Jonna Enckell's solo debut, it's just mind blowing.

The following, Piano Sparkling was also brilliant. Maybe the only two albums I'd give 100% both metal and non-metal.

EDIT: This took AWHILE....

Miles Davis: "Kind of Blue," "Bitches Brew," "Agharta," "Bird of Paradise."
Roland Kirk: "Rip Rig & Panic/Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful Edith"
The Doors (Self-titled debut)
The Minutemen: "What Makes A Man Start Fires?"
Jimi Hendrix: "Are You Experienced?" "Axis: Bold As Love," "Electric Ladyland"
Funkadelic, "Maggot Brain"
The Fall, "Hex Induction Hour"
Sonic Youth: "Sonic Nurse," "Evol," "A Thousand Leaves," "Daydream Nation."
Nirvana, "Nevermind"
The Clash, "London Calling"
The Rolling Stones: "Exile on Main Street," "Sticky Fingers," "Beggars Banquet"
Wire, "Pink Flag"
Herbie Hancock: "Maiden Voyage, "Mwandishi"
Amadou and Mariam, "Dimanche a Bamako"
Charles Mingus, "Blues and Roots"
Mississippi John Hurt, "Complete Recorded Works "
Charley Patton, "Complete Recorded Works Vols. 1-3"
Howlin' Wolf, "Howlin' Wolf/Moanin' in the Moonlight"
Skip James, "Complete 1931 Session"
Robert Johnson, "The Complete Recordings"
Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O., "Univers Zen ou de Zéro à Zéro"
John Zorn: "Spillane," "Naked City."
M.F. Doom, "The Mouse and the Mask."
Wall of Voodoo, "Dark Continent."
Pere Ubu: "Dub Housing," "The Modern Dance."
Joy Division: "Unknown Pleasures," "Closer."
Can, "Tago Mago"
Diamanda Galas: "Plague Mass," "Defixiones: Will and Testament, Orders from the Dead"
Throbbing Gristle: Second Annual Report
Chamber Orchestra of Europe/N. Harnoncourt, cond: Beethoven's 5th
Ornette Coleman, "The Shape of Jazz to Come"
Bad Brains, "Rock For Light"
Thelonious Monk, "Live at the It Club"
Wes Montgomery, "Bumpin'"
New Jersey Symphony Orch., Neeme Jarvi cond.: Shostakovich's 5th Symphony
Philip Glass, "Dracula"
Nomeansno, "Wrong"

EDIT: The "complete recordings" seem like a cop-out, but most of those old bluesmen didn't record any LPs, at least in their "prime," though some guys were "rediscovered" in the '60s and cut records, notably Son House. Also, I know this is a bunch of stuff, but these albums seem perfect to me, at least the last time I heard them.

i will also add most things by propaghandi.

It's hard for me to find music that I like that isn't metal. But this works! Never heard of these guys, but its good stuff.

As for me... oh I gotta say any of the first 3 brotha lynch CDs. Those were awesome.

Ween - Quebec
Some of the songs may be a little freaky but it is still an amazing album. Ween write fantastic music haha

Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Future Development
Best rapper alive. His flow is absolutely flawless. All the songs are just ridiculous

Kode 9 and Space Ape - Memories of the Future
The atmosphere of this album is just insane. The beats are really catchy and the lyrics are awesome

I love quite a few British 60's/70's classic rock and prog bands so another album I think I'd have to go with is Breakfast In America by Supertramp. Not sure why they are labeled as progressive rock by some(haven't heard much anything else from them but this record is more along the lines of 10cc + Bruce Hornsby & The Range with Bee Gees vocals) but I always really dug BIA for it's vibrant, upbeat jazz "singsongship".

Deadboy & the Elephantmen "If This is Hell Then I'm Lucky"

Bow to the majestic voice of the all mighty Dax Riggs. Quite possibly one of the best voices in music, period. For me, DBATEM is only rivaled in sheer brilliance by.....


Wovenhand "Mosaic"

An absolutely perfect record with stellar performances from all involved. The vocals of frontman David Eugene Edwards sound truly pained. Almost every folk instrument imaginable is used to great effect, creating a sonic masterpiece. Which leads me to....

16 Horsepower "Live March 2001"

Another folk-rock-world-whatever else band fronted by David Eugene Edwards of Wovenhand. A little more upbeat than what he is doing now, but still hauntingly beautiful in all the right ways. Their rendition of "Wayfaring Stranger" is perfect.

