Spin: Albums of the Year, 1965-2022

Spin Magazine: Albums of the Year, 1965-2022

From 1990 to the present, Spin magazine has named an album of the year. Because they’ve also done multiple best-of-all-time lists, I have extended the album-of-the-year selections back to 1965 based on those lists. Check out other album of the year awards here. 2022: Weyes Blood And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow 2021: Turnstile Glow On 2020: Fiona Apple Fetch the Bolt Cutters 2019: Big Thief Two Hands 2018: The 1975 A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships 2017: Kendrick Lamar Damn. 2016: Mitski Puberty 2 2015: Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly 2014: The War on Drugs Lost in the Dream 2013: Kanye West Yeezus 2012: Frank Ocean Channel Orange 2011: Fucked Up David Comes to Life 2010: Janelle Monáe The ArchAndroid 2009: Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion 2008: TV on the Radio Dear Science 2007: Against Me! New Wave 2006: TV on the Radio Return to Cookie Mountain 2005: Kanye West Late Registration 2004: Kanye West The College Dropout 2003: The White Stripes Elephant 2002: The White Stripes White Blood Cells 2001: System of a Down Toxicity 2000: Radiohead Kid A 1999: Nine Inch Nails The Fragile 1998: Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 1997: Cornershop When I Was Born for the 7th Time 1996: Beck Odelay 1995: Moby Everything Is Wrong 1994: Hole Live Through This 1993: Liz Phair Exile in Guyville 1992: Pavement Slanted and Enchanted 1991: Teenage Fanclub Bandwagonesque 1990: Ice Cube AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted 1989: N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton 1988: Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back 1987: Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times 1986: The Smiths The Queen Is Dead 1985: New Order Low-Life 1984: Run-D.M.C. Run-D.M.C. 1983: Tom Waits Swordfishtrombones 1982: Richard & Linda Thompson Shoot Out the Lights 1981: Black Flag Damaged 1980: Pretenders Pretenders 1979: Joy Division Unknown Pleasures 1978: Elvis Costello & The Attractions This Year’s Model 1977: Television Marquee Moon 1976: Ramones Ramones 1975: Patti Smith Horses 1974: Kraftwerk Autobahn 1973: Sly & the Family Stone Fresh 1972: Big Star #1 Record 1971: Marvin Gaye What’s Going On 1970: The Stooges Fun House 1969: Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II 1968: Aretha Franklin Lady Soul 1967: The Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico 1966: Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde 1965: Sun Ra Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. 1 Resources and Related Links: Spin “Lists – End of Year” (1990-2020) Dave’s Music Database: “Spin’s Top 100 Albums of All Time” Dave’s Music Database: “Other Year-End Album Awards” First posted 12/10/2022; last updated 12/22/2022.

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”

