Please forgive the lack of album art, I'm writing this on my iPhone. In no particular order:

 

1. Nightwish - Century Child

 

This is my favorite Nightwish album, contrary to the popular Once and Dark Passion Play. From the peaceful opening Bless the Child to the heavy Beauty of the Beast, no song fails to bring me to a fantastical world where I can escape my daily worries.

 

Best songs: End of All Hope, Ever Dream, Phantom of the Opera

 

2. Eminem - Marshall Mathers LP

 

In my mind, Eminem's best work. Each song is a chilling look into his life, and every lyric strikes innumerable emotions from pity to anger to sadness.

 

Best songs: The Way I Am, Stan, Kim

 

3. Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies

 

KSE, to me, is the epitome of metalcore. They have the perfect blend of scream and harmony and the guitars and drums all mesh to give a sense of unstoppable-ness.

 

Best songs: This is Absolution, Eye of the Storm, Reject Yourself

 

4. System of a Down - Toxicity

 

To be totally honest, I have no idea what many of the lyrics in this album (or any other SOAD album) mean. But Serj's voice in itself can convey the message. However, I can get a gist of this album's message; the world is a crappy place. It's a shame they disbanded/went on hiatus. I eagerly await their next album...if it ever comes.

 

Best songs: Chop Suey, Toxicity, Aerials

 

5. Anti-Flag - For Blood and Empire

 

This was A-F's last album before they sold out to the corporate labels they chastised in many of their songs. I love the message this album carries in respect to the ongoing Second Gulf War. It's a must have for anyone who is anti-establishment.

 

Beat songs: Hymn for the Dead, Press Corpse, I'd Tell You But...

 

6. Dragonforce - Inhuman Rampage

 

I don't care if Herman Li cheats. This album gets my blood flowing everytime I hear it. I just don't like how they (the band) "sold out" to Guitar Hero. It really pisses me off when people who talk about Dragonforce only know Through the Fire and the Flames. Valley of the Damned isn't bad! And TTFATF isn't even this album's best song!

 

Best songs: Operation Ground and Pound, Storming the Burning Fields, Revolution Deathsquad

 

7. Symphony X - Paradise Lost

 

Amazing album by a hometown (I live in Jersey) band. I'm not quite sure what their genre is, but it sounds to me a combo of proggressive and power metal. Nevertheless, each song invokes a different feeling and tells a very interesting story.

 

Best songs: Paradise Lost, Set the World on Fire, Revelation

 

8. Joe Hisaishi & New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra - Spirited Away (Original Soundtrack)

 

I loved the movie. And the score is probably the best I've ever heard. No song is too over the top, and each one is matched with the mood (of the scene in the movie) flawlessly. Must have for any fans of movie scores.

 

Best songs: The Dragon Boy, Sootballs, Day of the River

 

9. OceanLab - Sirens of the Sea (Remixed)

 

OceanLab puts out some of the best trance I've ever heard. The singer (whose name I don't know) has such an angelic voice (though not quite on par with Nightwish's former Tarja Turonen (sp?)) and sings each song with passion and bliss. I could get lost listening to this album over and over, and in the end, isn't that what trace is about?

 

Best songs: Miracle (Michael Cassette Remix), Beautiful Together (Signum Remix), Sky Falls Down (Armin van Buren Remix)

 

10. Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death

 

Sorry for not choosing a better Maiden album; my collection is few and far between. However, I like the anti-war message this album conveys. While it may not be the most popular Maiden album, it may be the most well written in the sense that every song ties into the next in terms of message.

 

Best songs: Longest Day, Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg, Hallowed Be Thy Name (Live Bonus Track)

 

11. Journey - Journey's Greatest Hits

 

Quite possibly the greatest power ballad band of all time. All I need to say.

 

Best songs: Don't Stop Believin', Faithfully, Open Arms

 

12. Maroon 5 - Songs About Jane

 

Something about this album just makes me smile. Every love song can be applied to whatever I'm feeling at the time.

 

Best songs: Sunday Morning, Tangeled, She Will Be Loved

 

13. Children of Bodom - Are You Dead Yet?

 

Amazing death metal band. Each song is chilling but fun at the same time, right down to the melodies.

 

Best songs: Living Dead Beat, Are You Dead Yet?, Bastards of Bodom

 

14. Eddie Izzard - Circle

 

Who said this list was restricted to music? Circle, while not as brilliant as Dress to Kill, is a hilarious act from Popeman's Jesus Discs to Vader's skill with a tray.

 

Best songs: Listen to the whole thing through and through. Guaranteed to laugh or your sense of humor is nonexistent.

 

15. DNA-Groove - Restrained Calculation

 

I don't expect many, if any, to know DNA-Groove. He's an indie artist in Tel Aviv, Isreal, who puts out amazing electronic background music. He's probably most known for his work in the popular Pocket Tanks. However, many of his songs are just as good, if not better. I encourage you to check out his site http://mindjob.org and discover his music for yourself.

 

Best songs: Fabric of Time, The Nibiru Eclipse, Recreational Emotions (feat. Bacter)

 

Thanks for sitting through my diverse list. I hope I've encouraged you to check out at least one of the albums listened above.

 

- atom smash40

Nice range of tracks, I wouldn't expect Killswitch to be in the same list as Maroon 5 (I have both of those albums actually...lol)

 

I'll definatly be checking some of those out!

Nice range of tracks, I wouldn't expect Killswitch to be in the same list as Maroon 5

I tried to diversify. The only main genre that isn't represented is pop.

Bump. I realize a wall of text may be a little intimidating so I put in the album covers for the list.

Nice selection of music though Dragon Force as a choice goes beyond me. Too samey.

I should remake my list sometime. My music choice has changed a lot.

 

As for your choice in music, not a fan. Although Spirited Away is an awesome movie. :thumbup:

Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg

Yes.

Surprised you picked Are You Dead Yet from Children of Bodom. Most people think it's the worst album in their catalogue and they never fully recovered to what they had on the first 3-4 records.

I have Follow the Reaper but I never really got into it. Are You Dead Yet? was my first COB album so :-?

Definitely not a fan of most of your taste in music; though I do enjoy Symphony X.

Well, I will say that I like the Iron Maiden album, although it's not their best. I'm not really a huge fan of metalcore, gothic or power metal so most of the other metal posted leaves me cold - Are You Dead Yet? simply comes across as a very weak album. Out of the rest, the Eminem one is pretty good (even if I prefer the cleaner sound and wit of The Eminem Show). I haven't heard Maroon 5 since I was 10, and I didn't like them back then, and Journey are flipping awful. Just my tuppence.

Lots of metal, but some good albums in there! :)