led Zeppelin IV" (1971)

The Left Banke - "Walk Away Renee / Pretty Ballerina" (1967)

The Lemonheads - "It's a Shame About Ray" (1992)

Leonard Cohen - "Songs of Leonard Cohen" (1967)

The Libertines - "The Libertines" (2004)

The Libertines - "Up the Bracket" (2002)

Liz Phair - "Exile in Guyville" (1993)

Lloyd Cole & the Commotions - "Rattlesnakes" (1984)

Low - "I Could Live In Hope" (1994)

Luna - "Lunapark" (1992)

Luna - "Penthouse" (1995)

The Lurkers - "Fulham Fallout" (1978)

Magic Sam - "West Side Soul" (1967)

Martin Courtney - "Many Moons" (2015)

Matchbox Twenty - "Yourself or Someone Like You" (1996)

Matthew Sweet - "Girlfriend" (1991)

Meat Puppets - "Meat Puppets II" (1984)

MGMT - “Congratulations” (2010)

Michael Chapman - "Fully Qualified Survivor" (1970)

Minutemen - "Double Nickels on the Dime" (1984)

The Modern Lovers - "The Modern Lovers" (1976)

Modest Mouse - "The Lonesome Crowded West" (1997)

The Mooney Suzuki - "Electric Sweat" (2002)

Mott the Hoople - "All the Young Dudes" (1972)

Muse - "Absolution" (2004)

Nada Surf - "The Weight is a Gift" (2005)

Neil Young - "On the Beach" (1974)

Neutral Milk Hotel - "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" (1998)

New Order - "Power, Corruption & Lies" (1983)

The New Pornographers - “Electric Version” (2003)

The New Pornographers - "Mass Romantic" (2000)

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - "The Boatman's Call" (1997)

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - "Let Love In" (1994)

Nick Drake - "Bryter Layter" (1970)

Nick Drake - "Five Leaves Left" (1969)

Nick Drake - "Pink Moon" (1972)

Nick Lowe - "Jesus of Cool" (1978)

Nine Inch Nails - "The Downward Spiral" (1994)

NRBQ - "Tiddly Winks" (1980)

The Ocean Blue - "The Ocean Blue" (1989)

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - "East West" (1966)

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - "The Paul Butterfield Blues Band" (1965)

Paul Siebel - "Woodsmoke & Oranges" (1970)

Paul Simon - "Paul Simon" (1972)

Pavement - "Slanted & Enchanted" (1992)

Pearl Jam - "Ten" (1991)

Phil Collins - "Face Value" (1981)

Pink Floyd - "Dark Side of the Moon" (1973)

Pink Floyd - "Wish You Were Here" (1975)

PJ Harvey - “Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" (2000)

The Plimsouls - "The Plimsouls" (1981)

The Police - "Outlandos D'Amour" (1978)

The Police - "Synchronicity" (1983)

The Police - "Zenyatta Mandatta" (1980)

The Postal Service - "Give Up" (2003)

Pretenders - "The Singles" (1980s)

Public Image Ltd. - "Second Edition" (1979)

Pulp - "Different Class" (1995)

Pulp - "Hits" (90s/2000s)

Queens of the Stone Age - "Songs for the Deaf" (2002)

Radiohead - “A Moon Shaped Pool” (2016)

Ramones - "Ramones" (1976)

R.E.M. - "Document" (1987)

R.E.M. - "Out of Time" (1991)

Rockpile - "Seconds of Pleasure" (1980)

Rod Stewart - "Every Picture Tells a Story" (1971)

Rod Stewart - "Gasoline Alley" (1970)

Rod Stewart - "Never A Dull Moment" (1972)

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - "Hope Downs" (2018)

The Rolling Stones - "Aftermath" (1966)

The Rolling Stones - "Beggar's Banquet" (1968)

The Rolling Stones - “Exile On Main St.” (1972)

The Rolling Stones - "Let It Bleed" (1969)

