“List your favourite record from every year you’ve been alive.”
This is probably the nerdiest thing I’ve ever done but it was an interesting exercise. The idea was taken from here, here and here. In order to help you pick your favourites, you can use the extensive Wikipedia pages, the critics list at Pazz & Jop or with the help of an 1001 Albums to Hear Before you Die book. Here is my musical genealogy in list form. Explanations of my choices after the jump.
1982 Michael Jackson – Thriller
1983 R.E.M – Murmur
1984 RUN DMC – RUN DMC
1985 Kate Bush – Hounds of Love
1986 Beastie Boys – Licenced to Ill
1987 Michael Jackson – Bad
1988 Pixies – Surfer Rosa | Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation of Millions…
1989 Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique
1990 Jane’s Addiction – Ritual De Lo Habitual
1991 Massive Attack – Blue Lines
1992 Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine
1993 Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
1994 Beastie Boys – Ill Communication
1995 Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness
1996 DJ Shadow – Endtroducing
1997 Radiohead – OK Computer
1998 Beastie Boys – Hello Nasty
1999 Death in Vegas – The Contino Sessions
2000 The Avalanches – Since I Left You
2001 Super Furry Animals – Rings Around the World
2002 Queens of the Stone Age – Songs for the Deaf
2003 Outkast – Speakerboxxx / The Love Below
2004 Arcade Fire – Funeral
2005 Broken Social Scene – Broken Social Scene | Gorillaz – Demon Days
2006 The Knife – Silent Shout
2007 Battles – Mirrored
2008 Why? – Alopecia (So far)
Like Chris, I picked my favourites based on an arbitrary combination of which record I liked best then and which one is my favourite now looking back.
A few things I noticed:
- It’s obviously hard to pick albums for when you were under 5 years of age. 1983 & 1985 were extremely difficult years to pick and really my choices are limited to two albums I have heard more than once which contains songs I love.
- My early years were dominated by Michael Jackson records. Bad was the first album I ever bought and I picked up Thriller later on.
- Hip-Hop is more dominant than I expected. Beastie Boys are my favourite artist so it makes sense that 4 of their albums are on the list.
- Overall, there’s a fairly balanced mix of rock, electronic and hip-hop.
- 1988, 1998 and 2005 were very hard years to choose from. From 1998, I left out Boards of Canada – Music Has the Right to Children, Mercury Rev – Deserter’s Songs and Cornelius – Fantasma.
This is a perfect way to waste time in work so if you feel so inclined, drop your list in the comments or link to it from your blog.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
List of my #1 albums from every year I’ve been alive:
1981 Grace Jones – Nightclubbing
1982 Michael Jackson – Thriller
1983 R.E.M. – Murmur
1984 The Smiths – The Smiths
1985 Tom Waits – Rain Dogs
1986 Paul Simon – Graceland | The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead
1987 Michael Jackson – Bad
1988 Leonard Cohen – I’m Your Man
1989 The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses | The Cure – Disintegration
1990 The KLF – Chill Out
1991 Nirvana – Nevermind
1992 Aphex Twin – Selected Ambient Works 85-92 | R.E.M. – Automatic For The People
1993 Nirvana – In Utero
1994 Portishead – Dummy | Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral | Manic Street Preachers – The Holy Bible
1995 Radiohead – The Bends | PJ Harvey – To Bring You My Love
1996 Aphex Twin – Richard D. James Album | DJ Shadow – Endtroducing | R.E.M. – New Adventures in Hi-Fi
1997 Radiohead – OK Computer
1998 Air – Moon Safari | Elliott Smith – XO
1999 Tom Waits – Mule Variations | Blur – 13
2000 Radiohead – Kid A
2001 John Frusciante – To Record Only Water For Ten Days | Tool – Lateralus | Radiohead – Amnesiac
2002 Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man – Out Of Season
2003 Radiohead – Hail To The Thief
2004 Arcade Fire – Funeral | Joanna Newsom – The Milk-Eyed Mender
2005 Venetian Snares – Rossz Csillag Alatt Született |Antony and the Johnsons – I Am A Bird Now
2006 The Knife – Silent Shout
2007 Radiohead – In Rainbows
2008 Portishead – Third (so far)
I couldn’t cut it down to one clear favourite for some years – ah well!
