EW's 100 Best Albums From 1983 To 2008
Ew is right. In celebration of issue 1,000, Entertainment Weekly put together a number of lists documenting so-called "New Classics" in movies, books, television, and, of course, music. There are also individual lists like Will Arnett's Wire-spoiling list of television moments that made him cry ("When I realized the theme song to The Greatest American Hero was the best song ever, and that I would never hear a better song again"), Beck's non-list, and Jack Johnson fan Liz Phair on lazy Sundays. We're most interested in the "100 Best Albums From 1983 - 2008." (Thanks for the tip, Joe.) It's a bizarre concoction that finds Loveless beat out by the Dixie Chicks, Mariah and Kelly Clarkson. Oh, and Kelly Clarkson tops OK Computer and Appetite For Destruction. Thing is, this list is so all-inclusive and in spots, bizarre, that you almost have to take it on its own terms. I'm just trying to figure out what those terms might be....
100 George Michael - Faith (1987)
99 Hole - Live Through This (1994)
98 Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism (2003)
97 Britney Spears - Britney (2001)
96 PJ Harvey - Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000)
95 T.I. - Trap Muzik (2003)
94 The Police - Synchronicity (1983)
93 Elliott Smith - Either/Or (1997)
92 Destiny's Child - The Writing's on the Wall (1999)
91 Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream (1993)
90 System of a Down - Toxicity (2001)
89 Aimee Mann - Bachelor No. 2 (2000)
88 Peter Gabriel - So (1986)
87 2Pac - All Eyez on Me (1996)
86 My Bloody Valentine - Loveless (1991)
85 Dixie Chicks - Home (2002)
84 New Order - Low-Life (1985)
83 The Pretenders - Learning to Crawl (1984)
82 Jeff Buckley - Grace (1994)
81 Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral (1994)
80 Christina Aguilera - Back to Basics (2006)
79 The Replacements - Let It Be (1984)
78 Pearl Jam - Vs. (1993)
77 Portishead - Dummy (1994)
76 Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker (2000)
75 Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
74 Moby - Play (1999)
73 Smiths - The Queen is Dead (1986)
72 Van Halen - 1984 (1984)
71 No Doubt - Rock Steady (2001)
70 Mary J. Blige - My Life (1994)
69 The Postal Service - Give Up (2003)
68 Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball (1995)
67 Metallica - Metallica (1991)
66 Dr. Dre - The Chronic (1992)
65 The White Stripes - Elephant (2003)
64 Erykah Badu - Mama's Gun (2000)
63 U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)
62 Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)
61 Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full (1987)
60 Pavement - Crooked Rain Crooked Rain (1994)
59 Madonna - Ray of Light (1998)
58 The Pixies - Surfer Rosa (1988)
57 Neil Young - Harvest Moon (1992)
56 Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
55 Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions... (1988)
54 Janet Jackson - Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)
53 Elvis Costello - King of America (1986)
52 Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007)
51 Fugees - The Score (1996)
50 LCD Soundsystem - Sounds of Silver (2007)
49 Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
48 Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)
47 Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville (1993)
46 Björk - Homogenic (1997)
45 Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister (1996)
44 Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road (1998)
43 Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989)
42 Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
41 Bob Marley and the Wailers (1984) - Legend
40 The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die (1994)
39 Sheryl Crow - Sheryl Crow (1996)
38 Run-DMC - Raising Hell (1986)
37 Modest Mouse - The Moon & Antarctica (2000)
36 TLC - CrazySexyCool (1994)
35 Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill (1995)
34 The Strokes - Is This It (2001)
33 Alicia Keys - As I Am (2007)
32 R.E.M. - Life's Rich Pageant (1985)
31 Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006)
30 Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)
29 Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway (2004)
28 Nas - Illmatic (1994)
27 Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)
26 Bob Dylan - Time Out of Mind (1997)
25 Interpol - Turn On the Bright Lights (2002)
24 Shania Twain - Come On Over (1997)
23 The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin (1999)
22 De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
21 Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi (2005)
20 Fiona Apple - Tidal (1996)
19 Beyoncé - Dangerously in Love (2003)
18 A Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990)
17 Beck - Odelay (1996)
16 Tom Waits - Rain Dogs (1985)
15 Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
14 The Cure - Disintegration (1989)
13 Cat Power - You Are Free (2003)
12 OutKast - Stankonia (2000)
11 Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York (1994)
10 Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)
09 Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (2007)
08 Paul Simon - Graceland (1986)
07 Jay-Z - The Blueprint (2001)
06 Green Day - American Idiot (2004)
05 Madonna - Madonna (1983)
04 Kanye West - The College Dropout (2004)
03 U2 - Achtung Baby (1991)
02 Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
01 Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain (1984)
Remember, this list goes back to 1983, but it was Metallica that made it, not Kill 'Em All (1983), Ride The Lightning (1984), Master Of Puppets (1986), or ...And Justice for All (1988). (My vote: Master.) Now study the top 20 again closely and scratch your head some. It's almost admirably weird. If you're interested in exploring more lists, head here.
