1000 ratings: Top 50 songs and albums
I recently hit the 1000 ratings milestone so it is time to celebrate. Interesting note: almost 1/3 of my ratings, I added this year (thank you covid). I haven't done an all time list before, and this seemed like a perfect occasion for it. So here my top 50 albums and songs, starting with the top 50 songs: |
| 101 |  | Bruce Springsteen
The River
#50 The River
The harmonica is such a good hook in. The lyrics are great in this song and man i love the bridge |
| 100 |  | Laura Stevenson
Wheel
#49 The Wheel
The Wheel is very much a typical closer track in how it builds and releases, while exploring the album's theme. But what a satisfying end it is |
| 99 |  | Agnes Obel
Philharmonics
#48 Riverside
This song is a delight with the gorgeous and memorable piano melody and its dreamy chorus |
| 98 |  | U2
The Joshua Tree
#47 Where the Streets Have No Name
With or Without You was always my go-to U2 pick, but lately i have been more drawn to Where the Streets Have No Name. It has such a nice build and one of the best Bono vocal perfomances. You can't open a album much better |
| 97 |  | Portishead
Dummy
#46 Glory Box
Glory Box immediately draws you in with that great noir atmosphere and doesn't let go. Gibbons' vocals are excellent as always |
| 96 |  | Yndi Halda
Under Summer
#45 Golden Threads from the Sun
This is really pretty post rock with violins, but most of all, I find that it shows a lot of warmth. It's an outstretching arm when you're dangling on a cliff |
| 95 |  | Sharon van Etten
Are We There
#44 Your Love Is Killing Me
Your Love Is Killing Me is fucked up. It's very powerful with its message due van Etten's powerful vocals that strain thoughout the chorus |
| 94 |  | Grouper
The Man Who Died in His Boat
#43 Living Room
Living room is nothing more as a few simple guitar chords with Harris' soft vocals over a static ambience. Yet it is gripping as hell. Sometimes simplicity is key, and who better to show us than Liz Harris? |
| 93 |  | Laurence Guy
Saw You for the First Time
#42 Saw You for the First Time
Incredible, soulful house tune. I remember when spotify autoplayed this as my first listen, and i was immediately like: "Fuck yes". And later the trumpet came in and I was like "Holy fuck yes" |
| 92 |  | Tears for Fears
Songs from the Big Chair
#41 Head Over Heels
80s synth pop goodness with the appropriate amount of cheese. The chorus is the best thing ever |
| 91 |  | Perfume Genius
Too Bright
#40 Fool
Fool has such a unusual structure, where it abruptly stops its groove for an ambient section with his soaring vocals, only to abruptly get into the groove again. It's such a gripping song |
| 90 |  | Dolly Parton
Jolene
#39 Jolene
Cutesy - sonically atleast, the lyrics are obviously more sad - country pop with very nice melodies. It's really catchy and nice, i like it |
| 89 |  | Clarence Clarity
No Now
#38 Those Who Can't, Cheat
Amidst all the chaos, brings Clarence Clarity us with one of the catchiest songs ever with a really nice groove |
| 88 |  | The Hotelier
Home, Like NoPlace Is There
#37 Dendron
This song is a rollercoaster and works really well as the closer and emotional closure of this album. I love the acoustic guitar notes at the end, what a way to end an album |
| 87 |  | Acda en de Munnik
Naar Huis
#36 Het Regent Zonnenstralen
Classic dutch pop song for a good reason. Excellent upbeat melodies with great lyrics about mid-life crisis. Not that the great lyrics would help most of you |
| 86 |  | Simon and Garfunkel
Bridge Over Troubled Water
#35 Cecilia
Cecilia is just a really catchy, happy upbeat song. One of the most fun songs ever |
| 85 |  | Mister And Mississippi
We Only Part To Meet Again
#34 For Us to Remember
I have been occasionally hyping this song a bit on this site ever since my We Only Part to Meet Again review to little avail (i did get lotusflower to listen to it!) So let me try again: For Us to Remember is a atmospheric indie rock song with a great build-up and climax that is somewhat post-rock in structure. Gorgeous song, please listen. I'll just put the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ3rJcZNvgY |
| 84 |  | Radiohead
OK Computer
#33 Paranoid Android
The song that blew Pangea's 13 year old mind. It's impressive how well the song flows with its sudden transitions |
| 83 |  | The National
Sleep Well Beast
#32 The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness
Perhaps an odd pick for best National track due to how un-national it is with its showing off. But damn does it work. Great chorus and the guitar solo is super fun |
| 82 |  | The Beach Boys
Pet Sounds
#31 Wouldn't It Be Nice?
