albums that I would recommend. to qualify, at least 75% of the album track list must be excellent by my standards.
what are my standards? well: i like the way they sound; i like the way they make me feel; they featured in the background of formative experiences; they make me remember particular moments in my life; they have phenomenal lyrics/music/vocals; they’re tied to specific people, locations or events; i’ve obsessively listened to them for extended periods of time; they’re just really cool; i really, really like the way they sound.
ordered alphabetically by artist name (except for when it starts with ‘the’, ‘of’ etc; e.g. The Heavy would be under H, not T). in case of soundtracks from full-length film or TV, then ordered by title. hover over the photo to get artist name, album title, year, main genre(s), one or two of my favourite tracks, and a short description. page still under construction due to the fact that i have over 10,000 songs in my personal musical collection and this is gonna take me a while. [last update: aug 2022; album count: 129]
A
Adele / 21 (2011) / Pop, Soul / 'Rumour Has It' / A wave of soft sadness.
Against the Current / In Our Bones (2016) / Pop Rock / 'Wasteland' / Really vibrant rock.
Andreea Bǎlan / Așa Sunt Eu! (2004) / Pop Rock / 'Aparențe' & 'Invidia' / My Romanian angsty punk girl years.
Ariana Grande / Thank U, Next (2019) / R&B, Pop / 'Ghostin' / Polished pop with a lot of playfulness.
Ashnikko / Hi, It's Me (2019) / Hip Hop, Pop / 'Special' / An over-the-top EP dripping with hyper confidence.
Ashnikko / Demidevil (2021) / Hip Hop, Pop / 'Daisy' & 'Cry'/ Cutting and forceful, this debut mixtape surpasses all her previous EPs.
B
Backstreet Boys / Backstreet's Back (1997) / Soft Rock / 'Everybody' / You weren't cool if you didn't have this on cassette.
Band of Skulls / Himalayan (2014) / Rock, Indie / 'I Feel Like Ten Men, Nine Dead And One Dying' / A loud, explosive ride.
The Baseballs / Strike (2009) / Rockabilly / 'Crazy in Love' / Excellent rockabilly covers of pop songs.
Beauty And The Beast (1991) / Stage & Screen / 'Transformation' / This one has VHS memories.
Beauty And The Beast / Original Broadway Cast (1994) / Stage & Screen / 'Belle (Reprise) & 'If I Can't Love Her' / More drama!
Beyonce / Lemonade (2016) / R&B, Soul / 'Don't Hurt Yourself' / A game-changer in very possible way + an excellent visual album.
Binbir Gece [1001 nights] (2010) / Stage & Screen / 'Siyah Gece' / I find the soundtrack to this mid-2000s Turkish TV series absolutely beautiful.
Bishop Briggs – Champion (2019) / Alternative, Indie Pop / 'Champion' & 'Lonely' / Powerful rage.
Brahms / Neeme Järvi, London Symphony Orchestra / Complete Hungarian Dances (2003) / Classical / 'Dance no. 2' / Masterful.
Bruno Mars / XXIVK Magic (2016) / R&B, Funk / 'Perm' / A good funk of a time.
C
Capital Cities / In A Tidal Wave of Mystery (2013) / Indie Rock, Synth Pop / 'Safe and Sound' / Musical, triumphant joy.
Childish Gambino / Awaken, My Love! (2017) / R&B, Soul / 'Me And Your Mama' / Almost esotheric vibes.
Clare Maguire – Light After Dark (2011) / Pop Rock / 'Last dance' & 'Ain't Nobody' / A phenomenal, powerful voice.
D
Daft Punk / Random Access Memories (2013) / Electronic, Funk / 'Within' / Listened to this on vinyl while laying on wooden floors.
Dorian Electra / Flamboyant (2019) / Synth Pop / 'Flamboyant' / A post-modern queer awakening.
Dua Lipa / Future Nostalgia [Moonlight] (2021) / Dance, Pop / 'Physical' / A modern disco revival.
E
Ed Sheeran – No.6 Collaborations Project (2019) / Hip Hop, Pop / 'Cross Me' & 'Blow' / His best work is truly in collabs and feats.
Revamp: Reimagining The Songs Of Elton John & Bernie Taupin (2018) / Pop Rock / 'Your Song' [Lady Gaga] / Amazing!
Emotional Oranges / The Juice Vol. I (2019) / R&B / 'Motion' / The smoothest vibes there are.
Emotional Oranges / The Juice Vol. II (2019) / R&B / 'Iconic' / Even smoother vibes!
Evanescence / Fallen (2003) / Rock, Nu Metal / 'Everybody's fool' / Playing this casette tape on my Walkman when visiting my grandma.
