Best of the best

If I had to pack my bags to go to a deserted island, the following albums would be essential cargo. These influential albums shaped who I am and can serve as a basis of what my musical background and preferences are.

There is very little musical style I shy away from and when I filter this list the results reflect that.

This list changes and grows from time to time but it’s these gems that I would want to spend the rest of my days with.

Most are obvious, but there may be a few surprises that are worth checking out for the 1st time or revisiting again.

Aphex Twin ‎– Selected Ambient Works Vol II
Genre: Electronic
Style: Experimental, Ambient
Year: 1994
Autechre ‎– Tri Repetae
Genre: Electronic
Style: Abstract, IDM, Ambient
Year: 1995

 

Astor Piazolla – Tango: Zero Hour
Genre: Jazz, Latin
Style: Contemporary Jazz, Tango
Year: 1986

 

Björk ‎– Vespertine
Genre: Electronic
Style: Abstract, Experimental, Ambient
Year: 2001

 

Burial ‎– Untrue
Genre: Electronic
Style: Abstract, UK Garage, Dubstep, Ambient, Bass Music
Year: 2007
Coil ‎– Love’s Secret Domain
Genre: Electronic
Style: Industrial, Electro, Experimental
Year: 1991

 

Daughters ‎– You Won’t Get What You Want
Genre: Rock
Style: Noise, Post-Hardcore, Industrial
Year: 2018
Einstürzende Neubauten ‎– Tabula Rasa
Genre: Electronic
Style: Industrial, Experimental
Year: 1992

 

Elliott Smith ‎– Either / Or
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock
Year: 1997

 

Faith No More ‎– Angel Dust
Genre: Rock Style: Alternative Rock
Year: 1992
Frightened Rabbit ‎– The Midnight Organ Fight
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock
Released: 27 Oct 2014
Fugazi ‎– Steady Diet Of Nothing
Genre: Rock
Style: Hardcore, Punk, Indie Rock, Post-Hardcore
Year: 1991

 

Godspeed You Black Emperor! ‎– Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven
Genre: Rock
Style: Post Rock, Experimental
Year: 2000
Guided By Voices ‎– Mag Earwhig!
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock, Alternative Rock
Year: 1997
Helmet ‎– Meantime
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Hardcore
Year: 1992

 

Iron Maiden ‎– The Number Of The Beast
Genre: Rock
Style: Heavy Metal
Year: 1982
Joan Of Arc ‎– Live In Chicago, 1999
Genre: Rock
Style: Post Rock, Indie Rock
Year: 1999

 

John Coltrane ‎– A Love Supreme
Genre: Jazz
Style: Free Jazz, Hard Bop, Modal
Year: 1965

 

Joy Division ‎– Unknown Pleasures
Style: Rock
Released: 1979

 

Led Zeppelin ‎– Led Zeppelin IV
Style: Rock
Released: 1971

 

Loop ‎– A Gilded Eternity
Genre: Rock
Style: Shoegaze, Noise, Acid Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Year: 1990

 

Lush ‎– Split
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock
Released: 13 Jun 1994

 

Massive Attack ‎– Mezzanine
Genre: Electronic
Style: Leftfield, Trip Hop, Downtempo
Year: 1998

 

Mazarin ‎– Watch It Happen
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock
Year: 1999

 

Megadeth ‎– Rust In Peace
Genre: Rock
Style: Thrash, Speed Metal, Heavy Metal
Year: 1990

 

Neutral Milk Hotel ‎– In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Lo-Fi, Indie Rock
Year: 1998
New Order ‎– Power, Corruption & Lies
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop
Year: 1983

 

Peter Gabriel ‎– Passion
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Folk, World, & Country, Stage & Screen
Style: Soundtrack, Tribal, Ambient
Year: 1989
Pixies ‎– Doolittle
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock
Year: 1989

 

R.E.M. ‎– Up
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Downtempo
Year: 1998

 

Radiohead ‎– OK Computer
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Alternative Rock
Year: 1997

 

Rainer Maria ‎– Long Knives Drawn
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Emo, Indie Rock
Year: 2003

 

The Raveonettes ‎– Pe’ahi
Genre: Rock
Style: Surf, Noise, Indie Rock
Year: 2014

 

Sigur Rós ‎– Ágætis Byrjun
Genre: Rock
Style: Ethereal, Post Rock
Year: 1999

 

Skinny Puppy ‎– Too Dark Park
Genre: Electronic
Style: Industrial, Experimental
Year: 1990

 

Smashing Pumpkins* ‎– Siamese Dream
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock
Year: 1993

 

Sonic Youth ‎– Daydream Nation
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock
Year: 18 Oct 1988

 

Soundgarden ‎– Badmotorfinger
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Hard Rock, Grunge
Year: 1991

 

The Beatles ‎– Abbey Road
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock
Year: 1969

 

The National ‎– Alligator
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock
Year: 2005

 

The Posies ‎– Frosting On The Beater
Genre: Rock
Style: Power Pop
Year: 1993
The Prodigy ‎– Music For The Jilted Generation
Genre: Electronic
Style: Breakbeat, Techno, Big Beat
Year: 1994
Thelonious Monk Septet ‎– Monk’s Music
Genre: Jazz
Style: Bop, Hard Bop
Year: 1957

 

Tool ‎– Undertow
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Prog Rock
Year: 1993

 

Underworld ‎– Second Toughest In The Infants
Released: 1996
Genre: Electronic
Style: Leftfield, Techno, Deep House, Ambient, Breakbeat, Downtempo
Wolf Parade ‎– Apologies To The Queen Mary
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock
Year: 2005
The Wrens ‎– The Meadowlands
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock
Year: 2003

 

Yeah Yeah Yeahs ‎– Fever To Tell
Genre: Rock
Style: Indie Rock
Year: 2003