Top Albums

[nicola]

I am curious as to all the different musical tastes in this forum. So, could you please list the albums in this world that you just adore through and through. You can name as many as you like but try not to go over 20. Idea is we all try to listen to the 'best song' that you list so we can sample the album out I love to learn of new artists.

In no particular order:
Eden - Sarah Brightman
It's hard to pick just one album from Sarah but I guess 'Eden' mixes what she does the most. It's a pop/new age/classical/celtic venture much like 'Pure'. Best song: Deliver Me

I Believe My Heart - Keedie
Hey, it has 20 tracks on it. Can't go wrong. This album has pop covers, original material, arias and classics. Best Song: My Reason

Etterna - Emma Shapplin
An album by French soprano full of dark, brooding, classical, original material. Written entirely by herself and quite gothic in a fantastical way. Best Song: Spesso Sprofondo

Pride and Prejudice OST
From the Keira Knightley film adaption. Superb soundtrack. Hauntingly beautiful. Best Song: Your Hands Are Cold

Cantamus - Cantamus
Gold Olympic winning girl choir. They only have two albums and both of them are essential. One (not this one) is composed fully by Sarah Class (I trust you all recognise that name!) Haunting. But this one sees the girls renditioning popular songs along with some classics. Best Song: Fix You

Era 2 - Era
Has to be heard to be believed. Fundamentally a choir. But with a very rocky edge. Songs are fully composed by Eric Levi. Classical merged with electronic guitar, drum beats, latin style lyrics. It sounds like a mess, but it is brilliant. Era are the biggest import from France, ever. Best Song: Misere Mani/Madona/Omen Sore (I couldn't choose!)

Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! - Enigma
Hard choice between this one and 'Screen Behind the Mirror' but this album is the most diverse of all their albums. Best Song: T.N.T. for the Brain

Mad Season - Matchbox Twenty
An American rock/alterntive band. Completely original with probably the best vocalist of the genre in the world. Vocal interpretation is Rob Thomas' best asset. Nobody does it better. Best Song: When You're Gone

The Silent Force - Within Temptation
You think Hayley's voice is pure? Check this woman out. Sharen Den Adel fronts this gothic band with her soprano voice. Obviously gothic music might not be anyones cup of tea here, but I couldn't recommend highly enough 'Memories.' This song isn't gothic and won't scare you lol. It is a beautiful piece. Best Song: Angels/Memories

Oceanborn - Nightwish
Another gothic band. Tarja's voice is very different to Sharon's however, and is extremely operatic. I don't like most of their material as they are too heavy, but their rendition of 'Walking in the Air' is fabulous. They also have the ballad 'Sleeping Sun' on here. Best Song: Walking In The Air

[comet]

Hi Folks.
At a party recently we put a similar question.

Your house is on fire and you can only take one album with you.

What album would you save. ?

It's a horrible choice to have to make.
The hard part is ONLY ONE !

My answer was "Songs of Leonard Cohen" one of the first LPs I Bought.

[nicola]

I'm disappointed that this thread didn't get more answers. I was looking forward to being introduced to new artists. Oh well.

[Dave]

Hello Nicola,

I'm just guessing here but perhaps people thought you wanted them to list lots and lots of albums like you did and like me, they couldn't think of more than a handful off the top of their head? I assume that any number from one upwards is OK?

Anyway, the thread is probably in the wrong board, it may do better in the "Other Music" board so I'll move it there in a minute. And our two messages may help to resurrect the thread!

As for me, I'm going to weigh in with a shocker:

London Symphony Orchestra, Rachmaninov Symphony No. 2 conducted by Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, recorded in London in March 1988. I have lost count of the number of times i've played it, it must be in the hundreds by now!!!

I bet that surprised you

Cheers, Dave

[Ross]

One of my favourites is YULIA who is a 20yo russian now living in New Zealand, she is a soprano with a very powerful voice.She is going to be in europe for awhile so go see her if you can.
She has two albums:- Into the West and Montage.
Into the west is my favourite song (she does it better than the original).

[nicola]

I keep hearing about Yulia, but can never find anywhere to purchase her CD. Link, anyone?!

[Richard]

Hello Nicola!

There are links to several online stores on Yulia's website:-

www.yulia.co.nz/buy.html

Good luck!

Richard

[comet]

I should be working but I'd rather do this instead.

In no particular order.

Tori Amos. Little earthquakes. Favorite track : China
Genesis. Selling England by the pound. The whole album as 1 concept
Mike Oldfield. Tubular Bells.
Nana Mouskouri. Passport or Classical or Classic all different albums
Notting Hillbillies. Missing.... Presumed having a good time.
Neil Diamond. Hot August Night also Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Gordon Lightfoot.. Sunday concert
Ennio Morricone.. The Mission
The Moody blues. Seventh Sojourn
Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Trilogy
Eddi Reader / Fairground Attraction. 1st of a million Kisses
Dzintars. Latvian womens choir. Songs of Amber.
Pink Floyd. Dark side of the moon.
Simon and Garfunkel, Bookends
Fleetwood Mac. Rumours or Tusk.
Latin Quarter. Modern Times. Track: Cora
Ted Hawkins. Next hundred years.
Abba. Super Trouper
Elton John. Madman across the water. Track: Indian Sunset.
Cat Stevens. Numbers.

I could just keep going.
Without the obvious Hayley, Brightman. Charlotte C. Gigliola Cinquetti, Cohen.
Bowie, Kris Kristofferson, Donovan, Elvis etc...