40 Best Valentine’s Day Albums Part 1; Looking to set the mood for Valentine’s Day? Here’s the sexiest rock (and more) albums for the occasion.
Hard to believe, but Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Are you stressing over the best music to suit the occasion (or any upcoming romantic milestone)? Relax. I’m here to help.
Last year I compiled the Ultimate Alternative Valentine’s Playlist (recently updated, click here to check it out.
But if you’d rather just keep it simple, I’ve made a list of the 40 sexiest Valentine’s Day albums that keep the same mood from start to finish. Whether you want wistfully romantic, raunchy tunes or a mix between the two, these albums have you covered.
I’m covering alternative rock, soul, electronica and jazz. Music from past and present that should appease even the pickiest music fans. I’ll also list key sultry tracks under each entry.
If you’d like to own any of these on Amazon, simply click on the album art to view product details and pricing. And if you’d prefer it on iTunes, click on the album title (highlighted in blue) to go to the Apple Store.
After you finished reading, click here to read Part 2
Without further ado:
40. Rock Action – Mogwai (2001)
Sure the post-rock Scottish group’s music can be dour, but it sure sounds pretty. Rock Action features some of their loveliest tunes.
Essential tracks: Take Me Somewhere Nice, O I Sleep, Dial: Revenge
Click here for my review of new Mogwai Album Rave Tapes
39. Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks (with Daniel Lanois & Roger Eno) – Brian Eno(1983)
[amazon_image id=”B0007GFFUW” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Apollo: Atmosphere & Soundtracks[/amazon_image]
Ambient music pioneer Brian Eno’s soundtrack for a PBS documentary also doubles as contemplative, nocturnal chill-out music; perfect romantic ambience.
Essential tracks: An Ending (Ascent), Under Stars, Signals, Deep Blue Day
Click here for my review of Brian Eno’s 2012 Album Lux
38. She Wants Revenge – She Wants Revenge (2005)
Sure these guys were a hybrid knock-off of Depeche Mode and Joy Division, but with songs this sultry (and playful, kinky lyrics), who cares?
Essential Tracks: Red Flags And Long Nights, These Things, Monologue, Out of Control, Us
37. Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By (Instrumental) – Lovage & Nathaniel Merriweather(2001)
[amazon_image id=”B004OFWLMW” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Lovage: Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By[/amazon_image]
Mike Patton, Kid Koala, Jennifer Charles and Dan The Automator do a silly, in-joke version of Trip-Hop, but it still makes for great bedroom music (and a quirky Berlin cover).
Essential Tracks: To Catch A Thief, Anger Management, Book of The Month, Sex (I’m A)
36. Selected Ambient Works, Vol. II – Aphex Twin(1994)
[amazon_image id=”B000002MNZ” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Selected Ambient Works Volume 2[/amazon_image]
Richard James ambient masterpiece sounds like music beamed from outer space, with alien sounds coming from his customized electronic instrumentation. There’s some moments of true, undulating beauty that are perfect for a romantic night.
Essential Tracks: Rhubarb, Blue Calx, Z Twig, Lichen
35. Saturdays = Youth – M83(2008)
[amazon_image id=”B00151HZME” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Saturdays=Youth[/amazon_image]
The French group always excel at 80’s tinged cinematic melodrama, and this album is no exception:
Essential Tracks: You, Appearing, Kim & Jessie, Skin Of The Night, We Own The Sky
34. Cascade – Peter Murphy (1994)
[amazon_image id=”B0000018BB” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Cascade[/amazon_image]
The former Bauhaus vocalist crafted his most romantic tunes to date in this electronic tinged release:
Essential Tracks: Subway, Fall With Your Knife, Gliding Like A Whale, Humvola, Cascade
33. The Night-Morphine (2000)
[amazon_image id=”B000046PUL” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The Night[/amazon_image]
Jazz-rockers Morphine’s final album (following the death of frontman/bassist Mark Sandman) is epic lounge-noir romance:
Essential tracks: The Night, Top Floor Bottom Buzzer, Rope On Fire, Take Me With You
32. Blade Runner (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) – Vangelis (1982)
[amazon_image id=”B00FY3ZWPG” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Blade Runner – O.S.T. Soundtrack Edition (1994) Audio CD[/amazon_image]
The Greek synthesizer pioneer’s score has one foot in the dystopian future, and the other in classic film noir, perfectly fitting director Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic. It makes great bedroom music too.
