Albums that have atmosphere.

[D.o.S.]

By the same token, I don't think Reasonable Doubt or The Blueprint have "it."

[GardenoftheDead]

Now that I have a feel for what you mean, I'd give this song a nod. Been too long since I've listened to the album to judge it as a whole though.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xiWjpjRl1Q[/youtube]

[D.o.S.]

Oooh, Johnny Thunders! Only album of his I know is So Alone, which is great.

[GardenoftheDead]

This is the song he kinda stole from Dee Dee Ramone and Richard Hell but the Ramones didn't do it as well.

[Josh Pelican]

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM.

[Ghost Hip]

Mellon Collie/Aeroplane Flies High - da pumpkins
Get Behind Me Satan - white stripes..... De Stijl too fuck it.
Gorillaz
Mezcal Head - Swervedriver
Not an album, but the versions of Pancake by Swirlies. Especially House of Pancake.
In Utero
Discovery by Daft Punk
EIFFEL 65 EUROPOP.
Daniel Johnston stuff.
lust lust lust - raveonettes
Kid A

[D.o.S.]

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM.

Two Hunters, fo' sho'.

Mezcal Head sort of--Last Train to Satansville totally does.

Kid A--I'd say Optimistic has it. Sounds like you're looking into a voodoo swamp.

Speaking of Voodoo Swamp, Gris Gris totally has 'it," especially Walk on Guilded Splinters.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWvdO3l4_P8[/youtube]

If the albums that get mentioned stick with this quality and caliber, I might just go back and rename this thread 1001 albums you must listen to before I move in to your house.

[Joe Gress]

Castevet - The Echo and The Light
Boris - Flood
Nickle Creek -self titiled

[Ghost Hip]

Mezcal Head sort of--Last Train to Satansville totally does.

That is exactly the song I was thinking of, that and Duress.

[GardenoftheDead]

Low by David Bowie
Roka Hasa Radio by Thy Catafalque
666 International by Dødheimsgard
Aerial by 2562
My Demons by Distance

[D.o.S.]

Mezcal Head sort of--Last Train to Satansville totally does.

That is exactly the song I was thinking of, that and Duress.

YUUUSSSSS! Forgot about that one!

[rustywire]

By the way, these lists have a bunch of my favorite records on them. This is a good thing.

That said, out of the albums I'm familiar with, I think Liquid Swords and Endtroducing (which I feel really dumb for ignoring) are really the only one that jumps out as a "that's it!" moment.

EDIT: To clarify, here are the albums I really dig that don't have "it". At least, to my ears.

Meddle [Pink Floyd]
In Utero [Nirvana]
The Campfire Headphase [BoC]
Loveless [MBV]
MTV Unplugged in NY [Nirvana]
Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
Flaming lips- transmissions from the satellite heart
Fun House by The Stooges
Blank Generation by Richard Hell (which should actually be attributed to Richard Hell and The Voidoids )
Daydream Nation [Sonic Youth]
Abbey Road [The Beatles]
Good news for people who love bad news [Modest Mouse]

Although I think Lonesome Crowded West does have it.

Also, been thinking more about "atmosphere," and I'm beginning to think that I'm really looking for albums that sound like soundtracks to films. As it, the entire audio portion of a film. Think radio show. Like watching a movie with the screen off. Dig?

I could have easily said Lonesome Crowded West

But you're kinda moving the goalposts
Maybe you're talking about concept albums? or as you put it...something that could be a sound score; theater for the mind.

A Prince Among Thieves [Prince Paul]
Madvillainy [MF DOOM & Madlib]
You'reLivingAllOverMe [Dinosaur Jr.]
Deadringer [RJD2]
Odelay [Beck]
Setting Sons [The Jam]
Leaves Turn Inside You [Unwound]

Tical, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Ironman

And the new Ghostface has it

And yes, Duress. Always Duress.

[D.o.S.]

You say moving the goalposts, I say refining the shots that count.

I don't think it has to be a concept, per say, which is where it gets tricky. Like, YLAOM is my favorite Dinosaur album, but I wouldn't say it falls under what I'm going for.

Odelay and Deadringer probably fit, but I haven't listened to them in years. Ghostwriter does. I think.
New Ghostface has it in spades. The "classic" RZA beats all have it, for the most part.

[fungalattack]

earth - hex: or printing in the infernal method.

[zRobertez]

Oh In Utero for sure!!
Then
The Information - Beck
Shields - Grizzly Bear
The Will to Deat - John Frusciante (this one most of all)
Building Nothing Out of Something - Modest Mouse
Blue Laws - TW Walsh
Pollensongs - TW Walsh
Sharpen Your Teeth - Ugly Cassanova

Reading through all these, I think we have a different definition of atmosphere. I took it like an album that has it's own personality that is easily discernible from anything else. Not necessarily unique, it's just got it's own thing goin on