Showing posts with label 100 greatest albums. Show all posts

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Spin’s 100 Greatest Albums

First posted 4/30/2010; updated 12/10/2020.

Spin:

Top 100 Albums

This is an aggregate of eight best-of lists from Spin magazine (details at bottom of page). The magazine was founded in 1985 by Bob Guccione, Jr. It stopped producing print issues in 2012, but continues to run as an online magazine. The focus is on less mainstream fare, including alternative rock, alternative country, college rock, electronica, grunge, hip-hop, new wave, punk, reggae, and world music.

Also, check out Spin’s annual picks for album of the year. You can also see other publications’ picks for best albums of all time here.

1. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)
2. Ramones Ramones (1976)
3. Nirvana Nevermind (1991)
4. Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987)
5. OutKast Stankonia (2000)
6. N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (1989)
7. Hüsker Dü New Day Rising (1985)
8. Nirvana In Utero (1993)
9. Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream (1993)
10. Radiohead OK Computer (1997)

11. The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (1986)
12. Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
13. Joy Division Unknown Pleasures (1979)
14. Pavement Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
15. Sonic Youth Daydream Nation (1988)
16. PJ Harvey Rid of Me (1993)
17. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987)
18. De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
19. Radiohead Kid A (2000)
20. My Bloody Valentine Loveless (1991)

21. Black Flag Damaged (1981)
22. Minutemen Double Nickels on the Dime (1984)
23. Eric B. & Rakim Paid in Full (1987)
24. U2 Achtung Baby (1991)
25. Hole Live Through This (1994)
26. Pixies Surfer Rosa (1988)
27. Liz Phair Exile in Guyville (1993)
28. Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977)
29. Sleater-Kinney Dig Me Out (1997)
30. Fugazi 13 Songs (1990)

31. Green Day Dookie (1994)
32. Dr. Dre The Chronic (1992)
33. Lucinda Williams Lucinda Williams (1988)
34. Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill (1986)
35. R.E.M. Automatic for the People (1992)
36. Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
37. Rage Against the Machine The Battle of Los Angeles (1999)
38. Jesus and Mary Chain Psychocandy (1985)
39. A Tribe Called Quest The Low-End Theory (1991)
40. Boogie Down Productions Criminal Minded (1987)

41. Soundgarden Superunknown (1994)
42. Jeff Buckley Grace (1994)
43. The Pogues Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash (1985)
44. The Breeders Last Splash (1993)
45. Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade (1984)
46. R.E.M. Murmur (1983)
47. Wire Pink Flag (1977)
48. Run-D.M.C. Run-D.M.C. (1984)
49. Gang of Four Entertainment! (1979)
50. Buzzcocks Singles Going Steady (compilation: 1977-79, released 1979)

51. X-Ray Spex Germ-Free Adolescents (1978)
52. Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique (1989)
53. Sinéad O’Connor The Lion and the Cobra (1987)
54. The Clash The Clash (1977)
55. The Stooges Fun House (1970)
56. Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral (1994)
57. Television Marquee Moon (1977)
58. Nas Illmatic (1994)
59. The Replacements Let It Be (1984)
60. The Replacements Tim (1985)

61. Beck Odelay (1996)
62. Public Image Ltd. Metal Box (aka “Second Edition”) (1979)
63. The Pixies Doolittle (1989)
64. Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
65. The Feelies Crazy Rhythms (1980)
66. Meat Puppets Meat Puppets II (1984)
67. New Order Low-Life (1985)
68. Public Enemy Fear of a Black Planet (1990)
69. Guided by Voices Bee Thousand (1994)
70. Pere Ubu The Modern Dance (1978)

71. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987)
72. The Stooges The Stooges (1969)
73. The Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die (1994)
74. The Mekons Fear and Whiskey (1985)
75. Run-D.M.C. Raising Hell (1986)
76. The Cure The Head on the Door (1985)
77. Metallica Master of Puppets (1986)
78. Elliott Smith Either/Or (1997)
79. Dinosaur Jr. You’re Living All Over Me (1987)
80. Jay-Z The Blueprint (2001)