Today in Music (1963): The Beatles “Please Please Me” charted in UK

Please Please Me The Beatles

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Spin: Top 100 Songs

Spin: Top 100 Songs

Spin was an American music magazine founded in 1985. It stopped running print issues in 2012, but still operates as a webzine. Their initial focus was on college and indie rock and the emergence of hip-hop. Click here to see other lists from publications and/or organizations. 1. Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock “It Takes Two” (1988) 2. Jessie Hill “Ooh Poo Paa Doo” (1960) 3. The Rolling Stones “Tumbling Dice” (1972) 4. Irma Thomas “It's Raining” (1962) 5. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1987) 6. Prince “When Doves Cry” (1984) 7. The Chiffons “One Fine Day” (1963) 8. Rod Stewart “Maggie May” (1971) 9. Dionne Warwick “Walk on By” (1964) 10. New Order “True Faith” / “1963” (1987) 11. The Beach Boys “Don’’t Worry Baby” (1964) 12. The Shangri-Las “Remember Walking in the Sand” (1964) 13. Doug E. Fresh And The Get Fresh Crew “The Show” / “La-Di-Da-Di” (1985) 14. Creedence Clearwater Revival “Green River” (1969) 15. Elvis Presley “One Night” (1958) 16. The Smiths “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” (1986) 17. Temptations “Just My Imagination Running Away with Me” (1971) 18. Donna Summer “Bad Girls” (1979) 19. David Bowie “Young Americans” (1975) 20. Public Enemy “Bring the Noise” (1988) 21. The Cure “A Night Like This” (1985) 22. Bad Company “Can’t Get Enough” (1974) 23. Madonna “Borderline” (1984) 24. Elvis Costello “Lipstick Vogue” (1978) 25. Gwen Guthrie “Ain't Nothing Goin' on But the Rent” (1986) 26. Lou Christie “Lightnin' Strikes” (1965) 27. Modern English “I Melt with You” (1983) 28. Aerosmith “Walk This Way” (1976) 29. The Miracles “Ooh Baby Baby” (1965) 30. Depeche Mode “Behind the Wheel/Route 66” (1987) 31. Hank Williams “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” (1949) 32. Marvin Gaye “What’s Going On” (1971) 33. Lloyd Price “Just Because” (1956) 34. Pebbles “Mercedes Boy” (1988) 35. Aretha Franklin “Respect” (1967) 36. Madonna “Where's the Party” (1986) 37. Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (1980) 38. 10cc “The Things We Do for Love” (1976) 39. Led Zeppelin “Whole Lotta Love” (1969) 40. Lou Reed “Satellite of Love” (1970) 41. Public Image Ltd. “This Is Not a Love Song” (1983) 42. The Shirelles “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (1960) 43. Rod Stewart Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright) (1976) 44. AC/DC “Back in Black” (1980) 45. R.E.M. “Don't Go Back to Rockville” (1984) 46. Bruce Springsteen “Glory Days” (1984) 47. The Jimi Hendrix Experience “Foxey Lady” (1967) 48. Echo & The Bunnymen “The Killing Moon” (1984) 49. Van Halen “Running with the Devil” (1978) 50. Betty Everett “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)” (1964) 51. The Kinks “Lola” (1970) 52. Sam Cooke “Bring It on Home to Me” (1962) 53. Jackie Wilson “Lonely Teardrops” (1958) 54. The Replacements “Kiss Me on the Bus” (1985) 55. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band “Night Moves” (1976) 56. Mott The Hoople “All the Young Dudes” (1972) 57. Gladys Knight & The Pips “Midnight Train to Georgia” (1973) 58. The Pretenders “Brass in Pocket (I’m Special)” (1979) 59. The Who “I Can’t Explain” (1965) 60. Martha & The Vandellas “Heat Wave” (1963) 61. Janis Joplin “Me and Bobby McGee” (1971) 62. The Robins “Riot In Cell Block #9” (1954) 63. Chuck Willis “It's Too Late” (1956) 64. World Famous Supreme Team “Hey DJ” (1984) 65. U2 “Pride (In the Name of Love)” (1984) 66. The Sex Pistols “Anarchy in the U.K.” (1976) 67. Tom Jones “It’s Not Unusual” (1965) 68. David Bowie “Heroes” (1977) 69. Time Zone “World Destruction” (1985) 70. The Velvet Underground “I’m Waiting for the Man” (1967) 71. Bob Dylan “Knockin’ on Heaven's Door” (1973) 72. Bobby Brown “My Prerogative” (1988) 73. The Four Tops “Standing in the Shadows of Love” (1966) 74. Iggy Pop “Lust for Life” (1977) 75. Tammy Wynette “D-I-V-O-R-C-E” (1968) 76. Sinéad O’Connor “Troy” (1987) 77. Squeeze “Slap and Tickle” (1979) 78. Edgar Winter “Free Ride” (1973) 79. The Feelies “Away” (1988) 80. Jackie Wilson “Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher” (1967) 81. Black Sabbath “Paranoid” (1970) 82. Exposé “Point of No Return” (1985) 83. Dixie Cups “Iko Iko” (1965) 84. Jethro Tull “Aqualung” (1971) 85. The Jackson 5 “I Want You Back” (1969) 86. Elvis Presley “Jailhouse Rock” (1957) 87. Peter Frampton “Do You Feel Like We Do” (1973) 88. The Clash “White Riot” (1977) 89. The Supremes “Someday We’ll Be Together” (1969) 90. The Sugarcubes “Motorcrash” (1988) 91. The Raspberries “Go All the Way” (1972) 92. The Smiths “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” (1984) 93. The Beatles “Please Please Me” (1963) 94. The Cure “Why Can’t I Be You?” (1987) 95. The Grateful Dead “China Cat Sunflower” (1969) 96. Michael Jackson “Don't Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” (1979) 97. The Doors “People Are Strange” (1967) 98. The Emotions “Best of My Love” (1977) 99. Joe Cocker “Delta Lady” (1969) 100. Killing Joke “Eighties” (1984) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Lists from other publications and/or organizations” Spin (1989). “100 Greatest Singles of All Time” First posted 4/8/2021.