Important albums

This is a list of all the important albums I've listened to in my life. They've saved me, inspired me, given me life, made me think, laugh, smile, cry, and everything in between.

Artist	Album	Release Date	Why it's important
J Dilla	Donuts	2006	It changed how I listened to hip hop and sampling in particular. I learn something new every time I listen to it or read about it. Donuts is one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time and the pinnacle of last musical salvos.
Donald Fagen	The Nightfly	1982	I can't stop listening to The Nightfly. I'll think about it and I need to hear it in full.
Michael Jackson	Off The Wall	1979	The start of Michael's iconic solo collab with Quincy Jones and one of many examples of why disco never died.
Michael Jackson	Dangerous	1991	Michael's first solo album without Quincy Jones and he created a masterpiece.
Flying Lotus	Los Angeles	2008	Soundscapes like I'd never heard before. This changed electronic music at the time.
Ahwlee	VII	2020	Heavy rotation. Ahwlee flipped some awesome Final Fantasy tracks into bops and neck breakers.
Madvillain	Madvillainy	2004	A bit like Donuts, Madvillainy has this lore that might overtake the music for some but, for me, they're jostling for dominance in my mind—and that's a good thing.
Roberta Flack	Oasis	1988	Oasis was released way out of Roberta Flack's most successful period. But quality and popularity aren't mutually inclusive. This album holds sentimental value as my dad played a few tracks from it (via her greatest hits) and it represents pleasant times from my childhood.
Ryuichi Sakamoto	Smoochy	1995	Ryuichi Sakamoto was such an incredible musician and A Day in the Park, from this album, reminds me of a specific time in my childhood. Coincidentally, it was around the time this album was released which adds to the sentimental quality. I miss him everyday.
Tears for Fears	The Seeds of Love	1989	They really pushed the boat out on this one in terms of styles and sound. It feels like a big blowout for the last year of the 80s and all those big drums, heavy reverb, and abstract lyricism.
SiR	HEAVY	2024	This was a tough call because Justice’s Hyperdrama could easily have taken this. And that’s not to say it missed the mark in any way but HEAVY enveloped me somehow. I loved all the songs, separately and together, and they made me feel so many emotions. I listened to the album a lot during my trips to Nice visiting my parents and during the times I was traveling on the tram, it kept me company like a good friend. Considering I listened to a fraction of the albums that I listened to the year before [2023], I didn’t expect to connect so much to an LP as much as this one.
Kaytranada	99.9%	2016	I loved this album from jump but it really came through for me a year after release when I was going through a difficult time and I needed an escape and some motivation. The beats knock on every single song, the epitome of all killer no filler. Awesome features and it wasn't even his final form.
Wun Two	Pirata	2019	Wun Two has this uncanny knack of making really chill albums that still have a kick (no pun intended). I love the pirate theme and the story skits from Ugly God which tie it all together. ‘Treasure Island’ always captivates me when it comes on.
Seal	Seal II	1994	My all-time favourite album. For whatever reason, I bought this with my own pocket money on cassette as a 4 year old and it has never lost its shine, decades later. Perhaps an unusual soundtrack to a childhood and my angst-filled teen year but the lyricism and sonic qualities really resonated with me.
Khruangbin	Con Todo El Mundo	2018	I was a fan before but this album solidified it for me. So many beautiful songs but August 10 is The Song. Simple but exquisitely crafted (in a Texan barn no less!)
Charlotte Day Wilson	Cyan Blue	2024	I can't stop listening to this. It's just so emotive and my second favourite ‘blue’ album (you can probably guess what the #1 is). Her voice is like velvet the way it gently hugs the melodies but also asks them to meet her where she sings.