1001 Albums Summary

Pearl by Janis Joplin

Low-Life by New Order

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

xx by The xx

Definitely Maybe by Oasis

21 by Adele

Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen

The Sounds Of India by Ravi Shankar

Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols by Sex Pistols

Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin

Isn't Anything by My Bloody Valentine

Vespertine by Björk

The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails

Live! by Fela Kuti

Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert) by Bob Dylan

Cosmo's Factory by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane

Maxinquaye by Tricky

If I Should Fall From Grace With God by The Pogues

Floodland by Sisters Of Mercy

Aja by Steely Dan

Younger Than Yesterday by The Byrds

Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge by Mudhoney

Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A.

Electric by The Cult

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde by The Pharcyde

Timeless by Goldie

Ready To Die by The Notorious B.I.G.

The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

How often are we going to allow influence to carry the day? This album is embarrassing to listen to most of the time, the lyrics are the same level of the first year teacher who wants to teach his 8th grade students Algebra through the magic of hip-hop. If this album is indeed a foundational text in the genre, then what a shaky foundation it is. P.S. the group is called Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five but the album has seven guys on the cover? The f$%&?

So by Peter Gabriel

Dookie by Green Day

Strange Cargo III by William Orbit

Most of this album sounds like the soundtrack for a 90s JRPG with a beat underneath. Nothing wrong with it, but not very interesting unless i'm min/maxing my emo loner teen protagonist at the same time.

Ocean Rain by Echo And The Bunnymen

An album that's well on its way to 3 star forgettability and then boom, Killing Moon forces the adjustment.

Vento De Maio by Elis Regina

Back At The Chicken Shack by Jimmy Smith

Fuzzy by Grant Lee Buffalo

Quiet Life by Japan

This is what people who don't like new wave think new wave sounds like. Repetitive, unadventurous, and uninteresting.

Coat Of Many Colors by Dolly Parton

I sure do wish contemporary country stars would ask themselves, "are you sure Dolly done it this way"?

At Folsom Prison by Johnny Cash

Document by R.E.M.

Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf

The Village Green Preservation Society by The Kinks

Automatic For The People by R.E.M.

Machine Gun Etiquette by The Damned

Innervisions by Stevie Wonder

All Things Must Pass by George Harrison

Hypnotised by The Undertones

Time (The Revelator) by Gillian Welch

Shake Your Money Maker by The Black Crowes

Killing Joke by Killing Joke

Larks' Tongues In Aspic by King Crimson

This is your God?!?

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not by Arctic Monkeys

Gorillaz by Gorillaz

In The Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra

Manassas by Stephen Stills

No songs here that I would describe as unimpeachable bangers, but still, a double album that avoids anything resembling an obvious skip is worthy of some admiration.

Aqualung by Jethro Tull

Exile On Main Street by The Rolling Stones

McCartney by Paul McCartney

Getz/Gilberto by Stan Getz

Amnesiac by Radiohead

There's 1001 albums here, right? So there's a limited amount of space. Did we really need to carve out a place for the Kid A outtakes?

Traffic by Traffic

Safe As Milk by Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem

Tuesday Night Music Club by Sheryl Crow

Brilliant Corners by Thelonious Monk

This Is Fats Domino by Fats Domino

Damaged by Black Flag

...And Justice For All by Metallica

Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand

Bringing It All Back Home by Bob Dylan

London Calling by The Clash

Probably the only double album i've ever heard that I wish was longer. Just outrageously good.

Meat Puppets II by Meat Puppets

Power In Numbers by Jurassic 5

I've heard this album categorized as alternative hip-hop several times. No chance, it's positively retro. And pining for an era much better left in the 80s.

Mama Said Knock You Out by LL Cool J

Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room by Dwight Yoakam

Infected by The The

1989 by Taylor Swift

This album really does slap, but let's just not tell Gen Z I said so

The Hour Of Bewilderbeast by Badly Drawn Boy

Heroes by David Bowie

Odessey And Oracle by The Zombies

Disintegration by The Cure

Rock Bottom by Robert Wyatt

I'm sure "talk about ROCK BOTTOM" jokes have been made so thoroughly that I'm ashamed to mention them, but sometimes cliches are razor apt.

