Adore this album, yet another that I would've strongly considered choosing as my pick. I found this album one day just looking through new releases on Apple Music, the cover intrigued me. Never heard of the band, but I downloaded it and listened on a flight. Pretty sure it altered my brain chemistry, I was blown away. There are hints of the National in their sound, but it also reminds me of Japandroids, a great cathartic rock band unafraid to lean all the way into sincerity and, for lack of a less pretentious term, "joie de vivre." This album is maximal, it's long, there's grand string arrangements and interludes, but the emotion is so powerful and if you submit yourself to it, it'll rock you to your core. Relatively unknown Australian band (at least at the time I discovered this) blowing the roof off. One of my favorites of 2017, and of the last decade. Favorite tracks: One of those instances where my list is most of the tracklist, but "Persevere" is probably my number one, followed closely by ""The Deepest Sighs, the Frankest Shadows," "Keep Me in the Open," "Let Me Down Easy," "The Heart is a Muscle," and "What Can I Do If the Fire Goes Out." Album art: Really not much to it, a black and white photo of a woman sitting on a bed. She's got a distant look in her eye that intrigues me. Bold font framing with the title is probably what caught my eye years ago. Big fan of this one. 5/5

Love this one, kudos to whoever chose this one! Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person who's ever heard of Anais Mitchell. I found her through her Tiny Desk performance many years ago and became obsessed. Seriously, an incredible singer and songwriter, and the fact that she made this stage play (by now, it's become a Broadway thing and won Tonys!) is really impressive. Justin Vernon and Ani DiFranco on this thing is also awesome. "Why We Build the Wall" is still one of the greatest songs ever, ever. I could write an essay about that one, but will save my breath today. Anyway, fantastic album. 4.5/5

International retrofuturism. That's the Ruff Criminal 10 second review. But I owe everyone here a greater explanation, as this is my pick for the list. 2013 was an incredibly formative year for me when it comes to music: I just mentioned this in my review of Because the Internet, but that was the year when I first listened to Frank Ocean's channel ORANGE, then started tuning into Pitchfork's reviews and lists and began expanding my musical palate. It's also when Yeezus dropped and melted my brain, Chance the Rapper's Acid Rap was another world-changer for me, but then there's this album. Maybe the most special to me. I'm not sure what tuned me into this guy initially, but I think I found him slightly before my Pitchfork awakening. His song BTSTU (the final track on here) was sampled by Drake on a song called "Dreams Money Can Buy." I was a big fan of Drake pre-2013, and say what you will about that guy, but he had an ear for talent. That was my likely exposure point to Jai Paul, and he only had two tracks officially released: BTSTU and Jasmine, both incredible and unusual R&B tracks. Anyway, not long after I had become a fan of Jai Paul, word spread that he had dropped his album....or so we thought. By the time I went to listen to the album, it had been revealed that, despite being available for sale on Bandcamp, it wasn't an official release. The album had been stolen and leaked. Even Paul's own label thought it was him being cheeky and mysterious. But it wasn't, and he recoiled into obscurity, never to be heard from again....or so we thought. More on that later. I, being a new fan obsessed with his unique sound, had already been scrounging the internet looking for demos and stuff that he had posted on his myspace in the past. I found a download of the "album." I can't remember where I was when I first listened, but it was akin to being struck by lightning. This guy responsible for Jasmine and BTSTU had more in the chamber. Like so many great albums, this one's self-produced, and his production is unbelievable. Even in its fragmented, unfinished state, you could hear how powerful he is. Sonic tags akin to J. Dilla, sounding like the engine of a spaceship backfiring. Bass and guitar almost literally drowned in filters to the point that it sounds like the music's coming from underwater (listen to "Vibin" and "All Night"). Percussion and 808s blended in these polyrhythmic songs that seemingly import traditional Indian sounds to the pop charts in the year 2099. Who on earth could make, let alone even dream up, something like "Str8 Outta Mumbai"?? Throughout the album, synths and vocal elements drop in and out of the mix like it's all a game. Meanwhile, atop all that cyberpunk chaos is a guy faintly crooning like he's D'Angelo or Prince or something. Like everything's totally normal. I fell in love with this immediately, listened ceaselessly for years and years. Mind you, it was never official, so I was relying on sketchy downloads and fan-made music videos--a "Jasmine" music video set to scenes from Apocalypse Now, a black and white video of Robert Pattinson from some nameless movie was the music video for "All Night" (both of those are still on youtube by the way). The world fell in love with it too: it shook the world of underground music nerds, made year-end lists for major critics (even though it wasn't even a real album!), and you can check wikipedia to see the kind of musicians inspired by this. Could he have become a household name with the proper backing and release and all that stuff? I guess we'll never know. Nothing else really came from Jai Paul until 2019, when he released two new songs and decided to finally *officially* "release" this "album" - same track sequencing, very minor changes to the songs (though it lost a few Harry Potter samples, as well as the beautiful vocal intro to "All Night" - "The water's absolutely perfect....I've missed Ghana" - hilariously from an old Tomb Raider game). He didn't finish it, he just left it, finally handed it to us as is. Seemingly a resignation to the fact that it had become a part of his fan's and the music world's DNA for six years. It's a shame how that leak happened, and the toll it took on him seems to be immeasurable. Someone robbed this man of a trajectory that I can only imagine. But even with nothing else, he made this. It's like Charles Laughton directing only one movie, and it's "Night of the Hunter" - a cinematic language all his own. The same is true here: there's nothing like this album, even in patchwork artifact form. It's disjointed, splintered, obviously unfinished, and a bit all over the place. But that's part of the charm. It's like the Rosetta Stone, it's broken and not even the full story, but it's monumental nonetheless. There's perfection in imperfection. It makes it real, and human. There's some lyrics on channel ORANGE, on "Monks": "We're lost in a jungle underneath these clouds, there's a monsoon that never ends. A coke-white tiger woke us from our slumber, to guide and protect us 'til the end." Jai Paul is, for me, the coke-white tiger. And he and Frank both awoke me from my slumber that year. Whether you love this album like me or not, I do think it's truly worthy of listening before you die, because I've yet to find anything else like it. If I can put just one person on, make just one person get struck by lightning in the way I was, this pick will have been a success. Thank you all for listening. Final note: the song "Jasmine" is and has been my most played song on iTunes since 2012. It was also included in GTAV on the radio station Radio Mirror Park. That game came out in late 2013, and for the last 11 years that I've been playing that game (we're talking more than a thousand hours), no matter what I'm doing, if "Jasmine" is on the radio, I'm cruising. Favorite tracks (unranked): Str8 Outta Mumbai, Zion Wolf Theme, Genevieve, Raw Beat, Crush, Jasmine, 100,000, Desert River (I knew this song as "Eagle" on the old leak), All Night, BTSTU. Album art: Pure chaos. Elements from previous covers, like the bald man on the right side with his face blurred (he was from the BTSTU single cover on youtube). A collage of animals, space, technology, culture. Jai with the footy jersey, face painted, bizarre futuristic haircut. Behind him in the fez is his brother AK Paul (also a musician and producer, also awesome, together they formed the Paul Institute and they are much better Paul Brothers than the ones America has to offer). I will love this forever. For me, it's iconic. 5/5