81. Pavement Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
82. Arcade Fire Funeral (2004)
83. The Descendents Milo Goes to College (1982)
84. Kanye West The College Dropout (2004)
85. Devo Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo (1978)
86. Oasis Definitely Maybe (1994)
87. Flipper Album Generic (1982)
88. Björk Post (1995)
89. PJ Harvey Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000)
90. Tricky Maxinquaye (1995)

91. Pulp Different Class (1995)
92. The Strokes Is This It (2001)
93. Portishead Dummy (1994)
94. The Fall This Nation’s Saving Grace (1985)
95. DJ Shadow Endtroducing… (1996)
96. Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
97. D’Angelo Voodoo (2000)
98. Belle & Sebastian If You’re Feeling Sinister (1996)
99. Beck Mellow Gold (1993)
100. Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (1995)

Resources and Related Links:

April 1989: “The 25 Greatest Albums of All Time”
1990: “Top Ten College Cult Classic Albums”
Dec. 1995: “100 Alternative Albums”
2000: “Best Albums That You’ve Never Heard Of”
2001: “The 50 Most Essential Punk Records”
April 2003: “Most Influential Albums Not Recorded by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elvis, or the Rolling Stones”
July 2005: “100 Greatest Albums 1985-2005”
April 2010: “125 Best Albums of the Past 25 Years”
Dec. 6, 2020: “The 35 Best Albums of the Last 35 Years”

Friday, January 10, 2014

Mojo Magazine’s 100 Greatest Albums

Mojo Magazine:

The Top 100 Albums

Mojo is a British music magazine. Over the years, they’ve put out a number of best-of-all-time album lists. This DMDB exclusive list aggregates 13 of Mojo’s lists together (see resources for all the lists at the bottom of the page).

Also, check out Mojo’s annual picks for album of the year from 1950 on.

Check out other publications and organizations’ best-of album lists here.

1. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966)
2. The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
3. The Beatles Revolver (1966)
4. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? (1967)
5. The Clash London Calling (1979)
6. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971)
7. Stevie Wonder Innervisions (1973)
8. Radiohead The Bends (1995)
9. The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street (1972)
10. Jeff Buckley Grace (1994)

11. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
12. Patti Smith Horses (1975)
13. Ramones Ramones (1976)
14. The Doors The Doors (1967)
15. Pulp Different Class (1995)
16. The Stone Roses The Stone Roses (1989)
17. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band Trout Mask Replica (1969)
18. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
19. Television Marquee Moon (1977)
20. Oasis Definitely Maybe (1994)

21. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (1975)
22. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (1966)
23. Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
24. Nirvana Nevermind (1991)
25. Joni Mitchell Blue (1971)
26. Fairport Convention Liege and Lief (1969)
27. Richard & Linda Thompson I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974)
28. Radiohead OK Computer (1997)
29. Bob Dylan Time Out of Mind (1997)
30. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965)

31. Love Forever Changes (1967)

32. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland (1968)
33. Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1975)
34. The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers (1971)
35. New York Dolls New York Dolls (1973)
36. Neil Young Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969)
37. Lou Reed Transformer (1972)
38. Pink Floyd The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
39. Steely Dan Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972)
40. U2 Achtung Baby (1991)

41. Neil Young Tonight’s the Night (1975)
42. The Band Music from Big Pink (1968)
43. Frank Zappa Hot Rats (1969)
44. Bob Dylan Bringing It All Back Home (1965)
45. The Strokes Is This It (2001)
46. The Libertines Up the Bracket (2002)
47. Tricky Maxinquaye (1995)
48. The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed (1969)
49. Nirvana In Utero (1993)
50. The Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet (1968)

51. The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground (1969)
52. Blur Blur (1997)
53. Nick Drake Five Leaves Left (1969)
54. Van Morrison Astral Weeks (1968)
55. The Flaming Lips The Soft Bulletin (1999)
56. The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968)
57. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969)
58. DJ Shadow Endtroducing… (1996)
59. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
60. Black Sabbath Black Sabbath (1970)

