Top Albums

Timothy J. Roberts
Sep 4, 2018 · 13 min read
the famous iTunes screensaver

In no particular order, some music that matters to me….

There was a wave of social media posts online a few months back where people would post their top 10 albums and I wanted to do this but it’s way behind trying to keep up with the trend of it. I just like sharing stuff no matter when it is. Especially if you’ll listen =)

I can’t pick only ten so we’ll see what I end up sharing. I like a lot of entire front-to-back albums that i feel are good for sharing, which I’ll try to crank out for you.

To help keep things at a hopefully unbiased minimum, I’ve tried to list just one album from some artists rather than 2 or three or more from each which is possible for pretty much each artist with an album ON the list.

My musical taste is all over the board sometimes, please don’t let the album art of music you don’t care about discourage you from going to the next album. I’d love it if there’s anything you can take away or relate to in my sharing this with you!


#1. Steve Miller Band — Complete Greatest Hits

I always enjoyed hearing these songs off and on growing up in the house or even, when I obtained my own copy finally, listening to it on the drive to college for the semester as I cranked it in my 1990 Ford Tempo. Growing up with older parents I got into older music which seemed to free me from only listening to what the radio was playing, thank God, liberating me from the box of overly current-generational influence at the time and getting a taste of what some older folks would’ve felt, like when these older songs were actually on the radio for the first time. Front to back.

#2. Relient KDAILY DOUBLE!! “Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek” and “Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right… But Three Do

Released 2001
Released 2003

Both of these albums grew me into a better person, I feel. With the encouragement, thought-opening, cautioning, and humbling thought processes about putting God first and ourselves 2nd and still taking care of ourselves and those around us (seriously I feel like that wraps up the writing) I was, later on in life, grateful for how I thought and reacted in high school and college to situations I was in compared to the ways other people around me would seemingly “justifiably” act in situations. They would, and do, get into an “I’m alive, so I deserve what I want” mindset when making decisions and choices throughout the day and it blows me away. I feel like these albums were good for turning the wheels of thought inside my mind. (Even their first album wasn’t bad =) I prefer the pre-GoldEdition mixes of “Two Lefts” since I actually enjoyed the mixed better before it was cleaned-up and re-released. Hence one of the original 4 sets of artwork instead of the re-release ‘blue’ shade of car crash with all four original vehicles on one cover.

#3. Keith GreenThe Live Experience

Somehow, I got to college before getting hooked on his music, although it was perfect timing because of how powerful it was. I heard it here and there growing up, but all of the sudden it meant more. As a Christian it really helped me to get kicked-in to a more serious mindset about how to handle my everyday actions and thoughts but with having those catchy songs to help me remember to love on others and remember how God loves me, it became a lot easier to think about through the day having such a good push towards shaking someones hand or starting a conversation I wasn’t sure about having. He really did love Christ and I pray that I can love Jesus more everyday also. #JesusMusic

#4. Mae — The Everglow

So Far Away

I liked this album later than when it was released, it was my freshman year of college actually in 2007, 4 years after it came out, that I really listened to it and the words in combination with such a crazy variety of orchestration was ensuing on this album. But MAE does stand for Multisensory Aesthetic Experience so the band did have a purpose in trying to stimulate multiple senses with their writing, I mean, check out the music video for “Sometimes I Can’t Make it Alone” or even their newest single “5 Lightyears”. I like to write music and these guys definitely opened the mind up because of their collective style, the way it all fits together. Plus the way they dressed.. I mean it was high school, lol. You know that was a factor in your choices too.

#5. The Ataris — So Long, Astoria

— > “In This Diary” by The Ataris

Like many of you probably know, the title of this album of theirs is a Goonies reference. (Excellent movie, much recommend) — My friend Jeremy lent me this album in 9th grade once I knew who they actually were via my friend Andrew that i used to be in a band or two with. We would play the old Ataris song “Teenage Riot” in his backyard on our amps in the back of the neighborhood. He on bass and myself on guitar, he would sing. But once I heard this album, it stuck with me for a long time. I think their semi-emo(tional) rendition of “Boys of Summer” gave it appeal for a lot of people. I liked some punk music, which is what their earlier sound leaned towards but the newer style of their ‘selling out’ caught my ear more. Figures. A favorite video on youtube is still them playing the title track at Warped Tour ’03. I still want to find my old copy of Alternative Press with them on the cover. That’s one to cherish.

