Are there albums you find your self drawn to that for whatever reason are not considered the magnum opus of the artist? Could be an early album, something produced by an artist considered over the hill or a change of direction that had many confused. Why are you drawn to them? Some of mine are:-
Radiohead, Kid A. A departure into more experimental electronic terrain.I am drawn to electronic music
The Verve, A Storm in Heaven. First proper album, a bit raw but heavy on guitar effects giving it an other worldly feel
Miles Davis, Some Day My Prince Will Come. Feels to me a bit less modern and more classically structured than say A Kind of Blue or Sketches of Spain.
Fields of the nephilim "dawn razor" later stuff was much more polished but I loved the raw sound in that album.
Sepultura "schizophrenia" loved it to bits
+1 Dawn Razor
First & Last & Always. the only album by the 'true' Sisters Of Mercy. Floodland, while well produced, was sterile by comparison. The less said about Vision Thing the better...
never bought a sisters album, none appealed. Have all their early EP's tho.
Lots of bands I've preferred their first raw efforts before they've disappeared up their own arses.
The Verve, A Storm in Heaven. First proper album, a bit raw but heavy on guitar effects giving it an other worldly feel
I remember the first time I heard this in 1994. It is still up there in my top 20 favourite albums. Psychedelic!
I have a soft spot for Pure Phase by Spiritualized, Fireball by Deep Purple and Spleen And Ideal by Dead Can Dance.
Host by Paradise Lost, their 'Depeche Mode tribute album' hated by most PL fans, I love it.
I like Shades Of God by PL. Not really heard their stuff since then.
Fields of the nephilim "dawn razor" later stuff was much more polished but I loved the raw sound in that album.
I always understood that was supposed to be their best.
I really like the more recent Iron Maiden albums: The Final Frontier, Dance of Death, A Matter of Life and Death. There are mixed views among Maidenites.
I like Shades Of God by PL. Not really heard their stuff since then.
But that IS one of their best. Certainly one of my faves.
Gish - smashing pumpkins
Hatfull of hollow - Smiths
Catholic education - Teenage fanclub
I always understood that was supposed to be their best.
that was usually "elizium"
NMA ghost of cain
and
Killing joke "night time"
Give Out but Don't Give Up, Primal Scream's second album. Often referred to as their Rhythm and Blues aberration.
Bagsy Me by The Wannadies.
Two that come to mind.
Good shout on Primal Scream DD. Vanishing Point.
The Verve, A Storm in Heaven. First proper album, a bit raw but heavy on guitar effects giving it an other worldly feel
I remember the first time I heard this in 1994. It is still up there in my top 20 favourite albums. Psychedelic!
I have a soft spot for Pure Phase by Spiritualized
These are both ones of mine too!
With the Beatles.
Nirvana Unplugged.
Vanishing Point - Primal Scream.
Boy - U2.
Up To Our Hips - The Charlatans.
Music of the Spheres - Ian Brown
A Northern Soul - The Verve
Pilgrims Progress - Kula Shaker
Their Satanic Majesties Request - The Rolling Stones
Nirvana Unplugged.
Once again: Unplugged is a great Nirvana album.
I don't think people are getting the OP concept 
I'm about to hit Spotify to check some of these out...
For me:
Kate Bush - The Dreaming
Pearl Jam - One Code
Prince - Lovesexy
Nirvana's In Utero seems to have undergone a bit of a critical rehabilitation, having received a very mixed reception on release. Always absolutely loved that album.
mikey74 - Member
Nirvana Unplugged.
Once again: Unplugged is a great Nirvana album.
I don't think people are getting the OP concept
Many people including fans don't regard it as highly as their studio records... Forgive me but I think I am getting the OP's concept 🙂
In Utero has always been a favourite of mine as well edlong.
De la Soul - Buhloone Mindstate
Sly & the Family Stone - Fresh / Small Talk
Underworld - Dubnobasswithmyheadman
Live albums and compilations are not what I had in mind when posting, as it is normally a band showcasing their best work, however I would concede that some artists have produced live albums that are considered to break the mould and add a new dimension to their sound. Nirvanna Unplugged is one of these IMO.
