My Top 666 Albums Ever Part 3

630) Faith No More - King For A Day... Fool For A Lifetime (1995)

Slightly less critically acclaimed follow-up to the hugely critically acclaimed, 'Angel Dust'.
Best Song: The Gentle Art Of Making Enemies

 

629) Korn - See You On The Other Side (2005)

With most bands, I like them to branch out and try new things. I've found that Korn are at their best, though, when they just do what they're good at. Commercial metal songs. With the aid of Atticus Ross and The Matrix, this was a welcome return to form after the poor 'Take A Look In The Mirror'.
Best Song: Throw Me Away

628) Audioslave - Audioslave (2002)

Debut album from Chris Cornell and and three quarters of Rage Against The Machine. Its renown has decreased in the years since its release, but there's some great stuff on here.
Best Song: Show Me How To Live

627) Jason Webley - The Cost Of Living (2007)

The fifth, and at this point last, album from the Seattle folk musician. He'll be showing up in another capacity later on, though.
Best Song: Raise Them Higher

 

626) Milla Jovovich - The Divine Comedy (1994)

Usually, when a supermodel decides she's going to release an album, it's a good time to pray for deafness. Milla Jovovich, however, took a far more artistic approach with what is to date her only full-length album (there's another one on the way apparently).
Best Song: Gentleman Who Fell

 

625) Rob Zombie - Hellbilly Deluxe (1998)

Debut solo album from the White Zombie frontman. Sounds just like White Zombie. Not necessarily a bad thing.
Best Song: Dragula

 

624) Josh Freese - Since 1972 (2009)

Josh Freese is best known as one of the most in-demand session drummers in the industry. When he's not laying down tracks for seemingly anybody he asks, and touring with the likes of A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, Devo, Weezer and Sting, he's also an independent solo artist. This effort was his first independent release.
Best Song: Point Some Fingers

 

623) The Black Crowes - Amorica (1994)

Third album from the Atlanta blues rockers.
Best Song: Wiser Time

 

622) Ashes Divide - Keep Telling Myself It's Alright (2008)

Billy Howerdel - guitarist and principle songwriter for A Perfect Circle - with his solo project's first and so far only album.
Best Song: The Stone

 

621) The Jackson Five - Third Album (1970)

Exactly what it says on the tin. The third album from the Motown legends.
Best Song: I'll Be There

 

620) Orianthi - Believe (2009)

Orianthi Panagaris is currently a guitarist for Alice Cooper, but before that was best known as the guitarist hand-picked by Michael Jackson to play on his ill-fated O2 Arena shows. This album is a good mix of bubblegum pop, and the kind of guitar playing usually reserved for hard rock records. Her follow-up comes in February, and is said to be far more rock-focused.
Best Song: Suffocated

 

619) Adam & The Ants - Dirk Wears White Sox (1979)

Debut album from the post-punk legends.
Best Song: Cartrouble

 

618) Garbage - Not Your Kind Of People (2012)

After an extended absence, Shirley Manson and co returned last year with this album, which is far stronger than their previous couple of efforts.
Best Song: Not Your Kind Of People

617) Gilby Clarke - Pawnshop Guitars (1994)

In case you couldn't tell from my screen name, this will be the first of many records connected to Guns N' Roses that appear on this list. The debut solo album from the guy who replaced Izzy Stradlin on the Use Your Illusion Tour. The entirety of the rest of the band - at the time - show up, including a great version of The Rolling Stones' 'Dead Flowers' featuring Axl Rose on backing vocals.
Best Song: Dead Flowers

 

616) The Doors - Morrison Hotel (1970)

Jim Morrison's band see in the 70's with this album.
Best Song: Roadhouse Blues

 

615) Weezer - The Green Album (2001)

Weezer's come-back after a few years of silence following horrible reviews of their second (great) album, 'Pinkerton'.
Best Song: Hash Pipe

 

614) Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond (2007)

Yet another band that returned strong after an extended leave of absence.
Best Song: Almost Ready

 

613) Within Temptation - Enter (1997)

Symphonic Goth Metal from the Netherlands, featuring the angelic voice of Sharon den Adel. This - their debut album - is decidedly more metal than later efforts, complete with growled vocals from a male member in some tracks. This actually makes it my least favourite Within Temptation album, but it's still got some good tracks on it.
Best Song: Restless

My Top 666 Albums Ever Part 2

648) Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes (1992)

Debut solo album from the pianist and feminist icon
Best Song: Crucify

 

647) Social Distortion - Mommy's Little Monster (1983)

Not many people realise that Social Distortion's self-titled album from 1990 isn't actually their debut. This album from 1983 actually is.
Best Song: Another State Of Mind

 

646) The Offspring - Americana (1998)

The first time I saw pop-punk on TV was when The Offspring played 'Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)' on Top Of The Pops. Marking the moment the genre became commercial.
Best Song: The Kids Aren't Alright

 

645) Queen - Innuendo (1991)

Queen's final album before Freddie Mercury's tragic death. Some of the songs (including 'These Are The Days Of Our Lives') act as Freddie's personal goodbye to his fans.
Best Song: These Are The Days Of Our Lives

 

644) Pixies - Doolittle (1989)

Second album from the influential "alt. rockers".
Best Song: Debaser

 

643) The Offspring - Days Go By (2012)

The Offspring's latest album. Sounds just like all of the other Offspring albums, really, but it's fun.
Best Song: The Future Is Now

 

642) Alanis Morisette - Havoc & Bright Lights (2012)

The latest from the Canadian singer/songwriter.
Best Song: Woman Down

 

641) Alice In Chains - Alice In Chains (1995)

Until recently, this was the last full-length album we'd heard by Alice In Chains. Not as strong as their previous work, but worth a listen nonetheless.
Best Song: Again

 

640) The Black Crowes - Croweology (2010)

The blues rockers go over their back-catalogue with acoustic renditions.
Best Song: Remedy

 

639) Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk (2002)

Concept album about the state of a post-9/11 America... which was pretty original less than a year after it had happened.
Best Song: A Sorta Fairytale

 

638) The Muffs - Blonde And Blonder (1995)

Best known record from the female-fronted California pop-punks.
Best Song: Oh Nina

 

637) Marilyn Manson - Holy Wood (2000)

Manson's angry response to those who chose to use him as a scapegoat for the Columbine school massacre. Sadly, still a relevant album today.
Best Song: The Nobodies

 

636) Kanye West - Graduation (2007)

Proof that sometimes insufferable ego's sometimes do produce good music... though not as good as he thinks it is.
Best Song: Stronger

 

635) Tenacious D - The Pick Of Destiny (2006)

Great soundtrack to a lacklustre movie.
Best Song: POD

634) System Of A Down - Toxicity (2001)

With Toxicity, System Of A Down hit the big-time.
Best Song: Toxicity

 

633) Queens Of The Stone Age - Lullabies To Paralyze (2005)

Follow-up to 2002's 'Songs For The Deaf', and their first minus Nick Oliveri. Features some great rockers, but some of the longer tracks are too repetitive.
Best Song: Everybody Knows That You Are Insane

 

632) The Distillers - The Distillers (2000)

Brody Armstrong/Dalle/Homme's punks burst onto the scene with this debut.
Best Song: L.A. Girl

 

631) Ray Charles - Yes Indeed! (1958)

Classic album from the original blind pianist/soul singer.
Best Song: It's Alright

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