10 All-Time Greatest Music Albums
by EW Staff
6/27/13


10. Nirvana's 'Nevermind' (1991)


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In which three punk underdogs conquered mainstream America, destroyed hair metal, and defined a generation.









9. The Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds' (1966)


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The Boys could have cruised forever on surfin' safaris and little deuce coupes; instead, they dove into the deep end of the Pacific (and into Brian Wilson's often untethered psyche) on this impeccably layered, gorgeously woebegone pop masterwork.









8. Kanye West's 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' (2010)


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It starts with a question: ''Can we get much higher?'' After 70 thunderous minutes of hip-hop anthems, prog-rock bliss-outs, and I'ma-let-you-finish bravura, you have your answer:

No. No, we cannot.









7. Aretha Franklin's 'Lady Soul' (1968)


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''Lady'' is a too modest honorific: She's forever the Queen, whether suffering a ''Chain of Fools',' making hotfooted horns follow in her wake on ''(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone',' or feeling like a natural woman (woman!).









6. Bob Dylan's 'Blood on the Tracks' (1975)


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Supposedly inspired by the collapse of his marriage, Dylan's 15th album is a mellow-dude detonation of anger, regret, and acceptance that features some of his most soulful singing and enduring melodies.

''It's hard for me to relate to…people enjoying that type of pain,'' he later said in an interview. But it's harder to imagine anyone not getting swept up in this masterpiece of deeply emotional songwriting.









5. The Clash's 'London Calling' (1979)


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A lot of punks sneered about rebellion back then, but these boyos gave 'em a real revolution — musical and political — with the eternally urgent, genre-defying document that earned them the sobriquet the Only Band That Matters.









4. Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' (1982)


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If you grew up in the '80s, this isn't just an album; it's the soundtrack to the first half of your life. Your first dance, your first summer romance, your first (and, rest assured, not your last) heartbreak.

Thank you, Michael. Signed, everyone.









3. The Rolling Stones' 'Exile on Main Street' (1972)


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Given the legendarily louche circumstances in which 'Exile on Main Street' was made (heroin! French villa! More heroin!), it's a miracle this double set of blues-, country-, and gospel-infused rock contains any great songs.

In fact, they're all great songs — even the one called ''Turd on the Run'.









2. Prince and the Revolution's 'Purple Rain' (1984)


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Sexiest album ever? The PMRC thought so. The watchdog group was literally formed in response to this paisley-funk heavy breather, which builds to one awesome climax after another.

How fitting that the movie the album was made for charts the Kid's rise to fame: The moment Prince sang ''Baby I'm a Star,'' he was one.









1. The Beatles' 'Revolver' (1966)


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Not only did 'Revolver' establish the enduring rules for long-players (hot stuff up front, difficult tunes in the back, swirly ones just before you flip it over), it also conveyed the full narrative of The Beatles over 14 songs, from the hands-up garage jam ''Taxman'' to the sunny beach romp ''Good Day Sunshine'' to the churning psychedelic space walk that is 'Tomorrow Never Knows'.

Most important, 'Revolver' pioneered the idea of a rock album as a singular, complete entity, one that had made the transition from bursts of teenage sugar to a cohesive whole that could be analyzed, dissected, obsessed over, and indulged in — you know, art.

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20712079_20711843,00.html#21221826

Uhh, I can see a couple of albums on the list being Top 10 of all time, like The Beatles' 'Revolver', but I'm not sure about some of the others. I can see 'London Calling', 'Exile On...' and 'Thriller', hmmm, would I include 'Nevermind'? I sure wouldn't bother with anything by Kanye West. ohno:

Of course, everyone is dying to know what my top ten albums of all time are. ;)

Kanye!? That's not even his greatest album...in my opinion!!

Putting a Kanye West album in a top ten greatest list destroys any credibility the person making the list had. And "London Calling"? Really?!

Putting a Kanye West album in a top ten greatest list destroys any credibility the person making the list had. And "London Calling"? Really?!
I liked several songs on 'London Calling', but I wonder if it's listed simply because of the "college radio cred" factor. ohno:

I had Prince "Purple Rain" and Still Have "Revolver". I thought "Sgt Pepper" would have been in the top spot. KISS "Destroyer" was a great record. Come to think about it --There are lots of great records!!!!!!!! :wave:

I canceled my EW subscription years ago even though it was only 25 cents an issue!