Music From Big Pink by The Band

This is the stuff that raised me. Hard to disentangle critical appreciation from sentimentality but I don't even care to try. Banger

Cheap Thrills by Big Brother & The Holding Company

Lazer Guided Melodies by Spiritualized

american dream by LCD Soundsystem

Sheer Heart Attack by Queen

Darkness on the Edge of Town by Bruce Springsteen

Fear Of A Black Planet by Public Enemy

Phaedra by Tangerine Dream

L.A. Woman by The Doors

At Newport 1960 by Muddy Waters

Smokers Delight by Nightmares On Wax

If I was on molly, walking the streets of Ibiza past midnight, this would probably slap.

Fever To Tell by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Scissor Sisters by Scissor Sisters

The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn by Pink Floyd

Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys

Talking Heads 77 by Talking Heads

We Are Family by Sister Sledge

Chore of Enchantment by Giant Sand

Hard Again by Muddy Waters

90 by 808 State

The Modern Dance by Pere Ubu

Duck Stab/Buster & Glen by The Residents

"You're just too stupid to get it, it's supposed to sound awful, that's what makes it good." Yeah...pass

Be by Common

The Bones Of What You Believe by CHVRCHES

Bryter Layter by Nick Drake

Foo Fighters by Foo Fighters

Copper Blue by Sugar

Figure 8 by Elliott Smith

Rock 'N Soul by Solomon Burke

Led Zeppelin III by Led Zeppelin

Joan Baez by Joan Baez

Trans Europe Express by Kraftwerk

Heaven Or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins

Stankonia by OutKast

1977 by Ash

Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind) by Loretta Lynn

Blonde On Blonde by Bob Dylan

Vulnicura by Björk

Green River by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Hotel California by Eagles

#1 Record by Big Star

Shadowland by k.d. lang

In It For The Money by Supergrass

American Idiot by Green Day

Actually by Pet Shop Boys

From Elvis In Memphis by Elvis Presley

At San Quentin by Johnny Cash

Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin

Clandestino by Manu Chao

Pump by Aerosmith

Let's Stay Together by Al Green

Ctrl by SZA

Abraxas by Santana

Blunderbuss by Jack White

This is an absolutely absurd inclusion. There's nothing wrong with this album, in fact it is pretty decent, but by no means do you have to hear it "before you die". The White Stripes is the only thing from White's career that merits inclusion in this list. Don't put more recent stuff on the list just for the sake of its recency.

3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul

Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim by Frank Sinatra

Arular by M.I.A.

Seventeen Seconds by The Cure

Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables by Dead Kennedys

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan

Fragile by Yes

Revolver by Beatles

Alien Lanes by Guided By Voices

Chelsea Girl by Nico

Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones

Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock

James Brown Live At The Apollo by James Brown

Ill Communication by Beastie Boys

Superfuzz Bigmuff by Mudhoney

The Last Broadcast by Doves

Happy Trails by Quicksilver Messenger Service

Crime Of The Century by Supertramp

Supertramp is the English equivalent of the Steve Miller Band. Forgettable, paint by numbers, 70s rock. Yet another bizarre inclusion on this list.

Music in Exile by Songhoy Blues

OK Computer by Radiohead

Appetite For Destruction by Guns N' Roses

Cypress Hill by Cypress Hill

Whatever by Aimee Mann

Butterfly by Mariah Carey

Wild Is The Wind by Nina Simone

Opus Dei by Laibach

Chris by Christine and the Queens

Off The Wall by Michael Jackson

The Velvet Underground by The Velvet Underground

Locust Abortion Technician by Butthole Surfers

Reign In Blood by Slayer

Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Not a huge fan of RHCP, but this record is solid as a rock, if a little long.

Deep Purple In Rock by Deep Purple

Elephant Mountain by The Youngbloods

In Utero by Nirvana

Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix

Modern Life Is Rubbish by Blur

Basket of Light by Pentangle

Exodus by Bob Marley & The Wailers

Paranoid by Black Sabbath

The Idiot by Iggy Pop

Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman

A Walk Across The Rooftops by The Blue Nile

The Doors by The Doors

Myths Of The Near Future by Klaxons

A Rush Of Blood To The Head by Coldplay

Sincere by Mj Cole

Gen X British music critics are going to be flabbergasted when they find out that nobody but them cares anything about English house and jungle. Have fun in that perpetual Ibiza of the mind though, must be nice.