#6. Sonicflood — SonicPraise

This is another great album that actual intrigued me with the music, how catchy it was that got me listening to more Christian music than I was expecting to at a younger age. I loved putting in the CD, listening to this one from the start since there was this intro where you can hear someone introducing them to the crowd in another language for about 20 seconds and all of the sudden you can make out their saying “It’s The Verve, meets Radiohead, meets the Holy Spirit, here is… Sonic FLOOD!” *crowd cheers* *Que upbeatness* Plus, the next track “I Want to Know You” reminds you of the intro to Third Eye Blind’s “I want something Else” haha. But only after it kicks off with the funkiest of bass lines. Such a favorite.

#7. America — Greatest Hits

A nod to their “Holiday” album in the front and center, them standing by the car

If you haven’t heard of the band America, then listen to Horse With No Name. This whole album was another one of my parents’ that we had in the car, on trips, in the house and i always let it soak in with acoustic ease. It just has a mellow about it as did their albums in general. BUt with the greatest hits, i mean that’s the cream of the crop. Except it didn’t have You Can Do Magic on it, since the compilation was released in the mid 70’s after the band had only released 4 or 5 regular studio albums. “You Can Do Magic” put them back on the billboard charts after falling out once the acoustic craze of the 70’s had began dying down and electronics started seeping slowly into music in the new decade. Good chill album if you like Fleet Foxes or others like them since America was a big influence on them.

#8. Nirvana — Nevermind (but… what about Bleach?)

“Heeeeeeey, Stay Awaaaaay…”

So I ended up with a burnt copy of Nevermind from my friend Tyler in 7th or 8th grade around when I started playing guitar and it was a big sound to take in. A little late to this party with my main area of listening in 2001 though 2004 being the emo/upcoming hardcore & post hardcore scene with stuff like Thursday, Mae, Finch, Falling Up, Taking Back Sunday, etc. This album really stood out to me with everyone playing a part in the song and the effective mixing of Butch Vig to give the album something extra. ALTHOUGH, I wish we could hear the whole album if it’d been mixed more like Bleach or In Utero, meant to be more of a slightly under-listened-to, more tight-knit, fit-in among the rest of the discography and not as Holy-cow-this-really-stands-out-like-its-a-great-mainstream-fit-album. As a musician, there was something elemental to my learning music while listening to that one. Because you know you’re maturing when you come to appreciate Bleach as much as, if not more than Nevermind. =) Here, enjoy the In Bloom video if you never have.

#9. Tears for Fears — 20th Century Masters Collection

How many bajillion artists have a 20th Century Masters Collection? haha.
I always liked their ’85 album “Songs from the Big Chair”, but I do enjoy the collection of hits piled onto the greatest hits compilation. A ‘big’ reason being that I liked the American version of “Mothers Talk” to the Big Chair version (but only slightly) and this is where I actually first heard it on this disc. Also i liked the “soulful re-recording” of “I believe” from the regular one… “William!” — Growing up around some of their songs got me interested in them as a whole. It’s one of those that can take you back to sitting at home or being outside during a hot summer day before the internet could keep you occupied. I was so glad to see that Spotify Landmark had them play a private, intimate concert for some ultra-fans which i loved hearing & watching. Mmmm.

#10. John Mayer — Room For Squares

Table of Scientific Elements Sqaures

I know some folks don’t care much for this album, but it was another one of those elemental at the time that i really enjoyed from front to back. But a big part of listing all of these out was that i had the CD’s for them. When the album is yours and not just a link you click, there’s more connection to it, I think. I don’t care how you defend thinking otherwise, not that you can’t think it. From front to back of this album I was learning to play guitar and hearing the way these songs seemed to give me an idea of what I could do in the future as a guitar player. But also, being younger, I liked where the songs would take me, wondering if and when I’d feel some of the things he would describe in his song writing. I loved harmonizing with his stuff as well. It helped you really get used to having to be vocally flexible if you harmonize with the entire album non-stop, whole songs. “3x5” and “83” are two great songs when they come on. I always enjoy those and the nostalgia they bring.
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#11. Journey — Frontiers

