Everyone's music collection should include....

[Breetai]

Phantom of the Opera opens december 22nd!

Lets all go watch it and buy the soundtrack

I've already seen it and bought my mother the soundtrack.

 

[theFijian]

By saying "universal release" (which I made up), I mean to say that, since there is no language in the vocals (it's gibberish, just poetic gibberish), as well as the lack of liner notes, ( ) would appeal to all people of all nations.

I'm not sure I follow your reasoning. A made up language means that it will appeal to people worldwide? Most contemporary pop/rock music is sung in English and this hasn't stopped english speaking bands making it big in non-english-speaking countries.

And it would be the only record in anybody's release, seeing as it goes from almost-classical sounding minimalism to crescendoing, soaring climaxes, appealing to listeners of multiple genres.

But their aint no postpunk-esque choppy stop/start dynamics in it, or blistering guitar solos, or freestyling. I don't think Sigur Ros really cross that many genre boundaries.

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike Sigur Ros, I have their first album, I just think you're over stating their case a bit. What I imagined the OP to be looking for are suggestions for the definitive albums of different genres. In the case of Sigur Ros, I just think that bands like Mogwai and the Blue Nile got there first.

 

[jaimegerise]

I've already seen it and bought my mother the soundtrack.

How dare you!!!

 

[CharlotteChurchFan]

I already have it lol

 

[HotRhymez]

The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem

 

[blackwasp]

^While I wouldn't call it "perfect," Astral Weeks is amazing. Definitely something everyone should own.

I bought Astral Weeks yesterday, and need to give it a couple more listens before I can give my take on it.

Another must have album is Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens...more folky and less poppy than his other releases, IMO.

 

[wgjones3]

I'm gonna throw out some wierd suggestions (most are probably not popular but I couldn't imagine my CD collection without them):

The Coors - Forgiven Not Forgotten / Talk on Corners
AC/DC - Live
Gustov Mahler - Symphony No. 1
Vivaldi - Four Seasons
Days of the New - Yellow
Metallica - S&M
Deleriou5? - The Cutting Edge
D.C. Talk - Jesus Freak
Prime STH - Underneath the Surface
Elvis's - Greatest Hits
Beach Boys - Greatest Hits
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Pronounced Lynyrd Skynyrd
Chely Wright - Right in the Middle of It / Let Me In
Toby Keith - Greatest Hits Pt. 2

I would go on but I think at this point I've bypassed the "essentials"

 

[blackwasp]

Days of the New - Yellow

Good album...but if I were to suggest a DOTN cd, I would go with Green.

 

[Leimeng]

~ I am glad you children are keeping some of the old classics alive!
~ I shall add a few for your list though.
* Phil Keaggy (one of the 5 best guitarist in history)
* Hank Williams Sr. (Not his son the Jr), truely classic C& W depression
* Milnton Nascimento
* Gal Gosta
* Carapicho
* The Gypsy Kings
* St Seine
* Kitaro
* Frank Zappa (If you can get over the sick lyrics the guy was a musical genious)
* The Resurrection Band (Good Christian ROCK & ROLL, not that over produced syntho-pop stuff that everyone likes.)
* You should also check out some of the old blues guys. People like Son Johnson et al. It is the root of soo much modern music.

~ Continue to discuss amongst yourselves...

Peace,

Leimeng

Flatulo Ergo Sum ~~~

Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off now.

 

[cygnusx1]

I'm pretty darn sure that Dark Side of the Moon is a staple for most people's collections.

Here's some homework for you:
Listen to Van Halen I, then listen to VH 1984 and 5150 and tell me that VH1 doesn't absolutely destroy anything else that's VH has ever...and I mean eeever done. Women and Children First is better than 1984 IMO as well.

5150 isn't Van Halen! There's no DRL!!!! It's Van Hagar. Heresy!!!!!

Hi Breetai
this is the first time I have read somone who agrees with me about Van Halen ..... Long live ' Diamond Dave ' .............

 

[stonetoflesh]

And it would be the only record in anybody's release, seeing as it goes from almost-classical sounding minimalism to crescendoing, soaring climaxes, appealing to listeners of multiple genres.

As much as I want to agree with you on SR's appeal to listeners of multiple genres, I can't. I love the ethereal, enchanting and hypnotic qualities of SR's music; most of the people I've tried to turn on to SR though have either been bored or otherwise disengaged from the music, much to my surprise. Ah well, can't win them all...

EDIT to add: Since we're on the subject of "what to include in your music collection", I would definitely have to second ( )...

