I know many of these have been mentioned in the thread already:

Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction
Not a single bad song on it. I usually turn the volume up after each successive track, which is all well and good until I reach Rocket Queen (one of, if not the best song(s) on the album), at which point I've maxed the volume out.

The Beatles - Abbey Road
Just incredible really. The medley is beyond awesome.

Alice Cooper - School's Out
All of the original Alice Cooper group's albums from Love It to Death onwards are amazing and worthy of high praise, but this was their peak for me. Each song is unique yet the album is so cohesive. And "My Stars"... wow.

Alice Cooper - The Last Temptation
Easily the best solo album from Alice and probably better than anything the group did as well. The songs are so well written and the whole atmosphere is wonderfully dark in a subtle way.

Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
Again, the songs are just all so good and the vocal performance is outstanding.

There are several others that'd come close but not quite reach 100:

Joss Stone - Colour Me Free!, Introducing Joss Stone
Shakira - Fijación Oral Vol. 1
Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk
Lykke Li - Youth Novels
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Marilyn Manson - Mechanical Animals
The Beatles - Rubber Soul, Revolver, Help!
Zakk Wylde - Book of Shadows (I know it's here on the archives but it's not metal really. Great album though).

100%? I don't know (very few bands can achieve that), but what comes close.

Within the Rock Genre:
Black Flag - Jealous Again and Damaged
Alice Cooper - Killer and Welcome to My Nightmare
The Cure - Pornography and Kiss Me
Dead Kennedys - Frankenchrist
Goblin - Zombi and Contamination
Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced?
KISS - Destroyer
The Misfits - Static Age
Mother Love Bone - Apple
Ted Nugent - Cat Scratch Fever
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Sisters of Mercy - First and Last and Always
Frank Zappa / Mothers of Invention - We're Only In It For The Money

Beyond:
Beherit - Electric Doom Synthesis
James Brown - I Got It (I Feel Good)
Ice Cube - Amerikkka's Most Wanted and Death Certificate
Michael Jackson - Thriller
N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
Parliament - Mothership Connection
Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet

I feel the same about their <i>The New Light</i> album. That song Wings of Gabriel takes me to many far away places each time I listen to it. Those drums, a mystical pulsating rhythm to set the flow for those divine strings to just carry the listener away to some hidden domain only reserved for angels and other mystical entities.

It is nice to see love for Arcana and DCD in this thread.

I have to say, after <i>Within the Realm of a Dying Sun</i> the quality of DCD's albums drops off considerably, IMO. The songs too inconsistent and just the whole world music vibe of the later albums puts me off.

<i>Spleen and Ideal</i> and the self titled CD's are just awesomeness as well as <i>Within the Realm..</i>. Those 3 albums alone are what makes DCD legendary in my book.

Total agreement there. Serpent's Egg has a few brilliant moments, along with boring wailing interludes. Aion completely loses me for some reason. By Spiritchaser, DCD completely loses all the subtlety that made them great.

John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Paco De Lucia - Friday Night in San Francisco - I know some one mentioned it here before. I never realized that there can be a live recording thats just puts you there back when it was recorded. You feel like you are at the venue. 3 guitarists just play their favorite jams for 45 minutes blows your mind.

The Offspring - Smash - I have this CD as part of my 100% because I grew up on it while in grade 6. I probably listened to it at least 500 times. Every single track on it is a #1 Single in my eyes.

The Prodigy - The Fat Of The Land - My bro and me discovered Prodigy from the Firestarter video clip on MTV Europe. We bought the LP for Firestarter. Then Breathe came so we bought the Breathe PL. 10000 years after the so long awaited Full Track CD is coming out - we didnt realize that all the other songs on the CD were maybe even better than the two Singles.

Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory In my eyes this CD was unique and "depressing" in a good way. Its nothing I ever heard before and I think Linkin really put their soul into that CD because anything that came after couldnt impress me as Hybrid Theory.

Incubus - S.C.I.E.N.C.E I listened to this CD in grade 7-8 , and it just blew my mind with its funkiness and craziness. For some reason I always though about Mr Bungle listening to SCIENCE.

I cant remember the rest.

Lots of good mentions here so far: King Crimson, Swans, Black Flag, Portishead...I'm not quite as into hip-hop or electronica (that's more my brother's thing).

Here's my (incomplete) list:

Failure--Magnified. A 1990s alt-rock outfit that never got the attention they deserved. Magnified was released in 1992, so they were overshadowed by Nirvana and Pearl Jam, partially because of the music press but also because Failure's music was simply far too dark and disturbing for the MTV crowd. Their lyrics, about mental illness, drug abuse, and loneliness, were far more expressive than anything Kurt Cobain ever wrote, and the melodic, minor-key dirge of the music matches it perfectly.

