Average Rating: 3.98 Rating Variance: 0.36 Objectivity Score: 56% (Somewhat Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicAphex Twin Selected Ambient Works 85-92Aphex Twin is easily one of the most influential electronica artists ever, and this album is easily one of the most influential IDM albums ever, and is easily one of Richard D. James' best. Despite the name (which implies it is ambient), this album is pure IDM at its best. Much more consistent but less evocative than S.A.W. Vol. II, it's regarded by many as his best, and although I wouldn't feel completely confident saying the same, it is one of his best.Aphex Twin DrukqsI have read a lot of negative reviews about Drukqs, and I can understand why. I used to think the same way about this album. It is an album of stark contrast, far beyond anything else Richard D. James has done. One song will consist of minimalistic piano pieces, the next will be hard drum n' bass, and the next will be dark ambient. It's not an easy album to get used to, but, given time and an open mind, Drukqs will reveal itself to be perfected by its contrast. At first it seems like Drukqs is just a bunch of random songs assembled into a two disk set, but it is really far from the truth. Drukqs is a masterpiece of experimental electronica, and is one of James' best albums, and is probably my favorite.Autechre Tri RepetaeAfter their first two IDM-based albums, Autechre began to change there sound here, on their most acclaimed and influential album. Tri Repetae++ is what the world would sound like if the machines took over. In ways it is completely desensitized, but in others it retains the human emotion and inspiration from Amber. It's Autechre's middle-ground, between their IDM/ambient works of the early 90s and the harsh glitch that would come about in the late 90s and ealry 2000s, and it represents Autechre's musicianship more than adequately. Although I prefer Amber, Tri Repetae++ is a landmark electronica release that must be experienced.Autechre AmberIncunabula may be more accessible, and Tri Repetae++ might be a more complete overlook at Autechre's unique sound (and has gained more critical acclaim), but Amber is my favorite Autechre album. It is probably their accessible and consistent album of Autechre's early years (every album after Tri Repetae++ would prove to be much more challenging), Amber is Autechre's most evocative album. It mixes ambient, IDM, and even some industrial and glitch all into one blissful package. Consistency is an issue here, especially when compared to Incunabula and Tri Repetae++, but this only adds to the overall darker atmosphere of the album. Amber is certainly an experience to behold, and will remain near the top of my electronica albums list.Bjork HomogenicBjork is known as one of the strangest artists in popular music, but strange isn't always bad. Her voice is absolutely sublime and stunning, inspiring awe in the listener as to how she has such a beautiful and soft, yet potent and powerful voice. The music behind her voice is only supplements her beauty, adding texture and atmosphere, helping portray the song's meaning and emotion. Bjork's beautiful voice, wonderful lyrics, and equally wonderful music has made her one of the most well-known artists in the electronica genre, and Homogenic is her magnum opus in my opinion. Every song is a gem.Boards of Canada Music Has the Right to ChildrenWhat can I say about this album? A better question to ask is what can I not say about this album? When I listen to music and decide whether it is any good or not, I tend to look first at the overall texture and atmosphere of the music; the overall quality of the music. Music Has the Right to Children is probably my favorite album of all time because it possesses these qualities many times over. It fills the listeners ears and brain with sounds that evoke a child-like nostalgia, love, mystery, and awe. Every sound is a soundtrack of its own kind. Each piece forms together to make a breath-taking cohesion of perfected sound.Brian Eno Another Green WorldBrian Eno is known as the father of ambient music, and his creation of ambient music begins here. Another Green World is a strange yet beautiful mix of Eno's earlier prog/art rock and of the ambient music he would become even more famous for than he already was. It represents each of these two genres in their prime, which makes Another Green World one of the Eno's best albums.Emperor Anthems to the Welkin at DuskBeing fairly new to the black metal genre, I have not listened to all the black metal albums that are out there, but I have listened to a few, and Anthems to Welkin at Dusk is easily my favorite of them