Psychedelic Masterpieces: Must-Listen Recommended Albums [2025]

If Not Now, Then When?King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – If Not Now, Then When? (Official Video)

L.

W.

, the 2021 album by Australian experimental collective King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard.

Serving as a companion piece to the previous release K.

G.

, it’s a deep dive into the microtonal music that has become their calling card.

Fans were floored by their astonishing creative speed and ideas, asking, “How is this level of quality possible when produced remotely during the pandemic?” Its psychedelic sonic world—where funk, metal, and folk swirl like a kaleidoscope—offers a thoroughly unpredictable musical experience.

Many listeners also felt their ethos in the story of a track winning an environmental music award and the band donating the prize money.

Surrender to this genre-defying sonic adventure, and you’ll be pulled into a world like no other.

Colours To LifeTemples

Temples – Colours To Life

This is the debut album by the UK band Temples—a landmark record that was also named Rough Trade Shops’ Album of the Year.

Their sound, which lovingly and meticulously recreates ’60s psychedelia, drew major attention when Noel Gallagher praised them as “the best new band in Britain.” It’s hard to believe it was crafted in a home studio—the music unfolds like a kaleidoscope of shimmering textures.

Many listeners may recognize some of the tracks, as they were featured in films and popular video games.

Blending the golden-era psychedelic vibe with a modern sensibility, this addictive masterpiece is truly a tour de force of taste.

Voodoo ChileThe Jimi Hendrix Experience

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Live In Maui, 1970)

This is the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s third album, a double LP released in 1968 that became the band’s first U.

S.

number one.

Produced by Jimi Hendrix himself, his perfectionism reportedly led to more than 50 takes for the single track “Gypsy Eyes,” even resulting in a change of producer.

The sound born from that obsession is truly the culmination of sonic experimentation! Its kaleidoscopic world—where psychedelia, blues, and funk swirl together—exerted an immeasurable influence on the music scene that followed.

Surrender yourself to this epic sonic journey, and you can relive the feverish moment when rock history shifted.

Feels Like We Only Go BackwardsTame Impala

Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards (Official Video)

A masterpiece that truly defined the 2010s, its solitary sound captivated the world! Hailing from Australia, Tame Impala is essentially the solo project of Kevin Parker.

Their second album, Lonerism, released in 2012, is a sonic kaleidoscope crafted entirely by Parker himself.

While it pays homage to the psychedelic rock of the ’60s and ’70s, its bold use of modern effects and synthesizers was remarkably innovative at the time of release.

That originality earned widespread acclaim worldwide, achieving feats such as a Grammy nomination and NME’s Album of the Year.

If you’re looking for a wholly new musical experience that still carries the scent of classic psychedelia, this might be perfect for you.

House Of Four DoorsThe Moody Blues

Moody Blues In Search Of The Lost Chord 03 House Of Four Doors

Doors are inseparable from psychedelia, aren’t they? It seems a “door” is essential to express a new era, another dimension, or a new world.

From an album with such an eerie jacket that I couldn’t resist buying it.

The development shifts as if leaping from door to door.

Time Of The SeasonThe Zombies

The Zombies – Time Of The Season (Lyric Video)

This is the second album by the British psychedelic band The Zombies, a 1968 release that includes the big hit ‘Time of the Season.

‘ Unfortunately, they disbanded just as they completed this album, but in 2004 they released new material and resumed their activities.

My GirlsAnimal Collective

Animal Collective – My Girls (Official Video)

It’s a work by the American experimental pop band Animal Collective, released in 2009, and arguably the pinnacle of their career.

Boldly dispensing with guitars, its sampler- and synth-built sound is like an electronic kaleidoscope.

In a reverb-drenched sonic space, gorgeous Beach Boys–like harmonies layer upon each other, drawing listeners into a dreamlike world.

It received overwhelmingly positive reviews, including perfect scores from critics, and was named Album of the Year by numerous music outlets.

A truly historic masterpiece that had an immense impact on the subsequent indie music scene.