1986 The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead
1987 Michael Jackson – Bad
1988 Metallica – …And Justice For All
1989 The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses
1990 Alice In Chains – Facelift
1991 Nirvana – Nevermind
1992 Rage Against The Machine – Self Titled
1993 Pearl Jam – Vs.
1994 Oasis – Definitely Maybe
1995 Oasis – Whats The Story?…
1996 Ocean Colour Scene – Moseley Shoals
1997 Deftones – Around The Fur
1998 Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane…, At The Drive-In – In/Casino/Out
1999 Chris Cornell – Euphoria Morning
2000 GlassJAw – Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence, Deftones – White Pony, Badly Drawn Boy – Hour of the Bewilderbeast, At The Drive-In – Relationship Of Command, Radiohead – Kid A
2001 Tool – Lateralus, Ryan Adams – Gold, The Strokes – Is This It
2002 Porcupine Tree – In Absentia, The Streets – Original Pirate Material, GlassJAw – Worship & Tribute
2003 Hell Is For Heroes – The Neon Handshake, The Postal Service – Give Up, The Mars Volta – De-Loused In The Comatorium
2004 The Redneck Manifesto – I Am Brazil, Modest Mouse – Good News…., The Arcade Fire – Funeral
2005 Reuben – Very Fast, Very Dangerous, Bloc Party – Silent Alarm
2006 Rise Against – The Sufferer & The Witness, Thom Yorke – The Eraser
2007 Explosions In The Sky – All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone, Dry County – Unexpected Falls
2008 – Vampire Weekend – Self Titled, Cadence Weapon – Afterparty Babies
I’m sure I left some albums out. i also found it pretty hard to pick an outright favourite for alot of years, as you can see.
this wasted about two hours for me.
For god’s sake Nialler you’re about to create an Irish blogosphere monster.
dude, i second ian. And come here, what happens if a few of your readers are 65 or older? Tote ‘mare man! Cool idea though
GO ON DUCKY!
but you’re taking the piss with the later years.
Even nerdier than a list like that is spending the whole of July 14th celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Hello nasty by listening to it over and over again, which is what I intend to do.
Screw.the.gorrilaz.
1999 Moby – Play
2000 Travis – The Man Who
2001 Gorillaz – Gorillaz
2002 Interpol – Turn On The Bright Lights
2003 Outkast – Speakerboxxx / The Love Below
2004 Interpol – Antice
2005 Sufjan Stevens – illinois
2006 Hot Chip – The Warning, Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
2007 The National – Boxer
2008 Why? – Alopecia, Los Campesinos! – Hold On Now Youngster (So far)
Can’t go back that far due age restrictions(only clocked up 19 of the things so far). Think 98 would have been steps….i mean Air….I mean Neutral Milk Hotel….ah forget it
1980 The Specials- The Specials
1981 The Beat- Wha’ppen
1982 Michael Jackson- Thriller
1983 ZZ Top- Eliminator
1984 Talking Heads- Stop Making Sense
1985
1986 Beastie Boys-License to Ill
1987 Eric B and Rakim- Paid In Full
1988 Guns N Roses- Appetite for Destruction
1989 De La Soul- 3 Feet and Rising
1990 Violator- Depeche Mode
1991 The KLF – The White Room
1992 The Prodigy – Experience
1993 Cypress Hill- Black Sunday/ Snoop Dogg- Doggystyle
1994 Notorious BIG- Ready to Die
1995 Leftfield- Leftism
1996 DJ Shadow- Endtroducing
1997 Daft Punk- Homework
1998 Air- Moon Safari
1999 MF DOOM- OPeration Doomsday
2000 Outkast- Stankonia
2001 O Brother Where Art Thou Soundtrack
2002 Wilco- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot/ The Streets OPM
2003 Dizzee Rascal- Boy in da Corner
2004 Kanye West- The College Dropout
2005 LCD Soundsystem- LCD Soundsystem
2006 J Dilla- Donuts
2007 Burial- Untrue
2008 Jape- Ritual
I take it its now looking back, as opposed to at the time? You were all very cool two year olds listening to The Smiths!
i was not taking the piss… maybe i just have a shit taste in music?
Taking the piss by picking more than one for each year I mean.
You have now destroyed my Monday….in a good way 🙂
1982: Michael Jackson: Thriller
1983: Madonna: Madonna
1984: Madonna: Like A Virgin
1985 The Fall: This Nation’s Saving Grace
1986: The Smiths: The Queen Is Dead
1987: Prince: Sign O’ The Times
1988: My Bloody Valentine: Isn’t Anything
1989: Madonna: Like A Prayer
1990: Happy Mondays: Pills Thrills n’ Bellyaches
1991: My Bloody Valentine: Loveless
1992: The Lemonheads: It’s A Shame About Ray
1993: Suede: Suede
1994: Pavement: Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
1995: Teenage Fanclub: Grand Prix
1996: Super Furry Animals: Fuzzy Logic
1997: Super Furry Animals: Radiator
1998: Belle & Sebastian : The Boy with the Arab Strap
1999: Jim O’ Rourke: Eureka
2000: Super Furry Animals: Mwng
2001 Daft Punk: Discovery/Rufus Wainwright : Poses
2002 Beck: Sea Change
2003 Super Furry Animals: Phantom Power
2004 : Arcade Fire: Funeral
2005: M.I.A: Arular
2006 Amy Winehouse: Back to Black
2007 Panda Bear: Person Pitch
2008 Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes (so far…)
So you were born when Thriller came out and were all of 10 years old when the RATM debut dropped. I cannot help but feel slightly dodo-ish right now. Nice choices, though. Not too precious – despite the inclusion of members of the ubiquitous Canadian Pompous Brigade.
