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Bumping up this thread since I'm a music nut and I just MUST DO IT.
Also in no particular order:
Shania Twain: UP!
I completely love Shania, even her crappy debut album. She's charming, fun, uplifting, and adorable-sexy. She does have a very nice voice, and I'm amazed at how she put out nineteen songs each in three different styles (so that makes... like fifty-seven songs overall? Three versions each of nineteen songs... yeah) and 1. none of the songs sucked overall (only one I would say was awful - the Blue Mix of When You Kiss Me) and 2. 97% of the time each song sounded different (even subtly) between each version. I love the country (Green) mixes a LOT, although some songs do lose their punch there, the pop (Red) mixes are often sassy and fun, and the world (Blue) mixes are either very bubbly and fun or very gorgeous.
BoA: Atlantis Princess
I'm a sucker for the bubblegum sound. I'm a bigger sucker for atmosphere. This album has both in spades. Fun, unpretentious, mature bubblegum pop music that just feels very fresh. I love the covers (front and back) and how it indicates a breezy, beautiful day feeling (same for the title) - the booklet could be better (the blocks of solid color and animal prints detract from the effect. More pages like where the Gift lyrics are would be awesome), but the sound is just so refreshing and uplifting. Sometimes it's even very gorgeous (there's that word again) with the lush strings (too bad they don't last too long into the album). They definitely make the songs unique and alive. My favorites are Milky Way, Atlantis Princess, Tree, and The Lights of Seoul (either version works).
The Dixie Chicks: Home
Say what you will about them, but these girls can play the hell out of their instruments. They can harmonize, they have personality like what, and they can balance fun and cheeky with serious and reflective (I mean, not many people could pull off following a song like White Trash Wedding with A Home). Personally, this was a very hard choice because all of their albums since Wide Open Spaces have been absolutely perfect (even Taking the Long Way, which took a few spins to sink in), but this one stands out because of how down-to-earth and stripped it is. Pure bluegrass, no drums at all, and they're on fire throughout every track. Landslide is lovely, and Top of the World is one of the most perfect closers ever (although their cover of Let Him Fly is very close behind).
Mariah Carey: Butterfly
This was another hard one, because while Mariah's discography isn't perfect, she does have Daydream and Emotions as well and they're very serious contenders. But this one carries a sexy, cozy vibe (and when it's not, it's sunn, even if it's not always cheerful). Easily her signature album (unless you.... consider Glitter her signature album for all the wrong reasons), a huge change of direction sylistically and image-wise. I love how confident she sounds doing R&B on here, and The Roof and Babydoll are both very sexy and the latter is just so rich and velvety. Breakdown should've been a bigger hit than it was, Honey is definitely fun and sexy, and Close My Eyes is an amazingly low-key, deep song.
Enya: The Memory of Trees
Enya's one of my absolute favorite artists, ever. The Celts wasn't perfect, but even then it was really really good. Every album since then, though, has been perfect. This one is just her most perfect (although Amarantine comes very close). It's cozy, wintry, inviting, and soothing. The title track is definitely a stand out. It's exciting.
Okay. Typing all these descriptions is getting taxing, so let's just name off a few more and screw the reasoning.
Bjork: Vespertine
Sheryl Crow: Wildflower
Faith Hill: Cry
india.arie: Testimony: Vol 1., Life & Relationship
Ryan Cabrera: Take It All Away (very tough decision, because You Stand Watching is also perfect. Plus: <3 Ryan Cabrera)
Kelly Clarkson: Breakaway
Melissa Etheridge: Skin
Loreena McKennitt: The Visit (Another toughie, since: The Mask and Mirror; The Book of Secrets)
Celine Dion: A New Day Has Come
Madonna: Ray of Light
Carrie Underwood; Some Hearts
Jo Dee Messina: Delicious Surprise (tied with Burn)
Christina Milian: It's About Time
Avril Lavigne: Let Go
Michelle Branch: Hotel Paper
Natasha Bedingfield: Unwritten <3<3
Backstreet Boys: Never Gone
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