Essential Tracks: Love Theme, Blade Runner Blues, Memories Of Green.
31. Seal (1994) – Seal
[amazon_image id=”B000002MMQ” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Seal[/amazon_image]
Seal’s sophomore album has super smooth soulful romantic ambience.
Essential Tracks: Kiss From A Rose, Dreaming In Metaphors, Don’t Cry, If I Could
30. Gold Afternoon Fix-The Church (1990)
[amazon_image id=”B00000DOR4″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Gold Afternoon Fix[/amazon_image]
Of all the albums by the Aussie jangle rockers, this one is most clearly demarcated as bedroom music; wistful and charming, with Steve Kilbey’s ever-clever wordplay perfectly meshing with the guitar window-dressed soundscapes.
Essential Tracks: Metropolis, Monday Morning, You’re Still Beautiful, Disappointment, Laughing
Click here for my interview with The Church’s Steve Kilbey
29. Laid – James (1993)
An album that explores sexuality in all its silly and serious moments.
Essential Tracks: Laid, Out To Get You, Dream Thrum, Say Something, Skindiving
28. Booth and the Bad Angel – Angelo Badalamenti & Tim Booth (1996)
[amazon_image id=”B000001EDD” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Booth and the Bad Angel[/amazon_image]
James frontman Tim Booth made this excellent album with film composer Angela Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet), which ruminates on all ways of love and lust.
Essential Tracks: Dance of The Bad Angels, Fall In Love With Me, Stranger, Hands In The Rain
Click here for my Ultimate Rock Wedding Playlist, including Fall In Love With Me and much more!
27. Supernature – Goldfrapp (2005)
British synth-duo form a perfect fusion of romantic longing and erotic swagger.
Essential Tracks: No. 1, La La, Let It Take You, Time Out For The World
Click here for my review of recent Goldfrapp album Tales of Us
26. Pink Moon (Remastered) – Nick Drake (1972)
Pastoral romantic sleepy-eyed bliss.
Essential Tracks: Pink Moon, Place To Be, Things Behind The Sun, From The Morning
25. A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular-Hooverphonic (1997)
[amazon_image id=”B000002BVY” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Hooverphonic: A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular[/amazon_image]
Belgian trip-hoppers conjure the best in late 90’s/60’s Spy soundtrack sex appeal.
Essential Tracks: Inhaler, 2 Wicky, Plus Profound, Cinderella
24. Heart Shaped World – Chris Isaak (1989)
Isaak’s neo-50’s troubadour vibe equals timeless torch anthems.
Essential Tracks: Wicked Game, Blue Spanish Sky, Wrong To Love You, Don’t Make Me Dream About You
23. Heaven Or Las Vegas – Cocteau Twins (1990)
Perhaps the dream-pop progenitors finest album, it’s the first to feature more intelligible lyrics by chanteuse Liz Fraser, much of which dotes on romantic bliss and her newborn daughter. It’s the musical equivalent of a sunbeam, perfect for lounging in the afterglow.
Essential Tracks: I Wear Your Ring, Heaven Or Las Vegas, Wolf In The Breast, Cherry Coloured Funk
22. The End Of Everything-Voodoo Child (aka Moby) (1996)
Why did Moby put out this album under a pseudonym, thereby relegating it to obscurity? Beats me. In many ways it’s his best album, and perhaps the most emotionally charged ambient music every created. Every pulsating blip and oceanic synth is perfectly suited for romantic evenings.
Click here to see where Moby’ Animal Rights ranks on my list of Most Underrated Alternative Albums
21.Maxinquaye – Tricky (1995)
A moody, masterful mix of Trip-hop, sampling, soul and hip-hop. It hits just the right erotic notes of tension and release. The combo of Tricky’s mumbled rapping and Martina Topley-Bird’s ethereal wail is the equivalent of aural sex.
Essential Tracks: Overcome, Pumpkin, Hell Is Around The Corner, Aftermath, Suffocated Love
Click here to see where Maxinquaye ranks on my list of Darkest Albums