Arrival by ABBA

A good example of music that I don't particularly enjoy, but merits an inclusion on a list like this because you can't tell the history of Western popular music without mentioning them.

Harvest by Neil Young

The Dreaming by Kate Bush

Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Armed Forces by Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Vol. 4 by Black Sabbath

The New Tango by Astor Piazzolla

Teenage Head by Flamin' Groovies

The World is a Ghetto by War

Heavy Weather by Weather Report

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme by Simon & Garfunkel

Lost In The Dream by The War On Drugs

Is This It by The Strokes

One of the indispensable rock albums. If you were to remove this record from history of popular music than nothing that came after it would have been the same.

E.V.O.L. by Sonic Youth

Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) by Eurythmics

Sunday At The Village Vanguard by Bill Evans Trio

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You by Aretha Franklin

Stand! by Sly & The Family Stone

Master Of Puppets by Metallica

The Bends by Radiohead

White Blood Cells by The White Stripes

Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd

After The Gold Rush by Neil Young

Sulk by The Associates

Boston by Boston

1999 by Prince

Rio by Duran Duran

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins

Kilimanjaro by The Teardrop Explodes

I Should Coco by Supergrass

Green Onions by Booker T. & The MG's

White Light / White Heat by The Velvet Underground

You Want It Darker by Leonard Cohen

Station To Station by David Bowie

Suede by Suede

Close To You by Carpenters

Surprised by how much I was enjoying this until the last three songs. It's like they padded out the album with dreck because they just had to be near 40 minutes. Last track is actually called "another song"... Example #3847 of solid curation being the most important element to making a quality record.

Africa Brasil by Jorge Ben Jor

Your Arsenal by Morrissey

KE*A*H** (Psalm 69) by Ministry

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie

Melodrama by Lorde

Only By The Night by Kings of Leon

Stephen Stills by Stephen Stills

Parachutes by Coldplay

NEU! 75 by Neu!

Pacific Ocean Blue by Dennis Wilson

Ágætis Byrjun by Sigur Rós

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips

Want One by Rufus Wainwright

Bubble And Scrape by Sebadoh

The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses

Forever Changes by Love

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector by Various Artists

One World by John Martyn

American IV: The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash

The La's by The La's

Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black by Public Enemy

Axis: Bold As Love by Jimi Hendrix

The Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett

That's The Way Of The World by Earth, Wind & Fire

Young Americans by David Bowie

Songs For Swingin' Lovers! by Frank Sinatra

Club Classics Vol. One by Soul II Soul

Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury by The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy

The compilers of 1001 albums have real issues with hip hop, clearly. There are actually a lot of good hip hop albums out there, but to follow along with this book you would think it's all heinously unfunny alternative hip-hop(The Pharcyde, Dr. Octagon, etc...) or chicken soup pablum for wannabe radicals like this one

Urban Hymns by The Verve

Roxy Music by Roxy Music

Songs From A Room by Leonard Cohen

3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of... by Arrested Development

This album sounds like a teacher trying to teach his 7th grade students about politics through the magic of hip hop.

Hot Rats by Frank Zappa

Music Has The Right To Children by Boards of Canada

Took me a while to get on this one's vibe, but I got there eventually, and found myself engaged and relaxed at the same time. Ultimately, not my thing and a little overlong but I have never heard anything quite like it, and it's inclusion here feels justified.

Cupid & Psyche 85 by Scritti Politti

Like if you gave AI a prompt for forgettable, generic 80s pop rock

Lust For Life by Iggy Pop

Hot Fuss by The Killers

Starts about as well as any rock album from the 2000s, but is unable to maintain that level, how could it? Nonetheless, the album does lose steam in the back half and the experience is a little uneven. Still, the bangers absolutely bang.

Morrison Hotel by The Doors

Apple Venus Volume 1 by XTC

Live And Dangerous by Thin Lizzy

Idlewild by Everything But The Girl

I'm going to give this album 2 stars instead of its deserved 1 because I admire Idlewild's, almost tyrannical, commitment to being as boring as humanly possible.

Will The Circle Be Unbroken by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Steeped in old-timey material!

