50 of the best hi-fi albums for audiophiles

50 of the best hi-fi albums for audiophiles · Radiohead – Hail To The Thief (2003) · Miles Davis – Bitches Brew (1970) · My Bloody Valentine – ... Skiptomaincontent WhatHi-Fi?THEWORLD'S#1TECHBUYER'SGUIDE Search Subscribe RSS UKUSCanadaAustralia WhatHi-FiMagazineSubscriptionWhatHi-FiMagazine...Whysubscribe?ThebesthomeentertainmentbuyingadviceIn-depth,unbiased,expertreviewsIssuesdeliveredstraighttoyourdoorFrom£4.99View News Reviews BestBuys Deals Advice Features Awards Forum More Awards Subscribe Newsletter Sound+Image AustralianHi-Fi trendingSkyGlassBestwirelessearbudsSpotifyHiFiPS5stockBestTV WhatHi-Fi?issupportedbyitsaudience.Whenyoupurchasethroughlinksonoursite,wemayearnanaffiliatecommission.Learnmore Itwassupposedtobesoeasy.Wedidn'tevensetourselvesthetaskofpickingtheabsolute,definitivebest50albumsforaudiophiles–andinrealitythisisjustaselectionofrecordsfromacollectionofhundredsorthousands–butstillitfeltclosetodecidingwhichofyourlimbsyou'dleastmindbeingtornoffbyabear.Wedid,however,managetocompilethebelowlistof50records(andalittlefurtherlisteningforeach)wefeelspangenres,stylesofproductionandsoniccharacterratherwell.Ifnothingelse,they'llgiveyourhi-fiaworkoutand,hopefully,broadenyourmusicalhorizonsatleastalittle.Ourguidetothebesttesttrackstotrialyourhi-fisystemRadiohead–HailToTheThief(2003)Followingapairofheavilyelectronic-infusedrecordsinKidAandAmnesiac,Radioheadhereeffectivelyreturnedtobeingafive-pieceguitarbandwithoutforgoingtheexperimentationorgenreblurringthatmadetheaforementionedrecordssocomprehensivelyseminal.Plusinitialvinylpressingsplayedat45rpmforadditionalwillfulnesspoints.BuyitonAmazon:RadioheadHailToTheThiefLikethis?TryAtomsForPeaceAMOKMORE:10ofthebestOKComputercoverversionstotestyoursystemMilesDavis–BitchesBrew(1970)MilesDavismadehisopinionsonthetermfusionasadescriptorforthisperiodofhismusicstinginglyclear.Nonetheless,BitchesBrewblendedmodaljazzwith,essentially,arockrhythmsectiontorebirththefomer'spositionasthewildlyinfluentialgenreithadalwaysbeen.BuyitonAmazon:MilesDavisBitchesBrewLikethis?TrySunRaAFiresideChatWithLuciferMyBloodyValentine–Loveless(1991)Arguablytheposteralbumforshoegaze,Lovelessisamasterpiececombiningelephantineriffswithdream-pophaze,awashwithreverbandoverdrivenguitars-andcomplimentedbyanequallyiconicsleeveofcherry-droppsychedelia.BuyitonAmazon:MyBloodyValentineLovelessLikethis?TryTheJesus&MaryChainPsychocandyPinkFloyd–WishYouWereHere(1975)Canyoureallycallyourselfanaudiophileifyoudon'townacopyofWishYouWereHere?Well,yes,ofcourseyoucan,butmostaudiophilesownoneregardless.BuyitonAmazon:PinkFloydWishYouWereHereLikethis?TryTimBuckleyStarsailorTheBeatles–AbbeyRoad(1969)Thereareofcoursemoreexperimentaland,somemightsay,moreinterestingBeatlesalbumsthanthis.Butevenifwedisregardanysonicvalueintermsofproduction,AbbeyRoadinparticularis(ifnothingelse)proofthat'straightforward'popmusiccanandshouldbeart.BuyitonAmazon:TheBeatlesAbbeyRoadLikethis?TryBigStar#1RecordDaftPunk–RandomAccessMemories(2013)Ifyou'regoingtogetNileRogersin,thenacompressedandradio-friendlyrecordingisnevergoingtocutit.Recordedlargelyusingliveinstruments,RandomAccessMemoriesisoneofthefewchart-toppingdancealbumsthatfacilitates,infactdemands,deeperlistening.BuyitonAmazon:DaftPunkRandomAccessMemoriesLikethis?TryTameImpalaCurrentsR.E.M.