Okay, thank you to whoever picked this one, for something very different and challenging in a way that all the indie rock hasn't been. Aboriginal Australian music?? Hell yeah. Really fantastic songs, cinematic soundscapes and mournful vocals (though I have no idea what's being sung). I like that the tracks are largely titled after animals or natural forces, so cool. I really dig this, appreciate the inclusion. Favorite tracks: Djolin, Baru, Gopuru, Wulminda. Album art: Just a shot of the artist, looking about as devastated and mournful as he sounds singing (if that is him). He passed away shortly before this was released, and this seems like a very powerful posthumous statement to release. 4/5

Enjoying seeing albums I know pop up on here! This one’s pretty recent, I listened to this when it came out a few years ago. My first Porter Robinson album, and I really dig it. My review at the time: if music itself were a movie, this would play during the end credits. It’s got that feeling for sure, I love the fragmented nature of the production on here, a fun take on electronica and a lot of it feels as accessible as standard pop music. “Look at the Sky” is my favorite, and it was later added to Fortnite, which I still think is cool. Anyway, great album, great pick! Favorite tracks: Look at the Sky, Lifelike, Wind Tempos, Musician, Mother, dullscythe, Mirror, Something Comforting. 4/5

Kicking off the user picks with, well, not a bang nor a whimper, more of a scream. When I say I don't like metal, I'm talking mostly about screamo-type metal. Not sure if that's derogatory or what, but some of this album is that kind of rock or metal, and it's frankly not for me. A couple songs I'll hang on to for posterity, but otherwise this doesn't do it for me. Favorite tracks: Accidents, No Transitory. Album art: Really, really love this one. Awesome art style, bold colors, the picture is nice and spooky. Frankly, wish I liked the music more because this is one I'd enjoy keeping around. 2.5/5

Sounds similar to the various electronic/dance albums that we had on the list. There's a fun blend of voices and styles represented on here, and a lot of samples that I recognize. Pretty good album. This is only day two of the user picks, but I'm looking forward to finding the review for each album from the person that added it, that's my best bet at understanding inclusions like these (and more insight than we got for the albums on the actual list, though maybe that's in the book). Favorite tracks: Scratch 22, Drop the Boom, Don't Stop, B-Boy Stance. Album art: Pretty shitty if I'm being honest, looks like a flyer made by an afterschool "don't do drugs" PSA program. 3.5/5

Okay, now we're talking, something fresh! I've heard of this group, and I'm familiar with two songs on here ("Seven" and "Show Me How") because my wife is a fan. I had an idea of what to expect and got just that: some very chill indie pop. A dreamy quality to it all, and the vocals are very soft to the point of being barely there. It works to great effect. Also the radio-themed interludes are refreshing, "Fiero GT" was a wild surprise. More of that would have been incredible. Anyway, this is a great album, I really dig it. A bit long, but given the style it's not bothersome in any way. Glad I listened before I died. Favorite tracks: Fiero GT, Oncle Jazz, Days Go By, Found Me, Say Can You Hear, Pines, Seven, Show Me How, Pierre, Poodle of Mud, Tailwhip Revisited. Album art: Goofy drawing of a creature, not sure if this was actually made by a toddler or just made to look like that. Either way, it's obviously striking as a result. Very simple, very silly. Can't perceive any connection between it and the music though. 4/5