all. Emperor might not have invented the genre, but they definately changed the sound of black metal with In the Nightside Eclipse. Anthems follows in its predecessor's footsteps, using the same crushing vocals, guitar work, and drumming along with the atmospheric keyboarding that makes for an all-around symphonic black metal masterpiece.Global Communication 76:14In Flames The Jester RaceIt might not be the most brutal or heavy death metal album to be produced, but Jester Race is definately one of the greatest. This is widely considered to be In Flames' masterpiece, and I would strongly agree with this statement. A landmark melodic death metal release, it fuses elements of death metal, power metal, progressive metal, and folk to form this amazing album. If only In Flames were still this great...Massive Attack MezzanineTrip-Hop isn't a necessarily complex genre when you look at it. Just mix huge bass with some slower electronic beats, add some heavy effects in the background and add either a rapper or female vocalist to the mix, and viola, you have some trip hop. But Mezzanine is so much more than this. Everything about this album oozes quality. From the production quality to the arrangement of beats to the vocals, it all is assembled perfectly. Mezzanine is the essential trip-hop album, and for good reason.Nine Inch Nails The Downward SpiralIf you want to know the definition of angst through sound, just listen to The Downward Spiral. Representing the high school outcast in all of us, Trent Reznor paints a perfectly bleak picture with his industrial sounds. Far better produced than Broken, and in my opinion all around superior album, The Downward Spiral is beautifully chaotic and deranged. It's an extremely emotional album that doesn't let the listener go until the end of one of the most suicidal songs ever written, "Hurt." It's a dark masterpiece of anger and loathing.Opeth Still LifeOpeth is easily one of the greatest metal bands in existence today, if not the greatest. I could go on forever why, but I'll spare you that for now, and talk about their best album, Still Life. All of their albums are top-notch, but Still Life is my personal favorite. It has a fresher, better produced sound than My Arms, Your Hearse or Morningrise, and set the sound that would be modified on Blackwater Park. It represents the balance between the overall brutality of My Arms, Your Hearse and the atmospheric tunes of Blackwater Park, which makes for a wonderful compromise. The overall balance, beauty, and atmosphere of Still Life makes it my favorite Opeth album, and one of my favorite metal albums of all time.Pink Floyd Wish You Were HereEven though Dark Side of the Moon is Pink Floyd's universal hit, Wish You Were Here deserves just as much praise, if not more. It represents Pink Floyd in their prime; such gems as "Wish You Were Here" and "Welcome to the Machine" sandwiched between the 15 minutes opuses of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" pts. 1-5 and 6-9. The overall cohesion of the album transcends that of Dark Side of the Moon, which still is an amazing album... just not as amazing as Wish You Were Here. Radiohead OK ComputerTool LateralusWords simply cannot describe the depth and complexity of this album. I don't know why Tool is so popular, because most of the people who listen to know don't know anything about the music. Lateralus is probably the most symbolically dense albums that has ever been created. The music that is the vehicle for this symbolism is just as amazing, thanks to the supreme talent of this band. Everything about this album is beautifully textured and composed. I could go on and on about how truly amazing this album is.4.5 superb2Pac Me Against the World2Pac All Eyez on MeUnlike Me Against the World, All Eyez on Me is not the poetic and reflective look on ghetto life. All Eyez on Me is more about being a "thug," and living life without regard to others or to consequences. This might be why Tupac met an untimely demise, which adds some historical significance to this album, but overall this album is not as strong as Me Against the World. It lacks the depth and creativity of its predecessor. This album is far from being completely devoid of depth, it just concentrates more on the beat production and lyrics portraying the thug life. For that it is plagued by the usual gangsta cliches, but despite this it is still a great album for rap enthusiasts.2Pac Greatest Hits2pac is one of the most infamous and prolific rap artists to have ever lived, so an equally prolific compilation album should have been produced to honor his death, yes? Well Death Row's Greatest Hits might not be as prolific as it could've