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[Tomservo]

Abbey Road - The Beatles (Best Beatles Album)
Hail To The Thief - Radiohead
Guero - Beck
10,000 hz. Legend - Air
The Soft Bulletin - The Flaming Lips
The Wall(disc 2) - Pink Floyd
A Night at The Opera - Queen
Takk....- Sigur Ros
Adore - The Smashing Pumpkins
13 - Blur

[Kid Modernist]

Tomservo, I like all those bands, but would choose a different album for each one (Except for Queen, which I like but moreso on a Greatest Hits type thing).

[Kai]

Alright, here comes the list that actually matters because I fucking said so:



Talking Heads - Fear of Music
Bauhaus - In the Flat Field
The Beatles - Abbey Road
Johnny Cash- Live at Folsom Prison
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - Apostrophe
Iron Maiden - Powerslave
Venom - Black Metal
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon


The albums I listed here are totally not my favorite albums at all. I jus felt that at some time in your life you should probably listen to these if you want to be able to say you know somethign about music.

[KharBevNor]

I thought she was religious?

Just saying that Black Metal may not go down so well. Especially not Teachers Pet and Heavens on Fire.

[lastclearchance]

If you really want to make the ten albums count, you have to do them one at a time. Refine the list as you go. Figure out what she might like based on what she does and doesn't like.

[Kai]

Oh shit, you're right. Replace Venom with... Fuck, I need something to fill the sort of "Black Metal" category thing (I very loosely chose one for each category, but don't check it really).



And after I looked at that again, I realized... Is a Christian Black Metal band that doesn't sing about slaughtering things and whatnot even possible? I guess, if it was in Swedish and you couldn't understand anything.

[Storm Rider]

Because it was a bastardised American half-assed edit rather than an actual album.

We're Americans! We do everything half-assed because we're too fat to be bothered doing things right.

Also, will people stop saying Powerslave is Iron Maiden's best album? Seriously.

[KharBevNor]

And after I looked at that again, I realized... Is a Christian Black Metal band that doesn't sing about slaughtering things and whatnot even possible? I guess, if it was in Swedish and you couldn't understand anything.

Immortal are pretty lyrically inoffensive. You could always go for a white metal band like Crimson Moonlight, but they tend to not be up much on the big boys, as it were.

[Hat]

I'm surprised so many people suggested the White Album for a Beatles record. It is a terrible way to be introduced to them, and if she already listens to the Beatles, not much point throwing it in there.

I mean, you start with a decent poppy kinda track, and then you've got mostly shit untill While My Guitar Gently Weeps turns up. I'd make a list myself, but I can't say I'm very good at this kind of thing. Still, I'd choose Revolver or Abbey Road as a Beatles album at the very least.

Being introduced to the Beatles with the White Album is like being introduced to sex by a seven foot tall woman who ties you up, blindfolds you and rides you like a pony. It can be hella fun if thats your thing, but you're likely to be incredibly overwhelmed, quite terrified, and left feeling seedy and in nagging pain the next day.

Sorry I couldn't add anything more constructive than sexual metaphors, but it just struck me as a little odd.

[Rizzo]

Being introduced to the Beatles with the White Album is like being introduced to sex by a seven foot tall woman who ties you up, blindfolds you and rides you like a pony. It can be hella fun if thats your thing, but you're likely to be incredibly overwhelmed, quite terrified, and left feeling seedy and in nagging pain the next day.

If I said "yes please" would you think ill of me? Yeah? Oh well.

[Dirk]

so, the girl knows almost nothing about music, and you want to introduce some nice things. I would take a look in my music collection and would select:

1) the afghan whigs - gentleman (greg dulli rules)
2) buffalo tom - best of (to be honest, i don't have their best of, but i got all their albums, so it would make a compilation)
3) radiohead - the bends (or ok computer)
4) pearl jam - live in london
5) dEUS - in a bar under the sea
6) daft punk - homework
7) Franz Ferdinand
The streets - a grand don't come for free
9) Massive Attack - Mezzanine
10) REM - best of

as the music is new to the girl best of's are easier to digest than normal albums.
By the way, ask me a top 10 tomorrow and it will look a bit different.

