My friend started a record collection and asked me which albums I thought should be in it, so I have compiled a list my favorite albums from the 1950s through the 2010s.
The albums in this list are records I like to listen to on the whole. There are many bands who I generally like but are not listed here because I may just like a few songs by them, but not their complete albums. This list does not contain soundtracks or “greatest hits” albums, with a couple exceptions where a compilation album has become a classic recording in itself. Additionally, this list does not have classical recordings, which I feel is better suited for another list. I like many genres from every decade, but I have no doubt my choices will come up short in certain areas. Additionally, I am still catching up with new tunes from the last decade, so that section will be lighter than the others for now. Feel like I have missed a great album that should be on this list? Let me know, and I will consider adding it. I have listened to around 3000 albums, and this list has about 500 of them.
1950s
1952 – Duke Ellington – Ellington Uptown
1954 – Dizzy Gillespie – Afro
1956 – Billie Holiday – Lady Sings the Blues
1956 – Chuck Berry – After School Session
1956 – Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong – Ella and Louis
1957 – Little Richard – Here’s Little Richard
1958 – The Everly Brothers – The Everly Brothers
1958 – John Coltrane – Blue Train
1959 – Howlin’ Wolf – Moanin’ in the Moonlight
1959 – Dave Brubeck Quartet – Time Out
1959 – Miles Davis – Kind of Blue
1959 – John Lee Hooker – House of the Blues
1959 – Willie Dixon – Willie’s Blues
1960s
1960 – Muddy Waters – Muddy Waters at Newport
1960 – Etta James – At Last!
1960 – Joan Baez – Joan Baez
1961 – Robert Johnson – King of the Delta Blues Singers
1961 – Wanda Jackson – There’s a Party Goin’ On
1962 – Ray Charles – Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
1962 – Booker T. & the M.G.’s – Green Onions
1962 – Odetta – Odetta and the Blues
1962 – Patsy Cline – Sentimentally Yours
1962 – Dick Dale & His Del-Tones – Surfer’s Choice
1963 – Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
1964 – Son House – The Complete Library of Congress Sessions
1964 – Bob Dylan – The Times They Are a-Changin’
1964 – The Animals – The Animals
1964 – The Temptations – Meet the Temptations
1964 – The Supremes – Where Did Our Love Go
1965 – John Coltrane – A Love Supreme
1964 – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles – Going to a Go-Go
1965 – Big Mama Thornton – Big Mama Thornton in Europe
1965 – The Zombies – Begin Here
1965 – The Beatles – Rubber Soul
1965 – Nina Simone – I Put a Spell on You
1965 – Jackson C. Frank – Jackson C. Frank
1965 – Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited
1965 – The Byrds – Turn! Turn! Turn!
1966 – The Seeds – The Seeds
1966 – Richie Havens – Mixed Bag
1966 – Question Mark and the Mysterians – 96 Tears
1966 – The Beatles – Revolver
1966 – The Sonics – Boom
1966 – The Kinks – Face to Face
1966 – The Mamas and the Papas – If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
1966 – The Who – My Generation
1966 – Simon & Garfunkel – Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme
1966 – Donovan – Sunshine Superman
1966 – Simon & Garfunkel – Sounds of Silence
1966 – 13th Floor Elevators – The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
1967 – Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band – Safe as Milk
1967 – Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced?
1967 – Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow
1967 – The Kinks – Something Else by the Kinks
1967 – Albert King – Born Under a Bad Sign
1967 – Jimi Hendrix – Axis: Bold as Love
1967 – Aretha Franklin – I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
1967 – Simon & Garfunkel – Bookends
1967 – Barbara Dane – Anthology of American Folk Songs
1967 – Sly and the Family Stone – A Whole New Thing
1967 – The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
1967 – The Rolling Stones – Their Satanic Majesties Request
1967 – Otis Redding – The Dock of the Bay
1967 – The Mothers of Invention – Absolutely Free
1967 – The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground and Nico
1967 – Nico – Chelsea Girl
1967 – Love – Forever Changes
1967 – Cream – Disraeli Gears
1967 – Canned Heat – Canned Heat
1967 – The Doors – The Doors
1967 – The Moody Blues – Days of Future Passed
1967 – Jacqueline Taïeb – Jacqueline Taïeb
1967 – Leonard Cohen – The Songs of Leonard Cohen
1968 – Sister Rosetta Tharpe – Precious Memories
1968 – Jimi Hendrix – Electric Ladyland
1968 – The Beatles – The White Album
1968 – Nina Simone – ’Nuff Said!