David Bowie "The Life and Death of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars"

Perfect 70's rock album front to back. If I had one complaint, it would be that it ends.

Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here", "Animals", "Atom Heart Mother"

I really can't decide which one I like best. All gems in my book.

Pearl Jam "Ten"

Yeah, I know. Alternative rock. This album got me into music. I was 9 years old when I heard "Even Flow", and saved my allowance to buy the cassette tape. It's still one of my all time favorites.

Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division – Closer
Two of the most cold, melancholic albums ever created. I haven’t found any other post-punk artists who could match these. They're one of those rare artists who truly get the credit they deserve.

Cocteau Twins – Treasure
Cocteau Twins – Heaven Or Las Vegas
Both are absolutely heavenly, I’ve always had a hard time picking a very favorite CT release. Liz’s breathtaking vocals are second to none. ‘Head Over Heels’ probably would be a 97-99 for me as well.

Good one. Totally forgot about Bowie *facepalm*

Also forgot about: Jefferson Airplane, "Surrealistic Pillow." Not a weak song on that album.

re your Pink Floyd picks: On the subject of bands with mentally unbalanced singers, I'm tempted to add "The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators" to this list, though I haven't heard that album in a long time; it was among the many of my CDs that were stolen while moving

Animals. I forgot how splendid a record it is. Some of Gilmour's best guitar playing there.

Lotsa things but der be one dat always be poppin uppin my brain'in shit when ya'll be askin dis question

A Silver Mount Zion - Horses in the Sky

Baaawwhaw betcha thought I was gonna say one of those rapping hip-hop records.

Thank you for another opportunity to praise Cocteau Twins and their perfection!
I could never dispute the 100%-ness of these albums! I've always been especially fond of Treasure, Garlands, Head Over Heels, Victorialand and really everything they ever recorded until the questionable later-era with Milk, Kisses, and Blue Bell Knolls.
The 4-disc Lullabies to Violaine is truly amazing and worth 100% of this thread just because it's the greatest collection of B-sides and EP tracks ever compiled this side of Siouxsie & the Banshees' unrivaled Downside Up.

Man, you must do yourself a favour and listen to Crime of the Century, if you haven't. It's my favourite SUpertramp album by leagues, although the debut self-titled is also very good (and probably the biggest reason for them being labeled a prog banda t one time).

I'd never give any album 100%, as there's always some flaw to everything, but the only non metal album worthy of a 99% in my mind is Appetite For Destruction. Classic hard rock, with one of my favorite guitarist's and one of my favorite vocalists. Dare I say this album is very borderline metal at times.

The only two albums I consider perfect are non-metal albums. They are:

Misery Signals - Of Malice and the Magnum Heart (metalcore, but not on the metal archives, so "not metal")

Hammock - Chasing After Shadows... Living With the Ghosts


Here are a few other albums I thoroughly enjoy that are not metal yet would range between 90 and 100 for me:

Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism

Steve Roach - Dreamtime Return

Hammock - Kenotic

Tool - Aenima

Thursday - No devolucion (album JUST came out, so I'm still deciding whether or not I am just hyped up abou the album or if it still may grow on me, still an amazing release)

A Skylit Drive - She Watched the Sky (yeah... guilty pleasure)

And a shitload of Peter Gabriel albums

Swans - Public Castration is a Good Idea

Most "brutal" metal bands could take a lesson from this album. It's unsettling as hell, and I've never heard such massive and crushing percussion on any other recording.

Hiromi's Sonicbloom - "Time Control": basically a keyboardist, guitarist, bassist and drummer putting on a friggin' prog fusion clinic. The talent is beyond belief and some of the compositions are ridiculously difficult. It's also constantly entertaining, which is something I don't always feel with completely instrumental albums. I'd definately give this 100% and consider it one of the best albums of the last ten years.

I don't know if this thread has turned into "non metal albums that you really really really like" or if people are honestly giving 100% to the albums.

Nevertheless, I'll bite.

