collylogic.com - Simon Collison's weblog

My Top 100 Albums of all time

2nd September 2004

Here’s the first of my Top 100s. Every time I’ve had a few minutes to kill, I’ve been adding to and arranging my list of top 100 albums to date. I realise this is incredibly anal, but I do like a bit of order in my life - and I’m a sucker for lists. Seemingly unable to ever agree with anyone else’s list in any way whatsoever, I decided to share the list with you. I really couldn’t be arsed to link them all to Amazon, tell you what year each was released, or go into greater detail. Maybe I will at some point. Anyway, here’s the list…

  1. New Order - Technique
  2. Jeff Buckley - Grace
  3. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
  4. Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun
  5. Primal Scream - Screamadelica
  6. DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
  7. The Smiths - Hatful Of Hollow
  8. The Beatles - White Album
  9. Super Furry Animals - Radiator
  10. The Verve - A Northern Soul
  11. Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights
  12. Beastie Boys - Paul’s Boutique
  13. The Libertines - Up The Bracket
  14. Tom Waits - Closing Time
  15. Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World
  16. Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible
  17. Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions
  18. Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around
  19. The Beatles - Beatles For Sale
  20. Belle and Sebastian - If You’re Feeling Sinister
  21. Pixies - Doolittle
  22. The Jam - All Mod Cons
  23. The Rolling Stones - Exile On Main Street
  24. Oasis - The Masterplan
  25. PJ Harvey - Stories From The City...
  26. Deus - The Ideal Crash
  27. Portishead - Dummy
  28. Radiohead - The Bends
  29. Manic Street Preachers - Generation Terrorists
  30. New Order - Substance
  31. Jimi Hendrix - Axis Bold As Love
  32. Primal Scream - Xtrmntr
  33. The Beta Band - The Three EPs
  34. Bjork - Homogenic
  35. The Clash - London Calling
  36. Underworld - Second Toughest In The Infants
  37. Badly Drawn Boy - Hour of Bewilderbeast
  38. The Doors - Waiting For The Sun
  39. Cream - Disraeli Gears
  40. Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
  41. Elbow - Asleep In The Back
  42. George Harrison - All Things Must Pass
  43. Happy Mondays - Bummed
  44. INXS - Kick
  45. Jeff Buckley - Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk
  46. John Martyn - Solid Air
  47. The La’s - The La’s
  48. Quannum - Spectrum
  49. Mew - Frengers
  50. Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen...
  51. Nirvana - MTV Unplugged In New York
  52. Pulp - Different Class
  53. REM - Murmur
  54. Super Furry Animals - Mwng
  55. Tricky - Maxinquaye
  56. The Verve - Urban Hymns
  57. White Stripes - White Blood Cells
  58. New Order - Power, Corruption and Lies
  59. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
  60. PJ Harvey - Is This Desire
  61. Oasis - Definitely Maybe
  62. Marvin Gaye - What’s Going On
  63. Radiohead - Amnesiac
  64. Gus Gus - Polydistortion
  65. Bjork - Vespertine
  66. Cooper Temple Clause - See This Through And Leave
  67. Pretty Girls Make Graves - Good Health
  68. Temple Of The Dog - Temple Of The Dog
  69. The Charlatans - The Charlatans
  70. Lo Fidelity Allstars - How To Operate With A Blown Mind
  71. Belle and Sebastian - Boy With The Arab Strap
  72. Quarashi - Xeniezes
  73. Adem - Homesongs
  74. The Small Faces - Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake
  75. Pearl Jam - Ten (Import)
  76. Teenage Fanclub - Grand Prix
  77. The Verve - A Storm In Heaven
  78. Paul Weller - Wild Wood
  79. The Smiths - Meat Is Murder
  80. Radiohead - OK Computer
  81. The Sugarcubes - Today, Tomorrow, Next Week
  82. Tom Waits - The Heart Of Saturday Night
  83. The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed
  84. Joy Division - Closer
  85. The Orb - Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld
  86. Cornelius - Fantasma
  87. Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
  88. Supergrass - I Should Coco
  89. Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life
  90. The Who - Live At Leeds
  91. The Beatles - Abbey Road
  92. New Order - Get Ready
  93. Dionne Warwick - Sings The Bacharach and David Songbook
  94. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
  95. Primal Scream - Vanishing Point
  96. Massive Attack - Blue Lines
  97. Ride - Going Blank Again
  98. Peaches - The Teaches Of Peaches
  99. Queens Of The Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf
  100. Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy

Hmm, I seem to like guitars, don’t I? And such a lot of British music. Still, there’s a bit of Hip-Hop, old soul, bonkers head music and such like. Quite a few artists with more than one album too (Radiohead, The Verve, Super Furries etc). I’m not ashamed of any of it. Doubtless you’ll all disagree with much of it, especially my top ten. If you’re disgruntled, annoyed or upset, or have a question about one of the artists, then please fire away…

Simon Collison published this on 02/09/04, at 2:59 PM

Comments

I like most of what you have there.  Good stuff.  I can’t imagine I’d be able to nail down my top 100. A few comments:

1.  I love just about everything by New Order, but Technique isn’t my fav by them.  Maybe I’m too old school.  I think mine would be Low Life or maybe Brotherhood.  Good #1 though.

2. The Pixies.  They’re one of my favorites, but I’d not know how to chose between albums.  Oh, and I’m going to see them Monday. ;)

3. Love how you’ve got The Stone Roses up top.  Love them.

Ahhh, anyway, I could go on, but I’ll stop now.  Nice list.

02/09 at 15:54 from Keith

Jeff Buckley, Pixies, some classic 60s rock - nice. Great list - really, but some dodgy choices in there. Dionne Warwick? Oasis? Supergrass?

Still, great to see you like some American stuff. Oh, and who on earth are Quarashi?!!!

02/09 at 16:16 from James

"I?m not ashamed of any of it”
Good, a person should never feel ashamed or embarrassed of the music they enjoy. We all like what we like.

“some dodgy choices in there” - Jeff
Similarly, I don’t think you should never criticise someone else’s musical preferences. If you chastise someone for liking Dionne Warwick, they could respond by telling you it was the music playing in the hosital the night his wife passed away. Music enters our lives in so many ways and you never know what will leave a lasting impact. Enjoy what you enjoy and let others do the same. We don’t need to get wrapped up in being “cooler than thou”

02/09 at 22:46 from tim

Agreed - whats the point in saying “some dodgy choices in there” - whats it got to do with you?!

Personally, I love lists like this. You see some you agree on, some you’ve not heard yet (but then think “maybe I should try that one out").

Thanks for sharing Simon!

03/09 at 00:18 from Jon

Keith - Technique had to be #1 for me. I agree it is more polished and (dare I say) more accessible than the earlier albums, but in so many ways I consider it perfect. And, In 1989/90, The Stone Roses were simply the greatest thing I had ever heard. When an album hits you as hard as that, it never leaves your top five.

James, Tim, Jon - I guess I did open my soul by publishing the list. There certainly are no “that’s a cool choice” selections, just what I consider to be the greatest records ever made. Slightly inspired by Jon’s recent Autumn Soundtrack, it is good fun compiling your own Top 100 lists.

Ah hell, I agree. We all love these lists. Anyway, I’m thick-skinned. Judging from my choices, do you think there are any glaring ommissions? Any recommendations?

03/09 at 00:50 from Simon Collison

You forgot Never Mind the Bollocks…

03/09 at 02:18 from Lapin

I can’t believe I missed that - it’s not in my iTunes or on the CD shelf to remind me. Who borrowed it? There had to be one I missed. I’d stick Never Mind The Bollocks in at around #12 or #13, bumping Led Zepp off the list. Well reminded…

03/09 at 02:22 from Simon Collison

Hey - I didn’t mean any offence guys. I see these lists as ideal for engaging in a bit of argumentative banter. Top marks for most of the choices, as I said. Even so, Supergrass? (Ha ha!)

03/09 at 02:37 from James

Where on earth is all the funk? Where? Tell me. Where?

03/09 at 04:47 from Soft Alan

Number 61......consider your P45 in the post.

Number 91......and don’t ever ask for a reference.

Kids today.

03/09 at 04:51 from Lee Hickman

Lee - Hey, I just don’t love Definitely Maybe as much as I once did. Digsy’s Dinner really lets it down. Oasis will feature heavily in my Top 100 songs, however. Abbey Road is wonderful, but a smidge too much Macca for my taste. What’s The Story was around #103 in the chart.

Soft Alan - I have no great funk albums, except maybe Sly and the Family Stone. Again, funk will score better in the songs list.