Stu – I wouldn’t expect anything less from you!
Morgan – Preferably some middleground between the two but obviosuly the early years are picked on more current faves.
Jennzo – So you are a big SFA fan? Cool. Interesting to note that Rings around the World made my list but not yours. You must have really loved Discovery and Poses and/or were not moved by RATW.
Incidentially for Neutral Milk Hotel fans, there is a tribute night happening in the Lower deck on August 23rd – http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=76316068
[quote post=”1274″]Not too precious – despite the inclusion of members of the ubiquitous Canadian Pompous Brigade.[/quote]
Owweeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Ah I loved “Rings” but I find that it and “Guerilla” are the Furries albums I don’t really re-visit that often..bit all over the place.I think that year was just dominated by those crazy French Robots as opposed to those crazy Welsh boys for once.
Una’s got a list.
http://unarocks.blogspot.com/2008/07/musical-geneology.html
Wow, this took longer than I though it would!
The early years are going to have to be judged retrospectively, as my listening habits were pretty much exclusively The King of Pop, some Van Morisson (thanks, Dad) and a dash of the Beatles (until my older cousin stepped in with Bon Jovi).
1982 Thriller (what else…)
1983 Power, Corruption & Lies- New Order
1984 Run D.M.C..- Run D.M.C.
1985 Raindogs- Tom Waits
1986 Slippery When Wet- Bon Jovi
1987 Appetite for Destruction- Guns’N’Roses
1988 Surfa Rosa- Pixies
1989 Doolittle – Pixies
1990 Ritual De Lo Habitual- Jane’s Addiction
1991 Blood Sugar Sex Magik- Red Hot Chili Peppers
1992 Automatic for The People- REM
1993 Vs- Pearl Jam
1994 Grace- Jeff Buckley
1995 The Bends- Radiohead
1996 Ænima- Tool
1997 The Colour & the Shape- Foo Fighters
1998 The Shape of Punk to Come- Refused
1999 The Fidelity Wars- Hefner
2000 Fevers & Mirrors- Bright Eyes
2001 Toxicity- System of a Down
2002 Lifted- Bright Eyes
2003 The Ugly Organ- Cursive
2004 Wet from Birth- The Faint
2005 LCD Soundsystem- LCD Soundsystem
2006 Return To Cookie Mountain- TV On The Radio
2007 The Flying Club Cup- Beirut
2008 Ritual- Jape (strongest contender so far anyways…)
Important albums that barely didn’t make the cut:
1994 Blue Album- Weezer
1995 Elliott Smith- Elliott Smith
1997 Ok Computer- Radiohead
1998 Adore- Smashing Pumpkins
Conclusions: Many good artists/albums were discovered after the fact. Also, lots of great albums have a tendency to come out in the same years, making a list like this very difficult to compile. Fun though, and much better than actually doing any work on a Monday…
· Lou Reed – Lou Reed (1972)
· Innervisions – Stevie Wonder (1973)
· It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll – The Rolling Stones (1974)
· Love to Love You Baby – Donna Summer (1975) And disco was born.
· Blondie – Blondie (1976) A lot of good stuff came out this year, but Debbie gets the crown.
· Exodus – Bob Marley and the Wailers OR · The Idiot – Iggy Pop (1977) Could not make up my mind on that one.
· Parallel Lines – Blondie (1978)
· The Specials – The Specials (1979)
· Boys Don’t Cry – The Cure OR · Kaleidoscope – Siouxie and the Banshees OR · LKJ in Dub – Linton Kwesi Johnson
Tough year that one, lot of good tunes. (1980)
· Wha’ppen? – The English Beat (1981)
· The Rise & Fall – Madness (1982)
· The Luxury Gap – Heaven 17 (1983)
· Who’s Afraid of the Art of Noise? – Art of Noise (1984)
· Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash – The Pogues (1985)
· Licensed to Ill – The Beastie Boys (1986)
Appetite for Destruction Guns N’ Roses (1987)
Nothing’s Shocking Jane’s Addiction (1988)
Bleach Nirvana (1989) Although I’d swear blind it was earlier than 89 this came out.