[lastclearchance]

I mean, you start with a decent poppy kinda track, and then you've got mostly shit untill While My Guitar Gently Weeps turns up. I'd make a list myself, but I can't say I'm very good at this kind of thing. Still, I'd choose Revolver or Abbey Road as a Beatles album at the very least.

I absolutely love Revolver but I don't know if it's a great "first Beatles record". The White Album is certainly wors(e/t) for introductions (especially if it counts for 2 of the 10) but I think the most accessible would be Magical Mystery Tour.

[theenginedriver]

yeah, i agree with old world underground, everytime i have shown it to my friends that aren't that musically informed they really like it. i like live it out more, but that one is more accessible.

[Thrillho]

I'm surprised so many people suggested the White Album for a Beatles record. It is a terrible way to be introduced to them, and if she already listens to the Beatles, not much point throwing it in there.

I mean, you start with a decent poppy kinda track, and then you've got mostly shit untill While My Guitar Gently Weeps turns up. I'd make a list myself, but I can't say I'm very good at this kind of thing. Still, I'd choose Revolver or Abbey Road as a Beatles album at the very least.

Being introduced to the Beatles with the White Album is like being introduced to sex by a seven foot tall woman who ties you up, blindfolds you and rides you like a pony. It can be hella fun if thats your thing, but you're likely to be incredibly overwhelmed, quite terrified, and left feeling seedy and in nagging pain the next day.

Sorry I couldn't add anything more constructive than sexual metaphors, but it just struck me as a little odd.

I totally agree with your opinion the white album. You're absolutely right. However I would enjoy being raped by a seven footer.

[Willem]

I thought she was religious?

Just saying that Black Metal may not go down so well. Especially not Teachers Pet and Heavens on Fire.

and I dunno that specific mothers of invention album but knowing zappa's opinion you might want to ask yourself if those lyrics are ok too

[thedevilissix]

To add to the list of several that have already been said:

- Caribou - The Milk of Human Kindness
- Manitoba - Up In Flames
- Neko Case - Blacklisted
- Themselves - The No Music
- Explosions In The Sky - The Earth Is Not A Cold, Dead Place
- Arthur Russell - A World of Echo
- City of God O.S.T.
- Devendra Banhart - Rejoicing in the Hands
- Sufjan Stevens - "Illinoise" or "Seven Swans" or "A Sun Came"  

Kate

[Kai]

Also, will people stop saying Powerslave is Iron Maiden's best album? Seriously.

It's totally not, but I just think it'd be easiest to get into. That and it was the first Maiden album I actually picked up, so I have feelings for it that way. UNF  UNF UNF



And yes, that Zappa album (Apostrophe) is free from all drive by Catholic Girls/Bobby Brown/Why Does It Hurt When I pee/Brown Shoes Don't Make It (Ala the line, "Only Thirteen and she knows how to NASTY", which still cracks me up beyond belief).

[tania]

The Beatles - Abbey Road
Radiohead - OK Computer
Weezer - Blue album
Beck - Odelay!
Pearl Jam - Ten
Pixies - Surfer Rosa
The White Stripes - Elephant
Third Eye Blind - s/t
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People

I might go back and edit this, but these are the top ten that I automatically picked out when browsing through myCDs.

[KharBevNor]

Also, will people stop saying Powerslave is Iron Maiden's best album?

No, because saying anything else would be a patent lie.

Hah!

[LIVE!Forever]

What did she listen to before? What are you trying to get her to focuse on now? do you want to spread the genres around or want her to focus more on one area before moving to another?

[Storm Rider]

It's totally not, but I just think it'd be easiest to get into. That and it was the first Maiden album I actually picked up, so I have feelings for it that way. UNF  UNF UNF

That wasn't directed at you specifically, more like an ongoing complaint, especially since I've gotten into this argument with other Maiden fans before. Powerslave has Aces High, Two Minutes to Midnight, and Rime of the Ancient Mariner... and not much else. Those three songs are totally awesome, but the mediocrity of the others brings the album as a whole down for me. Whereas Somewhere in Time, Number of the Beast, and Piece of Mind are all-around great.

[Spartan Pho3nix]

She knows NOTHING musically?
So, that includes the classics and the well knowns?
Therefore, I'm trying to avoid anything too difficult, and will start with the basics for the 10

albums she must own. Based on what she likes out of this, we can recommend more.

