UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 1980's ...ranked!

So here's one more list of the kind I often publish here. As I've previously said, I collect these special editions featuring Best-of lists. Uncut Magazine has exploited this weakness of mine, by following their Ultimate Record Collection series with The 500 Greatest Albums of the Decade series… The difference being: A) Ultimate Record Collection of the 80's had space for (exactly) 665 albums and B) This time, the albums are ranked. Always a risky thing to do, as people have strong opinions about their favorites: for example, some (like, everyone) would rate Tom Waits above Lloyd Cole. Also, the 80's were the golden age of Heavy Metal but you wouldn't know it by reading this list: I have to scroll down to No.58 to find Back In Black, and then to No.147 for the second HM album, Metallica's Ride The Lightning. Where are all the hair metal bands? Where are The Scorpions, Whitesnake, Bon Jovi? Come on, you found room for the complete discography of Felt, whom no-one except for 50 British music critics has ever heard of, but not Bon Jovi, who have sold over 130 million records worldwide? Anyway, ranking problems and notable absences aside, the variety and quality of the albums on this list proves that the 80's were not the arid musical desert it was later made out to be; for every soulless pop ditty in the hit parade, there are countless alternative gems to be discovered. Some of them are on this list; if any of them has already been presented in this blog you will find a link that will take you to the relative post.

 1. Kate Bush – Hounds Of Love – 1985

2. Talking Heads – Remain In Light – 1980

3. Joy Division – Closer – 1980

4. Kraftwerk – Computer World – 1980

5. De La Soul – 3 Feet High And Rising – 1989

6. Prince – Sign O’ The Times – 1987

7. The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead – 1986

8. My Bloody Valentine – Isn’t Anything – 1988

9. Talk Talk – Sprit Of Eden – 1988

10. The Smiths – Hatful Of Hollow – 1984

11. R.E.M. - Murmur – 1983

12. The Cure – Disintergration - 1989

13. Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation – 1988

14. The Human League – Dare – 1981

15. Bruce Sprinsteen – Nebraska – 1982

16. The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses – 1989

17. Pixies – Doolittle – 1989

18. Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back – 1988

19. Prince And The Revolution – Purple Rain – 1984

20. Lloyd Cole And The Commotions – Rattlesnakes – 1984

21. Pixies – Surfer Rosa – 1988

22. The Jesus And Mary Chain – Psychocandy – 1985

23. Roxy Music – Avalon – 1982

24. Prefab Sprout – Steve McQueen – 1985

25. Brian Eno & David Byrne – My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts – 1981

26. ABC – The Lexicon Of Love – 1982

27. Michael Jackson – Thriller – 1982

28. Prince And The Revolution – Parade – 1986

29. Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique – 1989

30. New Order – Technique – 1989

31. Paul Simon – Gracelands – 1986

32. David Bowie – Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) – 1980

33. Leonard Cohen – I’m Your Man – 1988

34. The Cure – The Head On The Door – 1985

35. Scritti Politti – Cupid & Psyche 85 – 1985

36. Dexys Midnight Runners – Searching For The Young Soul Rebels – 1980

37. Tom Waits – Rain Dogs – 1985

38. Donald Fagen – The Nightfly – 1982

39. Cocteau Twins – Treasure – 1984

40. New Order – Power, Corruption And Lies – 1983

41. Elvis Costello And The Attractions – Blood And Chocolate – 1986

42. Happy Mondays – Bummed – 1988

43. Siouxsie And The Banshees – Juju – 1981

44. The Costello Show – King Of America – 1986

45. Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombones – 1983

46. The Jesus And Mary Chain – Darklands – 1987

47. Lou Reed – New York – 1989

48. Elvis Costello And The Attractions – Imperial Bedroom – 1982

49. The Fall – Hex Enducation Hour – 1983

50. Prince And The Revolution – Around The World In A Day – 1985

51. The Blue Nile – Hats – 1989

52. The Smiths – The Smiths – 1984

53. Echo And The Bunnymen – Ocean Rain – 1984

54. The Fall – This Nation’s Saving Grace – 1985

55. The Sisters Of Mercy – Floodland – 1987

56. Kate Bush – The Dreaming – 1982

57. Echo And The Bunnymen – Crocodiles – 1980

58. AC/DC – Back In Black – 1980

59. Aztec Camera – High Land, Hard Rain – 1983

60. The Sisters Of Mercy – First And Last And Always – 1985

61. Orange Juice – You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever – 1982

62. Soft Cell – Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret – 1981

63. Peter Gabriel – So – 1986

64. David Sylvian – Secrets Of The Beehive – 1987

65. The Clash – Sandinista! - 1980

66. Brian Eno – Apollo: Atmospheres And Soundtracks – 1983

67. The Cure – Faith – 1981

68. The Teardrop Explodes – Kilimanjaro – 1908

69. The Smiths – Strangeways, Here We Come – 1987

70. The House Of Love – The House Of Love – 1988

71. Mary Margaret O’Hara – Miss America – 1988

72. The Cramps – Songs The Lord Taught Us – 1980

73. Specials – More Specials – 1980

74. XTC – Skylarking – 1986

75. The Associates – Sulk – 1982

76. Propaganda – A Secret Wish – 1985

77. R.E.M. - Lifes Rich Pageant – 1986

78. New Order – Low-Life – 1985

79. Spacemen 3 – Playing With Fire – 1988

80. The Feelies – Crazy Rhythms – 1980

81. The Soft Boys – Underwater Moonlight – 1980

82. Steely Dan – Gaucho – 1980

83. The Jam – Sound Affects – 1980

84. Bruce Springsteen – The River – 1980

85. Pet Shop Boys – Please – 1986

86. The The – Soul Mining – 1983

87. Peter Gabriel – Peter Gabriel (Pizza Face) – 1980

88. Tears For Fears – Songs From The Big Chair – 1985

89. The Raincoats – Odyshape – 1981

90. The Cure – Seventeen Seconds – 1980

91. Bruce Springsteen – Born In The USA – 1984

92. The Pogues – Rum, Sodomy And The Lash – 1985

93. Janet Jackson – Control – 1986

94. The Cure – Pornography – 1982

95. Felt – Forever Breathes The Lonely Word – 1986

96. The The – Infected – 1986

97. The Smiths – Meat Is Murder – 1985

98. Talk Talk – The Colour Of Spring – 1986

99. R.E.M. - Reckoning – 1984

100. Public Image Ltd – Album – 1986

101. The Birthday Party – Junkyard – 1982

102. The Replacements – Pleased To Meet Me – 1987

103. Richard And Linda Thompson – Shoot Out The Lights – 1982

104. OMD– Architecture And Morality – 1981

105. R.E.M. - Fables Of The Reconstruction – 1985

106. Lucinda Williams – Lucinda Williams – 1988

107. Squeeze – East Side Story – 1981

108. Husker Du – Zen Arcade – 1984

109. Haircut 100 – Pelican West – 1982

110. Dexys Midnight Runners – Don’t Stand Me Down – 1985

111. R.E.M. - Green – 1988

112. Electric Light Orchestra – Time – 1981

113. Virginia Astley – From Gardens Where We Feel Secure – 1983

114. The Triffids – Born Sandy Devotional – 1986

115. R.E.M. - Document – 1987

116. Scritti Politti – Songs To Remember – 1982

117. The Replacements – Let It Be – 1984

118. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – From Her To Eternity – 1984

