The Unsung Heroes of BL: The Enabling Best Friends

To say that fans of BL (Boys' Love) series watch them for the couples is to state the obvious. After all, BL fans are notorious for being ultra-passionate shippers of their favorite pairs, an activity that spills over to real life. Nowadays, such composite names as MewGulf, TayNew, MaxTul, and BrightWin trend whenever a new episode or a new fan-made video of them comes out. It doesn't take much effort to find articles online on these and many other BL couples.

But one aspect of BL series that has not gotten as much appreciation as it should have is the role of supporting characters. Not secondary couples, who can sometimes even outshine the lead couples (WinTeam, anyone?), but the friends who rotate around the main couple and range from being mere observers to being true enablers. In many ways, they're the viewers' surrogates, that's why we cheer them on when they go out of their way to help the couple get together or strengthen their relationship, or if they're just fierce, protective friends who've got our main characters' backs. Aside from the sadly rarer "supporting parents," these "enabling best friends" are the true unsung heroes of BL series. (Note: we use enabling in the positive sense of the word here). Here, I'd like to highlight five of them, ranked by their overall impact on the main couple's relationship and general well-being.

Honorable Mentions:

Team ("Until We Meet Again") - I love that scene in the library where he tells off Alex for bugging Pharm. That's a true friend right there.

Fai ("Together With Me: The Next Chapter") - There are many times in the series when she seems like the only sensible member of the group, and she doesn't hold back in making that clear and helping rein her friends in.

Knot ("Sotus") - That heart-to-heart conversation that he has with Arthit is short but it's a critical turnaround point for the latter.

Kae ("Why R U?") - He'd probably be in my top five if he qualified as a best friend. That scene with Fighter's father is priceless.

He Cheng En ("HIStory2: Boundary Crossing") - What can I say: making Qiu Zi Xuan choose between the two drinks was a smooth move.

THE TOP FIVE ENABLING BEST FRIENDS IN BL

5. THE FAIRY ANGEL GANG - Montri, Hippo, No. 1, No. 2 ("2 MOONS 2")

Actors: Phee Pikulngern, Sathitpong Taiworachot, Jirayu Sutthisat, Jirawat Sutthisat

Usually, the best friends are straight or masculine gay/bi males. It's refreshing to see more effeminate characters, who usually play less flattering roles (example: Green in "2gether the Series"), being so proactive in helping the main couple.

Most Significant Act of Friendship: They didn't do too much to help the relationship between their friend Wayo and Phana progress, but who didn't fall in love with them when they fought for Wayo against his defamers? That scene where they confront the other group in the dance studio, showing their solidarity with Wayo, is powerful stuff. We can easily argue that if they hadn't done that, Wayo wouldn't have been in the right state of mind to be in a relationship with Phana.

4. POND ("LOVE BY CHANCE")

Actor: Yacht Surat Permpoonsavat

The first scene that we seen Pond in sets him up quickly as a perverted clown and doesn't give us much confidence in him at the onset. He's still the perverted clown until the end of the series but no one can say that he isn't a fiercely loyal friend. He also shows a sweeter and more mature side in a nice scene with his girlfriend ChaAim. I'm glad he found a girl who sees him for who he really is, unlike Ae, who really should start treating him more nicely.

Most Significant Act of Friendship: It's really the small things with Pond. There's putting the condoms in Ae's bag and being in Pete's corner almost immediately. Whatever advice he gave Pete to get him ready to fully consummate his relationship with Ae for the first time, it definitely worked.

3. TWO ("THEORY OF LOVE")

Actor: White Nawat Phumphothingam

Even as we're cheering him on through his own struggles with love, we're also loving him for so selflessly, unconditionally accepting Third's love for Khai and helping Third through his problems.

Most Significant Act of Friendship: He's quick to act as soon as he discovers Third's feelings for Khai. He helps Third concoct the plan that gets Third to stay in Khai's apartment. But really, it's his unwavering support of Third through it all that makes him the best friend that everyone would like to have.

2. TECHNO ("THARNTYPE THE SERIES")

Actor: Mild Suttinut Uengtrakul

Like Pond, he's the none-too-serious best friend who's often affectionately bullied by the lead character, but it's clear from the very start that he's more consistently reliable and level-headed. Without being as obvious about it as Pond is, he's really the greatest TharnType shipper...even if he does occasionally feel awkward around their cloying sweetness (something that amusingly extends to real life when Mild is around MewGulf).

Most Significant Act of Friendship: There's a lot to choose from, from telling Type all the things that Tharn has been doing for him to being there as solid back-up during the final confrontation with Lhong. But I'll argue, maybe quite controversially, that Techno's single most important act that moves the TharnType relationship forward is him telling Type that his roommate Tharn is gay. He obviously does not do that out of spite for Tharn or for gays, just out of concern for Type and how much worse it would be if Type found out another way. We wouldn't have had the riveting love story that we had had it not been for Techno's well-intentioned intervention.

1. YIHWA ("TOGETHER WITH ME")

Actress: Maengmum Tanshi Bumrungkit

I've said before that most best friends are males. How great is it then to have a strong female as the ultimate BL series best friend? From start to finish (all the way into "Together With Me: The Next Chapter," though she has her own problems to deal with there), she's KornKnock's biggest shipper. Think about it: she's there both the first and last times that the couple is in their hometown. When she's in her kilig state, so are we. And, more importantly, she's their fiercest protector.

Most Significant Act of Friendship: She's the foil to the unbelievably diabolical Plern Pleng, making it her mission to investigate her and reveal her true face to Knock, even risking her own safety in at least one instance. She rallies their other friends to help defeat Plern Pleng, while being sickeningly fashionable the whole time. Plern Pleng didn't really stand a chance against her.

