Top Ten EDM Albums for People Who Don't Know Shit About Dance Music

By Andy Hermann Tue., Jun. 5 2012 at 4:00 AM

Christoph Kostlin

Paul van Dyk

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Electronic dance music (you know, EDM) is the hottest thing going right now. But to you, it still all sounds like "oontz, oontz, oontz" -- except Skrillex, who sounds like "wom, wom, wom." Right?

Fear not. You don't have to be a kid yourself to know what the kids are into nowadays. The ten albums below might not convert you into a glowstick-twirling rave monkey, but they will at least help you tell the difference between dubstep and drum 'n' bass, or Chicago house and Detroit techno. Note that while these are great records, this isn't meant to be a definitive "best of" list -- it's just a good entry point for EDM newbies.

10) The Chemical Brothers
Exit Planet Dust (1995)
No one has ever engineered a better gateway drug to EDM than this ferocious debut album from the British production duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, which is why it kicks off our list. The Chems would refine their balls-out mix of techno, acid house, hip-hop and stadium rock on future releases, but they never went straight for the lizard brain more effectively than on this frenetic set.

9) Derrick Carter and Mark Farina
Live at Om (2004)
House music got its start in Chicago, and Chicago house in its purest form remains the dirtiest, funkiest, swingingest form of dance music based on strict four-on-the-floor beats. This double-disc collection captures live sets by two of Chi-town's most gifted DJs and is a brilliant study in contrasts: Where Mark Farina's jazzy, stylish tracks (like the Vibezelect tune above) are all about the hip-shake and shoulder-shimmy, Derrick Carter's downright filthy mix is all grit and grind and goes right for the crotch.

8) Underworld
Beaucoup Fish (1999)
The band behind "Born Slippy" (you know, from the final scene in Trainspotting) released three classic hard techno albums in the '90s, of which this '99 set is both their best and the one most accessible to newbs. The last Underworld album to feature their secret weapon, producer Darren Emerson, it contains at least three tracks that will melt your face off: the deceptively titled "Kittens," the Donna Summer-sampling "Shudder/King of Snake" (yes, it jacked that pulsating synth from "I Feel Love") and album closer "Moaner." For British techno, this is still the gold standard.

Tags:

Don't Know Shit About, EDM

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misterfox

also this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChSg0-r_jqA

misterfox

I'm not going to play into the debate about the use of the term EDM; but this statement "The trick to understanding drum 'n' bass is to realize that it's not really meant for dancing" is so inaccurate, I don't even know how to respond other than to say, No... No, you are so wrong. Just have you feet hit the ground on the snares. all else fails, break out the Running Man.

awwfuckit

I would cut my own testicles off with a blunt set of shears rather than listen to this bullshit ass music....I stopped doing extacy in the 90s like most respectable drug users.....

Diego Trinidad

It's a good list for people who don't know shit about EDM! Gonna share it with some folk. Want to hear great example of EDM? Here's a free download of EDM music, "Vampire Lifestyle." http://bit.ly/vamplife

lesley

i have tried and as much as i love underworld, i'm not much for beaucoup fish. love 'jumbo', but mostly i'm not into this album. just rarely. i do appreciate pointer albums though. i have been listening for almost as long as i have been out of high school (awhile now) and i still feel very new. lots i never had exposure to.

Kingmike290

skrillex should have definitely been on this list hes done more for edm in two years than most producers have in a lifetime. but to call burial and kode 9's music boring and austere is insane! their albums rank as some edm's finest works to date! also why is daft punk not on this list?? as far as i'm concerned the one song and one album that's responsible for this edm renaissance in the states is "Around The World" off of their album "Homework" most people my age (22) and around my age that got into raving and edm around the same time i did about four years ago will tell you that that album and that song as well a few other albums and songs such as "Rock N' Rave" by Benny Benassi and songs like "Traffic" by Tiesto is what really got them into edm and wanting to go raves.

Armin Gruver

I'm sorry but Skrillex shouldn't be anywhere close to this list.

Roscoe65

And almost as talentless as rap.

15YearsofRaving

List is better than most, but Burial's music is by no means "austere."Doesn't even make any sense to describe his music like that. I kinda feel like Skrillex being added to this list is just to boost views and get attention and provoke. Still, pretty decent.