Alright, I said I was going to write about the best 10,000 albums of all time, and I didn't want to keep you in too much suspense. So I went to besteveralbums.com and made a handy little list of the top 1000 to get us started. I have listed them by year, displaying the highest-rated title for each. I think it's a pretty good start to a music collection, in the sense that it provides a kind of "core group" to get people started. (Naturally, we'll have to expand and get more specific from here.) See how many you have! And there's no point in arguing - these albums are all essential for a happy, normal life . . . don't you agree?
1955
1956
Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley
Sonny Rollins: Saxophone Colossus
Frank Sinatra: Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!
1957
John Coltrane: Blue Train
Little Richard: Here’s Little Richard
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
Thelonious Monk: Brilliant Corners
1958
Billie Holiday: Lady in Satin
1959
Miles Davis: Kind of Blue
Charles Mingus: Mingus Ah Um
The Dave Brubeck Quintet: Time Out
Ornette Coleman: The Shape of Jazz to Come
1960
Miles Davis: Sketches of Spain
John Coltrane: Giant Steps
1961
Robert Johnson: King of the Delta Blues Singers
John Coltrane: My Favorite Things
1962
none1963
Bob Dylan: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
Charles Mingus: The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
The Beatles: Please Please Me
James Brown: Live at the Apollo
The Beatles: With the Beatles
1964
The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night
Bob Dylan: The Times They Are a-Changin’
Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto: Getz/Gilberto
The Beatles: Beatles for Sale
Eric Dolphy: Out to Lunch!
Bob Dylan: Another Side of Bob Dylan
1965
Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited
The Beatles: Rubber Soul
Bob Dylan: Bringing It All Back Home
John Coltrane: A Love Supreme
The Beatles: Help!
Otis Redding: Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
The Who: My Generation
The Beach Boys: Today!
1966
The Beatles: Revolver
The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds
Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde
The Rolling Stones: Aftermath
The Mothers of Invention: Freak Out!
Simon & Garfunkel: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel: Sounds of Silence
Monks: Black Monk Time
13th Floor Elevators: The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
The Kinks: Face to Face
1967
The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground and Nico
The Doors: The Doors
The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced
Love: Forever Changes
The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour
Pink Floyd: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Leonard Cohen: Songs of Leonard Cohen
The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Axis: Bold as Love
Cream: Disraeli Gears
The Doors: Strange Days
Jefferson Airplane: Surrealistic Pillow
The Who: The Who Sell Out
The Kinks: Something Else by the Kinks
Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band: Safe as Milk
The Moody Blues: Days of Future Passed
Aretha Franklin: I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Nico: Chelsea Girl
Bob Dylan: John Wesley Harding
Tim Buckley: Goodbye and Hello
1968
The Beatles: The Beatles
Van Morrison: Astral Weeks
The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland
The Zombies: Odessey and Oracle
The Rolling Stones: Beggars Banquet
The Velvet Underground: White Light/White Heat
The Kinks: The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
Johnny Cash: At Folsom Prison
The Band: Music from Big Pink
Simon & Garfunkel: Bookends
The Mothers of Invention: We’re Only in It for the Money
Pink Floyd: A Saucerful of Secrets
The Doors: Waiting for the Sun
The Byrds: The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds: Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Aretha Franklin: Lady Soul
The United States of America: The United States of America
Big Brother and the Holding Company: Cheap Thrills
Nico: The Marble Index
Cream: Wheels of Fire
1969
The Beatles: Abbey Road
Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II
The Rolling Stones: Let It Bleed
King Crimson: In the Court of the Crimson King
Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin
The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground
The Who: Tommy
Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band: Trout Mask Replica
The Band: The Band
Nick Drake: Five Leaves Left
Neil Young and Crazy Horse: Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Frank Zappa: Hot Rats
The Kinks: Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
Crosby, Stills & Nash: Crosby, Stills & Nash
Miles Davis: In a Silent Way
The Stooges: The Stooges
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Willy and the Poor Boys
Dusty Springfield: Dusty in Memphis
Sly and the Family Stone: Stand!