been, and is far from a historical reflection into 2pac's music, but it is still an adequate mix of some of Tupac's great songs. Getting all of his greatest hits was an impossible thing to do on two discs, so this isn't the definitive compilation album, but it serves well to those who just want a compilation of some good 2pac.AFX Chosen LordsAgalloch The MantleAgalloch Pale FolkloreAlice in Chains FaceliftAphex Twin Richard D. James AlbumAphex Twin Selected Ambient Works Volume IIFew albums in existence are as beautiful or as haunting as this album is. Unlike S.A.W. 85-92, Vol. II is pure ambient. And just as with Drukqs, this album is an exercise in contrast. The most touchingly beautiful opuses you will probably ever hear are met with chilling dark ambient pieces. Each song presents its own atmosphere, and although this album is not as cohesive as it could be, it still makes for a wonderful whole. I'd give this album a 5 but it just is too inconsistent, but despite this it is still an amazing album that should be experienced by anyone interested in electronica or ambient music. Aphex Twin OnFor a release with only four songs, this EP accomplishes a lot. On #1 can be looked as a very short overview of Aphex Twin's unique sound in the early 90s (circa 1993), which varied from ambient electronica to hardcore acid techno. Each track represents a different sound (whether it be ambient electronica or acid techno). Tracks 1 and 4 are beautifully textured and structured ambient techno pieces reminiscent of Selected Ambient Works 85-92, while tracks 2 and 3 are rougher and harder-edged songs more akin to I Care Because You Do. Overall it's a short but great EP that sums up the early career of Richard D. James better than any of his other much longer LP releases.At the Gates Slaughter of the SoulSlaughter of the Soul seemed to mark the beginning of At the Gates' widespread success, but it actually meant the beginning of the end for the melodic death metal group. Slaughter of the Soul is seen as a landmark melodic death metal album, and for good reason. It is far more brutal than Dark Tranquillity's The Gallery and In Flames' The Jester Race, and what it lacks in creativity it makes up for with its crushing sound. Even dismissing its influence, which cannot be overlooked, this album is a masterpiece of melodic death metal.At the Gates Terminal Spirit DiseaseSlaughter of the Soul may be At the Gates' undisputed hit, but Terminal Spirit Disease is my personal favorite. Not quite as polished as its successor, it is harder edged than SOTS, and it is more diverse in its sound.Autechre IncunabulaThe early 90s was an amazing time for electronica music, as some of the most acclaimed albums were released during this time. Incunabula marked the debut of Autechre in 1993. It followed the IDM/ambient trends of the day, with Autechre's own special IDM sound textured with ambient and even some hip-hop influences. Incunabula is by far Autechre's most accessible release (it was my first, and was my favorite for quite a while), and is one of my favorites. The sound production sounds a bit dated, but Incunabula still stands as one of the great electronica releases on the early 90s.Autechre Peel SessionBathory Blood Fire DeathBathory HammerheartBiosphere SubstrataBiosphere MicrogravityBjork VespertineBlack Sabbath We Sold Our Soul For Rock 'n' RollBoards of Canada The Campfire HeadphaseBoards of Canada GeogaddiBoards of Canada Hi ScoresBoards of Canada In a Beautiful Place Out in the CountryBoston BostonBrian Eno Ambient 1: Music For AirportsBurzum FilosofemCarcass HeartworkCradle of Filth Dusk... and Her EmbraceCradle of Filth Lovecraft & Witch HeartsDaft Punk DiscoveryDark Tranquillity The Mind's IDark Tranquillity FictionDeath The Sound of PerseveranceDeath SymbolicDimmu Borgir Enthrone Darkness TriumphantDissection Storm of the Light's BaneEagles Hotel CaliforniaEagles Hell Freezes OverEminem The Marshall Mathers LPEmperor In the Nightside EclipseEnya A Day Without RainEnya WatermarkGodspeed You! Black Emperor Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to HeavenGodspeed You! Black Emperor Slow Riot For New Zero KanadaGreen Day DookieHarold Budd and Brian Eno The PearlHarold Budd and Brian Eno had already made an ambient landmark release in 1980 with Ambient 2, but in 1984 they created an even greater album: The Pearl. Using the same minimalist ambient formula used in Ambient 2, the duo create a beautifully painted work of art with their soft and atmospheric approach. The Pearl is my favorite Eno/Budd album, and is easily one of the my favorite ambient albums of all time.In Flames ColonyAfter Jester Race and Whoracle, it seemed like things