Image Sources:

Pond: https://66.media.tumblr.com/25ee11f1a4d0c7b7a0c21cc032533f29/3e41f148260b6292-06/s640x960/0297ee28546eb201b8a5da2b6d503b3654cc6db3.jpg

Techno: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K81fYcwNgsk/maxresdefault.jpg

Yihwa: https://thesakuracontinuestofall.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/images-651992572808.jpg

Yihwa2: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EP4b6FXVAAcW-VO?format=jpg&name=large

My List of the 100 Best Albums by Women (TOP 20)

20. SURFACING (SARAH MCLACHLAN)

Year of Release: 1997

Labels: Nettwerk, Arista

Key Tracks: "Building A Mystery," "Angel," "Adia," "Sweet Surrender," "Full of Grace"

This has been one of my go-to albums when I just want to be bathed in beautiful, sweet melodies, a sort of, yes, "sweet surrender." "Building A Mystery" was the song that got me to purchase the album on the strength of Sarah McLachlan's luscious vocals and that killer starting line: "You come out at night / That's when the energy comes / And the dark side's light / And the vampires roam." Afterward, I fell in love with "Adia" and especially "Angel," which I and my girl friends in college sang to incessantly for months. The album is full of soul.

19. TALK ON CORNERS (THE CORRS)

Year of Release: 1997

Labels: 143, Lava, Atlantic Records

Key Tracks: "Only When I Sleep," "So Young," "What Can I Do," "I Never Loved You Anyway," "Paddy McCarthy"

With a string of hit singles, starting with the ballad "Only When I Sleep," Talk On Corners is certainly one of the late 90s best pop albums. Aside from ultra-catchy melodies, each song showcases lead vocalist Andrea Corr's sweet vocals, most evident in "So Young" and "What Can I Do" but so effective even when she sings kitschy lyrics like those of the bitter anthem "I Never Loved You Anyway." And if you're looking for the traditional Irish flavor and Sharon Corr's beautiful violin that are sadly mostly missing from later albums, it's in full force here, particularly in the instrumental "Paddy McCarthy." This album will always have a special place in my heart for another reason: I watched The Corrs live in concert during their promotional tour for this album in the Philippines, and I got the siblings' signatures on the cover. It's one of my most prized possessions.

18. WHEN THE PAWN... (FIONA APPLE)

Year of Release: 1999

Label: Clean Slate/Epic

Key Tracks: "Paper Bag," "Limp," "Fast As You Can," "A Mistake," "To Your Love"

As you likely know, the actual title is 90 words long. For the uninitiated, or even for those whose only exposure to Fiona Apple before this has been her "This world is bullshit!" speech at the VMAs, she might come across as immature and pretentious. Apple is anything but. She wrote the songs of her astonishing debut album Tidal when she was a teenager, and When the Pawn... just takes her further into introspection. There's a lot of frenetic, angsty energy to the songs here, especially "Limp" and "Fast As You Can," which makes the relatively serene "Paper Bag" even more of a standout. 

17. HORSES (PATTI SMITH)

Year of Release: 1975

Label: Arista

Key Tracks: "Gloria," "Break It Up," "Birdland," "Redondo Beach," "Free Money"

The first time I listened to this album, I was blown away by its utterly powerful rawness. It's a genius punk rock album, the type that you can flail around to in your room in a semblance of a trip-induced dance. Patti Smith's voice is hardcore and unsentimental but takes you through a wonderful journey into the brilliant mind of a poet celebrating freedom. To listen to this album at full volume is to unfetter yourself, so do yourself that favor as quickly and as often as possible.

16. HOMOGENIC (BJÖRK)

Year of Release: 1997

Labels: One Little Indian, Elektra

Key Tracks: "Jóga," "Hunter," "Alarm Call," "Bachelorette," "All Is Full of Love"

Between her more dance-pop Post and her more experimental later albums, Björk's Homogenic is a safe transition. And by safe, I mean utterly beautiful to anyone with an ear for good music. "Jóga" and "Hunter" are probably two of Björk's most gorgeous songs ever, and "Alarm Call" is an upbeat track that wouldn't have been out of place in Post. I believe that her vocals are at the peak of their prowess here.

15. THE MEMORY OF TREES (ENYA)

Year of Release: 1995

Label: WEA

Key Tracks: "Anywhere Is," "On My Way Home," "The Memory of Trees," "Pax Deorum," "Hope Has a Place"

This is probably one of my most listened-to albums of all time. There was a time when I would play it everyday, especially when I'd feel stressed. That's the magic of Enya's music, whether or not you'd like to call it "New Age" (which she doesn't). All the songs are transcendent, with "Anywhere Is" and "On My Way Home" being true standouts. But the album is opened by the wonderful "The Memory of Trees," which you can totally imagine hearing in a dimly sunlit forest in a fantasy realm. Heart-achingly beautiful.

14. THE KICK INSIDE (KATE BUSH)

Year of Release: 1978

Labels: EMI, Harvest

Key Tracks: "Wuthering Heights," "The Man with the Child in His Eyes," "Strange Phenomena," "Them Heavy People," "Oh to Be in Love"

Hounds of Love is easily Kate Bush's most celebrated album and is probably her biggest technical achievement, but come on, this is the album with "Wuthering Heights" and what other song can showcase her kooky, shrill brilliance just as well? And then when you get past how deliciously weird that song is, you get to a stunningly lovely and deep track like "The Man with the Child in His Eyes." Then you're back to crazy Kate with "Them Heavy People" and "Oh to Be in Love." The music videos of these songs are a must-watch for the full, immersive Kate Bush experience, but if you just want to be impressed by some of the most unique melodies and the most singular voice in pop-rock, the album's enough.

13. TAPESTRY (CAROLE KING)

Year of Release: 1971

Labels: Ode, A&M

Key Tracks: "I Feel the Earth Move," "It's Too Late," "So Far Away," "Where You Lead," "You've Got a Friend," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"

Oh, Tapestry! Among the albums in my list, this is probably the most universally loved, and deservedly so. Carole King has written many fantastic songs for other artists, but in Tapestry it's all hers. On any day, you can just start this playing and your day will be so much better. It's hard not to sing to and smile to each and every one of these aural gems. All of them are so warm and familiar, like an old dear friend that you love talking to.

12. THIS FIRE (PAULA COLE)

Year of Release: 1996

Labels: Imago, Warner Bros.

