Previous: 40-21

20. N.W.A- Straight Outta Compton

Paste: excluded

Slant: +4

19. Prince- Sign O’ the Times

Paste: -5

Slant: +10

18. Run-D.M.C.- Raising Hell

Paste: -27

Slant: -26

17. Eric B. and Rakim- Follow the Leader

Paste and Slant: excluded

16. Pixies- Surfer Rosa

Paste: -2

Slant: -13

15. Bruce Springsteen- Nebraska

Paste: two-album rule exclusion by Paste

Slant: -26

14. Talking Heads- Remain in Light

Paste: +7

Slant: +9

13. Tom Waits- Swordfishtrombones

Paste: excluded

Slant: -8

12. Bruce Springsteen- Born in the U.S.A.

Paste: +8

Slant: -16

11. R.E.M.- Lifes Rich Pageant

Paste: +6

Slant: -27

10. U2- The Joshua Tree

Paste: +2

Slant: -10

9. Pixies- Doolittle

Paste: +8

Slant: -18

8. The Replacements- Let It Be

Paste: -5

Slant: -24

7. The Replacements- Tim

Paste: two-album rule exclusion by Paste

Slant: -38

6. Joy Division- Closer

Paste: -22

Slant: tie

5. Public Enemy- It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Paste: -6

Slant: +2

4. Beastie Boys- Paul’s Boutique

Paste: -8

Slant: tie

3. Sonic Youth- Daydream Nation

Paste: -7

Slant: -22

2. R.E.M.- Murmur

Paste: -25

Slant: -9

1. The Smiths- The Queen is Dead

Paste: -1

Slant: -13

See Also: Favorite Movies of the 1980s, Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003, Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1988, Top 10 Albums of 1987, Top 10 Albums of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 1985, Top 10 Albums of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 1983, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965

Previous: 60-41

40. De La Soul- 3 Feet High and Rising

Paste: +22

Slant: +32

39. U2- War

Paste: two-album rule exclusion by Paste

Slant: -20

38. Husker Du- New Day Rising

Paste: +6

Slant: excluded

37. The Jesus and Mary Chain- Psychocandy

Paste: +4

Slant: +6

36. Tom Waits- Rain Dogs

Paste: +21

Slant: +24

35. My Bloody Valentine- Isn’t Anything

Paste: -13

Slant: -23

34. AC/DC- Back in Black

Paste: +14

Slant: excluded

33. Richard & Linda Thompson- Shoot Out the Lights

Paste: +10

Slant: excluded

32. Violent Femmes- Violent Femmes

Paste: +15

Slant: +13

31. Run-D.M.C.- Run-D.M.C.

Paste and Slant: excluded

30. Metallica- Master of Puppets

Paste: excluded

Slant: -26

29. Sonic Youth- EVOL

Paste: excluded

Slant: -25

28. R.E.M.- Reckoning

Paste: two-album rule exclusion by me and Paste

Slant: -25

27. Husker Du- Zen Arcade

Paste: excluded

Slant: -23

26. Prince- Purple Rain

Paste: +17

Slant: +24

25. Ramones- End of the Century

Paste and Slant: excluded

24. Elvis Costello- Get Happy!!

Paste: excluded

Slant: -23

23. Elvis Costello- Trust

Paste: tie

Slant: excluded

22. Eric B. and Rakim- Paid in Full

Paste: -27

Slant: -4

21. Leonard Cohen- I’m Your Man

Paste: -29

Slant: -3

Next: The Top 20

See Also: Favorite Movies of the 1980s, Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003, Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1988, Top 10 Albums of 1987, Top 10 Albums of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 1985, Top 10 Albums of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 1983, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965

See 100-91

See 90-81

See 80-71

See 70-61

See 60-51

See 50-41

See 40-31

30. R.E.M.- At My Most Beautiful

29. Arcade Fire- Rebellion (Lies)

28. Led Zeppelin- Stairway to Heaven

27. The Hold Steady- Stay Positive

26. The Stooges- Search and Destroy

25. Portishead- Glory Box

24. Joni Mitchell- River

23. Jackson Browne- Late for the Sky

22. Wilco- A Shot in the Arm

21. The Who- Baba O’Riley

See 20-11

See Also: My 100 Favorite Songs of All Time (2 years ago), My 100 Favorite Songs of the Decade (2 years ago), Top 10 Songs Of Each Hall of Fame Inductee Class: 1986-Present (2 years ago)

1. Pavement- Slanted & Enchanted

Listen: “Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite At :17”

2. Rage Against the Machine- Rage Against the Machine

Listen: “Killing In the Name”

3. Dr. Dre- The Chronic

Listen: “Fuck Wit Dre Day (And Everybody’s Celebratin’)”

4. Beastie Boys- Check Your Head

Listen: “So What’cha Want”

5. R.E.M.- Automatic for the People

Listen: “Nightswimming”

6. Tom Waits- Bone Machine

Listen: “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up”

7. Leonard Cohen- The Future

Listen: “Democracy”

8. Vigilantes of Love- Killing Floor

Listen: “Undertow”

9. Eric Clapton- Unplugged

Listen: “Tears in Heaven”

10. Mark Heard- Satellite Sky

Listen: “Long Way Down”

Updated: March 10, 2012

See Also: Top 10 Movies of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003,  Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1988, Top 10 Albums of 1987, Top 10 Albums of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 1985, Top 10 Albums of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 1983, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965

1. U2- The Joshua Tree

Listen: “Where the Streets Have No Name”

