Your Top 3 albums

Springywheel

What are your top three albums that you can return to time and again and not get bored of? Rather than just list them, post a youtube link to each album/playlist. If the whole album's not on youtube, then feel free to just post a few tracks that are. Will be interesting to hear all of your musical influences. You can also explain what you like about each album though this isn't necessary. I'll have to have a good think but I thought i'd get the ball rolling....

Edit:

@duotone 's  playlist

"Finally got around to making a playlist (mostly choosing the 1st track from each album)

If an album was mentioned again by another poster, I tried to choose the 2nd/3rd track, so it wouldn't keep repeating...although I am sure I have on some occasions"

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/21qesleGmfaBjNSAVgRzwr?si=5549432473bd4234

grappagreen

Somewhat eclectic mix...

Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine. Heard Killing In The Name on John Peel's show and couldn't believe what I was hearing.. went to the record shop on the day of the album release. Didn't disappoint  Hard hitting and still moves me today..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be3BuBzRJSo

Nik Kershaw - Radio Musicola. I could have picked anything by Nik. Amazing songwriter, guitarist, musician etc. etc. Totally underrated... Listen to the lyrics.. as pertinent today as ever. Complex, deep music presented in a deceivingly 'pop' fashion..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pn_oZSlNSo&list=PLP59Fs_hB7C1KcYVrXso4ENmVqkH3g0AQ

Randy Newman - Trouble In Paradise. One of the few songwriters who's capable of conveying in his music, what he is saying in his lyrics. Again, could have picked any of Randy's stuff.. Oh and Luke played guitar on this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYUfGXPV_Sc&list=PLfJndz0utgONxPRtMWU0zfXGyKDh-jnff

Gassage

I only listen to live music- so:

1. PULSE
2. Farewell to the World (Crowded House)
3. Rush- R30.

thecolourbox

Whilst there are artists I like more than these, I've gone for albums that as a self contained piece of music/art are my favourite albums. Today, anyway - might be different tomorrow, probably different last time I was asked!

Beatles - Sgt Pepper

Jeff Buckley - Grace

Velvet Underground and Nico 

Hootsmon

Gass baby.........i saw Crowded House in Glasgow many years ago, support band School of Fish....and it turns out that they were the best LIVE band I ever saw.... a cliche, but it was like listening tae the record

duotone

John Legend - Get Lifted
https://open.spotify.com/album/4W6kVnBPgcW8zDYXbRHh2J?si=kDm8t3eXRrCs31DwHgHreQ

https://youtu.be/_9n4FTk4I3M

Fall Out Boy - Take This To Your Grave
https://open.spotify.com/album/7l4nnHG7upOnUM4WvAjToY?si=VSyII6RGQ_6ytRLoHmf65g

https://youtu.be/UEzhlFqtAJk

Whitney Houston - Whitney 
https://open.spotify.com/album/5Vdzprr5cOqXQo44eHeV7t?si=lAh7lL_2QGaflflbyow7mQ

https://youtu.be/c0TghfreFok

MrTee

Alice in Chains - Dirt



Faith no more - Angel Dust

Steven Wilson - Hand cannot erase

MagicPigDetective

Ride: Going Blank Again. Released when I was 

16. The band probably wasn’t much older but made an incredible album of shoegaze power pop with a powerful rhythm section. Seen them live a couple of times since they reformed. 

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mRl1xBLuDTsIOG8Z_-Fd1cDcdHODCTwQg

Teenagee Fanclub, Banwagonesque. Neil Young, Big Star Byrdsian melodies mixed Dinosaur Jr style noise, from sunny Glasgow…. I love guitar tones (Vox 30’s at full blast I think). I bought it just after turning 16, as I was getting into ‘decent’ music, and it blew me away.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlsZHYnNM0pYsTzUAAxqYIjikNKucl-0X

Soundgarden, Superunknown. My perfect rock record. Magnificent songs, riffs, vocals, leads, production (the drums!).

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kJxFpCNIHxeAUoovlRmuOOTZGZAuE79yY

Gassage

Hootsmon said:

Gass baby.........i saw Crowded House in Glasgow many years ago, support band School of Fish....and it turns out that they were the best LIVE band I ever saw.... a cliche, but it was like listening tae the record

@Hootsmon ;,

Hoots- could not agree more

Incredible live- Neil's voice gives you goosebumps.

This, esp the outro, is magnificent.

Devil#20

Neil Young - Zuma,
Def Leppard - Hysteria,
The Cure - Disintegration. 

cba with the links. 

Gassage

Re R30, I never tire of watching this- the best cover of Crossroads ever, which then segues into an exquisite version Limelight for a total win!

hollywoodrox

It depends on my mood 

  https://youtu.be/cw1Tqsm0Wlg

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVMgMdYqIEkZ3kT510TmrqQQPYZAwhPoW

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu1hvmv2UyrqnZzJwPvEvA9PWIyo5M9bb

hollywoodrox

Peter cetera - solitude solitaire 
  Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers 

scrumhalf

Are You Experienced - Jimi Hendrix Experience
Abraxas - Santana
Machine Head - Deep Purple 

It's probably been that way for 50 years. Albums come and albums go, but these three are just so bloody magnificent. 

SidNewton

Soundgarden 'Superunknown' 
Bjork 'Debut'
Steven Wilson 'Hand Cannot Erase'

I don't think anything will ever shift Superunkown from my top 3.

EricTheWeary

I stream all sorts of stuff and don't really think much about albums any more so my reference points for any questions like these are always 20+ years old. But I'll say three that come to mind:

Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey.

Black Crowes - Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. 

Buddy Guy - DJ Play my Blues. 


Just on my phone so YT links a lot of faff. Also, two seconds after I post this I'll reconsider my choices. 

Edit: why do all my choices start with B? Clearly that’s as far as my brain got up the alphabet. 

LastMantra

David Bowie - Hunky Dory
Nirvana - Unplugged INY
John Frusciante - The Empyrean

Off the top of my head. Certainly top 10 material. 

Philly_Q

Not necessarily a definitive top 3, I'd almost certainly say something different another day.  And a lot of the time I listen to relatively new stuff, but here's a top 3:

Robin Trower - Live



King's X - Out Of The Silent Planet 



Trouble - Manic Frustration

prowla

Hootsmon said:

Gass baby.........i saw Crowded House in Glasgow many years ago, support band School of Fish....and it turns out that they were the best LIVE band I ever saw.... a cliche, but it was like listening tae the record

When I saw them I got a CD of the gig on the way out.

Listening to the record is like being at the gig!

prowla

The albums I sit down and listen to all the way through:

• Yes - Close To The Edge
• Rush - Moving Pictures
• Crowded House - Temple Of Low Men

As a supplementary, some albums I listen to individual tracks from:

• Level 42 - World Machine
• System Of A Down - Toxicity
• Cozy Powell - Tilt
• Kansas - Leftoverture
• Thunder - Behind Closed Doors
• Robert Plant - Shaken 'n' Stirred
• Dio - The Last In Line
• It Bites - Once Around the World

I haven't switched my Hi-Fi on for ages; I might warm it up so I can have a blast on the weekend!

stimpsonslostson

Rolling Stone- Exile on Main St

Soundtrack to my childhood- so much variation and there's always something new to hear. 

Guns n Roses- Appetite for Destruction

Swagger, attitude, melodies. From the opening bars to the last it's utterly thrilling. 


Gallows- Grey Britain

Probably my favourite album of the last 20 years. A compelling and absolutely furious reaction to modern life.