1968 – The Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat
1968 – The Doors – Waiting for the Sun
1968 – The Kinks – The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
1969 – Big Brother and the Holding Company – Cheap Thrills
1969 – Koko Taylor – Koko Taylor
1969 – Karen Dalton – It’s So Hard to Tell Who’s Going to Love You the Best
1969 – Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin
1969 – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bayou Country
1969 – Frank Zappa – Hot Rats
1969 – The Beatles – Abbey Road
1969 – The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground
1969 – The Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed
1969 – Quicksilver Messenger Service – Happy Trails
1969 – Nick Drake – Five Leaves Left
1969 – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River
1969 – King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King
1969 – Crosby, Stills & Nash – Crosby, Stills & Nash
1969 – Neil Young with Crazy Horse – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
1969 – Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II
1969 – Janis Joplin – I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!
1969 – MC5 – Kick Out the Jams
1969 – The Stooges – The Stooges
1969 – Santana – Santana
1969 – Joni Mitchell – Clouds
1969 – Moondog – Moondog
1970s
1970 – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Déjà Vu
1970 – Santana – Abraxas
1970 – Cat Stevens – Tea for the Tillerman
1970 – Miles Davis – Bitches Brew
1970 – Grateful Dead – Workingman’s Dead
1970 – Neil Young – After the Gold Rush
1970 – Bessie Smith – Any Woman’s Blues
1970 – The Velvet Underground – Loaded
1970 – The Stooges – Fun House
1970 – The Kinks – Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround
1970 – Willie Dixon – I Am the Blues
1970 – Curtis Mayfield – Curtis
1970 – James Brown – Ain’t It Funky
1970 – George Harrison – All Things Must Pass
1970 – Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin III
1970 – Black Sabbath – Paranoid
1970 – David Bowie – The Man Who Sold the World
1970 – Kraftwerk – Kraftwerk
1971 – B. B. King – Live in Cook County Jail
1971 – Nick Drake – Bryter Layter
1971 – Joni Mitchell – Blue
1971 – Carole King – Tapestry
1971 – Leonard Cohen – Songs of Love and Hate
1971 – David Bowie – Hunky Dory
1971 – Janis Joplin – Pearl
1971 – Jethro Tull – Aqualung
1971 – Can – Tago Mago
1971 – Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV
1972 – Tia Blake and Her Folk Group – Folk Songs and Ballads
1972 – Nick Drake – Pink Moon
1972 – Big Star – Number 1 Record
1972 – T. Rex – Slider
1972 – Neil Young – Harvest
1972 – David Bowie – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
1972 – Neu! – Neu!
1972 – Lou Reed – Transformer
1972 – The Modern Lovers – The Modern Lovers
1972 – Steely Dan – Can’t Buy a Thrill
1972 – Jethro Tull – Thick as a Brick
1973 – Lynard Skynard – Pronounced ’Lĕh-’nérd ’Skin-’nérd
1973 – New York Dolls – New York Dolls
1973 – Toots and the Maytals – Funky Kingston
1973 – Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure
1973 – Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy
1973 – Herbie Hancock – Head Hunters
1973 – John Denver – John Denver’s Greatest Hits
1973 – Toots and the Maytals – In the Dark
1973 – The Incredible Bongo Band – Bongo Rock
1973 – Tom Waits – Closing Time
1973 – Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon
1973 – King Crimson – Larks’ Tongues in Aspic
1973 – Iggy Pop – Raw Power
1974 – Neil Young – On the Beach
1974 – Bob Marley and the Wailers – Natty Dread
1974 – Sparks – Kimono My House
1974 – Jorma Kaukonen – Quah
1975 – Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
1975 – Parliament – Mothership Connection
1975 – Neil Young – Zuma
1975 – Patti Smith – Horses
1976 – Ramones – Ramones
1976 – Tom Waits – Small Change
1976 – Bob Marley and the Wailers – Rastaman Vibration
1976 – Rush – 2112
1977 – Richard Hell and the Voidoids – Blank Generation
1977 – Wire – Pink Flag
1977 – Television – Marquee Moon
1977 – The Jam – In the City
1977 – Bob Marley and the Wailers – Exodus
1977 – Talking Heads – Talking Heads: 77
1977 – Suicide – Suicide
1977 – Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue
1978 – Funkadelic – One Nation Under a Groove
1978 – Warren Zevon – Excitable Boy
1978 – The Cars – The Cars
1978 – Bob Marley and the Wailers – Kaya
1978 – Dire Straits – Dire Straits
1979 – Hank Williams – 40 Greatest Hits
1978 – Steve Reich – Music for 18 Musicians
1978 – Siouxsie and the Banshees – The Scream
1978 – Kraftwerk – The Man-Machine
1978 – X-Ray Spex – Germfree Adolescents
1979 – Pink Floyd – The Wall
1979 – Frank Zappa – Joe’s Garage
1979 – The Cars – Candy-O
1979 – Buzzcocks – Singles Going Steady
1979 – Bob Marley and the Wailers – Survival
1979 – The Clash – London Calling
1979 – The B-52’s – The B-52’s
1979 – Talking Heads – Fear of Music
1979 – Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
1979 – Gang of Four – Entertainment!