Key Tracks: "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?," "I Don't Want to Wait," "Me," "Feelin' Love," "Mississippi"

I remember buying this album and reading on the album sleeve that Paula Cole recommends it be listened to at full volume. I couldn't quite crank it up to full in my house, but the loudness does help convey the richness of emotion that's in full display in this fiery uncompromising album. Whatever spirits possessed Cole when she wrote and recorded these songs should be worshipped, because it's raw and wild. The quieter, gentler moments, like with the lovely "Me" and the sultry "Feelin' Love" are just as powerful. Each song here can be an anthem. It's sad that Cole never manages to match the brilliance of this album with any of her later works, but at least we have this gem to treasure for life.

11. FROM THE CHOIRGIRL HOTEL (TORI AMOS)

Year of Release: 1998

Label: Atlantic

Key Tracks: "Spark," "Jackie's Strength," "Raspberry Swirl," "i i e e e," "Playboy Mommy"

This is the Tori Amos album that immediately follows Boys For Pele, which appears later in this list, so my expectations were very high. It's not quite as demented or unnerving as Pele, but it makes a very worthy follow-up in terms of the dark, deep emotions that Amos continues to explore with such abandon. Though I miss the prominence of the harpsichord in Pele, Amos's piano is still the star here, unlike in some of her newer albums. I think the best word to describe this album and many of its tracks is haunting, from the sad nostalgia of "Jackie's Strength" to the repentant defiance of "Playboy Mommy," and lines like "She's convinced she could hold back a glacier / But she couldn't keep baby alive" ("Spark"). But lest you forget that Amos can have fun like the rest of them, there's the wildly danceable raunchy, feminist "Raspberry Swirl," for which she rightly got a Grammy nomination in the Female Rock Vocal Performance category.

10. SPIRIT (JEWEL)

Year of Release: 1998

Label: Atlantic

Key Tracks: "Hands," "Down So Long," "Kiss the Flame," "Jupiter," "Life Uncommon"

After our "Angel" and Sarah McLachlan phase, my girl friends and I had a long-lasting relationship with the criminally underrated Spirit that lasts until now; in bouts of nostalgia, we still talk about the elegant, fragile beauty of the songs and the earnest vocals of someone who had never sounded better or written more poetic, artistic songs. I bought this album and Jewel's book of poems at around the same time, and both of them show the soul that she has an artist. This album is simply phenomenal. There is not a single mediocre or forgettable song in the bunch. And "Hands" is one of the most hopeful songs ever, one that everyone should be listening to more often nowadays. "Cause where there's a man who has no voice / There ours shall go singing."

9. SPICE (SPICE GIRLS)

Year of Release: 1996

Label: Virgin

Key Tracks: "Wannabe," "2 Become 1," "Who Do You Think You Are," "Say You'll Be There," "Mama"

This is the one that started it all. Girl Power. The Spice Girls phenomenon. It was so easy to scoff at them and their first single, "Wannabe," as I did the first time I saw the music video. But then getting over that kneejerk reaction and just allowing yourself to surrender to the exuberant joy of it all is the most rewarding experience. This album can take you out of the dumps. And what a lot of people don't appreciate as much is how good the Spice Girls are at harmonizing. Sure, individually, each girl might not have the best vocals, but together, they're unstoppable. Five hit singles in one album, and the rest aren't slouches either. One of the most fantastic debut albums by any musical act ever.

8. JAGGED LITTLE PILL (ALANIS MORISSETTE)

Year of Release: 1995

Labels: Maverick, Reprise

Key Tracks: "Ironic," "Hand in My Pocket," "You Oughta Know," "All I Really Want," "Head Over Feet"

Speaking of fantastic debut albums, Jagged Little Pill shook the world. Really, Alanis Morissette shook the world and started a new female revolution in pop-rock. Sure, her first single was the very angry "You Oughta Know," which could have thrown some people off, but then it was followed by "Ironic," "Head Over Feet," and "Hand in My Pocket," which were much less edgy but no less empowering. Jagged Little Pill is an album of pure feminine wonder and power. Two other reasons why this album will always be absolutely special to me: 1) along with another album that will appear later in this list, it's the first one I ever bought; and 2) the first live concert that I ever watched was Alanis's Philippine stop for her tour.

7. TIDAL (FIONA APPLE)

Year of Release: 1996

Labels: Clean Slate, Work  

Key Tracks: "Criminal," "Sleep To Dream," "Shadowboxer," "Never Is a Promise," "Sullen Girl"

Stop to think about this for a moment: Fiona Apple wrote most of the songs in this astonishing album when she was 16. Lines like "You say love is a hell you cannot bear / And I say give me mine back and then go there for all I care" ("Sleep to Dream") or that whole stanza in "Sullen Girl" about her rape...all at 16. Apple would become more and more creative and intelligent in both her lyrics and melodies with every long-gestating album, culminating in the 2020 masterpiece Fetch the Bolt Cutters (which will DEFINITELY be somewhere in an updated version of this list in the future), but in many ways, there's still no topping the sheer unapologetic, raw, gutsy brilliance of Tidal.

6. LITTLE EARTHQUAKES (TORI AMOS)

Year of Release: 1992

Label: Atlantic

Key Tracks: "Silent All These Years," "Crucify," "Winter," "Me and a Gun," "Precious Things"

I love the kitschy pop of Y Kant Tori Read, Tori Amos's first failed attempt at a musical career, but boy am I (and millions of others) glad that she found her true voice and started anew with Little Earthquakes. This is easily one of the most personal, precious, and intelligent albums in this list or in any other that's wise enough to include it. A personal favorite of mine is the solemn "Winter" ("When you gonna make up your mind / When you gonna love you as much as I do"), but who hasn't fallen in love with "Silent All These Years" (which I'd die happy after learning how to play on the piano) and "Crucify?" Of course, the other defining song of this album is "Me and a Gun," which is a painfully beautiful account of Tori's rape, played to no instrument except her own forlorn voice, which has never been and probably never will be used to such a level of power.

5. DAYDREAM (MARIAH CAREY)

Year of Release: 1995

Label: Columbia

Key Tracks: "Always Be My Baby," "Fantasy," "Underneath the Stars," "One Sweet Day," "Looking In"

When I started realizing my taste in music, I made my first ever album purchases: Jagged Little Pill and Mariah Carey's Daydream, on the strength of the regular radio airing of "Fantasy" and "Always Be My Baby," which are absolute earworms and much beloved to this day. I don't think Mariah has ever been as awesome as she is in this album. The level of vocal control that she has in songs like "Looking In" and "When I Saw You" is astounding. Ultimately, it's a damn near perfect pop album, certainly one of the best of all time.

