If you are looking for new music, this Music Monday is perfect for you. I normally do playlists, but I wanted to switch it up for Music Monday and share some of my all-time favorite albums. Some of these have been on my list for a while, but some of them are rather new. Head to Spotify right now (for most of these albums anyway) and give them a listen.
Note: This list is NOT in order. As I have stated in past Music Monday where I share numbered lists, I cannot rank these people. I love all of these things far too much to begin ranking them.
1. HEAVN by Jamila Woods
Genre: R&B; Soul
Jamila Woods is one of my most recent artist obsessions. I found her on the Alternative R&B playlist from Spotify, and she has quickly become one of my faves. I cannot wait to see what she does in the future with her music. HEAVN is such a great album. Each song tells a story and I love albums that make me want to listen to the entire thing without shuffling. This album is an experience in my opinion.
Favorite Track: Holy
2. Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge by My Chemical Romance
Genre: Rock
I could never list a bunch of music without sharing my love for My Chemical Romance. They were one of my first favorite bands and my first concert. Three Cheers is probably my favorite album, but Danger Days is a close second. I could only share one album from each artist though (I made that rule for myself) so I decided to share Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge here.
Favorite Track: It's Not A Fashion Statement, It's A Deathwish
3. Lemonade by Beyonce
Genre: Pop; R&B
Yep, I have Lemonade fever just like everyone else who has listened to music in the last few years. Beyonce puts out consistently better music each time she puts out an album. I am sure I will love her next just as much as this one. This album is full of hit after hit and I love the fact that she also dropped videos to go along with each song to enhance the storytelling element of this album.
Favorite Track: Sorry
4. Torches by Foster The People
Genre: Rock
I found out about Foster The People when everyone else did in 2011 around the release of their song Pumped Up Kicks. I know that song has some controversy, but Foster The People is genuinely one amazing band. They have put out of lot of great music since 2011, though. In fact, they just released their third album last year! Their first album as a whole is my favorite, but I do sincerely love listening to everything they have put out in the last seven years.
Favorite Track: I Would Do Anything For You
5. Because Of The Times by Kings Of Leon
Genre: Rock
It was hard for me to pick my favorite Kings Of Leon album (I am sensing a theme here, y'all.) There are so many good ones. I haven't truly gotten into the last one, yet (I like a couple songs but I am not a Walls fanatic.) For my favorite Kings of Leon album it was a toss up between this one and Aha Shake Heartbreak or Mechanical Bull. I had to go with this one because it has my all-time fave Kings of Leon song on it, Arizona and because of the mix of songs in general on this album. So good!
Favorite Track: Arizona
6. Neck of The Woods By Silversun Pickups
Genre: Rock
Let's just get it out of the way right now. 🗣 EVERY SILVERSUN PICKUPS ALBUM IS A BOP. 🗣 I am being 100% serious with y'all right now. I have loved every single album they have put out from Pikul to Better Nature. Their sound is amazing and I just needed to say that. Neck Of The Woods is my all-time favorite, though, I didn't have a hard time picking the album, it was more so the favorite track I had a hard time picking with this one.
Favorite Track: Here We Are (Chancer)
7. 2014 Forest hill Drive by J. Cole
Genre: Hip Hop
I don't even know what to tell you about this album. It is just filled with so many hits and J. Cole is everything. It was so hard for me to choose between this one and 4 Your Eyez Only, so don't think I am not showing any love to that album as well. I think they both have a ton of merit, but I have just liked this one longer so it came down to that. J. Cole is definitely one of my favorites in the hip hop genre so if you haven't heard this album you need to.
Favorite Track: Apparently
8. Lies For The Liars By The Used
Genre: Rock
I haven't listened to a ton of The Used lately, but one of my all-time favorite albums from them is Lies For The Liars. I even bought (or my parents bought :)) a collector's edition of this album when it came out. This album is filled with so many beautiful and interesting songs. You won't regret picking this up if you like rock music!
Favorite Track: Smother Me
9. In Rainbows by Radiohead
Genre: Rock
This album has legitimately made me cry more than once! It usually happens when I am listening to Nude, All I Need, or Reckoner–but it happens nonetheless. I remember that this album was a pioneer because it was one of the first “pay what you want” albums. This album came out in 2007, but it's been recently on repeat over in these happy parts. It's a timeless album to be honest. Thom Yorke has a beautiful voice and each song is distinct enough, while the entire album flows beautifully from one song to the next.
Favorite Track: Nude
10. Hot Fuss by The Killers
Genre: Rock
This is another album that's been out for a while, but it has recently been an album that I go back to a lot. I have been going back to listen to a lot of bands as an adult that I only listened to a few tracks from as a kid. It's been fun to truly begin to listen to Hot Fuss so I could see what all the fuss was about (get it? 😉) I think this is such a stellar album filled with tons of hits from start to finish.
