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camusunder's Top 500 Albums of All Time (Part 5/5)

Previous posts in this series: Part 1/5Part 2/5Part 3/5, Part 4/5

The final entry in the list of my 500 favorite albums of all time.

Out of all these posts, my top 100 is most representative of my general music taste. There is a good amount of genre diversity and moods present. I would say that there is a general feeling of melancholy and more advanced kinds of dark moods here (such as the Portishead picks, Lankum, Chelsea Wolfe etc.), but there are also definite pick-me-ups and uplifting picks (such as Björk's Post, Big Thief and others). My taste since my last edition of this list has changed a lot; my #1 has changed, there are more additions than in the previous 2 or 3 editions combined, and there are a lot more contextually significant picks.

I love updating this...it's hard work, but it's one of the most enjoyable and rewarding things I do online. Thanks for reading!

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Some interesting statistics regarding this post: 

The average age of the albums on this list is 20.11 years. 

Country count: USA - 47, UK - 22, Canada - 9, Australia - 6, Sweden - 3, Japan - 3, Iceland - 2, France - 2,  Norway - 2, Germany - 1, Ireland - 1, Italy - 1, Venezuela - 1

Artists that appear multiple times on the list: Sufjan Stevens, Portishead, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, and Chelsea Wolfe 

Most common subgenres: Art Pop, Singer/Songwriter, Experimental Rock, Punk Blues, Post-Rock, Experimental


100. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic  ||  Neo-Psychedelia, Experimental Rock, Space Rock Revival  ||  2009  ||  apocalyptic, cryptic  ||  USA  

99. Daniel Rossen - You Belong There  ||  Progressive Folk, Chamber Folk  ||  2022  ||  lush, dense  ||  USA

98. Scott Walker - Tilt  ||  Experimental, Singer-Songwriter, Post-Industrial  ||  1995  ||  ominous, avant-garde  ||  USA

97. The Taxpayers - "God, Forgive These Bastards": Songs From the Forgotten Life of Henry Turner  ||  Folk Punk, Anti-Folk, Art Punk  ||  2012  ||  self-hatred, angry  ||  USA

96. Klô Pelgag - Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs  ||  Art Pop, Baroque Pop, Progressive Pop  ||  2020  ||  lush, surreal  ||  Canada

95. Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges  ||  Post-Minimalism, Experimental  ||  2011  ||  mysterious, complex  ||  Canada

94. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew  ||  Avant-Garde Jazz, Jazz Fusion  ||  1970  ||  complex, improvisation  ||  USA

93. Julia Holter - Aviary  ||  Progressive Pop, Art Pop, Experimental  ||  2018  ||  complex, ethereal  ||  USA

92. Death Grips - The Money Store  ||  Industrial Hip Hop, Hardcore Hip Hop, Experimental Hip Hop  ||  2012  ||  aggressive, heavy  ||  USA

91. David Kauffman and Eric Caboor - Songs From Suicide Bridge  ||  Contemporary Folk, Singer/Songwriter  ||  1984  ||  depressive, melancholic  ||  USA

90. Sweet Trip - You Will Never Know Why  ||  Indie Pop, Dream Pop, Indie Rock  ||  2009  ||  bittersweet, ethereal  ||  USA

89. Kath Bloom / Loren Mazzacane - Moonlight  ||  Contemporary Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Acoustic Blues  ||  1984  ||  calm, surreal  ||  USA

88. Sufjan Stevens - Javelin  ||  Indie Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Chamber Folk  ||  2023  ||  death, longing  ||  USA

87. Lingua Ignota - Sinner Get Ready  ||  Avant-Folk, Neoclassical Darkwave  ||  2021  ||  infernal, funereal  ||  USA

86. My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade  ||  Rock Opera, Pop Punk, Alternative Rock  ||  2006  ||  energetic, passionate  ||  USA

85. Everything Everything - Get to Heaven  ||  Art Pop, Indie Rock, Progressive Pop  ||  2015  ||  anxious, playful  ||  UK

