11 Albums Every Geek Should Own
The best music for geeks is a bit... well... eclectic, let's say. Geeks usually dig unique and eccentric things, especially when it comes to music. A whole sub-culture was created around the music that geeks enjoy. But nothing quite says "geek" like all things retro -- especially vinyls.
This is not a list of the most popular albums. It is not a greatest-hits-of-all-time list. This is a collection of records that every self-respecting geek should own -- the kind of albums that make people say "what are you listening to?" and then quietly add it to their own playlist ten minutes later. Here are 11 albums, plus a few honorable mentions that almost made the cut.
The List
1. One Ring Zero -- As Smart As We Are (2003)
A literary rock duo who collaborated with famous authors like Paul Auster, Margaret Atwood, and Dave Eggers to create songs from their words. Yes, you read that right. Authors wrote lyrics and a band made music from them. It is experimental, clever, and utterly unique. If you are the kind of geek who reads AND listens, this album was made for you.
2. Snarky Puppy -- We Like It Here (2014)
Jazz fusion recorded live in a studio in the Netherlands with the audience sitting among the musicians. Every instrument is played at a virtuoso level, and "Lingus" features one of the greatest keyboard solos in recorded history -- Cory Henry absolutely loses his mind on a Nord and the crowd can barely contain themselves. This album won a Grammy and it deserved ten of them.
3. Bogdan Raczynski -- My Love I Dream of U Non-Stop (2002)
Avant-garde electronic music from a Polish-born, Tokyo-based artist on the Rephlex label (co-founded by Aphex Twin). This is not background music. This is what happens when you give a genius a sampler and absolutely no rules. If you think electronic music peaked with EDM, Bogdan will rewire your brain. Not for the faint of heart -- but deeply rewarding for the adventurous listener.
4. Anamanaguchi -- Endless Fantasy (2013)
Chiptune-infused pop-rock that sounds like a Nintendo soundtrack had a child with a punk band. These guys literally hacked a NES to use it as an instrument. "Endless Fantasy" is pure joy -- sugar-coated, neon-colored, and impossibly catchy. Perfect for anyone who grew up mashing buttons on a controller. The album art alone tells you everything you need to know.
5. David Bowie -- The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
Bowie created an alien rock star persona, wrote an album about him, toured as him, and then killed him off on stage. That is not just music -- that is performance art on a cosmic scale. "Starman," "Suffragette City," and "Ziggy Stardust" are all on this album. One of the greatest rock records ever made and an absolutely essential vinyl for any collection.
6. Gustav Holst -- The Planets, Op. 32 (1916)
Seven orchestral movements, one for each planet (minus Earth -- and Pluto had not been discovered yet). "Mars, the Bringer of War" basically invented the sound of cinematic space battles. John Williams would not have Star Wars without Holst. This suite is proof that classical music can be absolutely epic, and on vinyl, the dynamics will shake your walls.
7. Radiohead -- OK Computer (1997)
An album about technology, alienation, and the dehumanizing effects of modern life -- recorded before smartphones existed. "Paranoid Android," "Karma Police," and "No Surprises" are generation-defining tracks. If Radiohead is not in your library, your geek card needs revoking. This album predicted the 21st century before it happened, and it somehow sounds more relevant every year.
8. IGTB (I Got The Brains)
Here is one you probably have not heard of, and that is exactly the point. IGTB is one of those underground acts that only deep-digging music geeks know about. Eclectic, experimental, and defiantly uncommercial. If you pride yourself on having the most obscure taste in any given room, start here. Sometimes the best music is the stuff nobody else is talking about.
9. Mike Oldfield -- Tubular Bells (1973)
You know the opening from The Exorcist? That is this album. But "Tubular Bells" is so much more than a horror movie theme. Mike Oldfield was 19 years old when he recorded it, playing virtually every instrument himself. It was the first album released on Virgin Records and it launched Richard Branson's entire empire. A prog-rock masterpiece that rewards patient listening and reveals new details with every spin.
10. Parliament -- Mothership Connection (1975)
George Clinton and Bootsy Collins at peak funk. "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)" is one of the most sampled songs in hip-hop history. The concept? Parliament is an alien funk band broadcasting from outer space. The execution? Absolutely flawless. This album grooves harder than anything made before or since, and it sounds incredible on vinyl.
11. Ray Lynch -- Deep Breakfast (1984)
New age music that does not feel like background noise. "Celestial Soda Pop" is the standout track -- shimmering, optimistic, and impossibly beautiful. Ray Lynch was a classical guitarist who pivoted to electronic composition and accidentally made one of the best-selling independent albums of all time. Perfect for late-night coding sessions or Sunday morning reflection.
Honorable Mentions
- Clutch -- Rock's best-kept secret. Listen to "Electric Worry" and try not to headbang. Blues-infused, riff-heavy, and lyrically smarter than bands three times their fame level.
- Coheed and Cambria -- A progressive rock band whose albums tell a continuous sci-fi comic book story called "The Amory Wars." Geek music in the most literal sense. Start with "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3."
- Jonathan Coulton -- The man who wrote "Still Alive" (the Portal end credits song), "Code Monkey," and "Re: Your Brains." Geek folk rock that is funny, clever, and surprisingly emotional.
That is our list. The beauty of geek music is that there are no rules -- if it makes you think, makes you feel, and makes you want to share it with everyone in the room (even if they did not ask), it belongs here. What did we miss? Every geek has that one album they swear by. Tell us about it.