Ritual de lo Habitual Jane’s Addiction (1990)
The Orb’s Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld The Orb (1991) The year I discovered LSD
Selected Ambient Works 85-92 Aphex Twin (1992) The year I discovered Whiz
Porno for Pyros Porno for Pyros (1993)
Dummy Portishead (1994) Nuff said
Leftism Leftfield OR Maxinquaye Tricky OR No Protection Massive Attack vs. Mad Professor (1995)
Endtroducing….. DJ Shadow (1996)
Vanishing Point Primal Scream (1997)
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Lauryn Hill (1998)
Psyence Fiction Unkle (1999)
Deltron 3030 Deltron 3030 (2000)
Another Late Night: Fila Brazillia Fila Brazillia (2001)
Melody A.M. Röyksopp (2002)
80 – the clash – sandinista!
81 – black flag – damaged
82 – micheal jackson – thriller
83 – tom waits – swordfishtrombones
84 – the cramps – bad music for bad people
85 – tom waits – rain dogs
86 – beastie boys – licence to ill
87 – micheal jackson – bad
88 – nick cave and the bad seeds – tender prey
89 – the stone roses – the stone roses
90 – the happy mondays – pills,thrills and belly aches
91 – nirvana – nevermind
92 -the prodigy – experience
93 – smashing pumpkins – siamese dream
94 – the prodigy – music for the jilted generation/green day – dookie/the stone roses -second coming
95 – leftfeild – leftism /the chemical brothers – exit planet dust / smashing pumpkins -mellin collie and the infinite sadness
96 – ocean colour scene – moleley shoals
97 – supergrass – in it for the money / radiohead -ok computer / deftones – white pony
98 – massive attack – mezzanine/ air – moon safari
99 – nine inch nails – the fragile
00 – the avalanches – since i left you
01 – tool – lateralus
02 – queens of the stone age – songs for the deaf / liars – they threw us in a trench and stuck a monument on top
03 – unkle – never,never land
04 – saul williams
05 – soulwax – nite versions the knife – silent shout
06 – the knife – silent shout
07 – lcd sound system – sound of silver
08 – portishead – third
Guolung are you dead or did your list get cut off in 2002?
1983 Cock Sparrer – Shock Troops | Doe Maar – Lijf aan lijf
1984 The Smiths – The Smiths
1985
1986 The Smiths – The Queen is Dead
1987 The Replacements – Pleased to meet me
1988 Pixies – Surfer Rosa | Public Enemy – It takes a nation of millions…
1989 Pixies – Doolittle
1990 The KLF – Chill Out
1991 Nirvana – Nevermind | Orbital – Green Album
1992 Prodigy – Experience | Hugo Matthysen – Red Onze Planeet | Buffalo Tom – Let me come over
1993 The Orb – Live 93
1994 The Prodigy – Music For the Jilted Generation | dEUS – Worst Case Scenario
1995 Radiohead – The Bends
1996 DJ Shadow – Endtroducing
1997 Daft Punk – Homework | Chemical Brothers – Dig Your Own Hole
1998 Air – Moon Safari | Amon Tobin – Permutation
1999 Plaid – Plaid Proof Clockwork
2000 Das Pop – I Love
2001 Soulwax (or) 2 Many DJ’s – As Heard on Radio Soulwax pt. 1
2002 The Orb – Auntie Aubrey’s Excursions beyond the call of duty part 2
2003 Plaid – Parts in the Post | Aphex Twin – 26 Mixes For Cash
2004 Nouvelle Vague – Nouvelle Vague
2005
2006
2007
2008
I’m not really very old, but I haven’t got a lot of favorite albums for the last years here. Maybe that will come, or maybe I’m becoming an old conservative bastard. Anyway, this is my list. (haven’t searched for a long time to fill all the gaps though, so I’m sure I’m forgetting some superb albums)
A strange thing is that although I listen mostly to rock and punk (the old punk) music there are mostly electronic albums on this list.
Why didn’t my list show up? I spent all yesterday morning at it! I was going to suggest a hint of AGEISM until I saw the chap Guolung’s entry!
I’ll try again I suppose! –
1978 – Love Bites – Buzzcocks
1979 – Cut – The Slits
1980 – More Specials – The Specials
1981 – Flowers of Romance – PIL
1982 – Hex Enduction Hour – The Fall
1983 – Swordfishtrombones – Tom Waits
1984 – Red Roses for Me – The Pogues
1985 – Rum, Sodomy and The Lash – The Pogues
1986 – Battle Of Armagideon – Lee Scratch Perry
1987 – Appetite for Destruction – Guns n Roses
1988 – Pixies – Surfer Rosa
1989 – The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses
1990 – Sonic Youth, Goo
1991 – Babyteeth – Therapy?
