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…
- New Order - Technique
- Jeff Buckley - Grace
- The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
- Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun
- Primal Scream - Screamadelica
- DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
- The Smiths - Hatful Of Hollow
- The Beatles - White Album
- Super Furry Animals - Radiator
- The Verve - A Northern Soul
- Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights
- Beastie Boys - Paul’s Boutique
- The Libertines - Up The Bracket
- Tom Waits - Closing Time
- Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World
- Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible
- Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions
- Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around
- The Beatles - Beatles For Sale
- Belle and Sebastian - If You’re Feeling Sinister
- Pixies - Doolittle
- The Jam - All Mod Cons
- The Rolling Stones - Exile On Main Street
- Oasis - The Masterplan
- PJ Harvey - Stories From The City…
- Deus - The Ideal Crash
- Portishead - Dummy
- Radiohead - The Bends
- Manic Street Preachers - Generation Terrorists
- New Order - Substance
- Jimi Hendrix - Axis Bold As Love
- Primal Scream - Xtrmntr
- The Beta Band - The Three EPs
- Bjork - Homogenic
- The Clash - London Calling
- Underworld - Second Toughest In The Infants
- Badly Drawn Boy - Hour of Bewilderbeast
- The Doors - Waiting For The Sun
- Cream - Disraeli Gears
- Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
- Elbow - Asleep In The Back
- George Harrison - All Things Must Pass
- Happy Mondays - Bummed
- INXS - Kick
- Jeff Buckley - Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk
- John Martyn - Solid Air
- The La’s - The La’s
- Quannum - Spectrum
- Mew - Frengers
- Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen…
- Nirvana - MTV Unplugged In New York
- Pulp - Different Class
- REM - Murmur
- Super Furry Animals - Mwng
- Tricky - Maxinquaye
- The Verve - Urban Hymns
- White Stripes - White Blood Cells
- New Order - Power, Corruption and Lies
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
- PJ Harvey - Is This Desire
- Oasis - Definitely Maybe
- Marvin Gaye - What’s Going On
- Radiohead - Amnesiac
- Gus Gus - Polydistortion
- Bjork - Vespertine
- Cooper Temple Clause - See This Through And Leave
- Pretty Girls Make Graves - Good Health
- Temple Of The Dog - Temple Of The Dog
- The Charlatans - The Charlatans
- Lo Fidelity Allstars - How To Operate With A Blown Mind
- Belle and Sebastian - Boy With The Arab Strap
- Quarashi - Xeniezes
- Adem - Homesongs
- The Small Faces - Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake
- Pearl Jam - Ten (Import)
- Teenage Fanclub - Grand Prix
- The Verve - A Storm In Heaven
- Paul Weller - Wild Wood
- The Smiths - Meat Is Murder
- Radiohead - OK Computer
- The Sugarcubes - Today, Tomorrow, Next Week
- Tom Waits - The Heart Of Saturday Night
- The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed
- Joy Division - Closer
- The Orb - Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld
- Cornelius - Fantasma
- Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
- Supergrass - I Should Coco
- Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life
- The Who - Live At Leeds
- The Beatles - Abbey Road
- New Order - Get Ready
- Dionne Warwick - Sings The Bacharach and David Songbook
- The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
- Primal Scream - Vanishing Point
- Massive Attack - Blue Lines
- Ride - Going Blank Again
- Peaches - The Teaches Of Peaches
- Queens Of The Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf
- 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…
Responses
# Keith responded on 2nd September 2004 with...
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.
# James responded on 3rd September 2004 with...
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?!!!
# tim responded on 3rd September 2004 with...
“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”
# Jon responded on 3rd September 2004 with...
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!
# Simon Collison responded on 3rd September 2004 with...
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?
# Simon Collison responded on 3rd September 2004 with...
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…
# James responded on 3rd September 2004 with...
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!)
# Soft Alan responded on 3rd September 2004 with...
Where on earth is all the funk? Where? Tell me. Where?
# Lee Hickman responded on 3rd September 2004 with...
Number 61…...consider your P45 in the post.
Number 91…...and don’t ever ask for a reference.
Kids today.
# Simon Collison responded on 3rd September 2004 with...
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…
# Kim Siever responded on 3rd September 2004 with...
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?
# Greg responded on 3rd September 2004 with...
Nirvana should be higher, but excellent selection of Johnny Cash at #18. And Dionne Warwick? That takes balls of steel.
# Simon Collison responded on 3rd September 2004 with...
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…
# James responded on 4th September 2004 with...
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.
# Jim Amos responded on 4th September 2004 with...
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! :)
# Simon Collison responded on 5th September 2004 with...
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.
# Slash responded on 5th September 2004 with...
Guns N Roses - Appetite For Destruction?
Echo And The Bunnymen - Porcupine/Ocean Rain?
XTC, David Bowie, Metallica, The Cure???
# Simon Snorkeller responded on 5th September 2004 with...
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…!
# Simon Snorkeller responded on 5th September 2004 with...
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.
# Simon Collison responded on 5th September 2004 with...
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….
# Guy responded on 6th September 2004 with...
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?
# Simon Collison responded on 14th September 2004 with...
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…
# Mad responded on 1st October 2004 with...
You also forgot Red Hot Chili Peppers: “By the way” surely? Oooh love the live preview ...
# Simon Collison responded on 2nd October 2004 with...
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…
# Nancy responded on 30th December 2004 with...
You’re way cool - with a couple Tom Waits albums on your top 100 list!
# Egon responded on 2nd February 2005 with...
Yeah, I agree with Mr. Foo. How can you not have at least Dark Side of the Moon in this list?
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