Posted at 4:37 PM by brandon in Shit List
Mother f*cker! Up to this point, I've somehow managed not to have the Wire spoiled for me and Will Arnett just did it. AAAAHHHHHH!
Also, this album list is absurd. Astoundingly absurd.
Score = 0
That list is pure garbage.
Score = 9
LISTS
LISTS
LISTS
LISTS
LISTS
LISTS
LISTS
WOOOOOOOOO
YEAH YEAH LISTS
YEAH
GOOD LISTS
BAD LISTS
L I S T S
Score = 2
Do you think they had a meeting in which they considered the implications of placing Dangerously in Love before Homogenic or the Emancipation of Mimi before Exile in Guyville? I feel like by trying to include a diverse selection of genres, they've ended up being incredibly condescending to humanity.
The list is obviously intended to be palatable to a large listening public, with the focus skewed toward the artist rather than the album, but no matter the context, Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics is the worst album I've ever heard. And Blackout is far and away the best Britney Spears album.
Try harder!
Score = 1
Green Day at number 6?!? It is nice to see them throwing a bone to the Flaming Lips at number 23 though. If you're going to put Radiohead in the top ten, why choose In Rainbows? Its almost like they took a good list of top 100 albums and a bad list of top 100 albums and arbitrarily mixed them together. I'm mostly just boggled by the randomness of this list.
Score = 9
This list sucks ass.
Score = 7
I thought you were initially joking when you said Kelly Clarkson finished ahead of "OK Computer". I mean, she has her moments, but seriously? Seriously?
It's not so much the selections as the order that's completely inexplicable. It honestly looks like the EW editorial staff put 100 albums from the last 25 years in a hat and drew them out at random. "Turn On the Bright Lights" over "Surfer Rosa"?
Score = 2
any list that has rain dogs and disintegration in the top 20 can't be all that bad ...
Score = 0
Lists are inherently useless and stupid, but this one takes it to another galaxy. Holy shit.
Score = 1
I can't believe Kelly clsrkson album end up waaaaay ahead even ahead of ok computer, probably one of the best album of the 90s....that's just a joke. That album a okay at best...u cant take this list seriously at all. Its like they hit shufffle on their iPods and picked random albums
Score = 2
this is the weirdest list i have ever seen. it has great albums back to back with some of the worst. burp.
30 Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)
29 Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway (2004)
50 LCD Soundsystem - Sounds of Silver (2007)
49 Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
19 Beyoncé - Dangerously in Love (2003)
18 A Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990)
40 The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die (1994)
39 Sheryl Crow - Sheryl Crow (1996)
72 Van Halen - 1984 (1984)
71 No Doubt - Rock Steady (2001)
Score = -1
HAHAHAHAHA...hold on, let me catch my breath. Kelly Clarkson 29, OK Computer 62. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Score = 5
Barf.
Score = 2
can we all agree that lists suck, and move on?
Score = 1
Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Top of this Shitfuck List
Score = 12
Shania Twain before Interpol!?
Score = 1
i agree with every album on that list, and their placement on that list
good job, ew
Score = 6
Really?? Purple Rain is the best album since 1983??