Phace - Subtitles (German drum n bass)
Daft Punk - Homework (self explanatory)
Cypress Hill - Black Sunday (probably self explanatory, too. I always find it funny when me and my friends are wearing black metal t shirts, sitting in the living room, listening to Latinos rap about weed )
Digable Planets - A Refutation of Time and Space (jazzy kind of really chilled out good mood hip hop)
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles I (groundbreaking unique electronic)
Sex Pistols - Nevermind the Bollocks (self explanatory again)

These 6 albums I'd NEED to survive (alongside some metal naturally) if I was on a desert island/stranded/blah blah you get me. There's plenty of other non metal albums I love, but I feel these really deserve 100%

Sixpence none the Richer - Sixpence none the Richer
Sponge - Rotting Pinata
Fuel - Sunburn
The Rosemarys - The Rosemarys
Zao - Parade of Chaos
Smash Mouth - Astro Lounge
Green Day - Kerplunk

Good to see I'm not alone on this one


I'll post a list sometime soon

I really like that album too. So much in fact i'm too afraid to check out their other stuff for fear of failing.

You have great taste, man.

Here's a weird list. I use that word a lot.

Casiopea - Hearty Notes: Acoustic album by an instrumental jazz-fusion band. Their music is kinda Pokémon game-esque and full of incredibly melodic solos from every member.

QotSA - Lullabies to Paralyze: Incredibly moody, amazingly atmospheric, the complete oddball album in their discography. The distortion and fuzzboxes on this album make my ears horny, somehow. I hope someone understands what I'm on about.

The Birthday Massacre - Walking with Strangers: I wasn't quite sure what was going on when I first heard this album. Industrial rhythm guitars, Cure-style melodies, nostalgic analog-synth sounds and innocent-sounding female vocals are employed through out.

KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope: It's just so catchy and weird. I remember hearing her songs all the time before I really got into music, so it gives me this fuzzy-feeling having it on.

Manic Street Preachers - Generation Terrorists: My brother got me into this album. Though the production and the drum-machine annoy me, I can't deny that the album is full of weird lyrics and awesome (though sometimes OTT) solos.

Muse - Origin of Symmetry: Barring the cover of Feeling Good, I adore this album. The bass is almost always clear in the mix and the bass-playing itself actually brings a lot to the songs. There are great guitar and incredible piano/organ/keyboard parts throughout.

The Smiths - The Smiths: Full of jangly guitars that somehow sound rather eery, melodic basslines and , of course, Morrisey, with his voice and weird lyrics.

Steve Vai - The Ultra Zone: geetarz. The unnecessary dialogue and sounds over his songs irritate me, but the playing itself is amazing. Don't like his songs with vocals too much either.

Plans is the only other album I've heard from them. It's not nearly as atmospheric as Transatlanticism, but I still enjoy it quite a bit.




Alright, I post my list now. This won't include things I consider metal (BTBAM, various deathcore bands). I want to stick to completely other genres:

Circa Survive- On Letting Go: This was my first album I listened to from Circa Survive about a year ago. They definitely have a sound that grows on you and is at first sort of boring. This album sort of has a modern indie psychedelic feeling to it (only way I can put it), and really does a good job carrying itself all the way through with a very similar vibe. Anthony Green's voice carries all the melodies through, so that being said it's hard to enjoy the album if you don't like his voice. I'll admit the first time I listened to Circa I hated his voice but I think it's because his voice is just way different from most males. He literally sounds like a chick, but it really works if you get past the fact that he's a guy.

The Beatles- Let it Be: Probably my favorite Beatles album. Can't think of one song I don't love off of this album. There's no to much to say about this album, because I bet most people have heard this album haha.

The Beatles- Magical Mystery Tour: Sort of a weird one to give 100% to, as most people would probably say SGT. Pepper or White Album. But this album has a lot of nostalgia for me. This is the first Beatles album I ever picked up, and I listened to it non stop when I was really little. Everyone has heard I am the Walrus, but there's so many other songs on this album that are just as good if not better.

Bob Dylan- The Times They Are A-Changin'/The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan- Although I heard of Bob Dylan since I was little, it's my Sophomore English teacher that really got me into Bob Dylan. I can listen to these album or practically any of his acoustic material no matter how I'm feeling. His lyrics are very well known to be amazing, and he's one of the only artists I'll listen to and actually care about the lyrics. Not only that, but the guy himself is a way interesting person.

Bon Iver- For Emma Forever Ago: I'll probably die listening to this album. This is by far the most personal album I've ever listened to. The story pretty much goes like this; Justin Vernon- the only musician behind this album- had a break with his band, girlfriend, and had a fight with an illness in his liver all at the same time. Because of all this stuff, he decided to isolate himself in a cabin in Wisconsin and sort of put his life in perspective. This whole album was written during this time. You can feel how depressed the dude is, and how fucking alone he is. It's one of the few albums I can listen to 100's of times and still feel very emotionally attached to it.

Buckethead- Electric Tears: Such a beautiful album. Probably my favorite of Buckethead's. Honestly, if this guy could just stick to slower stuff I think I'd enjoy him more. It's simplistic, emotional, and just overall enjoyable as hell. Really good to chill out to.

Death Cab for Cutie- Transatlanticism: I love this album simply because of how great it makes me feel. Again- one of those I'll love no matter what mood I'm in. They did really hit a peek with this album, unfortunately.

Dr. Dre- 2001: By far one of my favorite rap albums. Does a really good job mixing up the rappers, thus making it a more fun album. Yeah- it's about hoes bitches and marijuana- but honestly I'm ok with that. If it's done well then I'll listen to it, and this album definitely pulls it off well.

Kaki King- Legs to Make us Longer: By far my favorite guitarist right now. Kaki King plays in that percussive acoustic style that artists like Andy Mckee play in, except I think she does it better than anyone. If you've watched August Rush, you should know she composed the part of the movie where the kid starts wailing on the guitar and making crazy ass harmonics and such. However, this album just shows how she's much more than just a one trick pony. There's definitely a lot of emotions that are put forth in the songs, making a very well rounded album.

Igor Stravinsky- The Rite of Spring: not really an album, but definitely could be played like an album. This is what I consider to be the greatest piece of music recorded in the 20th century. For it's time, it was extremely out of the norm, and there was absolutely nothing close to resembling it until about 20 or even 30 years later. It was hated, spat upon, yet for all the reasons it was it became one of the most influential classical pieces ever. I could probably write an entire essay about this piece of music, but I don't want to haha.

Miles Davis- Kind of Blue: Although I consider The Rite of Spring to be the greatest piece of music from the 20th century, I consider Kind of Blue to be perhaps one of the most influential. There's countless of artists that call this one of their favorite albums, and that they were massively influenced by it. It came about at a time that was right after the bebop era- when playing everything about 200+ BPM was the norm. And it was soooo well made. In fact, I believe it was recorded only after 2 or 3 times of the musicians actually looking through the chord progression, which makes it all more amazing. It truly speaks from the heart of the musicians that were on it.

Mumford & Sons- Sigh no More: There's a really good reason why Mumford & Sons is getting loads of recognition in a very short amount of time- it's because they totally kick ass. There's soo much that goes on with this album that it would impossible to truly understand the whole thing with one listen. But the beauty of it is that there's soo much going on that it never gets old. I've probably listened to this album 100's of times and each time a new idea from it speaks to me. It's soo damn good.

The Photo Atlas- To Silently Provoke the Ghost: This is an EP I picked up by these guys at one of their shows for about 5 bucks. I've had it sitting in my car for about 3 months straight, and it must be played about 5 times a week. It's not too long and not to short, and every song is so damn fun. I find myself remembering the lyrics really well to every song, and never getting sick of any of the songs. These are probably my favorite local band from Colorado.

Portugal. The Man- Church Mouth: This album is definitely a weird one. It sometimes has a very southern feeling to it, but it keeps a great indie feeling at the same time. The band manages to be very energetic but at the same time keeps a restraint from how much energy is in each song. It's a hard album to explain, so just check it out.

The Postal Service- Give Up: I've been listening to this album since it's release now, and it still holds up to what it was since it's release. It has a very unique atmosphere to it, and is extremely personal for me (though Bon Iver's album beats even this one in how personal it is). Every song on it has a memory with it for me, so it definitely has left a mark on me. I can see me listening to this album the rest of my life.

Queen- A Night at the Opera: Although Bohemian Rhapsody will probably be considered one of the greatest rock songs every, I'm sort of disappointed by how many of the other songs are sort of unnoticed. The Prophets Song, for example, is by far my favorite song on this album. It's way progressive and really shows off Freddie Mercury's voice better than any other song on the album.

Right Away, Great Captain!- The Bitter End: This album is way depressing, but way good at creating such emotions. The whole thing is about a 17th century sailor writing journal entries for his family. It's an interesting idea, and really does a good job making each "journal" something special. Definitely one of those albums where the lyrics are very important.

That's a real insight on Bon Iver, I didn't know that about him. It is a pretty amazing album, very pure and emotional...

I don't know if I stated it in my last list, but I'll do it again just in case. Modest Mouse "The Moon and Antarctica" is simply amazing. This is, I feel, the height of their career. Very good songwriting, some of the best lyrics from any band (check out "Paper Thin Walls" or "Life Like Weeds") and it's just so.. dark sounding. Vocally, Isaac Brock has never sounded better, and the music is dark and intimate. Everything sticks out, and "The Stars Are Projectors" is probably my favourite song of the past decade.

Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile

It's an amazing two disc album, complete with amazing artwork, and imagery. Not one bad song on it. Honestly though, all NIN from that era (AATCHB, Things Falling Apart, Still) are all pieces of a soilid puzzle that collectively earns a 100%.

Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030

Definitely some of the best hip-hop that I've heard. Very distant from the stereotypical drugs/guns/hoes shit that people make rap out to be. Del's extraordinarily unique flow and nerdy, albeit expertly crafted lyrics go hand in hand with Dan the Automator's stellar production. Kid Koala, although not necessarily featured on the album to the same extent as either Del nor Dan, accentuates certain moments within the album really, really well with his turntable prowess.


TesseracT - Concealing Fate EP

Technically, this isn't an album, but I still feel obliged to write about it. I think this release pretty much sets the standard that the recent influx of so-called "djent" bands should aim for. It's obvious where TesseracT draws their influences from with this album, but at the same time they manage to create a sound that is unique to them, one that's very atmospheric at times and groovy as fuck at others. They actually manage to make slap bass work as well, which is a huge plus as far as I'm concerned.


Infected Mushroom - IM the Supervisor

This album is really a diamond in the rough, and is certainly miles away from the typical repetitive club bullshit that is engineered to cater towards drugged-up raver kids. I feel that the album has a real sense of progression to it - not necessarily in the same fashion as, say, Rush, but moreso in the sense that it never manages to become boring or stale, and it's this specific trait that really helps set it apart from most trance.

Jimi Hendrix: Band of Gypsies

Astra: The Weirding
(If you like Rush, Yes, Black Sabbath and Hawkwind all rolled into one, check this shit)

Boards of Canada: The Campfire Headphase

Jami Sieber: Hidden Sky

Mike Oldfield: The Songs of Distant Earth

Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit & Rotting Vegetables

More later

One of my favourite all time albums and one i would give 100% would have to be Arcade Fire-Funeral. Never seems to get old and is perfect in every way.

Porcupine Tree - In Absentia

What can I say, I just love this album to bits. Easily one of my favourites.

Madness - One Step Beyond


The Pogues - Red Roses for Me


Blackmore's Night - Under a Violet Moon


Slobo Horo - Divane. Finnish not well-known ethno rock band which plays Balkan and Turkish songs.


First albums that comes to mind.

Black Widow - Sacrifice

Thursday- Full Collapse. No question in my mind.

Christian Death - Only Theatre of Pain
Christian Death - Catastrophe Ballet
Sisters of Mercy - Floodland
NIN - The Downward Spiral
Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster (serious)
KMFDM - Adios
Zola Jesus - Stridulum EP

Enough with the un-qualified lists, guys, or this thread will become useless and be closed. This would upset me as based on some of the descriptions people have given out here I've been investigating some albums.

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Pendulum

This is just a solid folk rock album. Every track on it is amazing. John Fogerty's signature Fender tone has never sounded better in my opinion. An the track It's Just A Thought is one of the best slow songs I've ever heard. If you like classic folk, then you'll love this album.

Superunknown by Soundgarden. I know they're on the archives, but it's not really a metal album (except for maybe "4th of July"). It's about perfect.

Agreed. Not a metal album, but damn fucking good.

Ths made me think of Alice In Chains Unplugged. Definite 100%. No need for further description.

Just got the DVD version dirt cheap.

Also, for those of you who have never heard of them...I would add Cop Shoot Cop--Ask Questions Later. One of the early 1990s experimental/post-no-wave bands, almost a combination of jazz and noise rock. Very depressing but riveting.