119. Opal – Happy Nightmare Baby – 1987

120. Dinosaur Jr. - You’re Living All Over Me – 1987

121. Dinosaur Jr. - Bug – 1988

122. Echo And The Bunnymen – Heaven Up Here – 1981

123. The Pogues – If I Should Fall From Grace With God – 1988

124. Anita Baker – Rapture – 1986

125. The Pastels – Up For A Bit With The Pastels – 1987

126. The Dream Syndicate – The Days Of Wine And Roses – 1982

127. Tears For Fears – The Hurting – 1983

128. Prince And The Revolution – 1999 – 1982

129. ESG – Come Away Wit ESG – 1983

130. John Cale – Musicfor A New Society – 1982

131. Billy Bragg – Talking With The Taxman About Poetry – 1986

132. Mission Of Burma – Vs. - 1982

133. Young Marble Giants – Colossal Youth – 1980

134. Husker Du – Warehouse: Songs And Stories – 1987

135. Genesis – Duke – 1980

136. Cocteau Twins – Blue Bell Knoll – 1988

137. Sade – Diamond Life – 1984

138. ZZ Top – Eliminator – 1983

139. Robert Wyatt – Old Rottenhat – 1985

140. The Wedding Present – George Best – 1987

141. The Go-Betweens – Liberty Belle & The Black Diamond Express – 1986

142. Madness – Absolutely – 1980

143. The Mekons – Fear And Whiskey – 1985

144. John Foxx – Metamatic – 1980

145. Cardiacs – A Little Man & A House & The Whole World Window – 1988

146. Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables – 1980

147. Metallica – Ride The Lightning – 1984

148. Dexys Midnight Runners – Too-Rye-Ay – 1982

149. Minutemen – Double Nickels On The Dime – 1984

150. Pharoah Sanders – Journey To The One – 1980

151. The Prisoners – The Last Fourfathers – 1985

152. Galaxie 500 – On Fire – 1989

153. The Style Council – Our Favourite Shop – 1985

154. Rickie Lee Jones – Pirates – 1981

155. Julian Cope – St Julian – 1987

156. Playn Jayn – Five Good Evils – 1985

157. Hoodoo Gurus – Stoneage Romeos – 1984

158. Red Guitars – Tales Of The Expected – 1986

159. U2 – The Joshua Tree – 1987

160. Bob Dylan – Oh Mercy – 1989

161. Ry Cooder – Paris, Texas OST – 1985

162. Black Uhuru – Red – 1981

163. King Crimson – Discipline – 1981

164. Tom Verlaine – Dreamtime – 1981

165. Manuel Gottsching – E2-E4 – 1984

166. Opal – Early Recordings – 1989

167. Elvis Costello And The Attractions – Get Happy!! - 1980

168. The Beat – I Just Can’t Stop It – 1980

169. Diamond Head – The White Album – 1980

170. Grace Jones – Nightclubbing – 1981

171. Elvis Costello And The Attractions – Punch The Clock – 1983

172. Magazine – The Correct Use Of Soap – 1980

173. Van Halen – 1984 – 1983

174. The Style Council – Cafe Bleu – 1984

175. The Cult – Electric – 1987

176. Stevie Wonder – Hotter Than July – 1980

177. Kirsty MacColl – Kite – 1989

178. Metallica – Master Of Puppets – 1986

179. Depeche Mode – Music For The Masses – 1987

180. Jacobites – Robespierre’s Velvet Basement – 1985

181. The Waterboys – This Is The Sea – 1985

182. The Wedding Present – Bizarro – 1989

183. Ozzy Osborne – Blizzard Of Ozz – 1980

184. The Creatures – Boomerang – 1989

185. The Clash – Combat Rock – 1982

186. XTC – Black Sea – 1980

187. Television Personalities – The Painted – 1984

188. Killing Joke – What’s This For…? - 1981

189. Bauhaus – In The Flat Field – 1980

190. John Haitt – Bring The Family – 1987

191. Husker Du – Flip Your Wig – 1985

192. Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense – 1984

193. Big Audio Dynamite – This Is Big Audio Dynamite – 1985

194. Steve Earle – Copperhead Road – 1988

195. Rain Parade – Explosions In The Glass Place – 1984

196. The Woodentops – Giant – 1986

197. The Undertones – Hypnotised – 1980

198. Royal Trux – Royal Trux – 1988

199. The Lilac Time – The Lilac Time – 1987

200. Fun Boy Three – Waiting – 1983

201. New Order – Substance – 1987

202. Virgin Prunes - ...If I Die, I Die – 1982

203. The Go-Betweens – 16 Lovers Lane – 1988

204. Laurie Anderson – Big Science – 1982

205. The Wonder Stuff – The Eight Legged Groove Machine – 1985

206. Pylon – Gyrate – 1980

207. Violent Femmes – Hallowed Ground – 1984

208. David Bowie – Let’s Dance – 1983

209. Prefab Sprout – Swoon – 1984

210. The Durutti Column – The Return Of The Durutti Column – 1980

211. Jane Siberry – The Walking – 1987

212. Bruce Springsteen – Tunnel Of Love – 1987

213. Slapp Happy – Acnalbasac Noom – 1980

214. Felt – Crumbling The Antiseptic Beauty – 1982

215. Tom Waits – Franks Wild Years – 1987

216. Griot Galaxy – Kins – 1982

217. The Gun Club – Miami – 1982

218. The Lilac Time – Paradise Circus – 1989

219. The Fall – Perverted By Language – 1983

220. Au Pairs – Playing Wit A Different Sex – 1981

221. Keith Richards – Talk Is Cheap – 1988

222. Keiji Haino – Watashi Dake? - 1981

223. Microdisney – 39 Minutes – 1988

224. The Cars – Heartbeat City – 1984

225. The Go-Betweens – Tallulah – 1987

226. Cowboy Junkies – The Trinity Sessions – 1988

227. The Proclaimers – This Is The Story – 1987

228. The Go-Betweens – Before Hollywood – 1983

229. Robyn Hitchcock – Black Snake Diamond Role – 1981

230. Martin Stephenson & The Daintees – Boat To Bolivia – 1986

231. Pete Shelley – Heaven & The Sea – 1986

232. Robert Wyatt – Nothing Can Stop Us Now – 1982

233. AC Marias – One Of Our Girls (Has Gone Missing) – 1989

234. Ian Hunter – Welcome To The Club – 1980

235. Venom – Black Metal – 1982

236. Rain Parade – Emergency Third Rail Power Trip – 1983

237. Robert Cray Band – False Accusations – 1985

238. Felt – Let The Snakes Crinkle Their Heads To Death – 1987

239. Dire Straits – Making Movies – 1980

240. Kate Bush – Never For Ever – 1980

241. Siouxsie And The Banshees – Peepshow – 1988