Okay, then, here goes.

1) Talking Heads - The Name of this Band is Talking Heads
    Great album which covers a lot of the Talking Head's repretoire with fun exciting and GOOD live versions. Such a great, influential band.

2) Radiohead - OK Computer
    (Best?) Album by the praised Radiohead. So well known, with so many styles. Forget the hipster haters, you can't deny this album. KARMA POLICE.

3) My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
    Noise pop? Or Bliss? Perfect Music, just another world when you listen to it. If you don't dig MBV...I just don't know.

4) Pink Floyd - DSOTM
    It's FLOYD man.

5) Daft Punk - Discovery
    Poppy PERFECT dance album. Harder...better...faster...Yah yah yah. Okay. She might dig it.

6) The Clash - London Calling
    The Only Band That Matters. What else is there to say. Awesome album, she'll dig the tracks and recognize a couple of em. More punk influences in still accessible music.

7) (Some sort of post-rock) Explosions in the SKy - Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place
    I've found Earth to be the most accessible and well liked post-rock album out there. See if she has the patience and the palatte to appreciate intrumental but still exciting music.

Broken Social Scene - You Forgot it in People
    Amazing. Canada at it's best. Never has so much come together so well.

9) The Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
    Corgan achieved perfection here. He should NEVER have released Mellon Collie. Beautiful, emotional guitar album. Classic.

10) The Flaming Lips - Soft Bulletin
    Perfection. Perfect pop perfection.

Ahh...and, just for kicks, give her a bonus CD
11) Pavement - Wowee Zowee
     It'll take her a year to finally appreciate this album, but when she does, she'll learn why indie kids spend their time talking about who gets a bigger boner for Malkmus.

[lastclearchance]

3) My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
    Noise pop? Or Bliss? Perfect Music, just another world when you listen to it. If you don't dig MBV...I just don't know.

I can appreciate and respect what Kevin Shields and company have done for modern music through those they've inspired, but I still think Loveless is only "okay." And I would never give it to someone to start with.

[Willem]

9) The Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
    Corgan achieved perfection here. He should NEVER have released Mellon Collie. Beautiful, emotional guitar album. Classic.

you mixed up melancholy and siamese dream there. seriously, I was hella disappointed after buying siamese dream while melancholy and the infinite sadness is great (and not just because of the presence of bullet with butterfly wings)

[Frosty]

Looking through my library, these ones jump out at me.

Radiohead-OK Computer
Pink Floyd-Dark Side Of The Moon
The Beatles-Revolver (this one was just the right mix of pop and later, weirder Beatles)
Kraftwerk- Minimum-Maximum
Beck-Midnite Vultures (his best album, imo)
Ben Folds Five-s/t
Miles Davis-Kind Of Blue
The Flaming Lips-Soft Bulletin
R.E.M.-Automatic For The People
Outkast-Stankonia

Not totally covering every genre, but I find it hard to deny the greatness of any of these albums.

[icancook]

first 5 hip hop albums

atmosphere - You can't imagine how much fun we're having
sage francis - personal journals
brother ali - shadows on the sun
cunninlynguists - a piece of strange
cage - hell's winter

this is also good music tho

pixies - wave of mutilation
bright eyes - digital ash in a digital urn
clap your hands say yeah - clap your hands say yeah
maria mena - another phase
eels - blinking lights and other revelations

[InterstateEight]

In no order:

1.) Pixies, Doolittle
2.) Modest Mouse, The Moon and Antarctica
3.) Radiohead, OK Computer
4.) The Dismemberment Plan, Emergency & I
5.) Saetia, A Retrospective
6.) At The Drive-In, Relationship of Command
7.) Built to Spill, There's Nothing Wrong With Love
8.) Belle & Sebastian, If You're Feeling Sinister
9.) Sigur Ros, Agaetis Byrjun
10.) Sonic Youth, Sonic Nurse

[MilkmanDan]

first 5 hip hop albums

atmosphere - You can't imagine how much fun we're having
sage francis - personal journals
brother ali - shadows on the sun
cunninlynguists - a piece of strange
cage - hell's winter

Just, no.
You can't introduce someone to Hip-Hop by giving them 5 albums all from this decade. That's retarded. A piece of strange hasn't even been released yet! Plus, Rhymesayers, Def Jux and Anticon aren't exactly a massive spectrum of styles.