Faith No More--Angel Dust. One of the greatest alternative rock albums ever created. A fusion of classic rock, hip-hop, metal, country, and pure fucking insanity, this is probably the best--and most disturbing--album FNM ever put out. Unfortunately, it also inspired a legion of second-rate imitators which would become the nu-metal trend.

King Crimson--Larks' Tongues in Aspic. King Crimson released a lot of great albums, but I'm mentioning this one because A) no one else has and B) it is probably their most willfully difficult record to get into. Seriously, I had to listen to this record about 20 times before I felt I truly "got it", but it was a rewarding experience when I did.

Steel Pole Bath Tub--The Miracle of Sound in Motion. All of their records are worth hearing, but this is their most polished record--and that's saying something, when you consider that these guys specialized in off-kilter punk/noise with lots of movie and television samples. It's very much a love-it-or-hate-it affair, but SPBT has influence far beyond their admittedly limited fanbase. Plus, they do a really cool cover of The Pogues' "Down all the Days".

Stiff Little Fingers--Inflammable Material. Not only is it one of the best punk rock albums ever recorded, but it is also a perfect document of the social and political atmosphere of Troubles-era Northern Ireland. Uplifting,tragic, and thought-provoking.

Television--Marquee Moon. Someone else here mentioned this album as well. It is commonly classified as "punk" though it is more art-rock than anything else, both musically and lyrically.

Traffic--John Barleycorn Must Die. After the band collapsed due to Dave Mason's departure, Steve Winwood conducted a partial reunion, which resulted in some of the strongest instrumental work the band had ever recorded. It is (to me, anyway) the perfect mixture of jazz, folk, and rock.

The Velvet Underground--White Light/White Heat. Their first record was revolutionary, to be sure, but this was where they went completely unhinged. Each song is unique, despite sharing the same gritty, dirty-sounding guitar tone. This album was a snapshot of a band living life on the edge, simultaneously reveling in it and lamenting it.

Honorable mention:

The entire discographies of Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Marley & the Wailers, Queen, Led Zeppelin.

I will agree with you 100 fucking percent agree with you on the FNM Angel Dust. Album is so far out there, but so fucking awesome!

Rosa†Crvx: Lvx in Tenebris Lvcet

Aaaah, my god. <3 Though I could say Rosa's entire discography is sheer, ritualistic darkwave beauty.

probably something by death on a sliding scale

cuz that death metal aint metal, it shit

Not read back all the way but not many mentions of radiohead, thought there would be a few.

Here's my list of some that spring to mind, 100% being perfect albums you love every part of and wouldn't want to change. Some of these maybe slightly too metal to be considered strictly non-metal

Radiohead, 'OK Computer'
Nirvana, "Nevermind'
Pixies, 'Bossa Nova'
Tool, 'Lateralus'
Wu Tang Clan, '36 Chambers'
Dillinger Escape Plan, 'Miss Machine'
Salem, 'King Night'
Do Make Say Think, '& yet & yet'
Burial, 'Burial'
Quasimoto, 'the unseen'
cLOUDDEAD, 'cLOUDDEAD'
Aphex Twin, 'Drukqs'
At the Drive In, 'Relationship of Command'
Joy Division, 'Closer'
Autechre, 'lp5'
Gorkys Zygotic Mynci, 'Spanish Dance Troupe'
Modest Mouse, 'Good news for people who love bad news'
PJ Harvey, 'Stories from the city, stories from the sea'

Shame to list them because I bet I've left loads of great LP's out, probably lost months to a single album that's not here....

Dunno if i've heard anything trying to copy the infamous Angel Dust. Not that i really want to. System Of A Down maybe?

Marquee Moon basically had the whole post punk sound going on during the punk birth/explosion. It was about three years untill heaps of bands sounded similar.

That Traffic album really is great. I'm fairly new to it and am still not sure how I'd rate it (truth is I seldom think about such things) but I've certainly been playing it a lot in the past few months.

Several mentions of Do Make Say Think have got me to check out several of their albums. I knew they were from around here but barely listened to them before. This is some excellent instrumental stuff...very moody and occasionally both jazzy and heavy. I particularly appreciate the use of sax in some songs, and the dynamic drum performance.

ChangesBowie. A perfect compilation album prototypifying the career of this phenomenally talented rock god. Heroes is a song that all his peers can only dream to write.

Agreed!

