The Top 25 Albums of the Past 25 Years: An Effort In Futility
April 1, 2005
by Brendon McCullin

A couple of weeks ago, it suddenly dawned on me that it’s been nearly 25 years since I got my first subscription to Rolling Stone. Besides the requisite feelings of “Christ, how old am I?” that the realization brought about, it also caused me to stop for a second and think of all the time I’ve spent reading about music over the years. As my mind went along that trail, I felt that I needed to mark the occasion. Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, I decided that a list – much like the lists that RS has become enamored with over the last 10 years – would be a fitting tribute. As such, down below you’ll find my list of the 25 Best Albums of the Past 25 Years.

Doing a list for the past 25 years presents something of a challenge compared to the 25 years that preceded it – you don’t have the same benchmark work by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, the Who, the Beach Boys, etc. to use as a jumping off point. And let’s be honest, any time that you compile a list of this sort, it’s an effort in futility. It’s entirely subjective. 'Best' for one person isn’t 'best' for another. Just within my own house, my wife wants to know where the Cowboy Junkies are. Others are going to jump on me for slights to Fishbone, The Replacements, The Smiths, Joy Division, Tom Waits, Portishead, Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against the Machine and Jeff Buckley. And those are just my friends. Heck, for all I know I’m about to make a bunch of rabid Echo & the Bunnymen fans very angry. However, in compiling the list I did use some ground rules.

First, the list is just my opinion – I don’t expect anyone to agree with it all. While it’s my opinion, it’s not my list of favorite albums. There are plenty of goofy things that I really like that I wouldn’t say were among the best musically and conversely there are some albums here that I appreciate more than like. I had to know the album off the top of my head (with one notable exception), either from me just thinking of it or from someone reminding me of it. If I hadn’t heard the album in its entirety it wasn’t considered, which took away most music forms outside of popular music.

The 25 years starts at the same time as my Rolling Stone subscription – December 1980 – and only albums released since then are eligible. Unfortunately, that eliminates some classic albums by John Lennon, AC/DC, Talking Heads, The Police and Elvis Costello. Technically, I should wait to write this in December, but I decided that nothing released between now and then would have enough time to cement 'best' status. Last is that – with the exception of two acts – I limited artists to one spot on the list. Oh and the order really doesn’t mean that much...it’s mostly there for some structure.

With all of that out of the way, here’s the list (and let the criticism begin):