1979 – The Slits – Cut
1979 – The Raincoats – The Raincoats
1980s
1980 – Pylon – Gyrate
1980 – Joy Division – Closer
1980 – The Beat – I Just Can’t Stop It
1980 – X – Los Angeles
1980 – The Cramps – Songs the Lord Taught Us
1980 – Bob Marley and the Wailers – Uprising
1980 – Dire Straits – Making Movies
1980 – The Feelies – Crazy Rhythms
1981 – The Go-Go’s – Beauty and the Beat
1981 – Scientist – Scientific Dub
1981 – The Cramps – Psychedelic Jungle
1981 – Gang of Four – Solid Gold
1982 – Don Carlos – Day to Day Living
1982 – Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes
1982 – Gregory Isaacs – Night Nurse
1982 – Steel Pulse – True Democracy
1982 – Michael Jackson – Thriller
1983 – R.E.M. – Murmur
1983 – Daniel Johnston – Hi, How Are You
1984 – The Smiths – The Smiths
1984 – R.E.M. – Reckoning
1984 – The Pandoras – It’s About Time
1984 – Cocteau Twins – Treasure
1984 – Minutemen – Double Nickels on the Dime
1984 – The Replacements – Let It Be
1985 – The Smiths – Meat Is Murder
1985 – Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
1985 – Beat Happening – Beat Happening
1985 – The Fall – This Nation’s Saving Grace
1985 – R.E.M. – Fables of the Reconstruction
1986 – The Cure – Standing on a Beach
1986 – The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead
1986 – Throwing Muses – Throwing Muses
1986 – R.E.M. – Lifes Rich Pageant
1987 – The Smiths – Strangeways, Here We Come
1987 – Dinosaur Jr. – You’re Living All Over Me
1987 – Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation
1987 – Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris – Trio
1988 – Spacemen 3 – Playing with Fire
1988 – Cowboy Junkies – The Trinity Session
1988 – Pixies – Surfer Rosa
1988 – N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton
1989 – Beat Happening – Black Candy
1989 – Pixies – Doolittle
1989 – The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses
1989 – Galaxie 500 – On Fire
1989 – De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising
1990s
1990 – Mazzy Star – She Hangs Brightly
1990 – A Tribe Called Quest – People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
1990 – Sonic Youth – Goo
1990 – Daniel Johnston – 1990
1990 – Public Enemy – Fear of a Black Planet
1990 – Deee-Lite – World Clique
1990 – Ride – Nowhere
1990 – Jane’s Addiction – Ritual de lo Habitual
1991 – Slint – Spiderland
1991 – My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
1991 – A Tribe Called Quest – Low End Theory
1991 – Spacemen 3 – Recurring
1991 – Eek-A-Mouse – U-Neek
1991 – Mr. Bungle – Mr. Bungle
1991 – DJ Quik – Quik Is the Name
1991 – Nirvana – Nevermind
1991 – Metallica – Metallica
1991 – Naughty by Nature – Naughty by Nature
1991 – Pearl Jam – Ten
1991 – Primal Scream – Screamadelica
1991 – Pizzicato Five – This Year’s Girl
1992 – Sonic Youth – Dirty
1992 – Pavement – Slanted and Enchanted
1992 – PJ Harvey – Dry
1992 – Lush – Spooky
1992 – Arrested Development – 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of...
