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Spin's 300 Best Albums of the Past 30 Years (1985-2014)
300 - 241 / 240 - 181 / 180 - 121 / 120 - 61 / 60 - 1

Spin.com posted a huge list of the 300 best albums of the past 30 years. It's a really solid list with a lot of great albums, although numbering in lists this huge always creates drama. I'd like to think of this list as 300 fucking amazing albums y'all should check out and listen to if you're in the mood for good music in your genre of choice, don't focus too much on the numbering aspect. Nevermind is a great album, but I'm sure we're all tired of seeing it at #1 on these lists time and time again.

Since Spin's website and the list is a pain to load, I'll just post the list. But the website does have links to each album via Spotify, which is great if you have a lot of time on your hands and don't mind slowly browsing through 300 albums. Happy to see some of my faves like Tori Amos, Bjork, Nine Inch Nails, Aphex Twin and M.I.A. make solid contributions to the list.

SPIN hit a milestone this year: Our 30th birthday. To celebrate, we caught up with some of the artists behind our past picks for Album of the Year, held a readers’ poll, reminisced with former staffers, and now, we’ve ranked the 300 best albums of the past 30 years.

Drawing on ballots from more than a dozen contributors, the editors whittled a roster of just under 1,000 nominees to a list of undisputed masterpieces, longtime pleasures, and new favorites — all of them classics (well, according to us).

Before we get started, some ground rules: To prevent certain artists from having a stranglehold on the countdown (Radiohead and Kanye West come to mind immediately), we decided that no single act could have more than three entries on the list; studio albums were eligible, of course, as were EPs and live albums; compilations qualified only if the songs featured were most closely associated with said collection.

300. Green Day, American Idiot (Reprise, 2004)

299. Parquet Courts, Sunbathing Animal (What’s Your Rupture?, 2014)

298. Ice Cube, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted (Priority, 1990)

297. Gorillaz, Demon Days (Virgin, 2005)

296. Various Artists, Total 4 (Kompakt, 2002)

295. Old 97’s, Too Far to Care (Elektra, 1997)

294. Sigur Rós, Ágætis Byrjun (Play It Again Sam, 1999)

293. Garbage, Version 2.0 (EastWest/Warner Bros., 1998)

292. Usher, Looking 4 Myself (RCA, 2012)

291. The Hold Steady, Separation Sunday (Frenchkiss, 2005)

290. Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes (Atlantic, 1992)

289. The Unicorns, Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone? (Alien8, 2003)

288. Tyler, the Creator, Goblin (Odd Future, 2011)

287. TV on the Radio, Dear Science (Interscope, 2008)

286. Sugar, Copper Blue (Rykodisc, 1992)

285. The Books, Thought for Food (Tomlab, 2002)

284. The Killers, Hot Fuss (Island/Universal, 2004)

283. Superchunk, I Hate Music (Merge, 2013)

282. Digable Planets, Blowout Comb (Pendulum, 1994)

281. The Go-Betweens, Tallulah (Beggars Banquet, 1987)

280. Sleater-Kinney, The Hot Rock (Kill Rock Stars, 1999)

279. Aerosmith, Pump (Geffen, 1989)

278. Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head (Capitol/EMI, 2002)

277. Ride, Nowhere (Sire, 1990)

276. Frankie Knuckles, Beyond the Mix (Virgin, 1991)

275. Tegan and Sara, Heartthrob (Vapor/Warner Bros. 2013)

274. Ice-T, O.G. Original Gangster (Sire, 1991)

273. Slint, Spiderland (Touch & Go, 1991)

272. The Mekons, The Mekons Rock ‘n’ Roll (Collectors’ Choice, 1989)

271. Sublime, Sublime (Gasoline Alley/MCA, 1996)

270. George Michael, Faith (BMG/Columbia/Sony Music Entertainment, 1987)

269. The Pogues, Rum, Sodomy & the Lash (1985)

268. Maxwell, Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite (Sony Music Distribution, 1996)

267. The Deftones, White Pony (Maverick, 2000)

266. Stereolab, Emperor Tomato Ketchup (Elektra, 1996)

265. Swervedriver, Mezcal Head (A&M, 1993)

264. The Microphones, The Glow, Pt. 2 (K, 2001)

263. Neko Case, Blacklisted (Bloodshot, 2002)

262. Sebadoh, Bakesale (Sub Pop, 1994)

261. Sun Kil Moon, Benji (Caldo Verde, 2014)

260. My Chemical Romance, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (Reprise, 2004)

259. Bruce Springsteen, Tunnel of Love (Columbia, 1987)

258. Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar, 2008)