25.	Peter Gabriel So (1986) There was an entire group of aging rock stars that made stellar solo albums during the ‘80’s – Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, etc. – but my nod goes to Gabriel’s most coherent solo effort. The big hits had bite and Gabriel’s high mindedness, for once, didn’t get in the way. Sure, you can’t hear “In Your Eyes” without thinking of the movie Say Anything… but even that’s not such a bad thing.
24.	The Mavericks Trampoline (1998) Country music lends itself more to singles than albums but The Mavericks were only just barely a country band anyway. Trampoline completely caught their Tex-Mex rhythms, love of ‘60’s pop, and Raul Malo’s magnificent vocals. The album swings easily from horn-tinged rave-ups to acoustic ballads without a misstep. The Mavericks didn’t make records for demographics, effectively killing their sales, but making their work much more interesting.
23.	The Police Synchronicity (1983) The fact that you couldn’t get away from this album in 1983 still kills it for a lot of people, and that’s too bad. While it might not match the energy of some of the band’s earlier work, it makes up for it in craftsmanship. The thread of almost psychotic longing on the singles “Every Breath You Take,” “King of Pain” and “Wrapped Around Your Finger” nailed Sting at full potency.
22.	Jane's Addiction Nothing's Shocking (1988) Before Lollapalooza and Carmen Electra, Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro and their bandmates made some pretty damn good music. One of the forbearers of what became a bland alternative scene in the ‘90’s Jane’s Addiction proved on Nothing’s Shocking they were not afraid to take risks and try, well, anything. Nothing was shocking or off limits…drugs, sex, Ted Bundy…you name it. It’s just a shame some of the bands they influenced never learned the lesson not to be boring.
21.	Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) It was hinted at in her work with The Fugees, but on her solo release Lauryn Hill managed a completely adult hip-hop album. Deeply personal and socially aware, the songs reflect an artist that has figured out her craft. Hill might not have the vocal range of some of the divas, but she’s got the brains to make the most of everything she has.
20.	Talking Heads Stop Making Sense(1984) In general, I went against most live records and soundtracks, but the Talking Heads get to be an exception to both rules. The Heads best work was released just before my cut off for this list, but Stop Making Sense represents the best work by the highly influential band since. The live takes on their familiar songs, like “Psycho Killer,” reminds that they weren’t just a great studio band, but the Talking Heads had a major live presence and refined some serious chops during all of those CBGB’s appearances.
19.	NWA Straight Outta Compton (1989) Originally, I was planning to exclude this album, if only because I felt that there were better rap recordings. But then I began to realize just how often I reference NWA’s debut disc. The raw, angry talents of Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella were a shock in 1988, and the album has held up well as the launching point of gangsta rap. The group was never the same without Ice Cube, but the influence of the original lineup is still going strong.
18.	Liz Phair Exile In Guyville (1993) Speaking of raw and angry, Phair uses her sweet sounding voice and sex appeal to lure you in…and then tries to rip your head off. Guyville, a sort of musical answer to the Stones, has the kind of swagger and sexuality that Mick Jagger made a career of. Phair’s songs don’t sugarcoat and don’t back away from the realness of relationships. On Guyville you get a clear picture of a woman that has been burned too many times and has claimed the matches for her own fire.
17.	Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002) I’ve admitted it other places, but I’m not a big Wilco fan. That said, and particularly since the publication I’m honoring loves them, they’re here because they have consistently put out albums that command attention. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot seemingly has influences from every good band of rock’s golden era of the ‘60’s & ‘70’s all mixed together all at once. It can be a bit much, but what stands out if once you get past the noise is Jeff Tweedy’s knack for writing simple, evocative lyrics.
16.	Guns N' Roses Appetite For Destruction (1987) Sure, the band became a caricature in record time, but when they debuted in 1987 their album was a kick in the ass that popular rock needed. Coming into the field of hair metal poseurs, GNR brought things back to where the Stones and a bunch of other bands were in the ‘70’s – straight ahead, bare bones rock-n-roll. Unlike most metal/rock of the ‘80’s, Appetite For Destruction has aged well enough that you don’t have to feel embarrassed to put it in your car’s CD player with the windows down.
15.	R.E.M. Life's Rich Pageant (1986) How do you go about picking the best R.E.M. album? Just try to get two fans of the band to agree on it. For me, Life's Rich Pageant represents the best of both sides of the band. Michael Stipe is no longer mumbling and he’s not acting like a pretentious rock star yet. The band was still experimenting musically while not yet openly courting a popular audience. The album has more rock influence than their earlier efforts, but still manages to be sweetly earnest, particularly on “Fall On Me.”
14.	Prince Purple Rain (1984) Part James Brown, part Miles Davis, with some Stevie Wonder and George Clinton thrown in Prince really is a genius. Of course, sometimes that can be hard to take, but when things come together it’s a thing of beauty. Technically a soundtrack for the movie of the same name, Purple Rain was as good of a pop record as the ‘80’s produced, with styles intersecting from all directions. Prince keeps things tight and the record never lets up or strays away. Plus it contains what I consider to be the best single of the 80’s, “When Doves Cry.”
13.	U2 War (1983) U2 has had two distinctive careers, first as a bunch of young Irish lads trying to take on the world, and then later as rock’s reigning kings and global watchdog trying to keep things interesting. Coming before their jump to superstardom with The Joshua Tree, War shows U2 at their angriest, idealistic, hopeful best during their younger days. Here the band tackles the problems of their homeland and try to make sense of everything. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “New Year’s Day” still pack a punch more than 20 years later.
12.	Roxy Music Avalon (1982) Avalon was the last hurrah for Roxy Music, but it set a standard for pop music at the time (1982) that was, unfortunately bastardized repeatedly throughout the decade by bands catering to the yuppie crowd. That’s not their fault though, and if a band’s going to go out then this is the way to do it. Bryan Ferry’s voice smoothly drips emotion on every song, none more so than the rightfully revered “More Than This.” It’s hard to hear Avalon without hearing “’80’s” but it’s still as luxurious as satin sheets.