4. RAY OF LIGHT (MADONNA)

Year of Release: 1998

Labels: Maverick, Warner Bros.

Key Tracks: "Frozen," "Ray of Light," "Nothing Really Matters," "The Power of Good-Bye," "Mer Girl"

We all know how good Madonna is at transformation. Ray of Light is probably Madonna at her most transformational, most otherworldly, most introspective, and most intelligent. There's no one way to describe the sound of the album because it's aurally so diverse, with Middle Eastern influences enriching the dance, electronica, and trip hop. And permeating through it all is the spiritualism that comes from Madonna's immersion into Kabbalah, Hinduism, and Buddhism. All of these make for what I would say is one of the most excitingly creative and mesmerizing artworks in pop music. Aside from the amazing singles, watch for "Mer Girl," an absolutely haunting gem about mortality where Madonna sings: ""And I smelled her burning flesh / Her rotting bones, her decay / I ran and I ran / I'm still running away."

3. COMET'S TAIL (CYNTHIA ALEXANDER)

Year of Release: 2005

Key Tracks: "108 Eyes," "Turquoise Blue," "Alone," "Thioviolight," "Heya!"

All of her other albums already having appeared in this list, I've already said a lot about the artistry of Cynthia Alexander. I'll just rely on superlatives for this one, then. Richly textured and layered, sonically colorful and lush, this is a master at the top of her game. Each and every song is a captivating work of art. For me, it's the best album by the country's best songwriter. I've been so fortunate to have seen her and her band perform several of these songs live, and it always fills me with life. I wish the rest of the world knew how amazing she is.

2. BLUE (JONI MITCHELL)

Year of Release: 1971

Label: Reprise

Key Tracks: "A Case of You," "Blue," "California," "River," "My Old Man"

In many lists of best albums by women, this is at #1. Even in lists of best albums by anyone, you can count on this to be somewhere in the top 10 usually. For many good reasons, first and foremost among them being the woman herself, Joni Mitchell, who is peerless as a songwriter and has one of the most recognizable voices in the industry. "A Case of You" and "Blue" could easily be among the most beautiful songs ever written, which would be enough to make this album a prized possession, but then you also have "California," "River," and less celebrated gems like "My Old Man" and "Carey." If you haven't given Joni Mitchell a chance and would like to know why so many artists have been influenced and inspired by her, Blue is a perfect gateway into her craft.

1. BOYS FOR PELE (TORI AMOS)

Year of Release: 1996

Label: Atlantic

Key Tracks: "Caught a Light Sneeze," "Hey Jupiter," "Talula," "Blood Roses," "Mr. Zebra," "Professional Widow"

My first two album purchases, Jagged Little Pill and Daydream, started me off on my love for female pop-rock music, and I probably wouldn't have detoured to less conventional, less mainstream material had my brother not given me a cassette of Boys For Pele for my birthday. It was absolute love at first listen. My other interests, particularly in literature, anime, and cinema, have always leaned toward the more weird, so it shouldn't have been surprising. Tori's sound (her piano, her harpsichord (!), her wailing) and her thought-provoking lyrics assaulted and shook me, and I knew then that my concept of good music was forever changed. "Caught a Light Sneeze" and "Hey Jupiter" are probably the most accessible tracks--though the lyrics are just as mind-boggling as the rest of them--but the harpsichord-heavy "Blood Roses" and the cute (as cute as a Tori song can be) "Mr. Zebra" are other songs worth highlighting to show Tori's eccentric artistry. Then of course there's the bombastic "Professional Widow," remixes of which gave her a rare hit in the dance charts. I think it's a somewhat divisive album even among fans, especially those who prefer the gentler Tori that has emerged from a happy family life post-Choirgirl, but for me, after all these years, it's still the best album not only by Tori Amos but by any woman.

Numbers 21-40

Numbers 41-60

Numbers 61-80

Numbers 81-100

Image Sources:

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My List of the 100 Best Albums by Women (21-40)

40. BELLA DONNA (STEVIE NICKS)

Year of Release: 1981
Labels: Modern, ATCO
Key Tracks: "Edge of Seventeen," "Bella Donna," "Leather and Lace," "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around"

Even as vocalist of the iconic Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks was a true rock diva. She cements her status as one of the all-time greats with her debut album as a solo artist, Bella Donna, which is worth the purchase even just for the fabulous "Edge of Seventeen." The rest of the album shows her to be as fierce a songwriter as she is a vocalist.

39. FUAIM (CLANNAD)

Year of Release: 1982
Label: Tara Music
Key Tracks: "An Túll," "Na Buachaillí Álainn," "Bruach Na Carriage Báine"

The Irish band Clannad has 16 albums, all of which showcase their beautiful Celtic music, but Fuaim is extra special for fans of this genre because it has Enya joining her sister Moya Brennan and the band as vocalist and keyboardist before embarking on her phenomenally successful solo career. A true highlight in the album is the track "An Túll," which of course has Enya on vocals. Moya has a deeper voice and lends her own ethereal beauty to the other songs.

38. IN BLUE (THE CORRS)

Year of Release: 2000
Labels: Atlantic, 143
Key Tracks: "Breathless," "Give Me a Reason," "Irresistible," "Somebody for Someone," "All the Love in the World," "Rebel Heart"

Fans of The Corrs in Europe and Asia already knew how great they were with their earlier albums. The rest of the world caught up with the crazily infectious and uplifting "Breathless," which deservedly snagged the band a Grammy nomination. Blending traditional Irish music with modern pop has always been the greatest strength of The Corrs, and here they stray further into the pop realm with truly unforgettable modern pop gems.

37. INSOMNIA AND OTHER LULLABYES (CYNTHIA ALEXANDER)

Year of Release: 1996
Key Tracks: "Comfort in Your Strangeness," "Insomnia," "Malaya," "Hiroshima," "Hello Baby"

Comparisons were immediately drawn between Cynthia Alexander and Joni Mitchell when this, her heavenly debut album, came out in 1996, around the time when women took over music all over the world. I remember hearing "Insomnia" and "Comfort in Your Strangeness" on the radio and wondering who this new foreign artist was. With this powerful debut, which won loads of awards from the local music industry, it was clear that Alexander was a musical icon in the making: a brilliant songwriter and musician that deserves global recognition. "Comfort in Your Strangeness" might be one of the best Filipino songs ever.