84. Women - Public Strain  ||  Post-Punk, Noise Pop  ||  2010  ||  lonely, noisy  ||  Canada

83. A Silver Mt. Zion - He Has Left Us Alone...  ||  Post-Rock, Experimental, Modern Classical  ||  2000  ||  apocalyptic, atmospheric  ||  Canada

82. Opeth - Damnation  ||  Progressive Rock  ||  2003  ||  somber, mellow  ||  Sweden 

81. Radiohead - In Rainbows  ||  Art Rock, Dream Pop, Alternative Rock  ||  2007  ||  lush, introspective  ||  UK

80. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods  ||  Noise Rock, Indie Rock  ||  2005  ||  passionate, raw  ||  USA

79. Anna von Hausswolff - Dead Magic  ||  Neoclassical Darkwave  ||  2018  ||  funereal, disturbing  ||  Sweden

78. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois  ||  Chamber Pop, Singer/Songwriter  ||  2005  ||  lush, melodic  ||  USA

77. Lankum - False Lankum  ||  Irish Folk Music, Avant-Folk  ||  2023  ||  ominous, dark  ||  Ireland

76. Timber Timbre - Timber Timbre  ||  Contemporary Folk, Singer/Songwriter  ||  2009  ||  ominous, minimalistic  ||  Canada

75. Angelo Badalamenti - Twin Peaks  ||  Television Music, Dark Jazz  ||  1990  ||  mysterious, nocturnal  ||  Italy

74. The Microphones - The Glow Pt. 2  ||  Indie Folk, Psychedelic Folk, Slacker Rock  ||  2001  ||  lonely, melancholic  ||  USA

73. Dead Can Dance - Within the Realm of a Dying Sun  ||  Neoclassical Darkwave  ||  1987  ||  dark, mysterious  ||  Australia

72. Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses  ||  Synthpop, Darkwave  ||  1987  ||  cold, lush  ||  UK

71. Swans - Soundtracks for the Blind  ||  Experimental Rock, Post-Rock, Experimental  ||  1996  ||  disturbing, dark  ||  USA

70. Fever Ray - Fever Ray  ||  Art Pop, Synthpop  ||  2009  ||  dark, mysterious  ||  Sweden

69. Unwound - Leaves Turn Inside You  ||  Post-Hardcore, Indie Rock  ||  2001  ||  somber, mysterious  ||  USA

68. Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92  ||  Ambient Techno, IDM  ||  1992  ||  atmospheric, futuristic  ||  Ireland

67. Burial - Untrue  ||  Future Garage, Dubstep  ||  2007  ||  nocturnal, lonely  ||  UK

66. Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible  ||  Alternative Rock, Post-Punk  ||  1994  ||  misanthropic, self-hatred  ||  UK

65. Alice Coltrane - Journey in Satchidananda  ||  Spiritual Jazz  ||  1971  ||  meditative, spiritual  ||  USA

64. Alcest - Souvenirs d'un autre monde  ||  Shoegaze, Blackgaze, Post-Rock  ||  2007  ||  melancholic, soothing  ||  France

63. Comus - First Utterance  ||  Freak Folk, Progressive Folk, Psychedelic Folk  ||  1971  ||  pagan, manic  ||  UK

62. Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid  ||  Contemporary R&B, Art Pop  ||  2010  ||  science fiction, eclectic  ||  USA

61. The Drones - Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By  ||  Punk Blues  ||  2005  ||  passionate, raw  ||  Australia

60. Ulver - Shadows of the Sun  ||  Ambient, Ambient Pop, Electronic, Dark Ambient  ||  2007  ||  funereal, existential  ||  Norway

59. Portishead - Third  ||  Experimental Rock, Krautrock, Electronic, Trip Hop  ||  2008  ||  dark, sad  ||  UK

58. Chelsea Wolfe - The Grime and the Glow  ||  Lo-fi, Ethereal Wave, Gothic Rock  ||  2010  ||  atmospheric, ethereal  ||  USA

57. Neil Young - After the Gold Rush  ||  Country Rock, Folk Rock, Singer/Songwriter  ||  1970  ||  melancholic, poetic  ||  Canada

56. PJ Harvey - White Chalk  ||  Singer/Songwriter, Chamber Folk  ||  2007  ||  depressive, lonely  ||  USA

55. Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water  ||  Folk Pop, Singer/Songwriter  ||  1970  ||  melodic, uplifting  ||  USA