–AutomaticForThePeople(1992)AlongsidethepreceedingOutOfTime,AutomaticForThePeopleisoneofthetwoR.E.M.recordswith,arguably,themostmainstreampopsensibilities.Whereotherscanfalterincombininghitswithpoignancy,however,Berry,Stipe,BuckandMillsherecreatedatimelesslybeautifulandpensiverecord.BuyitonAmazon:R.E.M.AutomaticForThePeopleLikethis?TryIdlewildWarnings/PromisesTheFlamingLips–TheSoftBulletin(1999)TheirbeingsoprolifichasmadeTheFlamingLips'discographydifficulttonavigateforthosewhoareonlynowbeingintroduced,butTheSoftBulletinisasonicphotographofthebandattheirbest:anexpansiveandeclecticpalletofmusicalandlyricalbrilliance.BuyitonAmazon:TheFlamingLipsTheSoftBulletinLikethis?TryNeutralMilkHotelInTheAeroplaneOverTheSeaStevieWonder–Innervisions(1973)Aninnovativemeltingpotoffunk,gospelandsoul,Innervisionsisarecordwhoseproductiontoesthelinemarvellouslybetweenprecisionandabandonwithballerina-likepoise.BuyitonAmazon:StevieWonderInnervisionsLikethis?TryCurtisMayfieldSuperflyFrankSinatra–InTheWeeSmallHours(1955)SosmoothandsmokyisInTheWeeSmallHours,itpaintssonicallythesamepictureofstreetlightsandcigarettesadorningthesleeve.BuyitonAmazon:FrankSinatraInTheWeeSmallHoursLikethis?TryPeggyLeeBlackCoffeeMarvinGaye–What'sGoingOn(1971)DoesGaye'ssoulfulsatinvocal,soaringasitdoesaboveWhat'sGoingOn'sspaciousjazz-andblues-drenchedarrangements,beliesomewhatthisremarkablerecord'sthemesofsocialinjustice?Ordoesitelevatethosemessagesbeyondtherealmsofthearchetypalpoliticalconceptrecord?BuyitonAmazon:MarvinGayeWhat'sGoingOnLikethis?TryBobbyWomackTheBravestManInTheUniverseGustavHolst–ThePlanetsWecouldimagineHolstleavingusanastyFacebookcommentwhenhesawThePlanetsonthislist,givenhowmuchhedespiseditspopularity.OurapologiesGustav,butfewclassicalsuitescoversobroadaspectrumofmoodandtonalityasthis.SomehavetheorisedThePlanetsalsoservesasanallegoryforthetumultoflifeitself.BuyitonAmazon:HolstThePlanets(ZubinMehta&LosAngelesPhilharmonic)Likethis?TryShostakovichPianoConcertoNo1(MarthaArgerich)EricBibb–SpiritandTheBlues(1994)Thoughhisfathertookhimoutofschoolearly,EricBibbcouldhardlyhavehadabettereducationintermsofmusic,rubbingshoulderswiththelikesofBobDylanandTajMahal.SpiritandTheBluesisavirtuosocatalogueofBibb'ssignatureslideandfingerpickingplaying,andblues-andgospel-steepedvocal.BuyitonAmazon:EricBibbSpiritandTheBluesLikethis?TryEricClaptonMeandMr.JohnsonSigurRós–Takk...(2005)Inventingalanguageisusuallytheterrainofsix-year-oldgirlsatasleepoverbut,thefactis,Jónsi'swritingofthelyricsformanySigurRóssongsin"Hopelandic"stilldoesn'tdetractfromthebeautyorgrandeuroftheband'smusic.Whichistestamenttohowtrulybrilliantitis.BuyitonAmazon:SigurRósTakk...Likethis?TrymúmFinallyWeAreNoOneTheCongos–HeartOfTheCongos(1977)Oneofthefinestrootsreggaealbumsofalltime,andundoubtedlyLee'Scratch'Perry'sfinesthour-and-26-minutes.IfevertherewereaplacetobeginwithJamaicanmusic