1992 – The Vaselines – The Way of The Vaselines: A Complete History
1992 – Dr. Dre – The Chronic
1992 – Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Mecca and the Soul Brother
1992 – Luna – Lunapark
1992 – Red House Painters – Down Colorful Hill
1992 – The Pharcyde – Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
1992 – R.E.M. – Automatic for the People
1992 – Alice in Chains – Dirt
1992 – Stone Temple Pilots – Core
1993 – Mazzy Star – So Tonight That I Might See
1993 – A Tribe Called Quest – Midnight Marauders
1993 – Snoop Doggy Dogg – Doggystyle
1993 – Sebadoh – Bubble and Scrape
1993 – Red House Painters – Rollercoaster
1993 – Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
1993 – PJ Harvey – Rid of Me
1993 – Slowdive – Souvlaki
1993 – Björk – Debut
1993 – Salt-N-Pepa – Very Necessary
1993 – Nirvana – In Utero
1993 – The Breeders – Last Splash
1993 – Digable Planets – Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
1993 – Cypress Hill – Black Sunday
1993 – Bikini Kill – Pussy Whipped
1993 – Bratmobile – Pottymouth
1993 – Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
1993 – Cracker – Kerosene Hat
1993 – Archers of Loaf – Icky Mettle
1994 – Lush – Split
1994 – The Beautiful South – Carry On Up the Charts
1994 – The Magnetic Fields – Holiday
1994 – Swell – 41
1994 – Low – I Could Live in Hope
1994 – Luna – Bewitched
1994 – Nas – Illmatic
1994 – Sebadoh – Bakesale
1994 – Da Brat – Funkdafied
1994 – Nirvana – MTV Unplugged in New York
1994 – Warren G – Regulate... G Funk Era
1994 – The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die
1994 – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Let Love In
1994 – Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
1994 – Guided by Voices – Bee Thousand
1994 – Portishead – Dummy
1994 – Ween – Chocolate and Cheese
1994 – Soundgarden – Superunknown
1994 – Hole – Live Through This
1994 – Stone Temple Pilots – Purple
1994 – Heavens to Betsy – Calculated
1994 – Lambchop – I Hope You’re Sitting Down
1994 – Gravediggaz – 6 Feet Deep
1995 – Sonic Youth – Washing Machine
1995 – PJ Harvey – To Bring You My Love
1995 – DJ Quik – Safe + Sound
1995 – Guided by Voices – Alien Lanes
1995 – The Magnetic Fields – Get Lost
1995 – Mobb Deep – The Infamous
1995 – Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – E. 1999 Eternal
1995 – Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise
1995 – Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
1995 – Big L – Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
1995 – Pavement – Wowee Zowee
1995 – Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
1995 – GZA/Genius – Liquid Swords
1995 – Luna – Penthouse
1995 – Elliott Smith – Elliott Smith
1995 – The Mountain Goats – Sweden
1995 – Radiohead – The Bends
1995 – Money Mark – Mark’s Keyboard Repair
1995 – The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Methodrone
1995 – Ben Folds Five – Ben Folds Five
1995 – Brotha Lynch Hung – Season of da Siccness
1995 – X-Raided – Xorcist
1995 – Alice in Chains – Alice in Chains
1995 – Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
1995 – Blind Melon – Soup
1996 – Lead Belly – Where Did You Sleep Last Night
1996 – Too Short – Getting’ It (Album Number Ten)
1996 – DJ Shadow – Endtroducing.....
1996 – The Josephine Wiggs Experience – Bon Bon Lifestyle
1996 – Belle and Sebastian – Tigermilk
1996 – The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Take It from the Man!
