Here's a list of my dozen favorite albums (in no particular order - save the first one)...
Ryan Adams - Love Is Hell: Hands down, my favorite album of all-time. Some claim Adams to be trying his hand at mope-rock, but what I hear is a genuine intensity unheard on any other album...ever. I sleep with this album under my pillow at night.
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds: I heard the hype, then I heard the album. Then I was blown away. Winter of Junior year of college. I was just learning how to play guitar and create music. This set the bar really high.
Ben Folds - Whatever and Ever, Amen: The first album that I ever enjoyed start-to-finish. This was the very first album that truly helped shape where my musical tastes would end up.
Elliott Smith- Either/Or: I didn't like this one much when I first bought it, but I put it away for about a month. I acquainted myself with some of Smith's other work then took this one out again only to realize that this was the most consistent, most well-done album of his all-too-short career.
Flake Music - When You Land Here, It's Time to Return: The debut album by the band that would one day come to be known as The Shins, When You Land is the best thing they've ever done. It was the first album that I listened to and thought, "Hey, I can do that!"
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning: Connor finally found out how to put consistently great music behind his already-brilliant lyrics. The duets with Emmylou Harris alone are worth the price of admission. This got me interested in making good American contemporary folk music - something I wish I could do consistently.
Josh Rouse - Nashville: I'd never gotten so completely stupid on an album until I heard this one. Spring of my senior year in college. Putting the band together, and courting the girlfriend. This was the soundtrack. There might not be a more fitting album for having a fucking great time.
Jason Mraz - Live at Java Joe's: Jason Mraz is, perhaps, the most unique singer/songwriter I've ever heard. This album warms up those chilly Winter nights and sounds both full and fully inspired despite its spare arrangement.
Big Star - # 1 Record/Radio City: I know I'm cheating because it's two albums on one CD, but this is how I heard 'em so... Force yourself to listen and you'll want to want to go out and start a band, I promise. My girlfriend loves it when I sing, "Thirteen" to her late at night. Maybe the greatest American band...ever.
Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman: It's April, college is winding down, and I've got a van full of friends, bandmates, and Matt Pischl (our opening act) driving down the suprisingly endearing Garden State Parkway on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. This album is playing, the planets align and everything is just perfect with the world...especially when, "Sentimental Guy," comes on.
Bus Stop - Bus Stop: Only 1,000 of these albums were ever pressed and it's worth the hunt (I actually found mine after calling a record store in North Carolina - CD Alley - for $12.00). I listened to this as I packed up my dorm room Sophomore year of college. It's definitely a 'saying goodbye' album. It was, appropriately, Bus Stop's final release.
The Wrens - The Meadowlands: Take a band as influential as Big Star, or R.E.M., take away their record deal, and give them a 7-year hiatus and you get this album. I listen to this all the time. Nice weather, bad weather. Saying 'hello,' or saying, 'goodbye.' It's got everything you want in an album. And it was made in New Jersey!