The Specials by The Specials

Gold by Ryan Adams

A Grand Don't Come For Free by The Streets

Melody A.M. by Röyksopp

Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley

Live At The Harlem Square Club by Sam Cooke

Among The Living by Anthrax

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill

Rejoicing In The Hands by Devendra Banhart

Immigrés by Youssou N'Dour

Dire Straits by Dire Straits

3 + 3 by The Isley Brothers

Dr. Octagonecologyst by Dr. Octagon

Licensed To Ill by Beastie Boys

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm by A Tribe Called Quest

Berlin by Lou Reed

Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan

It's Too Late to Stop Now by Van Morrison

Obligatory 3 star for a live album that I refuse to listen too. Live albums and studio albums should always be treated as wholly separate things.

Bad by Michael Jackson

An album that is dragged down by its duds as much as it is uplifted by its hits. Smooth Criminal is an elite pop song, undone by Liberian Girl, Speed Demon, etc...

Now I Got Worry by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Can you imagine how bad the groupies for this band smelled? 3 stars

Parklife by Blur

The Next Day by David Bowie

Violent Femmes by Violent Femmes

Signing Off by UB40

Skylarking by XTC

Tusk by Fleetwood Mac

Home Is Where The Music Is by Hugh Masekela

White Ladder by David Gray

Smash by The Offspring

Diamond Life by Sade

Nowhere by Ride

Play by Moby

Murmur by R.E.M.

Eliminator by ZZ Top

Live At The Witch Trials by The Fall

Queen II by Queen

The United States Of America by The United States Of America

Liquid Swords by GZA

The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths

One of the defining albums of the 80s, the peak of jangle pop, and one of the great pairings between singer/lyricist and guitarist/songwriter that we've ever seen. Obviously a 5 star record, and I appreciate that most of the negative reviews on here are acknowledging that their that their ratings have everything to do with Morrissey as a person and very little to do with the music represented here. Honest, at least.

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) by The Kinks

Rattlesnakes by Lloyd Cole And The Commotions

Hot Buttered Soul by Isaac Hayes

Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg

The apex of G-Funk. Revisiting this one was an experience of saying, 'oh yeah, this song rules!', 6-7 times. The five track run from the intro through to Murder Was The Case is about as good as any hip hop album has ever done. Also, nice to see mainstream hip hop getting some shine on this list. So far, i've gotten nothing but alternative silly hop like Octagon and the Pharcyde, or even worse, political hip hop which somehow manages to disgrace hip hop and politics at the same time. More of this in future iterations of this list, I hope.

A Short Album About Love by The Divine Comedy

The Band by The Band

The generator is on a heater at the moment. Three elite albums in a week! With this release, the Band make their case for the best debut and sophomore album combination of all time. One of the more bizarre things about this group is that the guy who sings lead on most of their songs, Richard Manuel, isn't as often discussed as Robertson, Danko, or Helm. I've wondered if getting relatively little screen time in the Last Waltz is to blame for that. Anyway, he has one of the great voices, and this record is his masterpiece.

Femi Kuti by Femi Kuti

With The Beatles by Beatles

Moving Pictures by Rush

Marcus Garvey by Burning Spear

Catch A Fire by Bob Marley & The Wailers

Rapture by Anita Baker

Germfree Adolescents by X-Ray Spex

Something/Anything? by Todd Rundgren

Bossanova by Pixies

Not sure why this album isn't as respected as the first two Pixies records. A parade of bangers, Velouria and Dig for Fire maybe top 5 Pixies tracks ever for me.

Cafe Bleu by The Style Council

Shaka Zulu by Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Madman Across The Water by Elton John

Tanto Tempo by Bebel Gilberto

Fromohio by fIREHOSE

Night Life by Ray Price

The Chronic by Dr. Dre

The Who Sell Out by The Who

The only Who record that is aggressively bad

Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem

Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits

The Sensual World by Kate Bush

AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted by Ice Cube

Tonight's The Night by Neil Young

1984 by Van Halen

Grievous Angel by Gram Parsons

The Good, The Bad & The Queen by The Good, The Bad & The Queen

Funeral by Arcade Fire

Sign 'O' The Times by Prince

Double Nickels On The Dime by Minutemen

Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park

Birth Of The Cool by Miles Davis

Loveless by My Bloody Valentine

Doolittle by Pixies

This is why we music

Here's Little Richard by Little Richard

Astral Weeks by Van Morrison

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite by Maxwell

Heartbreaker by Ryan Adams

The Joshua Tree by U2

Tom Tom Club by Tom Tom Club

461 Ocean Boulevard by Eric Clapton

The Atomic Mr Basie by Count Basie & His Orchestra

Smile by Brian Wilson

Fuzzy Logic by Super Furry Animals

Ananda Shankar by Ananda Shankar

Maggot Brain by Funkadelic

Metal Box by Public Image Ltd.