Journey’s Frontiers

I started the ‘Journey’ journey later in life, like college years, but I enjoy the big sound they create in their albums and this one always grabbed me by the ears a little more than the others. I think it was a result of their we-finally-found-our-sound-and-we’re-gonna-kill-this-next-album confidence that drives it into the bones. One of those awesome listening experiences where they happened to perfect, at least to me, the experience of each song being it’s own and not sounding the same but still creating a cohesive album. Plus, it has a few big hits on it, but not “Don’t Stop Believing”, because you hear it more when you’re listening to them more often and you do get tired of it if you’re not already. A couple of songs to check out that are not on this album are “Mother Father” and “Be Good To Yourself”. (❤) ((Pay attention)) #SometimesIskipSeparateWaysThough #ThenListenToTheWholeAlbum
And in all this I am referring to the first version of the album that ends at the song “Rubicon”, not the 4 extra tracks released in 2006 with the new CD. Although “Only Solutions” was used in Tron and it’s not bad haha.

#12. Matchbox 20 — ANOTHER DAILY DOUBLE!! (cheating, I know) “Yourself or Someone Like You” & “Mad Season”

I made it to these albums a little late. I always enjoyed all of the singles from these two albums (including the ones from their 3rd release), but I finally got around to buying my own copies of these two albums. I know it’s late but back in 2011 or so i picked up the special “book” version of Mad Season and it kind of grabbed me, the way Rob can write a song and have the music and lyrics be on the same wavelength, where you feel both, feel the song as a whole. His words are meticulous, his voice is sincere and the ins and outs of the accompaniment are all one. It feels like these songs all already existed somewhere and they just laid them out on an album. No writing just kind of like a revelational reveal. Yourself or Someone Like You is a very raw first album. I like that he’s not scared to share how he’s feeling on these albums. ALSO, the big part of it is the way he words his thoughts, they are always typical, usually more poetic, but it doesn’t seem so at first. It always blows me away now that i didn’t pick this one up until about 3 years ago. (Don’t laugh) ANd now that I’ve got it it’s become a small staple for go-to’s when I’m in the car and don’t know what to put in, unless I throw in Keith Green. Very different, I know! For these two I could probably do a track by track breakdown of both, but I’ll refrain.

#13. MeWithoutYou — Brother, Sister

Brother, Sister

It took me a while to understand the depth of this album, to understand musically more of what they were, and weren’t, doing. There’s not always singing on this one, but good Lord is there expression. The words and the feeling is there and it’s never a bad day to hear at least one track from this. The words for this album description are flowing out of my finger tips, i was so excited to throw this onto this list. I hope you’ll give it a listen. As odd as it may seem at first, maybe grab the booklet sheet or pull up lyrics for it but go find a way to hear (FEEL) this one. Digest it, see where the songs take you.

#14. AFI — Sing The Sorrow (I know some of you wish it were an older album, I know)

Leaves in black and red

My first AFI listen was actually the most-enjoyable All Hallow’s E.P. but you have to start somewhere with certain bands and can’t always help where. This was the first full album i enjoyed of theirs once i began recognizing their name and sound once I found them when a girl and her brother riding the bus from my neighborhood got on the bus each morning and i could hear Davey yelling through her non-earbud headphones and saw some of the band-patches on her backpack. Another friend in my grade let me borrow a copy of this album and it was great. Hadn’t something like their fast-paced, closer to a pre-blackmetal sound with the higher vocals and gang vocals thrown in as well. It’s a great mixture I recommend this and all albums beforehand. USe your own discretion on anything further.

#15. Paramore — Brand New Eyes

I liked this album when it came out as it as not certain that it was going to since the band almost broke up. You can feel the hope for a continued future for the band in this album’s songs. In between someone the lines there are other hidden energies and little nuances that at the time of it’s release made you feel good since Riot! was so good, it was like an even more cleaned-up but more “happening” version of it. More of what you want without to being too similar, what people usually want with albums, tv shows and movie sequels. But there was more depth to the writing in terms of music and lyrical content.
I think “Misguided Ghosts” and “Where the Lines Overlap” are the two favorites from the album. All the other songs are close behind.


Those are the ones that came to mind right away as I was trying to limit it to one album per artist that came to mind. So really those are top albums by some of my top artists.

I’m just going to update this as soon as more come to mind!!!

Thank you for checking it out. I hope you’ll let me know some of your top music, because I always enjoy listening to music, playing it, discussing it.

Have a good day!

Timothy J. Roberts

Written by

Music, Reading, Writing, Thinking, all for benefit. Not sure if it's more for mine or yours.

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