1992 – Psalm 69 – Ministry
1993 – Rid of Me – PJ Harvey
1994 – Dummy – Portishead
1995 – It’s Great When You’re Straight… Yeah – Black Grape
1996 – Murder Ballads – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
1997 – The Boatman’s Call – Nick Cave
1998 – Beastie Boys – Hello Nasty
1999 – Roots Manuva – Brand New Second Hand
2000 – Primal Scream – EXTRMNTR
2001 – Is this it? – The Strokes
2002 – Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man – Out Of Season
2003 – Streetcore – Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
2004 – Funeral- Arcade Fire
2005 – The Go! Team – Thunder Lightning Strike
2006 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show your Bones
2007 – The Good The Bad and The Queen
2008 – Imperial Wax Solvent – The Fall
That was actually quite tough. Most of my favourites would be before 1980. 90’s were the hardest to compile. I wish I was only 3. It wouldn’t have taken half the morning then!
1985 : Tom Waits – Rain Dog
1986 : Metallica – Master of Puppets
1987 : Guns n Roses – Appetite for Destruction
1988: Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation
1989: Nine Inch Nails – Pretty Hate Machine
1990: Faith No More – The Real Thing
1991 : Nirvana – Nevermind
1992: Aphex Twin : Select Ambient Works 85-92
1993: Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
1994: Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral
1995: Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
1996 : Tool – Aenima
1997: Radiohead – Ok Computer
1998: Marilyn Manson – Mechanical Animals
1999: Nine Inch Nails – The Fragile
2000: At the Drive in – Relationship of Command
2001 : Sigur Ros – Agaestis Byron
2002: Minus The Bear – Highly Refined Pirates
2003: Fourtet – Rounds
2004 : Modest Mouse – Good News for people who love bad news
2005 : Art Brut – Bang Bang Rock n Roll
2006 : Nine Inch Nails – Year Zero
2007: The Field – From here we go Sublime
2008 : Dan le Sac Vs Scriobious pip – Angles
I enjoyed compiling this list. It has made me realize I hardly listen to my favorite metal bands anymore, something which I plan to change. Also, it got me thinking about Marilyn Manson. I remember when Mechanical Animals came out – it got a lot of crap reviews at the time but now looking back and googling a bit it seems that the album has quietly got the recognition it deserved. Happy days. His recent stuff is utter shite though to be fair.
Any Art Brut fans around? Was convinced they would go massive but they haven’t seem to have taken off anywhere apart from Germany. Ah well. Their song “Emily Kane” is perfect pop music.
Brian, your comments was caught up in spam for some reason! Well it’s there now.
1981 Crass – Penis Envy
1982 Dead Kennedys – Plastic Surgery Disasters
1983 Rudimentary Peni – Death Church
1984 Subhumans – From the Cradle to the Grave
1985 Kate Bush – Hounds of Love
1986 Bad Brains – I against I
1987 Guns n Roses – Appetite for Destruction / G N’ R Lies
1988 NWA – Straight outta Compton / Eazy E – Eazy Duz It
1989 Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Road to the Riches
1990 Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
1991 Primal Scream – Screamadelica
1992 NOFX – White Thrash, Two Heebs & A Bean
1993 Snoop Doggy Dogg – Doggystyle
1994 Gangstarr – Hard to Earn / Biggie – Ready to Die / Nas – IIImatic (sorry, great year!)
1995 Eazy E – Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton
1996 A Tribe Called Quest – Beats, Ryhmes and Life
1997 The Charlatans – Tellin Stories
1998 Asian Dub Foundation – Rafis Revenge
1999 High & Mighty – Home Field Advantage ///
Handsome Boy Modelling School – So… How’s your girl?
2000 Wu-Tang Clan – The W
2001 Jay Z – The Blueprint
2002 DJ Shadow – The Private Press
2003 Dizzee Rascal – Boy In Da Corner
2004 Damien Dempsey – Sieze The Day
2005 Dangerdoom – The Mouse & The Mask
2006 Squarepusher – Hello Everything
2007 Scary Eire – The Scary Era
2008 The Bug – London Zoo
That was fun, sorry about the double & triple ups. I could have kept going for 1994! Its a good exercise, I’ve been pulling records out as I went along. May tidy up now!
1990: Fatima Mansions-Viva Dead Ponies
1991: Tribe Called Quest-Low End Theory
1992: Pavement-Slanted&Enchanted
1993: Suede-S/T or Jellyfish-Spilt Milk
1994: Suede-Dog Man Star
1995: GZA-Liquid Swords
1996: Weezer-Pinkerton/B&S-If You’re Feeling Sinister
1997: Mansun-Attack of the Grey lantern
1998: Mansun-Six/Los Planetas-Una semana en el motor de un autobús/NMH-ITAOTS
1999: The Dismemberment Plan-Emergency&I
2000: Eminem-Marshall Matters LP
2001: Ben Folds-Rockin’ the Suburbs/Against Me! Acoustic EP
2002: Mclusky Do Dallas/Interpol
2003: Wrens-Meadowlands
2004: Arcade Fire-Funeral
2005: CunninLynguists-A Piece of Strange
2006: Jarvis
2007: The National-Boxer
2008: Weezer-Red Album
thank god someone else mentioned suede!