Personally, I'd suggest:
EPMD - Strictly Buisness
De La Soul -  3 Feet High and Rising
Wu-Tang Clan - 36 Chambers
Mobb Deep - The Infamous
Atmosphere - Lucy Ford

That's still a pretty lame list, but off the top of my head it'll have to do.

[salada]

De La Soul, Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Atmosphere

SECOND'D

i don't know what my list would be like, except that it would contain a ninjatune compilation. and a warp one. and a µ-ziq one.

[icancook]

Just, no.
You can't introduce someone to Hip-Hop by giving them 5 albums all from this decade. That's retarded. A piece of strange hasn't even been released yet! Plus, Rhymesayers, Def Jux and Anticon aren't exactly a massive spectrum of styles.

Well, of course I can introduce someone to hip-hop by giving them 5 albums from this decade. They're good albums? When I first was introduced to hip-hop, I didn't hear songs from the last century. You really should be able to learn to love hip-hop even tho' the songs you hear are new songs.

[Kid Modernist]

De La Soul's Three Feet and Rising is definitely a classic if you want to introduce someone to good hip hop. If you are going to listen to gangsta rap, Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle is pretty good, but basically the only album in the genre I like. Mostly sentimental reasons, probably.

[icancook]

De La Soul's Three Feet and Rising is definitely a classic if you want to introduce someone to good hip hop. If you are going to listen to gangsta rap, Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle is pretty good, but basically the only album in the genre I like. Mostly sentimental reasons, probably.

Ah, but no one with their minds intact likes gangsta rap? It has to be poetry. Not some yoyo-gunz-n-hoes-blingbling-rap.

[ihateusernames]

ah yes...  this thread has made me join.  I gotta throw in my 2˘ with the hip-hop selection, but feel free to disagree...

1) Erik B & Rakim - Follow The Leader
2) Gift of Gab - 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up
3) De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead
4) Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
5) Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory

Then a random mishmash of other stuff...

6) Pogues - Hell's Ditch or Rum, Sodomy and the Lash
7) Sublime - 40 oz. to Freedom
Bad Brains - I against I
9) Ted Hawkins - The Next Hundred Years
10) Morphine - Cure for Pain.

crud, there's some older stuff in here.  off to the other topics to update my music...

[MilkmanDan]

You'd give someone 'De La Soul is Dead' over '3 Feet High and Rising'?
I really don't know about that. Paul's Boutique, Low End Theory and Follow the Leader are all solid recs as well. 4th Dimensional Rocket Ships, not so sure. It's a great album, but, well I'm not sure really. It just doesn't grab me enough.

[ihateusernames]

Yeah, I had to think about that one for a while.  There's nothing wrong with 3 Feet, it's a great album (one of the first tapes I ever bought, and I still have it).  I just don't think it's a good example of De La overall.  De La Soul is Dead gets rid of the daisy and pothole imagery, keeps the production ideas and feels more like Native Tongue.  It came down to Utopia vs. Reality.  Plus, Biddies in the BK Lounge cracks me up every time I hear it.

You're right, I've rethought Gift of Gab.  Replace it with Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow.  You'd get to keep Gift, add Chief Xcel and guests by ?uestlove and Lyrics Born.

[Merkava]

In no order:

1.) Pixies, Doolittle
2.) Modest Mouse, The Moon and Antarctica
3.) Radiohead, OK Computer
4.) The Dismemberment Plan, Emergency & I
5.) Saetia, A Retrospective
6.) At The Drive-In, Relationship of Command
7.) Built to Spill, There's Nothing Wrong With Love
8.) Belle & Sebastian, If You're Feeling Sinister
9.) Sigur Ros, Agaetis Byrjun
10.) Sonic Youth, Sonic Nurse

Great picks, but I would have chosen Daydream Nation for Sonic Youth, just because of it's vast importance to music, especially rock. Everything else is great, and I'm happy to see the Dismemberment Plan mentioned.

