Most influential Albums of the last 25 years

[CptStern]

what would you say is the most important/influential album of the last 25 yrs ..for the mathematically challenged that's 1980

to get the ball rolling I'd say ..in this order:


London Calling - The Clash

the Joshua Tree - U2

Fear of a Black Planet - Public Enemy

Nirvana - Nevermind

Radiohead - the Bends



remember people ..it's not the best albums or your favourite albums but rather the most influential/important albums of the last 25 yrs

 

[J_Tweedy]

Nice topic

Joy Division - 'Closer' or 'Substance' (Although i think substance may have been 1979, sorry)
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Radiohead - OK Computer

In the genre of music i like to listen to, and worthy of a mention overall (hey are important albums)
Pixies - Surfa Rossa
Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
Mission of Burma- Vs
Son Volt - Trace

 

[CptStern]

Nice topic

Joy Division - 'Closer' or 'Substance'
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Radiohead - OK Computer

In the genre of music i like to listen to, and worthy of a mention overall (hey are important albums)
Pixies - Surfa Rossa
Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
Mission of Burma- Vs
Son Volt - Trace

excellent choices ...you got the influential part right ..picking not necessarily the most commercially successful albums but rather the critically acclaimed ones ...

curious ...why Joy Division and not New Order?


love the Pixies

 

[J_Tweedy]

Joy Division were hugely influential in the entire 80s style of music- accentuated drums/ bass and dark, brooding melodies- New Order tended more towards the pop side of the spectrum, and came later on (of course heavily influenced by JD, as had some of the same members). I think each were important in their own right, but Joy Division still blows my mind to this day with how ahead of their time they were, guess that's why.
Mission of Burma imo are a hugely underrated group for what they did for punk rock- we wouldnt havebands such as Sonic Youth and Fugazi, not to mention many of today's punk rock bands if it wasn't for them.

 

[CptStern]

Joy Division were hugely influential in the entire 80s style of music- accentuated drums/ bass and dark, brooding melodies- New Order tended more towards the pop side of the spectrum, and came later on (of course heavily influenced by JD, as had some of the same members). I think each were important in their own right, but Joy Division still blows my mind to this day with how ahead of their time they were, guess that's why.
Mission of Burma imo are a hugely underrated group for what they did for punk rock- we wouldnt havebands such as Sonic Youth and Fugazi, not to mention many of today's punk rock bands if it wasn't for them.

good insight into the times and I agree JD pushed the envelope more so than NO

 

[Absinthe]

"OK Computer" by Radiohead. No explanation needed.

"Pretty Hate Machine" by Nine Inch Nails. Infused the industrial subgenre with his own pop flavor, penetrating the mainstream. Sadly, this paved the way for a lot of crap currently cluttering the airwaves. *eyes Linkin Park*

"Selected Ambient Works Vol. 1" by Aphex Twin. I considered putting the RDJ Album here instead, but I think this one edges it out. He crafted a sound unlike anything else and made a splash that has influenced the entire electronic music scene. The ripples of his talent can even be felt today in other genres, although perhaps far more subtly. NIN, Muse, Radiohead, and the sounds of plenty of others have benefited from this.

 

[SenorDingDong]

Iron Maiden * 1980--Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden * 1981--Killers
Iron Maiden * 1982--The Number of the Beast
Iron Maiden * 1983--Piece of Mind
Iron Maiden * 1984--Powerslave
Iron Maiden * 1986--Somewhere in Time
Iron Maiden * 1988--Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Iron Maiden * 1990--No Prayer for the Dying
Iron Maiden * 1992--Fear of the Dark
Iron Maiden * 1995--The X Factor
Iron Maiden * 1998--Virtual XI
Iron Maiden * 2000--Brave New World
Iron Maiden * 2002--Rock in Rio
Iron Maiden * 2003--Dance of Death

 

[Absinthe]

Iron Maiden * 1980--Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden * 1981--Killers
Iron Maiden * 1982--The Number of the Beast
Iron Maiden * 1983--Piece of Mind
Iron Maiden * 1984--Powerslave
Iron Maiden * 1986--Somewhere in Time
Iron Maiden * 1988--Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Iron Maiden * 1990--No Prayer for the Dying
Iron Maiden * 1992--Fear of the Dark
Iron Maiden * 1995--The X Factor
Iron Maiden * 1998--Virtual XI
Iron Maiden * 2000--Brave New World
Iron Maiden * 2002--Rock in Rio
Iron Maiden * 2003--Dance of Death

Wow. That list sucks.

 

[StardogChampion]

Nirvana - Nevermind
Pixies - Surfer Rosa
AC/DC - Back in Black
Metallica - Master of Puppets

Sadly, this paved the way for a lot of crap currently cluttering the airwaves. *eyes Linkin Park*

They seem to remind me more of Alice in Chains, it's like the guy that sings the choruses is trying to impersonate Layne Staley.