Blood And Chocolate by Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Can't Buy A Thrill by Steely Dan

The Stranger by Billy Joel

Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective

Selected Ambient Works 85-92 by Aphex Twin

Cloud Nine by The Temptations

Moon Safari by Air

In Rainbows by Radiohead

It's Blitz! by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins

Roger the Engineer by The Yardbirds

In A Silent Way by Miles Davis

Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes

Real Life by Magazine

Debut by Björk

Get Behind Me Satan by The White Stripes

Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye

Homework by Daft Punk

Brutal Youth by Elvis Costello

Out Of The Blue by Electric Light Orchestra

Tellin’ Stories by The Charlatans

Baffling inclusion. Run of the mill brit-pop is very much something that people can die without encountering.

Don't Stand Me Down by Dexys Midnight Runners

Van Halen by Van Halen

Teen Dream by Beach House

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter by The Incredible String Band

This sounds like a parody of late 60s music. If it's not, then it's the greatest argument for a renewed criminalization of drugs.

Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Court And Spark by Joni Mitchell

Heartattack And Vine by Tom Waits

Reggatta De Blanc by The Police

More Songs About Buildings And Food by Talking Heads

Live At Leeds by The Who

obligatory 3 star rating for all live albums

Ragged Glory by Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Groovin' by The Young Rascals

Tommy by The Who

Exile In Guyville by Liz Phair

The Gershwin Songbook by Ella Fitzgerald

Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys

Peggy Suicide by Julian Cope

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire

The Number Of The Beast by Iron Maiden

Horses by Patti Smith

Transformer by Lou Reed

I'm Your Man by Leonard Cohen

Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis

Connected by Stereo MC's

Illinois by Sufjan Stevens

Suicide by Suicide

Who's Next by The Who

It is not The Who's fault that We Won't Get Fooled Again was used in the cold opening of CSI:Miami, or their fault that "meet the new boss..." has become a pop cultural cliche and a vulgar political phrase for morons to overuse. It's not The Who's fault that Baba O'Riley is used at seemingly every sporting event. It's not The Who's fault that Limp Bizkit thought it was a good idea to cover Behind Blue Eyes. But a lot of people seem to hold it against this album that it has had such a far reaching presence in our pop culture. Nonsense. It's a testament to the outstanding quality of these songs. We all just have to live with some of the unfortunate bycatch.

Nilsson Schmilsson by Harry Nilsson

Future Days by Can

Millions Now Living Will Never Die by Tortoise

My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts by Brian Eno

Hail To the Thief by Radiohead

Surf's Up by The Beach Boys

Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz

Colour By Numbers by Culture Club

The Undertones by The Undertones

Being There by Wilco

New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) by Simple Minds

Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo by MC Solaar

Maverick A Strike by Finley Quaye

The insane over-representation of Gen X British music strikes again!

Ray Of Light by Madonna

Hysteria by Def Leppard

The Boatman's Call by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

I Against I by Bad Brains

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music by Ray Charles

Blood, Sweat & Tears by Blood, Sweat & Tears

Nevermind by Nirvana

5 star album, or top 5 album ever?

This Nation’s Saving Grace by The Fall

Fred Neil by Fred Neil

Trio by Dolly Parton

Two Dancers by Wild Beasts

Does improve a bit in the back half. But of all the 00s indie rock that could have been included on the list, this choice is pretty uninspired.

Swordfishtrombones by Tom Waits

Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones

Here Come The Warm Jets by Brian Eno

Sound Affects by The Jam

Graceland by Paul Simon

Olympia 64 by Jacques Brel

Obligatory 3 star rating for live albums, which of course, shouldn't be included on this list.

Teenager Of The Year by Frank Black

No songs that I would consider certified bangers. But the album holds a solid quality for an hour+. That's something to be commended, even if I won't be carrying any of these songs through life with me.

Mermaid Avenue by Billy Bragg

Probably a hot take to say this is better than any Billy Bragg or Wilco album, but F it, we cookin

Call of the Valley by Shivkumar Sharma

Back to Mystery City by Hanoi Rocks

Let's Get Killed by David Holmes

Look, I'm already pot committed to completing this project, but goodness, some of the curation is absolutely baffling.