54. Noname - Telefone  ||  Jazz Rap, Conscious Hip Hop  ||  2016  ||  mellow, melancholic  ||  USA

53. Alcest - Écailles de lune  ||  Post-Metal, Shoegaze, Blackgaze, Dream Pop  ||  2010  ||  ethereal, surreal  ||  France

52. Joy Division - Closer  ||  Post-Punk  ||  1980  ||  cold, lonely  ||  UK

51. Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas  ||  Neo-Soul, Singer/Songwriter  ||  2020  ||  lush, uplifting  ||  UK

50. Chelsea Wolfe - Pain Is Beauty  ||  Darkwave, Gothic Rock  ||  2013  ||  somber, ethereal  ||  USA

49. 椎名林檎 [Sheena Ringo] - 加爾基 精液 栗ノ花 (Kalk samen kuri no hana)  || J-Rock, Art Pop, Art Rock, Progressive Pop  ||  2003  ||  eclectic, playful  ||  Japan

48. The Residents - Not Available  ||  Experimental, Minimal Synth  ||  1978  ||  avant-garde, disturbing  ||  USA

47. Swans - The Seer  ||  Experimental Rock, Post-Rock  ||  2012  ||  dark, apocalyptic  ||  USA

46. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree  ||  Art Rock, Dark Ambient, Singer/Songwriter  ||  2016  ||  dark, introspective  ||  Australia

45. Nico - The End  ||  Avant-Folk  ||  1974  ||  somber, funereal  ||  Germany

44. Elliott Smith - Either / Or  ||  Singer/Songwriter, Indie Folk  ||  1997  ||  poetic, depressive  ||  USA

43. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead  ||  Jangle Pop, Post-Punk, Indie Pop  ||  1986  ||  sarcastic, poetic  ||  UK

42. The Roots - Things Fall Apart  ||  East Coast Hip Hop, Jazz Rap  ||  1999  ||  rhythmic, urban  ||  USA

41. PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love  ||  Alternative Rock, Singer/Songwriter  ||  1995  ||  passionate, sexual  ||  UK

40. Erykah Badu - Mama's Gun  ||  Neo-Soul  ||  2000  ||  lush, romantic  ||  USA

39. This Heat - This Heat  ||  Experimental, Experimental Rock  ||  1979  ||  cold, mechanical  ||  UK

38. Low - HEY WHAT  ||  Ambient Pop, Post-Industrial, Experimental Rock  ||  2021  ||  atmospheric, avant-garde  ||  USA

37. D'Angelo and The Vanguard - Black Messiah  ||  Neo-Soul  ||  2014  ||  romantic, sexual  ||  USA

36. Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children  ||  IDM, Electronic, Downtempo  ||  1998  ||  hypnotic, mellow  ||  UK

35. Björk - Post  ||  Art Pop, Electronic, Trip Hop  ||  1995  ||  eclectic, quirky  ||  Iceland

34. The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream  ||  Heartland Rock, Indie Rock  ||  2014  ||  passionate, bittersweet  ||  USA

33. Arca - Arca  ||  Glitch Pop, Experimental  ||  2017  ||  surreal, romantic  ||  Venezuela 

32. Depeche Mode - Violator  ||  Electronic, Synthpop  ||  1990  ||  dark, sensual  ||  UK

31. Lalleshwari - Lullabies in a Glass Wilderness  ||  Singer-Songwriter, Art Pop, Darkwave, Experimental  ||  2006  ||  cryptic, disturbing  ||  UK

30. Madvillain - Madvillainy  ||  Abstract Hip Hop  ||  2004  ||  playful, humorous  ||  USA

29. Carissa's Wierd - Songs About Leaving  ||  Slowcore, Chamber Pop  ||  2002  ||  depressive, suicidal  ||  USA

28. Portishead - Dummy  ||  Trip Hop  ||  1994  ||  mysterious, nocturnal  ||  UK

27. The Cure - Pornography  ||  Gothic Rock, Post-Punk  ||  1982  ||  ominous, depressive  ||  UK

26. Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven! ||  Post-Rock, Experimental  ||   2000  ||  epic, complex  ||  Canada

25. Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You  ||  Indie Folk,  Indie Rock  ||  2022  ||  eclectic, soothing  ||  USA

24. Radiohead - OK Computer  ||  Art Rock, Alternative Rock  ||  1997  ||  futuristic, melancholic  ||  UK

23. Have a Nice Life - Deathconsciousness  ||  Post-Punk, Gothic Rock, Shoegaze, Post-Rock  ||  2008  ||  suicidal, misanthropic  ||  USA

22. Joanna Newsom - Ys  ||  Chamber Folk, Progressive Folk, Singer/Songwriter  ||  2006  ||  poetic, complex  ||  USA

21. Ulver - Blood Inside  ||  Experimental, Experimental Rock, Electronic  ||  2005  ||  avant-garde, dark  ||  Norway

20. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus  ||  Art Rock, Alternative Rock  ||  2004  ||  passionate, religious  ||  Australia

19. Arcade Fire - Funeral  ||  Indie Rock, Chamber Pop  ||  2004  ||  passionate, death  ||  Canada

18. Laurie Anderson - Big Science  ||  Experimental, Art Pop, Electronic, Post-Minimalism  ||  1982  ||  quirky, deadpan  ||  USA

17. Fishmans - Long Season  ||  Neo-Psychedelia, Dream Pop, Progressive Pop  ||  1996  || lush, psychedelic  ||  Japan

16. Chelsea Wolfe - Apokalypsis  ||  Gothic Rock, Darkwave  ||  2011  ||  somber, nocturnal  ||  USA

15. The Avalanches - We Will Always Love You  ||  Neo-Psychedelia, Electronic, Psychedelic Pop, Neo-Soul, House, Trip Hop, Nu-Disco  ||  2020  ||  bittersweet, nocturnal  ||  Australia

14. Portishead - Portishead  ||  Trip Hop, Acid Jazz  ||  1997  ||  dark, mysterious  ||  UK

13. Björk - Homogenic  ||  Electronic, Art Pop, Trip Hop  ||  1997  ||  cold, passionate  ||  Iceland

12. Charles Mingus - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady  ||  Avant-Garde Jazz, Experimental Big Band  ||  1963  ||  complex, passionate  ||  USA

11. Wire - Chairs Missing  ||  Post-Punk, Art Punk  ||  1978  ||  mysterious, anxious  ||  UK

10. 山岡晃 [Akira Yamaoka] - Silent Hill 2  ||  Video Game Soundtrack, Dark Ambient, Ambient  ||  2001  ||  ominous, melancholic  ||  Japan

9. Xiu Xiu - Plays the Music of Twin Peaks  ||  Experimental Rock  ||  2016  ||  dark, surreal  ||  USA

8. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz  ||  Art Pop, Progressive Pop, Indietronica, Glitch Pop  ||  2010  ||  epic, lush  ||  USA

7. Eels - Electro-Shock Blues  ||  Indie Pop, Trip Hop, Singer/Songwriter  ||  1998  ||  melancholic, bittersweet  ||  USA

6. Animal Collective - Spirit They're Gone Spirit They've Vanished  ||  Neo-Psychedelia, Experimental  || 2000  || avant-garde, melancholic   ||  USA

5. Cocteau Twins - Treasure  ||  Dream Pop, Ethereal Wave  ||  1984  ||  atmospheric, cryptic  ||  UK

4. Talking Heads - Remain In Light  ||  New Wave, Post-Punk, Afrobeat, Dance-Punk  ||  1980  ||  playful, energetic  ||  USA

3. The Drones - I Seaweed  ||  Punk Blues  ||  2013  ||  angry, poetic  ||  Australia

2. Lena Raine - Celeste  ||  Video Game Music, Digital Fusion, Chillstep, Synthwave  ||  2018  ||  atmospheric, melodic  ||  USA

1. Kate Bush - The Dreaming  ||  Art Pop, Progressive Pop, Art Rock, Experimental Rock, Baroque Pop, Gothic Rock  ||  1982  ||  manic, playful  ||  UK



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