36. VESPERTINE (BJÖRK)

Year of Release: 2001
Labels: One Little Indian, Elektra
Key Tracks: "Hidden Place," "It's Not Up To You," "Unison," "Pagan Poetry"

Like her or not, I think it's difficult for anyone to deny that Björk is a singular talent. No one else sounds like her, or writes songs like she does. Her later albums, including Vespertine, are masterfully crafted innovations of sound and concept. This album is sonically beautiful, a tapestry of various styles with a common underlying crystalline sound. It's fragile and haunting. "Hidden Place" is a strong opening track that anticipates the flavor of the rest of the album.

35. 21 (ADELE)

Year of Release: 2011
Labels: XL, Columbia
Key Tracks: "Rolling in the Deep," "Turning Tables," "Rumour Has It," "Set Fire to the Rain"

This multi-award-winning album, Adele's second, is easily the best in a great discography. Her powerful voice is best showcased in "Rolling in the Deep" and "Turning Tables," with "Rumour Has It" lending the album a playful break among the songs about heartbreak. It's a vocal masterclass.

34. YS (JOANNA NEWSOM)

Year of Release: 2006
Label: Drag City
Key Track: "Monkey and Bear"

When I first heard this album a few months ago, I went: "Where have you been all my life?!" Joanna Newsom's Ys is just the kind of odd, folksy, somewhat mystical album that I usually love, and her fragile voice and harp-playing take you on a journey through her stories. The album consists of only five tracks, ranging from 7 minutes to a whopping 16:53 minutes. All are precious gems, but "Monkey and Bear" is phenomenal in its imagery and musicality.

33. RIPPINGYARNS (CYNTHIA ALEXANDER)

Year of Release: 2000
Key Tracks: "Frost and Glass," "Walk Down the Road," "Knowing There is Only Now," "I Don't Mind," "The Weather Report"

As with any Cynthia Alexander album, every song is a precious work of art. Casual fans would know this one most for "The Weather Report," "Motorbykle," and "U and I," but those who've watched her live performances have a special place in their heart for "Frost and Glass" and "Walk Down the Road." Truly mesmerizing.

32. POST (BJÖRK)

Year of Release: 1995
Labels: One Little Indian, Elektra
Key Tracks: "Hyperballad," "Army of Me," "It's Oh So Quiet," "Isobel," "I Miss You"

My first ever Björk album, which I bought because of "It's Oh So Quiet" and it's kooky video! I had no idea what kind of a musical treat I was in for until I listened to the whole album. Of course, it's her elfin voice that gets you first. There's a certain rawness and roughness to this project that's virtually absent from her future works, but the righteous anger of "Army of Me," the lonely solitude of "Hyperballad," and the crazy obsession of "I Miss You" are major reasons why many consider this one of her all-time bests.

31. LADIES OF THE CANYON (JONI MITCHELL)

Year of Release: 1970
Labels: Reprise, Warner Bros.
Key Tracks: "Woodstock," "Big Yellow Taxi," "The Circle Game"

"Woodstock" is one of my all-time favorite songs, so its inclusion here is a good enough reason to include Ladies of the Canyon in my list. But then you also have the ubiquitous and oft-covered environmentally-conscious "Big Yellow Taxi" and the inspiring "The Circle Game" to make one of the legendary Joni Mitchell's most underrated albums.

30. LITTLE PLASTIC CASTLE (ANI DIFRANCO)

Year of Release: 1998
Label: Righteous Babe
Key Tracks: "Little Plastic Castle," "Fuel," "Gravel," "As Is"

My introduction to Ani DiFranco was "As Is" being played on local radio. Good as it is, it didn't really prepare me for the genius of this album, the best tracks of which are the first three. "Fuel" is a spoken word gem! DiFranco is one of the most respected independent artists in the US, and Little Plastic Castle is probably the best intro to her music.

29. TAILS (LISA LOEB AND NINE STORIES)

Year of Release: 1995
Label: Geffen
Key Tracks: "Stay (I Missed You)," "Do You Sleep?," "When All the Stars Were Falling," "Taffy"

Who doesn't remember the phenomenally successful song "Stay?" Or its simple but effective music video? Lisa Loeb's is another of those instantly recognizable voices, and she uses hers to great effect here, whether it's in straight up love songs like "When All the Stars Are Falling" and "Waiting for Wednesday" or in a barbed ode to truth manipulation in "Taffy." Come for "Stay," and stay for everything else.

28. THIS IS ACTING (SIA)

Year of Release: 2016
Labels: Monkey Puzzle, RCA
Key Tracks: "Cheap Thrills," "Alive," "Bird Set Free," "Move Your Body," "Unstoppable," "Sweet Design" 

So inspiring and liberating! "Bird Set Free," "Unstoppable," and especially "Alive" are anthems of empowerment, and the conviction behind Sia's powerful vocals sends chills down my spine. Sia is recognized in the music industry for her songwriting capabilities, which other big artists have benefited from. Her first album as a solo artist is good stuff, too, but this one, fueled by the thrilling single "Cheap Thrills," is downright excellent.

27. TRACY CHAPMAN (TRACY CHAPMAN)

Year of Release: 1988
Label: Elektra

Key Tracks: "Fast Car," "Baby Can I Hold You," "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution"

Unlike most others, who fell for Tracy Chapman with "Fast Car," my first experience of her music was with the 1995 record "Give Me One Reason." It's by backtracking through her discography, to her self-titled debut album, that I realized how she's more than just those two songs. The whole album is magnificent, certainly one of the best in the contemporary folk genre. Deservedly, it was nominated for seven Grammys and won three, and also appears in many all-time best lists.