Kanye West? Not even in a top 500 albums.

Oh sure, it's better than every Pink Floyd album, every Led Zep album, every Who album, and all the rest of the Beatles albums.

And that is just scratching the surface.

Who is the dumb effer who made this list?
I hope someone is punching him right now.

I liked several songs on 'London Calling', but I wonder if it's listed simply because of the "college radio cred" factor. ohno:

I have no idea why people still keep putting "London Calling" so high on "greatest albums..." lists. It has got to be the most overrated album of all time, well behind "Thriller".

Who is the dumb effer who made this list?
I hope someone is punching him right now.

Probably Kanye himself!! :lol: :lol: No, if he was making the list, he would've put himself at number one!! :lol: :lol: What an ego that man has!! I can't stand his personality and arrogance!! :rolleyes:

Probably Kanye himself!! :lol: :lol: No, if he was making the list, he would've put himself at number one!! :lol: :lol: What an ego that man has!! I can't stand his personality and arrogance!! :rolleyes:
I work with a few people like that. Almost identical to Kanye in personality.

Are we just all so excited that he and Kim K. have had their first kid?? :rolleyes:

That child is going to need professional help.

http://www.ipbrief.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IPB-Gousse-4-1.png

I had to google the image of the guy, but I could never find out who he is, nor what is your post supposed to be.

I had to google the image of the guy, but I could never find out who he is, nor what is your post supposed to be.

It was my (apparently unsuccessful) attempt to say that I was laughing at that list.

No Sgt. Pepper!?:eek: :p

I work with a few people like that. Almost identical to Kanye in personality.

Are we just all so excited that he and Kim K. have had their first kid?? :rolleyes:

That child is going to need professional help.


It's very off-putting. I think there is something to be said for humility despite celebrity. ;)

It's very off-putting. I think there is something to be said for humility despite celebrity. ;)
Some people can handle celebrity, and others are just attention junkies. Like Kanye West.

And he apparently serves as a role model for like-minded dysfunctional types. Anyone else thinks Kim Kardashian deserves him? ohno:

Anyone else thinks Kim Kardashian deserves him? ohno:

I'm available. ;)

The thing with Kanye is that he does have some talent. At least I think so. His big head just always gets in the way of everything!! :lol: I know more people that dislike him than like him. Like the thing with Taylor Swift...totally unnecessary!!! That wasn't even about him!! And then I heard that when he lost Best New Artist at the Grammy's to Gretchen Wilson, he threw a tantrum and left the building. That may or may not be true though.

I'm not to fond of the Kardashians either. I am hoping they will eventually phase out like Paris Hilton did. :lol:

This is my top ten. :) :) :)

1.) James Otto-Sunset Man
2.) James Otto-Shake What God Gave Ya!
3.) Alison Krauss-Live
4.) Alison Krauss-A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection
5.) LeAnn Rimes-Family
6.) LeAnn Rimes-Whatever We Wanna
7.) Tanya Tucker-Soon
8.) Tanya Tucker-Can't Run From Yourself
9.) Trace Adkins-Chrome
10.) Trace Adkins-Songs About Me

God bless you and my top five favorite singers always!!! :) :) :)

Holly (a day one fan of Trace & LeAnn)

My favorites not listed are;

Meet The Beatles
This Time- Dwight Yoakam
Yesterday And Today- The Beatles

^^^ My most favorite album from Dwight is the one named Gone. :) :) :)

God bless you and him always!!! :) :) :)

Holly

^^^ My most favorite album from Dwight is the one named Gone. :) :) :)

God bless you and him always!!! :) :) :)

Holly


He's awesome!:D

Personally speaking, when it comes to Beatles albums, I always go by the British order (Please, Please Me, With the Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles for Sale, etc.).

Personally speaking, when it comes to Beatles albums, I always go by the British order (Please, Please Me, With the Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles for Sale, etc.).

Well, my first Beatles album was Meet The Beatles (1964) I played it to death! Also The Beatles" Yesterday and Today" was I think the American version of "Beatles For Sale". These albums were what were available to us back then. Whether American or British they were awesome!