1996 – Guided by Voices – Under the Bushes, Under the Stars
1996 – 2Pac – All Eyez on Me
1996 – Jamiroquai – Traveling Without Moving
1996 – Sneaker Pimps – Becoming X
1996 – Fiona Apple – Tidal
1996 – April March – Paris in April
1996 – Beck – Odelay
1996 – Belle and Sebastian – If You’re Feeling Sinister
1996 – 2Pac – The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
1996 – Cibo Matto – Viva! La Woman
1996 – Kostars – Klassics with a “K”
1996 – Stereolab – Emperor Tomato Ketchup
1996 – Silver Jews – The Natural Bridge
1996 – Vic Chesnutt – About to Choke
1996 – Butter 08 – Butter 08
1996 – The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Their Satanic Majesties’ Second Request
1996 – Squirrel Nut Zippers – Hot
1997 – Broadcast – Work and Non Work
1997 – Elliott Smith – Either/Or
1997 – Ben Folds Five – Whatever and Ever Amen
1997 – Danielson Famile – Tell Another Joke at the Ol’ Choppin’ Block
1997 – Stereolab – Dots and Loops
1997 – Spiritualized – Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
1997 – Sleater-Kinney – Dig Me Out
1997 – Yo La Tengo – I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
1997 – Radiohead – OK Computer
1997 – The Apples in Stereo – Tone Soul Evolution
1997 – The Dandy Warhols – ...The Dandy Warhols Come Down
1997 – Grandaddy – Under the Western Freeway
1997 – Brad – Interiors
1998 – Elliott Smith – XO
1998 – Silver Jews – American Water
1998 – Black Star – Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
1998 – Massive Attack – Mezzanine
1998 – Air – Moon Safari
1998 – Sean Lennon – Into the Sun
1998 – Cat Power – Moon Pix
1998 – Gang Starr – Moment of Truth
1998 – Shellac – Terraform
1998 – Buffalo Daughter – New Rock
1998 – Tortoise – TNT
1998 – The Beta Band – The Three E.P.’s
1998 – Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
1998 – Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
1999 – X-Raided – Unforgiven
1999 – Le Tigre – Le Tigre
1999 – Eminem – The Slim Shady LP
1999 – MF Doom – Operation: Doomsday
1999 – Dr. Dre – 2001
1999 – The Magnetic Fields – 69 Love Songs
1999 – Stereolab – Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Night
1999 – Fiona Apple – When the Pawn…
1999 – Nightmares on Wax – Carboot Soul
1999 – Ben Folds Five – The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner
1999 – The Flaming Lips – The Soft Bulletin
1999 – Built to Spill – Keep It Like a Secret
2000s
2000 – Broadcast – The Noise Made by People
2000 – Doves – Lost Souls
2000 – Elliott Smith – Figure 8
2000 – Blonde Redhead – Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons
2000 – Yo La Tengo – And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out
2000 – Slumber Party – Slumber Party
2000 – Shellac – 1000 Hurts
2000 – Aimee Mann – Bachelor No. 2 or, the Last Remains of the Dodo
2000 – Cat Power – The Covers Record
2000 – The Dandy Warhols – Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia
2000 – At the Drive-In – Relationship of Command
2000 – Common – Like Water for Chocolate
2000 – Supreme Beings of Leisure – Supreme Beings of Leisure
2000 – Sleater-Kinney – All Hands on the Bad One
2000 – Bratmobile – Ladies, Women and Girls
2000 – Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
2001 – Beulah – The Coast Is Never Clear
2001 – Pete Rock – Petestrumentals
2001 – Jon Brion – Meaningless
2001 – The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Bravery Repetition and Noise
2001 – Red House Painters – Old Ramon
2001 – Stereolab – Sound-Dust
2001 – Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions – Bavarian Fruit Bread
2001 – Kristin Hersh – Sunny Border Blue
2001 – Liars – They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top
2001 – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – B.R.M.C.
2001 – Daft Punk – Discovery
2001 – The Shins – Oh, Inverted World
2002 – The Mountain Goats – All Hail West Texas
2002 – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – House Arrest
2002 – RJD2 – Deadringer
2002 – Beck – Sea Change
2002 – The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
2002 – Thievery Corporation – The Richest Man in Babylon
2002 – Sleater-Kinney – One Beat
2002 – Ben Kweller – Sha Sha
2003 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever to Tell
2003 – The White Stripes – Elephant
2003 – Cat Power – You Are Free
2003 – The Shins – Chutes Too Narrow
2003 – The Kills – Keep on Your Mean Side
2003 – Belle and Sebastian – Dear Catastrophe Waitress
2003 – The Mars Volta – De-Loused in the Comatorium
2003 – Broadcast – Haha Sound
2003 – Sun Kil Moon – Ghosts of the Great Highway
2003 – Metric – Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?
2003 – The Brian Jonestown Massacre – …And This Is Our Music
2003 – Songs: Ohia – The Magnolia Electric Co.