257. The Chills, Submarine Bells (Slash, 1990)

256. Cannibal Ox, The Cold Vein (Def Jux, 2001)

255. The Field, From Here We Go Sublime (Kompakt, 2007)

254. Beastie Boys, Ill Communication (Capitol/Grand Royal, 1994)

253. Caribou, Swim (Merge, 2010)

252. Wussy, Funeral Dress (Shake It, 2005)

251. M83, Saturdays = Youth (Mute, 2008)

250. Basement Jaxx, Rooty (Astralwerks, 2001)

249. L7, Bricks Are Heavy (Slash, 1992)

248. Cursive, The Ugly Organ (Saddle Creek, 2003)

247. Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca (Domino, 2009)

246. 2Pac, All Eyez On Me (Koch, 1996)

245. Air, Moon Safari (Astralwerks, 1998)

244. Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest (Warp, 2009)

243. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter II (Universal/Cash Money, 2005)

242. Queens of the Stone Age, Rated R (Interscope, 2000)

241. The Weeknd, House of Balloons (Universal Republic, 2011)

240. Animal Collective, Sung Tongs (FatCat, 2004)

239. Rilo Kiley, The Execution of All Things (Saddle Creek, 2002)

238. Various Artists, The Indestructible Beat of Soweto (Earthworks, 1985)

237. Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven (Constellation/Kranky, 2000)

236. Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights (Matador, 2002)

235. Oneohtrix Point Never, Replica (Mexican Summer, 2011)

234. Janet Jackson, Control (A&M, 1986)

233. Bright Eyes, Lifted or the Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (Saddle Creek, 2002)

232. The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream (Secretly Canadian, 2014)

231. M.I.A., Arular (XL, 2005)

230. The Shins, Chutes Too Narrow (Sub Pop, 2003)

229. DJ Rashad, Double Cup (Hyperdub, 2013)

228. Paramore, Paramore (Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic, 2013)

227. R.E.M., Document (I.R.S., 1987)

226. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday (Cash Money, 2010)

225. Portishead, Third (Island, 2008)

224. Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Glassnote, 2009)

223. The Roots, Rising Down (Def Jam, 2008)

222. Bikini Kill, Pussy Whipped (Kill Rock Stars, 1994)

221. Snoop Doggy Dogg, Doggystle (Death Row, 1993)

220. Brad Paisley, American Saturday Night (Sony Music Distribution/Arista, 2009)

219. System of a Down, Toxicity (American/Sony Music Distribution, 2001)

218. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Before Today (4AD, 2010)

217. Orbital, In Sides (FFRR, 1996)

216. Destroyer, Kaputt (Merge, 2011)

215. Spiritualized, Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (Dedicated/RMG, 1997)

214. Chance the Rapper, Acid Rap (Self-Released, 2013)

213. New Order, Brotherhood (Qwest, 1986)

212. Beach House, Teen Dream (Sub Pop, 2010)

211. Aaliyah, One in a Million (Blackground, 1996)

210. The Mountain Goats, Tallahassee (4AD, 2002)

209. Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel… (Clean Slate/Epic, 2012)

208. Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2 (Mass Appeal, 2014)

207. Deerhunter, Halcyon Digest (4AD, 2010)

206. Sonic Youth, Sister (SST, 1987)

205. Mobb Deep, The Infamous (Loud, 1995)

204. Aphex Twin, Selected Ambient Works 85-92 (R&S, 1992)

203. D’Angelo, Brown Sugar (Virgin, 1995)

202. Sleigh Bells, Treats (Mom + Pop, 2010)

201. Rage Against the Machine, The Battle of Los Angeles (Epic, 1999)

200. Moby, Everything Is Wrong (Elektra, 1995)

199. Soundgarden, Superunkown (A&M, 1994)

198. Sufjan Stevens, Illinois (Asthmatic Kitty, 2005)

197. Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster (Cherrytree/Interscope, 2009)

