My Favourite Albums: A Musical Journey

Music narrates my life. I'm constantly listening to music whether I'm hanging out with friends, cooking elaborate meals, or simply existing. If I'm ever out and about without my headphones equipped, something is probably wrong. When I'm without music, the quality of my day is significantly affected, so it's fair to say that music is a key component of my day to day existence.

Here you will find my 42 favourite albums to give you an idea of what sounds are filling my ears when I go about my daily operations. Whittling this list down to 42 was very challenging but it resulted in a selection of albums which I hold very close to my heart. Here we go.

42. JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown - Scaring The Hoes

You can always count on a JPEGMAFIA produced album to be two thing, chaotic and beautiful, and this one is a perfect example up. Teaming up with Danny Brown, JPEGMAFIA creates another experimental hip-hop album which breaks even more boundaries than the last.

41. Vegyn - Don't Follow Me Because I'm Lost Too!!

Vegyn is an incredible producer that never fails to make music that makes you feel like you are both floating through space and swimming in the ocean. This album is a great night time listen.

40. Kanye West - ye

Summer 2018 saw Kanye West producing 5 seven song albums, notably KIDS SEE GHOSTS, Pusha T's Daytona, and this album, ye. With a runtime of just over 23 minutes, ye is Kanye's shortest album ever released - perfect length for a campus commute. It features some of his most introspective lyrics and top quality production

39. Childish Gambino - "Awaken, My Love!"

The intro song to this album, "Me and Your Mama" is probably the best opening song to an album ever. That alone is enough to secure "Awaken, My Love!" a spot on this list... the other songs are amazing too.

38. Elliott Smith - Either/Or

Absolutely heart-wrenching.

37. Tame Impala - Currents

Currents is full of bangers. It is laced with dreamy production and soft but powerful vocals, with every song coming together to make up one of the most stylistically cohesive albums ever!

36. Her's - Songs of Her's

Her's were bound to be international superstars had it not been for their tragic passing, and this album is a perfect example of why. It also features "What Once Was", which is one of my favourite songs of all time.

35. Prince - Prince

Prince's sophomore album, Prince, is my favourite album of his. It's a full album of feel-good pop that enters your body, through the ear, and makes you dance. It's also got some pretty insane guitar solos in the mix too.

34. Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez See Your Future (The Extended Edition)

Denzel Curry's sound really matured on this album. The standard edition was one of my favourite albums of 2022, and then he went and re-recorded a number of the tracks in the style of Neo-Soul alongside the Cold-Blooded Soul band which made an already great album levels better.

33. Pinegrove - Everything So Far

I love Pinegrove so very much. My favourites from this album are Need 2, Angelina, and Problems - all are incredible tracks. The album was released in 2015 and just as the title suggests, it features everything so far (as of 2015)

32. slowthai - TYRON

One of my favourite albums of 2021. I remember being there for the rollout and getting really excited for this album to drop. So much so that I stayed up until midnight for the album to release which ended up being so worth it. The track list is split into two halves, one full of energy and the other containing more emotional and introspective cuts.

31. Loyle Carner - hugo

I've been a fan of Loyle Carner for quite a few years now and the fact that his 3rd album makes this list is a testament to his artistry. This album is incredibly introspective and self critical, and it results in a fantastic album, drawing from a range of influences.

30. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures

A classic. One of the most influential post-punk albums of all time. Enough said.

29. BROCKHAMPTON - ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE

ROADRUNNER, in my opinion, is BROCKHAMPTON's last great album. It sees each member of the group taking it in turns to display their incredible individual talents, and takes me through a rollercoaster of emotions.

28. Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

My second favourite Kendrick Lamar album. Being able to be there and experience the rollout when it happened was an amazing feeling. So incredibly cohesive and mature, making for one of the best listens of 2022.

27. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead

This album = Great. Morrissey = Bad.

26. Phoebe Bridgers - Stranger in the Alps

I have the ghost from this album cover tattooed on my arm - that must mean something, right?

25. Kendrick Lamar - Section 80

Kendrick's debut album is my favourite of his for a lot of reasons. It tells a great story, it's full of bangers, and it only gets better with age. This album also played a key part in strengthening some of my best friendships, making it mean even more to me.

24. Steve Lacy - Gemini Rights

If you know me, you will know that I am a huge fan os Steve Lacy - he is one of the main reasons I decided to buy a bass guitar. Gemini Rights is his most cohesive album to date and it features some of my favourite tracks of his. The record is emotional but equally as fun and groovy. Helmet and Mercury are some of my top picks from this one!

23. Vegyn - Text While Driving If You Want to Meet God!

I've already mentioned Vegyn so I wont say too much. Again, this album is a fantastic showcase of what he is capable of producing. Its no wonder he's beginning to produce for some of the greats.

22. Little Simz - NO THANK YOU

Little Simz announced this album a week prior to releasing it. Little did I know at the time that despite releasing in December 2022, it quickly earned itself a place on my favourite albums of that year. She just goes in so hard, track after track.

21. Mac Miller - Circles

"Well, this is what it look like, right before you fall" - This being the opening lyric on Mac Miller's posthumous album is enough to make a grown man cry, I'm living proof. The themes of this album hit so much harder considering the context in which it was released. Circles will never stop making me feel how it does now. What an incredible talent.

20. JID - The Forever Story

This is one of the greatest hip-hop albums of the past decade and I am sure that within the next 10 years, JID will be held to the same level of acclaim as Kendrick and Kanye. This album is a true display of JID's technical ability and musical genius.

