If you could recommend ONE album...

[Selkie]

That defines great music to you, that you would give to an alien that just arrived on planet Earth, that you would give to someone before they were cast out to an island for eternity, that you would give someone who is dying and has never heard music before, what would it be?

An album that you think is a perfect balance of emotion, beauty, and power.

I ask this to spark good conversation, but also because I really need just a great album to download. I crave new music.

I'm not looking for something off "Time's top 500 Albums of All Time", or a Pitchfork year in music article. Just your raw opinion.

To start off, mine would be Jeff Buckley's 'Grace'

[Geno]

Slayer - Reign in Blood

[Travis]

it's impossible to give you a single album that "defines great music" for me. i can listen to and enjoy just about any genre you throw at me, and they all convey different emotions

[the shortest route to the sea]

I'd give them a two disc set of a modernist pianist performing Bach's Well-Tempered Klavier. It has to be modern, someone who can play it better than a robot, otherwise it feels like dead music. But there's so much there.

Or, um, Funeral.

[snorkel]

Demon Days by Gorillaz or De-Loused in the Comatorium by The Mars Volta both mean perfect, emotional, powerful, amazing music to me. Third pick would have to be... King Tubby's Declaration of Dub

[Samus Aran]

Abbey Road

cliche pick, maybe, but it really is the greatest album i've ever heard, even still

[Andria]

And The Glass Handed Kite- Mew

[Cookie]

The Glow pt2- The Microphones

[Dullahan]

Half These Songs Are About You - Nizlopi

[spaceman]

Cliche as fuck, but Funeral.

[burzumfan420]

Probably Pet Sounds.

[the shortest route to the sea]

Probably Pet Sounds.

Yeah....

[Socks]

Yeah....

I may not always love you, but long as there are stars above you, you never need to doubt it. I'll make you so sure about it.

I would have to suggest a classical compilation album, aptly titled The 50 Most Essential Pieces of Classical Music. For me, it has been the catalyst of numerous spiritual trips down musical lane. And it offers a great basic sample of the genre.

[Sa Da MA]

Human After All - Daft Punk

[sans culottes]

The Velvet Underground & Nico

Cliche like most of these, but true.