196. Various Artists, C86 (Rough Trade/NME, 1986)

195. Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (New West, 2008)

194. The Pharcyde, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde (Delicious Vinyl, 1992)

193. Wilco, Summerteeth (Warner Bros., 1999)

192. Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Columbia/Ruffhouse, 1998)

191. Galaxie 500, On Fire (Rough Trade, 1989)

190. Boredoms, Super æ (Birdman, 1998)

189. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fever to Tell (Interscope, 2003)

188. Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate Machine (TVT, 1989)

187. Teenage Fanclub, Bandwagonesque (Creation, 1991)

186. The Avalanches, Since I Left You (Sire, 2000)

185. Jay Z, The Black Album (Roc-A-Fella, 2003)

184. LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happening (DFA/Virgin, 2010)

183. Jimmy Eat World, Bleed American (Dreamworks, 2001)

182. The Smiths, Strangeways, Here We Come (Sire, 1987)

181. Jeff Buckley, Grace (Columbia, 1994)

180. Four Tet, Rounds (Domino, 2003)

179. No Age, Everything in Between (Sub Pop, 2010)

178. Black Star, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (Rawkus, 1998)

177. At the Drive-In, Relationship of Command (Grand Royal/Virgin, 2000)

176. Primal Scream, Screamadelica (Sire, 1991)

175. Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientele (Epic, 2000)

174. Mastodon, Blood Mountain (Reprise, 2006)

173. Disclosure, Settle (Cherrytree/Interscope, 2013)

172. tUnE-yArDs, w h o k i l l (4AD, 2011)

171. Blur, Parklife (Food, 1994)

170. Lil Wayne, Da Drought 3 (Young Money, 2007)

169. The Smashing Pumpkins, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (Virgin, 1995)

168. Eminem, The Slim Shady LP (Interscope, 1999)

167. The Wrens, The Meadowlands (Absolutely Kosher, 2003)

166. Run-DMC, Raising Hell (Profile, 1986)

165. Le Tigre, Le Tigre (Mr. Lady, 1999)

164. Janet Jackson, janet. (Virgin, 1993)

163. Spoon, Kill the Moonlight (Merge, 2002)

162. Modest Mouse, The Lonesome Crowded West (Up, 1997)

161. Massive Attack, Mezzanine (Virgin, 1998)

160. Oasis, Definitely Maybe (Epic, 1994)

159. The Postal Service, Give Up (Sub Pop, 2003)

158. Erykah Badu, Mama’s Gun (Motown, 2000)

157. Yo La Tengo, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out (Matador, 2000)

156. Pistol Annies, Hell on Heels (Columbia Nashville, 2011)

155. Sunny Day Real Estate, Diary (Sub Pop, 1994)

154. Raekwon, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (Loud/RCA, 1995)

153. Pavement, Wowee Zowee (Matador, 1995)

152. Tom Waits, Rain Dogs (Island, 1985)

151. Pixies, Bossanova (Elektra, 1990)

150. Cloud Nothings, Attack on Memory (ADA/Carpark, 2012)

149. Ryan Adams, Heartbreaker (Bloodshot, 2000)

148. Sonic Youth, Goo (DGC, 1990)

147. Taylor Swift, Speak Now (Big Machine, 2010)

146. Aphex Twin, Selected Ambient Works, Vol. 2 (Sire, 1994)

145. Lucinda Williams, Lucinda Williams (Koch, 1988)

144. Pearl Jam, Vitalogy (Epic, 1994)

143. The Notorious B.I.G., Life After Death (Bad Boy, 1997)

142. The National, Boxer (Beggars Banquet, 2007)

141. The Afghan Whigs, Gentlemen (Elektra, 1993)

140. Nirvana, MTV Unplugged in New York (DGC, 1994)

139. Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino, 2009)