Other ones I though about,
Orbital Snivilisation. Worth it for Kevin Trunk Wasser and Are We Here? Two great tracks.
Apollo 440 Millennium Fever. One of the few albums I listen to from start to finish.
Love - Love (classic/best album - Forever Changes)
Greatful Dead - Greatful Dead (not sure, American Beauty?)
Led Zep 1 - Led Zep (Led Zep 2 or Led Zep 4)
the Clash - The Clash (that double album )
Plastic Surgery Disaster - Dead Kennedys (fresh Fruit fRV)
Boy/October - U2 ( don't know but not these)
There are loads of others
Metal Machine Music - Lou Reed
Sandinista - The Clash ( yeah, critics love it)
Second Coming - Stone Roses
The second ABS album - which was just awful ...
The last Kings of Leon effort - so shit , I can't remember its name
Anything the Prodigy did after "Fat of the Land"
Vengeance - New Model Army
The Fan and the Bellows - The Chameleons
Back Again in the DHSS - Half Man Half Biscuit
Sweetheart of the Rodeo - The Byrds
Orange Blossom Special - Johnny Cash
INXS - Welcome to Wherever You Are
Sea Change - Beck
This is where the subjective nature of music really shows. Who are these people who decide which album is a career best by a band? What is their criteria? Is it a committee, a bunch of blokes who sit down and thrash it around until they decide on a consensus?
I take virtually no notice of anything critics say about music and albums; they're being payed to have a point of view, and they directly affect album sales, as they're effectively paid by the very industry they critique.
The less said about Vision Thing the better...
See, I absolutely [i]love[/i] that album, I saw the Sisters on that tour, and they rocked!
Paul Simon's best album is often said to be Graceland, and, while it was fairly groundbreaking, and politically significant, what with the whole recording in Sun City with Black African musicians, it doesn't come close to Hearts And Bones, an album ignored by the media at the time, yet it has quite possibly his best ever songwriting on it, and is a flawless recording.
Peter Gabriel's fourth album was given dreadful reviews, because it used rhythms and samples from all over the world, was described as 'pandering to the white man's guilt' by NME, but it's by far my favourite album of all of his, while So is usually regarded as his best.
I know what I like, and it very, very rarely has a 'critic's choice' label stuck on it. 😀
Adore, Smashing Pumpkins. Very different, but very good.
New Adventures in HiFi, REM. Not their "classic" phase, but frankly that's why I like it - you don't hear the tracks every day on the radio.
Green Album, Weezer. Although this may be a bit less contentious - it's not like it's their red album or Maladroit.
Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare.
Agree with the OP about 'Kid A' being an astounding album. Think I slightly prefer In Rainbows now but at the time it sounded pretty out there.
Give Out but Don't Give Up, Primal Scream's second album. Often referred to as their Rhythm and Blues aberration.
That was their fourth album. But you are right, their second album (titled Primal Scream) was their best.
Give em enough rope - The Clash. Best problematic second album ever!
Candy Apple Grey - Husker Du
Queen's Jazz, Orbital's brown album or no2.
Dylan - Infidels
Even Dylan wasn't that keen. But it's got Jokerman, Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight, Licence to Kill, Sweetheart like You, all great tracks.
One Hot Minute
The Nylon Curtain
The Resignation and Those Damn Bandits/Demo Tape
One Hot Minute, entirely subjective as to what constitutes "best" but hard to deny that it's one of their most interesting.
Queen's Jazz another good call that I'd forgotten about, used to listen to that one a lot, must dig it out...
I really like The Final Cut (Pink Floyd). It is rough around the edges, and you can hear the rest of the band moving away from Roger Waters, but it still has some great lyrics and music. There would be lots of dispute over their critically aclaimed best album, but I am sure the final cut is not on most people's list!
