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Yet Another List

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Paste magazines top 300 albums. Some interesting choices.

Please refrain from clicking if you are not interested.

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  3. While I don’t agree with them, as I’m sure is the point, I’ve never seen a list that makes such an effort to represent different decades, genres, even countries. Makes for some mad juxtapositions. I will investigate a few of these. Might even send me back to a few: Julee Cruise at 48? Who is this Paste magazine?

    • I thought of it as a fairly alternative magazine. When I lived in the US I subscribed for a year or so at a bargain price. Never seen it anywhere else. Like most US music magazines, inferior to British ones I think

      • I subscribed for a while too. I felt it covered things sufficiently differently to the UK magazines to make importing it worthwhile (it wasn’t that expensive really).
        More like the US version of Word Magazine. In the same way as No Depression is the US version of Uncut!
        It’s pièce de résistance however, was the covermount cd. I ‘discovered’ several artists through the CD that I don’t think I would have known about otherwise.

  4. Small moment of joy in the listing – Husker Du are better than Nirvana
    (correct answer)

    Queen – Jazz, not recognised as one of their hottest moments (it’s better than Hot Space, but would place every other Queen album above it) makes the list and nowt else from the BR/FBGH.

    Astral Weeks makes 58 (I still wonder if critics have actually listened to it?) – good moments, but great album?

    Another perennial “best album” list dweller, more by reputation than actual content.
    Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea – as above: good moments, but great album?

    Save for Born To Run, Blue, Pet Sounds, and What’s Going On, The Top 20 isn’t as predictable as most lists. Although is The Cure’s Disintegration really better than London Calling?
    (obviously it is if you are the author of this list)

  7. Started reading it, found a few in the lower numbers that I knew/knew of and several I’d never heard of. Then I got bored and read a bit more of my book instead.
    More diverse than most of these collector-bait lists tend to be, but no less pointless in life’s rich tapestry.

  9. It’s as good a list of the 300 best albums as any. Ranking inevitably raises eyebrows when pop music has been going as long as it has and includes so many styles, and eras. Back To Black has become resident fairly high up. I don’t get that really. A classy, well made record but when you consider the competition in that list? No I don’t think so.

  10. Nice to see Hiroshi Yoshimura’s “Music For Nine Post Cards” holding down the coveted number 278 spot. I like that album. Nice to see that some other people do, too!

  11. Great to see the excellent Ethiopiques series get a mention with Mahmoud Ahmed’s Ethiopiques 7. It is, indeed, superb. But to my mind the standout album in the series is Ethiopiques 4, Ethio Jazz, which features Mulatu Astatqe’s extraordinary sound.

    The single standout track in the whole series (IMO) is on Ethiopiques 10, Ethiopian Blues and Ballads. The compilation features this track from the aforementioned Ahmed, along with some smouldering sax.

  12. I always look at Rock ‘n’ Roll first in these lists – dodgers simply do not get it, they pretend to get it (always), but they do not get it (always) – and I meekly put forward the notion that the person at the end of the 50s who thought the best record from that decade was by Billie Holiday, might not have been the hippest person on the planet, and you would have been better off talking to the Teds on the corner to find out what was the best record from that decade.

  14. I enjoyed the read. Provocative choices nudge hips with some of the expected. Many here I would never touch with a barge pole, even with the well constructed arguments around so doing, but I lapped up the prose with relish.