26. AERIAL (KATE BUSH)

Year of Release: 2005
Labels: EMI, Columbia
Key Tracks: "King of the Mountain," "A Coral Room," "Sunset," "Nocturn," "Bertie," "Mrs. Bartolozzi," "π" 

Two for the price of one, from one of music's most interesting artists! This double album consists of 16 tracks, all thematically strung together by their dream-like quality and bird sounds made by Bush herself. It's mellower and maybe less exciting than many of her kookier past works, but tonally it's one of her best and it's quite personal. Listen to "A Coral Room" for six minutes of just Bush and her piano singing about her mother, or "Bertie" for a song about her son. But there's also "π" if you want to hear her singing the number pi up to the 137th decimal place. Amidst the masterful artistry that has made her a true icon, she has not lost that other thing that she is known for: her sense of humor.

Brief Note: I had the hardest time ranking the next three albums, all of which are in the Japanese pop genre. Ultimately, I had to go for how much they personally resonated with me.

25. DEEP RIVER (UTADA HIKARU)

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Toshiba-EMI
Key Tracks: "Final Distance," "Sakura Drops," "Traveling," "Deep River," "Letters" 

Deep River is easily the most polished in an exciting discography. It contains some of her best ballads, like the sober "Final Distance" and "Sakura Drops," and "Traveling" one of her most infectiously upbeat. Truly, this is Utada at the height of her songwriting and vocal prowess.

24. A SONG FOR xx (HAMASAKI AYUMI)

Year of Release: 1999
Label: Avex Trax
Key Tracks: "You," "Poker Face," "A Song for xx," "Trust," "Depend on You," "For My Dear..."

For quite a while, there were no bigger artists in Japanese pop than Utada Hikaru and Hamasaki Ayumi. Production-wise, Deep River may be the greater achievement, and Utada's voice may be more universally palatable, but there's something absolutely charming about Hamasaki's shrill, elfin voice with this heavenly dance-pop confection. It was difficult identifying just a few key tracks because practically all the songs can stand on their own as a single. This is also personally an important album for me because it's the first J-pop CD that I ever purchased.



23. HOME (ANGELA AKI)

Year of Release: 2006
Label: Sony Music Japan
Key Tracks: "Home," "This Love," "MUSIC," "Love is Over Now," "Hareruya," "Uchū"

I fell in love with Angela Aki with her song "Home" and its utter, beautiful simplicity. I think it's pretty obvious from the appearance of Tori Amos, Kate Bush, and Alicia Keys in this list that I like a woman and her piano. No one's a match for Aki in that department in Japanese pop. "Home" is actually 12th in the 13-track lineup, but don't skip to that! All of the songs that come before it, as well as the 13th, are absolutely beautiful, especially "Love is Over Now" and "MUSIC." "Uchū" is a real treat for those who want to hear Aki possessed by the spirit of Tori Amos.


22. UNDER THE PINK (TORI AMOS)

Year of Release: 1994
Label: Atlantic
Key Tracks: "Cornflake Girl," "God," "Pretty Good Year," "Past the Mission," "The Waitress"

Tori Amos's follow-up to Little Earthquakes is the excellent Under the Pink, which solidifies her status as an uncompromising artist of true intelligence and fertile femininity. One of Amos's most popular and well-loved songs, "Cornflake Girl," is here alongside the naughty "God," the beautifully subdued "Pretty Good Year," and the angsty "The Waitress," among other jewels. Compared to her other albums, this is one of her most bare and stripped down, just Amos and her piano. Which are really all you'll need.

21. I NEVER LOVED MAN THE WAY I LOVE YOU (ARETHA FRANKLIN)

Year of Release: 1967
Label: Atlantic
Key Tracks: "Respect," "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)," "Dr. Feelgood," "Good Times," "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"

Aretha Franklin ain't the Queen of Soul for nothing! Listening to this album will quickly dispel all doubt as to whether or not she deserves the title. "Respect" alone does that, actually, but the other tracks are just as convincing, including her own compositions like "Dr. Feelgood." Franklin is a vocal powerhouse here. Quite simple, she shows us that she's the best at what she does.

TOP 20

Numbers 41-60
Numbers 61-80
Numbers 81-100

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My List of the 100 Best Albums by Women (41-60)

60. KITCHIE NADAL (KITCHIE NADAL)

Year of Release: 2004
Labels: Warner, 12Stone
Key Tracks: "Same Ground," "Bulong," "Huwag na Huwag Mong Sasabihin"

In the early 2000s, when rock was taking a backseat to other genres, from gigs at the local bar Gweilos emerged the super talented Kitchie Nadal, who has a beautiful voice and commanding, intelligent lyrics, whether in Filipino or in English. She played a role in the return of rock to the local music scene, even as her songs were straying beautifully into pop-rock sensibilities that allowed them to take a foothold on popular radio. She hasn't come up with material anywhere near as strong as this, but this debut should always be a reminder of what she'll always be capable of. Let's hope she makes a strong comeback soon.

59. THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL (LAURYN HILL)

Year of Release: 1998
Labels: Ruffhouse, Columbia
Key Tracks: "Doo Wop (That Thing)," "To Zion," "Everything Is Everything," "Forgive Them Father"

Her stint with The Fugees hardly prepared us for the gem that was spitfire Lauryn Hill's debut solo album. The funky tune of "Doo Wop (That Thing)" proved to catchy to resist. When I purchased the album, I quickly realized that what I had in my possession was the work of a musical prodigy, and in a genre that I didn't usually listen to all too much. Sick beats propel the more upbeat songs. Always, the lyrics provoke thought and emotion, especially the very personal "To Zion," a song about the son the people around her discouraged her from having. We should be grateful that despite Lauryn Hill always putting her family first, she was able to give us this musical gem.

58. WHALER (SOPHIE B. HAWKINS)

Year of Release: 1994
Label: Columbia
Key Tracks: "As I Lay Me Down," "Don't Don't Tell Me No," "Only Love (The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty)," "Mr. Tugboat Hello"

Sophie B. Hawkins exploded into the music scene in 1992 with the explicit "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" off her debut album Tongues and Tails. That her second most famous single is the romantic, almost saccharine "As I Lay Me Down" was somewhat surprising but nevertheless welcome. Propelled into fame by its use in the film Now and Then and the TV series "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," it became a regular on mainstream radio, where I first heard it and fell in love with it. It remains one of my top 10 favorite pop songs to this date. The rest of the album is diverse in style and almost messy, but Hawkins is always earnest and all of the songs are quite enjoyable.