,thisisit.BuyitonAmazon:TheCongosHeartOfTheCongosLikethis?TryBurningSpearSocialLivingLCDSoundsystem–ThisIsHappening(2010)TherearethosewhobelieveJamesMurphyworkedoutthealgorithmforchart-botheringindiemusicandcreatedLCDSoundsysteminitsimage-butsomethingsocalculatedwouldnotexplainthedigital-with-analoguegloryandwitoftheirthreealbums.Here'stohopingMurphy'sforthcomingreturnmatchesuptothis,thelastLCDstudioalbum.BuyitonAmazon:LCDSoundsystemThisIsHappeningLikethis?TryHotChipInOurHeadsLewis–L'Amour(1983)WhenthisprivatepresswaspickedupbyacollectorataCanadianfleamarketandsubsequentlysharedonline,themysteryofthemanknownasLewiscaughttheimaginationsofrecordloversasmuchasthemusicitself.RumourscirculatedhewasaconartistwhofledLosAngelesafternotpayingforL'Amour'sphotoshoot,orthathewasactuallyanextra-terrestrial.Lewisremainsamystery,butthemeritsofhisvelveteencrooncertainlydonot.BuyitonAmazon:LewisL'AmourLikethis?TryAzureRayAzureRayNilsFrahm–Spaces(2013)"Iseethisreleasemoreasafieldrecordingprojectthanaliverecord,"FrahmwritesinhissleevenotesforSpaces.Audiophile-wooingexperimentationisn'trestrictedtothemusiconthisambient-cum-modern-classicalalbum,either:"Someconcertswererecordedonoldportablereel-to-reelrecorders,someonsimplecassettetapedecks.Somewereroughlyrecordedonthehouseengineers'mixingdesks,andothersweremoreadvancedmulti-trackrecordings."Lethimin,he'soneofus.BuyitonAmazon:NilsFrahmSpacesLikethis?TryLudovicoEinaudiElementsLubomyrMelnyk–Rivers&Streams(2015)OurconsistentlaudingofthisUkraniancontinuous-musicpioneerisreallyratherfittingwhenyouthinkaboutit.It'susuallybestnottothinkwhenlisteningtoLubomyrMelnyk,however,rathermeditadeandbaskinhisambientglory.BuyitonAmazon:LubomyrMelnykRivers&StreamsLikethis?TryJordanDeLaSierraGymnosphere:SongOfTheRoseShyeBenTzur,JonnyGreenwood&TheRajasthanExpress–Junun(2015)PaulThomasAndersondocumentedtherecordingofthiscollaborationinhisfilmofthesamename,soyoucanactuallyfollowthealbumbeingcreated.Andwhatagroupitiscollaborating:IsraeliguitaristShyeBenTzur,Radioheadcreator-in-chiefJonnyGreenwoodandIndianensembleRajasthanExpressrecordedJununinthelatter'shomestate,withNigelGodrich'slight-fingeredproductionlettingthesoundsofnestingbirdsandsurroundingstreetspermeateafusionofmusicalculturethatperhapsoughtn'tworkbutabsolutelydoes.BuyitonAmazon:ShyeBenTzur,JonnyGreenwood&TheRajasthanExpressJununLikethis?TryShyeBenTzurHeeyamBoardsOfCanada–Tomorrow'sHarvest(2013)BoardsOfCanada'sblendoffieldrecordingswithoftenambientsynthlineshasinspiredahoardofsoftwareplug-indeveloperswho'dseektoemulatetheirimmediatelyrecognisablesignaturesound.PerhapsTomorrow'sHarvestisn'talwaysthemostaccessibleofrecords,butit'sanintriguingandaffectinglisten.BuyitonAmazon:BoardsOfCanadaTomorrow'sHarvestLikethis?TryFourTetThereIsLoveInYouKiasmos–Kiasmos(2014)WhileÓlafurArnalds'pianocompositionsareoftenmoreminimalistthanthoseoflabel-mateNilsFrahm,alongsideJanusRasmusseninKiasmoshecreatedaclassical-inspiredhouserecordthatisatonceadepartureandunmistakablyhis.Thoughlivesetsarelargelycomprisedofknob-twiddling,therecordwasproducedwithliveinstrumentsthatgiveKiasmositsownsonicbentontheever-expandinghousemusiclandscape.BuyitonAmazon:KiasmosKiasmosLikethis?TryRivalConsolesSonneNinaSimone–Baltimore(1978)Anotherrecordtheartistwouldpossiblybalkatusincluding,therecordingofBaltimorewasnotaparticularlyenjoyabletimeforNinaSimone,whoseemstohavedisagreedwithprettymucheverythingjazzproducerCreedTaylordecidedtodo.Astonishingly,sheendeduprecordinghervocalsforthealbuminasinglehour-longsession.BuyitonAmazon:NinaSimoneBaltimoreLikethis?TryEttaJonesMyMother'sEyesDr.Dre–2001(1999)"Andwhenyouralbumsaleswasn'tdoingtoogood/Who'sthedoctortheytoldyoutogosee?"Effectively,2001isasonicargumentastowhyDr.Dreiswidelyconsideredoneoftheworld'sfinestcomposersofhip-hopbeats.BuyitonAmazon:Dr.Dre2001Likethis?TryNotoriousB.I.G.ReadyToDieBrianEno–Ambient1:MusicForAirports(1978)BrianEno'sfascinationwithcomplexitybornofsimplicityisspotlightedmarvellouslyonAmbient1.Foritssecondtrack,forexample,Enosimplyrecordedeach'ah'soundandleftthemtoloopwithvaryingdelaystocreateacavernous,overlappingsoundscapethatinourmindsremainsoneofhisfinestambientcompositions.BuyitonAmazon:BrianEnoAmbient1:MusicForAirportsLikethis?TryMobyWaitForMe:DeluxeEditionAphexTwin–SelectedAmbientWorks85-92(1992)It'sdifficulttocomprehend,butRichardJameshasclaimedblissfulignorancetoanyoftheclassicalorelectronicartistsbywhomheappearedtohavebeeninfluencedwhilecreatingSelectedAmbientWorks.Regardless,thereisadefiniteothernesstotherecordthat,despiteitsapparentforebears,keepsitfrombeingatallderivativeinawaythattemptsustobelievethosecommentsaretrue.BuyitonAmazon:AphexTwinSelectedAmbientWorks85-92Likethis?TryBurialUntrueDarkside–Psychic(2013)WehaveWillEpsteinlargelytothankfortheexistenceofDarkside.Itwashewhorecommendedmulti-instrumentalistDaveHarringtonwhenelectronicmusicianNicolasJaarwassearchingathirdmusicianforhislivebandwhiletouringhisalbumSpaceIsOnlyNoise.Psychicisanexplorationingenreandinstrumentalarrangementthatissonicallyunparalleledbyanythingelsewe'veheard.BuyitonAmazon:DarksidePsychicLikethis?TryNicolasJaarSpaceIsOnlyNoiseBiffyClyro–InfinityLand(2004)ThisisthelastalbumbeforeBiffyClyromadetheswitchtochart-toppinganthemicrock,andSimonNeilhasadmittedtowilfullytoyingwithhisaudience.There'stheelectrointrotoalbumopenerGlitterandTrauma,designedtotricklistenersintothinkingthey'dboughtthewrongCD,achoralprecursortotherecord'smostacerbicallyraucoustrackThere'sNoSuchThingAsAJaggySnake,andthehardcoreintro/outrosandwichingwhatisinessenceapopsonginTheKidsFromKibbleandTheFistOfLight.It'dbepuregimmickeryifInfinityLandwasn'tsuchanincrediblealbum,fullofmelodicbeautymeshedwithangularguitarriffsandobscurerhythmicpatterns.BuyitonAmazon:BiffyClyroInfinityLandLikethis?TryOceansizeEveryoneIntoPositionFKATwigs–LP1(2014)Nominatedforthe2014MercuryPrize,whereitwaspippedbyYoungFathers'also-brilliantDead,LP1isameldofelectronicexperimentationandsharp-tonguedlyricismjuxtaposedwithTahliahBarnett'salmostangelicvocal.BuyitonAmazon:FKATwigsLP1Likethis?TryM.I.A.KalaNineInchNails–TheDownwardSpiral(1994)Werethereamobfamilydealinginindustrialmusic,TrentReznorwouldbeitsGodfather.ThisisprobablyNineInchNails'