242. Peter Gabriel – Peter Gabriel – 1982

243. Cyndi Lauper – She’s So Unusual – 1983

244. Sinead O’ Connor – The Lion And The Cobra – 1987

245. The Plimsouls – The Plimsouls – 1981

246. The Psychedelic Furs – The Psychedelic Furs – 1980

247. Paul McCartney – Tug Of War – 1982

248. Depeche Mode – 101 – 1989

249. Pet Shop Boys – Actually – 1987

250. Bengt Berger – Bitter Funeral Beer – 1982

251. The Vapors – New Clear Days – 1980

252. Elvis Costello And The Attractions – Trust – 1981

253. AR Kane – 69 – 1988

254. Lambrettas – Beat Boys In The Jet Age – 1980

255. Scott Walker – Climate Of Hunter – 1984

256. Van Morrison – Common One – 1980

257. The Psychedelic Furs – Forever Now – 1982

258. Hunters & Collectors – Human Frailty – 1986

259. Terence Trent D’arby – The Hardline According To…. - 1987

260. Eric B & Rakim – Paid In Full – 1987

261. The Jesus And Mary Chain – Automatic – 1989

262. The Blue Nile – A Walk Across The Rooftops – 1984

263. Malcolm McLaren – Duck Rock – 1983

264. Sonic Youth – Evol – 1986

265. The Waterboys – Fisherman’s Blues – 1988

266. Butthole Surfers – Locust Abortion Technician – 1987

267. Throwing Muses – Throwing Muses – 1986

268. Minutemen – What Makes A Man Start Fires? - 1983

269. Jane’s Addiction – Nothing Shocking – 1988

270. Echo And The Bunnymen – Porcupine – 1983

271. The Go-Betweens – Spring Hill Fair – 1984

272. Siouxsie And The Banshees – Tinderbox – 1986

273. David Bowie – Tonight – 1984

274. Paul Kelly & The Coloured Girls – Under The Sun – 1987

275. The Fall – Bend Sinister – 1986

276. David Sylvian – Brilliant Trees – 1984

277. The Vaselines – Dum-Dum – 1989

278. The Cult – Love – 1985

279. Henry Badowski – Life Is A Grind… - 1981

280. Brian Eno – Ambient 4: On Land – 1982

281. Roxy Music – Flesh + Blood – 1980

282. The Beat – Special Beat Service – 1982

283. New Order – Brotherhood – 1986

284. Steve Earle – Guitar Town – 1986

285. Celtic Frost – Into The Pandemonium – 1987

286. The Red Crayola With Art & Language – Kangaroo? - 1981

287. Metallica – Kill ‘Em All – 1983

288. The Residents – Mark Of The Mole – 1981

289. Sade – Stronger Than Pride – 1988

290. Japan – Tin Drum – 1981

291. Guns N’ Roses – Appetite For Destruction – 1987

292. Neil Young – Freedom – 1989

293. The Hummingbirds – Lovebuzz – 1989

294. The Cramps – ...Off The Bone – 1983

295. Duran Duran – Rio – 1983

296. Orange Juice – Rip It Up – 1982

297. John Haitt – Slow Turning – 1988

298. Gang Of Four – Songs Of The Free – 1982

299. The Prisoners – A Taste Of Pink! - 1982

300. The Rolling Stones – Tattoo You – 1981

301. XTC – English Settlement – 1982

302. The Gun Club – Fire Of Love – 1981

303. Paul McCartney – McCartney II – 1980

304. A Certain Ratio – Sextet – 1982

305. The Chords – So Far Away – 1980

306. Harold Budd, Elizabeth Fraser, Robin Guthrie, Simon Raymonde – The Moon And The Melodies – 1986

307. Spacemen 3 – The Perfect Prescription – 1987

308. U2 – War – 1983

309. Siouxsie And The Banshees – A Kiss In The Dreamhouse – 1982

310. The Blow Monkeys – Animal Magic – 1986

311. Big Black – Atomizer – 1986

312. Godfathers – Birth School Work Death – 1988

313. Mercyful Fate – Don’t Break The Oath – 1984

314. The Replacements – Don’t Tell A Soul – 1989

315. Marine Girls – Lazy Ways – 1983

316. World Domination Enterprises – Let’s Play Domination – 1988

317. Briyan Adams – Reckless – 1984

318. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – Tender Prey – 1984

319. Sonic Youth – Sister – 1987

320. Echo And The Bunnymen – Songs To Learn And Sing – 1985

321. Tom Tom Club – Tom Tom Club – 1981

322. Cocteau Twins – Victorialand – 1986

323. Arthur Russell – World Of Echo – 1986

324. Van Morrison – Beautiful Vision – 1982

325. Duran Duran – Duran Duran – 1981

326. Green On Red – Gravity Talks – 1983

327. Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers – Jonathan Sings! - 1983

328. Jean-Michel Jarre – Magnetic Fields – 1981

329. Meat Puppets – II – 1984

330. The Monochrome Set – “Strange Boutique” – 1980

331. Felt – The Pictorial Jackson Review – 1988

332. The Prisoners – The Wisermiserdemelza – 1983

333. Teddy Pentergrass – TP – 1980

334. Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Welcome To The Pleasuredome – 1984

335. Minor Threat – Complete Discography – 1989

336. Phil Collins – Face Value – 1981

337. Philip Glass – Glassworks – 1982

338. Weekend – La Variete – 1982

339. Warren Zevon – Sentimental Hygiene – 1987

340. Big Black – Songs About Fucking – 1987

341. The Durutti Column – LC – 1981

342. The Pale Fountains – Pacific Street – 1984

343. Bad Brains – Bad Brains – 1982

344. The Church – Heyday – 1985

345. Cirith Ungol – King Of The Dead – 1984

346. Laughing Clowns – Mr Uddich-Schmuddich Goes To Town – 1982

347. The Rolling Stones – Steel Wheels – 1989

348. Stray Cats – Stray Cats – 1981

349. U2 – Boy – 1980

350. Soul II Soul – Club Classics Vol. One – 1989

351. The Rolling Stones – Emotional Rescue – 1980

352. Corrosion Of Conformity – Eye For An Eye – 1985

353. Julian Cope – Fried – 1984

354. Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares - Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares – 1986

355. Ed Kuepper – Electrical Storm – 1985

356. The Durutti Column – The Guitar And Other Machines – 1987

357. The Fall – The Wonderful And Frightening World Of The Fall – 1984

358. Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman – 1988

359. Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays – As Falls Wichita, So Fall Wichita Falls – 1981