Another vote for metal machine music by Lou Reed as well as; Reload - Metallica & 10,000 Days - Tool.
10,000 is pretty damn awesome.
Live albums and compilations are not what I had in mind
Shame as I was going to say "Rank" the live Smiths album - apparently Morrisey's favourite too.
There is also a live Nephilim album with a blue cover that's just called "Fields of the Nephilim BBC radio one live" that is well worth seeking out. The version of Endomoniada it opens with is fantastic.
i'm a massive Roses fan, and the Second Coming is far better than the Stone Roses first album IMHO
There. I've said it.
From a similar era, I think that Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile is a far better album than Pills Thrills, Bummed et al from the Happy Mondays.
Crag - agreed. The Mondays always sounded at their chaotic ramshackle best before the glossy production
Shoot me, but the last "proper" Echo and the Bunnymen album - the eponomously titled one - is my favourite of theirs. Probably because it was the first one I heard.
.
Another one for Metallica Load and Reload. They got massive flack for these albums. But ignoring anything they recorded before and take them for what they are. I think they have some amazing songs. Bleeding me and outlaw torn are awesome. Imagine a totally new band writing songs like that, they would have been applauded.
I like Shades Of God by PL. Not really heard their stuff since then.
Check out the new one "Tragic Idol" its good, very good. Vocals not growling anymore, but muscially its harking back to the older style. Would say its one of the best albums they have produced.
binners - Member
i'm a massive Roses fan, and the Second Coming is far better than the Stone Roses first album IMHO
There. I've said it.
POSTED 1 HOUR AGO # REPORT-POST
Sorry Binners you are wrong. I love Second Coming but it's just not as good as The Stone Roses - which is just flawless. I often agree with you but not this time!
Second Coming is far better
Another massive long term Roses fan here, Second Coming isn't better but it is as good as the first album just in a different way. The thing is The Second Coming was perhaps not what people were expecting and that's why its often criticised. If that album had been released by a band other than the Stone Roses it would rightly be hailed as the stone cold classic masterpiece it is. (imo)
REM - Fables of the Reconstruction.
Darklands - The Jesus and Mary Chain
Henry's Dream - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Pink Floyd - Momentary Lapse of Reason
Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
Deacon Blue - ooh Las Vegas
teenage fanclub - a catholic education (love the album, hate all their other stuff)
dinosaur jr - green mind
radiohead - Pablo honey
pulp - his 'n' hers
and
take that (oh, hang on, I still hate all their rubbish) 🙂
Pixies - Trompe Le Monde
Iron Maiden Killers
UFO Strangers In the Night (usually I think live albums are pants)
Blur- the great escape.
Just to argue with Jimpy - Teenage Fanclub - shadows is utterly beautiful! Though I've presently got Grand Prix on 😉
U2 The Unforgettable Fire
Pink Floyd's Animals
Bowie...Low
Love especially side 2.
Pixies - Trompe Le Monde
That's what I was gonna say. I know hardcore fans and critics seem to prefer their more abrasive, earlier work - but I think the songwriting and production on the last album was just magnificent.
Really like Bossanova too. Seems to get more interesting with age.
i'm a massive Roses fan, and the Second Coming is far better than the Stone Roses first album IMHO
😯
teenage fanclub - a catholic education (love the album, hate all their other stuff)
My fave TFC album too.
I like their later material but it is a bit Big Star tribute band-y.
Had to listen to this...
Floyd - the final cut
Iron maiden - the X factor
Metallica - load/reload
U2 - Zooropa
Killing Joke - Brighter than a Thousand Suns
Never been acknowledged as one of their best but kindles a hell of a lot of special memories for me.
Pink Floyd's Animals
Came here to say the same.
The thing is The Second Coming was perhaps not what people were expecting and that's why its often criticised.
Nah, if I wanted a Led Zeppelin album, I would buy one.
Anyway, is OK Computer considered to be Radiohead's best? Because I far prefer The Bends.
BoardinBob - Member
U2 - Zooropa
+1