Whoa, cool! I know these guys primarily for the Malcolm in the Middle theme song, and then also there was a time when Joey and I would listen to their music when we were younger. Think they had this song called "Put Your Hand on the Computer" that we were always laughing at, they're such a quirky band. Thought maybe this would be an odd pick given it's fairly recent and later in their catalog but it's strong. The quirk is definitely there, and so is the musicianship, these guys really have a lot going for them. If it's too weird for you, I get it, but it's not too weird for me, it's fun and funny. "When Will You Die" especially made me laugh, quite a few others just plain impressed me. Great album! Favorite tracks: The Lady and the Tiger, When Will You Die, Can't Keep Johnny Down, Cloissonne, Celebration, Dog Walker, You Don't Like Me. Album art: Really love this one, some Warhol-style pop art. It's a monster truck hearse, bright pink. The contrast is excellent. Great cover, no notes. 4/5

Huh. I mean, I get why someone would like this, but I'm fascinated that it would be given "must listen before you die" treatment. British popstar, I've never heard of her, and it's not necessarily bad, it's just mostly flat and plain pop. "Dumb Dumb" was actually really cool, that honestly saved this from 1-star territory for me, but other than that I'm mostly left scratching my head. That whole meme of "imagine carrying a child in your womb for 9 months to name him Hubert" or whatever, except imagine listening to 1100 albums over a span of years and getting a chance to pick one for everyone else to hear and you pick this one. On my hater shit today. Favorite tracks: Dumb Dumb, I Will Be There. Album art: Just a shot of this woman's face, about as generic as the music if you ask me. 2/5

Super, super cool album, I seriously dig this one. Ethereal, urgent, natural, a lot going on here. Scattered voices, sounds from out of left field, didn't know what to expect around each turn. Especially loved the title track, a lot of the electronic blips and stuff reminded me of the score from Night Gallery's "A Feast of Blood" segment - essential viewing. Loved this album, exactly the sort of thing I'd like to find on a list like this. Favorite tracks: Music for People in Trouble, Reincarnation, The Sound of War, Undercover, The Golden Age, Mountaineers. Album art: A statute of a woman with a treeline behind. Are we to believe this is the artist reincarnated, or was she perhaps the subject in a past life? There's an eerie lifelike quality to this statute, I appreciate it. 4.5/5

Nice choice! The list proper seriously lacked classical music, and obviously this is more modern, but still. Really inspired production choices, great melodies combined with unorthodox sounds and ways of getting there. Some tracks on here sounded familiar - have they been used in movies or anything? I'll have to do some digging. Johann became quite a titan in the contemporary field, and it was truly deserved. I either didn't realize or somehow forgot that he passed away in 2018 - what an unbelievable loss that is, of a relatively new and incredible voice in his space. Think I may have had him confused with Ludwig Goransson, but what makes Johann memorable to me is "Forces of Attraction," a song on the Theory of Everything score. Unforgettable. Anyway, great choice here, and if I could add some classical picks as well, I'd throw in Peer Gynt and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. Favorite tracks: Odi Et Amo, Englaborn, Salfraedinger Deyr, Bad (I know these aren't d's but I have to make do), Eg Heyrdi Allt An, Eg Atti Graa Aesku. Album art: Blue. That's it. I mean, it's an ocean, but it's not sharp enough to see details. The little seal in the bottom corner is a good classical touch. 4/5

This has to be a prank, right? As far as prank’s go, it’s actually hilarious. Listen to more than a thousand albums, including dozens of unnecessary and borderline insulting live albums, as well as probably half a dozen Bruce Springsteen albums, and, when asked to pick an album that all your fellow journeymen MUST listen to BEFORE THEY DIE, you pick a Bruce Springsteen live album. I got to “Born to Run,” the one song on here I was looking forward to, and it sounded bad. Out of breath, obnoxious live brass, considerably worse than studio. I couldn’t finish it. To the prankster responsible: you got me. But also you can go to hell. I looked at the summary page for the user who submitted this. They don't seem to be a prankster, but rather a fuddy-duddy. They gave a 1 star rating to some of the most interesting albums on the list, including just about every single hip hop album. No reviews either, they hate from the shadows. Well, I hate in the light of day and with my full chest. Love Bruce Springsteen but this "album" blows. Favorite tracks: no. Album art: Sweaty boss, could be spanking someone for all I know. I feel like I’m the one being punished. 0.5/5

Solid listen! Haven't heard of this guy, but it's some singer/songwriter stuff with an Americana edge. Took some settling in, but the back half really started to shine for me. "Good Man" is fantastic. The sort of rapping he did on "Thin Blue Flame" was interesting, didn't quite work for me but I respect it. Overall, pretty great album. Made me think of that one Benjamin Francis Leftwich album, Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm, not necessarily sonically but more thematically. That would be a good album for a list like this too. Favorite tracks: Good Man, One More Mouth, Best for the Best, Idaho, Wolves. Album art: A horse balancing on a log floating in water. It's got an invisible saddle effect going on, makes it look like it's just disfigured. Very folksy art style, fits the album well. 4/5