Song is just pure bliss. The moment the song slows down after about a minute is perfect |
| 81 |  | Neutral Milk Hotel
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
#30 Holland, 1945
Fuzzy and chaotic rock song with great lyrics. Really fun song to sing along to |
| 80 |  | Refused
The Shape of Punk to Come
#29 Summerholidays vs Punkroutine
There are certainly more sophisticated songs on the album, but the riff on this song always gets me super hyped |
| 79 |  | Radiohead
The Bends
#28 Street Spirit (Fade Out)
Radiohead generally aren't the band for happy tunes, but damn is Street Spirit bleak. From the anxious guitar melodies and sober vocals, everything about it displays a certain dread. It's all beautiful in a way, espcially how it comes together with the overlapping vocals in the end |
| 78 |  | Coldplay
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
#27 Viva la Vida
The song that made me fall in love with music. Such an irristible, grand pop song. While my taste has moved away somewhat from coldplay, it doesn't stop me from loudly singing along this when it comes on |
| 77 |  | The Flaming Lips
The Soft Bulletin
#26 Race for the Price
One of those songs that wow'd me on first listen. A gorgeous layered song with great melodies that is moved forward so well with the prominent drums high in the mix |
| 76 |  | Pink Floyd
Wish You Were Here
#25 Wish You Were Here
I mean it's a classic. Prog band show that they can pull the heartstrings too. |
| 75 |  | Metallica
Ride the Lightning
#24 Fade to Black
Super good power-ballad. I love how well it builds its intensity. |
| 74 |  | Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
Ghosteen
#23 Bright Horses
A song that is both depressing and beautiful with the gorgeous vocals and the piano melody. The lyrics both display hope and despair wonderfully. |
| 73 |  | Ulver
Perdition City
#22 Porn Piece or the Scars of Cold Kisses
One of the most adventurous Ulver songs with it's atmospheric first half and the more intense vocal driven second half. Has my favourite Garm's vocal performance. |
| 72 |  | Weezer
Pinkerton
#21: Tired of Sex
Tired of Sex goes super hard. Peak angst, but it is super catchy with a nice solo at the end. |
| 71 |  | Vali
Skogslandskap
#20 Langt I Det Fjerne
Langt I det Fjerne is Vali throwing everything he knows in one song, from the super pretty guitar melodies, piano notes and the flute coming in. Also the flute coming in is one of the best moments in music |
| 70 |  | David Bowie
Blackstar
#19 Blackstar
Jazzy epic track. Love the sort of anxious sax and the part that starts halfway through the song. |
| 69 |  | Radiohead
Amnesiac
#18 Pyramid Song
There is a mysterious aura surrounding Pyramid Song that is both gorgeous and unsettling. I love the lyrics in this song as well |
| 68 |  | The Shins
Oh, Inverted World
#17 New Slang
The most perfect usage of "oee" ever. This song is an indie pop earworm that is really lovely. Listen at caution, though, this song won't leave your head for the next few days |
| 67 |  | La Dispute
Panorama
#16 Fulton Street I
This song is so intense.; the build-up and climax are so powerful. That combined with the detailed lyrics and the equaly intense vocals, makes this a very compelling listen |
| 66 |  | Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