2. Prince- Sign ‘O’ the Times

Listen: “If I Was Your Girlfriend”

3. Eric B. & Rakim- Paid in Full

Listen: “Eric B. is President”

4. The Smiths- Strangeways, Here We Come

Listen: “Girlfriend in a Coma”

5. The Replacements- Pleased to Meet Me

Listen: “Alex Chilton”

6. R.E.M.- Document

Listen: “The One I Love”

7. Public Enemy- Yo! Bum Rush the Show

Listen: “You’re Gonna Get Yours”

8. Michael Jackson- Bad

Listen: “Man In The Mirror”

9. Bruce Springsteen- Tunnel of Love

Listen: “Brilliant Disguise”

10. Sonic Youth- Sister

Listen: “Schizophrenia” [Non-Album Live Version]

Honorable Mention: Boogie Down Productions’ Criminal Minded

Updated: February 8, 2012

See Also: Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003,  Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1988, Top 10 Albums of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 1985, Top 10 Albums of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 1983, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965

1. The Smiths- The Queen is Dead

Listen: “Frankly, Mr. Shankly”

2. R.E.M.- Lifes Rich Pageant

Listen: “Begin the Begin”

3. Run-D.M.C.- Raising Hell

Listen: “Walk This Way”

4. Sonic Youth- EVOL

Listen: “Shadow of a Doubt”

5. Metallica- Master of Puppets

Listen: “Master of Puppets”

6. Beastie Boys- Licensed to Ill

Listen: “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”

7. Elvis Costello- Blood & Chocolate

Listen: “I Hope You’re Happy Now”

8. Paul Simon- Graceland

Listen: “You Can Call Me Al”

9. XTC- Skylarking

Listen: “Dear God”

10. Elvis Costello- King of America

Listen: “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”

Archival Highlight: Bruce Springsteen- Live/1975-85

Listen: “Jersey Shore”

Honorable Mention: Peter Gabriel’s So, Slayer’s Reign in Blood

Updated: February 4, 2012

See Also: Top 10 Movies of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003,  Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1988, Top 10 Albums of 1987, Top 10 Albums of 1985, Top 10 Albums of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 1983, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965

1. The Replacements- Tim

Listen: “Left of the Dial”

2. Tom Waits- Rain Dogs

Listen: “Hang Down Your Head”

3. The Jesus and Mary Chain- Psychocandy

Listen: “Just Like Honey”

4. Husker Du- New Day Rising

Listen: “Celebrated Summer”

5. Camper Van Beethoven- Telephone Free Landslide Victory

Listen: “Take the Skinheads Bowling” [Non-Album Live Version]

6. The Pogues- Rum, Sodomy and the Lash

Listen: “Dirty Old Town”

7. New Order- Low-Life

Listen: “Love Vigilantes”

8. R.E.M.- Fables of the Reconstruction

Listen: “Love Vigilantes”

9. Bob Dylan- Empire Burlesque

Listen: “Emotionally Yours”

10. The Smiths- Meat Is Murder

Listen: “How Soon Is Now?”

Archival Highlight: Sam Cooke- One Night Stand: Live at Harlem Square Club, 1963

Listen: “Bring It On Home to Me”

Updated: December 31, 2011

See Also: Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003,  Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1988, Top 10 Albums of 1987, Top 10 Albums of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 1983, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965

1. The Replacements- Let It Be

Listen: “Unsatisfied”

2. Bruce Springsteen- Born in the U.S.A.

Listen: “No Surrender”

3. Prince- Purple Rain

Listen: “Let’s Go Crazy”

4. Husker Du- Zen Arcade

Listen: “Turn on the News”

5. R.E.M.- Reckoning

Listen: “(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville”

6. Run-D.M.C.- Run-D.M.C.

Listen: “Sucker M.C.’s (Krush-Groove 1)”

7. Minutemen- Double Nickels On the Dime

Listen: “Viet Nam”

8. Metallica- Ride the Lightning

Listen: “Fade to Black”

9. Meat Puppets- Meat Puppets II

Listen: “Plateau”

10. U2- The Unforgettable Fire

Listen: “Bad”

Honorable Mention: Bruce Cockburn’s Stealing Fire, Madonna’s Like a Virgin, The Smiths’ The Smiths, Van Halen’s 1984

Updated: January 29, 2012

See Also: Top 10 Movies of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003,  Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1988, Top 10 Albums of 1987, Top 10 Albums of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 1985, Top 10 Albums of 1983, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965

1. R.E.M.- Murmur

Listen: “Talk About the Passion”

2. Tom Waits- Swordfishtrombones

Listen: “16 Shells from a Thirty-Ought Six”

3. Violent Femmes- Violent Femmes

Listen: “Add It Up”

4. U2- War

Listen: “Sunday Bloody Sunday”

5. The Police- Synchronicity

Listen: “Wrapped Around Your Finger”

6. Minor Threat- Out of Step

Listen: “Betray”

7. Stevie Ray Vaughan- Texas Flood

Listen: “Dirty Pool” [Non-Album Live Version]

8. Metallica- Kill ‘Em All

Listen: “Seek & Destroy”

9. The Replacements- Hootenanny

Listen: “Within Your Reach”

10. Bob Dylan- Infidels

Listen: “Jokerman”

Honorable Mention: Elvis Costello’s Punch the Clock, Neil Young’s Everybody’s Rockin’

Updated: January 21, 2012

See Also: Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003,  Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1988, Top 10 Albums of 1987, Top 10 Albums of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 1985, Top 10 Albums of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965