James - Quarashi are an Icelandic rap band. Very good they are too…

03/09 at 04:59 from Simon Collison

Surely, no top 100 list of albums would be complete without at least one Fat Boys album. How can anyone not include the Human Beatbox?

03/09 at 10:54 from Kim Siever

Nirvana should be higher, but excellent selection of Johnny Cash at #18.  And Dionne Warwick?  That takes balls of steel.

03/09 at 11:16 from Greg

The Fat Boys? Ha-ha!!! Just watched a documentary about Definitely Maybe by Oasis. Oh boy - I do really love that album - it should be higher. What was I thinking?

Greg - I could have included more Cash albums, but American IV is the best for me - he sounds so old, wise and apocalyptic. I’m not a religious man, but if God could sing, surely he’d sound like Johnny Cash on that album. The first track is simply terrifying…

03/09 at 15:52 from Simon Collison

I too saw the Definitely Maybe programme. It was pretty good - sorry for doubting your Oasis choice - it was an exciting time, and they were pretty cool. And I like to think God would sound like Barry White.

04/09 at 07:55 from James

I think I confer with most of these, although I’d always choose Mezzanine over Blue Lines, and Generation Terrorists is way better than Holy bible. I don’t think I could ever come up with a definitive list myself, I change my mind too much. Nice try though! :)

04/09 at 11:21 from Jim Amos

Jim - Holy Bible is frightening, dark and seems angrier than Generation Terrorists I think. The latter is full on and fantastic though. They really were great when Richie was there.

As for Massive Attack, I do like Mezzanine, but on Blue Lines, Shara Nelson’s voice makes all the difference.

05/09 at 10:03 from Simon Collison

Guns N Roses - Appetite For Destruction?
Echo And The Bunnymen - Porcupine/Ocean Rain?
XTC, David Bowie, Metallica, The Cure???

05/09 at 11:41 from Slash

Firstly, it’s funny how people are suggesting albums for your top 100, like perhaps you’re not sure of your own mind...! Secondly, wouldn’t a “publish and discuss your top 100 lists of all kinds” website be neat? (If there’s one already, slap me). And thirdly, about this Hatful of Hollow rather than The Queen Is Dead thing...!

05/09 at 13:00 from Simon Snorkeller

Forgot to say, New Order’s Technique should factory-ship on all iPod’s, should be non-erasable, and should play automatically at least once a week.

05/09 at 13:02 from Simon Snorkeller

Well, I did ask if anyone else could spot glaring ommissions. If it hadn’t been for Lapin, I’d have missed the Sex Pistols completely. I don’t mind discussion about the list at all. I have nearly finished my Top 100 songs list too!!

A dedicated lists site would be really cool. When can we build it though?

Technique. Knew you’d agree. It does play at least once a week on my iPod. As for Hatful Of Hollow, I know it’s a collection, but what a collection! To me, The Smiths, Stone Roses and Oasis are the best b-sides bands ever. Hmm, a Top 100 b-sides list....

05/09 at 14:42 from Simon Collison

http://www.ianbrown.co.uk/

Looks like it’s gonna be a great new album from King Monkey. From your list, i imagine it’ll be the sort of thing you’re into.

He really needs somebody to sort out his website. Maybe you could offer your services?

06/09 at 06:37 from Guy

He really needs someone to teach him to sing live, too. But I couldn’t help with that.

Anyway - just finished my Top 100 Songs list. Gonna publish that in the next few days - still tweaking it. Bet you can’t wait…

14/09 at 09:08 from Simon Collison

You also forgot Red Hot Chili Peppers: “By the way” surely? Oooh love the live preview ...

01/10 at 01:32 from Mad

I forgot it? Forgot it! I think it’s more a case of it not being one of my top 100 albums. Good album, very melodic - but not a patch on Blood Sugar Sex Magik or Mother’s Milk etc…

Incidentally, I did make a Top 100 SONGS list, but xPad decided not to save it, so I lost it. Bugger. I’ll do it again soon…

01/10 at 16:02 from Simon Collison

I don’t see any Pink Floyd on your list. Strange :)

18/10 at 08:39 from Foo

You’re way cool - with a couple Tom Waits albums on your top 100 list!

29/12 at 16:23 from Nancy

Yeah, I agree with Mr. Foo.  How can you not have at least Dark Side of the Moon in this list?

02/02 at 13:38 from Egon

Meh, needs more fun music.

09/06 at 18:20 from pogostick

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