  16. https://www.acclaimedmusic.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15073

    300. Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded West (1997)
    299. Rihanna: Anti (2016)
    298. Queen: Jazz (1978)
    297. Terry Riley: A Rainbow in Curved Air (1969)
    296. The Raincoats: The Raincoats (1979)
    295. Bad Brains: Bad Brains (1981)
    294. Deulgukhwa: 들국화 (1985)
    293. Ice Cube: AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted (1990)
    292. David Bowie: Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (1980)
    291. Camarón: La leyenda del tiempo (1979)
    290. The Fall: The Wonderful and Frightening World Of… (1984)
    289. Britney Spears: …Baby One More Time (1999)
    288. The Who: Tommy (1969)
    287. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy: I See a Darkness (1999)
    286. The KLF: Chill Out (1990)
    285. Lil’ Kim: Hard Core (1996)
    284. Talk Talk: Laughing Stock (1991)
    283. Bob Marley and the Wailers: Burnin’ (1973)
    282. Brian Eno: Another Green World (1975)
    281. Shin Joong Hyun & Yup Juns: 신중현과 엽전들 (1974)
    280. Townes Van Zandt: The Late Great Townes Van Zandt (1972)
    279. Robyn: Body Talk (2010)
    278. Hiroshi Yoshimura: Music For Nine Post Cards (1982)
    277. Pulp: Different Class (1995)
    276. Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of the City (2013)
    275. Kraftwerk: The Man-Machine (1978)
    274. Songs: Ohia: The Magnolia Electric Co. (2003)
    273. Neil Young: After the Gold Rush (1970)
    272. Blondie: Parallel Lines (1978)
    271. Wire: Chairs Missing (1978)
    270. Mississippi John Hurt: Today! (1966)
    269. Fiona Apple: When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He’ll Win the Whole Thing ‘Fore He Enters the Ring There’s No Body to Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and If You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where to Land and If You Fall It Won’t Matter, Cuz You’ll Know That You’re Right (1999)
    268. Tom Petty: Wildflowers (1994)
    267. Dolly Parton: Coat of Many Colors (1971)
    266. Mahmoud Ahmed: Éthiopiques, Vol. 7: Ere Mèla Mèla (1975)
    265. Thin Lizzy: Jailbreak (1976)
    264. Stars of the Lid: The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid (2001)
    263. Alvvays: Blue Rev (2022)
    262. Silver Jews: American Water (1998)
    261. The Meters: Rejuvenation (1974)
    260. PJ Harvey: Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000)
    259. The Byrds: Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968)
    258. Janet Jackson: Control (1987)
    257. OutKast: Aquemini (1998)
    256. Marty Robbins: Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (1959)
    255. Cyndi Lauper: She’s So Unusual (1983)
    254. Nico: The Marble Index (1968)
    253. George Jones: I Am What I Am (1980)
    252. Lorde: Melodrama (2017)
    251. Popol Vuh: Hosianna Mantra (1972)
    250. Burial: Untrue (2007)
    249. Joni Mitchell: Hejira (1976)
    248. Steely Dan: Aja (1977)
    247. The Shangri-Las: Leader of the Pack (1965)
    246. LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver (2007)
    245. Eric B. & Rakim: Paid in Full (1987)
    244. Four Tet: There Is Love in You (2010)
    243. Alice Coltrane: Turiya Sings (1982)
    242. The Promise Ring: Nothing Feels Good (1997)
    241. Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977)
    240. Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster (2009)
    239. The Mountain Goats: The Sunset Tree (2005)
    238. Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
    237. Danny Brown: Atrocity Exhibition (2016)
    236. Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures (1979)
    235. Aretha Franklin: Amazing Grace (1972)
    234. D’Angelo and the Vanguard: Black Messiah (2014)
    233. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Déjà Vu (1970)
    232. Portishead: Dummy (1994)
    231. Ornette Coleman: The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959)
    230. Carly Rae Jepsen: Emotion (2015)
    229. Beck: Odelay (1996)