Favorite Track: Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
11. Rainbow by Kesha
Genre: Pop/Pop Rock
If you haven't listened to any of Kesha's albums, I don't know what's wrong with you. Each album is really complex even if she was primarily known for songs like Tik Tok. She had a number of different types of songs, and I feel like she was really able to claim who she was as an artist in Rainbow. It truly feels like she is making the music that she wants to make versus trying to climb the ranks by giving the audience what the studio thinks they want.
Favorite Track: Learn To Let Go
12. Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes
Genre: Rock
I learned about Alabama Shakes in 2016 when they played on the Grammy's. Up to that point I had never heard of Alabama Shakes or (at the very least) I didn't know they were a rock group due to their name (I thought it sounded more like a country music group.) When I heard their badass performance I instantly fell in love and listened to their music on Spotify. Sound & Color is such a fantastic album so if you like more of a blues rock or southern rock sound you need to check them out ASAP.
Favorite Track: Over My Head
13. Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded by Rihanna
Genre: Pop/R&B
This album was first released as just Good Girl Gone Bad, but I didn't have that one as a kid and instead I had Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded so that's why this one's on my list. Rihanna is such a great singer and this album is definitely my favorite album from her. It has so many awesome songs on it, and I had such a hard time picking my favorite. I decided to go with Rehab but I also adore Breakin' Dishes, Push Up On Me, and the title song, Good Girl Gone Bad.
Favorite Track: Rehab
14. Wrong Crowd by Tom Odell
Genre: Indie Pop
I call Tom Odell my Apple Music babe because he is one of the only musicians I found when Apple Music first came out and they had a three month free trial for everyone who signed up. One of Tom Odell's songs was featured in a playlist I used to listen to a lot as I was getting ready for bed, and I fell so in love with the song that I had to listen to more of his music. It was hard for me to choose between his two albums, but I feel that I listen to his latest album Wrong Crowd way more than I listened to Long Way Down (both are bops though.)
Favorite Track: Magnetised
15. Nevermind By Nirvana
Genre: Grunge/Alternative Rock
If you have never heard Nevermind by Nirvana, what are you doing? It's definitely a quintessential album in alternative/grunge rock. I have multiple albums from Nirvana in my cd collection, but I always go back to Nevermind. It's just such a good album filled amazing tracks one after another. It's worth a listen even though grunge rock isn't nearly as popular these days.
Favorite Track: Lithium
16. Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette
Genre: Alternative Rock/Pop Rock
Alanis Morissette has such a powerful voice and it really shows in her debut album Jagged Little Pill. Most people know You Oughta Know, but the entire album has a lot of great songs. I think this is a must listen if you love listening to female artists and you also just love great music. This album easily has both of those elements.
Favorite Track: All I Really Want
17. Fate By Dr. Dog
Genre: Rock, Psychedelic Rock
First and foremost, it was a bit hard for me to pick a specific Dr. Dog album I liked most. I have a lot of favorites across various Dr. Dog albums and I listen to all the albums on shuffle. I picked this one because it was the first album I was introduced to and it has a special place in my heart because of that. I would suggest listening to a bunch of random songs off multiple albums. I put all their tracks in a playlist on Spotify and just hit shuffle. They have such a backlog of music, the playlist option was the easiest for me so I could get into a bunch of their music at once.
Favorite Track: The Beach
18. Louder Now By Taking Back Sunday
Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock
I have a lot of memories watching the MakeDamnSure video on Fuse after school. This was one of the first alternative rock albums I ever bought so it has a very special place in my heart. Taking Back Sunday has so many other great albums, but Louder Now is my fave because I found it during the first year I realized alternative rock was my favorite genre of music. Before I started listening to listening to alternative rock music, I didn't listen to much music because it didn't resonate with me. It was so awesome to find a genre that I could love and one that I continue to love today.
Favorite Track: Divine Intervention
19. A Fever You Can't Sweat Out By Panic! At The Disco
Genre: Rock Music, Pop Punk
This is another album that I got when I first started listening to alt rock/pop punk music. I adored this album so much and I still do. Brendon Urie is everything so if you have never heard a single Panic! song, you really need to up your music game. I have listened to some of the current Panic! music, but this one will definitely always be my favorite because I started listening to it in 2006 (which is over a decade ago, isn't that insane?!)
Favorite Track: There's A Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven't Thought Of It Yet
20. Born To Die By Lana Del Rey
Genre: Alternative Pop
I started listening to Lana Del Rey in college after one of my friends introduced me to her music. Lana is such an easy musician to listen to and put in the background while you are getting work done. Born To Die is my favorite of all her albums, as it just has so many great tracks on it. I also love how eclectic the music on the album is, but Lana's voice is so unique to her that you can recognize any of her tracks easily.