David Bowie: Space Oddity
Blind Faith: Blind Faith
Bob Dylan: Nashville Skyline
Pharoah Sanders: Karma
Isaac Hayes: Hot Buttered Soul
Fairport Convention: Liege and Lief
Leonard Cohen: Songs from a Room
MC5: Kick Out the Jams
1970
Neil Young: After the Gold Rush
Black Sabbath: Paranoid
John Lennon: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
Simon & Garfunkel: Bridge over Troubled Water
Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin III
Van Morrison: Moondance
George Harrison: All Things Must Pass
The Stooges: Fun House
The Beatles: Let It Be
The Velvet Underground: Loaded
Derek & the Dominos: Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
Miles Davis: Bitches Brew
Grateful Dead: American Beauty
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Deja Vu
Nick Drake: Bryter Layter
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Cosmo’s Factory
Black Sabbath: Black Sabbath
Cat Stevens: Tea for the Tillerman
Deep Purple: Deep Purple in Rock
The Who: Live at Leeds
Santana: Abraxas
Pink Floyd: Atom Heart Mother
The Doors: Morrison Hotel
The Kinks: Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One
Grateful Dead: Workingman’s Dead
Syd Barrett: The Madcap Laughs
Curtis Mayfield: Curtis
David Bowie: The Man Who Sold the World
Soft Machine: Third
Jimi Hendrix: Band of Gypsys
Nico: Desertshore
The Beach Boys: Sunflower
Vashti Bunyon: Just Another Day
Tim Buckley: Starsailor
Elton John: Tumbleweed Connection
1971
Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV
The Who: Who’s Next
Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On
David Bowie: Hunky Dory
The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers
Joni Mitchell: Blue
Pink Floyd: Meddle
The Doors: L.A. Woman
Can: Tago Mago
John Lennon: Imagine
The Allman Brothers Band: At Fillmore East
Carole King: Tapestry
Yes: Fragile
Jethro Tull: Aqualung
T. Rex: Electric Warrior
Sly and the Family Stone: There’s a Riot Goin’ On
Black Sabbath: Master of Reality
Paul & Linda McCartney: Ram
Leonard Cohen: Songs of Love and Hate
Funkadelic: Maggot Brain
Serge Gainsbourg: Histoire de Melody Nelson
Yes: The Yes Album
Janis Joplin: Pearl
Faust: Faust
Rod Stewart: Every Picture Tells a Story
Genesis: Nursery Cryme
1972
David Bowie: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
The Rolling Stones: Exile on Main St.
Nick Drake: Pink Moon
Neil Young: Harvest
Lou Reed: Transformer
Yes: Close to the Edge
Deep Purple: Machine Head
Genesis: Foxtrot
Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick
Can: Ege Bamyasi
Big Star: #1 Record
Stevie Wonder: Talking Book
Curtis Mayfield: Superfly
Deep Purple: Made in Japan
Steely Dan: Can’t Buy a Thrill
Roxy Music: Roxy Music
Neu!: Neu!
The Allman Brothers Band: Eat a Peach
Popol Vuh: Hosianna Mantra
T. Rex: The Slider
Various Artists: The Harder They Come
1973
Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy
The Who: Quadrophenia
Stevie Wonder: Innervisions
Genesis: Selling England by the Pound
Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
The Stooges: Raw Power
Paul McCartney & Wings: Band on the Run
David Bowie: Aladdin Sane
Lynyrd Skynyrd: (pronounced leh-nerd skin-nerd)
Lou Reed: Berlin
Bruce Springsteen: The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle
Roxy Music: For Your Pleasure
Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells
Can: Future Days
Black Sabbath: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Tom Waits: Closing Time
Herbie Hancock: Head Hunters
The Wailers: Catch a Fire
John Cale: Paris 1919
Pescado Rabioso: Artaud
Marvin Gaye: Let’s Get It On
Faust: Faust IV
Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Brain Salad Surgery
Yes: Tales from Topographic Oceans
King Crimson: Larks’ Tongues in Aspic
New York Dolls: New York Dolls
Bruce Springsteen: Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Steely Dan: Countdown to Ecstasy
1974
Genesis: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Neil Young: On the Beach