That reminds me:
Alice in Chains - Dirt.

 

[DeusExMachina]

I'm just gonna name some bands since basically all their albums were influential in music.

The Beatles without a doubt. I don't even want to imagine music without them.
Led Zeppelin. 'nuff said.
Bob Dylan. The lyrics master.
Joy Division. Another 'nuff said.
Pink Floyd. Enough freakin' said o__o. I don't know what indepedant artist Floyd hasn't influenced.
The Velvet Underground. Yeah.
The Flaming Lips. Yeahuhh.
The Pixies. Yes'm.

Now for some bands I'm into that are still around...sort of, and I think influence a lot of the other music I listen to.

Neutral Milk Hotel-In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. Probably one of the most influential indie albums of the 90s.
Radiohead-OK Computer. The only album I really liked by them and hella influential.
Nirvana-Nevermind. For good or for worse, it has had an influence. In Utero was better .

...That's really all I got.

 

[Space Farm]

It's too hard to call out any albums at the top of my head, there were so many.

Paranoid was a huge album so I'd say that was the most influential album. Maybe one of the earlier beatles album's too but I think that was over 25 years ago.

Edit: Yeah even though Nirvana are hella overrated In Utero was pretty damn influential.

 

[Darkknighttt]

All Eyez On Me - Tupac ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[AntiAnto]

Radiohead - Ok Computer

It has brought a new kind of rock and influential as hell.

 

[CptStern]

It's too hard to call out any albums at the top of my head, there were so many.

Paranoid was a huge album so I'd say that was the most influential album. Maybe one of the earlier beatles album's too but I think that was over 25 years ago.

Edit: Yeah even though Nirvana are hella overrated In Utero was pretty damn influential.

paranoid? ...you mean the Black Sabbath album? that came out in the 70's ...and the beatles!!!!! dude they broke up in 1970 ..35 years ago

 

[sinkoman]

I know it's too old, but...

Cream- Disreali Gears

 

[Bohonkie]

The Velvet Underground- The Velvet Underground and Nico
Pixies- Doolittle
Led Zeppelin- I
Dr. Dre- The Chronic (the original, not 2001)

Hmm, I'll try to think of some more. You can't argue those though.

 

[J_Tweedy]

Yeh, except people are missing the point of the thread- LAST 25 YEARS!
No one can deny the importance of Zep, Floyd, Velvet Underground etc, but they are too obvious. Albums that have influenced the last 25 years of music are harder to name, and often have influenced more narrow genres.

 

[OCybrManO]

Follow The Leader - KoRn
Nevermind - Nirvana
Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers
OK Computer - Radiohead
Dookie - Green Day
Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
Pinkerton - Weezer
What's the Story Morning Glory - Oasis
Master of Puppets - Metallica
Vs. or Ten - Pearl Jam
The Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby - U2
Mellow Gold or Odelay - Beck
Time Out of Mind - Bob Dylan

Those are some of the more influential albums from my lifetime. Well, honestly, I picked those because I can't remember much more from that period. So, those must have been influential (or at least influential to me).

 

[Evo]

Nirvana-Nevermind
Greenday-Dookie
U2-Joshua Tree
Metallica-"Black Album"
Guns n Roses-Appettite for Destruction
Red Hot Chilli Peppers-Californiacation
System of a Down-Mezmerise
Greenay-American Idiot

 

[Cormeh]

I'll get shot for this, but judging by albums that done well recently (well, five years or so) I have to say:

Stain'd - Break the Cycle
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP

Fair play, Eminem is terrible now, and I haven't bought a Stain'd album since BtC, but both had their own impact.

 

[J_Tweedy]

Bands such as Staind, Nickleback, Three Doors Down, Puddle of Mudd, Godsmack etc. all spawned from the likes of Soundgarden, System of a Down and later on, Creed- if you're going to give credit to anyone in this area- it should be Creed.

 

[Cormeh]

Why? Those bands that influence other bands didn't necessarily write the albums of other bands.

This will be the one problem with this thread, people will be too busy thinking about comparisons rather than rating what they think is an influential album.

nd please note I did state that:

Eminem is terrible now, and I haven't bought a Stain'd album since BtC, but both had their own impact.

 

[DeusExMachina]

Just because they sold well doesn't mean there's any influence. Staind and Eminem haven't influenced anyone as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Pressure]

Metallica - Kill 'Em All

It pretty much "invinted" thrash metal. Not really invinted but you know what I mean.

 

[StardogChampion]

Bands such as Staind, Nickleback, Three Doors Down, Puddle of Mudd, Godsmack etc. all spawned from the likes of Soundgarden, System of a Down and later on, Creed- if you're going to give credit to anyone in this area- it should be Creed.