360. Simple Minds – Empires And Dance – 1980

361. Everything But The Girl – Idlewild – 1988

362. The Necks – Sex – 1988

363. Weddings, Parties, Anything – Roaring Days – 1988

364. Spacemen 3 – Sound Of Confusion – 1986

365. The Pogues – Red Roses For Me – 1984

366. The Verlaines – Bird-Dog – 1988

367. Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms – 1985

368. Black Flag – Damaged – 1981

369. Felt – Gold Mine Trash – 1985

370. Big Daddy Kane – Long Live The Kane – 1988

371. The Pretenders – Pretenders II – 1981

372. Talking Heads – Speaking In Tongues – 1983

373. Dead Can Dance – The Serpent’s Egg – 1988

374. The Colorblind James Experience - The Colorblind James Experience – 1987

375. Ed Kuepper – Rooms Of The Magnificent – 1986

376. John Cale – Honi Soit – 1981

377. Pet Shop Boys – Introspective – 1988

378. Madonna – Like A Prayer – 1989

379. The Band Of Holy Joy – Manic, Magic, Majestic – 1989

380. BEF – Music For Stowaways – 1981

381. Stiff Little Fingers – Nobody's Heroes – 1980

382. Guy Clark – Old Friends – 1989

383. Elvis Costello – Spike – 1989

384. Art Bears – The World As It Is Today – 1981

385. Prince – Dirty Mind – 1980

386. The Fall – Grotesque – 1980

387. Inxs – Listen Like Thieves – 1985

388. Snakefinger – Manual Of Errors – 1982

389. Black Flag – My War – 1984

390. The Smiths – “Rank” – 1988

391. King Sunny Ade And His African Beats – Synchro System – 1983

392. Fleetwood Mac – Tango In The Night – 1987

393. Pink Floyd – The Final Cut – 1983

394. Felt – The Splendour Of Fear – 1984

395. Galaxie 500 – Today – 1988

396. The Only Ones – Baby’s Got A Gun – 1980

397. Midnight Oil – Diesel And Dust – 1987

398. Julee Cruise – Floating Into The Night – 1989

399. Kitchens Of Distinction – Love Is Hell – 1989

400. Wipers – Over The Edge – 1983

401. Rosanne Cash – Seven Year Ache – 1981

402. The Replacements – Tim – 1985

403. Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes – 1983

404. Madness – 7 – 1981

405. Husker Du – Candy Apple Grey – 1986

406. The Prisoners – In From The Cold – 1986

407. Bauhaus – Mask – 1981

408. Minor Threat – Minor Threat – 1984

409. Lyle Lovett – Pontiac – 1987

410. Kate Bush – The Sensual World – 1989

411. Inxs – Kick – 1987

412. The Housemartins – London 0 Hull 4 – 1986

413. Hall & Oates – Private Eyes – 1981

414. Roger Waters – Radio K.A.O.S. - 1987

415. Vivian Stanshall – Teddy Boys Don’t Knit – 1981

416. Swans – The Burning World – 1989

417. Various Artists – The House Sound Of Chicago – 1986

418. Iron Maiden – The Number Of The Beast – 1982

419. Meredith Monk – Dolmen Music – 1981

420. Dome – Dome – 1980

421. Genesis – Genesis – 1983

422. Soundgarden – Louder Than Love – 1989

423. Heaven 17 – Penthouse And Pavement – 1981

424. Slayer – Reign In Blood – 1986

425. Nirvana – Bleach – 1989

426. Throwing Muses – Hunkpapa – 1989

427. Chaka Khan – I Feel For You – 1984

428. Thompson Twins – Into The Gap – 1984

429. Beastie Boys – Licensed To Ill – 1986

430. Felt – Me And A Monkey On The Moon – 1989

431. The Damned – Strawberries – 1982

432. Van Halen – Women And Children First – 1980

433. Motorhead – Ace Of Spades – 1980

434. Sonic Youth – Bad Moon Rising – 1985

435. John Lennon & Yoko Ono – Double Fantasy – 1980

436. Adam & The Ants – Kings Of The Wild Frontier – 1980

437. The Cure – Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me – 1987

438. Nanci Griffith – Lone Star State Of Mind – 1987

439. Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers – Rockin’ And Romance – 1985

440. Marillion – Script For A Jester’s Tear – 1983

441. Patrice Rushen – Straight From The Heart – 1982

442. The Smiths – The World Won’t Listen – 1987

443. The Colourfield – Virgins And Philistines – 1985

444. The B-52’S – Wild Planet – 1980

445. Television Personalities - ...And Don’t The Kids Just Love It – 1981

446. Fugazi – 12 Songs – 1989

447. Suicide – Alan Vega Martin Rev – 1980

448. The Go-Go’s – Beauty And The Beat – 1981

449. Judas Priest – British Steel – 1980

450. Marden Hill – Cadaquez – 1988

451. American Music Club – California – 1988

452. Depeche Mode – Construction Time Again – 1983

453. Ultramagnetic MC’s – Critical Beatdown – 1988

454. This Heat – Deceit – 1981

455. Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band – Doc At The Radar Station – 1980

456. The Alan Parsons Project – Eye In The Sky – 1982

457. Michael Rother – Fernwarme – 1982

458. The Wonder Stuff – Hup – 1989

459. Robyn Hitchcock – I Often Dream Of Trains – 1984

460. This Mortal Coil – It'l End In Tears – 1984

461. Swell Maps - ...In “Jane From Occupied Europe” – 1980

462. Talk Talk – The Party’s Over – 1982

463. They Might Be Giants – Lincoln – 1988

464. Joe Jackson – Night And Day – 1982

465. World Party – Private Revolution – 1987

466. Lifetones – For A Reason – 1983

467. Scientist – Scientist Rids The World Of The Evil Curse Of The Vampires – 1981

468. The King Of Luxemburg – Royal Bastard – 1987

469. Lush – Scar – 1989

470. Grace Jones – Slave To The Rhythm – 1985

471. The DB’s – Stands For Decibels – 1981

472. Jungle Brothers – Straight Out The Jungle – 1988

473. Godflesh – Streetcleaner – 1989

474. Mudhoney – Superfuzz Bigmuff – 1988

475. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – Kicking Against The Pricks – 1986

476. Laurie Spiegel – The Expanding Universe – 1980

477. The Lounge Lizards – The Lounge Lizards – 1981

478. Eurythmics – Touch – 1983

479. Traveling Wilburys – Volume One – 1988

480. Miles Davis – Tutu – 1986

481. Bathory – Under The Sign Of The Black Mark – 1987

482. The Rolling Stones – Under Cover – 1983

483. Yazoo – Upstairs At Eric’s – 1983

484. Shack – Zilch – 1988

485. High Rise – Psychedelic Speed Freaks – 1984

486. The Teardrop Explodes – Wilder – 1981

487. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – Your Funeral.. My Trial – 1983

488. Wipers – Youth Of America – 1981

489. They Might Be Giants – They Might Be Giants – 1986

490. Bryan Ferry – Boys And Girls – 1985

491. The Brilliant Corners – Joy Ride – 1989

492. Prefab Sprout – From Langley Park To Memphis – 1988

493. Fun Boy Three – Fun Boy Three – 1982

494. Def Leppard – Hysteria – 1987

495. Chris Isaak – Heart Shaped World – 1989

496. Xmal Deutschland – Tocsin – 1985

497. King Sunny Ade – Juju Music – 1982

498. Madonna – Madonna – 1983

499. Fleetwood Mac – Mirage – 1982

500. 10,000 Maniacs – The Wishing Chair – 1985

Laibach "Opus Dei" 1987 ****

I'm visiting friends and family in Athens, where I am originally from. We were having dinner with friends, when one of them (also called Kostas) said he was going to leave early to go to a concert. I asked who's playing and he replied "Laibach" who I knew to be of his favorite bands. I'm not as big a fan as he is, but I think they're a very original and interesting band, and so I tagged along. The band was supposed to tour behind their classic Opus Dei LP, which I also happen to like a lot. It's become quite a trend for bands to perform a classic album in its entirety, followed by an encore featuring hits from the rest of their discography. I've been to such concerts by U2, The Who, Opeth, Love, etc. Laibach opted for a different approach: after an endlessly repeated drum loop that went on for an hour, they opened with some rather experimental, often discordant, songs, which I didn't recognize. As it turns out, these were early album cuts beloved by the fans, but not very likely to win over new ones. The presentation was nevertheless flawless: Milan Fras was half singing - half reciting slogans mimicking the language used by totalitarian regimes, while the screen presented  black & white film excerpts ranging from propaganda videos to news reel snippets to enigmatic weird stuff. After maybe 45' of this I was impressed but not won over, yet. It was the introduction of the second (female) singer that elevated the concert for me. Not only she added a more melodic semi-operatic element, but from that point on the discordant noise was toned way down and songs took on a more conventional structure while keeping all the typical Laibach traits: marching drums, Wagnerian keyboards, sharp riffs etc. A radical reworking of Dylan's "Ballad Of A Thin Man" gave way to their post punk cover of DAF's "Alle Gegen Alle". After a short intermission they continued with the songs from Opus Dei, followed by two remarkably beautiful ballads and an ironic but highly entertaining sing-along version of Foreigner's "I Want To Know What Love Is" - at that point they had been playing for more than 2 hours without losing steam, having frontloaded their setlist with the "difficult" stuff at the start, and ending with the crowd pleasers. For the 2nd encore, they treated us to "Strange Fruit"; a menacing Billy Holiday cover that removed the melody and hit you hard with the lyrics while images of a bombed-out city (Berlin? Gaza? Mariupol?) played at the background. All in all, not a performance one is likely to forget any time soon.