[KharBevNor]

Meh, I will be disregarded, but I have come to the strong conclusion that everyone should listen to at least one Current 93 album. I'd suggest Cats Drunk on Copper, as that both contains almost all their classics (it's love) and has been mollified by David Tibets conversion to christianity. (It's still full of all sorts of bizarre hermetic and gnostic whits-whots, but they've cut back the buddhist and pagan stuff, unfortunately robbing the set of 'A Song For Douglas' and 'Hitler as Kalki', but at least they kept a mollified version of 'Happy Birthday Pigface Christus' (as 'Happy Birthday'). Indeed, if she's serious in her religion, she'll probably find the whole thing quite interesting.

[Merkava]

How would you describe their sound, Khar? So far the subject matter sounds cool.

[KharBevNor]

By the time of Cats Drunk on Copper C93 were neo-folk/post-industrial: Acoustic and clean electric guitars, light vocal effects, recorders and sleighbells, semi-spoken word main vocalist with female harmonies, dashes of nursery-rhyme singing and industrial tape-loops. Great, though very melancholy.

[Tago Mago]

If she knows nothing musically then this is an opportunity for hilarity! You can fill her head with lies, replace the CD for Slanted and Enchanted with Tangerine Dream's Zeit, Bee Thousand with Ikue Mori's Hex Kitchen, Sebadoh with Throbbing Gristle.... It'll be funny!

[Not An Addict]

My list is a pretty random sampling of music that, for whatever reason, moved me. I've always been wary of the "classics", because more often than not, they turn out to be overrated timepieces. In my opinion, good music finds you - you have to search, put your fingers in all different genres, but the really good stuff seems to jump at you from out of nowhere. Basically, ignore lists that claim to be definitive "best-of"s and just explore your local CD rack. But this is a good place to start, especially if your friend leans toward the poppier side of things:

Bjork - Homogenic. One of the best albums of the last 25 years. It will change the way you look at music, and I don't say that lightly.
Garbage - Version 2.0. Nothing particularly revolutionary, just damn good songwriting.
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours. Same.
Depeche Mode - Violator. The perfect combo of melody, rhythm, and misery.
Madonna - The Immaculate Collection. Say what you will, but she (and her songwriters) made pop classics in league with the Beatles.
Sneaker Pimps - Bloodsport. It's like the nineties trip-hop explosion all over again, only with better songs and more confident footing. Most importantly, it's mood music that won't put you to sleep.
Blondie - Parallel Lines. Confident, sassy, and endlessly creative. The blueprint for new wave.
Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine. "FUCK YOU, I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!!!" just doesn't get old.
Prince - Purple Rain Soundtrack. Duh.

And for number 10, pick a classic like London Calling or Zeppelin IV and if it doesn't sound like crap, keep it.

[psychorhino]

As someone still relatively new to “good” music, I can speak from personal experience if not musical expertise.  I think these ten albums give a good mix of the “classics” and provide accessible starting points to the indie scene.

1.)   Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon: What else is there to say?
2.)   Spoon- Kill the Moonlight: Accessible and simply fantastic rock.  It still amazes me that Spoon is not more popular.
3.)   The Beatles- Abbey Road- Still the Beatle’s best album.
4.)   Tom Waits- Rain Dogs: Explores a nice range of genres, and Waits has a voice nobody can forget
5.)   Iron Maiden – Powerslave: Dude, Iron Maiden puts to Samuel Coleridge to heavy metal riffs.  How can you not like this album?  Plus this album should be relatively palatable to friend’s religious sensibilities.
6.)   Sufjan Stevens- Feel the Illinoise: Not the world’s greatest album, but nonetheless very good and will appeal to her religious side.  Plus, it seems to be one of the most talked albums of the year, so it is excellent starting point.
7.)   Jay-Z- The Blueprint: A classic.  Also Jay-Z has always been relatively suave for a gangsta, so there is no real fear of offending your friend.  Substitute GZA-Liquid Swords if she is ready for something more violent and dark
8.)   London Calling- The Clash.  Quite possibly the greatest album ever.
9.)   M.I.A.-Arular: Decently accessible, immensely danceable, and can spark interest in interesting forms of international dance music.
10.) Radiohead-OK Computer-: Because no list would be complete without Radiohead!