Not bad, not great to me either. Decent as far as rock albums go, the vocalist almost sounds like Geddy Lee but the music is certainly darker than Rush. I liked a couple tracks, but didn't really do much for me overall. It's fine. Favorite tracks: Marshal Dear, Waiting for a Sign. Album art: Great menacing picture of the band, love that this is a girl band. Feel like I've seen this before, it's strong and memorable. The little poem is crazy. 3/5

Jimmy Buffett, classic boomer music. Pretty sure he was on the Epstein list. Anyway, I get the appeal but it’s really not for me. I liked “Door Number Three,” that was interesting lyrically and the sort of country style sound wasn’t bad. Boat music (as opposed to yacht rock). Favorite tracks: Door Number Three. Album art: Is that young Jimmy? Sitting in a lounge chair under a palm tree. That’s the vibe, it’s always the vibe with him. I respect it, even if I prefer to get it elsewhere. 2.5/5

Cool points awarded to whoever picked this! I feel like Ani DiFranco is too often brought up solely as a joke, as she’s in that vein of singer/songwriters like Aimee Mann, Natalie Merchant, Tracy Chapman, and is a tad goofy. But I like her style, I hear a bit of Suzanne Vega influence in there too maybe? Not all of it worked for me (“Amazing Grace” cover was a puzzling lowlight), but there’s some heat on here, I respect it. Pretty good! Favorite tracks: Untouchable Face, Napoleon, Joyful Girl. Album art: She’s curled up in a corner, maybe in pain? Hard to tell. Not a great cover in my opinion. 3.5/5

Nice! Definitely a fan of the Avett Brothers, the title track of this album included. I’ve heard a few of theirs but not this one, it’s good! Some genre bending that I didn’t expect or love but a few that I’ll keep, that’s a win to me. Appreciate the inclusion. Favorite tracks: I and Love and You, January Wedding, Ten Thousand Words. Album art: Maybe their most famous? The most recognizable to me. A woman shrouded in shadow, looks like she’s holding a skull. I dig the art style. 3.5/5

Enjoying seeing albums I know pop up on here! This one’s pretty recent, I listened to this when it came out a few years ago. My first Porter Robinson album, and I really dig it. My review at the time: if music itself were a movie, this would play during the end credits. It’s got that feeling for sure, I love the fragmented nature of the production on here, a fun take on electronica and a lot of it feels as accessible as standard pop music. “Look at the Sky” is my favorite, and it was later added to Fortnite, which I still think is cool. Anyway, great album, great pick! Favorite tracks: Look at the Sky, Lifelike, Wind Tempos, Musician, Mother, dullscythe, Mirror, Something Comforting. 4/5

THANK YOU. To whoever picked this: I owe you my gratitude, as you made it possible for me to pick something else. Truly, this was a front-runner for me as a user submission, but as someone else beat me to it, I got to add Jai Paul’s album. I actually like this more than the one I picked, how often will people say that? Anyway, I’ve described this as the most perfect album that I’ll never understand, or “inscrutable brilliance.” A lot of Bon Iver’s work is a bit cryptic, but this is the first where he dove headfirst into the void, singing back to us through a lexicon that’s barely recognizable. But the emotions are real, palpable, and they transcend language and description. This might as well be in another language, and it would hit the same. I can’t get enough of the maximalism—remember, this is the same guy who holed up in a cabin for months to create For Emma Forever Ago, an album borne of basically nothing but pain and a guitar. Here, we’ve got all manner of instruments, vocoders, autotune, you name it. I adore it, I listen to it all the time when I feel the need to feel something, hell I’ve even got a supercut of all the music videos saved on my RG35XXSP (handheld gaming device) and I’m playing those while I listen right now. Enlightening experience, doesn’t necessarily explain anything but doesn’t need to. Just light and color and imagery to enhance the experience. God, I love this album. My favorite album from one of my favorite artists/groups ever. Probably on my short list for favorite albums ever, possibly top 10-20 or something. Fight me. Favorite tracks: Not a second on here I don’t love. 8 (circle), Creeks, death breast, 29 strafford apts all in my DNA. Album art: Classic for me, maybe not iconic yet but I love it. As inscrutable as the music, all glyphs and sketches and symbols and nothing makes sense. Does it need to? 5/5

Pretty good album. Wouldn't have been able to guess that they were Swedish, that's how well they nailed the Americana folk sound. Didn't really wow me but it was a solid ride all the way through. Favorite tracks: The Lion's Roar, Emmylou (Harris?), To a Poet. Album art: A couple of wispy Swedish women wading through a field. Big siren energy. 3.5/5

I don't know, man. It's another to file in the "indie rock" category, very nondescript and not distinct. Thought the point of user submissions was to move away from the norm, but alas, one man's trash etc. It's not bad I guess but I really don't care. Favorite tracks: Conversation Lags. Album art: A couple kissing on a haybale, or is it a hayrick? Some other third thing? Don't ask me, I'm not a farmer. 2.5/5

