My favourite album is X instead of Y

Some examples....

My favourite album by Fleetwood Mac is Mirage, when most folks would say Rumours.
My favourite album by Queen is Sheer Heart Attack, when for most folks it's A Night At the Opera.
And when it comes to Led Zeppelin, it's Houses of The Holy, when most folks would say IV.

(The above aren't only just examples, but what I really think.)

I've found that most peoples personal favourites usually (of course, not always) are what's widely considered a groups/artists greatest album. But this OP is for those that, like the examples above, see it differently.

I figured this could be fun, and it might bring out some disagreements when it comes to what's generally considered to be various groups/artists best albums.

Over to you....

 

Michael Jackson's Off the Wall

Half of the tracks on Thriller are filler (pun intended!). Off the Wall is chock full of great dance tunes.

 

My favorite album by U2 is POP when most folks says anything but.

 

That ties with Achtung Baby for me.

 

My favorite album by Love is the debut instead of Forever Changes

 

Radiohead - Pablo Honey > OK Computer

 

My favorite album by Aerosmith is Rocks, rather than Toys in the Attic.

 

Pixies "Trompe le Monde" over the general favorites "Doolittle" or "Surfer Rosa".

 

Relayer by YES instead of Fragile Or The YES Album lol or Close To The Edge. The 3 I cited are usually the 3 big ones for YES fans, but I find Relayer to be the ultimate work by them. The line up had changed and there was creative burst lost in Tales. While Bruford is my favorite drummer, White does some incredible work on Relayer as does Moraz. Well that's my Opinion, I'm sure I'm gonna catch it from my critics. Lol it's all subjective don't let it get to you. Peace, Iam

 

My favourite Queen album is A Day At The Races

My favourite E.L.O album is Time. Most people would say Out Of The Blue.

My favourite Beatles album is Let It Be. Most people would say it's Sgt. Pepper's

 

My favorite album by Joni Mitchell is Hejira. I think most people would say Blue.

 

Deep Purple's Purpendicular, instead of Machine Head. Steve Morse's debut with the band was transcendental.

 

I don't know if there's a consensus choice as to Steely Dan's best album, but my favorite by them is Can't Buy a Thrill.

My favorite Rolling Stones LP is Tattoo You and not one of the Big Four from 1968-72.

My favorite Fleetwood Mac album is Tusk rather than Rumours.

 

Some for me (although in most cases I really love both albums).

- Most would pick Joni Mitchell's "Blue". I pick "Court & Spark".

- Most would pick Bruce Springsteen's "Born To Run". I pick "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle".

- Most would pick the UK album for "A Hard Day's Night". I much prefer the genuine US soundtrack to the film.

- Most would pick "Alive!" by Kiss. And it makes perfect sense. Yet my personal favorite is "Alive II".

- Most would pick "Tattoo You" by the Rolling Stones. I would take "Emotional Rescue".

- Most would probably choose the "How The West Was Won" live set by Led Zeppelin. I prefer the expanded "The Song Remains The Same".

And probably several more.

 

Black Sabbath debut over Parnoid

 

My favorite R.E.M. album is Reckoning, but I Believe (pun intended)
others prefer Out Of Time.

Taking it further, I like Murmur better than later albums post-Reconstruction Of The Fables.

Let's not mince words...
I'll take any R.E.M. album from the IRS years over anything from the later years.

 

Favourite Steely Dan album is a toss up between Can't Buy A Thrill or Pretzel Logic whereas according to this poll...

POLL: YOUR 5 Favorite Steely Dan, Even Solo Albums....

...consensus seems to favour Aja.

 

Hmm... Not sure I 100% agree with the premise that most people have a favorite that aligns with the most critically/commercially popular album(s). Maybe most casual fans. People who are major fans of particular artists often love and appreciate their lesser-known albums. I've seen huge McCartney fans, for instance, who may love Band on the Run and Ram but list something like Back to the Egg or Memory Almost Full as their absolute #1 favorite. When you really love an artist and are familiar with their entire catalog, you can often feel drawn to albums that don't get the hype and press of some of the "major" works.

 

Fleetwood Mac - Bare Trees over the comparatively wimpy Rumours.

 

My favorite album by John Lennon is "Walls & Bridges" rather than "Plastic Ono Band" or "Imagine," which most folks would pick.

 

For You > Purple Rain

 

Radiohead: I like In Rainbows more than OK Computer

 

Wish You Were Here

Not Dark Side.......

 

X, the band, over any other band or artist I can think of that starts with Y.

even the mighty Yanni.

 

Tears For Fears:
Seeds Of Love over Songs From The Big Chair

Bruce Springsteen:
Greetings From Asbury Park over Born To Run

Roxy Music:
Flesh & Blood over Avalon
S/T over For Your Pleasure

Laurie Anderson:
Mister Heartbreak and Strange Angels over Big Science

Elvis Costello:
This Year's Model, Armed Forces, Get Happy over My Aim Is True

David Bowie:
Lodger over Low and Heroes


*I like all of the albums mentioned.
I just prefer one over the other.