I guess I should start with a short introduction: Laibach is an art collective rather than just a rock band. Their music, interviews, performances, and record artwork, form an aesthetic that both simulates and satirizes the art favored by totalitarian regimes, drawing comparisons between pop culture and fascism without ever being explicit about it - indeed they embrace that esthetic with a straight face, leaving the listener to decide whether they're seriously influenced by fascism or mocking it; "We are fascists as much as Hitler was a painter" they've declared. The band was formed in Slovenia, then part of communist Yugoslavia, around 1980 - Laibach is the name Germans used for Slovenian capital Ljubljana during its occupation by the Nazis. The use of the German language and Nazi-style artwork must have been a red flag (pun unintended) to the commissars, but somehow they managed to overcome censorship. In the beginning their music was more experimental, but by the release of Opus Dei in 1987 they had hit the right balance, as evidenced by the two covers opening this CD: "Leben Heißt Leben" is a German language cover of pop hit "Live is Life" by Austrian band Opus. It features martial drumming and trumpets, operatic vocals, and heavy metal guitar soloing. The same elements, including the use of German, are employed for "Geburt Einer Nation", their infectious cover of Queen's "One Vision". Those two represent the most commercial/entertaining side of Laibach, but the rest of the album is also quite accessible: the industrial metal "Leben - Tod" reveals Laibach as the prototype for future successes by Rammstein, while "F.I.A.T." is more cinematic/orchestral. This is followed by "Opus Dei", which is basically the second cover of Opus' "Live Is Life". This one is sung in English; compared to the German version this is more epic, less dark and oppressive. "Trans-National" is more experimental and atonal, focusing on drums and electronics. "The Great Seal" is an orchestral piece evoking the more heroic moments of Hollywood soundtracks, culminating in a recitation of Churchill's famous "We shall fight them on the beaches" speech. The CD version of the album adds 4, then still unreleased, tracks written for the stage: Krst pod Triglavom: Baptism was a play about the defeat of pagan Slovenian Slavs in the hands of Christian Germans, and their subsequent forced mass Christianization. These tunes are much more experimental, featuring martial drumming, orchestral parts, and excessive use of samples. I'm not one to complain for free extras, but I have the feeling that these bonus tracks deduct rather than add to one's listening pleasure; they may be interesting, but way too different and less accessible than the vinyl version. Only the last track ("Krst [Baptism]"), which basically mostly consists of slow and super loud drumming, blends well with the rest of the album. Interestingly, the band has just released a re-recorded version of Opus Dei, featuring the current touring band with the dual vocal talents of Milan Fras and Marina Mårtensson. It was on sale during the concert, but I decided against buying it. Much as I liked the new singer, I can't imagine them improving on this. It is a classic, hugely influential, album in the intersection of Goth, Industrial, Classical, and Metal genres, as well as a perfectly accessible introduction to a highly original, albeit "difficult" group. 5* for the LP version, 4* for the CD. 

***** for Leben Heißt Leben, Geburt Einer Nation, Opus Dei

**** for Leben - Tod, F.I.A.T., The Great Seal

*** for Trans-National, How The West Was Won, Herz-Felde, Koža (Skin), Krst (Baptism)

** for Jägerspiel

UNCUT: The 500 Greatest Albums of The 2010's - Now...ranked!

This (almost) completes the Uncut Greatest Albums series: I got the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00's, and now 10's and beyond. There's also a "500 all-time greatest" volume which I'm not going to buy, seeing as everything is presumably includes in the individual by-decade volumes. These lists are always subjective, of course, but this specific one is particularly arbitrary. Not to mention that it includes a bunch of archive recordings of 60s -70s outtakes by Bob Dylan - have the last 15 years really been so musically poor that this list represents the best? To be honest, I haven't listened to most of these albums; I only own about 10% of this list, compared to 30% - 58% of the other decades' lists. You want to see how arbitrary this list is? Let's take the same magazine's Best Of list for a random year, say 2018. Number 1 (Low Double Negative) ends up on no.3 here; the top position among 2018 albums, so here we have an accord. Number 2 (Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Hope Downs) falls down to 109 (or the 10th among albums from 2018). Other Top 10 albums of the 2018 list (Spiritualized, Gruff Rhys, Christine and the Queens) disappear completely from the "500 Greatest" of the decade. You might of course say it's a matter of hindsight, but to me it seems like someone compiled a random list out of the top of their heads. They include late career albums by artists that peaked decades ago like Dylan, Bowie and Leonard Cohen (I'd also put Nick Cave in that category, even though he's not that old) but very few future classics; maybe we'll still be listening to Arctic Monkeys or Lana Del Ray after 20 or 30 years, but most of the rest seem like filler; like they had 100 true classics and then randomly chose 400 albums out of the few thousand that got 4-star reviews and added them to the list. Check for yourself:

