OK, so I've been thinking about this a bit, and I think this is my list of top 15 favorite albums of all time. Not "best", necessarily (though that may not be too different), but my favorites. I didn't exclude compilations, as I prefer some of them to the original albums. Here it is:
1. Dream Theater, Images & Words - No single album has influenced, inspired, and challenged me as much as this one. Absolutely incredible stuff.
2. David Crowder, Illuminate - For me, there is pre-Illuminate and post-Illuminate. This was the first time I realized that Christian/worship music could actually be creative, well-written, and incredible. Profound, excellent stuff.
3. Pink Floyd, Pulse - This is a compilation, of sorts, but every single song is quality, and performed flawlessly. Some of the best audio quality of any album, ever (studio or live), and some of the best songs to boot.
4. SRV, Live at the Mann Music Center - Stevie's best playing, and some of the best guitar ever played. Mary Had A Little Lamb, in particular, is amazing. For his studio albums, FYI, I prefer In Step.
5. Phil Keaggy, Beyond Nature - By far the best acoustic guitar album ever created. Not because it's technically amazing (there is a lot of that too), but because it is some of the most poetic, lyrical, and profound music ever created on the guitar.
6. U2, Joshua Tree - Not much needs to be said about this iconic album. Where the Streets Have No Name, Still Haven't Found, and With or Without You form one of the best openings to any album ever.
7. PFR, Goldie’s Last Day - I kind of surprised myself that this one is so high. But the reality is that this is the best album from one of my favorite bands ever. I love every track on here. Infinitely sing-able, often profound, and some tracks are just fun (like the title track). But all are excellent. That Kind of Love and Wait for the Sun are two of my all-time favorite songs.
8. Rich Mullins, Songs - So. many. great. songs. Yes, there are a couple of cheesy ones. But this album also contains some of the most poetic, profound and challenging (and often haunting, and soul-stirring) lyrics ever written, and the music itself is beautiful too.
9. Dire Straits, Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits - Another one that needs little comment. So many great songs here from a legendary (yet somehow still underrated) band. This compilation truly does have their "very best" (unlike so many "best of" albums).
10. Allman Brothers, Peakin at the Beacon - Again, so many great songs by another underrated band. Some incredible songs here, performed amazingly. Maybe not their best album (Fillmore East and Eat a Peach are probably tied with this for my favorite), but this one is a lot of fun.
11. Bob Dylan, Blonde on Blonde - I contend this is Dylan's best album, out of SO MANY great ones. My other favorite is Infidels, one of his least loved and least appreciated albums. But Blonde gets the nod for me.
12. Goldfinger, Goldfinger - This album is true punk (before they turned into a ska band...ugh). It is laden with profanity, but some of the most well-crafted, melodic songs ever written. Infinitely singable, fun, and hooky.
13. Simon & Garfunkel, Sound of Silence - Most people wouldn't peg this as S&G's best album, but for me it always will be. I love every track on it.
14. Smashing Pumpkins, Mellon Collie - Many folks will also argue for other Pumpkins albums over this one, but this is my favorite (Siamese is a very close 2nd), for both the depth and breadth of music it contains.
15. Bon Jovi, Slippery When Wet - This is back when Bon Jovi was good. He had a few other albums around this time period that were good, too, but this is one of the best pure rock albums ever.
Special mention for guitar: Jeff Beck, Blow by Blow/Wired (like them both equally) - The two most influential guitar albums of all-time (as voted on by professional guitar players worldwide...literally). No lyrics, just incredible guitar.
And I have to give two honorable mentions. First to Caedmon's Call, In the Company of Angels. The first two tracks are probably my favorite worship songs of all time. The entire album is good, just not quite up to the same standard as the first two tracks consistently throughout. The second goes to Steve Taylor's Squint. This guy was a largely unknown and underrated musician, but his music was super influential in many circles and this album shows why. Fantastic stuff throughout.
