Readers of This is a Newsletter!, it has been three years since this esteemed publication has launched, and I have yet to host a discussion thread. So to add an appendix to the epilogue to the epic Top 100 Albums journey that
and I have embarked on, I have decided to host our first discussion thread to finally put a bow on this behemoth of a project.
I began this series with a caveat: These types of rankings are hopelessly subjective and there are easily another 100 records that could plausibly stake a claim on a Top 100 Albums list and could’ve easily cracked mine.
So here are another 100 albums that just missed the cut. Here is your opportunity to shower me with praise or lead an online harassment campaign against me for my intolerably inhumane selections of certain albums over your favorites. Maybe you’ll discover some more cool tunes.
Excited for your feedback! Now, on to the list…
200-191: 200: Swordfishtrombones - Tom Waits (1983) 199: Sunday at the Vanguard - Bill Evans Trio (1960) 198: Traveller - Chris Stapleton (2015) 197: FutureSex/LoveSounds - Justin Timberlake (2006) 196: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road - Lucinda Williams (1998) 195: Sound & Color - Alabama Shakes (2015) 194: Cross - Justice (2007) 193: Diamond Life - Sade (1984) 192: Dragon New Warm Mountain, I Believe In You - Big Thief (2022) 191: House of Balloons - The Weeknd (2011)
190-181: 190: You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine - Death From Above 1979 (2004) 189: This is Happening - LCD Soundsystem (2010) 188: Wide Awake! - Parquet Courts (2018) 187: Merriweather Post Pavilion - Animal Collective (2009) 186: Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth (1988) 185: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain - Pavement (1994) 184: The Shape of Jazz to Come - Ornette Coleman (1959) 183: Stop Making Sense - The Talking Heads (1984) 182: Look-Ka-Py-Py - The Meters (1970) 181: Demon Days - Gorillaz (2005)
180-171: 180: Back to Black - Amy Winehouse (2006) 179: If You’re Feeling Sinister - Belle and Sebastian (1998) 178: Moon Safari - Air (1998) 177: Run the Jewels 2 - Run the Jewels (2014) 176: Things Fall Apart - The Roots (1999) 175: In Utero - Nirvana (1993) 174: MM…Food - MF Doom (2004) 173: 69 Love Songs - The Magnetic Fields (1999) 172: Elliot Smith - Elliot Smith (1995) 171: Atrocity Exhibition - Danny Brown (2016)
170-161: 170: The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady - Charles Mingus (1963) 169: Hot Buttered Soul - Isaac Hayes (1969) 168: Music Has the Right to Children - Boards of Canada (1998) 167: Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes (2011) 166: Ironman - Ghostface Killah (1996) 165: American Recordings - Johnny Cash (1994) 164: Another Green World - Brian Eno (1975) 163: In the Jungle Groove - James Brown (1986) 162: The Infamous - Mobb Deep (1995) 161: Random Access Memories - Daft Punk (2013)
160-151: 160: Autobahn - Kraftwerk (1974) 159: Malibu - Anderson .Paak (2016) 158: Donuts - J Dilla (2006) 157: Toxicity - System of a Down (2001) 156: Odelay - Beck (1996) 155: Pieces of a Man - Gil Scott-Heron (1971) 154: Station to Station - David Bowie (1976) 153: Nebraska - Bruce Springsteen (1982) 152: Cosmogramma - Flying Lotus (2010) 151: Black Messiah - D’Angelo & The Vanguard (2014)
150-141: 150: Songs for the Deaf - Queens of the Stone Age (2002) 149: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots - The Flaming Lips (2002) 148: Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear (2009) 147: Cosmo’s Factory - Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970) 146: Monk’s Music - Thelonious Monk (1957) 145: Loveless - My Bloody Valentine (1991) 144: All Things Must Pass - George Harrison (1970) 143: Entertainment! - Gang of Four (1979) 142: Exile on Main Street - Rolling Stone (1972) 141: Homogenic - Björk (1997)
140-131: 140: Zenyatta Mondatta - The Police (1980) 139: Graceland - Paul Simon (1986) 138: Pink Flag - Wire (1978) 137: Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989) 136: Master of Puppets - Metallica (1986) 135: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness - Smashing Pumpkins (1995) 134: Bryter Layter - Nick Drake (1970) 133: The College Dropout - Kanye West (2004) 132: Kid A - Radiohead (2000) 131: Aja - Steely Dan (1977)
130-121: 130: Otis Blue - Otis Redding (1965) 129: Automatic for the People - R.E.M. (1992) 128: Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division (1979) 127: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy (1988) 126: Talking Book - Stevie Wonder (1972) 125: Physical Graffiti - Led Zeppelin (1975) 124: Crosby, Stills & Nash - Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969) 123: Paul’s Boutique - Beastie Boys (1989) 122: Aquemini - OutKast (1998) 121: Revolver - The Beatles (1966)
120-111: 120: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Vols 1 & 2 - Ray Charles (1962) 119: Music from the Big Pink - The Band (1968) 118: Superfly - Curtis Mayfield (1972) 117: Songs of Love and Hate - Leonard Cohen (1971) 116: Lady Soul - Aretha Franklin (1968) 115: Sign “O” the Times - Prince (1987) 114: Blonde on Blonde - Bob Dylan (1966) 113: Pastel Blues - Nina Simone (1965) 112: Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd (1973) 111: There’s a Riot Goin’ On - Sly and the Family Stone (1971)
110-101: 110: Power, Corruption, and Lies - New Order (1983) 109: American Water - Silver Jews (1998) 108: Violator - Depeche Mode (1990) 107: At Fillmore East (Deluxe Version) - Allman Brothers Band (1971) 106: The Chronic - Dr. Dre (1992) 105: Ready to Die - Notorious B.I.G. (1994) 104: Innervisions - Stevie Wonder (1973) 103: A Love Supreme - John Coltrane (1965) 102: Thriller - Michael Jackson (1982) 101: Kind of Blue - Miles Davis (1959)
So, I just commented on Kevin’s post and this has now thrown up a load of new thoughts. It really is an impossible task, I think!