couldn't have gotten better for In Flames. Colony proved that this would be an incorrect assumption, as Colony marked the continued progression of the band's sound, without compromising their quality. Colony marks the progression towards In Flames' new sound, which isn't a bad thing, at least for this album. It is still definately melodic death metal, and it is still as great as ever.In Flames ClaymanIn Flames WhoracleIn Flames perfected melodic death metal with The Jester Race, so they had quite a lot to live up to with Whoracle, and although it lacks the influence or overall atmosphere of its predecessor, it is still an amazing album. It has a more crushing, powerful, and epic sound than The Jester Race, and only looses out with the a few weak songs. Other than that, this album is a complete masterpiece of melodic death metal.Iron Maiden The Number Of The BeastLed Zeppelin Best Of, Vol. 1: Early DaysLed Zeppelin Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IVLed Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IILed Zeppelin Houses Of The HolyMetallica Master Of PuppetsMetallica ...And Justice For AllMetallica MetallicaMouse on Mars AutoditackerMy Dying Bride The Dreadful HoursNas IllmaticNine Inch Nails The FragileNine Inch Nails Pretty Hate MachineNine Inch Nails StillNine Inch Nails And All That Could Have BeenNirvana In UteroNirvana NevermindOpeth OrchidOpeth Blackwater ParkOpeth is easily one of the greatest metal albums in existence, successfully mixing progressive and folk elements with death metal (newer works) and with symphonic black metal (older works). Blackwater Park follows the template presented in Still Life, and adds more texture to that sound. What results is a more atmospheric, equally brutal, and less balanced album. For its few flaws it makes up for in far greater measure in terms of beauty, creativity, and brutality. It might not be their greatest album (I would reserve that title for Still Life or Deliverance), but it is one of their best, and is subsequently one of the best releases in the metal genre. Highly recommended.Opeth DeliveranceOpeth My Arms, Your HearsePearl Jam TenPink Floyd The Dark Side Of The MoonPink Floyd MeddlePink Floyd The WallPorcupine Tree In AbsentiaPortishead DummyRadiohead The BendsRadiohead Kid ARush Moving PicturesRush Permanent WavesSepultura AriseSoilwork The Chainheart MachineSquarepusher Go PlasticSquarepusher Hard Normal DaddySystem of a Down ToxicitySystem of a Down MezmerizeTaake Nattestid Ser Porten VidThe Beatles Abbey RoadThe Beatles The BeatlesThe Beatles 1The Gathering Nighttime BirdsThe Haunted Made Me Do ItThe Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric LadylandThe Orb Adventures Beyond The UltraworldThe Orb Orbus TerrarumThe Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and the Infinite SadnessThe Smashing Pumpkins Siamese DreamTiamat WildhoneyTool ÆnimaTool 10,000 DaysUlver Bergtatt - Et eeventyr i 5 capitlerWintersun Wintersun4.0 excellentA Perfect Circle Thirteenth StepA Perfect Circle Mer de NomsAC/DC Back In BlackAlice in Chains DirtAlice in Chains MTV UnpluggedAlice in Chains Nothing Safe: Best of the BoxAnthrax Spreading The DiseaseAphex Twin Come To DaddyAphex Twin ...I Care Because You DoArch Enemy Black EarthAt the Gates With Fear I Kiss the Burning DarknessAutechre LP5Autechre Peel Session 2Bathory Under the Sign of the Black MarkBjork PostBjork MedullaBlue October FoiledBoards of Canada TwoismBoards of Canada Peel SessionBoards of Canada Trans Canada HighwayBoston Don't Look BackBrian Eno Ambient 4: On LandBush Sixteen StoneChildren of Bodom Hate Crew DeathrollChildren of Bodom Something WildColdplay X&YCommon BeCradle of Filth MidianCradle of Filth NymphetamineCradle of Filth Damnation and a DayCradle of Filth Cruelty and the BeastDark Tranquillity CharacterDark Tranquillity Damage DoneDark Tranquillity ProjectorDark Tranquillity Skydancer/Of Chaos And Eternal NightDarkthrone Transilvanian HungerDeath Individual Thought PatternsDeath HumanDeerhoof Milk ManDeftones White PonyDeftones Around the FurDeftones Saturday Night WristDelerium KarmaDimmu Borgir Death Cult ArmageddonDimmu Borgir Spiritual Black DimensionsDissection The SomberlainDisturbed Ten Thousand FistsDr. Dre The ChronicDragonForce Sonic FirestormDream Theater Train of ThoughtDream Theater Images And WordsDream Theater A Change Of SeasonsEminem The Slim Shady LPEmperor IX EquilibriumEnya Shepherd MoonsExplosions in the Sky The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead PlaceFaith No More Angel DustGodspeed You! Black Emperor F♯ A♯ ∞Godspeed You! Black Emperor Yanqui U.X.O.Green Day American IdiotGuns N' Roses Appetite for DestructionHIM