By Julien Garcia
Music is great. It’s a bunch of noises put together that makes your brain feel fuzzy. You honestly cannot dislike music. You show me a person that doesn’t like music; I’ll see a liar. Whether it’s streaming, vinyl, or cassette tapes, I could not live without music. There are select albums that are utterly the crowning achievement of Human Society—albums I could not live without. Now, these are not objectively the best and most influential albums on here (You won’t be seeing Ludwig Van Beethoven in my Top 10), but these are my favorites in no particular order.
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars(1972)- David Bowie
One of my favorite artists created one of my favorite albums—go figure. There are actually so many absolute heaters on this Album: ¨Moonage Daydream¨, ¨Suffragette City¨, and ¨Rock and Roll Suicide¨ (to name a few). There isn’t a single skippable song on this album. The lyricism and production of this album is insane. Bowie was really in his prime when making this classic, including songs such as Five Years and Starman.
Timely!!(1983)- Anri
In the 70´s-90´s, J-pop was going on a generational run with Timely!! By Anri is a clear example. They truly don’t make Jawns like this any longer. It’s saddening. Much like The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, there is not a single unskippable song on this—if even more so. This album is like liquid gold pouring down your ears. “Windy Summer”, “Stay by Me”, and “Shyness Boy” are my recommendations. This Album is actually awesome sauce.
Yeezus(2013)- Kanye West
Do you ever wonder what a celestial being sounds like? Well that’s Yeezus by Kanye West. I don’t care what anyone says, this is Kanye’s best Album. Graduation and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy are close, but no cigar. I start levitating when this album comes on, from ¨On Sight” to ¨Bound 2¨ (my feet are off the ground).
Ok Computer(1997)- Radiohead
Now, this is a pretty basic answer, and I agree. When you ask someone what their favorite Radiohead album is, they usually respond with OK Computer, but that’s for a reason. There are only two eras of this corporeal realm, BOC (Before OK Computer) and AOC (After Ok Computer).
And in the year 28.AOC, the world is far different since Radiohead graced us with OK Computer. But truthfully, any Radiohead album could be my favorite such as The Bends, Kid A, In Rainbows, Hail to the Thief, even Moon Shaped Pool; besides Pablo Honey and King of Limbs, those are mediocre. If you haven’t listened to Ok Computer, then what have you been doing your entire existence?
Operation: Doomsday(1999)-MF DoomHands down one of the most creative albums of all time
As much as I love MM..Food and Madvilliany, my first MF Doom album was Operation: Doomsday by the preeminent production and lyricism of MF Doom. You honestly cannot replicate this. People fear that A.I. could take over art, but there is no wiring or piece of tin that could do this.
My favorite song ¨Red and Gold¨ (feat. King Ghidra) alone washes whatever futile dogwater of a soundcloud rapper that walks this day. The Skits somehow elevate this album (ex. ¨Back in the Days¨), adding so much seasoning to the main course while creating a nice story, culminating in the creation of Doom. This album is so good, songs such as ¨Rhymes like Dimes¨ and ¨Gas Drawls¨ solidify this as a must listen.
Heaven Or Las Vegas(1990)/Milk and Kisses(1996)- Cocteau Twins
I could not choose a single album, so it was a tie between the two. But even as such, I’m not even sure about this. Cocteau Twins have so many good albums it’s actually hard to choose. Moon and Melodies, Blue Bell Knoll, and Four Calendar Cafe could easily be up here as well (So, consider it a 5 way tie). Heaven Or Las Vegas is definitely the better overall album, but there’s something about Milk and Kisses that I just love. The world would not be the same without Cocteau Twins; I would not be able to live without dream pop. Beach House is my reason for living.
Unknown Pleasures(1979)- Joy Division
It’s just a really good album. ¨Shadowplay¨ and ¨New Dawn Fades¨ are really good songs. This is just a solid album. I can’t really explain it well, so you just have to listen to it. It’s just good.
Let’s Get it On(1973)- Marvin Gaye
Now, this is a classic. If you don’t know who Marvin Gaye is, then you need to give up on music. Listening to this while cooking is the best. Imagine, you’re cooking some steak and potatoes all while listening to a “distant lover.” (I’m really in my domain when cooking—my own element). You have to like this album because it’s almost a law at this point. It’s so good that I don’t think you understand. Y’all hearing but you ain’t listening. Let’s Get it On by Marvin Gaye is an undisputed champion when it comes to R&B music.
Koi No Yokan(2012)- Deftones
Koi No Yokan is the best Deftones album. White Pony, Diamond Eyes, and Around the Fur are really good albums but Koi is the goat. ¨Rosemary¨, ¨Romantic Dreams¨, ¨Leathers¨, ¨Swerve City¨, and ¨Goon Squad¨ are absolutely amazing songs. Deftones made a Michelin star meal with Koi No Yokan. This album is so good, it’s actually insane. When you’re in need of help, Koi No Yokan will be there. When I got in a car accident, guess who was there? Koi No Yokan.
Trilogy(2012)- The Weeknd
My top artist for the past three years, The Weeknd, made a masterpiece back in 2012. Pookie was quite literally on something back in the day, like it was an addiction/problem.
Trilogy is actually three albums composed in one, but I don’t care; House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence are all masterpieces. The world didn’t end in 2012 like Mayan Calendar said because the Toronto singer Abel Tesfaye dropped these three heaters. Out of all of these albums, you gotta listen to Trilogy.
There are more albums I like, such as Make it Big by Wham!, To Pimp A Butterfly by Kung Fu Kenny Lamar, or Frank Sinatra’s or Billie Holiday’s Greatest Hits. But these were my top 10, I guess. Listen to these if you haven’t. Go listen to music; it’s good for you.
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