F
Fall Out Boy / Save Rock And Roll (2013) / Rock, Punk / 'Where Did The Party Go' / Great lyrics, superbly chaotic visual album.
Fergie / Double Dutchess (2017) / Hip Hop, Pop / 'Tension' & 'Love Is Pain' / Great beats with plenty of attitude.
Fiona Apple / Tidal (1996) / Soft Rock / 'Carrion' / A hard classic.
Fiona Apple / The Idler Wheel... (2012) / Indie / 'Hot Knife' / More experimental - more striking.
Fiona Apple / Fetch the Bolt Cutters (2020) / Art Rock / 'Shameika' & 'Heavy Balloon' / How do you even describe this? You can't - just fucking listen.
Flobots / Fight with Tools (2007) / Hip Hop, Rock / 'Handlebars' / Melodic revolutionary poetry.
Forbidden / Cast Recording (2018) / Hip Hop, Pop Rock / 'Play' & 'Painting in the Rain' / A great story in this visual album.
G
Gang of Youths / Go Farther In Lightness (2017) / Rock, Punk / 'Achilles Come Down' / Expounding on the truths of misery and love.
Gang of Youths / angel in realtime. (2022) / Alt Rock / 'the angel of 8th ave.' & 'returner' & 'brothers' / A lyrical reflection on grief and loss.
Gorillaz / Humanz (2017) / Electronic, Hip Hop / 'Busted and Blue' / A fun experiment with some excellent guest artists.
H
Hadestown / Original Broadway Cast (2019) / Stage & Screen / 'Wait for Me (Reprise)' / A retelling of a tragedy.
half•alive / 3 (2017) / Electronic, Indie Pop / 'aawake at night' / An EP of 3 strongs, and all impeccable.
half•alive / Now, Not Yet (2019) / Electronic, Indie Pop / 'RUNWAY' & 'creature' & 'still feel.' / A very strong debut album!
half•alive / In Florescence (2020) / Orchestral, Indie Pop / 'creature' / Orchestral versions of previous singles - ethereal!
Hairspray - Cast Recording (2007) / Stage & Screen / '(You're) Timeless To Me' / Bouncing all over the stage!
Halsey / If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power (2021) / Alternative, Indie / ' Ya’aburnee' / Haunting music that rages.
Hamilton / Original Broadway Cast (2016) / Stage & Screen / 'Non-Stop' / A work of power.
Harry Styles / Fine Line (2019) / Brit Pop, Soft Rock / 'Adore You' / Pure joyful bouncy pop.
Hedwig And The Angry Inch / Cast Recording (2001) / Stage & Screen / 'Wicked Little Town (Gnosis Version)' / The journey.
Heathers / World Premiere Cast (2014) / Stage & Screen / 'Dead Girl Walking' / A brutally brilliant musical.
Heathers / West End Cast (2019) / Stage & Screen / 'I Say No' / Maybe just a little bit more brilliant.
The Heavy / The House That Dirt Built (2009) / Rock, Reggae, Funk / 'Stuck' / A really fun, loud time!
Hey Violet / From The Outside (2017) / Pop Rock / 'Like Lovers Do' / Fun sound with clever concepts.
Holograf / Holografica (2000) / Pop Rock / 'Să Nu-mi Iei Niciodată Dragostea' / Early aughts Romanian soft rock.
Hozier / Hozier (2015) / Indie Rock / 'Take Me To Church' & 'Angel Of Small Death & The Codeine Scene' / Poetics set to music.
Hozier / Wasteland, Baby! (2019) / Indie Rock / 'Dinner & Diatribes' & 'Shrike' / Shorter, but with sharper focus.
I
IDKHow / 1981 EP (2018) / Indie Pop, Alt Rock / 'Choke' / A great mix of genres and sound, creating something truly unique.
IDKHow / Razzmatazz (2020) / Indie Pop, Alt Rock / 'Nobody Likes The Opening Band' & 'Razzmatazz' / Fun & weird!
Indila / Mini World (2014) / Pop / 'Dernière Danse' / A beautiful French album.
Inception (2010) / Stage & Screen / 'Dream Is Collapsing' & 'Time' / Another great Zimmer.
Ivy Levan / Introducing The Dame (2015) / Pop Rock, Soul / 'Hot Damn' / A sassy EP from a dame with an impressive set of pipes.
Ivy Levan / No Good (2015) / Pop Rock, Synth Pop / 'Killing You' & 'Biscuit' / A phoenomenal voice with some great pop sounds.
J
Janelle Monáe / Dirty Computer (2018) / R&B, Soul, Pop / 'Make Me Feel' / Incisive commentary and a superb visual album.
