Since the school year is coming to a close, I figured there’s no better way to end it than with a few album recommendations, specifically my top-ten albums of all time. Now, there’s definitely some repeating artists, but it’s not all the same music, so I still recommend anyone up for it try all of these albums.
10 - The Avett Brothers - Magpie and the Dandelion
I really don’t like country music most of the time, but the Avett Brothers are the exception to the rule. They’re more alt-country bordering folk, but either way, they’re great music. This album is a testament to that, a great, string-heavy album produced by Rick Rubin and with some great vocals. It’s the closest I’ll get to country music, but it’s really the best country or country-adjacent music I’ve ever heard.
9 - Coldplay - Parachutes
Parachutes is Coldplay’s debut album (you’ll be seeing more of them later on this list), and it’s a lot of what they did right back in the early 2000s. It’s pop rock at its best with a touch of dream pop and piano rock. Obviously there are the hits from this album like “Sparks” and “Yellow,” but what really sells the album as a whole are the lesser known tracks with some of Coldplay’s best ever material. It’s also on the calmer end when it comes to their music, so if that’s what you like, try it out.
8 - Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Hopefully I’m carrying on ECHO alum Trent Liptak’s legacy here, because I know he likes this album. Indie rock is one of my favorite genres, and this album is just about the pinnacle of it. There are some heavy instrument switches with some notable bagpipes which adds to the nature of the album really well. Unfortunately, lead singer Jeff Magnum may have overestimated his ability, because the lack of it is evident on some of these songs. I think it’s not too detrimental, but it does really give the album more personality. Despite that, it’s definitely a great album.
7 - half•alive - Now, Not Yet
This album runs partly on its pure consistency sound-wise, and to me its religious undertones are a plus as well. The lyrical talent is really evident on this record, and half•alive really pulled together a strong debut album. They’ve got plenty of heart and charm, and it’s evident as soon as the first song comes on. Indie pop can be a pretty diverse genre, but this is some of the best of it. There are no songs on here that lack quality at all, and it’s truly solid all around.
6 - Tame Impala - Currents
Currents has produced some modern-day classic songs, especially a few that have gone viral. It sounds starkly modern for an album that’s been out for nearly ten years, and it holds up well. Tame Impala is one of the defining forces in the psychedelic rock/pop scene right now, and despite a slim discography, it’s all really solid. This album especially has some great bass parts and out-of-this-world sounds that really transport you somewhere else while listening. It’s an immersive and heavy album and so worth the slightly longer listen.
5 - Twenty One Pilots - Trench
Trench is widely considered Twenty One Pilots’ best album, and I’d agree. It’s packed with worldbuilding and storytelling, whether up from or between the lines, something that the duo excels at. They’ve put probably their best songwriting and instrumental ability into this project, and it comes together to form a really interesting picture of the world in which it takes place. If you’re interested, I recommend looking a little bit further into the world of Trench as there are some really cool concepts and, of course, great music.
4 - half•alive - Conditions of a Punk
Conditions of a Punk is a longer album, but to no detriment. It comes in at almost an hour long, with 18 songs, but every single one is amazing. This album is unfortunately usually considered their weakest, but the consistency across the album is incredible, and the production is great yet not overproduced. It’s an emotionally charged album with numerous songs reminiscing about problems and navigating them and many more facets. Overall, it’s their strongest project and best work to date, so if you’re up to dedicating an hour to a listen, give it a shot.
3 - Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head
Unfortunately for anyone expecting variety in my favoritism, it’s not happening. Yes, my top-3 are Coldplay. But I am not hesitating in the slightest when putting them there. A Rush of Blood is an incredible pop-rock album all around, and despite being riddled with hits, still has some incredibly underrated songs (Amsterdam and the title track to name two). The riffs, vocals, and lyrics are incredible and unmatched by many, many projects. This is probably one of their biggest albums, if not the singular biggest, but don’t let that fool you: it’s not overrated at all.
2 - Coldplay - Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
This album contains one of the band’s biggest hits, but much of the rest gets overlooked. It’s Coldplay’s first dive into adding more depth into their projects with introductory songs and diversifying their style. This album is just as much art pop as it is pop rock, and it’s done really well. The violin is a new element that adds to the new sound, especially on this album, and it sounds phenomenal. It’s a great mix of songs tempo-wise as well, and it’s an awesome listen. It’s probably their most immersive album with all of the extra elements sprinkled about—and their second best overall.
1 - Coldplay - X&Y
X&Y is a really, really underrated album. I say that because it never really got the popularity or the acclaim of their other early projects. Of course it has “Fix You” and “Speed of Sound,” but after that there are no huge hits. However, although this album doesn’t reach past any lines sound-wise, it’s stunningly consistent and fantastically written. Most of the licks, riffs, and melodies are the band’s best, and it also holds my favorite song from the band, “Talk.” Every song on the record is definitely replayable as is the album as a whole. Despite not being as fleshed out as Viva la Vida, this album holds a special place in my heart, and I don’t see it moving from my favorite for a long time.