We had another Eels album on the main list, I do remember that. Little girl with freaky eyes. Gun to my head I couldn't tell you the difference with this one. It's more of the same, again, we're doing the indie rock thing. I feel like I should be nicer to these albums that were picked by fellow travelers but come on guys, is this really "must listen before you die?" Does the album you picked really add anything to the conversation? Favorite tracks: Grace Kelly Blues, Mr. E's Beautiful Blues. Album art: I do like this, it's that old school '50s aesthetic art style. "Dick and Jane" stuff. Very cute, good color scheme. 2.5/5

Look, it's a THIRD indie rock album in a row. I'll give this a slight edge over the other two because I do like Death Cab for Cutie, and unless I'm mistaken we didn't have any Death Cab on the main list. The title track is really great. Didn't save a ton on here but it's fine. Favorite tracks: Transatlanticism, We Looked Like Giants. Album art: A black bird tangled up in some red yarn. Might not be yarn, I don't know. It's cool though, has an old-fashioned feel to it and definitely memorable. 3/5

Very interesting album, a good change of pace. Categorized as prog rock, which makes sense. I like the long, meandering nature of some of these tracks. I also think the variety of instruments and sounds is cool, it's a bit all over the place in a good way. Only saving one song, but it was a fun listen. Favorite tracks: Home Invasion / Regret #9. Album art: A woman's face deteriorating into colorful paint. Very bold and vibrant, I like this one. 3/5

Okay, thank you to whoever picked this one, for something very different and challenging in a way that all the indie rock hasn't been. Aboriginal Australian music?? Hell yeah. Really fantastic songs, cinematic soundscapes and mournful vocals (though I have no idea what's being sung). I like that the tracks are largely titled after animals or natural forces, so cool. I really dig this, appreciate the inclusion. Favorite tracks: Djolin, Baru, Gopuru, Wulminda. Album art: Just a shot of the artist, looking about as devastated and mournful as he sounds singing (if that is him). He passed away shortly before this was released, and this seems like a very powerful posthumous statement to release. 4/5

Oh man, what a year 2013 was, for me personally and for some great albums. My pick for this list is from 2013, as was Yeezus, and I first heard Frank Ocean's channel ORANGE in 2013. Very formative year for me. I'd been a fan of Gambino since Joey sent me a link to "Freaks and Geeks" on a blog called thissongissick.com way back when. This album is his most expansive and holistic musical statement, and to me his most impressive. Complete with a screenplay, I think the basic premise is that he's inhabiting a character who's the song of a famous rapper, maybe Rick Ross? I forget, too, that Gambino is lead producer on most of this, with help from Ludwig Goransson (!). Really fantastic, varied production. I haven't listened in years but it took me right back, I was trying to rap/sing along with every song. Not a miss on here. The best album from an artist I love, from a year that means the world to me. One of two albums I've paid $100 for (the other being Channel Orange), and it's for the limited "bootleg" pressing. Proud of that. Gotta be a five star, right? Favorite tracks: Love it all, but top joints for me are Urn, Telegraph Ave, Worldstar, Crawl, Shadows, The Party. Album art: Love this picture, it's become a bit of a meme but I think that's just testament to its strength. He looks jaded, high, evil maybe, just a lot of things. Love the colors, especially of the Hawaiian shirt. A classic for me, dare I say iconic. 5/5

Never been a big reggae guy, but I like this one! Feels very elemental, sound is stripped to the essentials a bit. I can't help but laugh just seeing the name Augustus Pablo - I've never listened to him before but know the name from the Portlandia skit (that I definitely linked on another review) about the openly reggae mayor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4KCB3-UZqM. "Wow, he's into some root stuff, huh!" I like it. Favorite tracks: Keep On Dubbing, Corner Crew Dub. Album art: Is that Augustus? He's standing in front of a wall plastered with posters and fliers or something. Not bad, not super memorable either. 3.5/5

Not bad at all, some '80s new wave pop. Never heard of this group but they seem good enough. I like the concept here, and the sort-of title track. It's fun. Favorite tracks: Number One Song in Heaven, La Dolce Vita, Tryouts for the Human Race. Album art: Looks to be a nurse standing in a white room. Heavenly perhaps? Is she upside down? 3/5

Very quirky pick, but the kind of quirky that I think is enjoyable to get on a list like this. We're talking Dutch funk - wouldn't have expected that to exist. The songs where they swear or talk about butts is really funny, and seems extremely Dutch. Not saving much from this but it's alright! Favorite tracks: Stronger than Ajax, Bonesong, Higher. Album art: An empty jewel case with the title scratched into the lid. Really dope design if you ask me. 3/5

Adore this album, yet another that I would've strongly considered choosing as my pick. I found this album one day just looking through new releases on Apple Music, the cover intrigued me. Never heard of the band, but I downloaded it and listened on a flight. Pretty sure it altered my brain chemistry, I was blown away. There are hints of the National in their sound, but it also reminds me of Japandroids, a great cathartic rock band unafraid to lean all the way into sincerity and, for lack of a less pretentious term, "joie de vivre." This album is maximal, it's long, there's grand string arrangements and interludes, but the emotion is so powerful and if you submit yourself to it, it'll rock you to your core. Relatively unknown Australian band (at least at the time I discovered this) blowing the roof off. One of my favorites of 2017, and of the last decade. Favorite tracks: One of those instances where my list is most of the tracklist, but "Persevere" is probably my number one, followed closely by ""The Deepest Sighs, the Frankest Shadows," "Keep Me in the Open," "Let Me Down Easy," "The Heart is a Muscle," and "What Can I Do If the Fire Goes Out." Album art: Really not much to it, a black and white photo of a woman sitting on a bed. She's got a distant look in her eye that intrigues me. Bold font framing with the title is probably what caught my eye years ago. Big fan of this one. 5/5