1. David Bowie – Blackstar - 2016

2. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly – 2015

3. Bob Dylan – Rough and Rowdy Ways – 2020

4. Low – Double Negative – 2018

5. Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool – 2016

6. Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker – 2016

7. My Bloody Valentine – m b v – 2013

8. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Push the Sky Away – 2013

9. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Ghosteen – 2019

10. LCD Soundsystem – American Dream – 2017

11. Taylor Swift – 1989/ 1989 (Taylor’s Version) – 2014/ 2023

12. Tame Impala – Currents – 2015

13. Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell – 2019

14. Neil Young and Crazy Horse – Psychedelic Pill – 2012

15. Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising – 2019

16. Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver – 2011

17. The War on Drugs – Lost in the Dream – 2014

18. Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel – 2019

19. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell – 2015

20. Arctic Monkeys – AM – 2013

21. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree – 2016

22. D’Angelo – Black Messiah – 2014

23. Beyoncé – Lemonade – 2016

24. Low – C’mon – 2011

25. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange – 2012

26. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit – 2015

27. Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest – 2013

28. Beak - > > > - 2018

29. The National – Trouble Will Find Me – 2013

30. Robyn – Body Talk – 2010

31. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – 2010

32. Solange – A Seat at the Table – 2016

33. Ty Segall – Freedom’s Goblin – 2018

34. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories – 2013

35. Peter Perrett – How the West was Won – 2017

36. Slowdive – Slowdive – 2017

37. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake – 2011

38. Bob Dylan – Tempest – 2012

39. Margo Price – Midwest Farmer’s Daughter – 2016

40. Destroyer – Kaputt – 2011

41. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for My Halo – 2011

42. Brian Eno – The Ship – 2016

43. Purple Mountains – Purple Mountains – 2019

44. Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour – 2018

45. Oh Sees – Floating Coffin – 2013

46. Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas – 2012

47. Bob Dylan – The Bootleg Series Vol. 12: The Cutting Edge 1965-1966 – 2015

48. Bon Iver – 22, A Million – 2016

49. Metronomy – The English Riviera – 2011

50. Lorde – Melodrama – 2017

51. Jessica Pratt – On Your Own Love Again – 2015

52. Phoebe Bridgers – Stranger in the Alps – 2017

53. Grimes – Art Angels – 2015

54. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues – 2011

55. Bill Callahan – Apocalypse – 2011

56. Richard Dawson – Peasant – 2017

57. Keren Ann – 101 – 2011

58. Caven of Anti-Matter – Hormone Lemonade – 2018

59. The Breeders – All Nerve – 2018

60. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear – 2015

61. Julia Holter – Have You In My Wilderness – 2015

62. Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City – 2013

63. Sturgill Simpson – Metamodern Sounds in Country Music – 2014

64. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening – 2010

65. Taylor Swift – Folklore – 2020

66. Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate – 2016

67. Bob Dylan – The Bootleg Series Vol 14: More Blood, More Tracks – 2018

68. Alabama Shakes – Sound & Color – 2015

69. Janelle Monae – The Archandroid – 2010

70. Scott Walker – Bish Bosch – 2012

71. Connan Mockasin – Forever Dolphin Love – 2011

72. The National – High Violet – 2010

73. Cate Le Bon – Mug Museum – 2013

74. Melody’s Echo Chamber – Bon Voyage – 2018

75. Gwenno – Le Kov – 2018

76. Wilco – The Whole Love – 2011

77. Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher – 2020

78. Bill Fay – Life Is People – 2012

79. Jason Isbell – Southeastern – 2013

80. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs – 2010

81. Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride – 2019

82. The National – Sleep Well Beast – 2017

83. Jake Xerxes Fussell – Out of Sight – 2019

84. Gwenno – Y Dydd Olaf – 2014

85. Gruff Rhys – Hotel Shampoo – 2011

86. Arctic Monkeys – The Car – 2022

87. Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino – 2018

88. Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars – 2019

89. Melody’s Echo Chamber – Melody’s Echo Chamber – 2012

90. Aphex Twin – Syro – 2014

91. Gillian Welch – The Harrow and The Harvest – 2011

92. Yo La Tengo – There’s a Riot Going On – 2018

93. Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia – 2020

94. Underworld – Barbara Barbara, We Face a Shining Future – 2016

95. Wilco – Ode to Joy – 2019

96. Drive-By Truckers – American Band – 2016

97. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets – And Now For the Whatchamacallit – 2019

