80. Beck – Odelay
If you’re Beck, how do you follow up the unexpected smashing success that was Loser? Odealy was a great way to do it. It took all the elements of Mellow Gold and tightened them up, producing the album that he is now most known for. Beck has veered in many directions since, but all of his later musical mood swings can be traced, at least in part, back here.
79. Nas – Illmatic
Nas’ first album is a classic, showcasing everything that defined the East Coast hip hop scene at the time. Along with artists like Jay-Z, The Wu-Tang Clan, and Mobb Deep, Illmatic helped propel the East Coast back into the forefront of the national consciousness. Nas was on top of his game here, but like anyone who starts out so strong, he has had a hard time living up to the undeniable timelessness of Illmatic.
78. Lostprophets – Start Something
I almost want to say that I was young and didn’t know any better, but damn was I hooked on this album. For a very long time. The Welsh boys never really achieved success over here in the states but they got me hooked. Lostprophets made easily digestible, catchy rock music and Start Something really got to me. It’s not the type of album I’d consistently listen to now, but as a teenager who was still discovering where he wanted to sit in the musical theatre, there was nothing better.
77. Kanye West – The College Dropout
Kanye West—great producer, decent emcee. On his debut album, he makes up for his weakness by surrounding himself with much more proficient rappers. The result is nothing short of magical. While he has let his ego get on the way of his newer material, The College Dropout is pure unadulterated great hip hop.
76. Spoon – Gagagagaga
Spoon’s most complete album to date happens to be their latest. Easily digestible and wholly enjoyable. This is what pop music should sound like.
75. Thom Yorke – The Eraser
I’m beginning to think Mr. Yorke can do no wrong. While Radiohead was heading back towards guitars, Thom hadn’t gotten the electronica out of his system. While not as focused as Kid A (though I hate to compare solo work to that of his actual band, but it’s easy), it is miles ahead of Amnesiac. In fact, this could almost be the eighth Radiohead album, if not for the absence of Jonny Greenwood’s guitar, but it stands up well on it’s own, if it doesn’t add another layer of mystery to the enigmatic singer’s persona.
74. Nirvana – Nevermind
While this may be their most popular album, the one that cemented their place as one of the few bands that were able to change the face of rock forever, it is not their best. Not to say that this is a bad album, far from it. Every song on it has become a classic in its own right. This is the album that started the revolution (along with a sea of imitators) and for that, it will always be remembered.
73. The Coup – Pick a Bigger Weapon
Getting political in music works best when it’s basically all you do (see Rage Against the Machine). Couple that with a charismatic smooth flowing emcee and production that fits the mood of the songs perfectly, and you get a sense of why the Coup work so well. Boots Riley is pissed, sure, but he isn’t content in just letting you know about it, he wants you to feel it right along with him. And by the end of this record, you begin to do just that.
72. System of a Down – System of a Down
Serj and co. were one of the best things to come out of the whole alternative metal scene of the late 90’s. Political message aside, their unique sound was what kept them relevant for so long. This was the record that started it all, much rawer than their later efforts, but just as intelligent and moving.
71. DangerDoom – The Mouse and the Mask
An album based on a series of cartoons can’t be good, can it? Well, when the cartoons in question are the best of the Adult Swim lineup and the artists paying homage are Danger Mouse and MF Doom, then yes, yes it can. Doom’s at his tightest since Madvillainy, and DM’s beats are as eclectic as always. Add in some killer guest spots by Ghostface and Kweli and some show stealing skits, you have one of the best (if not nerdiest) hip hop albums of the past few years.
70. Sonic Youth – Rather Ripped
Ironically, this was the album that got me into Sonic Youth, not their earlier material. This actually turned out to work in my favor, as the albums accessibility made the transition into their earlier, more experimental works much easier. Pink Steam remains one of my favorite Sonic Youth songs to this day.
69. System of a Down – Toxicity
System took everything they did right on their first album and made it better. The result was a tighter, more cohesive album that catapulted them to superstar status.
68. Green Day – Dookie
Looking back at this, I don’t know whether to consider it juvenile or brilliant. Whichever it is, Green Day could very well be the band of my generation (take that for what you will). No other act that came out of that time has remained relevant for as long as they have and they’re continuing to reinvent themselves today. Whatever you think about them, they deserve some respect.
67. Incubus – S.C.I.E.N.C.E.
While Incubus ended up pulling a RHCP (discovering an inoffensive sound and running with it) on their later efforts, S.C.I.E.N.C.E. was by far their most interesting effort. Mistakenly labeled nu-metal based on first single “New Skin,” they also employed elements of funk and electronica in their music. Plus, Brandon Boyd could actually sing, unlike many of his “contemporaries” at the time. S.C.I.E.N.C.E. was their breakthrough effort, but unfortunately their best since they achieved mainstream status.
66. Sevendust – Home
I’ll chalk this one up to Lajon’s voice. The man has such a smooth, almost soulful voice, it gave them a real leg up on the other heavy bands of the late 90’s, early 00’s. The music here was rather simplistic (compared to some of their later work), but in conjunction with the vocal work, it became movable, memorable heavy music.
65. Marilyn Manson – Mechanical Animals
While Holy Wood is Manson’s most prolific effort, Mechanical Animals is his most fun. Remembered by most for the interesting, um, style that he chose to portray, the music here holds up fine on its own. Yes, it is more poppy than his previous work, going from crunching industrial/goth guitars for a more electronic sound, but it was all part of his master plan. He took some heat from long time fans for doing that, but in hindsight, in the context of the world that he was creating, it worked perfectly.
64. Aesop Rock – Labor Days
This is one of indie rap’s quintessential albums. From Aesop’s complex and frantic flow to his lyrics that, by his own admission, don’t always make sense, Labor Days is a modern day masterpiece. Blockhead provides the perfect soundtrack for Mr. Rock’s musings and the result is the album that really the New York Def Jux crew on the national map once and for all.
63. Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape
These days I find it hard to get excited about a new Foo Fighters record. At this point, you know exactly what you’re going to get. The Colour and the Shape had Dave Grohl and co. in top form and spawned one of the greatest rock radio songs of the 90’s in Everlong. It’s a shame that they’ve gotten so predictable.
62. The Chemical Brothers – Push the Button
When the Chemical Brothers are on, damn are they on. Other than Galvanize, Push the Button may not have had the defining singles that they had earlier in their career, but it is just such a consistent album that it makes up for it. As long as they keep putting out catchy, danceable music like this, people will listen.
61. Radiohead – Kid A
After the masterpiece that was OK Computer, most bands would try and recreate that magic for another go around in an attempt to strike while the iron is hot. But Radiohead are not most bands. Kid A was a complete 180 from OK Computer, and not at all what people were expecting. Out went the guitars and in came the keyboards. While their previous works were more anthemic, Kid A was a much more abstract and minimalistic affair. This radical change of style could very well have backfired, but Kid A remains one of Radiohead’s most critically acclaimed and universally loved albums in their catalogue.
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