57. DUMMY (PORTISHEAD)

Year of Release: 1994
Label: Go! Beat
Key Tracks: "Glory Box," "Sour Times," "Wandering Stars," "Roads"

"Glory Box" and "Sour Times" are those songs that are ultra-popular but you won't necessarily recognize them from the titles alone. What you likely won't forget when you hear them is that they're songs by the trip-hop pioneers Portishead. Aside from their music not sounding like most popular music out there, vocalist Beth Gibbons has a ghostly quality to it that's unlike most others'. And in tracks like "Roads" and "Glory Box," she sounds so anguished that you can't help but feel your heart twinge. Trippy would be a good word, but happy certainly wouldn't be.

56. THE ARCHANDROID (JANELLE MONÁE)

Year of Release: 2010
Labels: Wondaland Arts Society, Atlantic, Bad Boy
Key Tracks: "Faster," "Come Alive (The War of the Roses)," "Cold War," "BaBopByeYa"

Few debuts are as sure and confident as Janelle Monáe's The ArchAndroid. She immediately knew what she wanted and how to say it. She'd carry the "cyborg" theme through her three albums not only with the titles and album covers but also with how much of a hybrid her sound is. There's rap, soul, R&B, rocks, dance, techno, jazz, etc. And she doesn't go wrong with any of them.

55. SCARLET'S WALK (TORI AMOS)

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Epic
Key Tracks: "A Sorta Fairytale," "Amber Waves," "Don't Make Me Come to Vegas," "Gold Dust"

Be warned: this is the first of many Tori Amos albums in this list. It's a very beautiful album, with "A Sorta Fairytale" and "Amber Waves" probably being among the most sublime songs in her discography, but I've always been partial to her more bizarre, unhinged sounds, pre-Tash (her daughter). Having a daughter did not reduce her musicality or her insane talent with the piano and deeply insightful lyrics, just her anger. My preferences aside, this might be the best album to introduce a Tori Amos virgin to, if you think album covers where she suckles a pig would shock him or her. True to the theme of the album, it's a great one to hit the road with.

54. ISANG BUHAY (ONE LIFE) (GRACE NONO)

Year of Release: 1997
Label: Tao Music
Key Tracks: "Anungan," "Ader," "Ay, Leng"

While Diwa (number 88 on this list) is technically more polished, Grace Nono's ethereal Isang Buhay is on another realm of beauty altogether. Like with Loreena McKennit, Nono's voice and the authentically indigenous lyrics and music take you on a journey, this time to the mountains, hills, grasslands, rivers of rural Philippines, where the mystical still takes hold and the culture is rich and pure. For championing this culture, Nono deserves the label of national artist. For her beautiful music, she deserves to be discovered by music fans all over the world, especially fans of McKennit, Enya, and Kitaro.

53. JOANNE (LADY GAGA)

Year of Release: 2016
Labels: Streamline, Interscope
Key Tracks: "Perfect Illusion," "Hey Girl," "Million Reasons," "A-Yo"

I love the energy and beats of Lady Gaga's earlier dance hits, but I truly learned to appreciate her voice and musicality in this album, especially in her sweet pairing with Florence Welch in "Hey Girl"--an ode to sisterly solidarity--and the pounding "A-Yo." Of course, her singles "Perfect Illusion" and "Million Reasons" also stand out. Only haters wouldn't be able to appreciate the astounding talent of Gaga, especially in this very "complete" album.

52. PEARL (JANIS JOPLIN)

Year of Release: 1971
Label: Columbia
Key Tracks: "Me and Bobby McGee," "Cry Baby," "Mercedes Benz"

It is with an unavoidable sadness that one listens to Janis Joplin's second and last album. While most would know her for her powerful cover of "Piece of my Heart," Pearl includes sublime interpretations of "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Cry Baby" as well as the enjoyable ditty "Mercedes Benz," which she wrote herself. In these and all the tracks, Joplin's raw, rugged vocals take centerstage. A phenomenal talent gone too soon.

51. LOVE. ANGEL. MUSIC. BABY. (GWEN STEFANI)

Year of Release: 2004
Label: Interscope
Key Tracks: "Hollaback Girl," "What You Waiting For?," "Harajuku Girls," "Rich Girl"

Gwen Stefani's Harajuku-inspired persona was just my gateway to her first album as a solo artist. Ultimately, it was the music that made me a big fan. What's not to love? Stefani breaks out of the confining corners of No Doubt and fully realizes herself as a music and style icon that easily crosses the boundaries of bubble gum pop, pop-rock, hip hop. Just the four tracks I've listed along are reason enough to put the album on repeat for pure fun.

50. TAMING THE TIGER (JONI MITCHELL)

Year of Release: 1998
Label: Reprise
Key Tracks: "Lead Balloon," "Love Puts On a New Face," "Man From Mars," "No Apologies"

With this album, the one and only Joni Mitchell goes full-tilt jazz. And the result is a strong, assured project that is every bit as colorful as the painting on the album cover. It's not career-defining or monumental, but it's always nice to see that a true legend like Mitchell can still turn out tonally and lyrically rich narratives like the ones that fill this album, top of which for me is the angsty, somewhat feminist "Lead Balloon." It's like you're being visited by a tough-as-nails but secretly sweet aunt who has seen much of the world and shares her stories over bourbon. With providence, Mitchell will have many more stories to tell.

49. SOMETHING TO REMEMBER (MADONNA)

Year of Release: 1995
Labels: Maverick, Warner Bros.
Key Tracks: "Love Don't Live Here Anymore," "You'll See," "One More Chance," "I'll Remember"

What a way for Madonna to remind the world of her brilliance as a musician! This "compilation" album (that nevertheless has three completely new songs, two previously unreleased tracks, and a completely reworked one) is, simply put, a gorgeous reminder that Madonna puts out some of the all-time best pop songs. Were haters capable of changing their minds and hearts, they'd be hard-pressed to deny the Queen of Pop's capabilities here. Just look at that list of key tracks, and add "Take A Bow," "Rain," "Crazy For You," "This Used To Be My Playground!" One of the best pop albums of the 90s, hands down.

