My Top 666 Albums Ever Part 1

I'm a huge music fan, and listen to a wide variety of music. I thought I'd start this epic undertaking a while ago, and have only just gotten to listen to enough albums (over 1,300) that I feel comfortable with presenting a fairly definitive list of my favourite albums (or EP's in some cases) of all time. It can't ever actually be definitive of course, because there will always be so much I haven't heard. But as of right now, this is what it looks like... I'll be posting 18 at a time for however long it takes to get through them. You may be expecting that because I chose the number 666, it would be all rock or metal, but I think people will be surprised at some of the things that turn up... and maybe some people will discover something they didn't know existed, too.

Also, I promise this will be the last music countdown I do for a while. Not sure I'd have anything else to do until the list has changed considerably, anyway.

666) Rancid - ...And Out Come The Wolves (1995)

Third album from Tim Armstrong's ska-punk band.
Best Song: Roots Radicals

665) Rancid - Rancid (1993)

Which is just beaten by the same band's debut album.
Best Song: Rats In The Hallway

664) The Wailers - Catch A Fire (1973)

The Wailers, before Bob Marley's name was put up front, released this seminal reggae album.
Best Song: Concrete Jungle

663) System Of A Down - Hypnotize (2005)

The second part of System Of A Down's two album attack from 2005 - and currently their final album.
Best Song: Holy Mountains

662) Roxy Epoxy & The Rebound - Bandaids On Bullet Holes (2009)

Modern new wave from Portland, Oregon.
Best Song: 1000
661) The Jackson Five - Dancing Machine (1974)

The penultimate Motown record from the Jackson Five is often unfairly derided. It's clear that the Motown formula was stifling them, but there's still some enjoyable tracks here.
Best Song: Dancing Machine

660) Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cold Roses (2005)

The first album Ryan Adams released with what would become his regular backing band.
Best Song: Mockingbird

659) Incubus - Enjoy Incubus (1997)

Major label debut from California's funk metal group.
Best Song: Take Me To Your Leader

658) The Stooges - Fun House (1970)

One of the albums that helped inspire the punk generation. It's a noisy, obnoxious classic.
Best Song: Dirt

657) The Jackson Five - ABC (1970)

The album everyone thinks of when they think of the young Michael Jackson, thanks to two of the songs becoming instant classics.
Best Song: The Love You Save

656) Pantera - Cowboys From Hell (1990)

In the 80's, Pantera were riding the awful "glam metal" wave. However, in 1990, with new vocalist Phil Anselmo, they took their first step in redefining metal.
Best Song: Cemetery Gates

655) Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life (1968)

The ninth album from the only 18 year old Stevie Wonder, featuring the definitive version of the classic title track.
Best Song: For Once In My Life

654) Rainbow - Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975)

The debut album from what started as a Deep Purple side-project, and ended up making a star of singer Ronnie James Dio.
Best Song: Man On The Silver Mountain

653) David Bowie - Pin-Ups (1973)

A covers album released as a follow-up to Bowie's triple hit of 'Hunky Dory', 'Ziggy Stardus' and 'Aladdin Sane'
Best Song: Shapes Of Things

652) R.E.M. - Murmur (1983)

Debut album from Michael Stipe and co.
Best Song: Radio Free Europe

651) Star Anna - The Only Thing That Matters (2004)

Second album from Washington's premiere alt. country/Americana singer with the voice of a wounded angel.
Best Song: Spinning My Wheels

650) Jason Webley - Counterpoint (2002)

Seattle folk musician, Jason Webley's second album.
Best Song: The Drinking Song

649) 8in8 - Nighty Night (2011)

The "cover" says it all. Ben Folds, Dresden Doll Amanda Palmer, her husband and author Neil Gaiman, and OKGO's Damian Kulash set out to write, record and make available for sale 8 songs in 8 hours. Things didn't go quite as planned, as they ended up with 6 songs in 12 hours, but that's still quite an accomplishment. Includes Neil Gaiman singing a song about Joan Of Arc coming back as a zombie, and an ode to Nikola Tesla.
Best Song: The Problem With Saints