    228. The Avalanches: Since I Left You (2000)
    227. Germs: (GI) (1979)
    226. Solange: A Seat at the Table (2016)
    225. Curtis Mayfield: Super Fly (1972)
    224. U2: The Joshua Tree (1987)
    223. Bruce Springsteen: Nebraska (1982)
    222. The Cure: Pornography (1982)
    221. The Supremes: Where Did Our Love Go (1964)
    220. Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
    219. Jeff Buckley: Grace (1994)
    218. The Band: Music from Big Pink (1968)
    217. Liz Phair: Exile in Guyville (1993)
    216. The Magnetic Fields: 69 Love Songs (1999)
    215. Led Zeppelin: IV (1971)
    214. Joanna Newsom: Ys (2006)
    213. Lil Wayne: Tha Carter III (2008)
    212. Grace Jones: Nightclubbing (1981)
    211. Fugazi: Repeater (1990)
    210. The Blue Nile: Hats (1989)
    209. The Stooges: Fun House (1970)
    208. Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark (1974)
    207. Tom Waits: Rain Dogs (1985)
    206. American Football: American Football (1999)
    205. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band: Trout Mask Replica (1969)
    204. Janelle Monáe: Dirty Computer (2018)
    203. Leonard Cohen: Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967)
    202. Built to Spill: Perfect From Now On (1997)
    201. Danger Mouse: The Grey Album (2004)
    200. Massive Attack: Blue Lines (1991)
    199. The War on Drugs: Lost in the Dream (2014)
    198. Buena Vista Social Club: Buena Vista Social Club (1997)
    197. Slayer: Reign in Blood (1986)
    196. Rush: Moving Pictures (1981)
    195. Vince Staples: Big Fish Theory (2017)
    194. The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground (1969)
    193. Fiona Apple: Fetch the Bolt Cutters (2020)
    192. Dinosaur Jr.: You’re Living All Over Me (1987)
    191. TLC: CrazySexyCool (1994)
    190. Pavement: Slanted & Enchanted (1992)
    189. The Microphones: The Glow Pt. 2 (2001)
    188. Kate Bush: The Dreaming (1982)
    187. Eminem: The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
    186. Sufjan Stevens: Carrie & Lowell (2015)
    185. Beyoncé: Beyoncé (2013)
    184. The Strokes: Is This It (2001)
    183. The Ronettes: Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica (1964)
    182. The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers (1971)
    181. John Prine: John Prine (1971)
    180. Missy Elliott: Supa Dupa Fly (1997)
    179. Angelo Badalementi: Soundtrack from Twin Peaks (1990)
    178. Yo La Tengo: And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out (2000)
    177. Kacey Musgraves: Golden Hour (2018)
    176. Nick Drake: Pink Moon (1972)
    175. Swans: Soundtracks for the Blind (1996)
    174. GZA: Liquid Swords (1995)
    173. Public Image Ltd: Second Issue / Metal Box (1979)
    172. Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998)
    171. Taylor Swift: Red (2012)
    170. Guns ‘N Roses: Appetite For Destruction (1987)
    169. Talking Heads: Fear of Music (1979)
    168. Marvin Gaye: I Want You (1976)
    167. X-Ray Spex: Germfree Adolescents (1978)
    166. Death Cab for Cutie: Transatlanticism (2003)
    165. Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Rust Never Sleeps (1979)
    164. Aretha Franklin: I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)
    163. Pixies: Doolittle (1989)
    162. Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
    161. Oasis: Definitely Maybe (1994)
    160. Gillian Welch: Time (The Revelator) (2001)
    159. Van Halen: Van Halen (1978)
    158. Waylon Jennings: Dreaming My Dreams (1975)
    157. Sly and the Family Stone: There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971)
    156. Dusty Springfield: Dusty in Memphis (1969)
    155. Dismemberment Plan: Emergency & I (1999)
    154. Jason Isbell: Southeastern (2013)
    153. Fishmans: Kuuchuu Camp (1996)
    152. Slowdive: Souvlaki (1993)
    151. Lana Del Rey: Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019)
    150. Radiohead: OK Computer (1997)
    149. Frank Ocean: channel ORANGE (2012)
    148. Boards of Canada: Music Has the Right to Children (1998)
    147. Madonna: Erotica (1992)