#15 Fast Car
One of the best and most iconic guitar melodies with a really impactful chorus. The story Chapman is telling is great too |
| 65 |  | Mitski
Puberty 2
#14 Your Best American Girl
After a relatively calm intro verse, comes the chorus of Your Best American Girl in like a sledgehammer destroying everything in its path with the loud guitars and intense vocal performance. Definitely one of my favourite chorus ever. |
| 64 |  | Todd Terje
It's Album Time
#13 Inspector Norse
Most fun song ever basically. Silly disco jam that is perfect for embarrasing dances |
| 63 |  | Black Sabbath
Paranoid
#12 War Pigs
Oh god the riffs on this are so good and the solo at the end too. Gotta love the passionate vocal performance from ozzy too. What a way to open an album |
| 62 |  | Trophy Scars
Darkness, Oh Hell
#11 Sad Stanley
Their best combo of post-hardcore and blues. It has the intensity of the former and the soul of the latter. The break starting 3:20 first with the drum fill and then the bluesy piano is the best thing ever. |
| 61 | | Neutral Milk Hotel
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
#10 In The Aeroplane Over the Sea
Best lyrics ever and the song is catchy as hell. Love the sax that soar throughout the song too |
| 60 |  | Tame Impala
Currents
#9 Let It Happen
Ambitious song that blends psych stuff with bounc-y synths. The more poppy first half is already great, but as the second half with the tape loop and later the excellent synths come in, the song becomes a masterpiece. The bass guitar that comes in at the end is so good too. |
| 59 |  | Arcade Fire
Funeral
#8 Rebellion (Lies)
Arcade Fire have a knack for writing great, grandious songs, and Rebellion is one their biggest with its intense vocal performance and the chorus of background vocals. The violin melody at the last minute is probably my favourite moment in music |
| 58 |  | Modest Mouse
The Lonesome Crowded West
#7 Doin' the Cockroach
Typical Modest Mouse song that is super dynamic rock with great lyrics. One of their most fun songs in how upbeat it is. And the riff that comes in at the 2nd minute omg |
| 57 |  | The Beatles
Revolver
#6 Eleanor Rigby
This always has been the Beatles song i have been most intriqed by. The omnious strings and lyrics make it a somewhat uncomortable listen, but it is equally as beautiful and compelling. |
| 56 |  | Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
#5 Sleep
Starting with what might be one of the most sad monologues ever, Sleep draws you in with its mournful, yet epic atmosphere. One of the most exciting GYBE! songs in terms of progression, the final 7 minutes are heavenly |
| 55 |  | M83
Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
#4 Midnight City
Epic loud synth pop banger with a incredible sax solo at the end. |
| 54 |  | The Smiths
The Queen Is Dead
#3 There is a Light That Never Goes Out
One of the most perfect pop songs ever to me. Good guitar melody with Morrissey's depressing and evocative lyrics while remaining super catchy. The strings that come in at the end are so good too |
| 53 |  | Boards of Canada
Music Has the Right to Children
#2 Roygbiv
Perfect little song with a perfect melody. Such a beautiful song. I probably listen to this on repeat for an entire day without getting tired of it. |
| 52 |  | Sigur Ros
Takk...
