Agreed on Les Miserables, but I perfer the 10th Anniversary Concert soundtrack. No one can beat Lea Salonga as Eponine, and Wilkinson only gets better with age.
If you recognize half of these, you get a cookie
Hard Earned Smile by David LaMotte
A folk singer/songwriter. I grew up listening to his music and loved it as a kid, but the real message in this album never hit me until a couple years ago, during my teenage angst stage. I listen to it for a quick pick-me-up when I'm down. At the end of this year, after 18 years touring, he's retiring to do peace work full time. My hero!
The Planets Suite - Gustav Holst
The first classical music I ever fell in love with. Kinda opened my eyes to the fact that there was a lot of great music beyond punk rock.
Tobasco Donkeys
An amateur bluegrass band formed from Philmont staffers at the Boy Scout reservation in New Mexico. The recording quality is crappy and there are several noticable mistakes, but they make the album much more personal. Besides being awesome bluegrass, its noteable for "I Don't Mind," a song that talks about the stress and worry-free wilderness and the meaningless of material goods.
Ecliptica by Sonata Arctica
My introduction to Power Metal, just a few months ago. Metal's still hit-or-miss for me, but this album is almost all hit. Great lyrics, excellent musicality.