138. The Replacements, Pleased to Meet Me (Sire, 1987)

137. Broken Social Scene, You Forgot It In People (Paper Bag, 2002)

136. The Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Warner Bros., 2002)

135. The Stone Roses, The Stone Roses (Silvertone, 1989)

134. Blink-182, Enema of the State (MCA, 1999)

133. Elliott Smith, XO (Dreamworks, 1998)

132. Michael Jackson, Dangerous (Epic, 1991)

131. Sleater-Kinney, Dig Me Out (Kill Rock Stars, 1997)

130. Frank Ocean, channel ORANGE (Def Jam, 2012)

129. Beyoncé, B’Day (Columbia, 2006)

128. Against Me!, New Wave (Sire, 2007)

127. Fiona Apple, When the Pawn… (Clean Slate/Epic, 1999)

126. Guided By Voices, Alien Lanes (Matador, 1995)

125. The Knife, Silent Shout (Brille/Rabid/Mute, 2006)

124. PJ Harvey, Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea (Island, 2000)

123. Madvillain, Madvillainy (Stones Throw, 2004)

122. Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend (XL, 2008)

121. Kate Bush, Hounds of Love (EMI, 1985)

120. Miguel, Kaleidoscope Dream (RCA, 2012)

119. Built to Spill, Keep It Like a Secret (Warner Bros., 1999)

118. U2, The Joshua Tree (Island, 1987)

117. Primal Scream, XTRMNTR (Astralwerks, 2000)

116. Mary J. Blige, What’s the 411? (MCA, 1992)

115. The Fugees, The Score (Ruffhouse, 1996)

114. The xx, The xx (XL/Young Turks, 2009)

113. Radiohead, The Bends (Capitol, 1995)

112. Beastie Boys, Licensed to Ill (Def Jam, 1986)

111. Amy Winehouse, Back to Black (Universal, 2006)

110. Panda Bear, Person Pitch (Paw Tracks, 2007)

109. Tears for Fears, Songs From the Big Chair (Mercury, 1985)

108. Jay Z, Reasonable Doubt (Roc-A-Fella, 1996)

107. Paul Simon, Graceland (Legacy, 1986)

106. Dinosaur Jr., You’re Living All Over Me (SST, 1987)

105. Dr. Dre, The Chronic (Death Row, 1992)

104. Kanye West, Late Registration (Roc-A-Fella, 2005)

103. Depeche Mode, Violator (Mute, 1990)

102. LL Cool J, Mama Said Knock You Out (Def Jam, 1990)

101. Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveSounds (Jive, 2006)

100. Guided By Voices, Bee Thousand (Scat, 1994)

99. TLC, CrazySexyCool (LaFace, 1994)

98. Boards of Canada, Music Has the Right to Children (Warp, 1998)

97. Clipse, Hell Hath No Fury (Zomba, 2006)

96. Blur, 13 (Food/Virgin, 1999)

95. New Order, Low-Life (Qwest, 1985)

94. The White Stripes, White Blood Cells (Sympathy for the Record Industry, 2001)

93. Daft Punk, Homework (Virgin, 1997)

92. Missy Elliott, Supa Dupa Fly (EastWest/Goldmind, 1997)

91. Miranda Lambert, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Columbia, 2007)

90. J Dilla, Donuts (Stones Throw, 2006)

89. Madonna, Like a Prayer (Sire, 1989)

88. TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain (4AD, 2006)

87. Genius/GZA, Liquid Swords (Altered Ego/Geffen, 1995)

86. Pixies, Surfer Rosa (4AD, 1988)

85. Arcade Fire, Funeral (Merge, 2004)

84. A Tribe Called Quest, Midnight Marauders (Jive, 1993)

83. Japandroids, Celebration Rock (Polyvinyl, 2012)

82. Tricky, Maxinquaye (Island, 1995)

81. Weezer, Pinkerton (Geffen, 1996)

80. Bikini Kill, The Singles (Kill Rock Stars, 1998)

79. Oasis, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (Epic, 1995)

78. Frank Ocean, nostalgia, ULTRA. (Self-Released, 2011)

77. Slayer, Reign in Blood (American, 1986)

76. The Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream (Virgin, 1993)

75. Yo La Tengo, I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One (Matador, 1997)

74. N.W.A., Straight Outta Compton (Priority, 1988)

73. The Breeders, Last Splash (4AD/Elektra, 1993)

72. The Cure, Disintegration (Elektra, 1989)

71. Aphex Twin, Richard D. James Album (Sire, 1996)

70. Fugazi, Repeater (Dischord, 1990)

69. Björk, Post (Elektra, 1995)

68. The Flaming Lips, The Soft Bulletin (Warner Bros., 1999)

67. Robyn, Body Talk (Cherrytree/Konichiwa, 2010)

66. Ghostface Killah, Fishscale (Def Jam, 2006)

65. Belle and Sebastian, If You’re Feeling Sinister (Matador, 1996)

64. The Chemical Brothers, Dig Your Own Hole (Astralwerks, 1997)

63. Drake, Take Care (Cash Money/Universal, 2011)

62. Eric B. & Rakim, Paid in Full (4th & Broadway, 1987)

61. Portishead, Dummy (Go! Discs, 1994)

60. Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City (XL, 2013)