The Rolling Stones - "Some Girls" (1978)

Roxy Music - "Avalon" (1982)

Roxy Music - "Country Life" (1974)

Roxy Music - "For Your Pleasure" (1973)

Roxy Music - "Siren" (1975)

Sebadoh - "III" (1991)

Sebadoh - "Bakesale" (1994)

The Sex Pistols - "Nevermind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols" (1977)

The Shins - "Oh, Inverted World" (2001)

Shopping - "The Official Body" (2018)

Ski Lodge - "Big Heart" (2013)

Skin Alley - "To Pagham & Beyond" (1970)

Sloan - "Twice Removed" (1994)

Small Faces - "There Are But Four Small Faces" (1968)

The Smashing Pumpkins - "Siamese Dream" (1993)

The Soft Boys - "Underwater Moonlight" (1980)

Soft Machine - "The Soft Machine" (1968)

Sonic Youth - "Sister" (1987)

Soundgarden - "Superunknown" (1994)

Speed, Glue & Shinki - "Eve" (1971)

Spoon - "Gimme Fiction" (2005)

Spoon - "Girls Can Tell" (2001)

Squeeze - "Argybargy" (1980)

Squeeze - “East Side Story” (1981)

Squeeze - "Singles: 45's and Under" (1989)

Stereolab - "Emperor Tomato Ketchup" (1996)

The Stills - "Logic Will Break Your Heart" (2003)

The Stone Roses - "The Stone Roses" (1989)

The Stooges - "The Stooges" (1969)

The Strokes - "The New Abnormal" (2020)

Suede - "Suede" (1993)

Sugar - "File Under: Easy Listening" (1994)

Sun Kil Moon - "April" (2008)

Sun Kil Moon - "Ghosts of the Great Highway" (2003)

Sun Kil Moon - "Tiny Cities" (2005)

Superchunk - "No Pocky for Kitty" (1991)

Superdrag - "Regretfully Yours" (1996)

Supergrass - "Supergrass is 10: The Best of 94-04" (1990s/2000s)

The Tallest Man On Earth - "Shallow Grave" (2008)

The Tallest Man On Earth - "There's No Leaving Now" (2012)

Tame Impala - "Currents" (2015)

Tame Impala - "Innerspeaker" (2010)

The Teardrop Explodes - "Kilimanjaro" (1980)

Tears for Fears - "The Hurting" (1983)

The Telescopes - "Untitled Second" (1992)

Thin Lizzy - "Jailbreak" (1976)

Todd Rundgren - "Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren" (1971)

Tom Petty - "Damn the Torpedoes" (1979)

Tom Waits - "Rain Dogs" (1985)

Tom Waits - "Swordfishtrombones" (1983)

Tony Molina - "Dissed and Dismissed" (2014)

Tracy Chapman - “Tracy Chapman” (1988)

Traffic - “Traffic” (1968)

T. Rex - "Electric Warrior" (1971)

Ty Segall - "Manipulator" (2014)

Urge Overkill - "Saturation" (1993)

Vampire Weekend - "Contra" (2010)

The Vapors - "New Clear Days" (1980)

Vashti Bunyan - "Just Another Diamond Day" (1970)

Velocity Girl - “Copacetic” (1993)

The Velvet Underground - "Loaded" (1970)

Veronica Falls - "Veronica Falls" (2011)

The War On Drugs - "A Deeper Understanding" (2017)

The War On Drugs - "Slave Ambient" (2011)

The White Stripes - “Elephant” (2003)

Wilco - “A.M.” (1995)

Wilco - “Sky Blue Sky” (2007)

Wild Flag - "Wild Flag" (2011)

William Clarke - "Blowin' Like Hell" (1990)

Wipers - "Is This Real?" (1980)

Wire - "Pink Flag" (1977)

X - "Los Angeles" (1980)

XTC - "Skylarking" (1986)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Fever to Tell" (2003)