Very nice! An '80s staple that I'm honestly surprised wasn't on the list to begin with. "Need You Tonight" and "Never Tear Us Apart" are both big time classics, to have two of those on one album is no small feat. Some other great cuts as well, great album. Favorite tracks: Never Tear Us Apart, Need You Tonight, New Sensation, Mystify. Album art: Couple hoodlum-looking guys at various distances from the camera. Plus someone ollieing over the title on a skateboard? It's definitely iconic, seen this one hundreds of times. Very bold, very memorable. 4/5

"Waiter, waiter! More alt-rock please!" Once again, we're back in the saddle. To be fair, I enjoyed this one a bit more than some others, good melodies and stuff, enough to go around. But man, not even remotely challenging or distinct to me. Must we listen before we die? Favorite tracks: Save the Planet, Membership, Fireworks, Escape is At Hand. Album art: A control panel of knobs and dials and gauges. More memorable and distinct than the music. 3.5/5

I know these gecs, I've heard all 10,000 of them before. This is a great and fun album, most people's introduction to the band (including me) was their previous, 1000 gecs, they multiplied since then. It's sort of a hyper-pop-punk, that's how I'd describe it. Love the sampling of "Sicko Mode" on the opener, very well executed. Not everything works for me here, but enough that I'd say it's great. Really not sure which of their albums I prefer, but this is a worthy inclusion for sure, very unique! Favorite tracks: Dumbest Girl Alive, Hollywood Baby, One Million Dollars, 757, Billy Knows Jamie, The Most Wanted Person. Album art: Only two gecs in sight, faces obscured by their t-shirts. Not bad at all, very DIY (as I'm sure their music is too). 4/5

Eh, not bad, not special either. Reminds me of Smashing Pumpkins. I get the appeal, but it didn't do much for me. Favorite tracks: Little Dipper, Stars. Album art: Mostly green with a zebra in the foreground. About as interesting as the music. 2.5/5

One of those bands that music snobs love. Pretty sure I've heard their "lift your fists" album, but I'm otherwise not well-versed in their music. This one's really cool though, only three tracks and they're all varying degrees of foreboding and apocalyptic. The first was my favorite, for the spoken bit that opened it. Cool how each song is effectively a suite of music, meandering through different territories so it's not just 15-20 minutes of the same thing. Really, really dig this though, consider me a fan. Favorite tracks: Liked 'em all, but The Dead Flag Blues reigns supreme. Album art: Menacing, foreboding, and hard to see picture of what looks to be a highway sign and some lights over a highway. Very vague, has that found footage vibe, as does some of the music. I like it. 4.5/5

Really beautiful album, subtle and soothing jazz. Don't know anything about Chet Baker but I dig this. "September Song," ironically, is going into my Christmas playlist. Perfect for that. Great choice, whoever picked this one! Favorite tracks: September Song, Alone Together, It Never Entered My Mind, If You Could See Me Now, Time on my Hands. Album art: Almost startling clarity to this photo, seems like something that could've been released in the last year or two, but nope: 1959. Looking like a lonesome cowboy. 4/5

I did like this one, a nice departure to get some more Latin music (Spanish in particular), though I can't say too much of it stuck out or grabbed me. Still, decent album. Favorite tracks: Jugete de Amor. Album art: Is that a naked old man riding a horse? Powerful stuff. 3/5

Pretty solid rock music, with a nice experimental/psychedelic edge. Thought I'd be sick of this era from the main list, but this is nice! 3.5/5

