Library

Music

63 of the most terrific albums I’ve listened to, with notes where pertinent.

Unlike the rest of my library sections, this section is not intended to be comprehensive but is instead intended to highlight music I consider exemplary. I have listened to far too much music to be able to realistically list it all.

This does not include film/series/game soundtracks, except where the soundtracks are completely isolated from the media. Only full albums are listed, not compilation albums, unless those compilation albums are re-recordings or substantially differ from the originals.

  1. Shinbangumi (2024)

    Ginger Root

    Notes

    The overarching story and visual accompaniment really made this album something special. It truly captured an 80s city-pop vibe.

  2. Nisemono (2022)

    Ginger Root

  3. Sounds of Tokyo-To Future (2021)

    2 Mello

  4. Micropop (2019)

    Jack Stauber

  5. Memories of Tokyo-To (2018)

    2 Mello

  6. Wildflower (2016)

    The Avalanches

    Notes

    I'm not a huge fan of some of the beginning of the album. I'm rather indifferent to 'Because I'm Me' and plainly dislike 'Frankie Sinatra', but it picks up very much after those tracks. Despite not being a huge rap fan, the combination of The Avalanches' ethereal sound and the hip-hop sound of this album appeals to me greatly.

  7. Spirit Phone (2016)

    Lemon Demon

  8. Minecraft – Volume Beta (2013)

    C418

  9. Hawaii: Part II (2012)

    ミラクルミュージカル

  10. Flying by Wire (2012)

    Trocadero

  11. Minecraft – Volume Alpha (2011)

    C418

  12. The Way Out (2010)

    The Books

  13. Ghosts That Linger (2009)

    Trocadero

  14. View-Monster (2008)

    Lemon Demon

  15. † (2007)

    Justice

  16. Dinosaurchestra (2006)

    Lemon Demon

  17. Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum (2005)

    Tally Hall

  18. Damn Skippy (2005)

    Lemon Demon

  19. Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue (2004)

    Trocadero

  20. Hip to the Javabean (2004)

    Lemon Demon

  21. A Message For Marta (2002)

    TAS 1000

  22. Lost Horizons (2002)

    Lemon Jelly

  23. Discovery (2001)

    Daft Punk

  24. Point (2001)

    Cornelius

    Notes

    Must be listened to deliberately and at high quality.

  25. Since I Left You (2000)

    The Avalanches

    Notes

    Perhaps the most beautiful album I've ever listened to. The pure depth of sound when listening with quality audio equipment is amazing. So many layers of exquisite samples exuding an air of anemoia. I'm a big fan of the original Zomba promo version which includes samples that were later removed for legal reasons.

  26. Play (1999)

    Moby

    Notes

    Throws me back to Friday evenings preceding long weekends in the back of my parents' car en route to a holiday destination.

  27. You've Come a Long Way, Baby (1998)

    Fatboy Slim

  28. Asian Dreamer (1994)

    Casiopea

  29. Songs for Ships and Irons (1991)

    Cardiacs

    Notes

    Listened to with extreme frequency while on my unicycle commute to an educational institute I attended in 2021.

  30. The Seaside (1984)

    Cardiacs

  31. Rebel Yell (1983)

    Billy Idol

  32. Oh, No! It's Devo (1982)

    DEVO

  33. Nothing to Fear (1982)

    Oingo Boingo

  34. New Traditionalists (1981)

    DEVO

  35. Only a Lad (1981)

    Oingo Boingo

  36. The Rainbow Goblins (1981)

    Masayoshi Takanaka

  37. Freedom of Choice (1980)

    DEVO

  38. Candy-O (1979)

    The Cars

  39. Duty Now for the Future (1979)

    DEVO

  40. Discovery (1979)

    Electric Light Orchestra

  41. Replicas (1979)

    Tubeway Army

  42. CASIOPEA (1979)

    Casiopea

    Notes

    Some of the best Japanese jazz fusion out there.

  43. The Pleasure Principle (1979)

    Gary Numan

  44. Breakfast In America (1979)

    Supertramp

  45. The Wall (1979)

    Pink Floyd

  46. Reggatta de Blanc (1979)

    The Police

  47. Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)

    DEVO

  48. On The Move (1978)

    Jun Fukamachi

    Notes

    I love the variation through this album. It flows between jazz and funk so wonderfully.

  49. The Cars (1978)

    The Cars

  50. Brasilian Skies (1978)

    Masayoshi Takanaka

  51. Out of the Blue (1977)

    Electric Light Orchestra

  52. Welcome to My Nightmare (1975)

    Alice Cooper

  53. Wish You Were Here (1975)

    Pink Floyd

  54. A Night at the Opera (1975)

    Queen

  55. Kimono My House (1974)

    Sparks

  56. Diamond Dogs (1974)

    David Bowie

    Notes

    A very impactful album. This was perhaps the first album I heard, or at least paid attention to, that had genuine depth to it. Future Legend sets the mood perfectly, and Sweet Thing and Candidate break me down.

  57. The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)

    Pink Floyd

  58. Billion Dollar Babies (1973)

    Alice Cooper

  59. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)

    David Bowie

  60. Transformer (1972)

    Lou Reed

    Notes

    I remember lying in bed as my beat-up, fuzzy-sounding copy on cassette played, and tears would form as I listened to Satellite of Love.

  61. School's Out (1972)

    Alice Cooper

  62. Hunky Dory (1971)

    David Bowie

  63. Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

    The Beatles