48. DIVA (ANNIE LENNOX)

Year of Release: 1992
Labels: RCA, Arista
Key Tracks: "Little Bird," "Why," "Walking on Broken Glass," "Money Can't Buy It"

When I want to listen to a song to perk myself up, or get myself into the groove, I usually listen to "Little Bird." It's just that type of song. The music video, with multiple personas of the chameleon Annie Lennox, always makes me crack a smile, too. And then you listen to the whole album and you're treated with modern classics like "Why" and "Walking On Broken Glass." Even when she was still in Eurythmics, her voice was always phenomenal. She unleashes it in this debut album with gusto, giving us multiple shades of a true diva, and they're all awesome.

47. LEMONADE (BEYONCÉ)

Year of Release: 2016
Labels: Parkwood, Columbia
Key Tracks: "Sandcastles," "Pray You Catch Me," " Don't Hurt Yourself," "Hold Up"

What to say about Beyoncé, the Queen B? Without a doubt, hers is one of the most beautiful voices in pop today. She's a fantastic live performer. I've had every reason to love her, but I never really did because I was never much into the R&B that she was primarily doing with Destiny's Child and her early years as a solo artist. But then I listened to Lemonade and OH GOD THIS IS WHY SHE'S THE QUEEN B. This concept album was a sucker punch. It's trippy, it's fun, it's sacred, it's tormenting. All of a sudden, Beyoncé is a high priestess of urban pop. And her "Sandcastles"--goosebumps. Has she ever been more raw and vulnerable? 

46. ELLA IN HOLLYWOOD (ELLA FITZGERALD)

Year of Release: 1961
Label: Verve
Key Tracks: "Take the 'A' Train," "You're Driving Me Crazy," "Blue Moon," "Mr. Paganini," "Air Mail Special"

Come for the "A" Train and stay for everything else! That eight-minute track is insane because virtually the whole song is Ella Fitzgerald showcasing what she is best at: scat singing. Absolutely spectacular. There's more scat in "Air Mail Special" (five minutes of it!) and "Mr. Paganini," then pure vocal bliss in the other tracks especially the divine "You're Driving Me Crazy" and the playful "Blue Moon." Truly, this is Lady Ella at her glorious best.

45. DIRTY COMPUTER (JANELLE MONÁE)

Year of Release: 2018
Labels: Wondaland Arts Society, Bad Boy, Atlantic
Key Tracks: "Crazy, Classic, Life," "Screwed," "Dirty Computer," "Make Me Feel"

Yes, she's three of three in this list. And the middle child is the best one. All the great things that I said about her two other albums are multiplied here. As always, she does so well with collaborations. Here, "Screwed" with Zoë Kravitz and "Dirty Computer" with the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson are definite highlights. But hey, she does extremely well even on her own, thank you very much. Which is not to knock her band, of course, because one of the other fantastic things about Monáe is that she and her crew put together such a whole sound. I feel like the more I listen to this album, the more steadily it will rise up this list in future years.

44. NINE OBJECTS OF DESIRE (SUZANNE VEGA)

Year of Release: 1996
Label: A&M
Key Tracks: "No Cheap Thrill," "Caramel," "Headshots," "Thin Man," "World Before Columbus"

Who hasn't sung or hummed along to the catchy "Tom's Cabin?" The painfully real "Luka" is one of Suzanne Vega's other hits. That breathy voice! And the beats! Nine Objects of Desire, her fifth album, retains the magic of her past hits and gives us a perfect album to chill to (especially with the super smooth "Caramel") but still pay enough attention to the lyrics, which have always been a strength of her songs. Every Suzanne Vega song is a confessional. That she sings them so clearly and crisply certainly helps! Every song here is precious!

43. HEAVEN OR LAS VEGAS (COCTEAU TWINS)

Year of Release: 1990
Label: 4AD
Key Tracks: "Iceblink Luck," "Cherry-Coloured Funk," "Heaven or Las Vegas," "Pitch the Baby"

Don't even try to make sense of the lyrics! It's an exercise in futility. Just soak yourself in the haunting tones of Elizabeth Fraser's vocals and the dream-like quality of the instrumentation. It's like a trip down Lewis Carroll's rabbit hole in music form. The subgenre is called dream pop for a good reason. I immediately fell head over heels for this album at the first listen and regretted not having tried their music earlier.

42. SPICEWORLD (SPICE GIRLS)

Year of Release: 1997
Label: Virgin
Key Tracks: "Stop," "Spice Up Your Life," "Too Much," "Move Over"

This is probably where the list really goes into personal taste and where some people will start questioning that taste. Spiceworld over Lemonade? The Spice Girls over Tori Amos and Joni Mitchell? And yet to be so dismissive of the Spice Girls is to dismiss not only their iconic place in popular culture but also their exuberant excellence at giving us what we really really want (oops, that's a different album) in pop. Pop is supposed to be fun, infectious, impossible not to dance to. And that's what the Spice Girls gives us for a second time here. A second helping of "Girl Power" wrapped in glorious dance-pop was most welcome, and it's still a go-to album for me when I want to feel energized or bathe myself in the nostalgia of the 90s, the best decade for music, especially pop. And come on, can anyone really resist "Stop?"

41. EVEN SUCH IS TIME (CYNTHIA ALEXANDER)

Year of Release: 2018
Key Tracks: "St. Cecilia," "What I Left Behind," "Dressed For Nowhere," "Even Such Is Time"

Cynthia Alexander is widely recognized in the Philippines as one of its greatest musicians. Her lyrics are pure poetry, she's a highly skilled and acclaimed bassist, and she has some of the best instrumentalists in her crew. Fans like me mourned her departure from the country to take up permanent residence in the US. So it was with pure happiness that we welcomed her newest album Even Such Is Time. It's not like the albums that came before it, which hook you from the very start, but the songs here are those that linger and demand that you return to them with a more open heart and mind. And when I did, I realized that Alexander had given us another precious gift. Like the dragonfly wings on the cover, the songs are almost fragile in their beauty, particularly "St. Cecilia," the best of the seven. Breathtaking.

TOP 20

Numbers 21-40

Numbers 61-80
Numbers 81-100

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