    146. Jay-Z: Reasonable Doubt (1996)
    145. Belle & Sebastian: If You’re Feeling Sinister (1996)
    144. Paul Simon: Graceland (1986)
    143. Björk: Homogenic (1997)
    142. Boris: Pink (2005)
    141. Eric Dolphy: Out to Lunch! (1964)
    140. Spiritualized: Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (1997)
    139. Gang of Four: Entertainment! (1979)
    138. Sparks: No. 1 in Heaven (1979)
    137. James Brown: ‘Live’ at the Apollo (1963)
    136. Metallica: Master of Puppets (1986)
    135. Tatsuro Yamashita: For You (1982)
    134. Elliott Smith: Either/Or (1997)
    133. Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti (1975)
    132. PJ Harvey: Rid of Me (1993)
    131. George Michael: Faith (1987)
    130. Herbie Hancock: Head Hunters (1973)
    129. Minutemen: Double Nickels on the Dime (1984)
    128. The Beatles: Rubber Soul (1965)
    127. David Bowie: Low (1977)
    126. Daft Punk: Discovery (2001)
    125. Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
    124. R.E.M.: Murmur (1983)
    123. Ramones: Ramones (1976)
    122. The Breeders: Last Splash (1993)
    121. Michael Jackson: Thriller (1982)
    120. Fugees: The Score (1996)
    119. Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation (1988)
    118. The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced? (1967)
    117. Willie Nelson: Red Headed Stranger (1975)
    116. Dr. Dre: The Chronic (1992)
    115. Lou Reed: Transformer (1972)
    114. System of a Down: Toxicity (2001)
    113. Madvillain: Madvillainy (2004)
    112. Mariah Carey: Music Box (1993)
    111. Godspeed You Black Emperor!: Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven (2000)
    110. The Smiths: The Queen is Dead (1984)
    109. Sleater-Kinney: Dig Met Out (1997)
    108. This Heat: Deceit (1981)
    107. J Dilla: Donuts (2006)
    106. N.W.A.: Straight Outta Compton (1988)
    105. Paul & Linda McCartney: Ram (1971)
    104. Bruce Springsteen: The River (1980)
    103. Sunn O))): Black One (2005)
    102. Prince and the Revolution: 1999 (1982)
    101. Simon & Garfunkel: Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
    100. B.B. King: Live at the Regal (1965)
    99. Grateful Dead: American Beauty (1970)
    98. Donna Summer: Bad Girls (1979)
    97. Death: Symbolic (1995)
    96. Fleetwood Mac: Tusk (1979)
    95. Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works Volume II (1994)
    94. Sade: Love Deluxe (1992)
    93. War: The World is a Ghetto (1972)
    92. Deerhunter: Halcyon Digest (2010)
    91. Otis Redding: Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965)
    90. The Stooges: Raw Power (1973)
    89. Television: Marquee Moon (1977)
    88. Smashing Pumpkins: Siamese Dream (1993)
    87. Beastie Boys: Paul’s Boutique (1989)
    86. Kanye West: The Life of Pablo (2016)
    85. Nina Simone: I Put a Spell on You (1965)
    84. SOPHIE: Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides (2018)
    83. Pixies: Surfer Rosa (1988)
    82. Radiohead: In Rainbows (2007)
    81. D’Angelo: Voodoo (2000)
    80. Alice Coltrane: Journey in Satchidananda (1971)
    79. Black Sabbath: Paranoid (1970)
    78. Mingus: The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (1963)
    77. Erykah Badu: Baduizm (1997)
    76. The Replacements: Let It Be (1984)
    75. Little Richard: Here’s Little Richard (1957)
    74. Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde (1966)
    73. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Going to a Go-Go (1965)
    72. Kendrick Lamar: good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012)
    71. Madonna: Like a Prayer (1989)
    70. my bloody valentine: loveless (1991)
    69. Nas: Illmatic (1994)
    68. Aretha Franklin: Lady Soul (1968)
    67. A Tribe Called Quest: The Low End Theory (1991)
    66. Michael Jackson: Off the Wall (1979)
    65. Nirvana: Nevermind (1991)
    64. Ray Charles: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)
    63. Hüsker Dü: New Day Rising (1985)
    62. The Beatles: The Beatles (1968)
    61. Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998)