Add to that, Jethro Tull's "Aqualung", Uriah Heep's "Very 'eavy... Very 'umble" and "Salisbury", and Yes' "Tales From Topographic Oceans".

Frank Zappa - Hot Rats
Captain Beefheart - Safe as Milk
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Spirit - Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus
Hawkwind - Space Ritual
Deep Purple - In Rock

Too many to name. Lots of jazz albums (top choice is Coltrane's experimental period), first King Crimson album, Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here...

Lacrimosa - "Stille"

Jethro Tull - "Aqualung"

Bob Marley - "Exodus"

Led Zeppelin - "Led Zeppelin IV"

Dios Hastío - "Cervix Inferno" (Peruvian Hardcore/Crust/Noise)

David Bowie - The Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars

Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus

I'd have to say Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker's Greatest Hits, no question about it, that is good fucking stuff

If I had to pick one it would be Popol Vuh - Hosanna Mantra, that is what angels would sound like if we could hear them. It's also a good mix of east and west and all you would need on a desert island.

Not many albums are 100% for me but one especially would be Naked City's Torture Garden, the crazy trumpet, the insane screaming...it's just so great!

Bumping this thread to include Thin Lizzy--Jailbreak, which I am currently listening to. It's easily one of the finest hard rock records of all time, and has aged remarkably well.

Karnivool - Sound Awake
An all round great album with intelligent lyrics and refreshing "rock" sound that dips it's feet into prog/metal/alternative sounds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hDllW8OSKM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18SUFbABxNQ

Death in June - But What Ends When The Symbols Shatter and Rose Clouds of Holocaust
The two albums are easily the high point of Di6, and the embodiment of everything neo-folk should be. Dreamy atmospheres, interesting lyrics and just the right amount of experimentation, with a feeling of longing and sadness throughout, without being over the top.

Rome - Flowers From Exile
If Symbols and Clouds were the height of 90's neo-folk, this is the height of the current scene for me. Rome has a unique sound within the genre and he manages to craft songs that are just so crushingly beautiful.

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Never heard anything else quite like it. The atmosphere of this album is just untouchable. Just so incredibly dreamlike and sensual. Seeing them live was an amazing experience.

Slowdive - Just For A Day and Souvlaki
Loveless takes care of the feel good/happy side of shoegaze, these two take care of the depressing side. The emotional wall of sound they were able to make is a big inspiration for me as a guitar player.

King Crimson - In The Court of the Crimson King
I don't think I need to say why. A classic.

Man's Gin - Smiling Dogs
The side project of one of the two members of the BM band Cobalt. Sort of Americana folk. Best album of 2010 for me, and one of my all time favourites.

Fields of the Nephilim - The Nephilim
The dark, hazy atmosphere...the occult lyrics...the spaghetti western image, all brought together to create one hell of a goth rock album.

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
I feel like such a hipster for liking this, but I really do love it. A very genuine record filled with emotion.

Sister of Mercy - Floodland
Super catchy and makes you want to dance, yet still retains that dark, gothic atmosphere.

Slint - Spiderland
An album that has a lot of personal meaning for me. Also an album that really helped show me that there is some truly brilliant music outside of metal. I keep searching to find another band that sounds like this album, but still no luck...

Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
Another album that helped me branch out of metal. Talk Talk's final album is pretty far from their earlier pop records (which I do love as well). Very experimental, with a lot of classical/chamber music and jazz influence. This and the album before it are probably some of the first ever post-rock albums.

Rammstein - Reise, Reise
Catchy, hard rocking fun. A bit of a darker edge on some of the tracks too. And the title song is just epic as hell.

Der Blutharsch - The Philosophers Stone
Originally a martial industrial band, now psychedelic rock. This album is in the latter style, and I think is the best they have done. Layers of drug fueled synth over driving bass and guitar, combined with chants and more normal vocals as well.

Of The Wand And The Moon - Nighttime Nightryhmes
Hauntingly beautiful and yet very soothing. The album title is very apt. This is best listened to alone in the dead of the night.

This.

Also Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water..theres far too many for me to think of but these are my current fav's

City of Caterpillar: City of Caterpillar
It took a good six months or so from the first time I listened to this album to really appreciate it, but when it finally happened, I realized that it was one of the greatest albums I have ever heard. The band's fusion of post-hardcore and screamo (a genre I used to love but shy away from now) is a testament of how good they can be when done right and I consider this album to be the apex for both genres, especially screamo. The production and musicianship is raw, yet clear and focused amidst the chaos that ensues throughout. To be poetic about it, I find the album to be akin to a flower that has managed to grow the cracks of a sidewalk.