Speaking personally, I would avoid The Pixies as introductions to the world of great music.  Even Doolittle can really sound bizzare to newbies.  And for the love of God, don’t try My Bloody Valentine- Loveless on anybody new.  It took at least three tries at that album before I “got” it, and three more till I actually liked it.  It has since become one of my fave albums, but it is not for the weak of spirit…

[Merkava]

By the time of Cats Drunk on Copper C93 were neo-folk/post-industrial: Acoustic and clean electric guitars, light vocal effects, recorders and sleighbells, semi-spoken word main vocalist with female harmonies, dashes of nursery-rhyme singing and industrial tape-loops. Great, though very melancholy.

Sounds absolutely great. I shall check them out now. Thanks.

[heretic]

modest mouse- the moon and antartica (or LCW, but MAA is important)
broken social scene-you forgot it in people
decemberists- piquaresque
sigur ros- Agaetis Byrjun
sleater-kinney- the woods
aesop rock- labor days
the streets- original pirate material
sublime- self titled (this is an essestial part of our time)
belle & sebastian- if you're feeling sinister
Ramones- Mania (everyone should know these songs)

ok well that's not too bad, wish i had my music collection and didn't have to just do it off the top of my head.

[a pack of wolves]

5.) Saetia, A Retrospective

Much as I love that record, do you not think that maybe something like Black Flag - Slip It In or the Minor Threat discography would be a better starting point for hardcore? Unless you reckon it's best to just throw someone into the deep end.

[Azathoth]

1. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless (deservedly mentioned several times)
2. Skywave - Echodrone (good luck finding it)
3. The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy
4. Slowdive - Souvlaki
5. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
6. Spacemen 3 - The Perfect Prescription
7. Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space
8. Fugazi - The Argument
9. Portishead - Dummy
10. The Stone Roses - st

[HornlessUnicorn]

Howdy! Long time observer, first time poster.  I was ambling through your fine forum when I came upon this topic and found that not a single one of you folks put Neutral Milk Hotel's In Aeroplane Over The Sea.  Of course, an opinion is an opinion, but for me, it's one of those "whoa" albums, the kind that sort of syncs up with my brain waves to wreak some serious euphoria all up in my dome.  Surely those who are familiar will agree that few songs can compete with "The King Of Carrot Flowers, Parts 2 & 3" (I can't count how many time I've almost crashed my car in screaming "I Love You Jesus Christ" at the top of my lungs).  "Holland, 1945" and "Two-Headed Boy" are masterpieces, while "Oh Comely" should put this one on the list automatically.  At the very least, it should be included for the sake of the bagpipes on the tenth, untitled track.

Wow, sorry about that.  But yeah, I would also include Spoon's Kill The Moonlight (though Girls Can Tell would work, too), and I agree with all the BSS fans in adding You Forgot It in People.  And a Decemberists album would be a nice addition, because the only thing better than good music is good music that expands your vocabulary.

[Spartan Pho3nix]

You're right, you know.

I'm not even religious, but I find myself yelling "I love you jesus christ" when I listen to that Album. I love it, I just didn't think it was one of 10 albums you should give to someone who wants to get INTO music. It might be a bit TOO uncool for a beginner. Let them develop their tastes and be proud of their tastes, then give it to them.

[HornlessUnicorn]

This is true.  I would say it's pretty accessible as-is, but in taking a step back, I would have to agree with you.

As a side note, is The Polyphonic Spree indie?  I mean, yeah, they're quasi-signed to Hollywood Records and appeared on the VMA's, and did a whole movie soundtrack, but does that preclude their inclusion in the Indie Pantheon?  If not, then I have to at least mention this twenty-something member, choral-symphonic-pop madness as a cheerful, easy-to-like group for those just getting into the indie groove.  And their live show is friggin' NUTS.

[onewheelwizzard]

1. The Beatles - Abbey Road
2. Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
3. Black Sabbath - Paranoid
4. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
5. Nirvana - Nevermind
6. Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (props to Hornless Unicorn for getting to this one before me)
7. Common - Like Water for Chocolate
8. Robert Johnson - The Complete Recordings
9. The Stooges - The Stooges
10. Some greatest hits compilation of George Clinton

OK, so this is rock-centric with concessions to rap, old blues, and funk.  But still, the first 5 are just essential to anyone who wants to understand anything about music history, and I think the second half of the list has a nice set of introductions to different genres.