1. "Les Miserables"

I love a good tear-jerker. Being an opera, every single second of this story is filled with music. Every single song is filled with passion. The actors each deliver a fantastic, emotionally evocative performance. My personal favorite is the "10th Anniversary Album," but every performance is good. Anyway, it's a great musical about a fascinating time in European history. Be sure to bring tissues!

2. "Wicked"

Not being one to enjoy anything considered "mainstream," I was initially wary to listen to this soundtrack. But I was proven to be so wrong. The songs range from silly to fun, to heartbreaking, to twisted, to epic. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth are legends for a reason. The story is a truly powerful one. Her relationship with Glinda is the center of the entire show. Listening to these two characters develop from loathing each other to becoming best friends is the best part of the whole thing.

3. "Rent"

I love this soundtrack so much. To this day, the meaning of the show still rings true. The struggle to survive, to find meaning, to make a difference, to living a full life ... it's something we all can relate to. The characters are diverse and interesting. The story is a rock opera, so it is all done through song. The story doesn't shy away from the negatives of the life of a bohemian, but it also sheds a light on the positives. The message of this musical is still strong: "There's only us. There's only this. Forget regret. Or life is yours to miss. No other road. No other way. No day but today."

4. "Hamilton"

This one is very recent. But there is no doubt in my mind that this is a story that will not soon be forgotten. The music is unbelievable. There are layers upon layers of meaning behind every single song. Half the songs are so fast and so jam-packed with lyrics that it's pure poetry. It's a great history lesson on the American Revolution. The characters are complex and there is no real villain. In fact, my favorite character is Aaron Burr! It's impossible to avoid hearing about this musical, and the attention it is receiving is definitely deserved.

5. "The Phantom of the Opera"

The first time I saw the film, I spent the next week watching it on repeat. This musical is admittedly a bit much. It's over-the-top, melodramatic, and a little silly. I love it anyway. The music is gorgeous, the singing is phenomenal, and the plot is epic. It is large, grand, and gigantic. There's love triangles, kidnapping, death, betrayal, jealousy, and passion. The main character is one of the most complex anti-villains I have ever seen. The story is haunting and sad. There's a reason it stayed on Broadway for so long!

6. "West Side Story"

Personally, I am not a huge fan of this show. But that doesn't mean that this show isn't one of the greatest shows ever performed on Broadway. The music is fantastic, magical, and timeless. The choreography is great. The acting is flawless. While the message is still powerful. The ending gets me every time. This is one of those soundtracks that I can listen to and forget everything else. It's a classic for a reason. There's not much I can say about this one, except that I would highly recommend it!

7. "The Lion King" / "Beauty and the Beast"

I am a gigantic Disney nerd, so it should come as no surprise that I love both these Disney classics. "The Lion King" musical I'm not as familiar with. The costumes are great, the singing is powerful, and the story is a classic. "Beauty and the Beast" was the first musical soundtrack I ever bought and I listened to it all the time. The Broadway musical is just as great as the movie, but with even more bonus material. If you're a fan of either of these movies, I would highly recommend checking out the Broadway versions!

8. "Spring Awakening"

I cannot praise this show enough. I found the soundtrack in the eighth grade and it completely changed my life. The songs are mature, dark, and honest. Child abuse, abortions, suicide, masturbation, homosexuality, sex, sexual abuse ... the show covers it all. It takes these topics that are often tiptoed around and handles them with brutal honesty. This soundtrack let me know that I was not alone. That my feelings were not abnormal or crazy. The singing is great, the material is raw, and the music is hauntingly beautiful.

9. "Next to Normal"

Maybe I'm biased on this one. As a Psychology major, "Next to Normal" is an easy choice for a fantastic musical. Dealing with topics from depression to bipolar disorder to addiction ... this show takes an honest look at mental illness and how it can affect a family. Despite the fact that the plot and songs are mostly depressing, the show does have a surprising sense of humor. All the acting is great and each character brings something interesting to the table. It's a great look on how useful treatment actually is, and how it can affect people personally.

10. "Little Shop of Horrors"

I had to finish this list off with my all-time favorite musical. The music is fun, upbeat, and silly. The show is about an alien plant. It's an absurd, goofy, and zany show. Then the show gets a bit darker. It's almost a horror story. The ending just leaves you unsettled and the message is incredibly cynical. I love dark comedies and that is entirely due to this show. All the different parts of this show really shouldn't work well together, but they fit perfectly. It's laugh out loud funny and downright terrifying. If I could choose only one album on this entire list, this one would be it