#1 Hoppipolla
Hoppipolla presents itself to the world with a child-like wonder. It starts with this lovely piano melody that explodes with orchestral additions in the chorus. It's an euphoric bliss. It never fails to give me a huge smile while listening |
| 51 | | Todd Terje
It's Album Time
A few honourable mentions for the album section:
Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
AJJ - Can't Maintain
Alcest - Souvenirs d'un Autre Monde
The National - Trouble WIll Find Me
The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
Muse - Origin of Symmetry
Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, Maad City
Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92 |
| 50 |  | The Beach Boys
Sunflower
#50
This album is catchy and summery fun. Those delicous vocal hermonies that the beach boys are known for are present on here as well |
| 49 |  | The Tallest Man on Earth
The Wild Hunt
#49
It took me a little while to adjust to his vocals, but eventually the passion of them and his playing made fall in love with this album. Mattson is really good with the guitar too, some of my favourite guitar pickings are on here |
| 48 | | Metallica
Ride the Lightning
#48
A big step up from their already great debut. In Ride the Lightning, Metallica add more stuff to their thrash formula and bring a dyniamicism and variety that haven't been able to match |
| 47 |  | The Smiths
Meat Is Murder
#47
Just like most of their oeuvre, the Smiths didn't miss a beat here. Excellent song-writing and musicanship that perfectly combines Morrisey's eccentricity with Marr's guitar playing style. Gotta shoutout the bass too for this album; the lines on Barbarism at Home omg |
| 46 |  | Pink Floyd
A Saucerful of Secrets
#46
Underrated as fuck. Very much a transitional record as it was recorded around Barrett's departure and Gilmour's arrival. It's transitional in the best way possible, though, as it perfectly combines Barrett's creativity and the more mature song-writing of Pink Floyd's later stuff |
| 45 |  | David Bowie
Low
#45
I gotta say, I don't listen to Low all that often. However everytime I do, it's special. The expansive instrumentation coupled with the perfect production makes this a joy to listen too. All the ambient tracks are perfect too |
| 44 |  | Modest Mouse
This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About
#44
This is a long drive… is very rough around the edges and seems too spiral endlessly sometimes. But there's an undeniable charm to the album. Every bandmember is on point, Brock's lyrics are fantastic as always and the guitar tone is godly. |
| 43 |  | Ulver
Bergtatt - Et eeventyr i 5 capitler
#43
What's the best way to get me into Black Metal? Make it really folky and add Garm's vocals of course! This album is an experience and varies its harsh black metal parts with the beautiful acoustic folk passages seamlessly |
| 42 | | The Flaming Lips
The Soft Bulletin
#42
I can't think of many albums that hooked me as fast as The Soft Bulletin did. The beautiful expansive instrumentation coupled with the dreamy vocals make it a consistently amazing listen. Really varied album too, but it manages to keep its atmosphere consistent |
| 41 |  | Sufjan Stevens
Illinois
#41
Everything about Illnoise is grand and ambitious; its length, the orchestral instrumentation and just the fact that it's dedicated to an entire state. But what really sells the album is the heart that lies behind it. The emotion behind 'Casmir Pulaski Day' is a great example |
| 40 | | The Hotelier
Home, Like NoPlace Is There
#40
A rough album, but - with its passionate performance, excellent lyrics and great song-writing - an album that is equally as rewarding |
| 39 |  | Daft Punk
Discovery
#39
This album really is just jam after jam. Listening to this will always improve my mood |
| 38 |  | Hammock
Raising Your Voice... Trying to Stop an Echo
#38
God this album is beautiful. The shoegaze-y reverb coupled with the slow guitar and piano melodies gives this really light and floating atmosphere |
| 37 |  | Grouper
Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill
#37
Such a lovely and intimate album. Not particulary happy, but there's a cozyness present here that still makes this album feel warm |
| 36 |  | Mark Hollis
Mark Hollis
#36
As much as i love post-rock and respect the last two Talk Talk albums, I do prefer the Mark Hollis solo effort. Hollis understands the use of silence better as most and lets the instuments and melodies on here really breathe in spaceyness. And the end product is absolutely gorgeous |
| 35 | | Radiohead
OK Computer