International retrofuturism. That's the Ruff Criminal 10 second review. But I owe everyone here a greater explanation, as this is my pick for the list. 2013 was an incredibly formative year for me when it comes to music: I just mentioned this in my review of Because the Internet, but that was the year when I first listened to Frank Ocean's channel ORANGE, then started tuning into Pitchfork's reviews and lists and began expanding my musical palate. It's also when Yeezus dropped and melted my brain, Chance the Rapper's Acid Rap was another world-changer for me, but then there's this album. Maybe the most special to me. I'm not sure what tuned me into this guy initially, but I think I found him slightly before my Pitchfork awakening. His song BTSTU (the final track on here) was sampled by Drake on a song called "Dreams Money Can Buy." I was a big fan of Drake pre-2013, and say what you will about that guy, but he had an ear for talent. That was my likely exposure point to Jai Paul, and he only had two tracks officially released: BTSTU and Jasmine, both incredible and unusual R&B tracks. Anyway, not long after I had become a fan of Jai Paul, word spread that he had dropped his album....or so we thought. By the time I went to listen to the album, it had been revealed that, despite being available for sale on Bandcamp, it wasn't an official release. The album had been stolen and leaked. Even Paul's own label thought it was him being cheeky and mysterious. But it wasn't, and he recoiled into obscurity, never to be heard from again....or so we thought. More on that later. I, being a new fan obsessed with his unique sound, had already been scrounging the internet looking for demos and stuff that he had posted on his myspace in the past. I found a download of the "album." I can't remember where I was when I first listened, but it was akin to being struck by lightning. This guy responsible for Jasmine and BTSTU had more in the chamber. Like so many great albums, this one's self-produced, and his production is unbelievable. Even in its fragmented, unfinished state, you could hear how powerful he is. Sonic tags akin to J. Dilla, sounding like the engine of a spaceship backfiring. Bass and guitar almost literally drowned in filters to the point that it sounds like the music's coming from underwater (listen to "Vibin" and "All Night"). Percussion and 808s blended in these polyrhythmic songs that seemingly import traditional Indian sounds to the pop charts in the year 2099. Who on earth could make, let alone even dream up, something like "Str8 Outta Mumbai"?? Throughout the album, synths and vocal elements drop in and out of the mix like it's all a game. Meanwhile, atop all that cyberpunk chaos is a guy faintly crooning like he's D'Angelo or Prince or something. Like everything's totally normal. I fell in love with this immediately, listened ceaselessly for years and years. Mind you, it was never official, so I was relying on sketchy downloads and fan-made music videos--a "Jasmine" music video set to scenes from Apocalypse Now, a black and white video of Robert Pattinson from some nameless movie was the music video for "All Night" (both of those are still on youtube by the way). The world fell in love with it too: it shook the world of underground music nerds, made year-end lists for major critics (even though it wasn't even a real album!), and you can check wikipedia to see the kind of musicians inspired by this. Could he have become a household name with the proper backing and release and all that stuff? I guess we'll never know. Nothing else really came from Jai Paul until 2019, when he released two new songs and decided to finally *officially* "release" this "album" - same track sequencing, very minor changes to the songs (though it lost a few Harry Potter samples, as well as the beautiful vocal intro to "All Night" - "The water's absolutely perfect....I've missed Ghana" - hilariously from an old Tomb Raider game). He didn't finish it, he just left it, finally handed it to us as is. Seemingly a resignation to the fact that it had become a part of his fan's and the music world's DNA for six years. It's a shame how that leak happened, and the toll it took on him seems to be immeasurable. Someone robbed this man of a trajectory that I can only imagine. But even with nothing else, he made this. It's like Charles Laughton directing only one movie, and it's "Night of the Hunter" - a cinematic language all his own. The same is true here: there's nothing like this album, even in patchwork artifact form. It's disjointed, splintered, obviously unfinished, and a bit all over the place. But that's part of the charm. It's like the Rosetta Stone, it's broken and not even the full story, but it's monumental nonetheless. There's perfection in imperfection. It makes it real, and human. There's some lyrics on channel ORANGE, on "Monks": "We're lost in a jungle underneath these clouds, there's a monsoon that never ends. A coke-white tiger woke us from our slumber, to guide and protect us 'til the end." Jai Paul is, for me, the coke-white tiger. And he and Frank both awoke me from my slumber that year. Whether you love this album like me or not, I do think it's truly worthy of listening before you die, because I've yet to find anything else like it. If I can put just one person on, make just one person get struck by lightning in the way I was, this pick will have been a success. Thank you all for listening. Final note: the song "Jasmine" is and has been my most played song on iTunes since 2012. It was also included in GTAV on the radio station Radio Mirror Park. That game came out in late 2013, and for the last 11 years that I've been playing that game (we're talking more than a thousand hours), no matter what I'm doing, if "Jasmine" is on the radio, I'm cruising. Favorite tracks (unranked): Str8 Outta Mumbai, Zion Wolf Theme, Genevieve, Raw Beat, Crush, Jasmine, 100,000, Desert River (I knew this song as "Eagle" on the old leak), All Night, BTSTU. Album art: Pure chaos. Elements from previous covers, like the bald man on the right side with his face blurred (he was from the BTSTU single cover on youtube). A collage of animals, space, technology, culture. Jai with the footy jersey, face painted, bizarre futuristic haircut. Behind him in the fez is his brother AK Paul (also a musician and producer, also awesome, together they formed the Paul Institute and they are much better Paul Brothers than the ones America has to offer). I will love this forever. For me, it's iconic. 5/5

Great reggae album, I actually have this from a record club I used to be in. Very relaxed energy, strong stuff though. 3.5/5

Had never heard of this, or Kano really, but I like it a lot. UK rap is always refreshing to me. 4/5

Cool to see this one added! I'm a fan of this album for sure, love Angelo and his work with Sufjan Stevens. "You Needed Love, I Needed You" is one of my favorite songs of 2018.

Time for a brother's pick. I heard my share of Killswitch Engage through him growing up, never really got into their music. He was always more of a metalhead than I am. But this is good, I appreciate the clarity of their vocals atop the otherwise raging instrumentals (but even those are processed and mixed pretty clean). "Without a Name" is an awesome departure track too. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would! Favorite tracks: Without a Name, Fixation on the Darkness, Temple from the Within. Album art: I really dig this one, seems to be a face of sand or parchment that is bleeding into streaks, almost like stripes on the American flag? No idea if that's what they're going for, but it's a really cool cover. 3.5/5

Love these guys, always a pleasure. Some great songs on here!