Score = 2
Putting Nirvana Unplugged on the list and leaving off Nevermind is just being difficult. That's one of the strangest lists ever. And it renews my faith in eletism. If democracy means Mariah Carey finishes ahead of De La and Dylan, then count me out.
Score = 2
"tidal" over "when the pawn" OR "extraordinary machine"?!! EW created this specifically for the shit list.
Score = 5
ay, where's 'ysteria?
Score = 0
My favorite thing about this list is that it made some people SO MAD THEY HAD TO COMMENT ABOUT IT ON STEREOGUM.
Calm the hell down, nerds. a) It's Entertainment Weekly, and b) no one gives a crap what you think of the list.
Score = -7
and even fewer people care about what you think about what we think
Score = 5
Ok looking at the top 20. Definitely scratching my head.
Of the 20, I'd only back 7 or 8 to make the whole top 100,
and these are the best albums of the last 25 years???
Score = 0
No Kid A.
I want you to sit down and ponder that.
Then scroll back over the list and see who else made it.
Reverend Wright was right, God Damn America.
Score = 13
Wow, yea I agree with the person who just wrote "Barf". The list is laughable.
Score = 0
this world will be a much better place when people realize that LEGEND by BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS is a fucking GREATEST HITS COMPILATION. It has no place in an albums list. Rolling Stone also stupidly included it in their Top 500 Albums list in 2003.
Score = 4
It's like they went around a table having one person pick a popular artist... then an indie artist... completely at random
Score = 1
The very idea of this list is ludicrous in and of itself, so why is everyone shitting themselves over how badly it turned out. It's EW, forfucksakes. Glance at the list, smirk, and move on.
Or do like I just did and post a snarky comment on Stereogum about it.
Score = 0
This list wasn't created for Stereogum readers, nor does it claim to be definitive. Considering EW's primary audience, this list isn't that bad. Portishead, Pavement, My Bloody Valentine... these bands hardly ever get mentioned by mainstream media outlets. Maybe a casual EW reader will get turned on to some different music because of this list.
Score = 6
more likely, the average EW reader will peruse the list and say "my bloody whut? ain't never heard of them! where's my cigs? mabel, turn that tv back off, i'm tryin to read."
Score = 1
there any chicks up in here?
Score = 8
I've seen some pretty horrible lists in my life, but aside from the Modern Library's "Reader's Choice" Top 100 Books of the last Century (in which Ayn Rand and Hubbard DOMINATE the Top 20), this is the worst I've seen. Amy Winehouse's debut is apparently better than anything Radiohead's ever done. What in God's name...
Score = 11
AHAHAHAHAAAAHAHA!
Ah, man... how great is this?!
Thank you, EW, now I know the 100 best albums from '83 to now.
Fuck, thank god for EW.
Score = 1
So I kind of understand what EW's objective was, but I just think they failed. I think they wanted to make a list that would be objective and all encompassing, that would be a canon for not just music nerds but for your average music fan too. Their selections might not have all been bad, but the rankings were just strange.
Anyway, my question is, what should've the list looked like? What should a list by a publication like this be. Or even better, let's say for a second Rolling Stone didn't suck so bad, and it really represented music culture as a whole, including mainstream and indie, etc. What would an objective list of the best albums of the last 25 years look like? Here's probably what I think would be in the top spots, in no particular order (well, after the first two):
Radiohead-Ok Computer
Nirvana-Nevermind
Prince-Purple Rain
Radiohead-Kid A
Public Enemy-Takes a Nation
White Stripes-Elephant
Outkast-Stankonia
Kanye West-College Dropout
Beck-Odelay
My Bloody Valentine-Loveless
Arcade Fire-Funeral
R.E.M.-Automatic for the People
U2-Achtung Baby
Smiths-Queen Is Dead
Well, you get the point-I think a true objective list could be made. What do you guys think it would like like?
Score = 3
thats actually quite a decent list.
Score = -3
WOW...WHERE IS MICHAEL JACKSON'S BAD....I KNOW HE'S LOST HIS MIND BUT THAT ALBUM SHOULD BE IN THE TOP 10.....THIS LIST IS PURE BULL$#IT
Score = 2
definitley shit list.
american idiot over ga ga ga ga ga? please....