2003 – Calexico – Feast of Wire
2003 – Bonobo – Dial ‘M’ for Monkey
2004 – Lost Sounds – Lost Sounds
2004 – Madvillain – Madvillainy
2004 – CocoRosie – La Maison de Mon Rêve
2004 – Of Montreal – Satanic Panic in the Attic
2004 – TV on the Radio – Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
2004 – Stereolab – Margarine Eclipse
2004 – Nouvelle Vague – Nouvelle Vague
2004 – Pinback – Summer in Abaddon
2004 – Elliott Smith – From a Basement on the Hill
2004 – The Good Life – Album of the Year
2004 – Joanna Newsom – The Milk-Eyed Mender
2004 – Danger Mouse – The Grey Album
2004 – Jim White – Drill a Hole in That Substrate and Tell Me What You See
2005 – Monade – A Few Steps More
2005 – Wax Tailor – Tales of the Forgotten Melodies
2005 – The New Pornographers – Twin Cinema
2005 – Broadcast – Tender Buttons
2005 – Sufjan Stevens – Illinoise
2005 – Death Cab for Cutie – Plans
2005 – Spoon – Gimme Fiction
2005 – Metric – Live It Out
2005 – Of Montreal – The Sunlandic Twins
2005 – Giant Drag – Hearts and Unicorns
2005 – Voxtrot – Raised by Wolves
2005 – Danger Mouse and MF Doom – The Mouse and the Mask
2006 – Nightmares on Wax – In a Space Outta Sound
2006 – The High Violets – To Where You Are
2006 – Belle and Sebastian – The Life Pursuit
2006 – Cat Power – The Greatest
2006 – Erase Errata – Nightlife
2006 – Nouvelle Vague – Bande à Part
2006 – Tam – Tam
2006 – Lilys – Everything Wrong Is Imaginary
2006 – Mika Miko – C.Y.S.L.A.B.F.
2006 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show Your Bones
2006 – Joanna Newsom – Ys
2006 – Visioneers – Dirty Old Hip Hop
2007 – Blonde Redhead – 23
2007 – Bubonic Plague – Instant Coma
2007 – Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
2007 – Scout Niblett – This Fool Can Die Now
2007 – Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
2007 – The Fiery Furnaces – Widow City
2007 – Queens of the Stone Age – Era Vulgaris
2007 – Black Moth Super Rainbow – Dandelion Gum
2007 – Architecture in Helsinki – Places Like This
2008 – Stereolab – Chemical Chords
2008 – School of Seven Bells – Alpinisms
2008 – Blitzen Trapper – Furr
2008 – Geneva Jacuzzi – Kooze Control
2008 – Sigur Rós – Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust
2008 – The Old Haunts – Poisonous Times
2008 – Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
2008 – Santigold – Santogold
2008 – The Sound Defects – The Iron Horse
2009 – Real Estate – Real Estate
2009 – Gramatik – SB#2
2009 – Antony and the Johnsons – The Crying Light
2009 – Atlas Sound – Logos
2009 – Black Moth Super Rainbow – Eating Us
2009 – The Dry Spells – Too Soon for Flowers
2009 – Vic Chesnutt – At the Cut
2010s
2010 – The Black Angels – Phosphene Dream
2010 – Broken Bells – Broken Bells
2010 – Sharon Van Etten – Epic
2010 – Wild Nothing – Gemini
2010 – Carolina Chocolate Drops – Genuine Negro Jig
2010 – Thee Oh Sees – Warm Slime
2010 – Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings – I Learned the Hard Way
2010 – Dean & Britta – 13 Most Beautiful: Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests
2010 – Grass Widow – Past Time
2010 – Best Coast – Crazy for You
2010 – Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
2010 – Tame Impala – InnerSpeaker
2010 – Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell – Hawk
2011 – Real Estate – Days
2011 – Lydia Loveless – Indestructible Machine
2011 – Beirut – The Rip Tide
2011 – My Morning Jacket – Circuital
2011 – Wanda Jackson – The Party Ain’t Over
2012 – Allah-Las – Allah-Las
2012 – Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
2012 – Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel…
2012 – First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar
2012 – Wild Nothing – Nocturne
2012 – DIIV – Oshin
2012 – Mac DeMarco – 2
2013 – Elf Power – Sunlight on the Moon
2013 – Kevin Morby – Harlem River
2013 – Chastity Belt – No Regerts
2013 – Foxygen – We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
2014 – Leo Welch – Sabougla Voices
2014 – Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence
2014 – Allah-Las – Worship the Sun
2014 – Ty Segall – Manipulator
2014 – The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Revelation
2015 – Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
2015 – Blue In Green – The Break of Dawn
2016 – Lady Wray – Queen Alone
2017 – Cigarettes After Sex – Cigarettes After Sex
2018 – Kurt Vile – Bottle It In
2019 – Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!
2019 – The Brian Jonestown Massacre – The Brian Jonestown Massacre
2019 – Lizzo – Cuz I Love You
2020s
2021 – Bo Burnham – Inside (The Songs)
2024 – Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal
2025 – Men I Trust – Equus Caballus
2025 – Stereolab – Instant Holograms on Metal Film
This list was compiled by Shalon van Tine.