Love MetalHIM Razorblade RomanceHIM Deep Shadows And Brilliant HighlightsHypocrisy AbductedHypocrisy The Final ChapterIced Earth Night Of The StormriderIced Earth The Blessed And The DamnedIhsahn The AdversaryIn Flames Reroute to RemainIn Flames Lunar StrainIn Flames The Tokyo ShowdownIron Maiden PowerslaveIron Maiden KillersJurassic 5 Quality ControlKanye West Late RegistrationKillswitch Engage The End of HeartacheKillswitch Engage As Daylight DiesKorn KornKorn IssuesKorn Follow the LeaderKorn Greatest Hits Vol. 1Lamb of God Ashes of the WakeLed Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IIILed Zeppelin Physical GraffitiLed Zeppelin Best Of, Vol. 2: Latter DaysMarilyn Manson Antichrist SuperstarMarilyn Manson Mechanical AnimalsMastodon Blood MountainMeshuggah Destroy Erase ImproveMeshuggah NothingMeshuggah IMeshuggah Catch ThirtythreeMeshuggah ChaosphereMetallica Ride The LightningMoby PlayMouse on Mars InstrumentalsMudvayne The End of All Things to ComeMushroomhead XIIIMy Dying Bride The Angel and the Dark RiverN.W.A. Straight Outta ComptonNevermore This Godless EndeavorNine Inch Nails With TeethNine Inch Nails BrokenNine Inch Nails Further Down the Spiral (US)Nine Inch Nails Year ZeroOpeth MorningriseOpeth DamnationPearl Jam VitalogyPink Floyd The Piper At The Gates Of DawnPink Floyd AnimalsPink Floyd EchoesPink Floyd UmmagummaPlacebo Without You I'm NothingRed Hot Chili Peppers By the WayRed Hot Chili Peppers CalifornicationSentenced DownSepultura Chaos A.D.Shadows Fall The War WithinSlayer Reign In BloodSlipknot SlipknotSlipknot Vol. 3: The Subliminal VersesSlipknot Vol.3: The Subliminal Verses [Reissue]Snoop Dogg DoggystyleSquarepusher UltravisitorSquarepusher Selection SixteenStatic-X Wisconsin Death TripSystem of a Down System of a DownSystem of a Down Steal This Album!System of a Down HypnotizeThe Black Dahlia Murder MiasmaThe Chemical Brothers Dig Your Own HoleThe Mars Volta De-Loused in the ComatoriumThe Police Every Breath You Take: The ClassicsThe Smashing Pumpkins AdoreTool UndertowTool SalivalType O Negative Bloody KissesUlver KveldssangerUlver Themes From William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and HellVan Halen Van HalenWeird Al Yankovic Running With ScissorsWeird Al Yankovic Bad Hair DayWeird Al Yankovic In 3-D3.5 great311 From ChaosAlice in Chains SapAphex Twin ClassicsArch Enemy Doomsday MachineArch Enemy Burning BridgesBathory BathoryBoston Third StageBrian Eno NeroliChildren of Bodom Are You Dead Yet?Chimaira ResurrectionCradle of Filth The Principle of Evil Made FleshCradle of Filth ThornographyDaft Punk HomeworkDarkthrone A Blaze in the Northern SkyDarkthrone Soulside JourneyDeerhoof ReveilleDeerhoof Friend OpportunityDevilDriver The Fury of Our Maker's HandDisturbed The SicknessDJ Shadow Endtroducing.....Dr. Dre 2001Drowning Pool SinnerEminem The Eminem ShowGorillaz Demon DaysGreen Day NimrodGreen Day KerplunkIn Flames Come ClarityJudas Priest British SteelJudas Priest Killing MachineJurassic 5 Power in NumbersKansas The Best of KansasKorn Take a Look in the MirrorKorn Life Is PeachyKorn Deuce DVDLamb of God SacramentMeshuggah Contradictions CollapseMetallica Kill 'Em AllMudvayne Lost and FoundNas It Was WrittenOasis (What's the Story) Morning Glory?Orgy CandyassPink Floyd A Saucerful Of SecretsPlacebo Sleeping with GhostsPortishead PortisheadPublic Enemy It Takes A Nation (...) To Hold Us BackRadiohead AmnesiacRed Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex MagikSepultura RootsSlipknot IowaSlipknot DisasterpiecesSoilwork A Predator's PortraitSugar Ray FlooredThe Orb OrblivionThe Wallflowers BreachTool OpiateType O Negative October RustUlver Nattens MadrigalWeird Al Yankovic Straight Outta Lynwood3.0 goodAFI DecemberundergroundAphex Twin WindowlickerBush Razorblade SuitcaseCradle of Filth Bitter Suites to SuccubiHIM Dark LightIce Cube AmeriKKKa's Most WantedIn Flames Soundtrack to Your EscapeKorn UntouchablesKorn See You on the Other SideLed Zeppelin BBC SessionsMetallica St. AngerMoby 18Mudvayne L.D. 50Mudvayne The Beginning of All Things to EndMushroomhead XXNine Inch Nails Things Falling ApartSlipknot Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.Static-X Start A WarWu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)2.5 averageCradle of Filth Live Bait for the DeadMarilyn Manson Smells Like ChildrenPink Floyd A Momentary Lapse Of ReasonStatic-X Beneath... Between... Beyond2.0 poorBackstreet Boys MillenniumBritney Spears Oops!...I Did It AgainMetallica Some Kind Of MonsterSnoop Dogg Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$1.0 awfulLil Jon and the East Side Boyz Kings of Crunk
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