October Rust - Type O Negative.

The quintessential goth metal album. Their layers of sound, Pete’s incredible ability to make the most sardonic lyrics sound romantic and the bands utter control of melodic harmony make it an album that I have listened to an innumerable amount of times since its release. There really is something special here than no band since has captured on tape. It came out when I was a sophomore and immediately became something that I knew would be with me my entire life. This album bleeds sensuality with a not so subtle wink and nod to the ridiculousness of the human condition in a way few, if any before or after it ever have. It is equal parts sexy and hilarious. Type O was a band whose depth was often missed by the outlandish nature of who their frontman Peter Steele was. A man capable of being a sulking giant with a broken heart one second and a sexy rock and roll god doing a centerfold photoshoot for Playgirl the next.
I never stopped loving this band for that perfect mixture of mischief, tongue in cheek self awareness and Gen X melancholy they brought to everything they did. There are great albums by them before this one and great ones after. But October Rust stands as a truly unique album without peer in my heart for all time.

Moving forward a little,

Gin - Cobalt

This is a pure slab of American Black Metal by way of a multi-instrumentalist that grew up on 90’s alternative, particularly Tool. It bridges the gap between two eras of metal so effortlessly it boggles the mind at times. Erik Wunder played all the instruments and was the primary songwriter on this album and it is so complete in a way that can only be achieved through that singular of a vision. It’s like a dark mirror version of the first Foo Fighters record in a myriad of ways. He sadly passed away last year and was only able to perform these song live a few times in the decade and half since its release. I was lucky enough to catch two of those performances and they were as beautiful as I had hoped.

His passing hit like a brick as I was able to talk quite a bit with him on Facebook in during the early years of the band and spend some time in person when they played near me. He was always very gracious and intelligent in person. He had that specific blend of honesty and intelligence that separates the good from the great in music. I often wonder what could have become of the band if he had been able to find more stable vocalists and the ability to create while sober. It’s a real bummer we will never know.

Finally,

…Like Clockwork- Queens of the Stone Age

This is one of those albums that came at exactly the right time in my life to become an encapsulation of moments of darkness and hope being perfectly intertwined. It gave me a place to put my sadness, my longing, my fears and my dreams while I sorted out who I would be for the second half of life on this planet. There are moments of spite that feel so real you can almost feel the tension in the rooms that inspired it. Then there are moments of such soulful beauty and longing you can’t help but get lost in thoughts of heartbreak right along with the band. I truly believe Josh Homme wrote his opus here. It’s the perfect Queens album and, in my opinion, the greatest rock and roll album of all time.

Right now it’s a toss-up over:

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Graceland by Paul Simon

Time by Electric Light Orchestra

She’s So Unusual by Cyndi Lauper

(I really love them all; other top contenders are Born to Run by Springsteen and Untitled by Blink-182)

Nirvana - Nevermind

No question. I got it when I was 15 in '91. Over the years, I’ve seen countless bands of various genres. My tastes evolved, and frankly, some of the records and CDs I loved at that age have not held up as my taste and musical appreciation broadened, but this one’s timeless. For a while, I preferred In Utero for its rawness, but Nevermind is basically flawless in my opinion.

Scurrilous by Protest the Hero

It’s their turning point, the last album with og line-up. Rody (vocal) taking charge of the lyrics. Simple drum (set up), insane riff, varied theme.

From the futility of suicide, cancer, to record label greed.

I mean I like their newer material even more, but this one special to me.

The one that has pictures of my love ones both those with me and those I only have memories left. Its white and has gold trim bought it in a KMart in late 80s and its been with me for so many moves. It was one of the few things left behind when my house got robbed. So I thank them for that.

I don’t really know. Kinda depends in the mood I’m in I guess.

Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d. city

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

Alice in Chains - Facelift

FIDLAR - FIDLAR

Queens Of The Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf

Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine

EDIT (some more):

Gojira - From Mars to Sirius

Pearl Jam - Ten

Soundgarden - Superunknown

Daft Punk - Alive

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

Computerwelt by Kraftwerk.

But Remain In Light by Talking Heads is a very close second.

Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV.

That album is a masterpiece.

Oof that’s a hard one. One of the below:

Jimmy Eat World ‘Clarity’

Mineral ‘The Power Of Failing’

Neutral Milk Hotel ‘In The Aeroplane Over The Sea’

The Decemberists ‘Picaresque’

Hybrid Theory (Linkin Park) is objectively the greatest album of all time in my subjective opinion

My Head is an Animal (Of Monsters And Men) is probably my personal favorite though

The Damned - Machine Gun Etiquette

Of course this changes over time but right now it’s probably a toss up between Marquee Moon by Television and 154 by Wire.

The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd or Hybrid Theory from Linkin Park

Rhyme Asylum - Solitary Confinement