Pink Floyd: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
As much as I love the Roger Waters era (as the frontman) for Pink Floyd, this album proves what a genius Syd Barret was as a songwriter and it shows how any kind of psychedelic music should be done. I don't do drugs myself (aside from smoking weed once every blue moon), but listening to this album makes me feel like I'm on something and I have to say: Well done, gentlemen!

Rome: Masse Mensch Material
I love all of Rome's material, but this album has the edge on everything else due to its diversity in the songs. Not only that, but I find the album to be one of the finest examples of an emotional rollercoaster ever compiled into a collection of songs. It reminds me that I still need to check out Jerome's previous band, Mack Murphy and the Inmates, at some point.

Death in June: But, What Ends When the Symbols Shatter?
The obligatory Death in June album that every mentions when speaking of the band, and for good reason. As with most people, it was one of the first neofolk albums I ever heard and it made me a fan of the genre practically overnight. It is haunting and beautiful at the same time. Douglas Pierce is a master songwriter and still has a knack for keeping people on their toes after all these years.

Boysetsfire: The Day the Sun Went Out
Outside of Primordial's The Gathering Wilderness, this is one of the most emotionally stark albums I have ever listened to. Without going into a long diatribe about why this album is so close to me, I will say that it made me realize that I was not alone in how I felt, both politically and socially. The liner notes included with the CD still get me worked up, and I've had it for close to 10 years now. While I'm not nearly as political as I once was, I don't see this album's hold on me letting go anytime soon.

Antioch Arrow: Gems of Masochism
Talk about an album that is a giant fork in the road, especially considering that Antioch Arrow is one of the seminal emotional hardcore bands that came about in the '90s. There's really no trace of emo on this album; instead, it's an experimental rock/post-hardcore outing that has this weird old-school Hollywood feel to it. It's as nutty and unpredictable as Norma Desmond in the classic film "Sunset Boulevard," which A-Okay with me.

Dredg: El Cielo
A kick-ass album concept (sleep paralysis), superb musicianship, excellent songwriting and a fantastic vocalist. It's been almost 10 years since this album came out and its still somewhat surreal to me how something like it was created. It also helps that I was taking an art history course in college at the time that it came out, which actually helped me pay close attention to nuisances, both in my coursework and in the music.

Cursive: The Ugly Organ
Why can't all indie rock be this cool and good? Too bad the band hasn't been able to match the greatness of this album since then because I was under the impression (at that time) that they were just hitting their stride. Oh well.

The Smiths: Meat is Murder
In terms of '80s alternative rock, this has always been one of the definitive albums of that decade for me. It's also one of those few albums where I can't just listen to a few tracks here and there; I have to listen to it all the way through every time.

Radiohead: Kid A
I'm not one of those rabid Radiohead fans that will swoon over anything that they release. In fact, I think that Amnesiac was their last great record. Kid A, though, is a work of brilliance to me. I really wish I could explain why I love this album so much, but I am at a loss for words. It's Radiohead, though: take it or leave it.


I'm running out of steam and there's many more albums that I would like to mention, but I got the main ones across.

The albums that get closest to 100% for me are probably:

Faith No More - Angel Dust.

An amazing album, nothing as far as I'm aware comes close to this after nearly 20 years. It still sounds fresh and original. Great production, great vocals.

Prodigy - Music For The Jilted Generation

While The Prodigy obviously got big quite quickly with Charly and the other Experience singles let alone with Experience album as a whole, 'Jilted Generation' showed development, originality, enthusiasm. Sometimes I think there's a couple of filler tracks on it, 'Full Throttle' and 'The Heat (The Energy)' but then I listen again and realise I enjoy those tracks just as much as the others. I didnt used to get on with the 'Narcotic Suite' but well.. I do now, and it's perfect.

In An Aeroplane Over The Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
AOTYAY

I Get Wet by Andrew W.K. is fine too

Nobody cares about a list. At least give us some insight on what makes these albums worth a 100%.

Discharge "Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing" - I really shouldn't have to say why. It's one of the most important records to have ever come out. So fucking aggressive too. Huge influence on the Extreme Metal movement of the early 80s too.

Inepsy "Madness and Overkill" - Very rarely will I be impressed by a new band. Inepsy really know their shit. Hardcore Punk with a huge Motörhead sound. Really sleazy, dirty and raw... just how I like it.

The Exploited "Punk's Not Dead" - The debut album of one of the finest Punk (and later crossover-Thrash) bands around. I have to rate this high because it was such an important record to me in my teenage years. Sheer energy, aggressive and so damn fun. Perfect memories with this record and a night of underage drinking and vandalism.

