The 22 Best Drone Albums of All Time

Long tones, slow loops and walls of sustained guitar: from La Monte Young and Éliane Radigue to Earth, Sunn O))) and Kali Malone, these are the records that define drone, from its 1960s roots to today. Pick the one you would leave running.

1. 1
   Monoliths & Dimensions

   Sunn O)))'s 2009 Southern Lord album, which adds brass, strings and a choir to the band's guitar drones.
   1000pts
2. 2
   The Sacrificial Code

   Kali Malone's 2019 album of pipe organ compositions, released on iDEAL Recordings.
   862pts
3. 3
   Earth 2

   Earth's 1993 Sub Pop album, three long tracks of slow, distorted guitar subtitled "Special Low Frequency Version".
   862pts
4. 4
   The Disintegration Loops

   William Basinski's 2002-2003 series of decaying tape loops, released in four volumes on his 2062 label.
   689pts
5. 5
   Depths

   Windy & Carl's 1998 Kranky album, long guitar-and-bass pieces from the Michigan duo.
   611pts
6. 6
   And Their Refinement of the Decline

   Stars of the Lid's 2007 Kranky album, the duo's last studio album to date.
   611pts
7. 7
   October Language

   The 2006 debut album by New Orleans duo Belong, released on Carpark Records.
   611pts
8. 8
   Absolutego

   Boris's 1996 debut album, a single hour-long track released on Fangs Anal Satan.
   517pts
9. 9
   Trilogie de la Mort

   Éliane Radigue's three-part ARP synthesizer work, released as a 3-CD set by XI in 1998.
   517pts
10. 10
    The Black Record

    La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela's 1969 LP on Edition X, known for its black sleeve.
    402pts
11. 11
    Deep Listening

    A 1989 New Albion album recorded in an underground cistern at Fort Worden, Washington.
    402pts
12. 12
    Outside the Dream Syndicate

    Tony Conrad's 1973 album with the German band Faust, released on Caroline Records.
    402pts
13. 13
    Ravedeath, 1972

    Tim Hecker's 2011 Kranky album, recorded largely on a church pipe organ in Reykjavík.
    402pts
14. 14
    Black One

    Sunn O)))'s 2005 Southern Lord album, with guests including Wrest of Leviathan and Malefic of Xasthur.
    402pts
15. 15
    Time Machines

    A 1998 album by Coil members released under the name Time Machines, four tracks named after psychoactive substances.
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16. 16
    Imperial Distortion

    Kevin Drumm's 2008 double CD on Hospital Productions, a set of long, quiet drone pieces.
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17. 17
    Gave in Rest

    Sarah Davachi's 2018 album on Ba Da Bing!, with organ, strings and voice held in long tones.
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18. 18
    (No Pussyfooting)

    Robert Fripp and Brian Eno's 1973 album, made with two reel-to-reel tape recorders in a loop.
    0pts
19. 19
    A Young Person's Guide to Kyle Bobby Dunn

    Kyle Bobby Dunn's 2010 double album on Low Point, collecting slow pieces made with guitar and strings.
    0pts
20. 20
    The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid

    Stars of the Lid's 2001 double album on Kranky, built from processed guitar, strings and brass.
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21. 21
    For Organ and Brass

    Ellen Arkbro's 2017 debut album on Subtext, pieces for pipe organ and brass in just intonation.
    0pts
22. 22
    Grapes from the Estate

    Oren Ambarchi's 2004 album on the British label Touch, built around his processed guitar.
    0pts

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