Have heard some Mountain Goats before, really like the vocalist. Very enjoyable album for me. 3.5

I like the Arctic Monkeys, but not a fan of this album really. More of a cabaret vibe than what I enjoy from them. 2.5/5

Should I be shocked we didn't have Louis Armstrong on the actual list? This is an awesome compilation album, he blows a mean trumpet, and the tracks where he sings too are fantastic: man, what a voice. He's gotta be one of very few musicians who play a vocal-based instrument with virtuosity and also sing, right? I guess technically Bob Dylan could be that with the harmonica. I think it's a rare group though. Anyway, great album, great inclusion! 4.5/5

Very cool atmospheric rock vibes. I dig it.

Baby's first TOOL album (me)! I liked this though, very mysterious, very strange, not some run of the mill prog rock by any means. Glad to have heard it. Favorite tracks: Eulogy, Forty Six & 2, Intermission, Die Eier von Satan, Third Eye. Album art: No idea what I'm looking at but it's haunting. 3.5/5

Love this album! Cool that we've had two from Gambino on the post-list. Because the Internet will always be my favorite from him, but this one was such a cool surprise when it dropped. Dude pivoted from punchline rap to pitch perfect P-funk. Excellent album, a great ride all the way through. Even the goofiness of "California" is fun to me. Favorite tracks: Me and Your Mama, Redbone, Boogieman, Zombies, California, Terrified, Baby Boy, The Night Me and Your Mama Met. Album art: Has to be a reference to Funkadelic's Maggot Brain, I know Donald Glover is a fan. Really cool blue effect to this, the woman looks possessed. Am I correct in remembering that there was some dispute as to her payment for this photoshoot? Don't quote me on that. 4.5/5

Cool inclusion! Sampha is great, enjoyed this album a couple years ago and still enjoy it today. Not my favorite from him but it's great!

Always loved blink-182, and so glad that someone stuck another album from them in the mix. This was their more mature album, not long before the hiatus when they started breaking up--Tom would go on to Angels and Airwaves, Mark and Travis did +44 for a minute (I know all the lore). This one is fantastic though, and it's cool that even a few albums in they were making absolute classic songs, some of their best: "Feeling This" and "I Miss You" especially, but me being a big time fan, so much of this hits for me. The deeper cuts, with more of an emo edge, were a welcome departure. Love this band, love this album. 4.5/5

Really cool electronic pick, I liked this one a lot! Certainly worth a listen, thanks for sharing! 3.5/5

Woof. Scott Walker vibes are strong with this one. Cabaret style music (my least favorite), and obnoxiously navel-gazey lyrical exercises. I liked one track enough to keep, the rest were mostly skips. People really like this stuff? Takes all types, I guess.

As usual, Zappa is great. Certainly not ranking as high as the others we heard on the main list, but the dude is always a creative treat. Fun pick!

Love Bob Seger, "Hollywood Nights" is such a classic banger. I personally would've gone for that other Seger album with "Night Moves" and "Mean Street," but regardless I'm glad he's here - should've been on the main list if you ask me! Thank you to whoever injected this list with the necessary dose.

Just when you think '60s psych rock has been exhausted in the 1001 albums, someone digs up another gem. Really awesome album, always love the use of the sitar. Great find!

Took me a bit to settle into this album, but it definitely grew on me. Thought it was German at first, but far too Scandinavian. Turns out it's Swedish--not sure how traditional it is but I could hear vikings and their maidens singing this one. Very cool! 3.5

Love Primus, love that someone thought to include them. They belong on lists! Les Claypool is a goat, "Tommy the Cat" has always been a sticking point for me. Hadn't heard this album before but glad I did!

Love this one, kudos to whoever chose this one! Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person who's ever heard of Anais Mitchell. I found her through her Tiny Desk performance many years ago and became obsessed. Seriously, an incredible singer and songwriter, and the fact that she made this stage play (by now, it's become a Broadway thing and won Tonys!) is really impressive. Justin Vernon and Ani DiFranco on this thing is also awesome. "Why We Build the Wall" is still one of the greatest songs ever, ever. I could write an essay about that one, but will save my breath today. Anyway, fantastic album. 4.5/5

Not bad, not really good either. The singer's voice is strange, it almost seems like he's doing an impression of someone, like he's making fun of Eddie Vedder or some friend with a funny voice. But I think it's real? The song about ducks is so goofy, I ended up liking that though. Not bothered by the pick because I think it's a fun, oddball departure. But didn't do much for me personally. 2.5/5

Waste of time, sorry. Not into this one. Keeping one song for posterity but this was mostly skips.

Pretty solid folk, singer/songwriter kind of album. Nothing spectacular that jumped out at me, but it goes down smooth.

Loved this one! Recognized "Answers Me" immediately for the Kanye West sample on 30 Hours. Really cool music overall - it has a sort of electronic Nick Drake vibe to it that I can get down with. Cavernous sound, spooky vocals, very unconventional in the way that I love. This should've been on the main list as far as I'm concerned! Thanks for putting me on! 4.5/5