98. The Specials – Encore – 2019

99. Young Fathers – Cocoa Sugar – 2018

100. The Weather Station – Ignorance – 2021

101. The Raconteurs – Help Us Stranger – 2019

102. Ride – Weather Diaries – 2017

103. Kamasi Washington – The Epic – 2015

104. The Fall – Your Future Our Clutter – 2010

105. Fleet Foxes – Crack Up – 2017

106. The Magnetic Fields – 50 Song Memoir – 2017

107. The Durutti Column – A Paean to Wilson – 2010

108. Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You – 2022

109. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Hope Downs – 2018

110. Lump – Lump – 2018

111. Pete and the Pirates – One Thousand Pictures – 2011

112. Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial – 2016

113. Kate Bush – 50 Words for Snow – 2011

114. Sharon Van Etten – Are We There – 2014

115. Our Broken Garden – Golden Sea – 2010

116. Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here – 2010

117. Allison Russell – Outside Child – 2021

118. Self Esteem – Prioritise Pleasure – 2021

119. The Pastels – Slow Summits – 2013

120. John Murry – The Graceless Age – 2012

121. Cigarettes After Sex – Cigarettes After Sex – 2017

122. The Black Keys – El Camino – 2011

123. Sleaford Mods – UK Grim – 2022

124. Joan Shelley – Like the River Loves the Sea – 2019

125. Family of the Year – Loma Vista – 2012

126. New Order – Music Complete – 2015

127. Angel Olsen – My Woman – 2016

128. Sophie – Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides – 2018

129. Ariel Pink – Pom Pom – 2014

130. The Beach Boys – The Smile Sessions – 2011

131. Michael Chapman – True North – 2019

132. Black Country New Road – Ants From Up There – 2022

133. Okkervil River – Away – 2016

134. Haim – Days Are Gone – 2013

135. Bon Iver – I, I – 2019

136. Pixies – Indie Cindy – 2014

137. Wild Beasts – Smother – 2011

138. Beyoncé – 4 – 2011

139. John Murry – A Short History of Decay – 2017

140. Bicep – Bicep – 2017

141. Killing Joke – MMXII – 2012

142. Beck – Morning Phase – 2014

143. Wolf Alice – My Love Is Cool – 2015

144. Sacred Paws – Run Around the Sun – 2019

145. Kali Malone – The Sacrificial Code – 2019

146. Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan – 2012

147. Drake – Take Care – 2011

148. Drive-By Truckers – The Unravelling – 2020

149. Solange – When I Get Home – 2019

150. The Pierces – You & I – 2011

151. Stornoway – Beachcomber’s Windowsill – 2010

152. Beyoncé – Beyoncé – 2012

153. Lightships – Electric Cables – 2012

154. Scissor Sisters – Night Work – 2010

155. Dexys – One Day I’m Going to Soar – 2012

156. Beyoncé – Renaissance – 2022

157. Jerry Joseph – The Beautiful Madness – 2020

158. Big Thief – Two Hands – 2019

159. The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Who Killed Sgt Pepper? – 2010

160. Rob Crow’s Gloomy Place – You’re Doomed, Be Nice – 2016

161. Chuck Prophet – Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins – 2017

162. Aldous Harding – Designer – 2019

163. Starcrawler – Devour You – 2019

164. Ashley Monroe – Like a Rose – 2013

165. Daniel Blumberg – Minus – 2018

166. Public Access TV – Never Enough – 2016

167. Sky Ferreira – Night Time, My Time – 2013

168. Snow Palms – Origin & Echo – 2017

169. Goldfrapp – Tales of Us – 2013

170. Arooj Aftab – Vulture Prince – 2021

171. Thee Oh Sees – A Weird Exits – 2016

172. Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory – 2012

173. Pixies – Beneath the Eyrie – 2019

174. Ryley Walker – Course In Fable – 2021

175. Steve Gunn – Other You – 2021

176. Nils Frahm – Spaces – 2013

177. Tweedy – Sukierae – 2014

178. Tom Waits – Bad As Me – 2011

179. MGMT – Congratulations – 2010

180. Neil Young – Le Noise – 2010

181. Nisennenmondai – Live at Clouds Hill – 2015

182. Natalie Bergman – Mercy – 2021

183. Lily Allen – No Shame – 2018

184. Ambrose Akinmusire – On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment – 2020

185. The Killers – Pressure Machine – 2021

186. Dumb – Seeing Green – 2018

187. Bob Dylan – The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete – 2014

188. La Roux – Trouble In Paradise – 2014

189. Tina Dico – Whispers – 2014

190. Richard Dawson – 2020 – 2019

191. Tribes – Baby – 2011

192. Frank Ocean – Blonde – 2016

193. Bill Callahan – Dream River – 2013

194. The Lost Brothers – Halfway Towards a Healing – 2018

195. Tegan and Sara – Heartthrob – 2013

196. Ane Brun – It All Starts With One – 2011

197. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Polygondwanaland – 2017

198. Hiss Golden Messenger – Poor Moon – 2012

199. Bob Dylan – The Real Royal Albert Hall 1966 Concert! – 2016

200. King – We Are King – 2016

201. Haim – Women in Music Pt. III – 2020

202. North Mississippi Allstars – World Boogie is Coming – 2013

203. Sons of Kemet – Your Queen is a Reptile – 2018

204. Chris Forsyth – All Time Present – 2019

205. Neil Young/ Crazy Horse – Americana – 2012

206. Lianne La Havas – Blood – 2015

207. Alvvays – Blue Rev – 2022

208. Randy Newman – Dark Matter – 2017

209. Azita – Disturbing the Air – 2011

210. Daniel Avery – Drone Logic – 2013

211. Dexys – Let the Record Show: Dexys do Irish and Country Soul – 2016

212. Wednesday – Rat Saw God – 2023

213. Tim Hecker – Ravedeath, 1972 – 2011

214. Jim O’Rourke – Simple Songs – 2015

215. William D Drake – The Rising of the Lights – 2011

216. The Black Keys – Turn Blue – 2014

217. Wolf Alice – Blue Weekend – 2021

218. Gary Daly – Gone From Here – 2019

219. Phosphorescent – Here’s To Taking It Easy – 2010

220. Mark Peters – Innerland – 2017

221. Tim Bernardes – Mil Coisas Invisiveis – 2022

222. Simon Felice – Simon Felice – 2011

223. Randy Newman – The Randy Newman Songbook Vol 2 – 2011

224. David Bowie – The Next Day – 2013

225. John Prine – The Tree of Forgiveness – 2018

226. Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence – 2014

227. Various Artists – Wandelweiser Und So Weiter – 2012

228. Bitchin Bajas – Bajas Fresh – 2017

229. Patti Smith – Banga – 2012

230. Lonelady – Hinterland – 2015

231. Crayola Lectern – The Fall & Rise Of… - 2013

232. The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From the Vaccines? – 2011

233. Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? – 2019

234. Young Fathers – White Men Are Black Men, Too – 2015

235. A Winged Victory For The Sullen – A Winged Victory For The Sullen – 2011

236. Agnes Obel – Aventime – 2013

237. Anaïs Mitchell – Hadestown – 2010

238. Suuns – Images Du Futur – 2013

239. Skepta – Konnichiwa – 2016

240. Rihanna – Loud – 2010

241. The Shins – Port of Morrow – 2012

242. Ryley Walker – Primrose Green – 2015

243. Paul Simon – Seven Psalms – 2023

244. The Knife – Shaking the Habitual – 2013

245. Hurray for the Riff Raff – The Past Is Still Alive – 2024

246. Hinds – The Prettiest Curse – 2020

247. Odetta Hartman – 222 – 2015

248. Lana Del Rey – Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd – 2023

249. The Walkmen – Heaven – 2012

250. Modern Nature – How to Live – 2019

251. Faye Webster – I Know I’m Funny Haha – 2021

252. Drake – If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late – 2015

253. Maribou State – Kingdoms in Colour – 2018

254. Tame Impala – Lonerism – 2012

255. Alastair Galbraith – Mass – 2010

256. John Cale – Mercy – 2023

257. Kim Gordon – No Home Record – 2019

258. Alison Moyet – Other – 2017

259. Kurt Vile – Wakin on a Pretty Daze – 2013

260. Bob Dylan – The Bootleg Series Vol 10: Another Self Portrait (1969-1971) – 2013

261. Pye Corner Audio – Sleep Games – 2012

262. Cass McCombs – Big Wheel and Others – 2013

263. Jack White – Blunderbuss – 2012

264. Idles – Brutalism – 2017

265. Takashi Masubuchi – Disappearing Foliage – 2018

266. Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part Two – 2011

267. Jamie xx – In Colour – 2015

268. Sufjan Stevens – Javelin – 2023

269. East River Pipe – We Live in Rented Rooms – 2011

270. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Wig Out at Jagbags – 2014

271. ARP – Zebra – 2018

272. Sleaford Mods – Divide and Exit – 2014

273. Pye Corner Audio – Stasis – 2016

274. Beach House – Bloom – 2012

275. Sleaford Mods – English Tapas – 2017

276. Manic Street Preachers – Futurology – 2014

277. Julia Holter – Loud City Song – 2013

278. John Cale – M:Fans – 2016

279. Destroyer – Poison Season – 2015

280. Lorde – Pure Heroine – 2013

281. SG Goodman – Teeth Marks – 2022

282. The Rural Alberta Advantage – The Rise and Fall – 2023

283. Tyler, the Creator – Flower Boy – 2017

284. Hiss Golden Messenger – Haw – 2013

285. London Grammar – If You Wait – 2013

286. Rina Sawayama – Sawayama – 2020

287. Chris Price – Stop Talking – 2017

288. Noname – Telefone – 2016

289. Rich Ruth – Water Still Flows – 2024

290. A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service - 2016

291. Sweet Baboo – Wild Imagination – 2017

292. The 1075 – A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships – 2018

293. Gruff Rhys – American Interior – 2014

294. Sarah Davichi – August Harp – 2014

295. Woods – Bend Beyond – 2012

296. Matthew Dear – Black City – 2010

297. Eat Static – Dead Planet – 2015

298. Joanna Newsom – Divers – 2015

299. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest – 2010

300. Snow Palms – Intervals – 2012

301. Hontatedori – Konata Kanata – 2018

302. Big Thief – Masterpiece – 2016

303. Frank Turner – No Man’s Land – 2019

304. Jessica Pratt – Quiet Signs – 2019

305. Brockhampton – Saturation II – 2017

306. Dumb – Club Nites – 2019

307. Taylor Swift – Evermore – 2020

308. Marconi Union – Ghost Stations – 2016

309. Peter Perrett – Humanworld – 2019

310. Boz Scaggs – Memphis – 2013

311. Disclosure – Settle – 2013

312. Rebecca Gates & the Consortium – The Float – 2012

313. Beirut – The Rip Tide – 2011

314. James – All the Colours Of You – 2021

315. Arborist – Home Burial – 2016

316. Band of Horses – Infinite Arms – 2010

317. Metronomy – Love Letters – 2014

318. Low – Ones and Sixes – 2015

319. Sean O’Hagan – Radum Calls, Radum Calls – 2019

320. Lindstrom – Smalhans – 2012

321. Snapped Ankles – Stunning Luxury – 2019

322. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP 2 – 2013

323. Graham Coxon – A + E – 2012

324. Carla Morrison – Amor Supremo – 2015

325. Horse Lords – As It Happened: Horse Lords Live – 2024

326. Stornoway – Bonxie – 2015

327. James Tenney – Changes: 64 Studies for 6 Harps – 2019

328. Lambchop – Flotus – 2016

329. Olivia Rodrigo – Guts – 2023

330. The Bathers – Sirenesque – 2023

331. Badbadnotgood and Ghostface Killah – Sour Soul – 2015

332. Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball – 2012

333. King Krule – 6 Feet Beneath The Moon – 2013

334. John Grant – Art of the Lie – 2024

335. SZA – CTRL – 2017

336. These New Puritans – Hidden – 2010

337. Songhoy Blues – Music in Exile – 2015

338. Lonelady – Nerve Up – 2010

339. Robyn Hitchcock – Robyn Hitchcock – 2017

340. Kevin Morby – Singing Saw – 2016

341. Paul Simon – So Beautiful or So What – 2011

342. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – The French Press – 2017