Score = 1
This is easily the strangest list I've ever seen, but I was born in 1983 so it's all good
Score = 1
Here's my theory: this list was made by a bunch of assholes in suits who think they are hip and know what the kids like, and one angry intern with thick-rimmed-glasses who listens to "weird" music. How else can you explain the ridiculously high position of Laryn Hill (failed attempt at being cool and different) along with the very presence of groups like Pavement and MBV (who would not even make a totally mainstream list)?
Score = -4
miseducation is a solid hip hop album.. which seldom gets its due from critics, mainstream or otherwise. i certainly don't agree with placing it in the top 10, but of all the more mainstream records on the list, it's one of the best.
Score = 3
Also, how the fuck is Springsteen all the way down at 75 below Moby? Born in the U.S.A. is one of the best goddamn albums ever made, definitely top 10 material.
Score = 2
I agree with almost all the ranking complaints on this list, and would like to add...Aimee Mann "Bachelor No. 2" all the way at 89?? And Amy Winehouse is number 9??? Something is very wrong here...why is Alicia Keys all the way at number 33? It's THAT much of a "modern classic?" Are you sure? I also agree that "Blackout" should have replaced "Britney" as the go-to Britney Spears album.
Score = 0
In Rainbows 52 places above OK Computer? Honestly? And where the hell is The Blue Album? I thought that one was obvious.
Score = 2
To include anything by Jay-Z in the top 10 is pandering of the worst kind. Prince is up there because it's currently hip to say you're all into him and have been since back in the day, same way Fred Durst & every other rap metal douche named checked the Beasties back in '97. While leaving off Nevermind is a curious choice overall, placing Unplugged on the list (therefore placing it de facto above Nevermind) is probably justified.
Score = 0
I think if they had included "Reasonable Doubt"-- an almost universally acclaimed album in the Hip Hop community, and pretty much the source of all Jay-Z's credibilty-- instead of "The Blueprint", ranking Jay-Z would have been justified, although probably not at number nine. They got it right with Nas's "Illmatic", though.
And I agree, for EW's reader base, Unplugged would easily be the go to Nirvana album. I know tons people pushing 40 who still listen to that album, and I'd bet they never listen to any other Nirvana albums.
Score = 0
i think its an excellent list...
...FOR ME TO POOP ON!
Score = 6
This strikes me as a list made by a bunch of people with absurdly different musical tastes putting albums and rankings into some computer and vomiting out this weird mix of awesome choices and bewildering fuckups.
Score = 1
You guys are all crazy. It's IMPOSSIBLE to create a list of 100 albums that will suit everyone's tastes, what do you expect? Time and music changes.. style changes, what's popular changes - of course there's a huge variety on the list.
And stop complaining about Radiohead being under Kelly Clarkson. OK Computer was certified 2 times platinum in the US with a grammy award and 3 times platinum in the UK.. Kelly's Breakaway is certified 6 times platinum in the US with 2 grammy awards and over 11 million sales worldwide.. Breakaway's outsold OK Computer by at least 3 times. I'm not saying her album is better, I'm saying that you're all sounding shocked that she's so high on the list when in reality she's got one of the best selling albums in a long time - of course she's going to be up there on the list.
I really shouldn't have had to just type all that out, but seriously, just get over it already. Just because you don't think something is good doesn't mean you're correct (sorry to burst any bubbles)
Score = -12
if album sales had anything to do with the value of an album (that's why it's called a list of the BEST ALBUMS not the top selling albums) then i don't think any of us would fucking be here discussing it right now.
Score = 3
WHAT THE FUCK
WHAT
THE
FUCK
SERIOUSLY
NO VAMPIRE WEEKEND???????
Score = -12
WOWOWOWWOWOWOWOWOWOwwwwwww
Score = 0
As uncool as this will sound, taking into account EW's primary audience and pure musical ability, Sarah Mclachlan's Surfacing needs to be on this list.
Obiously I have my beefs with this list, but I wasn't expecting to see the Silversun Pickups on here.
I did love seeing EW's editors meet their quota for pseudo indie acts. Postal Service? Death Cab? But no Bloc Party? Silent Alarm silences both of them.