sbest-knownwork,thougheventhosewho'veneverheardthenamebeforenowmightrecogniseHurt,whichJohnnyCashcoveredforhis2002albumAmericanIV.BuyitonAmazon:NineInchNailsTheDownwardSpiralLikethis?TryJohnFrusciantePBXFunicularIntaglioZoneTVOnTheRadio–ReturnToCookieMountain(2006)TVOnTheRadioappearedtobeinlessexperimentalmoodontheirunexpectedlatestalbumSeeds,thefirstsincemulti-instrumentalistandco-songwriterGerardSmithdiedoflungcancerin2011,butReturnToCookieMountainistherecordthatreallygetstotheheartofband.Recurringthemesofalt-rock,gospel,hip-hopandelectronicmusicareinterspersedwithsomanyothergenreinfluencesyou'dprobablyneedyourtoesaswellasyourfingerstocountthemall.BuyitonAmazon:TVOnTheRadioReturnToCookieMountainLikethis?TryYoungFathersWhiteMenAreBlackMenTooTheMarsVolta–DelousedInTheComatorium(2003)Inmanyways,thestoryofDelousedInTheComatoriumbeginswithAtTheDrive-In'slastrecordbeforetheysplit:RelationshipofCommand."OneofmyonlyregretsoutofanythingI'veeverdoneisthewaythatrecordwasmixed,"saysOmarRodríguez-Lopez."Peoplethinkthatwasarawandenergeticrecord,butwhatthey'rehearingisnothingcomparedtowhatittrulywasbeforeitwasglossedover."HerightedthosewrongsonDeloused,producingtherecordhimself,alongsideRickRubin,andintheprocesscreatingarecordthatalmost15yearslaterstillfeelslikebeingpunchedsquarebetweentheeyes.Punchedwithsuchtechniqueandcraftsmanship,however,youcan'thelpfeelingadmirationasyoufalltothefloor.BuyitonAmazon:TheMarsVoltaDelousedInTheComatoriumLikethis?TryAtTheDrive-InRelationshipOfCommandTheWhiteStripes–Elephant(2003)WouldElephantstillbeoneofthefinestgaragerockrecordseverwrittenifitweren'tforthedirtbeneathitsfingernails?Butdon'treadlo-fihereasrecorded-in-a-teenager's-bedroom:readitasraw,inthebestpossibleway.BuyitonAmazon:TheWhiteStripesElephantLikethis?TryYeahYeahYeahsFeverToTellBlackSabbath–BlackSabbath(1970)Therearemoremodernmetalalbums,suchasSlipknot'sdebut,thatcouldeasilyhavemadethislist,butthisparticularrecordisproofthatitdoesn'ttakeeightdistortionpedalsandadoublekick-drumtocreateapetrifyinglyheavysound.Asentrenchedinpsychedeliaasitisheavymetal,wedefyanyfirst-timelistenertoBlackSabbathtoguessitisnow50yearsold.BuyitonAmazon:BlackSabbathBlackSabbathLikethis?TryKingCrimsonInTheCourtOfTheCrimsonKingToots&TheMaytals–FunkyKingston(1972)Asfaraswhacked-outreggaegoes,therearefewpurveyorsonparwithToots&TheMaytals.Thisisthegroup'sfirstrecordmadewithproducerChrisBlackwell,whotailoredtheirsoundforaninternationalaudiencewithoutsacrificingtheirroots-inspiredsignature.BuyitonAmazon:Toots&TheMaytalsFunkyKingstonLikethis?TryTheEthiopiansEngine54CharlesMingus–MingusAhUm(1959)Between1950and1960,Mingusreleasedmorethan20albums.Butit'sMingusAhUm-packedwithcompositionswrittenfororabouthismusicalheroes,suchasLesterYoungandDukeEllington,aswellaslessaffectionatefigures,suchasOrvalE.Faubus-thatisthemostconsistentlydazzling.BuyitonAmazon:CharlesMingusMingusAhUmLikethis?TryTheloniousMonkUndergroundNeilYoung–Unplugged(1993)Withsomanysuperlativeliverecordsfromwhichtochoose,andindeedsomanystudioalbumsbyNeilYoung,youmaywonderwhywechosethistorepresentboth.ListentoLikeAHurricanewithoutgettinggoosebumpsandperhapswe'llconsiderchangingit.BuyitonAmazon:NeilYoungUnpluggedLikethis?TryNirvanaUnpluggedInNewYorkCutChemist–TheAudience'sListening(2006)Cutworkedfor18monthsonthis,hisfirstsoloLP,havingleftbothrapgroupJurassic5andLatinfunkoutfitOzomalti.Thosebands,ofwhomhewasafoundingmember,holdafewcluesastotheeclecticismofhisinfluences.TheAudience'sListeningisnotmerelyacollageofregurgitatedsamplesoverscratchedhip-hopbeats-onityou'llfindsamplesdiverseasQuincyJones,BoardsOfCanada,JeffersonAirplaneandbeatnovelistWilliamBurroughs.BuyitonAmazon:CutChemistTheAudience'sListeningLikethis?TryJurassic5FeedbackMogwai– TheHawkIsHowling(2008)AlotofthematerialforTheHawkIsHowlingwaswrittenforaColombianfilmsoundtrack,thoughitwasneverused.Assuch,itliessomewherebetweentheOSTsandstudioalbumsthatmakeuptherestofMogwai'sheadycatalogue,conceptuallydiversebutneverdisjointed.Iffornootherreason,whowouldn'twanttospinarecordwithpiecestitledI'mJimMorrison,I'mDead,orScotland'sShame,orILoveYou,I'mGoingToBlowUpYourSchool.Absurdbrilliance.BuyitonAmazon:MogwaiTheHawkIsHowlingLikethis?TryGodspeedYou!BlackEmperorLiftYourSkinnyFistsLikeAntennasToHeavenGhostpoet– SheddingSkin(2015)ObaroEjimiwepickedupthe2011MercuryPrizeforPeanutButterBlues&MelancholyJam,hisdebutalbumasGhostpoet,andrecievedsimilarcriticalacclaimforhissecond,SomeSayISoISayLight.Theysetablueprintforhisalmost-performance-poetrysittingmoodilyatopstarkelectronicarrangementsthatwasallbuttornupforthisrecord.Heintroducedabackingband,effectivelymakingGhostpoetafour-piece,thatgivesSheddingSkinmorethefeelofapost-punkalbumthanhip-hoporelectronica,allowingEjimiwegreaterscopetoexplorehisundoubtedmusicalandcreativetalent.BuyitonAmazon:GhostpoetSheddingSkinLikethis?TryRootsManuvaRunComeSaveMeArcadeFire– Funeral(2004)AmongtheplethoraofastonishingfacetstoFuneralisittookonlyhalfayeartorecord.Producedandengineeredbythebandthemselves,that'shalfayeartorecordanarmyofguitars,pianos,synthesizersandorgans,xylophones,violins,cellosandhorns,harp,percussionandvocals-andthenturnitintooneofthefinestalbumsofanygenretobereleasedthissideofthemillennium.BuyitonAmazon:ArcadeFireFuneralLikethis?TryAnimalCollectiveFeelsTheBloodBrothers– Crimes(2004)TheBloodBrothers'post-hardcorenoiseisn'tforeverybody'staste,butitsintensity,andthefactthey'vesucceededwheresomanyartistsfailintraslatingthattoastudiorecording,isthekindanyaudiophileoughtbeabletoappreciate.Thisisprobablytheirmostdiverseandsoprobablyleastdivisiverecord,withbreakneckscreamtracksbrokenupbywhat(byBloodBrothersstandards)youcouldalmostlistaspopsongsorballads.Crimesisunpleasant,butviolentlycreative.BuyitonAmazon:TheBloodBrothersCrimesLikethis?TryPulledApartByHorsesPulledApartByHorsesThundercat– Drunk(2017)It'dbecriminaltopigeonholeThundercatasavirtuosobassist.DrunkisStephenBruner'sthirdsolostudioalbum,showingoffsongwritingthatrangesfromsombertocomicalandspansenoughgenrestomakehimafusionartist.Though'fusion'isinsufficienttoproperlydescribehissonicmastery.BuyitonAmazon:ThundercatDrunkLikethis?TryKamasiWashingtonTheEpicJ.S.Bach– BrandenburgConcertosThiscollectionofconcertoswrittenforChristianLudwig,MargraveofBrandenburg(thoughthere'snoevidenceheeveractuallyheardthem)reallyactsasagatewaydrugtoBaroquemusic.Bachheregavesolostoeachorchestralfamilyofinstruments,soinhi-fitermsit'saboutascomprehensiveaworkoutasyou'llfindintermsofdetailandtonality.BuyitonAmazon:BachBrandenburgConcertos(TrevorPinnock&EuropeanBrandenburgEnsemble)Likethis?TryBeatriceRanaProkofiev&TchaikovskyPianoConcertosPercySledge– ThePercySledgeWay(1967)Thetitleofthisalbumreallysaysallyouneedtoknowabouttherecord:it'sacollectionof11songsmadefamousbyothersoulandR&Bstars,doneinthatoh-soiconicPercySledgeway.It'smajesticandeffortless,infusingeachwiththeheartacheconveyedinapparentlyeverynoteheeversang.BuyitonAmazon:PercySledgeThePercySledgeWayLikethis?TryClarenceCarterThisIsClarenceCarterMbongwanaStar–FromKinshasa(2015)Hypnotic,excitingandatoncerecognisablyCongoleseyetunlikeanythingelsewe'veheardcomefromthrivingKinshasa,MbongwanaStar'sdebutalbumisreallyonlyworldmusicinthesenseitdoesn'tcomefromNorthAmericaorEurope.Likemanyofthealbumsonthislist,youcan'tbeentirelysureitcamefromthisworldatall.BuyitonAmazon:MbongwanaStarFromKinshasaLikethis?TryKononoNo1CongotronicsQueensOfTheStoneAge–SongsForTheDeaf(2002)Ifstonerrockwereavideogame,JoshHommewouldbewhoyou'dhavetodefeatinitsbosslevel.OnSongsForTheDeaf,QueensOfTheStoneAgerampeduptheintensitysomewhatwhileretainingtheireffortlesssunglasses-in-a-darkened-roomchill,writingsomeoftheheaviestandoff-beat-estriffsonanyoftheirsixalbumstodate.BuyitonAmazon:QueensOfTheStoneAgeSongsForTheDeafLikethis?TryKyussWelcomeToSkyValleyBlakroc–Blakroc(2009)BlakrocbeganwhenRoc-A-FellaRecordsco-founderDamonDashbeganlisteningtoOhiangarage-bluesrockduoTheBlackKeysandgotintouchwiththeideaofpairingthemwithrapperJimJonestomakeanalbum.StorygoesthatMosDefinterruptedasessionandendeduprecordingwiththemaswell,andover11weeksanarmyofartistsincludingLudacris,Q-TipandRZAcontributedtoatrulyuniqueraprecord.BuyitonAmazon:BlakrocBlakrocLikethis?TryTheRootsRisingDownNickCave&TheBadSeeds– TheBoatman'sCall(1997)Aswithmanyoftheotherartistsonthislist,wecouldhavepinnedthetailontheNickCaverecordtodecidewhichwe'dinclude.Inbeingentirelypiano-ledTheBoatman'sCallwasabitofadeparturefromCave&TheBadSeeds'recordstothatpoint,witharrangementsframingperfectlyitsfrankandoftensombrelyricism.BuyitonAmazon:NickCave&TheBadSeedsTheBoatman'sCallLikethis?TryTomWaitsMuleVariationsDavidBowie– Blackstar(2016)Youalmostthoughtwe'dleftBowieoffthelist,didn'tyou?Whatbetterwaytoroundoffthisgroupof50albumsthanwithBlackstar,aTonyViscontigemonwhichBowie'screativegeniusiscomplementedgorgeouslybyjazzsaxophonistDonnyMcCaslinandhisquartet.Quiteawaytogoout,inallsenses.BuyitonAmazon:DavidBowieBlackstarLikethis?TryIggyPopPostPopDepressionMORE:Musicforself-isolation:theWhatHi-Fi?lockdownplaylistMusicforsleep:thebestambientalbumstohelpyourelax10ofthebest-soundingvinylrecords10ofthebestmoviescorestotestyoursystem30ofthebestpianotrackstotestyoursystem50greatBritishalbumstotestyoursystemAhistoryofthestrangestvinylrecordsevermade 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