Music can do so much for us. It can change the way we feel, move us to reflect on special moments and at times, leave us in a better place than it found us. The problem is, there’s so much of it out there and it’s so easy to just stick to what you’re familiar with. I’ve created this list to help you find something new, or just head back to an old favourite.

The Beatles - Revolver

I honestly believe that this is the finest album ever recorded. Even now, if you listen to the Beatles’ albums in succession, you’ll notice a huge step forwards. When it was released though, it was nothing short of revolutionary. 

This is the sound of four amazing creative forces approaching their prime.

You can hear how much they had evolved in such a short time. Paul’s new interest in classical music and George’s Indian influences really shine through on this record. John’s ‘experiments’ also produce some unique experiences. 

While it would be easy to make a sarcastic comment about Ringo’s only meaningful contribution being the vocals on Yellow Submarine, his stunning performance on Tomorrow Never Knows would surely be a highlight of most drummers’ careers.

I think the fact that Paul revisited most of his songs here on his ill-fated Give My Regards to Broadway project really says something. He also considers Here There and Everywhere to be one of his best songs, and it’s hard to disagree.

Although this is the Beatles’ seventh studio album, their first one, Please Please Me was only released just over three years before Revolver appeared. That’s quite something by today’s standards.

This was also the point where they quit touring and the sixties were erupting all around them. I don’t think we’ll ever experience anything like this again and it’s significant that a number of albums on this list were released around the same time. For me this isn’t just an album, it’s a standard every creator should aim for.

Sugar sweet, fuzzed up and at times backwards, you’ll find so much going on here.

U2 - Achtung Baby

It would have been easy to go on being the serious and stern megastars that delivered The Joshua Tree, but U2 were determined to be different. They delivered this amazing album that along with the accompanying Zoo TV Tour,  simply assaulted the senses.

This is the sound of a band doing something different.

Achtung Baby was a huge turning point for U2 and there are literally no low points. There’s plenty of variety though, from the frantic guitar onslaught that is The Fly to the poignant One. This has to be the sound of a band at the top of their game, as it’s so close to perfection.

I think this comes down to a strict deadline that was implemented towards the end of the sessions. It gives the album a rushed, raw edge that is sadly lacking on most of their albums after this.

Unfortunately, I’m quite confident that they will never release anything like this again.

Guitar players in particular will want to own this one, as the Edge is on another level. In fact, one of the things that really defines this album, and U2 in the early 90s, is that they really stood out from the grunge and hard rock that was taking over the world around them.

It’s also easy to argue that they were pretty much the hottest act on the planet when this was released. This is quite something when you consider that R.E.M., Guns N’ Roses, Metallica and Nirvana were just a few of the acts that were in their prime at the time.

Like U2, this record seems to exist outside of time and will always feel fresh and amazing when people first hear it.

Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home

The best thing about this record for me is that it was just one of three epic albums Bob Dylan released over an eighteen month period. Highway 61 Revisited arrived just a few months after this, followed by Blonde on Blonde the year after. It’s simply incredible to think about this now and modern acts just don’t have an excuse.

This is the sound of a unique talent changing direction and changing the game.

Dylan went electric on this record, after a more traditional folk sound, and this really caused waves at the time. The album surely shows it was worth it though and it’s also the perfect introduction to his work if you need one. While there are points in Dylan’s career that will leave most of us scratching our heads, this one will definitely live up to all the hype, and the word genius.

Bringing It All Back Home is just bursting with abstract creativity, spearheaded by its rambling lyrics that tell surreal stories in a stream of consciousness. It’s an amazing experience that just flows from start to finish.

As a songwriter, it’s hard to even get your head around how he came up with this.

While his days as a more traditional ‘protest’ singer are mostly behind him here, poignant songs like Subterranean Homesick Blues and Maggie’s Farm really make their mark. Towards the end, songs like It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) will also remind the purists that this is ‘their’ Bob Dylan.

If I’m honest, I rarely listen to this album. When I do though, I’m immediately taken back to that special place where I discovered it. We all need something like this to help us rebell when we’re younger.

This really is the Dylan with the sunglasses we think we can work out.

Sting - All This Time

In the autumn of 2001, Sting assembled a group of diverse musicians at his home in Italy to record a single and perform a truly unique show. Some of them were part of his touring band and others were new to him and his music. The result is a stunning show that delivers a fresh new take on his classic songs.

This is the sound of experience and high standards.

Although I tried to exclude compilations and live albums on this list, this is one that’s far too special to overlook. For me, it’s close to perfect and it’s how I expect Sting to sound.

Recorded on September 11th 2001, this was not the show Sting had planned but it’s still unique and incredible. With a stunning ensemble of musicians, this is the sound of a mature and confident artist revisiting his work in a way that makes it seem almost new.