The Renaissance by Q-Tip

Private Dancer by Tina Turner

Close To The Edge by Yes

Emperor Tomato Ketchup by Stereolab

Surfer Rosa by Pixies

Endtroducing..... by DJ Shadow

Duck Rock by Malcolm McLaren

Strong correlation between shitty album covers, and the quality of the music therein.

Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath

Hunky Dory by David Bowie

Bowie is probably over represented on this list, but one can have no complaints about Hunky Dory's inclusion. This album is Bowie's best and, conveniently for recommendation purposes, his most accessible. And is probably the single greatest piano rock album of all time. I wish the chameleon had spent a little more time operating in this shade.

Sea Change by Beck

Raw Power by The Stooges

Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Ys by Joanna Newsom

Happy Sad by Tim Buckley

Songs In The Key Of Life by Stevie Wonder

We're Only In It For The Money by The Mothers Of Invention

D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle by Throbbing Gristle

First Band On The Moon by The Cardigans

Faust IV by Faust

Highly Evolved by The Vines

Nick Of Time by Bonnie Raitt

Treasure by Cocteau Twins

Rattus Norvegicus by The Stranglers

Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water by Limp Bizkit

Dirt by Alice In Chains

Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake

Mott by Mott The Hoople

Oar by Alexander 'Skip' Spence

The Contino Sessions by Death In Vegas

The Seldom Seen Kid by Elbow

Leftism by Leftfield

Bitte Orca by Dirty Projectors

Scott 2 by Scott Walker

Risque by CHIC

Odessa by Bee Gees

Hunting High And Low by a-ha

Destroyer by KISS

Like A Prayer by Madonna

Technique by New Order

Headquarters by The Monkees

Closer by Joy Division

You've Come a Long Way Baby by Fatboy Slim

Haut de gamme / Koweït, rive gauche by Koffi Olomide

KIWANUKA by Michael Kiwanuka

Fire Of Love by The Gun Club

Sister by Sonic Youth

Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers

Casanova by The Divine Comedy

Giant Steps by The Boo Radleys

Next by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady by Charles Mingus

Entertainment by Gang Of Four

Survivor by Destiny's Child

Here, My Dear by Marvin Gaye

Wild Wood by Paul Weller

Pink Moon by Nick Drake

Songs Of Love And Hate by Leonard Cohen

G. Love And Special Sauce by G. Love & Special Sauce

Mama's Gun by Erykah Badu

More Specials by The Specials

Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan

Dylan on the cutting edge

World Clique by Deee-Lite

Judging an album by its cover remains undefeated.

Solid Air by John Martyn

Beauty And The Beat by The Go-Go's

California by American Music Club

Tragic Songs of Life by The Louvin Brothers

A Wizard, A True Star by Todd Rundgren

The Predator by Ice Cube

Legalize It by Peter Tosh

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek & The Dominos

Honky Tonk Heroes by Waylon Jennings

Sunshine Hit Me by The Bees

Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen

The Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers

American Gothic by David Ackles

Either Or by Elliott Smith

Elastica by Elastica

Songs The Lord Taught Us by The Cramps

Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco

Elvis Is Back by Elvis Presley

Guitar Town by Steve Earle

Illmatic by Nas

Another Music In A Different Kitchen by Buzzcocks

Picture Book by Simply Red

Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle by Bill Callahan

The College Dropout by Kanye West

Veckatimest by Grizzly Bear

A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse by Faces

Back In Black by AC/DC

Frampton Comes Alive by Peter Frampton

Obligatory 3 star rating for live albums which, of course, have no business being on this list.

Konnichiwa by Skepta

Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches by Happy Mondays

The Stooges by The Stooges

Psychocandy by The Jesus And Mary Chain

Blackstar by David Bowie

Freak Out! by The Mothers Of Invention

I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight by Richard Thompson

Rust In Peace by Megadeth

What's That Noise? by Coldcut

More useless dross from they youth of the British Gen Xers who compiled this list.