Favorite Track: Off To The Races
21. Pure Heroine By Lorde
Genre: Dream Pop
Lorde is another artist I started listening to while in college. Her album Pure Heroine is filled with so many amazing tracks and I could listen to this in so many ways, from start to finish or skipping around until I find my favorite tracks. I know an album is great when I don't mind listening to it front to back. This album is a must listen for anyone who likes a mix of alternative rock and pop music.
Favorite Track: Million Dollar Bills
22. She Wants Revenge By She Wants Revenge
Genre: Gothic Rock
My love for She Wants Revenge definitely goes back a while to when I used to listen to the radio a lot to find music. I recently rediscovered their albums though a few years back and listening to this album all the way through. This album probably won't be for everyone (I mean, they only released two albums, so obviously) but this is definitely worth a mention in my list of faves.
Favorite Track: Broken Promises For Broken Hearts
23. Eye To The Telescope By KT Tunstall
Genre: Folk Rock
I was introduced to KT Tunstall like most people were, through her hit Black Horse and The Cherry Tree (does anyone else remember this bop?) After listening to that, I ended up getting the full album. This album has honestly gotten me through a lot over the years. I have listened to this album through some of my most depressed teen years, and I still listen to it every blue moon now. It will always be one of my faves.
Favorite Track: Heal Over
24. Flyleaf By Flyleaf
Genre: Alternative Metal, Christian Rock
I am pretty sure Flyleaf are the only Christian rock bands that most people listen to. Flyleaf is another band I started listening to when I was in junior high/high school. This album is full of great tracks and I have just always loved Lacey's voice. I haven't heard much of their recent-ish stuff, but I love this album and Memento Mori.
Favorite Track: All Around Me
25. Minutes To Midnight By Linkin Park
Genre: Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
I honestly can't explain how much of my depressed teenage years this album helped me get through. I don't know how many times I have listened to this album, but I know that it has so many beautiful songs. Chester's death last year definitely made an impact on me because I know how much Linkin Park helped me get through some depressing times in my own life. This album is a big part of that. If you have never listened to any albums from Linkin Park, you need to stop what you are doing right now and listen.
Favorite Track: In Pieces
26. Heroine By From First To Last
Genre: Post-Hardcore, Experimental Rock
Before Skrillex was Skrillex, he was Sonny Moore, and he was in a little band called From First To Last. I have never listened to a ton of FFTL, but I did listen to a ton of this album! This album definitely deals with some pretty dark themes all the way through, but I still love it because it's another album that I loved so much as a teenager. I think it's worth a listen because of how complex it is. There are definitely some more headbanging moments, but it also has some softer tunes throughout.
Favorite Track: The Levy
27. Fantasies By Metric
Genre: Indie Rock
I am honestly not sure how I found out about Metric, I feel like it was through some playlist on Spotify or a radio station. I remember falling in love with the acoustic versions of their songs first and then finding their albums. I never followed Metric closely, but I do love their music. Fantasies is my favorite Metric album, which is why it's on this list of faves!
Favorite Track: Gold Guns Girls (also, find the acoustic version of this song for a real bop!)
28. Title By Meghan Trainor
Genre: Pop
This is probably one of the most traditionally poppy albums on my entire top 30 list. I love Meghan Trainor's voice and this album is just full of bops from the first to the last track. You seriously need to check out this album if you love pop or r&b tunes. It was hard for me to pick a single fave track from this album. Some honorable mentions: Walkashame, Title, and No Good For You.
Favorite Track: Bang Dem Sticks
29. (What's The Story) Morning Glory by Oasis
Genre: Britpop, Rock
This album is full of so many rock bops. This Oasis album alone has Wonderwall, Champagne Supernova, Don't Look Back In Anger, and Morning Glory on it. They pulled so many great songs from just this one album, especially if you love 90s rock. My fave is technically She's Electric, which I think is another bop you have to be aware of.
Favorite Track: She's Electric
30. 21 by Adele
Genre: Pop, Soul
Adele's voice is just so beautiful, so she is the perfect artist to round out my list of 30 albums. 21 is my favorite of all her albums, it's the album I love the most songs on. This album is so versatile as far as types of songs. Some songs will get you hyped up, and some songs will make you want to sing someone a love song (in my case, poorly.) I love that each of Adele's albums represents a time in her life, they each feel like a snapshot of where she was in the moment the album was created.
Favorite Track: Turning Tables
Conclusions
So, there is a compiled list of the 30 albums that I love to listen to.
I would love to know, what are your favorite albums? Did any of them make it on my list? Let me know in the comments below!