B’dum B’dum, high 5 on the Wrens.
Niall I have relented.
My list, with annotations, observations and notes can be found here …
http://thrillpier.blogspot.com/2008/07/you-win-this-time-mister-9.html
I ran out of time last night, and I’ve missed loads of really good music. But I had to have wikipedia help my old brain remember a lot of stuff, so its taken from their listings. No mention of the grey album on wiki.
1986 – The Queen is Dead (The Smiths)
1987 – Joshua Tree, duh
1988 – I’m Your Man (Leonard Cohen)
1989 – New York (Lou Reed)
1990 – Songs for Drella (Lou Reed + John Cale. Actaully possibly my favourite album ever)
1991 – Nevermind (Nirvana)
1992 – The Wayward Bus (Magnetic Fields)
1993 – So Tonight That I Might See (Mazzy Star), Whatever (Aimee Mann)
1994 – Bakesale (Sebadoh)
1995 – The Presidents of the United States of America (“)
1996 – If You’re Feeling Sinister (Belle & Sebastian)
1997 – Either/Or (Elliot Smith)
1998 – Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk (Jeff Buckley, Mermaid Ave. (Billy Bragg + Wilco)
1999 – 69 Love Songs (Magentic Fields), Air (Achim Wollscheid)
2000 – Left & Leaving (The Weakerthans), Daisies for the Galaxy (The Eels)
2001 – Poses (Rufus Wainwright)
2002 – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Wilco)
2003 – Give Up (Postal Service), Happy Songs for Happy People (Mogwai)
2004 – Blueberry Boat (Fiery Furnaces)
2005 – (Come on & Feel the) Illinois (Sufjan Stevens), Insen (Ryuichi Sakamoto with Alva Noto)
2006 – Back to Black (Trainwreck)
2007 – The Crane Wife (The Decembrists)
2008 – Alopecia (Why?)
As Clockwork Rob said, extremely difficult and many savage cuts made to the list at the last minute to trim to the following;
1971 Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV
1972 Nick Drake Pink Moon
1973 John Martyn Solid Air
1974 Genesis The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
1975 Patti Smith Horses
1976 Modern Lovers Modern Lovers
1977 Television Marquee Moon
1978 Big Star Third/Sisters Lovers
1979 Stiff Little Fingers Inflammable Material
1980 OMD OMD
1981 The Cure Faith (cassette version w’Carnage Visors)
1982 Madness Complete Madness
1983 New Order Power, Corruption & Lies
1984 Cocteau Twins Treasure
The The Soul Mining
1985 The Velvet Underground VU
1986 Les Mysteres des Voix Bulgares Les Mysteres des Voix Bulgares
The Go-Betweens Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express Talk Talk The Colour of Spring
1987 Sonic Youth Sister
Jane’s Addiction Jane’s Addiction
1988 The Sugarcubes Life’s Too Good
The House of Love The House of Love
Dead Can Dance The Serpents Egg
1989 The Pixies Doolittle
Galaxie 500 On Fire
1990 His Name Is Alive Livonia
1991 Massive Attack Blue Lines
1992 Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy Hipocrisy is the Greatest Luxury
1993 Mercury Rev Boces
1994 Chris Bell I Am The Cosmos
1995 Tricky Maxinquaye
1996 Underworld Second Toughest In The Infants
1997 Roni Size New Forms
1998 Boards of Canada Music Has The Right To Children
1999 The Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs
2000 Shelby Lynne I Am Shelby Lynne
2001 The Strokes Is This It
Yann Tiersen Amelie Soundtrack
2002 2 Many DJ’s As Heard On Radio Soulwax
2003 Explosions In The Sky The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place
2004 Antony and the Johnsons Antony and the Johnsons
2005 Broken Social Scene Broken Social Scene
2006 The Knife Silent Shout
2007 Burial Untrue
I’m impressed so many of you are doing this. Niiice.
[quote post=”1274″]I’m impressed so many of you are doing this. Niiice.[/quote]
i am unemployed & it’s too hot to go outside.
Go Chelsea Morgan!
Nice – someone else picked I’m Your Man! Nice to see Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares in Hugh’s list too.
But has NOBODY heard John Frusciante’s solo albums? Genius!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=77DlV_VuLlY
Frusciante is a GOD. Most of his albums came out in 2004 though, and I had a straight winner in that year already.
Although in retrospect, I should totally have had Curtains as my 2005 record. Sorry, James Murphy.
My Two cents.
Annoying having to jettison some of my favourite albums. Would never have called Combat Rock one of my favourite albums but its the best that came out that year.