61. James Brown Live at the Apollo Volume 1 (live, 1962)
62. The Band The Band (1969)
63. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959)
64. David Bowie Hunky Dory (1971)
65. R.E.M. Automatic for the People (1992)
66. Portishead Dummy (1994)
67. The Stooges Fun House (1970)
68. Spiritualized Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (1997)
69. Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977)
70. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977)

71. Air Moon Safari (1998)
72. Oasis (What’s the Story) Morning Glory (1995)
73. The Byrds The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968)
74. Jesus and Mary Chain Psychocandy (1985)
75. Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987)
76. John Lennon Plastic Ono Band (1970)
77. Various Artists Buena Vista Social Club (1997)
78. The Clash The Clash (1977)
79. Roxy Music For Your Pleasure (1973)
80. Blur Parklife (1994)

81. Otis Redding Otis Blue (1965)
82. Donald Fagen The Nightfly (1982)
83. Bruce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978)
84. Gram Parsons Grievous Angel (1974)
85. Joy Division Unknown Pleasures (1979)
86. The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night (soundtrack, 1964)
87. Tom Waits Swordfishtrombones (1983)
88. Carole King Tapestry (1971)
89. Kate Bush Hounds of Love (1985)
90. Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (1975)

91. R.E.M. Murmur (1983)
92. Underworld Second Toughest in the Infants (1996)
93. Johnny Burnette & the Rock ‘N’ Roll Trio Johnny Burnette and the Rock ‘N’ Roll Trio (1956)
94. PJ Harvey To Bring You My Love (1995)
95. Derek and the Dominos Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)
96. King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)
97. Free Fire and Water (1970)
98. The Slits Cut (1979)
99. Jethro Tull Stand Up (1969)
100. John Cale Music for a New Society (1982)

Resources and Related Links:

Dave’s Music Database: Best-of Album Lists by Publications/Organizations Mojo’s Album of the Year, 1950-
WatchMojo.com: “Top 10 Rock and Roll Albums That Changed Music Forever”
Ranked list with commentary. No indication of when it was published.
December 2013: 20 Albums That Shook the World
In celebration of their 20th birthday, Mojo polled its readers for the most significant albums of the last 20 years. The magazine presented the top choice of each year from 1993 to 2012 along with four runner-ups. A list ranking the top 20 vote-getters was also included.
June 2009: The 50 Greatest Island Records
Chronological list of 50 albums released by Island Records in celebration of its 50th birthday.
March 2008: The Indie Top 50
List of albums and singles.
June 2007: 100 Records That Changed the World
Chronological list of albums and singles.
May 2006: 100 Modern Classics: The Greatest Albums of Our Lifetime
Ranked list of albums released since the beginning of Mojo in 10/93.
March 2004: Lost Albums You Must Own
Unranked list of 67 obscure albums.
November 2003: “Stars’ Picks”
Top ten ranked list. Details behind list unknown.
2003: The 20 Greatest Guitar Albums Ever (writers’ picks)
2001: Mojo’s 1000: The Ultimate CD Buyers Guide
Sections on various genres including blues, country, folk, jazz, pop, reggae, rock, soul, soundtracks, and world.
2000: The Greatest Albums of All Time. Edited by Jim Irwin. Mojo Books: Edinburgh, UK.
This book offers up 600 albums chronologically, starting with 1946’s The Voice of Frank Sinatra. More than 40 journalists contributed reviews. Also included are lists of the 100 best soundtracks and the 100 best compilations.
January 1996: The 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made (Readers’ poll)
August 1995: The 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made (critics’ picks)
Ranked top 100 list picked by 76 critics. Broken link.

First posted 1/10/2014; last updated 3/13/2024.

Saturday, January 19, 2002

VH1’s 100 Greatest Albums

First posted 1/19/2002; updated 10/16/2020.

