100 Best Albums of All Time: 100-81

For the record, I'm still unhappy with this list. Even after months and months of deliberation, rife with re-listens and new-listens and over-analysis, this doesn't feel...I dunno...right. Music is so hopelessly subjective, that my personal feelings couldn't help but get in the way. So although this list of the "100 Best Albums of All Time" is conjoined to my own ears and experience, I nonetheless gave it my best shot. I attempted objectivity here. Sorry in advance if I failed!

When it comes to music, I tend to be a formalist. This means that the records on this list were primarily ranked because of their music alone. I favored albums with excellent songwriting and composition, interesting arrangements, fantastic musicianship, and general complexity. However, I couldn't just cling to all that. So stuff like musical innovation, lyrics, production, cultural impact, and overall listenability were also taken into consideration.

(FYI: I excluded classical, orchestral, and choral music. If I didn't, then this list would be overflowing with Chopin, Stravinsky, Whitacre, and even John Williams. And what fun would that be? So this list is strictly: rock, jazz, blues, soul, folk, country, hip-hop, pop, etc.)

Below is the bottom fifth of my list: Numbers 100-81. These are 20 of the best albums of all time, as heard by me. Enjoy!

100.) Forever Changes - Love (1967): One of the sweetest-sounding baroque pop albums of the late 60's, this collection of hippie hits is a wonderful way to start this list. The guitars are jangly, the vocals are lovely, and everything fits together with humble beauty.

99.) Moanin' - Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (1958): This is a perfect set of hard bop jazz tunes, so evocative you'd swear you were sitting in a smoky bar, watching the band perform on a dank and dusty stage. Benny Golson's sax is particularly stunning, and his solo in the title track is one of the best.

98.) In the Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson (1969): In an era of soothing hippie pop, King Crimson shattered expectations with this progressive rock opus. Notable for meandering melodies and bizarre song structure, this might not be the most listener-friendly record, but it's certainly intriguing and innovative.

97.) Libera Me - Lars Danielsson (2005): Simply put, this is one of the most gorgeous-sounding jazz albums ever recorded. Soundscapes stretch out for an eternity, with instruments intertwining like the elements, and Danielsson's stand-up bass acting as centerpiece.

96.) What's Going On - Marvin Gaye (1971): This enchantingly groovy record is one of soul's absolute best. Gaye's voice is warm and emotive, giving us some of the greatest love songs of all time.

95.) Parallel Lines - Blondie (1978): Fun, fresh, catchy, and cool. This is the pop-punk-disco-rock album to end them all, with toe-tapping hooks and a middle-finger mentality that is still engaging and genuinely refreshing.

94.) Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs - Derek and the Dominos (1970): This album should be on the list for its title track alone, which has echoed for almost fifty years with epic resonance. But the "other assorted love songs" are solid too, especially "Bell Bottom Blues" and "Key to the Highway," both of which have become Clapton staples.

93.) The Age of Aquarius - The 5th Dimension (1969): It may be hopelessly dated and impossibly cheesy, but who cares? This album is rich in vibrant harmony, gregarious instrumentation, and a sunny disposition that you can't help but love.

92.) Evil Empire - Rage Against the Machine (1996): How can you not love an album that starts with the phrase, "Since fifteen-hundred and sixteen, minds attacked and overseen!" This is the epitome of rap-metal, memorable for Zach de la Rocha's spitfire flow and Tom Morello's weepy, whirring, warbly guitar.

91.) Center Stage - Tommy Emmanuel (2008): I'm a firm believer that Mr. Emmanuel is the best guitarist alive, and this album proves it. It is perhaps the most vibrant an acoustic guitar has ever sounded, ringing and lush and bold, and it was all recorded live.

90.) London Calling - The Clash (1979): When it comes to classic punk, this is the definitive statement. Fortunately, it's also so much more, incorporating reggae, ska, rockabilly, and pop-rock elements to craft a rounded, stimulating experience.

89.) The Dance - Fleetwood Mac (1997): Honestly, I had a tough time choosing between this and the band's standout 1977 stunner, Rumors, but I think I made the right call. This is a collection of exceptional pop songs, with terrific musicality (especially the vocals and rhythm section) and moments of pure, raw emotion.

88.) Dusty in Memphis - Dusty Springfield (1969): What a voice, what a style, what a fabulous soul album this is. Dusty in Memphis is sly, sophisticated, and stunningly performed.

87.) Debut - Bjork (1993): It's a shot in the dark, a riddle without an answer, a ray of sunshine blasting through rain clouds - Bjork's first record is all of those things and more, conjuring emotion and melody out of thin air. Weirdness and pretension abound, but it's all so fascinating that it hardly matters.

86.) Born Sandy Devotional - The Triffids (1986): All the way from Australia, The Triffids broke new ground with this multifaceted pop-rock record. It's a collection of mesmerizing songs that worm into your ears and nestle in your brain, lingering for days and necessitating multiple re-listens.

85.) Somewhere in the Between - Streetlight Manifesto (2007): This album doesn't just mash punk and jazz together like many subpar ska records, but pairs them perfectly together like wine and cheese. The musicianship is incredible - especially in the frantic percussion and sky-high horns - and overall song structure is remarkable.

84.) The Chronic - Dr. Dre (1992): By blending his hard-hitting NWA sound with a Parliament-Funkadelic aura, Dre gave birth to an entire genre of hip-hop: Gangsta-Funk. The Chronic is a hypnotic experience, providing a laid-back vibe while simultaneously delivering a generous helping of scorching social commentary.

83.) Are You Experienced? - The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967): With this sauntering and scintillating album, Jimi Hendrix erupted onto the scene. His psychedelic guitar is a true wonder, singing and soaring its way into the epic annals of rock & roll history.

82.) Falling In Between Live - Toto (2007): Rock & roll is seldom this polished, this professional, and this unapologetically musical. There are anthemic hooks, blistering guitar solos, powerful vocals, wacky rhythms, and an overall style that is captivating and fun.

81.) Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys (1966): I'm certainly the first to admit that this isn't one of my favorite albums, mostly because I find the vocals grating and the instrumentation wheezy and obnoxious. It comes across like the soundtrack to some forgotten mid-60's rip-off of The Graduate, with bleached picture-quality and cheesy dialogue. However, this is one of rock's first real albums, with a cohesive vision and sustainable themes throughout. It inspired everyone from John Lennon to Bob Dylan, and really pioneered some new ideas. Lots of people consider it to be the best record ever made, but me? Well, I guess I'm comfortable putting it at #81, mostly due to influence and innovation. So there. I hope everyone is happy.