Done By The Forces Of Nature by Jungle Brothers

You Are The Quarry by Morrissey

Logical Progression by LTJ Bukem

C'est Chic by CHIC

Sex Packets by Digital Underground

When I Was Born For The 7th Time by Cornershop

Bert Jansch by Bert Jansch

The Sun Rises In The East by Jeru The Damaja

D by White Denim

When was it that Indie Rock died? After this, surely. 2009, maybe?

The Poet by Bobby Womack

2112 by Rush

All Mod Cons by The Jam

Peace Sells...But Who's Buying by Megadeth

Crocodiles by Echo And The Bunnymen

Atomizer by Big Black

Liege And Lief by Fairport Convention

Blue Lines by Massive Attack

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by OutKast

Like Water For Chocolate by Common

Queens of the Stone Age by Queens Of The Stone Age

Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin

Penance Soiree by The Icarus Line

Fisherman's Blues by The Waterboys

A Seat at the Table by Solange

Ogden's Nut Gone Flake by Small Faces

Sweetheart Of The Rodeo by The Byrds

Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan

Rings Around The World by Super Furry Animals

Playing With Fire by Spacemen 3

High Violet by The National

Something Else By The Kinks by The Kinks

Better Living Through Chemistry by Fatboy Slim

Murder Ballads by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

La Revancha Del Tango by Gotan Project

The Scream by Siouxsie And The Banshees

John Prine by John Prine

The Modern Lovers by The Modern Lovers

As good a one and done as the album era ever produced

Our Aim Is To Satisfy by Red Snapper

The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monáe

They Were Wrong, So We Drowned by Liars

The Clash by The Clash

If The Clash had wanted to, they could have stayed in this lane, and gone down comfortably as the greatest punk rock band of all time. They ultimately branched out, of course, and became one of the greatest ever bands. Nonetheless, this particular pit stop on the way to London Calling is about as good as punk ever got.

Shaft by Isaac Hayes

Southern Rock Opera by Drive-By Truckers

American Pie by Don McLean

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band by John Lennon

Henry's Dream by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Paris 1919 by John Cale

Beyond Skin by Nitin Sawhney

Slipknot by Slipknot

The Libertines by The Libertines

Let England Shake by PJ Harvey

All Directions by The Temptations

Take Me Apart by Kelela

Fun House by The Stooges

Ingenue by k.d. lang

Triangle by The Beau Brummels

The Beach Boys Today! by The Beach Boys

Dust by Screaming Trees

Eli And The Thirteenth Confession by Laura Nyro

The Age Of The Understatement by The Last Shadow Puppets

Rising Above Bedlam by Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart

Nixon by Lambchop

Band On The Run by Paul McCartney and Wings

Pornography by The Cure

Very by Pet Shop Boys

War by U2

I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got by Sinead O'Connor

Buffalo Springfield Again by Buffalo Springfield

The Rise & Fall by Madness

Mothership Connection by Parliament

The White Album by Beatles

Post Orgasmic Chill by Skunk Anansie

Microshift by Hookworms

Dusty In Memphis by Dusty Springfield

Chemtrails Over The Country Club by Lana Del Rey

At Fillmore East by The Allman Brothers Band

Moby Grape by Moby Grape

Deloused in the Comatorium by The Mars Volta

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx by Raekwon

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo by Devo

Shleep by Robert Wyatt

Viva Hate by Morrissey

Gris Gris by Dr. John

Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin

Architecture And Morality by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Back to Basics by Christina Aguilera

Virgin Suicides by Air

MTV Unplugged In New York by Nirvana

Greetings From L.A. by Tim Buckley

Zombie by Fela Kuti

New York Dolls by New York Dolls

Dig Your Own Hole by The Chemical Brothers

Phrenology by The Roots

Orbital 2 by Orbital

Come Find Yourself by Fun Lovin' Criminals

Marquee Moon by Television

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West

Destroy Rock & Roll by Mylo

The Real Thing by Faith No More

Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix

GI by Germs

Da Capo by Love

Music For The Jilted Generation by The Prodigy

Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens

Beach Samba by Astrud Gilberto

No Other by Gene Clark

Bitches Brew by Miles Davis

The Wildest! by Louis Prima

Go Girl Crazy by The Dictators

Kala by M.I.A.

