50 Favorite Albums pt.1

8   8.7  

Flawless you hear me!
FLAWLESS!!



Essential Listening: Everything on the Damn disc!

Mr. Lays's rating:

554   7.8  

Trent Reznor is the apex of having music that haunts you in your sleep. Creepy lyrics and music that sounded like it emulated Hades. Nine Inch Nails has never sounded better. Sadly this album is so good that Trent Reznor may be trying to top this his whole career. (Possibly)


Essential Listening: "The Eraser", "Closer", "Hurt"

Mr. Lays's rating:

32   7.5  

If you enjoy R&B, Rock, Hip-Hop, Jazz and a little bit of every other genre of music then this is the album to listen to. To bad the critics didn't know how to digest this album a called it a mess.
Brilliance if they only knew.

Essential Listening: "Lapdance", "Truth or Dare", "Brain"

Mr. Lays's rating:

53   8.8  

Cobain is not known for having the best vocals in the business, but on this album his voice meshes with everything perfectly. Wonderful covers, brilliant choice of songs, and being accompanied by a crappy green sweater never hurts either.

Essential Listening: "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam", "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?", "Lake of Fire"

51   7.9  

A posthumous release by arguably New York's nicest Mc. This album sets the bar in which all New York Mc's still strive to achieve till this day. Blueprint and Stillmatic reached this albums quality certainly, but still didn't have that certain something that made this album what it is...Biggie perhaps?

Essential Listening: "Ni**as Bleed", "The Commission", "F**k You Tonight"

Mr. Lays's rating:

578   7.7  

This is Metallica. Trash! Nasty! Loud!
If turned up to loudly this album could kill the listener.


Essential Listening: "Blackened", "Shortest Straw",

Mr. Lays's rating:

204   8.6  

What could I say about Hendrix that hasn't been said already? The man is a icon. 'Nuff said?



Essential Listening: "Purple Haze", "Star Spangled Banner", "Fire"

Mr. Lays's rating:

31   8.7  

Nas once again proves his supremacy by releasing another classic album. The one-two punch of this with the release of The Blueprint gave New York reason to be happy about their standing in Hip-Hop. And for good reason this is a damn near flawless album.

Essential Listening: "Either", "Got Ur Self a Gun", "Rewind"

Mr. Lays's rating:

4   8.7  

Dr. Dre need I say more!
We should not even worry about if Detox ever releases (hint: it isn't in our lifetime).
The Chronic 2001 will keep the West high (!) untill the end of the new era!


Essential Listening: "Next Episode", "Forgot about Dre", "The Watcher"

Mr. Lays's rating:

11   8.8  

I never really noticed the music playing in the background in anime, but this caught my attention. The multitude of instruments that mesh together is hard to be ignored. Good stuff!


Essential Listening: The whole disc!

Mr. Lays's rating:

4   9.7  

"Dirt" is the album that gave Alice in Chains force as a powerhouse in the Seattle grunge era. Essential listening for any fan of that era.


Essential Listening: "Dirt", "Down in a Hole",
"Dem Bones"

Mr. Lays's rating:

847   7.8  

Essential Listening indeed!




Essential Listening: "Enter Sandman", "Sad but True", "Wherever I May Roam"

Mr. Lays's rating:

150   7.4  

Missing: Nice Female Mc who can sing a note and speaks about interesting social issues...

If found please bring Miss. Lauryn Hill back to the recording booth.

Essential Listening: "Lost Ones", "Ex-Factor"

Mr. Lays's rating:

79   7.9  

This album pretty much made Snoop Dogg a household name. Another masterpiece produced by the genius of Dr.Dre.


Essential Listening: "Gin and Juice"

Mr. Lays's rating:

78   7.8  

This album sparked a war for supremacy of New York's best MC to wear the crown after the late Biggie Smalls. On the track "Takeover" Jay-Z called out many fellow NY MC's and roasted them. The only MC that feuded back worth mentioning was Nas. Everyone feared retaliation using violence, but all was well when the beef stayed on the records. Hip-Hop it seemed had learned and grew up. Sorta.

Essential Listening: "Takeover", "Song Cry", "Heart of the City"

Mr. Lays's rating:

33   7  

Anthrax is one of the most overlooked/underrated bands in metal. This album can still today put some of the new artists to shame.


Essential Listening: "Hy-pro-glow", "Invisible"

Mr. Lays's rating:

101   8  

I may overrate this album at times, but I love it. I know it's not the best, but dammit this is my list.


Essential Listening: "Strength of the World", "Betrayed", "Beast and the Harlot"

Mr. Lays's rating:

16   6.9  

One of Nas' best albums that showed why he is one of the biggest lyrical giants ever in Hip-Hop. The album cover is a little silly in my opinion, but the message is clear: Nas is something not understandable yet at the same time amazing to look at...like the Sphinx. I have no idea what I am talking about...

Essential Listening: "My Bitch is My Money", "Nas is Like", "Hate Me Now"

Mr. Lays's rating:

145   7.5  

I know that I mentioned earlier that Trent Reznor and Co. will never quite possibly be able to out do "The Downward Spiral", well I was right, but this is a close second for me. After the critics slammed "With Teeth" Reznor rebounded with this post apocalyptic themed album (with viral sites and a fake 800# to boot) that showed everybody that Nine Inch Nails was nowhere near finished.

Essential Listening: "Capital G", "God Given", "Me I'm Not",

Mr. Lays's rating:

30   7.9  

RZA and the Clan brought the Rakim days of lyrics back to the forefront of Hip-Hop. It was nice when artists pushed other artists to be more creative in their form. I wish that that the day would happen again when MC/Rappers worried more about raising issues that the size of their rims.

Essential Listening: "Hellz Wind Staff", "It's Yourz", "Triumph"

Mr. Lays's rating:

30   8.3  

I am trying hard not to put compilation albums this list, but I (embarrassingly) haven't listened to Megadeth's other albums. Dave Mustang is the reason Metallica still wonders all that could have been. But then again it's not like Metallica puts out garbage...

Essential Listening: "Hanger 18", "Symphony of Destruction", "Peace Sells"

Mr. Lays's rating:

104   8  

Although not as diverse as Nirvana's unplugged session was in my opinion still this is worth a listen. This album showcases Jerry Cantrel/Layne Stanley's mimicking Lennon/McCartney's flare. Well not quite as well, but you know what I mean.

Essential Listening: "No Excuses", "Heaven Beside You", "Rooster"

Mr. Lays's rating:

100   7.8  

Straight out of jail then to the recording booth. Man did 2pac ever have plenty of song concepts ready to go. (Word is that he recorded this 2 disc album in just under a month.) Awesome producing, song structure and plenty of disses made this one of Death Row Records best selling albums. People today still marvel at the brilliance that is 2pac and for good reason.

2pac had amazing versatility in his song writing and while not the best lyricist in the business he definitely left a mark.

Essential Listening: "Can't C Me", "Ambitions as a Ridah", "Wonder Why they call you Bytch"

Mr. Lays's rating:

49   8.2  

Another New York MC? Wu-Tang had such amazing roster they could kill an MC with throwaway material. Liquid Swords is easily one of the best of the Wu-Tang solo albums to drop ever. Even today, the GZA continues to make many MCs' wonder about their own talent.

Essential Listening: "Labels", "Duel of the Iron Mic", "Cold World"

Mr. Lays's rating:

28   8.2  

MF Doom is one of the most underrated MCs out there today. Concept albums normally turn out rather, um garbage, but this is a breath of fresh air. Witty, funny, and lyrical this is one album not to be slept on.


Essential Listening: "Beef Rap", "Kookies",

Mr. Lays's rating: