To those who have already mentioned albums such as The Velvet Underground & Nico, Astral Weeks, The Idiot, Marquee Moon, Loveless, Unknown Pleasures, various Doors, Bowie, Lou Reed, Beatles, Neil Young, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa and Pink Floyd albums, congratulations. You know what you are talking about. I'm going to have to spend some time sifting through this thread. A lot of the descriptions on the albums mentioned here that I haven't heard look promising. Here are a few that I haven't seen mentioned:

Ride - Nowhere

This British band was lumped into the "shoegaze" scene of the early 90s. While this album has the 'wall of guitar' sound that the scene is known for, this is leaps and bounds above any other album like it at the time. Great songwriting and full of emotion.

The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

Catchy guitar and drum driven British dance/pop (is what most people consider it. I just call it British rock) accompanied by mature and pessimistic lyrics. There's an apparent influence of psychedelia here as well.

America - America

One of the best guitar/folk rock albums you will ever hear.

Nowhere is a classic i agree.

The Stone Roses debut is solid, doesn't wow me that much.

If you want to blend both of those albums together get The Verve's debut. Excellent stuff.

As expected it's well worth your time. I'd say it's the Swordfishtrumbones of all the post 99 stuff. A tad more experimental with the instruments. Fucking good. Tom rules.

I have The Verve's debut, but I haven't listened to it in a while. I remember it being kind of slow and unmoving. Relaxing, but similar your view on The Stone Roses album, it didn't "wow" me. I may have to give it another listen, though. Another album that somewhat blends all these styles is The Telescopes by the band of the same name. The song "Flying" is excellent. Knowing your knowledge on the shoegaze scene, however, you might have already heard of them.

underrated? In which world? If it comes to this (really fantastic) soundtrack I have only read highly positive stuff and nothing remotely close to "underrated"... Sure it's not as known as the Star Wars, Indy or Pirates o.t.C. theme but anyway, underrated is the wrong term I guess

Im going to go ahead and apologize for the lack of information about the reason why I love these albums. I get all flustered so you just get the basic rundown.

Robin Trower- Bridge of Sighs
Any fan of classic rock has got to give this a listen if they havent already. Trower is the guitarist and his style is straight blues rock. This was his second cd after leaving Procol Harum. This is his best album in my opinion. Fav track - Too rolling stoned

Allman Brothers Band - Beginnings
I can not say enough about this album. Phenomenal playing on all aspects. Organs, guitar, bass, and drums are out of this world. It still pisses me off that Duane Allman died after only 2 full albums and being partly on Eat a Peach. All of their records are great but this takes the prize. Fav track - Dreams

Tool - Lateralus
Danny Carey is a mad man on the drums. What he does far surpasses my comprehension. Beyond talented. Took me awhile to finally break down and give Tool a chance. And I am so glad that I did. Who gives a fuck how popular they are... or that they dont use harsh vocals. One of the greatest bands putting out quality album after album. Fav track - Lateralus

Wayne Hancock - A Town Blues
Traditional Country from the 21st century. Wayne "The Train" Hancock has got enough twang to go around. And if you ever get the chance to see him play live (he tours Texas frequently) give it a whirl. Stand up slap bass, lap steel and lead guitar player can throw down with the best of them. Fav track - We Three


The Reign of Kindo - Rhythm, Chord, and Melody
This group is signed to candyrat records, which is the label behind mainly instrumental musicians such as Don Ross and Andy Mckee. These guys on the other hand have a vocalist. I would suggest looking up some of their studio sessions on youtube. Again all amazing musicians. More along the lines of piano/jazz rock?? its hard to describe i guess. Anywho, do yourself a favor. Fav track - October Storm

Seal - The Best Of bonus Acoustic CD
Dont judge me. This came as a bonus 3rd disc to his best of. Its all acoustic and seal can sing like a motha. I mean, who wouldnt enjoy hearing kiss by a rose with all acoustic and piano instruments. Bad ass. Fav Track - Colour

Devin the Dude - Just Tryin Ta Live
Now this is a rap record, but its nothing you would hear on the radio. Devin raps about three things. Being broke, smoking weed, and getting pussy. The beats are good. The lyrics are funny. The album rules. Fav track - Doobie Ashtray

this is all that comes to mind at the moment. there are more but i feel im being monotonous with my descriptions. So search these fav tracks and let me know what you think

Grateful Dead-American Beauty
Grateful Dead-Workingman's Dead
Neil Young-Live Rust
Kiss-Destroyer
Journey-Escape

Care to expand on this?

I love prime Young Neil, but have never heard this live album. Rust Never Sleeps is a true classic though.

Kid A (Radiohead)
El Cielo (Dredg)
Swamp Ophelia (Indigo Girls)

And I'm not sure if it's really metal or not, so...
Night is the New Day (Katatonia)

Nick Cave ''Murder ballads''

mmmm...
Kitaro - "Mandala"
Kitaro - "Dreams"
Circa Survive - "Juturna"
Circa Survive - "Blue Sky Noise"
Porcupine Tree - "Deadwing"
Porcupine Tree - "Fear of a Blank Planet"
The Mars Volta - "The Bedlam in Goliath"
Protest the Hero - "Fortress"
The Black Mages - "The Black Mages"
Between the Buried and Me - "Colors"
Between the Buried and Me - "Alaska"
Dennis Chambers/Greg Howe/Victor Woten/Dave Cook - "Extraction"

Ok... Maybe not a 100% but those are my favorite non-metal albums, definitely above 90% at least.

Listening to this album right now. I love it. Thanks for mentioning it.

Considering that I wouldn't give much of anything 100%, it took me a while to consider this. Anyways:

King Crimson - Red
This gets pretty close to being bonafide metal, but since KC isn't on the archives, I'm putting it in this list. It basically builds on everything that the band had done since the Fripp/Wetton/Bruford based lineups coalecsed in 1972 - the improv, the jazz fusion, etc. and channels it into the most coherent songs of their era.

Polysics - Eno
It's been quite a while since I followed the band, but were it not for me listening to New Wave Jacket (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7gGjqiCdCk, possible epilepsy threat on the fanvid), I wouldn't have the taste for noise, chaos, speed, etc. that lead to, amongst other things, me making this post. It's mostly noise-rock with a lot of '80s New Wave references and a suprisingly high level of musicianship. Personal significance helps.

Atomic Rooster - Death Walks Behind You
Seriously cool '70s hard rock/protometal with a tinge of prog. Very much Hammond driven. The albums before and after this are also quite good and worthy of obtainage.

Frank Zappa - Absolutely Free
I did a quick writeup of this album a few months ago for my blog - http://wp.me/pOKPc-6W, so I don't really feel like restating myself here, other than to say that I think it's better than "We're Only In It For The Money".

Susumu Hirasawa - Technique of Salvation
Obscure outside his native Japan, but the guy has a knack for writing what is most likely, just really good pop music. It's hard to say, since he hits a lot of genres and substyles. On this 1998 album, it's full of symphonic arrangements with a tinge of electronica, multitracked choruses, lyrics supposedly in archaic Japanese, and a music video starring dancing skeletons http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPgc-yYEWrw (1:47 for those who just want to see them)

The Beatles - Revolver

This album, for me, is the pinnacle of art rock. Of all the Beatles' most famous albums, Revolver is far and away the best. There's not a bad track on the album.

Glenn Gould - Goldberg Variations (1981)

This is what classical piano should be: technically accomplished without sacrificing feeling.

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

This album is probably my favorite jazz album of all time. I love the catchy grooves that emerge from the gradual progress of improvisation. Not only that, somehow this album just feels rich and comforting - it's the sonic equivalent of a massive plushy armchair.

Killing Joke - s/t

This album is fantastic. It's nigh unclassifiable in its unique blend of punk, new wave, and, yes, metal riffing. Everything is pitch perfect but what really sets apart is Jaz's brilliant performance.

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood

LISTEN TO THIS MAN PLAY GUITAR. Seriously. It's unbelievable. I love absolutely every minute of this album.

Igor Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring
(Columbia Symphony Orchestra)

Rarely do we get to hear a brilliant classical composer conduct performances of his own work which is what sets this recording apart (and explains why there aren't more classical albums on my list). If a reanimated Beethoven conducted a performance of his ninth symphony, you can bet your ass that it would be on my list. I suppose that I can settle for Stravinsky, though; it helps that this particular work is easily in my top 10 favorite classical pieces of all time.

That's just a few; I'm sure there are many more that I can't think of since I tend to spend such a disproportionate amount of time listening to metal.

Notes On a Dream - Jordan Rudess.... simply amazing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm1_d4Ow7TU

Wow, that's a hard question. Most likely a tie between Children of Novas first and so far only album, The Complexity of Light, and Nine Inch Nails the downward spiral. The Complexity of Light is Amazing metal, jazz, and hardcore infused alternative. It has a psychedelic Sci-Fi story behind the album, the drums are awesome, and the vocals are such a mind blowing falsetto I was surprised the singers throat didn't explode. The Downward Spiral is in my opinion Trent Reznors finest album. It's heavy, unforgiving, and soaked in depression. Trent is a freaking legend, and his genius is overwhelming. By the time I got to "The Bottom", the final chapter in a tale of a mans figurative "downward spiral" into addiction and depression, my mind was completely fucked.

I've only skimmed the thread and I don't know if its been mentioned but I'd have to say Yes - Yessongs. Without a doubt the best live album I've ever heard, regardless of genre.

I'm sitting here, listening to Def Leppard's Hysteria and I'm thinking, "This album isn't that bad."

I mean, yeah, they discarded their heavy metal sound completely starting with this album. However, that doesn't make it a bad album at all! It's just a fun little AOR album with some beautiful guitar hooks and choruses. Even Adrenalize was a pretty good album, too. I just stay away from crap like Slang and X. At least Hysteria and Adrenalize had great guitar riffs and melodies.

If the songs on Hysteria weren't all like 6 minutes, or close, then I'd give it a pretty high score. I still like it OK though.

Do non-metal albums by metal bands count? If so, Halgadom's Heimstatt album (which is neofolk) comes to mind. I got the album some 2 years ago and I still play it back to back frequently and sing along all of the lyrics. I guess it's not even that spectacular from a musical point of view, but I just really dig the vibe and atmosphere of this album, as it is strangely warm and wintery.

No other albums come to mind. Then again, there are probably only like 5 albums in total I'd give 100%.

Surfing with the Alien with Joe Satriani... that's a jewel

*looks at thread title and scratches head*

I don't see how my latest post doesn't belong on this thread. After all, this is the "Non-Metal Albums That You'd give 100%" thread, so it could be just about any album that is more likely than not a metal album that you enjoy listening to.

You missed that part.

Then my wording was a bit off. What I meant to say was that while it was a shame that they discarded their heavy metal sound completely starting with that album, they were able to make it up by producing a solid pop rock album that I always enjoy spinning every few weeks. It's the album that introduced me to Def Leppard when I was a kid. I would give it 100% for being a fun album that always makes me feel nostalgic and to have wished I was alive in the '80s so I could have seen them play live at the theater in the round.

This thread makes me believe everybody is Hells in spirit. Are all these people capable of thinking a dozen or so albums are worthy of 100%? Sure, but I see a lot of "This is really cool and underrated" or "This album isn't that bad." which doesn't really translate to that to me. I dunno, seems a little crazy.

Nice thread! This were the first albums that came to my mind...

Fields of the Nephilim - The Nephilim

A great band, definitely a very influential one but very overlooked and underrated. This album is a total masterpiece: an eerie atmosphere, great guitar work and killer basslines... and Carl McCoy's amazing voice in top of everything.

Dead Can Dance - Within the Realm of a Dying Sun

The redefinition of beauty in musical terms. Great compositions and vocal perfomances by Gerrard and Lisa, sometimes epic, sometimes trully sorrowful. It's pretty evident to me why a lot of metalheads love this band.

Dir en grey - Uroboros

An impressive record; they managed to leave the trendy american influenced style adopted after their laughable Visual Kei past for a more serious approach; every song is unique, different from each other, displaying a wide range of musical genres. Such a pity they're jumping in the Deathcore/Melodeath bandwagon again...

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon, Meddle, The Wall and Wish You Were Here

My favourite Floyd albums, each one a different thing. In fact, I do love all of their works, even their psychedelic era, but if I was to pick my favourites, it would be those four.

Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street

A rock and roll masterpiece, I cannot get tired of this album, it's full of great songs. Though Brian Jones is missed, this remains my favourite record by the band.

Deftones - White Pony

Just perfect, a major turning point for Deftones, and one of my personal favourites. Violent, dramatic, dreamy... words cannot describe this album, it must be heard.

Radiohead - Kid A

Another turning point album. Thery left behind all the rock and came up with this... jazz, electronic, experimental. I cannot understand why the press hyped something so 'weird' and hard to listen...

Depeche Mode - Violator

My favourite band ever and one of the best albums ever. A darker sound, full of great compositions... every song is a timeless classic!

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - F♯A♯∞

I really love this album; just three songs that end very quickly for me, but the depressive and sorrowful vibe make it a stunning experience.

Does anybody thinks that "The Wall's Pink Floyd" is a masterpiece... also albums like "Innuendo" and "The Game" from Queen also are pretty good, I could say that albums very far from the metal scene just like "Era" from "ERA" especially the song "Era" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egy5BIypnlQ are awesome.

Also the "Live at Tokyo" from G3 is a beast.

Totally agree with that album, it's beautiful! I love Era since I listened to Ameno like 10 years ago; there are a lot of albums far away from metal that are masterpieces; but then, metal it's very varied with all the subgenres it has, so varied that even Era could influence a band. Even if not influenced by, you can find similarities between Era's works and the average Symphonic metal band (Within Temptation comes to mind for example).

Bjork - Vespertine
Nico - The End
Lou Reed - Berlin
Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town & Nebraska
Scott Walker - Scott 4
Current 93 - Black Ships Ate the Sky
David Bowie - Low
Death in June - Nada!
Red House Painters - s/t (Rollercoaster).

All perfect.

Ennio Morricone's soundtracks for The Good, The Bad and The Ugly & Once Upon a Time in America. Really, just sitting back & listening to these can be a moving experience. In fact any Morricone soundtrack.

GRAND PRIX - Samurai:

a phenomenal AOR album with some slight proggy parts. Fantastic vocalist, brillant choruses and overall a real (overlooked?) masterpiece. It features later MSG's Robin McAuley. I just don't know how to put my enthussiasm about that album in words (sorry) but the music captures me every time right on...

Alice In Chains - Alice In Chains
Yes - Classic Yes
Sigur Ros - ()
Anything by Rush
Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind
Peter Kater - Piano
John Coltrane - Interstellar Space
An Endless Sporadic - An Endless Sporadic
Spyro Gyra - Point of View

All quite awesome...

There was a point where I became a huge fan of electronic music (mainly aiming at jungle/dnb, acid techno and classic trance/psytrance here), and during this period, I've discovered a few great artists, though I'll narrow it down to a few who've become favourites to me.

1. Omni Trio - Even Angels Cast Shadows (2001)

Probably my favourite Omni Trio album. This is drum & bass at its best and in original form: Jungle. There is not one drum & bass album out there that I've listened to that has come close to this one.
I'm assuming a bunch of you are familiar with the GTA series. One of the tunes on this album was also in the game: First Contact.

Omni Trio - First Contact
Omni Trio - Artificial Life (Harp Tune)

2. Parov Stelar - Coco (2009)

Parov Stelar. A great musician from Austria. Often also performs with a full band on stage. This guy's music can be labelled under swing, jazzdance, deep house and perhaps even hip-hop at points.
Coco was an album I got when it was released back in 2009. One of my favourite internet radio dj's back then often spun records of him too. Great album this is.

Two tunes of the album:

Parov Stelar - Catgroove
Parov Stelar - The Mojo Radio Gang

3. Cosmic Baby - Stellar Supreme (1992)

One of the pioneering trance producers (back when this genre wasn't shite and sold down the drain). He brought a very ambient sounding form of trance music, yet hypnotic. This is what the style really represented. None of that eurotrash you usually would hear on the radios. This album belongs to the classics.

Cosmic Baby - The Space Track
Cosmic Baby - Stimme Der Energie

4. Atmosphere - Seven's Travels (2003)

Just like this album cos Atmosphere's a great rapper. Some fine hip-hop.

Atmosphere - Trying To Find a Balance
Atmosphere - National Disgrace

That's about what I can think of for now to be fair.

Have to admit... I've never heard those...
Suddenly I want to experiment some new things... leave the routine.

Shockabilly - The Dawn of Shockabilly
Shockabilly - Earth vs. Shockabilly
Shockabilly - Colosseum
Shockabilly - Vietnam
Shockabilly - Heaven

As you can see, I'm a bit of a fan. There's something about them that just makes me happy, plus Eugene Chadbourne is one hell of a guitarist.

Plus Naked City's Torture Garden. Seriously, you don't know what's coming next.

I would definitely give a 100% to Van Halen's debut, the Beatles' Revolver, and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon.

Swans- White Light from the Mouth of Infinity-
Best 'sorrowful/hangover' album, Gira's voice is perhaps my favourite of all. Gets stronger as the album progresses too.

All Godspeed you Black Emperor albums-
Just a delicious mix of classical and ambient (and not orthodox 'post-rock'). Another band to listen to when everything seems a bit bleak , though they are awesome just about any time. Some say Yanqui isn't as good as the others. I Disagree, though it is great for slightly different reasons.

Tool- Aenima-
The perfect balance between progression and that early rawness of Tool. Probably the best album for both invoking thought and making you want to run through brick walls.

Explosions in the Sky- Those who tell the Truth shall die, those who tell the truth shall live forever.
Many think The Earth is not a Cold Dead Place is better, but this one seems to just pip it for me. And it's the first half of the album that does it. Except for Mono perhaps, EITS are the quintessential Post Rock band for mine.

Mono- Hymn to the Immortal Wind
This album is just beautiful and I am yet to find anything that comes close to capturing it's unique feel. Soothing, sad, reflective throughout the whole journey. Probably a tie for the best post rock album along with the above.

Oasis- What's the Story? Morning Glory
Got me into music, so this album always holds a special place in my heart. Masterful , incredible rock album from start to finish. It was really their only great album though.

Muse- Origin of Symmetry
Seeing them progress away from this masterpiece has fruited that inevitable disappointment, even if they haven't really become at all bad. Citizen Erased is one of the best songs I have ever heard, heck the rest of the album is a fine example of refreshing, innovative rock as well.


That is all I will list for now.

Past Masters 1 & 2 of The Beatles... also an awesome stuff.. yeah.. maybe are compilations but... is good.

Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back
The Misfits - Walk Among Us
Black Flag - Damaged
Converge - Jane Doe (Not metal by this site's standards)
King Crimson - In The Court of the Crimson King