59. Kanye West, The College Dropout (Roc-A-Fella, 2004)

58. Sleater-Kinney, The Woods (Sub Pop, 2005)

57. Guns N’ Roses, Appetite for Destruction (Geffen, 1987)

56. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III (Motown/Cash Money, 2008)

55. The Jesus and Mary Chain, Psychocandy (Blanco y Negro, 1985)

54. Janet Jackson, Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 (A&M, 1989)

53. PJ Harvey, Rid of Me (Island, 1993)

52. De La Soul, 3 Feet High and Rising (Tommy Boy, 1989)

51. Hüsker Dü, New Day Rising (SST, 1985)

50. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP (Interscope, 2000)

49. Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Nonesuch, 2002)

48. Nine Inch Nails, The Downward Spiral (Interscope/Nothing, 1994)

47. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver (Capitol/DFA, 2007)

46. Modest Mouse, The Moon and Antarctica (Epic, 2000)

45. Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d. city (Interscope/Aftermath, 2012)

44. Pavement, Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (Matador, 1994)

43. Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (Merge, 1998)

42. M.I.A. Kala (XL/Interscope, 2007)

41. Elliot Smith, Either/Or (Kill Rock Stars, 1997)

40. OutKast, Stankonia (LaFace, 2000)

39. Burial, Untrue (Hyperdub, 2007)

38. Beyoncé, Beyoncé (Columbia, 2013)

37. U2, Achtung Baby (Island, 1991)

36. Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (Def Jam, 1988)

35. Pulp, Different Class (Island, 1995)

34. Metallica, Master of Puppets (Elektra, 1986)

33. Radiohead, Kid A (Capitol, 2000)

32. A Tribe Called Quest, The Low End Theory (Jive, 1991)

31. Weezer, Weezer (Blue Album) (DGC, 1994)

30. Beck, Odelay (DGC, 1996)

29. R.E.M., Automatic for the People (Warner Bros., 1992)

28. Nirvana, In Utero (DGC, 1993)

27. The Notorious B.I.G., Ready to Die (Bad Boy, 1994)

26. The Dismemberment Plan, Emergency & I (DeSoto, 1999)

25. Hole, Live Through This (DGC, 1994)

24. The Replacements, Tim (Sire, 1985)

23. Nas, Illmatic (Columbia, 1994)

22. Green Day, Dookie (Reprise, 1994)

21. OutKast, Aquemini (LaFace, 1998)

20. Pixies, Doolittle (Elektra, 1989)

19. The Strokes, Is This It (RCA, 2001)

18. Björk, Homogenic (Elektra, 1997)

17. Beastie Boys, Paul’s Boutique (Capitol, 1989)

16. The Magnetic Fields, 69 Love Songs (Merge, 1999)

15. Public Enemy, Fear of a Black Planet (Def Jam, 1990)

14. My Bloody Valentine, Loveless (Sire, 1991)

13. Jay Z, The Blueprint (Roc-A-Fella, 2001)

12. Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation (Enigma, 1988)

11. D’Angelo, Voodoo (Virgin, 2000)

10. Pavement, Slanted & Enchanted (Matador, 1992)

09. DJ Shadow, Endtroducing….. (Mox Wax, 1996)

08. Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Roc-A-Fella, 2010)

07. Liz Phair, Exile in Guyville (Matador, 1993)

06. Radiohead, OK Computer (Capitol, 1997)

05. The Smiths, The Queen Is Dead (Sire, 1986)

04. Daft Punk, Discovery (Virgin, 2001)

03. Prince, Sign o’ the Times (Paisley Park / Warner Bros., 1987)

02. Wu-Tang Clan, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (Loud/RCA, 1993)

01. Nirvana, Nevermind (DGC, 1991)

 

[Frustrated_me]

Fuck Kanye, but MBDTF is deservedly in the top 10.