What makes this project particularly special is that it was effectively sandwiched between two very contemporary and more ‘electronic’ albums. Sting’s collaborations with Kipper (Mark Eldridge) delivered the albums Brand New Day and Sacred Love, that are in many ways a contrast to the more traditional and refined approach here. Guess which one I prefer?

It’s definitely worth watching the accompanying DVD as well. There are tracks that didn’t make the album and it includes a great documentary of the whole project.

It’s also an album I’d use to introduce anyone to Sting. I love every second of it and I just can’t recommend it enough.

Surely everyone would want to sound like this?

Natalie Merchant - Ophelia

When I discovered this album, I knew nothing about Natalie Merchant and if I’m honest, I haven’t really connected with her other work. I consider this record a songwriting masterclass though and it’s certainly inspired me over the years.

This is the sound of sophistication and elegance.

Ophelia is one of the those records that’s sure to surprise you. The songwriting is incredible and you’re sure to wonder why you’ve never found it before.

I particularly like Chris Botti’s haunting trumpet that accompanies the desolate piano to bring these songs to life. If you don’t know him, he’s often collaborated with Sting and you can hear more of his work on All This Time, that I’ve suggested above.

This has to be the perfect example of a great album. Themes run throughout and each song builds and maintains a spectacular standard.

It’s so easy to absorb from start to finish and I can only suggest you discover it for yourself as soon as you can.

If we look at the bigger picture, I think this is a great example of running your own race. I’m suggesting you listen to this because it’s great work. It may not have reached number 1 or have been heavily marketed, but it’s incredible and the best music isn’t always what everyone is talking about.

This really is a deep, dark and mysterious album.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced

This is still an album that will completely blow people away. Over fifty years on, you’re unlikely to have heard anything like this before and are unlikely to hear anything like it again. It’s an amazing collection of songs and it almost seems unfair that people focus on Hendrix’s guitar work, rather than his songwriting.

This is the sound of something very special arriving in our world.

The most important thing for me is that this is a debut album. It literally explodes at you and it’s hard to keep track of everything. There’s also a lot of variety here, despite how easy it would have been to fill it with endless guitar work.

Hendrix also explores every inch of the studio as he delivers songs like Are You Experienced and Third Stone from the Sun, that really break new ground.

Modern acts should really feel ashamed when they look at what’s achieved here with such basic equipment.

It’s also easy to think of this as a Hendrix solo record, but the Experience were a band. Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchel are phenomenal and all the magic would simply be impossible without their solid foundation. No one should ever think of them as simply ‘Jimi’s backing band’.

Recommending this one is easy, but it’s almost impossible to describe. It’s an album you need to hear for yourself and discover why Hendrix was so special. 

There’s so much more than a guitar legend here.

The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

This is a beautiful record that everyone needs to hear at some point. Forget about the earlier Beach Boys singles you may have heard, go in fresh and relish the fragile genius of Brian Wilson. In many ways, this is his record and it’s safe to assume that most people credit him for this great work.

This is the sound of a true genius showing us he just wasn’t made for these times.

Everything here is very special. This record shook everyone up when it was released and inspired some of the greatest talents of that generation to match it.

Don’t let the fact that session musicians put this one together put you off. It’s incredible and only the best could realise Brian Wilson’s incredible ideas.

Any bass players out there will want to hear what Carol Kaye brings to life on this record. The fact that she inspired McCartney’s playing on Sgt. Pepper says everything.

As I’ve said, this one isn’t about surf boards, fast cars and California girls. It’s about feelings and those special moments we all treasure. It’s also a songwriting masterclass.

If you still need a reason to hear this one, God Only Knows has to be one of the best songs ever recorded. As you’d expect, there are no low points or fillers on this record either.

It’s just melodic, complicated and harmonious.

Hafdis Huld - Home

You’ve probably never heard about this one, and that’s the whole point. Although it’s not well known, Home is just a beautiful album that should encourage people to look around for other lost gems.

This is the sound of magic happening.

Hafdis Huld is an Icelandic singer/songwriter and I rate this as her best work. There are so many great songs here and it just flows from start to finish. She’s not that well known, so I encourage everyone to go out and tell people about her.

Do great albums really need to be produced by household names? You can hear genuine passion and enthusiasm on this one and you can’t escape the sound of someone producing work they believe in.

It’s worth owning this album for the song Sunrise alone. It’s just magical and you’ll never get tired of hearing it.

I honestly believe that Home genuinely deserves to be listed among these other great works. I put a lot of thought into creating this list, but I didn’t have to consider this one for long. There’s something very special here and I just want to share it.

This one is full of great intentions and you’ll never forget it.

It’s now down to you to go off and make your own memories about them, or other albums that inspire you. I hope this has helped you appreciate how the right kind of music can be a very special companion as we go through life.

Before we finish, I’d like to leave you with three easy things you can do right now:

• Have a think about the music that provided the soundtrack to your life

• Take some time to go back to something special

• Have a think about what you haven’t discovered yet

Start a journey. it’s never been easier with services like Spotify and Apple Music.