It's actually surprisingly easy for me to state a favourite album.
I couldn't for the life of me tell you a favourite movie, favourite band or book, but album, yes.
Genesis - Lamb lies down on BroadwayFucking brilliant album. Musically intriguing, fascinating lyrics, the kind of album you always discover something new on repeated listening.
If you want a few more from the top spots:
Pink Floyd - The Wall (
resonates with me on a very personal level)
Alan Parsons Project - Tales and Mystery
Peter Gabriel - 4
Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
and if I had to pick a favourite score (
orchestral scores are my secret indulgence) it would be
Star Trek, the Motion Picture (by Jerry Goldsmith). Think of the movie what you like, the score is phenomenal.
(
Of course there are a few dozens of albums at least I consider "very good" borderline excellent)
Of course all this pretty much paints a stereotypical picture of an old man only looking backwards while completely ignoring the present. And while I may not be free from such tendencies I think for the most part this is not true.
I'm just under the impression that the amount of good music has drastically
increased decreased in the last 20 years, at least in mainstream music. It's probably different in specific genre, and definitely different in any kind of "underground" music, but mainstream pop/rock has become hollow and uninteresting for the most part.
If you are like me and don't like Rap/HipHop, Techno (of any kind) or Metal then you're really screwed

BTW, Hzza, good call on Lateralus!