Supertramp: Crime of the Century
King Crimson: Red
Robert Wyatt: Rock Bottom
Queen: Sheer Heart Attack
David Bowie: Diamond Dogs
Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark
Queen: Queen II
Brian Eno: Here Come the Warm Jets
Big Star: Radio City
Yes: Relayer
Steely Dan: Pretzel Logic
Tom Waits: The Heart of Saturday Night
Van Morrison: Veedon Fleece
Camel: Mirage
Richard and Linda Thompson: I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Kraftwerk: Autobahn
1975
Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here
Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks
Bruce Springsteen: Born to Run
Queen: A Night at the Opera
Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti
Patti Smith: Horses
Brian Eno: Another Green World
Neil Young: Tonight’s the Night
Aerosmith: Toys in the Attic
Bob Dylan and the Band: The Basement Tapes
Elton John: Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Parliament: Mothership Connection
Keith Jarrett: The Koln Concert
Steely Dan: Katy Lied
1976
Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life
Ramones: Ramones
Eagles: Hotel California
David Bowie: Station to Station
Boston: Boston
Rush: 2112
Bob Dylan: Desire
The Modern Lovers: The Modern Lovers
Aerosmith: Rocks
Genesis: A Trick of the Tail
Queen: A Day at the Races
Joni Mitchell: Hijera
Rainbow: Rising
Kiss: Destroyer
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Chronicle - The 20 Greatest Hits
Thin Lizzy: Jailbreak
Electric Light Orchestra: A New World Record
1977
Fleetwood Mac: Rumours
Television: Marquee Moon
Pink Floyd: Animals
Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s the Sex Pistols
David Bowie: Low
The Clash: The Clash
Steely Dan: Aja
Bob Marley and the Wailers: Exodus
Wire: Pink Flag
Kraftwerk: Trans-Europe Express
Billy Joel: The Stranger
Elvis Costello: My Aim Is True
David Bowie: "Heroes"
Meat Loaf: Bat Out of Hell
Ramones: Rocket to Russia
Suicide: Suicide
Iggy Pop: Lust for Life
Talking Heads: Talking Heads: 77
Electric Light Orchestra: Out of the Blue
Iggy Pop: The Idiot
Queen: News of the World
Brian Eno: Before and After Science
Rush: A Farewell to Kings
The Congos: Heart of the Congos
1978
Bruce Springsteen: Darkness on the Edge of Town
Van Halen: Van Halen
Elvis Costello & the Attractions: This Year’s Model
Blondie: Parallel Lines
The Cars: The Cars
The Rolling Stones: Some Girls
Kraftwerk: The Man-Machine
Big Star: 3rd
The Jam: All Mod Cons
Rush: Hemispheres
Dire Straits: Dire Straits
Talking Heads: More Songs about Buildings and Food
Pere Ubu: The Modern Dance
Kate Bush: The Kick Inside
The Police: Outlandos d’Amour
Wire: Chairs Missing
Brian Eno: Ambient 1: Music for Airports
Warren Zevon: Excitable Boy
Devo: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians
1979
The Clash: London Calling
Pink Floyd: The Wall
Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures
Gang of Four: Entertainment!
Talking Heads: Fear of Music
AC/DC: Highway to Hell
Michael Jackson: Off the Wall
Neil Young and Crazy Horse: Rust Never Sleeps
Supertramp: Breakfast in America
The Specials: Specials
Fleetwood Mac: Tusk
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers: Damn the Torpedoes
Public Image: Metal Box (aka Second Edition)
Buzzcocks: Singles Going Steady
The Pop Group: Y
The Police: Reggatta de Blanc
Elvis Costello & the Attractions: Armed Forces
The Jam: Setting Sons
The B-52’s: The B-52’s
1980
Talking Heads: Remain in Light
Joy Division: Closer
AC/DC: Back in Black
Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
David Bowie: Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
Bruce Springsteen: The River
Peter Gabriel: Peter Gabriel III (Melt cover)
The Pretenders: Pretenders
The Clash: Sandinista!
Dire Straits: Making Movies
The Cure: Seventeen Seconds
The Feelies: Crazy Rhythms
Black Sabbath: Heaven and Hell
Rush: Permanent Waves
U2: Boy
Elvis Costello & the Attractions: Get Happy!!