 

[skilltroks]

Bonnie Raitt-Silver Lining
or
Alison Krauss and Union Station - Best of..

 

[rhssm]

The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem

Eminem is mentally ill. It's sad to me that through his use of personal "music therapy" fulfillment (he needs to be admitted to a psychiatric unit) to keep himself from ending up in prison or in an insane asylum (I don't know what he'd do with himself if he didn't have the whole world to scream and curse at at his fingertips as a release) he's compromising the best interests of young, impressionable children and teenagers....and possibly some adults who are already going over the deep end, by talking about such things as raping his mother, killing his wife...etc...I don't know what else he talks about - I didn't stick around to find out. One sicko influencing others to be sick too - because, though it's not spoken, he's opening up the idea that that's what "cool" now. That's sick. Making tons of money at the expense of others' well-being....:o ...I've never seen anyone do it as well as he does, this openly - it's so wrong. It's strange how he freaks out if someone says anything about him...but of course, it's a completely different matter for him to talk violently or disrespectfully about anyone himself. He's got a personality disorder at the least. Sorry, I had to let that out...now I'm off my soap box.

One group I find to be really talented, having a very eclectic sound, is The Juliana Theory. The cd of their's I have is Emotion Is Dead. This cd's great because it almost sounds like you're listening to a mixed cd. Their music consists of emo, punk, rock, soft rock, and techno instrumental sounds - so you don't feel stuck in a rut, the way you do with some groups who sound the same, one song after another. They have their own unique sound. And it's great that they don't use filthy language too - it shows intellegence to be able to make a point without slipping in curse words between every four words....

 

[Bargainfluger]

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here.
The Wall and Dark Side... are amazing albums, but WYWH is the best.

 

[Lutherrunner]

Eminem is mentally ill.

Please don't insult the mentally ill....he is just your typical juvenille delinquint street thug cashing in on impressionable youth..........

 

[rhssm]

Please don't insult the mentally ill....he is just your typical juvenille delinquint street thug cashing in on impressionable youth..........

Yes, a juvenile delinquent he is, but have you heard his lyrics? They're very disturbing. Is there a rule against juvenile delinquents having mental problems? Actually it appears that it would often go hand in hand. Insulting the mentally ill would be the last thing I'd want to do, especially since my major is music therapy and I'm very interested in helping those with mental illness. Just because you're mentally ill doesn't mean you're going to definitely be hateful towards others or act like Eminem (thank goodness), but in some scenarios illness causes these types of things to fester. It takes a mentally disturbed person to create and then say these things over and over again without flinching. He obviously has some kind of psychological problems to even think up these thoughts. All I know is that...somethin' ain't right up there . Just my oppinion. (Sorry - didn't mean to stray from the topic of albums so much )

 

[Lutherrunner]

Yes, a juvenile delinquent he is, but have you heard his lyrics? They're very disturbing. Is there a rule against juvenile delinquents having mental problems? Actually it appears that it would often go hand in hand. Insulting the mentally ill would be the last thing I'd want to do, especially since my major is music therapy and I'm very interested in helping those with mental illness. Just because you're mentally ill doesn't mean you're going to definitely be hateful towards others or act like Eminem (thank goodness), but in some scenarios illness causes these types of things to fester. It takes a mentally disturbed person to create and then say these things over and over again without flinching. He obviously has some kind of psychological problems to even think up these thoughts. All I know is that...somethin' ain't right up there . Just my oppinion. (Sorry - didn't mean to stray from the topic of albums so much )

I wuz just kinda jokin!....no, I don't listen to the boy myself......I just know that shock sells.......he could be just a rich sane creep who isn't concerned with what his words do to young minds......and since he's from Detroit, you can only imagine where he got all those ideas!......but I know what you're sayin.......

And to keep this on topic.......I think everybody ought to have some Willie Nelson in their collection.....

 

[Alexis OCA]

Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic and Black Sabbath's Sabotage

 

[rhssm]

Lutherrunner,
Sorry, I wasn't trying to attack you or anything, just explaining why I think what I think. I guess I can get a little carried away when I'm passionate about something...to put it lightly.......

James Taylor's The Best of James Taylor is a great album if you like the folky sound. There's a little bit of blues too - Steamroller - my favorite song on the cd. He's an excellent songwriter.

 

[ChrisWins]

the band has been mentioned twice already, i think, but let me get specific -

considered the best studio album by the Grateful Dead - American Beauty.

​

Another from the sixties Summer of Love era that would be required in any collection of 500 top albums: Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow.

And one more for the record, no pun intended: Janis Joplin - Pearl.