46. Owen Pallett - Heartland (2010)

So, this album hasn't been our for more that a month or so, but I've already grown quite fond of it. Owen Pallett is a violin/keyboard extraordinaire, and he's got a bit of a composing mind, as seen in this album. He's got a full orchestra behind him on all songs, and he uses them to their full potential. What comes out is a wonderful mix of indie and classical. Now, I will admit, the first couple of songs can be a bit iffy. It doesn't really get going until around The Great Elsewhere, but when it gets going, it really gets going. Oh Heartland, Up Yours, Lewis Takes Off His Shirt, Tryst With Mephistopheles - all great, fantastic tunes. I think this is the only 2010 album on this list, but if this is any inclination, 2010 is gonna be a great year.

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47. Current 93 - I Have A Special Plan For This World (2000)

I'm kinda cheating with this one, since it's just an EP and not a full album. But, hell. Also, just a warning to anyone reading this - this really isn't music. It's a 20+ minute piece filled with a creepy dude reading a creepy poem while creepy noises play in the back. Every now and again you hear a broken Speak and Spell or whatever the fuck make some weird moaning stuff. But, it's one of those things that almost keeps you on the edge of your seat. It sort-of breaks down towards the end, as the main voice gets more chopped up and distorted. It's definitely worth a listen.

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48. Neu! - Neu! (1972)

So there's this little sub-genre out there called krautrock. It started in Germany in the late 60's, early 70's, and it's main "thing" is repetitious loops of coolness. Some of the more known bands from this genre are Faust, Can, and the artists of this little gem, Neu!. There's some sweet, sweet beats on this thing. One of the best is Negativland, with it's downright sinister bass and guitars stoping and starting all over the place. It's a nearly full-instrumental album, besides the last track, Lieber Honig. That's really the reason this album isn't higher on the list - when the vocals come in, it's almost like you're listening to a drowning cat playing a pluckey guitar. But, I digress. This is a wonderful album.

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49. The Doors - L.A. Woman (1971)

Y'know, I really love The Doors. Jim Morrison is probably my biggest hero (except for the whole getting wasted and drowning in a tub in Paris bit), and this is probably their best album. It's got those classic tunes, Riders On The Storm, L.A. Woman, Love Her Madly. Then there's the other tracks, which range from the kick-ass (The Changeling), the chill (Cars Hiss By My Window) and the downright weird and creepy (L'America). But honestly, this album deserves a spot in any top albums thing just because of the title track - 8 minutes of fucking awesome. This might not be the best starting point for The Doors - that's probably Waiting For The Sun. But this is an amazing album in it's own right.

(note: if you're new to The Doors, don't expect to just be able to "get" them. Doors fans aren't made - they're born.)

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50. maudlin Of The Well - Part The Second (2009)

Do you remember back in the 90's, when Sonic The Hedgehog was the-fucking-shit? Running all over the damn place, collecting rings and all that - shit was SO cash. This album, for some inexplainable reason, makes me nostalgic for those times. maudlin Of The Well was broken up before this new album came out last year, funded by fan donations. Their other stuff is pretty metal - growls and all that such. But this album is downright beautiful. The first track, Excerpt From 600,000,000,000,000... is one of the greatest songs I've heard. A perfect blend of beautiful violins, math rock-ey guitars, and a slow middle bit that is perfectly complimented by haunting vocals. The rest of the album doesn't get as beautiful as the first track, but it's anything but bad. In fact, it's quite wonderful.

Also, if you're wary about downloading because of the legality factor, this one is a free download released by the band - so there's no need to worry about the cops pulling up to your door anytime soon.

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Introduction

Well, here we go I suppose. I'm gonna try and make up a list of my 50 favorite albums of all time. I'll try to post at least one a day, or every few days. I'll also post a bit of a review for each album, and a download link for if you don't have it. Cool stuff, eh?

-Fritz