Suggest one obsure album we all should hear

@dayglow I agree.
Someone mentioned The Nightly, which went platinum in the US & UK.

@buckhorn_cortez.

"Ry Cooder - Bop Till You Drop (the first digitally recorded album which came out on CD and not on vinyl)"

Half right...it was the first digitally recorded album. However it was released on vinyl on 1979 (When I bought it), a year before the CD version was released. Per Discogs.

Haven't seen any shoegaze yet. 

Boards of Canada  "The Campfire Headphase"  (vinyl preferable to CD)

My Bloody Valentine  "m b v"  (12" came with the CD)

Flying Saucer Attack "Distance" (2017 remastered vinyl is superb)

And something not related,

Beth Gibbons and Rustin Man  "out of season"   (definitely not Portishead)

+1 on Spirit's Dr. Sardonicus. Early concept type of album, with very catchy tunes.

Try Jane Siberry   'No borders here'  Quirky, layered, kind of brilliant writing, once you've gotten used to her style.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1T4NxHk1L4

Some danger of repeating a name when the thread is 8 pp. long, but I did not see this so far.

Lee Moses, Time and Place.