Score = 3
This list is even messier than usual. They have a Bob Marley Greatest Hits collection (not exactly an album, per se) but no Pavement? No Husker Du? And it's good to see Mariah Carey getting props over NWA. That makes a ton of sense. Why do I always let these lists get me so riled up? Oh well, I guess it is time to revisit the genius of Kelly Clarkson and forget I ever read it.
Score = 2
Ok, so I overlooked the inclusion of Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. But the list is still a debacle. Madonna in the top 10? Is this a choreography list?! I would have thought no list would be complete without Mudhoney but what do I know?
Score = 0
The list is pure shit. Public Enemy "It Takes A Nation Of Millions..." is waaay back in the 50s and Wu Tang is up in the top tier. Come on. Even the Wu would argue with that.
Score = 2
Jeff Buckley's Grace should be in the Top 10!!
Score = 4
It's about time somebody acknowleged how superior Jagged Little Pill is to OK Computer and Moon and Antarctica. Bravo, EW!
Score = -5
What is the point of this list
Score = 1
this. is. the. worst. list.
EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Score = -1
Reading this list is like hearing a little kid say that Hitler is awesome. You know they don't know any better, but you're still somewhat offended.
Score = 19
All this list represents is another manifestation of the limbo that mainstream media exists in. They attempt to coexist between the mainstream and the underground, yet that is impossible. Criticizing this list is worthless, I feel more pity for the EW writers compiling this. They can't have a legitimate list with OKC, Loveless, Kid A, etc. at the top because they'll be called out for pandering. They can't have a list that would be based solely on popularity (the list they should be compiling) since they would be called out for ignorance. therfore they attempt to bridge the gap, but this only leads to exemplars of both pandering and ignorance. No use criticizing, just ignore this meaningless list.
Score = 4
This list is horrible. Kanye West in the top 5. nuff said.
Kelly Clarkson isnt top 100 anything.
Like all bad car accidents...nothing to see here folks, move on.
Score = 0
What a horrible, horrible list. EW writers must have been hitting the crack pipe pretty hard when coming up with this...
Score = 0
back to black: 9
ok computer : 62
just making sure i'm reading that right.
Score = 1
Actually I don't think the list is too terribly bad if you just ignore the numbers and see it as an unordered list. Music lists will inevitably make no one happy, because we all have our personal tastes.
Score = 2
No one's personal taste is The Emancipation of MImi over OK Computer. No one's.
Score = 9
You know why they keep doing this? Its simple take a look at the most viewed entries on Stereogum.
top 17 record stores is the third position and this is the 6th. We just like to take a view at lists of magazines we know will make a poor selection.
Score = 3
EW just trolled all you losers.You guys all stamped your little hoofies so hard that the pictures fell off my walls. It was pretty great.
(Seriously, though, NO MAN MAN, XIU XIU, OR NEON NEON?!?!?!?!!!!!/!11!!!!!One!!1!!2)
Score = 2
weird that it had Modest Mouse- Moon and Antarctica, instead of Lonesome Crowded West... and who put fucking kelly clarkson on it? ha....this list sucks dick.....and i like how FORKS bands all are doubles (Man Man, Neon Neon, Xiu Xiu) but they are great bands.
Score = -1
No Lifted? No What's the Story Morning Glory? No... William Shatner sings the Classics?
Score = 3
Dear Entertainment Weekly,
Way to fail.
paul jenkins
Score = -1
Mandy Patinkin
Score = 1
where are some good records, like a VERSION 2.0 by GARBAGE, EYES OPEN by SNOW PATROL, NO NEED TO ARGUE by THE CRANBERRIES, SURFACING BY SARAH MCLACHLAN, ARE YOU LISTENING? BY DOLORES ORIORDAN
Score = -3
this list needeD, some albums, like a NO NEED TO ARGUE by THE CRANBERRIES, EYES OPEN by SNOW PATROL, SURFACING by SARAH MCLACHLAN, VERSION 2.0 by GARBAGE
Score = -2
Nice to see prince at #1 - Purple Rain certainly left a huge mark on the world, hard to pick another one that had as much an impact on music, fashion, and entertainment in general (in the past 25 years, that is). And, thanks to Timbaland and Pharrell, the beats don't even sound dated.
