Essential Album List
Rather than torture myself with some sort of "100 Greatest Albums" list, I've simply included all albums that have received either an A or A+ rating, the level above which I consider an album to be absolutely essential. Please note that this list only includes albums that have been reviewed on this Web site.
20/20 - 20/20/Lookout!
Accept - Restless And Wild
AC/DC - Let There Be Rock
AC/DC - Powerage
AC/DC - Highway To Hell
AC/DC - Back In Black
Aerosmith - Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith - Rocks
Alice Cooper - Greatest Hits
Alice In Chains - Dirt
Alice In Chains - Jar Of Flies
Gregg Allman - Laid Back
Allman Brothers Band - The Allman Brothers Band
Allman Brothers Band - Idlewild South
Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East
Allman Brothers Band - Eat A Peach
Amon Duul II - Yeti
...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead - Source Tags & Codes
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Joan Armatrading - Joan Armatrading
At The Drive-In - Relationship Of Command
The Band - Music From Big Pink
The Band - The Band
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night
The Beatles - Rubber Soul
The Beatles - Revolver
The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
The Beatles - The Beatles (The White Album)
The Beatles - Abbey Road
The Beatles - 1962-1966 (The Red Album)
The Beatles - 1967-1970 (The Blue Album)
The Beatles - Past Masters (Volume Two)
The Beatles - 1
Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister
Belle & Sebastian - Push Barman To Open Old Wounds
Big Star - #1 Record /Radio City
Bjork - Greatest Hits
The Black Crowes - The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality
Black Sabbath - Vol. 4
Black Sabbath - Sabotage
Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
Bobby "Blue" Bland - Two Steps From The Blues
The Blue Nile - Hats
Blur - The Best Of Blur
Tommy Bolin - Teaser
Boston - Boston
David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World
David Bowie - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
David Bowie - Station To Station
David Bowie - Low
David Bowie - Changesbowie
David Bowie - The Singles
James Brown - Live At The Apollo, 1962
James Brown - Star Time
Roy Buchanan - That's What I am Here For
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Built To Spill - Perfect From Now On
Built To Spill - Keep It Like A Secret
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - East-West
The Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady
The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds - Younger Than Yesterday
The Byrds - Greatest Hits
Terry Callier - Occasional Rain
Terry Callier - What Color Is Love
Camel - Music Inspired by The Snow Goose
James Carr - You Got My Mind Messed Up
The Cars - The Cars
The Cars - Complete Greatest Hits
Catherine Wheel - Ferment
Catherine Wheel - Chrome
Catherine Wheel - Happy Days
Cheap Trick - Cheap Trick
Chicago - Chicago IX - Greatest Hits
Collective Soul - 7even Year Itch: Greatest Hits 1994-2001
Sam Cooke - A Man And His Music
Sam Cooke - Live At The Harlem Square Club, 1963
Counting Crows - August and Everything After
The Cranberries - Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can't We?
Cream - The Very Best Of Cream
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Chronicle
Crowded House - Together Alone
The Cure - Staring At The Sea: The Singles
The Cure - Disintegration
Def Leppard - Pyromania
Derek & The Dominos - Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations
Dinosaur Jr. - You're Living All Over Me
Dinosaur Jr. - Bug
Dinosaur Jr. - Ear Bleeding Country: The Best Of Dinosaur Jr.
Dio - Holy Diver
DJ Shadow - Entroducing...
Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake - Bryter Layter
Nick Drake - Fruit Tree
The Drifters - The Very Best Of The Drifters
The Eagles - The Greatest Hits 1971-1975
Earth, Wind, & Fire - Greatest Hits
Elastica - Elastica
The Faces - Five Guys Walk Into A Bar
Faith No More - Angel Dust
The Flaming Lips - Transmissions From The Satellite Heart
The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Flying Burrito Brothers - The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Four Tops - The Ultimate Collection
Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man The Way I Loved You
Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin - Spirit In The Dark
Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace
Aretha Franklin - 30 Greatest Hits
Fugazi - Repeater + 3 Songs
Fugazi - The Argument
Galaxie 500 - On Fire
Gang Of Four - Entertainment!
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
Marvin Gaye - The Master 1961-1984
Al Green - I'm Still In Love With You
Al Green - Call Me
Al Green - The Belle Album
Al Green - Greatest Hits