Classic Western albums: must-listen recommendations you should hear at least once

Billy The BestBilly Joel

Billy Joel – Honesty (Official Video)

Billy Joel’s best-of album, Greatest Hits, is a perfect pick for newcomers to Western pop music.

Released in 1985 and 1997, this classic compilation features unforgettable melodies like Piano Man and Just the Way You Are.

Many of the tracks are familiar from TV and commercials, so you’ll likely find favorites right away.

It’s a work that lets you feel Joel’s musical evolution and experience fresh inspiration.

How about taking it along for your next drive?

Go DoJonsi

Jónsi – Go Do (Live at the Wiltern)

Sigur Ros is a post-rock band from Iceland that achieved worldwide popularity.

“Go” is a solo work by their vocalist, Jonsi.

While Sigur Ros is known for its cool, otherworldly sound that evokes glaciers and the aurora, Jonsi’s work, though using similar textures, is more uptempo and pop-oriented.

As you can tell from the album’s opening track, “Go Do,” it even has a refreshing energy that makes you feel like you could start running as you listen.

RunawayKanye West

Kanye West – Runaway (Video Version) ft. Pusha T

Rapper Kanye West often makes headlines for various problematic behaviors.

However, setting his personality aside, his musical talent is indisputable—especially on the album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which earned perfect scores from many hard-nosed Western music critics and stands as one of the finest classics in hip-hop history.

Its lavish choruses, incendiary lyrics, and verses that lay bare his own ugliness shocked listeners and proved he was more than just a troublemaker.

This is likely an album that will be impossible to ignore when recounting the history of hip-hop in the future.

Midnight CityM83

M83 ‘Midnight City’ Official video

The album that topped the American music outlet Pitchfork’s reader-voted “Best Albums of the 2000s” ranking was M83’s Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming.

Is it set in outer space, or inside a dream? The album is filled with otherworldly, dreamy pop songs; while it didn’t become a mainstream hit, it gained enormous popularity among indie kids.

Of all the tracks, the most accessible is probably Midnight City.

Despite its dreamy synth sound, it also has a driving sense of momentum.

Full PerformanceMum

múm – Full Performance (Live on KEXP)

They’re a “weird group” in a good way.

In terms of what alternative music can be now, they create a mysterious world by making all kinds of instruments sound in all kinds of ways.

There are other artists who play experimental sounds, but even though múm use unusual timbres, their songs somehow come together with a sense of balance, making you want to listen again.

HappyPharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams – Happy (Official Video)

It’s a masterpiece by a brilliantly talented Black singer who burst onto the scene like a comet.

Its upbeat, catchy vibe—familiar even to those who only know Happy—will have you hitting repeat after just one listen.

The artist’s exceptional sense of rhythm and captivating vocals are must-hear highlights.

Greatest HitsQueen

Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody (Official Video Remastered)

This is a compilation album featuring the greatest hits of Queen, the legendary rock band the UK is proud of.

It includes hits from 1974 to 1980 and became a massive success with over 25 million copies sold.

The world crafted by Freddie Mercury’s overwhelming vocal prowess and Brian May’s distinctive guitar sound is a must-hear.

It features many karaoke staples such as “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Will Rock You.” Released in November 1981, this single disc is a classic that distills the essence of Queen—perfect as an introduction to Western rock.

Highly recommended for those who want to savor the true thrill of rock.