11.	The Cure Disintegration (1989) Ah, another band that doesn’t readily have a “best” album. To me, The Cure is all about Robert Smith’s brooding and on Disintegration, he broods like nobody’s business. The album can almost be painful to listen to if you’re not in the right mood, but if you need to spend an evening wallowing, there’s nothing better. “Pictures of You” and “Same Deep Waters As You” were probably the soundtrack to more crying jags by more college girls than any songs put out in the last 30 years.
10.	The Pixies Doolittle (1989) Here’s the thing, I never listened to The Pixies that much. However, I know enough to know that it would seem wrong not to have them on a list involving the best of the last 25 years. So, for just a moment, I’ll turn this space over to my colleague Michael Walls: The Pixies remind me of a famous Velvet Underground quote from Lou Reed: “We didn’t sell a lot of records – but everyone that bought a record, started a band.” The Pixies influenced EVERYONE. And on Doolittle, you can hear where Nirvana got it’s sound. (Kurt Cobain admitted that “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was just an attempt to ripoff The Pixies.) Even the Beastie Boys and Sublime, two distinctly different musical styles, were inspired by the Pixies. Trademarks of the Pixies include screeching, hollering and feedback, sandwiched with some of the sweetest, most melodic riffs and vocals ever created. Frank Black was the yeast that made it rise, but Kim Deal was icing that made it taste so good.
9.	Nirvana Nevermind (1991) Pearl Jam Ten (1991) Is this cheating? Sure it is, but with the way that Nirvana and Pearl Jam played Beatles and Stones for a split second in the early ‘90’s it’s impossible not to think of one without the other. Nevermind was the catalyst that brought the grunge scene to the mainstream and Kurt Cobain was pretty much playing the martyr right from the beginning. Ten showed off the thump and crunch of grunge, with Eddie Vedder casting himself as a rock god before anyone knew who he was. Both albums, both bands and both singers were so built up that there’s been a backlash against them. However, their influence is unquestionable and at some point the appreciation for the music is going to come back around.
8.	Public Enemy It Takes a Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988) I debated long and hard regarding this Public Enemy offering and it’s follow-up Fear Of a Black Planet, which might represent the best two album stretch for any rap artist. However, Nation was the one that brought a focus and ferocity to rap as a tool for political statement. As much as Flavor Flav might have played the clown, Chuck D’s growl and Terminator X’s beats were downright intimidating. There’s power in the music.
7.	Radiohead OK Computer (1997) Much like, Wilco, I don’t always get Radiohead. However, OK Computer might possibly be the work on this list that best captures the spirit of an “important album” as laid out by previous rock gods. There’s a common thread flowing in the music, and even if that thread is perhaps exceedingly nihilistic it adds a weight to the entirety of the album. The music is complicated and not readily likable – it’s almost as though they dare you to like it – but the depth is such that people that have listened to it repeatedly for years still find something new in it. That’s a trick that’s not easy to pull off no matter how you slice it.
6.	Dr. Dre The Chronic (1992) Dr. Dre’s production on The Chronic set a template that is still being followed today, with dense sonic beats thumping, seemingly tailor made to blow out the car speakers. Dre’s not much of a rapper himself, but he knows how to use talent, and this release introduced the world to rapper/actor/porn entrepreneur Snoop Dogg. Snoop’s cool as an ocean breeze rhymes over layer upon layer of beats makes for music that causes your head to nod in time, whether you want it to or not.
5.	Sonic Youth Daydream Nation (1988) As Bowling For Soup would say, “way before Nirvana” there was Sonic Youth. The grunge scene largely took hold when Sonic Youth’s fans began making music of their own and it’s fair to say that there might not be a more influential band on this list. With Daydream Nation the band hit maximum power, with Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon and Lee Ranaldo seemingly all in synch for once. The band took its art rock influences and produced an album that other acts have spent their entire careers trying to match.
4.	Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique (1989) The Beastie Boys first album was juvenile to say the least. It was also a huge success so there was really no reason for the Beasties to change their style and yet, with help from the Dust Brothers, their second album is one of the most original rap albums ever made. If sampling can be considered an art form, its shining moment is this disc. Sample upon sample are bent, layered and patched until the sound has more life than Frankenstein and a lot more bounce too. The rhymes are still kind of goofy, but with so much aural stimulation it’s just an extra dose of sugar in the Kool-Aid.
3.	U2 Achtung Baby (1991) After they became the biggest band in the world, U2 could’ve coasted. Thank goodness the boys from Ireland decided to find other ways to keep themselves interested. In this case, they seemingly spent time hanging around European nightclubs and came back with refined beats to add to their musical mix. Achtung Baby percolates right from the outset and carries a bigger jolt than a double espresso. U2 proved that it’s possible to experiment without losing your fans.
2.	Beck Odelay (1996) There might not be a more interesting musical act than Beck. How would you even describe him to someone that’s never heard his music? He might claim to have “two turntables and a microphone” on “Where It’s At,” but with the Dust Brothers working their magic again, it sounds like there’s at least 10 things going on at all times. The production’s magnificent but it’s Beck’s hipster doofus lyrics and willingness to go in any musical direction at the drop of a hat that makes it unforgettable.
1.	Prince 1999 (1982) Purple Rain gets lots of acclaim, justifiably so, but it was on 1999 that Prince completely defined his version of funk rock and cemented his genius status. If all you know of the album is the overplayed title track that’s just a shame. Prince blends his usual sexual bravado with social commentary, and crafts equally compelling tight pop (“Little Red Corvette”) and extended dance jams (“DMSR”). In fact, jamming is the prevalent mood on the disc with songs running on in ways that would make Cream or Phish proud. It’s a little self-serving, but genius does have its privileges.

(Brendon McCullin is a staff writer for 2 Walls Webzine and is entitled to his opinion. But please note, his opinion does not necessarily reflect the opinion of 2 Walls Webzine and its shareholders.)

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