Poison Idea "Feel the Darkness" - I don't think I've ever been as impressed with a Punk band right off the bat as I have with bands like Poison Idea. Highly underrated band. They had the right recipe for perfection on this album. Very hateful, fast as hell and full of catchy riffs. Not a single dull moment.

FEAR "The Record" - FEAR really knew how to piss people off and make a goofy, sarcastic and in-yer-face album. With a front man like Lee Ving, you can't go wrong.

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Pink Floyd - Meddle

Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow
Devendra Banhart - What Will We Be

Led Zeppelin - IV

Manu Chao - Clandestino

Rockdrigo - Hurbanistorias (Mexican Rock n roll also known as rock rupestre)

Grateful Dead - American Beauty

Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic Pillow

AC/DC - Let There Be Rock

Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A-Changin


Those are most of my favourite non-metal albums and the ones i consider deserve 100%.

the two I immediately think of is

Failure: Fantastic Planet
Smashing Pumpkins: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

Everyday Demons by The Answer. It's retro-style hard rock with very unique riffs and a Robert Plant-esque singer (riffs aren't exactly Zeppelin-esque though). This album has the rare quality where every song is amazing. This album has no filler on it whatsoever. Every song is a little bit different, and just different enough to be definitely distinguishable. No, it isn't the most innovative, after all, it's retro-style. However, it has great musicians and fantastic songwriting.

Plus, I saw them open for AC/DC, which was pretty awesome. They have a really good live show... crazy Irish bastards.

Husker Du - New Day Rising
Joy Division - Closer
Wipers - Is This Real?
Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden
Talking Heads - Remain in Light
Miles Davis - In a Silent Way

Slint - Spiderland
Tribes of Neurot - Static Migration
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
Primus - Frizzle Fry

Pink Floyd - "Dark Side of the Moon"

Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile

This album has a great combination of the best hard rock that modern music has to offer, along with some great conceptual themes. Solid two disc album, that I strongly prefer over the highly acclaimed Downward Spiral.

Angizia - 39 Jahre für den Leierkastenmann

I listened to some Klezmer music after getting to know what kind of music Angizia plays on this album, and it's nothing I would really enjoy. But in this case, I guess it's the interesting, somewhat obscure story, the many great vocal perfomances and the professional production, which altogether make me like it. It's actually very catchy stuff, so I often listen to single songs from it, too.

King Crimson - Lizard

Obviously the debut or Red would be a proper choice, too, considering King Crimson's influence in rock/metal music and their general uniqueness. But to rate these albums - or any album of KC- as 100% - would be tough for me to do. Personally, Lizard as a whole may come closer to it than the rest.

múm - Yesterday Was Dramatic, Today Is Ok

A discovery I made rather recently. It's an islandic band, and even though they shouldn't be compared to Sigur Ros on a musical level, the feeling they evoke goes into this direction. Definitely an insider tip, it's hard to describe the music, the general term would be electronica.

Rome - Confessions D'Un Voleur D'Ames

Rome is a project that really has found it's own niche. Jerome Reuter's vocals may not vary very much, but it's a identifiable and intensive voice. I really liked their use of samples and industrial beats, but the new direction is also perfectly fine with me.

Ulver - Perdition City

It's not metal, so why not include it here? This city grants a welcome escape from everyday life.

Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones / Rain Dogs / Frank's Wild Years / Bone Machine

I enjoy everything Waits produced - maybe except the "One From The Heart" soundtrack - but these four albums for me mark his career climax. There are many good tracks on them, but they best work as a whole. If I'd to choose one, I'd probably go for "Bone Machine". There are no compromises on it, it's so straight to your face, you had to be shocked back then when you listened to it the very first time. It's as brutal as it can get in non-metal music.

I'll mention some more, just to have them named here and possibly get some attention:

Fantomas - Suspended Animation
Forgotten Sunrise - Willand
Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn
Ostinato - Chasing The Form
Sui Generis Umbra - Amok

ELO- New world Record
Some of their other stuff is just as great, but i dont feel it is as perfect as a whole album as i do with this one. So many different feels throughout the album, some are feel good, some are rather depressing. I love it.

Absolutely! This mirrors exactly how I feel about The Fragile and although I feel like Trent has always produced nothing but top-notch releases, this feels like his most accomplished even if some of the material he crafted at the time isn't even included on the discs. This is my favorite NIN record.



This is a special one that's definitely worthy of 100%. This is as "future-noir" as Blade Runner and the atmosphere on this disc is just amazing. Darkness and headphones!

Seconded.

Also, Modest Mouse's Lonesome Crowded West, and Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream. Beauties.