Young Marble Giants: Colossal Youth
The Police: Zenyatta Mondatta
Motorhead: Ace of Spades
The Jam: Sound Effects
X: Los Angeles
Ozzy Osbourne: Blizzard of Oz
Prince: Dirty Mind
1981
Rush: Moving Pictures
Black Flag: Damaged
Brian Eno and David Byrne: My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
The Cure: Faith
The Police: Ghost in the Machine
Kraftwerk: Computer World
Siouxsie & the Banshees: Juju
King Crimson: Discipline
Echo & the Bunneymen: Heaven Up Here
The Human League: Dare
The Gun Club: Fire of Love
Electric Light Orchestra: Time
Queen: Greatest Hits
1982
Michael Jackson: Thriller
Iron Maiden: The Number of the Beast
Bruce Springsteen: Nebraska
Kate Bush: The Dreaming
The Cure: Pornography
Roxy Music: Avalon
Prince: 1999
Dire Staits: Love Over Gold
Duran Duran: Rio
Donald Fagen: The Nightfly
Chuck Berry: The Great Twenty-Eight
The Clash: Combat Rock
The Fall: Hex Enduction Hour
Judas Priest: Screaming for Vengeance
Simple Minds: New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
Elvis Costello & the Attractions: Imperial Bedroom
Bad Brains: Bad Brains
1983
R.E.M.: Murmur
Violent Femmes: Violent Femmes
The Police: Synchronicity
U2: War
New Order: Power, Corruption and Lies
Tom Waits: Swordfishtrombones
Metallica: Kill ‘em All
Def Leppard: Pyromania
Pink Floyd: The Final Cut
Talking Heads: Speaking in Tongues
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble: Texas Flood
The Chameleons: Script of the Bridge
Marillion: Script for a Jester’s Tear
1984
Prince & the Revolution: Purple Rain
The Smiths: The Smiths
Metallica: Ride the Lightning
Bruce Springsteen: Born in the U.S.A.
The Replacements: Let It Be
Bob Marley and the Wailers: Legend
Minutemen: Double Nickels on the Dime
The Smiths: Hatful of Hollow
Cocteau Twins: Treasure
U2: The Unforgettable Fire
Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense
Echo & the Bunneymen: Ocean Rain
Husker Du: Zen Arcade
Iron Maiden: Powerslave
R.E.M.: Reckoning
Van Halen: 1984
Meat Puppets: Meat Puppets II
1985
Tom Waits: Rain Dogs
Kate Bush: Hounds of Love
Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms
The Jesus and Mary Chain: Psychocandy
The Smiths: Meat Is Murder
The Replacements: Tim
The Cure: The Head on the Door
The Fall: This Nation’s Saving Grace
Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair
Marillion: Misplaced Childhood
The Pogues: Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash
Prefab Sprout: Steve McQueen
New Order: Low Life
The Waterboys: This Is the Sea
1986
The Smiths: The Queen Is Dead
Metallica: Master of Puppets
Paul Simon: Graceland
Peter Gabriel: So
Beastie Boys: Licensed to Ill
XTC: Skylarking
R.E.M.: Lifes Rich Pageant
Slayer: Reign in Blood
Talk Talk: The Colour of Spring
Sonic Youth: EVOL
Depeche Mode: Black Celebration
Bon Jovi: Slippery When Wet
Prince & the Revolution: Parade
Run-D.M.C.: Raising Hell
1987
U2: The Joshua Tree
Guns N’ Roses: Appetite for Destruction
Prince: Sign ‘O’ the Times
The Smiths: Strangeways, Here We Come
Dinosaur Jr.: You’re Living All Over Me
R.E.M: Document
Michael Jackson: Bad
Def Leppard: Hysteria
New Order: Substance
The Smiths: Louder Than Bombs
Depeche Mode: Music for the Masses
The Cure: Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
Sonic Youth: Sister
INXS: Kick
Eric B. & Rakim: Paid in Full
Bruce Springsteen: Tunnel of Love
The Jesus and Mary Chain: Darklands
The Replacements: Pleased to Meet Me
1988
Pixies: Surfer Rosa
Public Enemy: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Talk Talk: Spirit of Eden
Metallica: . . . And Justice for All
My Bloody Valentine: Isn’t Anything
N.W.A.: Straight Outta Compton
R.E.M.: Green
Jane’s Addiction: Nothing’s Shocking
Tracy Chapman: Tracy Chapman
Queensryche: Operation: Mindcrime
Iron Maiden: Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
The Pogues: If I Should Fall from Grace with God
The Traveling Wilburys: The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1
Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man
U2: Rattle and Hum
Pixies: Surfer Rosa & Come on Pilgrim
Joy Division: Substance
1989
Pixies: Doolittle