Not sure about the Ok Computer thing - that should be at least in the Top 10, if not Top 5. In Rainbows was seemingly picked only for it's distribution strategy, not it's content.
Then again -the point of these lists is to spur discussion.
Score = 0
When I was reading the list and came across "Britney" I was imagining all the disparaging comments that would ensue and thought, "it should be Blackout." Then I saw Back to Basics and was just totally BAFFLED. It's a stretch to call it medoicre. The whole list is absurd. (And we encanta your comment.}
Score = 0
reading this made me smile :)
Score = 0
they had to have just thrown darts at their album collections. nonsense.
Score = 0
iawtc. except i was imagining them sitting around a table drawing names/albums out of a hat instead of dart-throwing
Score = 0
Pretty damned arbitrary, really.
Cat Power? 13? She's alright, but... over OK Computer, Funeral, AND Achtung Baby? Lay off the sauce, Eee-Dub.
Score = 0
i mean do they actually believe the 92 albums they listed above elliott smith's either/or are in fact better than either/or? and born in the usa...wtf.
i have no words. i can understand this as like, draft one of this list, but did they try to edit it? did they attempt to use logic or reasoning? or common sense? or commonly held beliefs? or ears?
Score = 1
Who devised this list? It lacks any form of credibility by having Britney Spears on the list. Born in the USA better than Nebraska or Devils and Dust. This is just preposterous and wholly unacceptable. The absurdity of it all made me smile once I realised this is a joke.
Score = 0
I've flipped thru EW in waiting rooms 'n stuff and clearly their critics are People magazine journo rejects...obv they haven't a musical clue...but for what it's worth they've got some great bands (but not necessarily their best work)...and they've included the anti-christ (mariah carey).... and, y'know, it's good for a larf.
Score = 1
If I made a list of "The Worst List of Album Rating Lists of 2008", this list would be #1 with a bullet, baby. Wow, just...wow. Who's gramma wrote this anyways? Lauren "I'm a Fraud" Hill #2? The Postal Service is better than 1984? Oh I'll be laughing for a while.
Score = 0
what a disgusting mis-match of 'mainstream' and the rest. EW used to be a fairly readable magazine, after this, i put them on the same list as Blender.
Score = 0
EW sells 32.000 copies a week at newsstands. Nobody would have known about this list if Stereogum hadn't publicized it...
Score = 1
Seriously f*ckin' weird. The bad kind of weird.
Score = 0
surprised there is no weezer
Score = 0
lifes rich pageant--r.e.m.'s greatest album? and didn't that come out in 1986, not 1985?
Score = 0
Where are Neutral Milk Hotel, Mountain Goats, Letters To Cleo, Belly, Robyn Hitchcock and Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine?
Score = 0
you made at least two of those up
Score = 1
I actually think this list is pretty good, in the sense that it seems like it's been put together simply to point out the absurd and arbitrary nature of lists and the faith people put in them. The fact that they apparantly meanit makes it even better. 'The emancipation on Mimi' as the 21st greatest album EVER made... no hipster ironist would ever have the balls to make a claim like that.
Score = -1
This list is pretty dumb, but the video game list is actually really good... I may disagree with the order, but I don't disagree with their picks at all. So maybe all is not lost... :P
Score = 0
My impression of all the lists in the magazine was they were NOT listing the best, necessarily, but instead those pieces of entertainment that were both great and had an effect on culture. The list looks a little better in that light, but still wrongheaded.
Score = -1
I'm not sure I agree with you here... the video game list, like I said, is excellent. It includes several games that weren't huge commercial hits but are still wonderful games, such as Shadow of the Colossus.
Once is also included on a ton of the lists about movies (movie soundtrack, romantic moments, etc.) and it isn't well known. Most of the people I talk to about it have never heard of it.
Score = 1
This is extremely puzzling and disturbing.
Score = 0
LMAO at this list. why is beyonce up there? wow this is put together by a bunch of 10 year olds. I bet they had all the kids spin around and pick out of a hat and call it classic.
emancipation of mimi is not mariah's best work. it should be butterfly or daydream.