Justin Timberlake / Futuresex_ Lovesounds (2006) / R&B, Pop / 'What Goes Around... Comes Around' / Probably his last great pop album.
K
Katy Perry / Teenage Dream (2010) / Synth Pop / 'Teenage Dream' / Truly the soundtrack of the 2010s.
Kelly Clarkson / Breakaway (2004) / Ballad, Soft Rock / 'Because Of You' / Full of amazing, dramatic rock ballads.
Kim Petras / Turn Off The Light (2019) / Dance, Synth Pop / 'Close Your Eyes' / The Halloween album for the ages.
L
Lady Gaga / The Fame Monster (2009) / Electronic, Pop / 'Bad Romance' / A true artpop classic.
Lady Gaga / Born This Way (2011) / Electronic, Pop / 'Marry The Night' & 'The Edge of Glory' / In every sense a masterpiece.
Lana Del Rey / Born To Die (2012) / Indie Pop / 'Off To The Races' / You know it's going to end badly, but you do it anyway; a modern noir.
Lana Del Rey / Ultraviolence (2014) / Indie Pop / 'Money Power Glory' / More somber, but just as cutting.
Lil Nas X / Montero (2021) / Hip Hop, Pop / 'Montero (Call Me By Your Name)' / Queer black artistry at its finest.
Linkin Park / Meteora (2003) / Hip Hop, Nu Metal / 'Numb' & 'Faint' / The sound of my miserable pre-teen years.
Little Mix / LM5 [Deluxe] (2018) / Pop / 'Only You' & 'Monster In Me' / A perfect girl group album.
Lizzo – Cuz I Love You [Deluxe] (2019) / R&B / 'Water Me' & 'Juice' / Excellent & catchy.
M
Mac Miller / The Divine Feminine (2016) / Hip Hop / 'Dang!' / Chill vibes, sharp lyrics.
Mad Max: Fury Road [Deluxe] (2015) / Stage & Screen / 'Brothers In Arms' [Extended] / This sound is what I assume the apocalypse is gonna feel like.
Mansionair / Pick Me Up (2015) / Electronic, Indie Rock / 'Speak Easy' / A beautiful, flowing EP.
Mansionair / Shadowboxer (2019) / Electronic, Synth Pop / 'Easier' / A great continuation of the EP.
Marianas Trench / Masterpiece Theatre (2009) / Alternative, Pop Rock / 'All To Myself' & 'Good To You' / Well-crafted & catchy.
Marianas Trench / Ever After (2011) / Alternative, Pop Rock / 'Haven't Had Enough' & 'No Place Like Home' / Catchier!
Måneskin / Il Ballo Della Vita (2018) / Pop Rock / 'Torna A Casa' & 'Morirò Da Re' / Superb Italian lyricism with funky rock sounds.
Måneskin / Teatro D'Ira - Vol.I (2021) / Glam Rock / 'Zitti E Buoni' & 'Lividi Sui Gomiti' / Really came into their own style here!
Meat Loaf / Bat Out Of Hell (1977) / Pop Rock / 'Paradise By The Dash Board Light' / It feels unearned for humans to listen to this.
Meat Loaf – Bat Out Of Hell II (1993) / Rock Opera / 'Objects In The Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are' / YES!
Miike Snow / III (2016) / Electronic, Pop / 'Heart Is Full' & 'Genghis Khan' / Excellent in all possible respects.
Moulin Rouge / Cast Recording (2017) / Stage & Screen / 'El Tango de Roxanne' / The music elevated the film.
Mumford & Sons / Babel (2012) / Folk, Bluegrass / 'Broken Crown' / A most unexpected pleasure.
Muse / Simulation Theory (2018) / Alternative Rock / 'Algorithm' & "Break It To Me" / A really tight & tense sound + loved seeing them on tour!
My Chemical Romance / The Black Parade (2006) / Alternative Rock, Emo / 'Mama' & 'Welcome To The Black Parade' / Essential emo.
My Chemical Romance / Danger Days (2010) / Alternative Rock, Punk / 'Destroya' / Vibrant punk sounds on a post-apocalyptic background.
Mystery Skulls / Forever (2014) / Electronic, Synth Pop / 'Magic' / Super fun synth electro!
N
Ne-Yo / Year Of The Gentleman (2008) / R&B / 'Part Of The List' / Another great rep of that specific 2000s sound.
New Medicine / Race You To The Bottom (2011) / Grunge, Rock / 'Laid' & 'Baby's Gone' / Head-banging energy.
Nicki Minaj / The Pinkprint (2014) / Rap, Pop / 'Anaconda' & 'I Lied' / A very satisfying vibe.