1982 – Combat Rock – The Clash
1983 – War – U2
1984 – Ocean Rain b- Echo & the Bunnymen
1985 – Rain Dogs – Tom Waits
1986 – Evol – Sonic Youth/True Stories – Talking Heads
1987 – Document – R.E.M.
1988 – Daydream Nation – Sonic Youth
1989 – Pretty Hate Machine – Nine Inch Nails
1990 – Ritual De Lo Habitual – Janes Addiction
1991 – Loveless – My Bloody Valentine
1992 – Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine
1993 – Siamese Dream – Smashing Pumpkins
1994 – Weezer (Blue) – Weezer/The Downwad Spiral – Nine Inch Nails/The Holy Bible – Manic Street Preachers
1995 – Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness – The Smashing Pumpkins
1996 – Aenima – Tool
1997 – Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space – Spiritualized
1998 – The Boy With the Arab Strap – Belle & Sebastian/Moon Safari – Air
1999 – Middle of Nowhere – Orbital
2000 – Kid A – Radiohead
2001 – Discovery – Daft Punk
2002 – ( ) – Sigur Ros
2003 – Echoes – The Rapture
2004 – Funeral – The Arcade Fire/The Milk-eyed Mender – Joanna Newsom
2005 – Frances the Mule – The Mars Volta
2006 – Cansei de Ser Sexy – CSS
2007 – Mirrored – Battles
2008 – Narrow Stairs – Death Cab for Cutie (so far)
1991 – Loveless – My Bloody Valentine
1992 – Rage Against The Machine – Rage Against The Machine
1993 – Transmissions from the Satellite Heart – Flaming Lips
1994 – The Blue Album – Weezer
1995 – The Bends – Radiohead
1996 – Odelay – Beck
1997 – OK Computer – Radiohead
1998 – Good Morning Spider – Sparklehorse
1999 – Soft Bulletin – Flaming Lips
2000 – Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence – GlassJAw
2001 – Is This It – The Strokes
2002 – Turn On The Bright Lights – Interpol
2003 – Room On Fire – The Strokes
2004 – Antics – Interpol
2005 – Broken Social Scene – Broken Social Scene
2006 – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not – Arctic Monkeys
2007 – Boxer – The National
2008 – Antidotes – Foals
am i the youngest person to have done this??
It is funny to see a lack of so called ‘best bands in the world’ such as Snow Patrol, RHCP, Coldplay, REM, U2 etc getting nominated..
Also very few female artists getting nominated..is this due to mainly male posters? I think Neko Case-Blacklisted and Zero 7(Sia) deserve an honourable mention
1983 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1984 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1985 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1986 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1987 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1988 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1989 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1990 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1991 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1992 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1993 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1994 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1995 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1996 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1997 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1998 U2 – The Joshua Tree
1999 U2 – The Joshua Tree
2000 U2 – The Joshua Tree
2001 U2 – The Joshua Tree
2002 U2 – The Joshua Tree
2003 U2 – The Joshua Tree
2004 U2 – The Joshua Tree
2005 U2 – The Joshua Tree
2006 U2 – The Joshua Tree
2007 U2 – The Joshua Tree
2008 U2 – The Joshua Tree
nuff said
very hard this, but based on most played albums in itunes; (too much weller, charlatans, waits and the clash!)
The Clash Give ‘Em Enough Rope 1978
The Clash London Calling 1979
Joy Division Closer 1980
The Rolling Stones Tattoo You 1981
The Clash Combat Rock 1982
Tom Waits Swordfishtrombones 1983
Bob Dylan Real Live 1984
Tom Waits Rain Dogs 1985
The Smiths The Queen Is Dead 1986
Guns N’ Roses Appetite For Destruction 1987
Sonic Youth Daydream Nation 1988
The Stone Roses The Stone Roses 1989
The Charlatans Some Friendly 1990
My Bloody Valentine Loveless 1991
The Charlatans Between 10th & 11th 1992
Paul Weller Wild Wood 1993
The Charlatans Up To Our Hips 1994
The Charlatans The Charlatans 1995
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Murder Ballads 1996
The Charlatans Tellin’ Stories 1997
Air Moon Safari 1998
Tom Waits Mule Variations 1999
Paul Weller Heliocentric 2000
The Charlatans Wonderland 2001
Tom Waits Alice 2002
Four Tet Rounds 2003
The Arcade Fire Funeral 2004
Razorlight Up All Night 2005
The Charlatans Simpatico 2006