Score = 0
Any list that doesn't have Nirvana, Micheal Jackson, or the Beatles at number 1, or at all in the top 10 is fine by me. I hate erading a list and knowing whats gonna be number 1.
Score = -1
that's a pretty low list standard you got there, hans. also, what beatles album could they possibly have squeezed in post-1983?
Score = 0
Kid A? You Forgot It In People? Kill The Moonlight? Z? Is This It?
Score = -1
Wait... Is This It DID make the list. But that doesn't excuse the omission of Daydream Nation.
Score = 2
choosing purple rain as #1 is so predictable and safe. they get to choose something mainstream while still keeping the idiot hipsters at bay.
duh.
Score = 0
Oh, I overlooked the inclusion of Pavement. The list is still a debacle though. Madonna in the top 10? I would replace her with Mudhoney.
Score = 0
WHAT ABOUT KEYSHIA COLE?????????!!!! lol. I took one look at his list and turned the page. I knew it didn't make any sense when they had so many recent albums close to the top. But when you think about it, this is a weekly magazine, not a monthly, so more than likely there wasn't a lot of thought put into this list. 25 years is a BIG piece of pop culture. So many styles, eras, changes, movements, etc. It's kind of impossible to do it justice and include bits and pieces from all genres.
Score = 0
Oh, and I think George Michael's Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 was the better album. Every track on that record was amazing. That's another thing. When they made this list they seemed to pick albums based on popularity and not quality/creativity/artistry.
Score = 0
The College Dropout at #4? Seriously? That record is terrible.
Score = 0
Where is "We All belong" by Dr. Dog? That even made "Rolling Stone's" list at number 32, just below druggie, Amy Winehouse???
Score = 0
It's good to see Belle & Sebastian on this list.
They tend to be underrepresented on these things...
Score = 0
Was this list made by a 40 year old? Trying to be down with the kids? ooo amy winehouse is in the papers lets put her in the top 20...mental
Score = 0
barf.
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I think this section is particularly tantalizing:
30 Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)
29 Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway (2004)
28 Nas - Illmatic (1994)
27 Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)
26 Bob Dylan - Time Out of Mind (1997)
25 Interpol - Turn On the Bright Lights (2002)
24 Shania Twain - Come On Over (1997)
23 The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin (1999)
22 De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
21 Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi (2005)
20 Fiona Apple - Tidal (1996)
'Specially the indie rock sandwich of Arcade Fire->Dylan->Interpol->Shania Twain->Flaming Lips. I've always thought Shania should be right up there with Bun E. and the boys. And what I honestly mean by that is that I dislike Shania Twain and Interpol equally.
There's definitely some indie rock soup du jour in here. If I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn had just come out, Bright Eyes would have been on the list, guaranteed. Ditto for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and My Morning Jacket's big moment. I am surprised the Strokes made it on the list, considering how long it's been since their ship (and "neo-garage/blah blah blah whatever") sailed.
Including "Rock Steady" by No Doubt is pretty perplexing to me. I thought "Tragic Kingdom was way bigger, and kind of enjoyable too.
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I, for one, think Interpol and Shania should be right up next to each other, because they both blow equally hard. And I wish "Pinkerton" was on the list. I also would like
to see everyone's top 25 (or top 100) from the past 25 years, so we can all lambaste each other. Seems unfair to pick on EW when there's so much critiquing to go around . . .
Shit, I'll do my own. Most important 25 albums (to me) since '83, actually more like '89 or so since that's when I started paying attention.
1. Green Day - Dookie
2. Rx Bandits - The Resignation
3. Fountains of Wayne - Utopia Parkway
4. Pernice Brothers - Overcome by Happiness
5. Hippos - Heads Are Gonna Roll
6. Weezer - The Blue Album
7. Motion City Soundtrack - I Am The Movie
8. Superchunk - Indoor Living
9. Sonic Youth - Washing Machine
10. Mr. T Experience - Love Is Dead
11. Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism
12. Wilco - Summerteeth
13. Reel Big Fish - Turn The Radio Off
14. Guided By Voices - Do The Collapse
15. Rilo Kiley - The Execution Of All Things
Eh, fifteen will do for now. Take aim! I showed you mine, so . . . .