343. Richmond Fontaine – The High Country – 2011

344. Cashier No 9 – To the Death of Fun – 2011

345. Jeff Tweedy – Together at Last – 2017

346. The Smile – A Light for Attracting Attention – 2022

347. Charli XCX – Brat – 2024

348. Japandroids – Celebration Rock – 2012

349. Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters – 2020

350. Mark Stoermer – Filthy Apes and Lions – 2017

351. Loney Dear – Hall Music – 2011

352. Saint Etienne – Home Counties – 2017

353. Jockstrap – I Love You Jennifer B – 2022

354. Lindstrøm – It’s Alright Between Us As It Is – 2017

355. Snail Mail – Lush – 2018

356. Cate Le Bon – Reward – 2019

357. Alexander Tucker – Third Mouth – 2012

358. The War on Drugs – A Deeper Understanding – 2017

359. Nagisa Ni Te – A Long Swim – 2014

360. Lana Del Rey – Chemtrails Over the Country Club – 2021

361. Stornoway – Dig the Mountain! – 2023

362. Shellac – Dude Incredible – 2014

363. Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me – 2010

364. Fuzz – II – 2015

365. Connan Mockasin – Jassbusters – 2018

366. Paul Buchanan – Mid Air – 2012

367. Los Campesinos! – No Blues – 2013

368. Agnes Obel – Philharmonics – 2010

369. Echo Ladies – Pink Noise – 2018

370. Manic Street Preachers – Postcards From a Young Man – 2010

371. Ty Segall – Ty Segall – 2017

372. Bill Fay – Who is the Sender? – 2015

373. Merchandise – After the End – 2014

374. Lucinda Williams – Blessed – 2011

375. Lana Del Rey – Blue Banisters – 2021

376. Wooden Wand – Farmer’s Corner – 2014

377. Junip – Fields – 2010

378. Susanne Sundfor – Music for People in Trouble – 2017

379. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – 2015

380. Slowcoaches – Nothing Gives – 2016

381. Dennis Johnson – November – 2013

382. Wet Leg – Wet Leg – 2022

383. Paramore – After Laughter – 2017

384. Sexual Objects – Cucumber – 2010

385. Autechre – Elseq 1-5 –C2016

386. Stephen Malkmus – Groove Denied – 2019

387. Aquaserge – laisse ça être – 2017

388. Robert Plant – Lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar – 2014

389. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach – 2010

390. Lindstrøm & Christabelle – Real Life is No Cool – 2010

391. Belbury Poly – The Belbury Tales – 2012

392. Boygenius – The Record – 2023

393. Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood – 2024

394. Allah-Lahs – Worship the Sun – 2014

395. Olafur Arnalds - …And They Have Escaped the Weight of Darkness – 2010

396. Beak> - >> - 2012

397. Beak> - >>>> - 2024

398. Alvvays – Alvvays – 2014

399. Bonny Light Horseman – Bonny Light Horseman – 2020

400. Lana Del Rey – Born to Die – 2012

401. White Denim – D – 2011

402. Sleaford Mods – Retweeted – 2014

403. Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles – 2019

404. Charles Lloyd & The Marvels – I Long to See You – 2016

405. Vic Goddard and the Subway Sect – Moments Like These – 2021

406. Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression – 2016

407. Blur – The Magic Whip – 2015

408. Chappel Roan – The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess – 2023

409. Ezra Furman – All of Us Flames – 2022

410. Moses Sumney – Aromanticism – 2017

411. Broadcast – Berberian Sound Studio – 2013

412. Anderson .Paak – Malibu – 2016

413. The Dead C – Rare Ravers – 2019

414. Black Midi – Schlagenheim – 2019

415. Roddy Frame – Seven Dials – 2014

416. Max Richter – Sleep – 2015

417. The Murder Capital – When I Have Fears – 2019

418. Cass McCombs – Wit’s End – 2011

419. Atoms For Peace – Amok – 2013

420. Silk Sonic – An Evening with Silk Sonic – 2021

421. Mhysa – Fantasii – 2017

422. Ellen Arkbro – For Organ and Brass – 2017

423. Benjamin Gibbard – Former Lives – 2012

424. Ben Watt – Hendra – 2014

425. Sunn O))) – Life Metal – 2019

426. Eiko Ishibashi – The Dreams My Bones Dream – 2018

427. My Morning Jacket – The Waterfall – 2015

428. Frazey Road – U Kin B The Sun – 2020

429. Paul Weller – Wake Up The Nation – 2010

430. Tierra Whack – Whack World – 2018

431. Rihanna – Anti – 2016

432. Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book – 2016

433. Julia Holter – Ekstasis – 2012

434. Metronomy – Metronomy Forever – 2019

435. The Early Years – II – 2016

436. Sexual Objects – Marshmallow – 2017

437. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love – 2015

438. Darkstar – News From Nowhere – 2013

439. Laura Marling – Once I Was An Eagle – 2013

440. Vampire Weekend – Only God Was Above Us – 2024

441. Organum – Raven – 2018

442. Patrick Watson – Adventures in Your Own Backyard – 2012

443. Damon Albarn – Everyday Robots – 2014

444. Skinny Lister – Forge and Flagon – 2012

445. The Hotelier – Home, Like Noplace Is There – 2014

446. St Vincent – Masseducation – 2018

447. Tenniscoats – Papa’s Ear – 2012

448. Beth Orton – Weather Alive – 2022

449. Sia – 1000 Forms of Fear – 2014

450. Tirzah – Devotion – 2018

451. Corrupted – Garten Der Unbewusstheit – 2011

452. Flying Saucer Attack – Instrumentals 2015 – 2015

453. Josh T Pearson – Last of the Country Gentlemen – 2011

454. Disappears – Pre Language – 2012

455. Frank Turner – Tape Deck Heart – 2013

456. Joan As Policewoman – The Classic – 2014

457. Julianna Barwick – The Magic Place – 2011

458. Richard Dawson – The Ruby Cord – 2022

459. Alexandria – Cut of Cloth – 2017

460. Drive-By Truckers – English Oceans – 2014

461. Mirroring – Foreign Body – 2012

462. Steven Wilson – Hand, Cannot, Erase – 2015

463. Honeyblood – Honeyblood – 2014

464. Julie Byrne – Not Even Happiness – 2017

465. Jenny Lewis – On the Line – 2019

466. Devo – Something for Everybody – 2010

467. Anna Van Hausswolff – The Miraculous – 2015

468. Valerie June – The Order of Time – 2017

469. Kutiman – 6AM – 2016

470. Paul McCartney – Egypt Station – 2018

471. Iggy Pop – Free – 2019

472. Julianna Barwick – Healing is a Miracle – 2020

473. Eddie Marcon – Kura-Kura Kurage – 2018

474. Phosphorescent – Muchacho – 2013

475. Four Tet – New Energy – 2017

476. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Nonagon Infinity – 2016

477. Oh Wonder – Oh Wonder – 2015

478. Primitive Parts – Primitive Parts – 2015

479. The Wedding Present – Valentina – 2012

480. Phosphorescent – C’est La Vie – 2018

481. Horse Lords – Comradely Objects – 2022

482. Bright Eyes – Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was – 2020

483. Cornershop – England is a Garden – 2020

484. Sarah Davachi – Gave In Rest – 2018

485. Kelly Lee Owens – Kelly Lee Owens – 2017

486. Brian Eno – Lux – 2012

487. Dry Cleaning – New Long Leg – 2021

488. Parekh & Singh – Ocean – 2016

489. Thee Oh Sees – Putrifiers II – 2012

490. The Coral – The Curse of Love – 2014

491. Floating Points – Crush – 2019

492. Arch Garrison – I Will Be a Pilgrim – 2014

493. The Magnetic Fields – Love at the Bottom of the Sea – 2012

494. William Tyler – Modern Country – 2016

495. Perfume Genius – No Shape – 2017

496. Taylor Swift – Red – 2012

497. Jan St Werner – Spectric Acid – 2017

498. The Declines – The Imperial – 2019

499. Joan Shelley – The Spur – 2022

500. Car Seat Headrest – Twin Fantasy - 2011