Ambitious with excellent song-writing and vocals. I'm not sure i have much more to say really, it just an amazing rock album |
| 34 | | Laura Stevenson
Wheel
#34
Wheel gets better with each listen. It's album that takes its time to open up itself, even with the numerous catchy, infectious songs. But when it did, it's started to mean the world to me |
| 33 |  | Led Zeppelin
Houses of the Holy
I think that Led Zeppelin became much better after the self-titled records.. Houses of The Holy especially is a masterclass in writing engaging with excellent song-writing and performances. I love how varied this album is too |
| 32 | | Clarence Clarity
No Now
#32
Chaos pop at its best. Clarence Clarity dresses his songs with dense layers of sounds and samples that makes everything sound exciting. What what really sells this album, though, is how good each song still works as a pop song with their excellent, infectious hooks |
| 31 |  | Perfume Genius
Set My Heart On Fire Immediately
#31
It might be early to put a 2020 album here, but I'm completely confident in its placement. Gorgeous chamber pop album that oozes confidence. The production is perfect. |
| 30 |  | Sophie
Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides
#30
For all its futuristic beats and weirdness, is there a lot of heart and warmth to find in Oils of Every Person's Un-insides. Songs like the comforting "It's Okay to Cry" and catharic pop banger "Immaterial" give this album an addional emotional weight over the sonic pleasure it brings |
| 29 |  | The Flaming Lips
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
#29
Not quite as instrumentally cool as The Soft Bulletin but it's more emotionally satisfying for me. The little storyline of the first 4 songs is so cool |
| 28 |  | Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada
#28
Godspeed You! Black Emperor's post-rock masterclass confided to 30 minutes. What more can you want really |
| 27 |  | Passion Pit
Gossamer
#27
One of the first albums i fell in love with back in the day. Super catchy and sugary synth-pop with some of the best hooks ever. |
| 26 |  | Stimming
Alpe Lusia
#26
Such a gorgeus album. The production is pristine and perfect. There is an organic quality to these songs that I don't find often in electronic albums, just listen to the piano notes in 'Tanz fur Drei'. |
| 25 |  | The Microphones
Mount Eerie
#25
Really a journey album. One of the few albums where only full front to back listens make sense to me. It takes its time to build, but throws many curveballs later on that makes it such an exciting experience |
| 24 | | M83
Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
#24
Combines the 80s epic synth pop sound with a dreamlike, ethereal atmosphere perfectly. Quite a varied album too, which makes the roughly 70 minutes float by as if its nothing |
| 23 | | Yndi Halda
Under Summer
#23
Even with it's occasional moodyness, I find this album to be super motivational and empowering. I often use it as a creativity or mental boost. Also it's post rock with prominent violins. How could I not love it? |
| 22 |  | Boards of Canada
The Campfire Headphase
#22
While the other Boards of Canada albums are great, is there something in this album's atmosphere that really makes it stand out to me. The chill psychadelic vibes makes it such a great relaxing summer jam |
| 21 |  | Radiohead
In Rainbows
#21
True to its name, is In Rainbows Radioheads most colourful album. It has so much flavours and it's so exciting how they blended their rock and more electronic elements. |
| 20 |  | Bon Iver
For Emma, Forever Ago
#20
Really sad and isolated folk. The songs are well-written and are powerful in how evocative they are in bringing the emotions. Also a shoutout to the horns in for emma for being the best thing ever |
| 19 |  | The National
Boxer
#19
Boxer is the National on top of their game. It has everything you would expect from a National album - excellent lyrics, super tight performance and generally moody song-writing - in the most refined and consistent way they have delivered |
| 18 | | Simon and Garfunkel
Bridge Over Troubled Water
#18
A definition of classic. So many iconic songs on here. While this isn't neccersarily a reason to like this album, all the songs happen to be really good too |
| 17 |  | Sweet Trip
Velocity : Design : Comfort
#17
A perfect mix of shoegaze and electronic stuff. It's really impressive to me how they kept the album so accesible admist all the glitchy bleeps and bloops |
| 16 | | U2
The Joshua Tree
#16