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BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA
Motion City Soundtrack? Green Day? DO THE FUCKING COLLAPSE, GBV's WORST ALBUM EVER?
LOL
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this list has been fed to us by corporate entities so we will all go "WTF"its all f...ing buzz, buzz, buzz. ew is feeding your crap hole, eat up
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Here's ten better
Arcade fire - neon bible
animal collective - strawberry jam
of montreal - hissing
dr. dog
islands- arm's way
fleet foxes
panda bear
blah blah blah blah
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actually, that's only 8.
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Sheer and utter Garbage!
this is truly a Shit List
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Nevermind
Thriller
Paul's Boutique
Check Your Head
1984
Pretty Hate machine
Downward Spiral
Ten
Vs
takes a nation of millions...
the chronic
straight outta compton
Purple Rain
maxinquaye
ok computer
the bends
achtung baby
mezzanine
Aenima
siamese Dream
Mellon Collie
Rage against the machine
evil empire
Appetite for destruction
Aquemini (or Southerplayalistic)
Here's what probably got the most mileage in my cd player the last 25 yrs....in no particular order...
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Feel free to remove any duplicate artists with these (sine I didn't realize I left them out...and I'm leaving out a million more...but man EW...wooo-wee....that was rough.
Weezer - Blue album
Wilco - yankee Hotel foxtrot
Green day - Dookie
Eric B & Rakim - Paid in Full
2pac - Me Against the World
BIG - Ready to Die
...there almost a top 25...of sorts.
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Or you can edit these in also...if having more than one artist is a big deal...
Weezer - Blue Album
Eric B & rakim - paid in Full
Wilco - yankee hotel Foxtrot
B.I.G. - ready to Die
2Pac - Me Against the World
Snoop - Doggystyle
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I'm sure I'm not the only one out there who would rather see Pinkerton on there than Blue Album?
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Isn't anyone else happy to see 36 Chambers on an EW list?
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Mind you...this is Entertainment Weekly....what the hell could these guys know?
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1. Jesus And Mary Chain: Psychocandy
2. Arthur Russell: World Of Echo:
3. Smog: Red Apple Falls
4. Dolly Parton: White Limozeen
5. Brian Wilson & Van Dyke Parks: Orange Crate Art
6. Magnetic Fields: Holiday
Just a few albums I felt were inapproriately snubbed--
for reasons I mostly understand.
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Though it's nice to see Nirvana, Radiohead, and U2 represented by albums other than Nevermind (In Utero's their best), OK Computer (I'm still partial to The Bends) and The Joshua Tree, this list IS weird. But the whole issue is like that. It really is something more along the lines of most-popular/most-iconic, rather than best.
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Oh, yeah, I mean Back to Black totally should be 50 spots ahead of OK Computer.
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Even though Im not a fan, Michael Jackson waaaay deserves to be on there. Like the most watched music video of all time, Thiller? hello? Tell me a kid that hasn't heard that song.
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If you planned on putting up a shitty list anyway, why not go all out? Where's a Kerrang! list?
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OMG this list actually pisses me off immensely. I feel like throwing my computer at ongoing traffic. WTF is The College Droout doing on this list at all let alone number 4? When I saw Dangerously In Love I felt like strangling myself and then when I saw The Emancipation of Mimi I just did strangle myself. WTF! is wrong with that Entertainment Weekly place, what a bunch of fucking dickheads. God I am pissed off. It is as if a bunch of 15 year olds made this list with no knowledge of music at all. How the fuck are Beyonce Knowles, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake and Shania Twain (just to name a few) in the top 50, but The Smiths and The Stone Roses don't even get on the list at all? This is obscenely pathetic and it is sad that anyone could make such a shit ass list. I bet their were more EW magazines in public bins that week than there was paper bags.
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Hahahahaha
U people are funny!
I agree the list is shit but I think I liked the bends better than ok computer but is this it well diserving being on the list. Oh and ten by pearl jam that album is a classic
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