The Stone Roses: The Stone Roses
The Cure: Disintegration
Beastie Boys: Paul’s Boutique
Galaxie 500: On Fire
Nirvana: Bleach
Nine Inch Nails: Pretty Hate Machine
De La Soul: 3 Feet High and Rising
Tom Petty: Full Moon Fever
Lou Reed: New York
Madonna: Like a Prayer
New Order: Technique
Faith No More: The Real Thing
Kate Bush: The Sensual World
Aerosmith: Pump
1990
Depeche Mode: Violator
Pixies: Bossanova
Ride: Nowhere
Cocteau Twins: Heaven or Las Vegas
Megadeth: Rust in Peace
Jane’s Addiction: Ritual de lo Habitual
Sonic Youth: Goo
The La’s: The La’s
Public Enemy: Fear of a Black Planet
Happy Mondays: Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches
Fugazi: Repeater
They Might Be Giants: Flood
Soda Stereo: Cancion Animal
Sinead O’Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
1991
Nirvana: Nevermind
My Bloody Valentine: Bloodless
Pearl Jam: Ten
U2: Achtung Baby
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Metallica: Metallica
Slint: Spiderland
Primal Scream: Screamadelica
Talk Talk: Laughing Stock
A Tribe Called Quest: The Low End Theory
Massive Attack: Blue Lines
R.E.M.: Out of Time
Soundgarden: Badmotorfinger
Guns N’ Roses: Use Your Illusion II
Pixies: Trompe le Monde
Guns N’ Roses: Use Your Illusion I
The Smashing Pumpkins: Gish
Mercury Rev: Yerself Is Steam
Temple of the Dog: Temple of the Dog
Queen: Innuendo
Michael Jackson: Dangerous
Crowded House: Woodface
1992
R.E.M.: Automatic for the People
Rage Against the Machine: Rage Against the Machine
Pavement: Slanted & Enchanted
Alice in Chains: Dirt
Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Dr. Dre: The Chronic
Faith No More: Angel Dust
Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes
Dream Theater: Images and Words
Sonic Youth: Dirty
Beastie Boys: Check Your Head
Red House Painters: Down Colorful Hill
Sublime: 40 oz. to Freedom
Stone Temple Pilots: Core
Eric Clapton: Unplugged
Tom Waits: Bone Machine
Peter Gabriel: Us
The Black Crowes: The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
The Cure: Wish
1993
Nirvana: In Utero
The Smashing Pumpkins: Siamese Dream
Wu-Tang Clang: Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Pearl Jam: Vs.
Slowdive: Souvlaki
Counting Crows: August and Everything After
Bjork: Debut
A Tribe Called Quest: Midnight Marauders
Suede: Suede
Red House Painters: Red House Painters (Rollercoaster)
Liz Phair: Exile in Guyville
Snoop Dog: Doggystyle
Radiohead: Pablo Honey
P.J. Harvey: Rid of Me
The Afghan Wigs: Gentlemen
Depeche Mode: Songs of Faith and Devotion
U2: Zooropa
Mazzy Star: So Tonight That I Might See
Tool: Undertow
Yo La Tengo: Painful
1994
Jeff Buckley: Grace
Oasis: Definitely Maybe
Portishead: Dummy
Weezer: Weezer (The Blue Album)
Nas: Illmatic
Nirvana: MTV Unplugged in New York
Blur: Parklife
Green Day: Dookie
Pavement: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Nine Inch Nails: The Downward Spiral
Soundgarden: Superunknown
The Notorious B.I.G.: Ready to Die
Manic Street Preachers: The Holy Bible
Guided by Voices: Bee Thousand
Suede: Dog Man Star
Pearl Jam: Vitalogy
Live: Throwing Copper
Hole: Live Through This
Pink Floyd: The Division Bell
Alice in Chains: Jar of Flies
Stone Temple Pilots: Purple
Beastie Boys: Ill Communication
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Let Love In
The Offspring: Smash
Morrissey: Vauxhaull & I
The Prodigy: Music for the Jilted Generation
Low: I Could Live in Hope
Massive Attack: Protection
Beck: Mellow Gold
Built to Spill: There’s Nothing Wrong with Love
Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works Volume II
R.E.M.: Monster
Dave Matthews Band: Under the Table and Dreaming
Sunny Day Real Estate: Diary
1995
Radiohead: The Bends
Oasis: (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
The Smashing Pumpkins: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
Pulp: Different Class
Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill
Bjork: Post
GZA: Liquid Swords
Elliott Smith: Elliott Smith
Pavement: Wowee Zowee
P.J. Harvey: To Bring You My Love
Tricky: Maxinquaye
Raekwon: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx . . .
Mobb Depp: The Infamous
Foo Fighters: Foo Fighters
The Flaming Lips: Clouds Taste Metallic
Blur: The Great Escape
No Doubt: Tragic Kingdom
Garbage: Garbage
Leftfield: Leftism
Guided by Voices: Alien Lanes
1996
Weezer: Pinkerton
Belle & Sebastian: If You’re Feeling Sinister
DJ Shadow: Endtroducing . . . . .
Beck: Odelay
Tool: AEnima
Sublime: Sublime
Manic Street Preachers: Everything Must Go
Belle & Sebastian: Tigermilk
Jay-Z: Reasonable Doubt
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Murder Ballads
2Pac: All Eyes on Me
R.E.M.: New Adventures in Hi-Fi
Eels: Beautiful Freak
Dave Matthews Band: Crash
Pearl Jam: No Code
Rage Against the Machine: Evil Empire
Aphex Twin: Richard D. James Album
Modest Mouse: This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About
Neutral Milk Hotel: On Avery Island
Fugees: The Score
Tori Amos: Boys for Pele
Cake: Fashion Nugget
Swans: Soundtracks for the Blind
1997
Radiohead: OK Computer
Bjork: Homogenic
The Verve: Urban Hymns
Elliott Smith: Either/Or
Spiritualized: Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded West
Foo Fighters: The Colour and the Shape
Godspeed You! Black Emperor: F#A#
Built to Spill: Perfect from Now On
The Prodigy: The Fat of the Land
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: The Boatman’s Call
Yo La Tengo: I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
Blur: Blur
Mogwai: Mogwai Young Team
Third Eye Blind: Third Eye Blind
Daft Punk: Homework
Portishead: Portishead
Ween: The Mollusk
Bob Dylan: Time Out of Mind
Buena Vista Social Club: Buena Vista Social Club
Ben Folds Five: Whatever and Ever Amen
Oasis: Be Here Now
1998
Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane over the Sea
Massive Attack: Mezzanine
Air: Moon Safari
Boards of Canada: Music Has the Right to Children
OutKast: Aquemini
Elliott Smith: XO
Eels: Electro-Shock Blues
Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Madonna: Ray of Light
Mercury Rev: Deserter’s Songs
Refused: The Shape of Punk to Come
The Smashing Pumpkins: Adore
Pulp: This Is Hardcore
Placebo: Without You I’m Nothing
Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Belle & Sebastian: The Boy with the Arab Strap
Pearl Jam: Yield
The Beta Band: The Three EPs
Dave Matthews Band: Before These Crowded Streets
Beck: Mutations
System of a Down: System of a Down
Tortoise: TNT
David Gray: White Ladder
Garbage: Version 2.0
Queens of the Stone Age: Queens of the Stone Age
Black Star: Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
1999
Sigur Ros: Agaetis Byrjun
The Flaming Lips: The Soft Bulletin
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Californication
The Magnetic Fields: 69 Love Songs
Blur: 13
Moby: Play
Rage Against the Machine: The Battle of Los Angeles
Muse: Showbiz
Dream Theater: Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
Built to Spill: Keep It Like a Secret
Nine Inch Nails: The Fragile
Wilco: Summerteeth
The Dismemberment Plan: Emergency & I
Eminem: The Slim Shady LP
Bonny ‘Prince’ Billy: I See a Darkness
Blink-182: Enema of the State
Dr. Dre: 2001
Tom Waits: The Mule Variations
Fiona Apple: When the Pawn . . .