 

[Fjordson]

Tough to argue with lists like this because it's all so subjective. Some of their choices are terrible, some are great.

Though no Drake album in the top 5 is a little suspect.

 

[wenis]

that is certainly a list of music.

 

[Tenebrous]

No Eminem until #50? Pretty harsh, given his impact on music (and how great SSLP/MMLP are).

Nirvana at #1, Radiohead at #6, REM at #29... Cool.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

This list of albums that some people like has overlap with some albums that I like. Very good. However, it also has many albums I haven't heard of, and lacks some albums that I like very much. This is concerning.

 

[PhoenixDark]

Dark Fantasy and Blueprint over Illmatic? lmao

 

[ohhthegore]

02. Wu-Tang Clan, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (Loud/RCA, 1993)


Great choice

 

[kris.]

Yeah but The Lonesome Crowded West is better than The Moon & Antarctica.

 

[blackflag]

I'm ok with #1-#9 ...it's subjective.

Would have liked to see Pixies up there.

 

[Snuggles]

Burial - Untrue in the Top 50. That's good enough for me. 👌

 

[Plinko]

29. R.E.M., Automatic for the People (Warner Bros., 1992)

Too low. Audio perfection.

 

[Spinluck]

Some really good choices on there.

 

[IceDoesntHelp]

No Billy Talent is a crime.

One of the best albums of the 2000's

BUT AMERICAN IDIOT IS ON THERE, jesus christ.

 

[Sai-kun]

kala higher than arular? what kind of fucked up list is this

that's how we know it's bullshit!

 

[Currygan]

The Smiths is 5. List is not completely fucking useless shit after all

 

[StriKeVillain]

DJ Shadow in the top 10. I can live with that.

 

[Deadstar]

No Tool - Lateralus or Aenema? This list is a joke.

 

[spindashing]

Dark Fantasy and Blueprint over Illmatic? lmao

Aquemini too.

 

[dankir]

Aww yeah can't disagree with 36 Chambers.

 

[The Albatross]

60. Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City (XL, 2013)

Surprised to see this so high. I think it's a great album, but this is pretty much saying this is the 3rd best album of the last 5 years.

 

[OnPoint]

The Smiths over The Cure

I love them both, but man, that debate just took a huge hit haha

Wrong M83 album for me but I'm glad it's on there.

 

[kitchenmotors]

kala higher than arular? what kind of fucked up list is this

that's how we know it's bullshit!

To be fair, Kala had more impact than Arular.

 

[thelatestmodel]

Orbital's In Sides is an incredible album, nice to see them get in the list. First album of theirs that I bought. Fun fact, the opening track (The Girl With The Sun In Her Head) was recorded entirely with solar power.

Nice that Aphex gets 3 mentions, although Ambient Works Vol I is way better than Vol 2, and Drukqs should replace the Richard D James album in this list.

 

[silver.tongue]

The Killers just once in there... Not acceptable.

 

[SoulClap]

Dark Fantasy and Blueprint over Illmatic? lmao

The fuck are those two albums doing over OB4CL and Supreme Clientele as well.

 

[Jay Sosa]

Illmatic behind Blueprint and whatever that shitty Kanye album is called?

Suuure

 

[Haloid1177]

American Idiot at 300 is pretty low. Still my favorite album of the 00s.

 

[Zophar]

Nevermind doesn't even belong in the Top 10. Kind of tired of the default opinion, unquestioned fawning it still receives.

 

[diehard]

No self titled Rage album

aint that some bullshit

 

[Pappasman]

I'll never understand why people like MBDTF. All of his albums previous destroy it. Late registration is when Kanye peaked.


Also Aquemini being at 21 is a joke. That is top 3 material.

 

[Courage]

Nevermind being number 1.

Maybe if it was worst albums of the past 30 years.

 

[equippedwithtowel]

The Avalanches are criminally low, same with The Microphones.

More shocking however is the lack of Destroyer's Kaputt and The National's Alligator or Boxer.

 

[thelatestmodel]

The Killers just once in there... Not acceptable.

They only have one album that deserves to be in there though. Hot Fuss = incredible, everything after = meh.

 

[Fallout-NL]

The Avalanches are criminally low, same with The Microphones.