Screamadelica by Primal Scream

All Hail the Queen by Queen Latifah

Cee-Lo Green... Is The Soul Machine by Cee Lo Green

Scott 4 by Scott Walker

The Rolling Stones by The Rolling Stones

...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears

The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators by The 13th Floor Elevators

Kid A by Radiohead

Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus by Spirit

Blur by Blur

Porcupine by Echo And The Bunnymen

Oxygène by Jean-Michel Jarre

Rain Dogs by Tom Waits

I cling to this record like Linus does to his blanket. Waits keeps you warm.

Slanted And Enchanted by Pavement

Live At The Star Club, Hamburg by Jerry Lee Lewis

The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground

Put on your red pajamas and find out…

(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd) by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John

Eternally Yours by The Saints

Savane by Ali Farka Touré

m b v by My Bloody Valentine

Pieces Of The Sky by Emmylou Harris

The Score by Fugees

I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail by Buck Owens

Black Monk Time by The Monks

Talk Talk Talk by The Psychedelic Furs

Brothers by The Black Keys

Kings Of The Wild Frontier by Adam & The Ants

It's A Shame About Ray by The Lemonheads

Central Reservation by Beth Orton

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly

Oracular Spectacular by MGMT

Feast of Wire by Calexico

A Love Supreme by John Coltrane

LP1 by FKA twigs

Led Zeppelin II by Led Zeppelin

Channel Orange by Frank Ocean

Stripped by Christina Aguilera

Autobahn by Kraftwerk

Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

The Gilded Palace Of Sin by The Flying Burrito Brothers

Bone Machine by Tom Waits

Vanishing Point by Primal Scream

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Achtung Baby by U2

Dirty by Sonic Youth

Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman by John Zorn

Winter In America by Gil Scott-Heron

Medúlla by Björk

Toys In The Attic by Aerosmith

Protection by Massive Attack

Songs Of Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen

Run-D.M.C. by Run-D.M.C.

Get Rich Or Die Tryin' by 50 Cent

Low by David Bowie

Kick Out The Jams (Live) by MC5

For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music

Tidal by Fiona Apple

Pyromania by Def Leppard

Stardust by Willie Nelson

Aftermath by The Rolling Stones

Talking Book by Stevie Wonder

Electric Warrior by T. Rex

Beggars Banquet by The Rolling Stones

Live / Dead by Grateful Dead

Truth by Jeff Beck

Fly Or Die by N.E.R.D

Yank Crime by Drive Like Jehu

Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 by George Michael

Penthouse And Pavement by Heaven 17

BEYONCÉ by Beyoncé

Rubber Soul by Beatles

Talking Timbuktu by Ali Farka Touré

Modern Kosmology by Jane Weaver

The Colour Of Spring by Talk Talk

Dub Housing by Pere Ubu

Snivilisation by Orbital

Moondance by Van Morrison

Raising Hell by Run-D.M.C.

OK by Talvin Singh

Dry by PJ Harvey

Honky Tonk Masquerade by Joe Ely

Second Toughest In The Infants by Underworld

Purple Rain by Prince

Superfly by Curtis Mayfield

good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar

Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush

This Year's Model by Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Miriam Makeba by Miriam Makeba

Born In The U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen

Guero by Beck

Let It Be by The Replacements

Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout

Siembra by Willie Colón & Rubén Blades

Selling England By The Pound by Genesis

Life Thru A Lens by Robbie Williams

Lost Souls by Doves

A Northern Soul by The Verve

Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Vivid by Living Colour

Every Picture Tells A Story by Rod Stewart

The Fat Of The Land by The Prodigy

Electric Prunes by The Electric Prunes

The Cars by The Cars

Slayed? by Slade

Frank by Amy Winehouse

Unhalfbricking by Fairport Convention

Aha Shake Heartbreak by Kings of Leon

Parallel Lines by Blondie

In The Court Of The Crimson King by King Crimson

Queen Of Denmark by John Grant

(What's The Story) Morning Glory by Oasis

Lam Toro by Baaba Maal

Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos

Tres Hombres by ZZ Top

Vincebus Eruptum by Blue Cheer

The Nightfly by Donald Fagen

Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel

A masterpiece of American songwriting

...The Dandy Warhols Come Down by The Dandy Warhols

Devil Without A Cause by Kid Rock

Jack Takes the Floor by Ramblin' Jack Elliott

The Man Machine by Kraftwerk

Djam Leelii by Baaba Maal

That sweet anticipation when you open up the generator to see what new album you've got today, and the bitter disappointment when you realize it's something from the "world music" bin.