    60. Hole: Live Through This (1994)
    59. Notorious B.I.G.: Ready to Die (1994)
    58. Van Morrison: Astral Weeks (1968)
    57. Pharoah Sanders: Karma (1969)
    56. Stevie Wonder: Innervisions (1973)
    55. Beyoncé: Lemonade (2016)
    54. Wu-Tang Clan: Enter the Wu-Tang Clan (36 Chambers) (1993)
    53. R.E.M.: Automatic For the People (1992)
    52. Joni Mitchell: The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975)
    51. Novos Baianos: Acabou Chorare (1972)
    50. Johnny Cash: At Folsom Prison (1968)
    49. Frank Ocean: Blonde (2016)
    48. Julee Cruise: Floating into the Night (1989)
    47. Miles Davis: Kind of Blue (1959)
    46. The Roots: Things Fall Apart (1999)
    45. The Beatles: Revolver (1966)
    44. De La Soul: 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
    43. Cocteau Twins: Heaven or Las Vegas (1990)
    42. PJ Harvey: To Bring You My Love (1995)
    41. The Replacements: Tim (1985)
    40. Patti Smith: Horses (1975)
    39. Neil Young: On the Beach (1974)
    38. Sufjan Stevens: Illinois (2005)
    37. The Rolling Stones: Exile on Main St. (1972)
    36. Amy Winehouse: Back to Black (2006)
    35. John Coltrane: A Love Supreme (1964)
    34. David Bowie: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (1972)
    33. Carole King: Tapestry (1971)
    32. Billie Holiday: Lady in Satin (1958)
    31. Björk: Post (1995)
    30. Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks (1975)
    29. Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (2012)
    28. Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1999)
    27. The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland (1968)
    26. The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
    25. Talking Heads: Remain in Light (1980)
    24. Sam Cooke: Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 (1985)
    23. The Clash: London Calling (1979)
    22. Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)
    21. The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Undeground & Nico (1967)
    20. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
    19. Prince: Purple Rain (1984)
    18. Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (1977)
    17. Funkadelic: Maggot Brain (1971)
    16. Janet Jackson: Velvet Rope (1997)
    15. Bruce Springsteen: Born to Run (1975)
    14. Joni Mitchell: Blue (1971)
    13. Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On (1971)
    12. Miles Davis: Bitches Brew (1970)
    11. Public Enemy: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1987)
    10. The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds (1966)
    9. Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges: Clube da Esquina (1972)
    8. Nina Simone: Wild is the Wind (1966)
    7. Fishmans: Long Season (1996)
    6. OutKast: Stankonia (2000)
    5. The Beatles: Abbey Road (1969)
    4. Prince: Sign o’ the Times (1987)
    3. Kate Bush: Hounds of Love (1985)
    2. The Cure: Disintegration (1989)
    1. Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life (1976)

  19. Fun reading through that. A few predictable entries (wail, moan, shriek) but some great inclusions. Glad to concur with the view that Fear Of Music is the absolute apogee of Talking Heads achievement for one thing.

    The order of inclusion seems to me to be entirely random – there’s no rational way that a higher position in this list can be considered to bestow a higher level of praise than a lower one. Hejira less worthy that Court And Spark? Don’t think so. They even admit for Hejira that “Rhythmically complex, daring and beautiful, Hejira’s travelogues of despair and illumination have inspired many to consider it the finest album in her discography.” and then they put it at 249, with Court at 208, so the numbers don’t matter.

  21. There’s a genuine error at no. 283.
    Paste say that the album “Burnin'” is by “Bob Marley and the Wailers”.
    This is not correct.
    It’s by the Wailers.
    The band’s name didn’t change until the next album, “Natty Dread”.

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