The Arcade Fire Neon Bible 2007
The Charlatans You Cross My Path 2008
1974 – Lonnie Liston Smith and the cosmic echoes – Expansions
1975 – AC/DC – High Voltage
1976 – Augustus Pablo – King Tubby meets the rockers uptown
1977 – Suicide – Suicide
1978 – Sun Ra – Lanquidity
1979 – Gang of four – Entertainment
1980 – Joy Division – Closer
1981 – This Heat – Deceit
1982 – Barrington Levy – Poorman style
1983 – Sonic Youth – Confusion is sex
1984 – Cocteau Twins – Treasure
1985 – The Jesus and Mary chain – Psycho candy
1986 – Sonic Youth – EVOL
1987 – Spacemen 3 – The perfect prescription
1988 – My Bloody Valentine – Isn’t anything
1989 – The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses
1990 – Sun City Girls – Torch of the mystics
1991 – Slint – Spiderland
1992 – Trumans Water – Of Thick Tum
1993 – Autechre – Incunabula
1994 – Aphex Twin – Selected ambient works volume 2
1995 – Genius/GZA – Liquid swords
1996 – Tortoise – Millions Now Living Will Never Die
1997 – Windy and Carl – Antarctica
1998 – Gastr del sol – Camoufleur
1999 – Autechre – EP7
2000 – The Boredoms – Super Are
2001 – The Boredoms – Vision creation new sun
2002 – Six Organs Of Admittance – Dark noontide
2003 – Bardo Pond – On the elipse
2004 – Comets on fire – Blue cathedral
2005 – Konono No. 1 – Congotronics
2006 – Alexander Tucker – Furrowed Brow
2007 – Pissed Jeans – Hope for men
2008 – Wooden Shjips – Vol. 1
Great idea, decided to do it for my own Blog. Great the way everyone has a different list:
1984: U2 – The Unforgettable Fire
1985: Kate Bush – Hounds of Love
1986: The Smiths – The Queen is Dead
1987: Michael Jackson – Bad
1988: Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman
1989: Tom Petty – Full Moon Fever
1990: Neil Young and Crazy Horse – Ragged Glory
1991: Matthew Sweet – Girlfriend
1992: Tori Amos – Little Earthquakes
1993: Counting Crows – August and Everything After
1994: Jeff Buckley – Grace
1995: Radiohead – The Bends
1996: Dave Matthews Band – Crash
1997: Radiohead – OK Computer
1998: Mercury Rev – Deserter’s Songs
1999: Chris Cornell – Euphoria Morning
2000: Johnny Cash – American III: Solitary Man
2001: Mic Christopher – Skylarkin’
2002: Badly Drawn Boy – About A Boy OST
2003: The Postal Service – Give Up
2004: Ryan Adams – Love Is Hell
2005: Sufjan Stevens – Illinois
2006: Seth Lakeman – Freedom Fields
2007: Iron & Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog
2008: Destroyer – Trouble in Dreams (This could change, we have half a year left)
This was more fun and enlightening than I expected. Some of the things I realised were that I don’t really like much music in the period 81-90 (bar 1988), and I can pinpoint 1996-98 as the years when my music taste took proper form. Also, a list of my all-time favourites would be totally 70s-dominated…
I didn’t include reissues/compilations, but not everything is a full album.
1981 Taana Garner – Heartbeat
1982 Dinosaur L – 24-24 Music
1983 Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombones
1984 Les Rita Mitsouko – Rita Mitsouko
1985 Kate Bush – Hounds of Love
1986 Arthur Russell – World of Echo
1987 Sonic Youth – Sister
1988 Talk Talk – Spirit of Eden
1989 Pixies – Doolittle*
1990 My Bloody Valentine – Glider EP
1991 My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
1992 Stereolab – Peng!
1993 Morphine – Cure for Pain
1994 dEUS – Worst Case Scenario
1995 Pavement – Wowee Zowee
1996 dEUS – In a Bar, Under the Sea**
Faust – You Know Us
1997 Mogwai – Young Team
1998 Sonic Youth – A Thousand Leaves
1999 Godspeed You Black Emperor – Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada
2000 Radiohead – Kid A
2001 cLOUDDEAD – cLOUDDEAD
2002 Antipop Consortium – Arrythmia
2003 Sufjan Stevens – Michigan
2004 Magnetic Fields – 69 Love Songs
2005 Matt Sweeney and Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Superwolf
2006 Malajube – Trompe l’Oeil
2007 Animal Collective – Strawberry Jam
2008 Tom Carter and Christian Kiefer – From the Great American Songbook
* I haven’t actually listened to Doolittle in over 10 years, but I couldn’t find anything else I’ve heard and liked from 1989
** Can’t choose between dEUS and Faust here, probably the two most important albums in my personal musical history
Most surprising omissions: Daydream Nation, Crooked Rain Crooked Rain, F#A#\infty, I am a Bird Now, Untrue
hi there!
I made on photoshop anime myspace pictures.
take a look at them:
http://tinyurl.com/5u58hq
Thank you for your site 😉 xxoxo