The Joshua Tree is excellent at setting compelling atmospheres. Yes, it ventures often in the realm of Arena Rock, but there is always more going on in the background that makes it much more interesting as your average arena rock band. It also helps that Bono is a much more passionate vocalist as many of his peers |
| 15 |  | Kishi Bashi
Lighght
#15
What a delight this album is. Everyting about it shows so much glee and wonder that is hard not to get sucked in the happiness too |
| 14 | | Black Sabbath
Paranoid
#14
Masters of dark atmosphere and riffs. On Paranoid, Black Sabbath built and refine what they created with their debut and create this iconic album. It's just fucking good really. |
| 13 |  | Godspeed You! Black Emperor
F♯ A♯ ∞
#13
When listenin to F#A# I can feel the apocalypse. No, scratch that, I am IN the apocalypse and can see the world crumbling around me. It's effective in setting this somber atmosphere but it still excites with it's masterful build-ups and releases. |
| 12 |  | Vali
Forlatt
#11/12
Vali, to me, is some of the most beautiful music ever made. The acoustic setting of guitar, cello, flute & piano bring some of the most gorgeous melodies out there. What really sets Vali apart from other neo-folk i have heard is how good the guitar melodies are - i could listen to the ones on 'Dypt Inne I Skogen' all day. |
| 11 | | Vali
Skogslandskap
#11/12
I can never pick a favourite between his two albums so i have put them here next to each other. It feels like picking between my two children at this point. Just know they're both special |
| 10 | | The Smiths
The Queen Is Dead
#10
The Queen Is Dead is everything The Smiths stood for and them at their best; excellent moody, but melodic, pop songs with Morrissey's peculiar vocals and lyrics. It has their best and most consistent song-writing & every band member has his moment to shine. |
| 9 | | Neutral Milk Hotel
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
#9
An album that either seems to inspire intense love or intense hate. It's not hard to see why: Magnum's voice is uncontrolled and it's messy as hell. But, for me, it's the messyness that makes it so exciting. The first half is abolsutely perfection for me; every song there was in consideration for my songs list |
| 8 |  | David Bowie
Station to Station
#8
Bowie has one of the most impressive discographies out there, but Station to Station has always stood out as his clear best to me. It's his most streamlined and consistent i think. Every song is amazing really |
| 7 |  | Pink Floyd
Animals
#7
Three monster tracks that are prog masterclasses with a very nice intro and outro track. Animals is Pink Floyds most focused album and all the beter for it |
| 6 |  | Trophy Scars
Holy Vacants
#6
Everything about Holy Vacants is extravagant. From its ridiculous storyline with its often silly lyrics to the actual songs themselves that are full of expressive guitar solos and over the top vocals. It all works though due the excellent song-writing and musicanship |
| 5 |  | Modest Mouse
The Moon & Antarctica
#5
Modest Mouse's first album under a major label and they use it to create something that is more varied, space-y and more ambitious than what they did before. My favourite album lyrically, additionally, that perfectly explore the often existentalistic themes |
| 4 | | The Beatles
Revolver
#4
Best beatle for me. In Revolver they build on the direction of Rubber Soul and go nuts with it. It's basically perfect too, even 'Yellow Submarine' is cute! |
| 3 | | The Beach Boys
Pet Sounds
#3
I have decided that a day can't be a bad day if it had a listen of Pet Sounds in it. It can always bring me in a good mood. It's a collection of 13 of the most perfect pop songs with excellent vocal harmonies and pretty instrumentation. There's nothing more I could want. |
| 2 |  | Radiohead
Kid A
#2
Kid A was my first contact with music that isn't either pop or alt rock and is a big reason that I love electronic music to this day. Beyond that, it is also an incredible album. Really varied and ambitous, every song brings something new to the table, but the cold ambient is still maintained throughout the runtime |
| 1 |  | Sigur Ros
Agætis byrjun
#1
Agaetis Byrjun exists within its own world. Its dreamy, ethereal atmosphere is maintained throughout the album even with the great variety between tracks. I really appreciate albums that can balance both having great variety and a consistent artistical vision, and Agaetis Byrjun nails that balance. It's all gorgeous too with the instrumentation and Jonsi's vocals. One of the few albums where I love every second and every song is equally special. |
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