American Football: American Football
Beck: Midnite Vultures
Mos Def: Black on Both Sides
Jimmy Eat World: Clarity
Incubus: Make Yourself
Mr. Bungle: California
Travis: The Man Who
2000
Radiohead: Kid A
Modest Mouse: The Moon & Antarctica
Coldplay: Parachutes
Godspeed You! Black Emperor: Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
Eminem: The Marshall Mathers LP
The Avalanches: Since I Left You
OutKast: Stankonia
P.J. Harvey: Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
Queens of the Stone Age: Rated R
U2: All That You Can’t Leave Behind
At the Drive-In: Relationship of Command
Linkin Park: Hybrid Theory
The White Stripes: The Stijl
Ryan Adams: Heartbreaker
Deftones: White Pony
Elliott Smith: Figure 8
Grandaddy: The Software Slump
Primal Scream: XTRMNTR
D’Angelo: Voodoo
Electric Wizard: Dopethrone
Goldfrapp: Felt Mountain
Deltron 3030: Deltron 3030
2001
The Strokes: Is This It
Radiohead: Amnesiac
Muse: Origin of Symmetry
Daft Punk: Discovery
The White Stripes: White Blood Cells
Tool: Lateralus
System of a Down: Toxicity
Bjork: Vespertine
The Microphones: The Glow Pt. 2
Jay-Z: The Blueprint
The Shins: Oh, Inverted World
Gorillaz: Gorillaz
Opeth: Blackwater Park
Jimmy Eat World: Bleed American
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: No More Shall We Part
Incubus: Morning View
Bob Dylan: "Love and Theft"
Ryan Adams: Gold
2002
Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Coldplay: A Rush of a Blood to the Head
The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Interpol: Turn on the Bright Lights
Queens of the Stone Age: Songs for the Deaf
Beck: Sea Change
The Libertines: Up the Bracket
Red Hot Chili Peppers: By the Way
Sigur Ros: (_)
Broken Social Scene: You Forgot It in People
Eminem: The Eminem Show
Porcupine Tree: In Absentia
Damien Rice: O
Johnny Cash: American IV: The Man Comes Around
Boards of Canada: Geogaddi
The Streets: Original Pirate Material
Audioslave: Audioslave
Bruce Springsteen: The Rising
Bright Eyes: Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground
The Notwist: Neon Golden
Norah Jones: Come Away with Me
2003
The White Stripes: Elephant
Muse: Absolution
Radiohead: Hail to the Thief
The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow
The Strokes: Room on Fire
The Mars Volta: De-Loused in the Comatorium
The Postal Service: Give Up
Death Cab for Cutie: Transatlanticism
Explosions in the Sky: The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Fever to Tell
Kings of Leon: Youth & Young Manhood
Blur: Think Tank
Jay-Z: The Black Album
Brand New: Deja Entendu
OutKast: Speakerboxx/The Love Below
Blink-182: Blink-182
The Wrens: The Meadowland
Sufjan Stevens: Michigan
The Unicorns: Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone?
Linkin Park: Meteora
Evanescence: Fallen
Sun Kil Moon: Ghosts of the Great Highway
2004
Arcade Fire: Funeral
Green Day: American Idiot
The Killers: Hot Fuss
Madvillain: Madvillainy
Franz Ferdinand: Franz Ferdinand
Modest Mouse: Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Kanye West: The College Dropout
Interpol: Antics
Brian Wilson: Smile
The Libertines: The Libertines
Kings of Leon: Aha Shake Heartbreak
Keane: Hopes and Fears
Joanna Newsom: The Milk-Eyed Mender
U2: How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
Wilco: A Ghost Is Born
Sufjan Stevens: Seven Swans
Animal Collective: Sung Tongs
Kasabian: Kasabian
Iron and Wine: Our Endless Numbered Days
Death from Above 1979: You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine
The Black Keys: Rubber Factory
The Streets: A Grand Don’t Come for Free
2005
Sufjan Stevens: Illinoise
Gorillaz: Demon Days
Bloc Party: Silent Alarm
Sigur Ros: Takk . . .
