Ask Lemmy

It used to be Donny Osmond's Greatest Hits but now it's Lou Reed's New York.

October Rust - Type O Negative.

The quintessential goth metal album. Their layers of sound, Pete’s incredible ability to make the most sardonic lyrics sound romantic and the bands utter control of melodic harmony make it an album that I have listened to an innumerable amount of times since its release. There really is something special here than no band since has captured on tape. It came out when I was a sophomore and immediately became something that I knew would be with me my entire life. This album bleeds sensuality with a not so subtle wink and nod to the ridiculousness of the human condition in a way few, if any before or after it ever have. It is equal parts sexy and hilarious. Type O was a band whose depth was often missed by the outlandish nature of who their frontman Peter Steele was. A man capable of being a sulking giant with a broken heart one second and a sexy rock and roll god doing a centerfold photoshoot for Playgirl the next.
I never stopped loving this band for that perfect mixture of mischief, tongue in cheek self awareness and Gen X melancholy they brought to everything they did. There are great albums by them before this one and great ones after. But October Rust stands as a truly unique album without peer in my heart for all time.

Moving forward a little,

Gin - Cobalt

This is a pure slab of American Black Metal by way of a multi-instrumentalist that grew up on 90’s alternative, particularly Tool. It bridges the gap between two eras of metal so effortlessly it boggles the mind at times. Erik Wunder played all the instruments and was the primary songwriter on this album and it is so complete in a way that can only be achieved through that singular of a vision. It’s like a dark mirror version of the first Foo Fighters record in a myriad of ways. He sadly passed away last year and was only able to perform these song live a few times in the decade and half since its release. I was lucky enough to catch two of those performances and they were as beautiful as I had hoped.

His passing hit like a brick as I was able to talk quite a bit with him on Facebook in during the early years of the band and spend some time in person when they played near me. He was always very gracious and intelligent in person. He had that specific blend of honesty and intelligence that separates the good from the great in music. I often wonder what could have become of the band if he had been able to find more stable vocalists and the ability to create while sober. It’s a real bummer we will never know.

Finally,

…Like Clockwork- Queens of the Stone Age

This is one of those albums that came at exactly the right time in my life to become an encapsulation of moments of darkness and hope being perfectly intertwined. It gave me a place to put my sadness, my longing, my fears and my dreams while I sorted out who I would be for the second half of life on this planet. There are moments of spite that feel so real you can almost feel the tension in the rooms that inspired it. Then there are moments of such soulful beauty and longing you can’t help but get lost in thoughts of heartbreak right along with the band. I truly believe Josh Homme wrote his opus here. It’s the perfect Queens album and, in my opinion, the greatest rock and roll album of all time.

The Downward Spiral [NIN halo 8]

Of course this changes over time but right now it's probably a toss up between Marquee Moon by Television and 154 by Wire.

Random Access Memories by Daft Punk

Thirteenth Step - A Perfect Circle. I've listened so many times start to finish, absolutely in love with it.

I honestly have no idea. My first favorites were Dookie and Smash, and I don't enjoy either any less than I did, then.

I don't have a favourite album of all time, but I do have favourites for certain genres/vibes.

For just putting on as some music in the background it's Selected Ambient Works 85-92 by Aphex Twin

For metal, it's Behemoth, either The Satanist or I Loved You at Your Darkest.

For electronic music, Biceps Isles is great, and when I used to run, it's great exercise music. But in that same vein Palaces by Flume is also excellent.

For down tempo vibes it's gotta be Mezzanine by Massive Attack, although Music has the right to Children by Boards of Canada is a very close second. And fuck actually Dummy by Portishead

For more classic easy listening vibes, Chicago 2 by Chicago.

For something I think anybody can enjoy, it's plastic beach by Gorillaz. It's their best album by far and I love a concept album.

When I want to hear BEAUTIFUL music that also goes hard, it's John Hopkins immunity. I had the title track play at my wedding and it captured the vibe perfectly.

So I guess no, I don't have a favourite album

I don't normally do superlatives, so my answer could change at any time soonish, really. That said, if I'd point to one album that I've reliably enjoyed a lot for quite a while, I'd say:

Ayreon - Into The Electric Castle

Wikipedia, Bandcamp (original), Bandcamp (20th anniversary remaster), and they're on Spot & YT as well.

What a hard question. But i always come back to Metallica - Ride the Lightning

Vital Remains - Let Is Pray

Electric Wizard - Dopethrone

Crass - Penis Envy

Aus-Rotten - The Rotten Agenda

Dayglo Abortions - Feed Us a Fetus

It's somewhere between those this year. It would've been totally different five years ago, will be totally different five from now.

"Blues & Roots" by Charles Mingus

Raw Data Feel by Everything Everything! I drove from Seattle to San Diego one time and I listened to that album at least 10 times on the drive. So good.

The Royal Scam - Steely Dan

Rhyme Asylum - Solitary Confinement

La mécanique du cœur by Dionysos

The whole Animals as Leaders discography. Incredible band.

Strange Trails by Lord Huron

Purple Rain

Will the Circle be Unbroken - Nitty Gritty Dirt band and friends.

there are lots of other great ones, but there is a reason this keeps coming up as a defining album in folk or bluegrass music circles.

Good & Evil by Tally Hall

Great songs, great album art.

True Defiance by Demon Hunter, it have so many songs I can hear on repeat.

I Mother Earth - Scenery & Fish

90's Canadian rock, with "Shortcut to Moncton" as my favourite track, and "One More Astronaut" as the album's biggest single. I listened to this one end to end so many times, and there's not a bad song on it, my fave just in terms of number of listens. It's aged okay. I don't replay it obsessively like I did in my late teens

My Arms, Your Hearse by Opeth

Moron Police - Pachinko

Joni - Blue

Dream Theater - Live Scenes from New York.

If it has to be a studio album, same artist, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory

Sketches of Brunswick East by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Mild High Club