Creed? The Pearl Jam wannabes? I don't think they should be given any credit. Creed are to Pearl Jam what Silverchair were to Nirvana. None of their albums have much influence.

Godsmack spawned from Alice in Chains (they had a song called God Smack on the album Dirt).

All these bands you list (not including Soundgarden) are the influenced, not the influencees.

Just because they sold well doesn't mean there's any influence. Staind and Eminem haven't influenced anyone as far as I'm concerned.

Yeah, especially Eminem. I haven't seen any other white rappers that are similar.

 

[Absinthe]

Yeah, especially Eminem. I haven't seen any other white rappers that are similar.

Insane Clown Posse!

Or did that garbage exist before Mr. Mathers?

 

[Gui!]

Metallica - Black album (a totally new look on metal and everyone copied...not suprised ... its brill)

Nirvana - never mind (i dont think i need to explain this one)

As much as i hate to say it.. green day - american idiot... changed the punk genre as we know it

id also like to add pantera or more to the point..dimebag..i no its a bit off the subject but he has influenced many guitarists out there.

R.I.P dimebag

 

[DeusExMachina]

Metallica - Black album (a totally new look on metal and everyone copied...not suprised ... its brill)

Nirvana - never mind (i dont think i need to explain this one)

As much as i hate to say it.. green day - american idiot... changed the punk genre as we know it

id also like to add pantera or more to the point..dimebag..i no its a bit off the subject but he has influenced many guitarists out there.

R.I.P dimebag

American Idiot isn't Punk. Punk's been dead for quite awhile buddy.

 

[Gui!]

hmm i no where ur comin from..modern punk died when blink 182 split..thank god for that

 

[DeusExMachina]

hmm i no where ur comin from..modern punk died when blink 182 split..thank god for that

What...no, Punk died in the 80s. Blink 182 was pop/rock.

 

[Qonfused]

The Fragile - Nine Inch Nails.

Yea...

 

[Gui!]

errr.... blink was called punk rock..obiously not pure punk like the clash or what not. Try not to mix them up

anyway some more albums

Anthrax - I am the Man
The cure - disentegration
Sonic Youth - Daydream nation
The Smiths - the queen is dead
The Pixies - Surfer rosa
Janes Addiction - nothings shocking
The stone roses - the stone roses
Slayer - South of heaven
Rage against the machine - rage against the machine

i believe these to be very influential aswell

 

[Icarusintel]

Punk's been dead for quite awhile buddy.

seriously, i hate all these kids these days who keep talking about "punk" and acting "punk", this new crap ain't punk and most of it sucks, just like almost all other popular music, which i'm really starting to resent...

most influential album?.... probably Radiohead "Ok Computer" since it really brought their style out to more people, even if it wasn;lt their greatest album (my personal fave is "Amnesiac") it still influenced a lot of people

 

[J_Tweedy]

Fugazi - Repeater

 

[Gui!]

i hate that crap 'new punk' im just sayin its been catagorised as that. What ever u want to call it... pop/rock punk/rock who cares...just makin a point

its just one of those lame things...i dont think it matters...anyway..its over and lets leave it at that

 

[sinkoman]

errr.... blink was called punk rock..obiously not pure punk like the clash or what not. Try not to mix them up

OMFG, blink isn't punk at all. They're pure EMO.

Oh and I agree, Californication. Awesome album.

And am I the only man alive that loves Cream?

EDIT:

Can't believe nobodies stated this.

AC/DC- Back in Black.

Its impact on American Metal was HUGE! In my oppinion, it was THE album to popularize Pop Metal.

 

[SenorDingDong]

say what you want about Iron Maiden, but theyve influenced a ton of European and some American metal bands. In particular the whole power metal genre almost.

Edguy
Machine Men
Kamelot
Angra
DragonForce

many others...

 

[DeusExMachina]

OMFG, blink isn't punk at all. They're pure EMO.

OMFG they are not emo.


But I'll agree with you on the AC/DC Back in Black. Very influential.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

The Fragile - Nine Inch Nails.

Yea...

i was going to say Nine Inch Nails for the first album, Pretty Hate Machine because back then, industrial sounds weren't yet uncoverd,
before NiN, one could say Ministry had influence as far as industrial music goes.. and yeah Trent got his inspiration from Ministry as well as a few other bands in the early-late 80's.

 

[sinkoman]

OMFG they are not emo.


But I'll agree with you on the AC/DC Back in Black. Very influential.

Ok, fine then, they're more "pop".

REAL EMO is like, Good Charlotte and those guys who sing "goodnight" and just redid "underpressure".

But I don't think the latest Greenday album has anything influential. They're selling out and should just die ontop already.

Although I admit, they were a kickass band in the 90's.

EDIT: The guys who sing goodnight are Hot Hot Heat, but I can't think of the guys that redid "underpressure".