More shocking however is the lack of Destroyer's Kaputt and The National's Alligator or Boxer.

Yeah. /edit: wait, it's actually on there. Nice.

Would like to have seen Placebo on there as well. Without You I'm Nothing is a great album.

No Tool - Lateralus or Aenema? This list is a joke.

Also a glaring omission.

 

[kitchenmotors]

Orbital's In Sides is an incredible album, nice to see them get in the list. First album of theirs that I bought. Fun fact, the opening track (The Girl With The Sun In Her Head) was recorded entirely with solar power.

Nice that Aphex gets 3 mentions, although Ambient Works Vol I is way better than Vol 2, and Drukqs should replace the Richard D James album in this list.

Drukqs is one of my favorite Aphex Twin albums, but as far as cohesion goes, Richard D James is just put together better. Which makes sense, Drukqs is more or less a collection of tracks he worked on that he didn't want leaked from the hard drive he left on a plane.

 

[Sobriquet]

This is a really great list of records. Like pretty much everyone I would change the order, remove some, and add some. But the list is solid.

The Avalanches are criminally low, same with The Microphones.

More shocking however is the lack of Destroyer's Kaputt and The National's Alligator or Boxer.

Both Kaputt and Boxer are on there.

 

[Grieves]

I'm ok with #1-#9 ...it's subjective.

Would have liked to see Pixies up there.

#20, #86, #151

 

[collige]

I'm fine with this. No particularly outrageous picks, but it is what it is.

I'll never understand why people like MBDTF. All of his albums previous destroy it. Late registration is when Kanye peaked.

It has definitely aged fairly poorly and the mastering is terrible, but at the time of release people were fucking hyped. It was Kanye's triumphant return to form after 808s, with sick production, tons of great features, and was backed by a dozen free singles and a half hour movie. It's definitely still his most ambitious album.

 

[Fevaweva]

29. R.E.M., Automatic for the People (Warner Bros., 1992)

Too low. Audio perfection.

This! x1000 this!

 

[Switch Back 9]

DJ Shadow in the top 10. I can live with that.

I was just thinking this. And 36 Chambers at #2? that's amazing hahaha.

No self titled Rage album

aint that some bullshit

Ew, until I noticed this. Now I hate this list.

 

[Kittygirl]

No Nick Cave? Really?

 

[teruterubozu]

No Sade? What a dumb list.

 

[Yellowtail]

I'll never understand why people like MBDTF. All of his albums previous destroy it. Late registration is when Kanye peaked.

Seriously. Personally I think critics just desperately wanted an MJ/Prince figure of this generation to anoint and Kanye made a baity enough rock-friendly album that was easy to instantly canonize, that fulfilled his post-VMAs redemptive arc~

Does anyone seriously think it'd be in these lists if it'd been called "Good Ass Job" as initially planned without that ridiculous masturbatory cover.

 

[kitchenmotors]

Also, I'm really glad to see The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin up there. Although #68 is a little too low. It's top 20 material, IMO.

 

[djplaeskool]

Daft Punk, DJ Shadow, and Wu Tang in the top 10.
I'm okay with this.

 

[Fevaweva]

I love MBDTF but I feel that it is too high. But I also love that Spin put it in their top 10.

I am very conflicted.

 

[Manmademan]

Nevermind is WAY too high there. I "get" that it had a ton of impact, but the best in the last 30 years? I don't know how you could justify that.

No self titled Rage album

aint that some bullshit

edit: and THAT ^ is downright criminal. list is a joke.

 

[liquidtmd]

Not a bad round up as these usual line ups go.

Glad The Queen is Dead got #5. Oasis' Whats The Story and Kate Bushs' Hounds of Love are too low IMO but that's list warz for you.

Disintegration by The Cure has aged fantastically. The title track of that to me is almost perfection. It never seems to age and the Entreat Live version of it is in my GOAT

Also interesting of the two The Smiths' albums included, the other is Strangeways when Hatful of Hollow, Meat is Murder or even their debut are more obvious choices. I love half that album but Unhappy Birthday and Paint a Vulgar picture plus a few others really don't define their sound as well as the more complete others/

 

[Frank Serpico]

Jay Z's campaign of repeatedly telling the media that Blueprint is some all time great hip hop album has worked