VH1:

100 Greatest Albums

This list originally aired on cable network television’s VH1. For more details, check out the book VH1: 100 Greatest Albums book, edited by Jacob Hoye and published in 2003. Hoye offers commentaries on all the albums as well as the accurate list. In the introduction, this explanation of the project is offered: “VH1 sent ballots out to over 700 musicians, from Art Garfunkel to Britney Spears; songwriters, disc jockeys, radio programmers, and critics…The votes were calculated and the albums were ranked, producing the following list,” which DMDB is presenting below, including links to DMDB album pages.

Also, check out annual picks for album of the year.

1. The Beatles Revolver (1966)
2. Nirvana Nevermind (1991)
3. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966)
4. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971)
5. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? (1967)
6. The Beatles Rubber Soul (1965)
7. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
8. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969)
9. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (1966)
10. The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

11. The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968)
12. The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street (1972)
13. The Who Who’s Next (1971)
14. Joni Mitchell Blue (1971)
15. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987)
16. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977)
17. Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977)
18. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984)
19. Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
20. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)

21. Elvis Presley The Sun Sessions (archives: 1954-55, released 1976)
22. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
23. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982)
24. The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed (1969)
25. The Clash London Calling (1979)
26. Bob Marley & the Wailers Exodus (1977)
27. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (1975)
28. Patti Smith Horses (1975)
29. Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1975)
30. Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)

31. Stevie Wonder Innervisions (1973)
32. Van Morrison Moondance (1970)
33. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
34. James Brown Sex Machine (live, 1970)
35. Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987)
36. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979)
37. Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
38. Eagles Hotel California (1976)
39. Carole King Tapestry (1971)
40. Van Morrison Astral Weeks (1968)

41. Aretha Franklin Lady Soul (1968)
42. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987)
43. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin I (1969)
44. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II (1969)
45. Sly & the Family Stone Stand! (1969)
46. The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers (1971) 47. David Bowie Hunky Dory (1971)
48. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
49. Prince 1999 (1982)
50. The Police Synchronicity (1983)

51. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
52. Pretenders Pretenders (1980)
53. Bob Dylan Bringing It All Back Home (1965)
54. Ramones Ramones (1976)
55. Parliament Mothership Connection (1975)
56. Kraftwerk Trans-Europa Express (Trans Europe Express) (1977)
57. Various artists (Bee Gees et al) Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack, 1977)
58. Dusty Springfield Dusty in Memphis (1969)
59. The Allman Brothers At Fillmore East (live, 1971)
60. The Doors The Doors (1967)

61. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Déjà Vu (1970)
62. N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (1989)
63. Curtis Mayfield Superfly (soundtrack, 1972)
64. Miles Davis Bitches Brew (1970)
65. U2 Achtung Baby (1991)
66. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959)
67. The Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet (1968)
68. Bruce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978)
69. The Stooges Raw Power (1973)
70. Al Green Call Me (1973)

71. Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (1975)
72. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland (1968)
73. Jeff Buckley Grace (1994)
74. Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique (1989)
75. The Replacements Let It Be (1984)
76. Aretha Franklin Young, Gifted & Black (1972)
77. James Taylor Sweet Baby James (1970)
78. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold As Love (1967)
79. Pearl Jam Ten (1991)
80. Elvis Costello My Aim Is True (1977)

81. Otis Redding Otis Blue (1965)
82. AC/DC Back in Black (1980)
83. Television Marquee Moon (1977)
84. Paul Simon Graceland (1986)
85. Santana Abraxas (1970)
86. The Who Quadrophenia (1973)
87. Cream Disraeli Gears (1967)
88. Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980)
89. Derek and the Dominos Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)
90. The Who Tommy (1969)

91. Peter Gabriel So (1986)
92. R.E.M. Murmur (1983)
93. Simon & Garfunkel Bookends (1968)
94. Radiohead OK Computer (1997)
95. Tina Turner Private Dancer (1984)
96. Liz Phair Exile in Guyville (1993)
97. Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)
98. The Jackson 5 ABC (1970)
99. The B-52s The B-52s (1979)
100. Madonna Like a Prayer (1989)