19. Cocteau Twins - Heaven Or Las Vegas

One of the most atmospheric albums I have ever listened to. I have no idea what she is saying but its just so cool...

18. Black Country, New Road - For the first time

BCNR are my favourite group of people to ever make music together. The band (at the time of this album's release) consisted of seven members, all of whom are some of the most incredibly talented musicians. This album is just them showing off what they are capable of, greatness.

17. Teezo Touchdown - How Do You Sleep At Night? With You

What a great debut album, with such a wide range of styles, genres, and influences. Teezo really blew up out of nowhere and has released some of the coolest and most innovative music that I have heard in recent years. His voice is so unique and the melodies he creates are infectious.

16. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

How could this one not make the list? I am still amazed, but also confused, that one person could have this much creativity inside of them. This album changed rap music forever.

15. Steve Lacy - Apollo XXI

The album that got me into Steve Lacy, and I will be forever thankful for its existence.

14. Radiohead - In Rainbows

This is one of the most innovative and groundbreaking albums to ever be released. I believe that it shows Radiohead at their absolute best. The atmosphere created on this album makes me so genuinely happy but equally as blown away every time I revisit it. The second half of Weird Fishes/ Arpeggi *chef's kiss*.

13. Frank Ocean - channel ORANGE

How could a debut album ever get better than this? It features some of the funkiest and greatest Neo-Soul/R&B that I have ever heard. Frank Ocean is just an amazing talent. This album feels so nostalgic.

12. Tyler, The Creator - IGOR

One of the coolest break-up story albums ever. This album is probably the most aesthetically cohesive on this list. It is almost certainly Tyler's best, but is it my favourite...?

11. Fontaines D.C. - Skinty Fia

I am so absolutely gutted that when at Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2022 that I did not know who Fontaines D.C. and as a result decided to not go and see them perform. Easily one of the biggest mistakes of my entire life to date.

It's time for the top 10...

10. Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert

I think that this album easily cements Little Simz as the greatest British rapper ever. I'd like to see anyone try and convince me otherwise. Just listen to it.

9. Blood Orange - Negro Swan

This album features a blend of R&B, funk, synth-pop, and alternative music, which showcases Blood Orange's (Devonté Hynes) versatility as a musician and producer. I think this is his magnum opus. It even has features from some of the greatest (A$AP Rocky & Diddy to name a couple) and if they give Dev his flowers, then how couldn't I.

8. Jeff Buckley - Grace

I found out not too long ago that this album inspired Thom Yorke to sing falsetto and consequently saved Radiohead's career, and this has only made me listen to it with so much more love. I love this album so so much and I believe Jeff Buckley to be one of the greatest male vocalists of all time, and Grace is a perfect display of why I believe so.

7. Kanye West - The Life Of Pablo

I hold this album very close to my heart. It is the record that got me seriously into music and I feel so nostalgic when I listen to it. Please bring back Man of God Kanye, please.

6. Lil Yachty - Let's Start Here.

If you had told 13 year old me in 2016 that in 2023, Lil Yachty would release one of the greatest explorations into psychedelic-rock by a rapper I wouldn't have even given you the time of day. Yachty's artistic evolution should be studied in music history books for years to come. This album was made so tastefully, well done Lil Yachty.

5. Kali Uchis - Isolation

This album is so uplifting and every time I listen to it, I always end up feeling so good about myself. Kali Uchis has such an incredible voice and when combined with production from greats such as Gorillaz and Tame Impala, as well as features from Tyler, The Creator and Jorja Smith, it makes for absolute greatness. I found this album for £12 on blue transparent vinyl in my local record shop last year, didn't buy it, instant regret. It was not there the next day...

4. Tyler, the Creator - Flower Boy

Here we go, my favourite Tyler, the Creator album. I think a reason I love this one so much is because of the influence it had on fashion and music at the time. It features some of my favourite songs of Tyler's including, 911/Mr Lonely, Glitter, Who Dat Boy, Where This Flower Blooms...... I could go on to name almost every sone on this album so I'll stop here. But this one (and all of the albums on this list actually) are must listens.

3. JPEGMAFIA - OFFLINE!

This album is awesome. I went to see JPEGMAFIA live on his tour for this album and it is still, to this date, the best concert I've ever been to. Peggy is truly a master of his craft, perfectly blending samples with his consistently energetic rap performances to make for some of the weirdest but greatest music that I have ever heard.

2. Frank Ocean - Blond

If the word 'beautiful' could be represented using an album. It is perfect from start to finish. The opening track 'Nikes' builds the thematic world of Blond so perfectly - and then straight into 'Ivy', 'Pink + White', and then 'Solo'. Just wow. Oh and if that wasn't enough, it features the greatest song ever created 'Nights' - I have said this to over 30 people now and no one has been able to respond with a counter best song ever created which says it all. I haven't even mentioned 'Self Control', or even 'White Ferrari'. If you've not listened to this album, just do it.

1..Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There

This album is number one because it literally changed my life. Prior to listening to this album, my music taste was dominated by Hip-Hop. After listening to this, I started to delve into a much wider range of different musical genres. As well as this, it has some of the most emotion I've ever heard. The music is so deeply personal whilst been so incredibly beautiful. No other music that I have ever listened to has ever made me feel the way that this album makes me feel. 'Ants From Up There' has some of the greatest instrumentation that I have ever heard. Please please please listen to this album. It is some of the most beautiful music ever made.

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Thank you so much for reading this. I hope through this you have discovered some great music that you had perhaps been unfamiliar with before. Thank you for coming on this journey with me.

by Jacob Clark