O
Of Monsters And Men / My Head Is An Animal (2011) / Indie Rock, Folk / 'Love Love Love' / Mourning what you never had.
Orville Peck / Pony (2019) / Country Rock / 'Dead of Night' / The gay goth Americana you didn't know you needed.
Orville Peck / Bronco (2022) / Country Rock / 'Let Me Drown' & 'Any Turn' / Storytelling infused with melodrama and breathtaking vocals.
P
Paula Seling – ...Fără Sfârșit (2002) / Soft Pop, Ballad / 'Timpul' & ' Nu Vreau Să Te Pierd' / My Romanian Mariah Carey.
The Phantom Of The Opera (2004) / Stage & Screen / 'All I Ask Of You' / Imperfect, flashy & catchy.
The Phantom Of The Opera At The Royal Albert Hall (2011) / Stage & Screen / 'The Point Of No Return' / All the dramatics you could ever want.
The Piano Guys / 2 (2013) / Classical / 'Rock Meets Rachmaninoff' / Modern-classical reworkings.
P!NK / The Truth About Love (2012) / Pop Rock / 'Beam Me Up' / A more complete narrative.
Pink Floyd / The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973) / Prog Rock / 'Eclipse' / Listen to the whole thing in one go when you feel like transcending.
Poppy / I Disagree (More) (2020) / Pop, Rock / 'Concrete' / Bubblegum pop turned rancid.
Praf în Ochi / P.I.O. (2004) / Emo Rock / 'Shok' & 'O Mie De Gânduri' / A solid Romanian rock sound, but sadly their only album.
R
Raleigh Ritchie / You're A Man Now, Boy (2016) / Hip Hop, R&B / 'Bloodsport' / A hauntingly complex experience.
Raleigh Ritchie / Andy (2021) / Hip Hop, Indie / 'Time in a Tree'/ A worthy, more mature successor to his 2016 album.
The Rasmus – Dead Letters (2003) / Alternative Rock / 'Guilty' & 'Still Standing' / Just great rock.
Royal Blood / Royal Blood (2014) / Hard Rock / 'Out of the Black' / Loud guitars and cool lyrics!
Royal Blood / Typhoons (2011) / Dance Rock, Hard Rock / 'Trouble's Coming' / A creative new direction, but keeping the loud guitars.
Rubinstein / Chopin (1974) / Classical Piano / 'Ballade no. 1 in G minor' / My definitive Chopin interpretation.
RuPaul / Born Naked (2014) / Electro, House / 'Born Naked' / High energy club anthems.
S
Sam Smith / In The Lonely Hour (2014) / Pop / 'Lay Me Down' / He makes sadness feel so much closer.
Seeed / Seeed (2012) / Reggae, Dancehall / 'Augenbling' / Oh those funky Germans.
Straight Outta Oz / Cast Recording (2017) / Hip Hop, Pop Rock / 'Over the Rainbow' / A modern retelling in visual album form.
Stromae / Racine Carrée (2013) / Hip Hop, House / 'Formidable' & 'Papaoutai' / A slick blend of French lyricism with tech house.
Stromae / Multitude (2022) / Electronic, Hip Hop / 'L'enfer' & 'La solassitude' / Blending various instruments and styles, this is an work of art.
Superfruit / Future Friends (2017) / Electronic, Pop / 'GUY.exe' / Slick, playful pop.
T
Todrick Hall / Femuline (2021) / Hip Hop, Pop / 'Show Off' & 'Queen' / Chockfull of modern gay anthems.
Troye Sivan / Blue Neighbourhood (2015) / Synth Pop / 'Blue' & 'Talk Me Down' / Also watch the Blue Neighbourhood Trilogy.
Troye Sivan / Bloom (2018) / Pop / 'Dance to this' / A more mature & polished sound.
Twenty One Pilots / Vessel (2013) / Hip Hop, Pop Rock / 'Car Radio' / This is where I fell in love with live performances.
U
Usher / Confessions (2004) / R&B / 'Burn' / Smooth, early aughts soul.
V
Voltaj / 424 (2002) / Synth, Soft Rock / 'Scrisoare' & 'Tu' / Synth, guitars, and soft lyrics.
Voltaj / Povestea Oricui (2004) / Trance, Pop Rock / 'Eu Cu Mine' & 'Şi Ce?' / A fuller album - with extra heartbreak.
W
Wicked / Original Broadway Cast (2003) / Stage & Screen / 'Defying Gravity' / One musical to rule them all.
Y
Yellow Days / Harmless Melodies (2017) / Indie Pop / 'A Little While' / A wonderful, chill EP.
Z
ZZ Top / Eliminator (1983) / Blues Rock / 'Sharp Dressed Man' / Just a good time.