Bright Eyes: I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
The National: Alligator
Coldplay: X&Y
Kanye West: Late Registration
Animal Collective: Feels
Death Cab for Cutie: Plans
Antony and the Johnsons: I Am a Bird Now
The Mars Volta: Frances the Mute
Porcupine Tree: Deadwing
System of a Down: Mezmerize
My Morning Jacket: Z
Kate Bush: Aerial
The White Stripes: Get Behind Me Satan
Wolfmother: Wolfmother
The Decemberists: Picaresque
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Jack Johnson: In Between Dreams
Queens of the Stone Age: Lullabies to Paralyze
LCD Soundsystem: LCD Soundsystem
2006
Arctic Monkeys: Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
Muse: Black Holes and Revelations
Joanna Newsom: Ys
Amy Winehouse: Back to Black
The Killers: Sam’s Town
Brand New: The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
My Chemical Romance: The Black Parade
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Stadium Arcadium
The Knife: Silent Shout
Thom York: The Eraser
Tool: 10,000 Days
The Decemberists: The Crane Wife
J Dilla: Donuts
TV On the Radio: Return to Cookie Mountain
John Mayer: Continuum
The Strokes: First Impressions of Earth
Grizzly Bear: Yellow House
Snow Patrol: Eyes Open
2007
Arcade Fire: Neon Bible
Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago
The National: Boxer
LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver
Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmares
MGMT: Oracular Spectacular
Animal Collective: Strawberry Jam
Panda Bear: Person Pitch
Burial: Untrue
Porcupine Tree: Fear of a Blank Planet
of Montreal: Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
Kanye West: Graduation
The Shins: Wincing the Night Away
Kings of Leon: Because of the Time
Eddie Vedder: Into the Wild
M.I.A. (UK): Kala
The White Stripes: Icky Thump
Modest Mouse: We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Spoon: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Justice: Cross
Interpol: Our Love to Admire
Foo Fighters: Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Bloc Party: A Weekend in the City
Wilco: Sky Blue Sky
Feist: The Reminder
2008
Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes
Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend
Coldplay: Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Portishead: Third
Elbow: The Seldom Seen Kid
TV On the Radio: Dear Science,
Kings of Leon: Only By the Night
Sigur Ros: Meo Seo i Eyrum Vio Spilum Endalaust
Deerhunter: Microcastle
The Raconteurs: Consolers of the Lonely
Have a Nice Life: Deathconsciousness
Foals: Antidotes
2009
Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavillion
The Antlers: Hospice
The xx: xx
Grizzly Bear: Veckatimest
Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Mumford & Sons: Sigh No More
Muse: The Resistance
Florence and the Machine: Lungs
Arctic Monkeys: Humbug
Kasabian: West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
The Horrors: Primary Colors
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: It’s Blitz!
Mastodon: Crack the Skye
Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca
Fever Ray: Fever Ray
Them Crooked Vultures: Them Crooked Vultures
The Decemberists: The Hazards of Love
U2: No Line on the Horizon
2010
Arcade Fire: The Suburbs
Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
The National: High Violet
Beach House: Teen Dream
The Black Keys: Brothers
LCD Soundsystem: This Is Happening
Deerhunter: Halcyon Digest
Vampire Weekend: Contra
Gorillaz: Plastic Beach
Tame Impala: Innerspeaker
Sufjan Stevens: The Age of Adz
Joanna Newsom: Have One on Me
The Tallest Man on Earth: The Wild Hunt
Janelle Monae: The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)
MGMT: Congratulations
Foals: Total Life Forever
Flying Lotus: Cosmogramma
Titus Andonicus: The Monitor
2011
Bon Iver: Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues
The Black Keys: El Camino
The Beach Boys: The Smile Sessions
Radiohead: The King of Limbs
P.J. Harvey: Let England Shake
Foo Fighters: Wasting Light
Destroyer: Kaputt
Adele: 21
M83: Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
Arctic Monkeys: Suck It and See
St. Vincent: Strange Mercy
Florence and the Machine: Ceremonials
James Blake: James Blake
The Antlers: Burst Apart
Girls: Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Foster the People: Torches
Yuck: Yuck
The Strokes: Angles
The Decemberists: The King Is Dead
2012
Kendrick Lamar: Good Kid, M.A.D.D. City
Tame Impala: Lonerism
Frank Ocean: Channel ORANGE
(alt-j): An Awesome Wave
Beach House: Bloom
Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
Swans: The Seer
Jack White: Blunderbuss
Death Grips: The Money Store
Grimes: Visions
Grizzly Bear: Shields
Cloud Nothings: Attack on Memory
Japandroids: Celebration Rock
Muse: The 2nd Law
Lana Del Rey: Born to Die
2013
Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of the City
Arcade Fire: Reflektor
Arctic Monkeys: AM
Queens of the Stone Age: . . . Like Clockwork
Daft Punk: Random Access Memories
The National: Trouble Will Find Me
Kanye West: Yeezus
My Bloody Valentine: m b v
Darkside: Psychic
Foxygen: We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic
Deafheaven: Sunbather
2014
The War on Drugs: Lost in the Dream
Sun Kil Moon: Benji
Swans: To Be Kind
Run the Jewels: Run the Jewels 2
St. Vincent: St. Vincent
Mac DeMarco: Salad Days
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