Back to Black is a fantastic album, as is Wide Awake! I think Songs of Faith and Devotion would be my DM pick. Honestly, I’ve just seen this series as an opportunity to dive into things which haven’t been on my radar up to now.
Glad to hear! I'm glad all the discussion around this project has been positive. We didn't want this to turn into a competition of who has the "better" list or why some albums deserve more praise than others. We just wanted to celebrate the music we love and hopefully introduce more people to some dope tunes.
At one point, Back to Black was on mine, but I booted it at the last second. Random Access Memories is great, but I just love Discovery, and there's only so many artists I can give multiple slots to in my top 100 (I think mine wound up being Beatles, Kendrick Lamar, Pink Floyd, and Radiohead). Moon Safari is so dope and I just watched Air perform it live.
First, I was surprised to see how many of these I do have. Then, I was surprised to see artists I had never heard of, which means lots of listening coming up. Then, I wanted to see the first 100 again, because I probably have a PROTEST
list coming your way.
YIKES! Is there room on the internet for all the good stuff?
I think I might like your 2nd 100 more red than your top 100. Or maybe that's just because I've forgotten your albums in the top 100! Albums are like kids; it's endless fun making lists of your favorites!
Leaving New Order out of the Top 100 should probably mean a trip to The Hague for you.
Both of us not leaving room for Parquet Courts and The Roots isn’t a whole lot better.
Yeah I love everything from Light Up Gold to Wide Awake.
It was tough leaving New Order and Depeche Mode out. I accept my punishment.
So, I just commented on Kevin’s post and this has now thrown up a load of new thoughts. It really is an impossible task, I think!
Back to Black is a fantastic album, as is Wide Awake! I think Songs of Faith and Devotion would be my DM pick. Honestly, I’ve just seen this series as an opportunity to dive into things which haven’t been on my radar up to now.
Glad to hear! I'm glad all the discussion around this project has been positive. We didn't want this to turn into a competition of who has the "better" list or why some albums deserve more praise than others. We just wanted to celebrate the music we love and hopefully introduce more people to some dope tunes.
100%
Oh wow, Traveler was such a great album, my third rated album that year.
Of your albums that missed the top 100 cut these are the ones that would likely merit consideration for my own top 100:
• Back to Black
• Moon Safari
• Random Access Memories
• Unknown Pleasures
• Crosby, Stills & Nash
At one point, Back to Black was on mine, but I booted it at the last second. Random Access Memories is great, but I just love Discovery, and there's only so many artists I can give multiple slots to in my top 100 (I think mine wound up being Beatles, Kendrick Lamar, Pink Floyd, and Radiohead). Moon Safari is so dope and I just watched Air perform it live.
For my taste, Exile on Main St, Blonde on Blonde, and Revolver all belong in top 50. But I agree there are many great albums.
Not getting any arguments from me. Blonde on blonde and Exile almost made my top 100
First, I was surprised to see how many of these I do have. Then, I was surprised to see artists I had never heard of, which means lots of listening coming up. Then, I wanted to see the first 100 again, because I probably have a PROTEST
list coming your way.
YIKES! Is there room on the internet for all the good stuff?
If you do make a protest list, I'd love to read it!
ok, here goes:
1. COME AWAY WITH ME
Norah Jones
2.CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS
3. THE STRANGER Billy Joel
4.KILLING ME SOFTLY
Roberta Flack
5.FOREIGNER
6. CREAM
7. GLOBAL DRUM PROJECT Mickey Hart
8. QUEEN'S GREATEST HITS I,II, III
9. SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER Bee Gees and others
10.IVE TRIED EVERYTHING BUT THERAPY Teddy Swims
11. DIVISION BELL Pink Floyd
12. AEROSMITH
13.CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
14. STYX
15. SHE'S SO UNUSUAL Cyndi Lauper
I apologize if any of these were on your top 200, but I think I'm blind now.
There’s just a lot of good music and such little space on the list. I could do a top 1000 albums and I’d love them all.
lol. Same!
I think I might like your 2nd 100 more red than your top 100. Or maybe that's just because I've forgotten your albums in the top 100! Albums are like kids; it's endless fun making lists of your favorites!
If you asked me to recreate my top 100 albums, it would already be a different list