100 Best Albums of All Time: 80-61

Before you check this out, remember: When it comes to music, I'm a formalist. So I picked albums with terrific songwriting and composition, fabulous musicianship, engaging arrangements, and general complexity. However, things like impact, lyrics, longevity, and cultural impact were also taken into consideration, but to a much lesser degree. Read and enjoy! (Here's my first entry in this series: 100 Best Albums of All Time: 100-81...feel free to take a look!)

80.) Sea Change - Beck (2002): This is a beautiful album, sparse and unflinchingly melancholic. Although every song is captivating, tunes like "The Golden Age," "Paper Tiger," and "Already Dead" truly succeed in imbuing Beck with the folksy gravitas he intermittently aspires to.

79.) Rising - Rainbow (1976): This is when prog-rock, metal, and top-40 pop started blending together, and it's great. Rising is comprised equally of extended jam sessions, heavy instrumentation, and sugary hooks. It's satisfying and fun.

78.) Give It Up - Bonnie Raitt (1972): Holy crap, this is a fantastic recording. It's country, it's bluegrass, it's pop, it's blues, it's folk, it's jazz, and it's everything in between.

77.) Illmatic - Nas (1994): Nas is a guy I didn't listen to for a long time, mostly because I was a white middle-class suburbanite, one who enjoyed Jay-Z and Yeezy, and was aware of little else until college. But Nas is the real deal, and this record proves it. Liquid flow, wry lyrics, and funky-fresh instrumentation all add up to one of the best hip hop albums of all time.

76.) Odessy and Oracle - The Zombies (1968): When baroque-pop crashes headlong into the acid psychadelia of the late 60's, this is the music you get. Odessy and Oracle is a fun collection of songs, notable for its voluptuous harmonies. Also, it's arguably the purest representation of the zeitgeist outside The Beatles.

75.) Tapestry - Carole King (1971): It's not just that this is a terrific assortment of pop tunes, even though it is. It's King's lyrics and sweetly simple voice, and how they intertwine. That's why this album is so popular, so remembered, and so enduring.

74.) The Queen is Dead - The Smiths (1986): Simple vocals, ethereal guitar chords, poppy bass lines, and busy drums - they all coalesce into this fascinating post-pop-punk album. In my opinion, it's the best The Smiths have to offer, and is mandatory listening to fans of 80's rock.

73.) The Way I Feel - Gordon Lightfoot (1967): Although this is a truly exceptional folk album, it all boils down to the unadulterated genius of his epic "Canadian Railroad Trilogy." This massive, sprawling song is brilliant, and propels The Way I Feel from better-than-usual fare to an absolute stunner.

72.) Live Through This - Hole (1994): The lo-fi sub-genre of 90's rock had a few standout albums, particularly Exile in Guyville (which barely missed this list), but none had the guts to splash some grunge into the mix. But Hole did. As a result, this is one of the most engaging albums of the past 30 years, sharpened by sarcasm and sorrow.

71.) The Blueprint - Jay-Z (2001): In many ways, this is the quintessential hip hop album of the new millennium - it is polished, sly, irreverent, and very cool. Hova truly earns his nickname on this one.

70.) Dreamboat Annie - Heart (1975): I don't care if it's a little melodramatic - this is one of the shiniest gems the 70's rock scene has to offer. Listen, and get swept away in the powerhouse vocals and amazing musicianship.

69.) Talking Book - Stevie Wonder (1972): Oh yeah - Stevie has always been fantastic, and on this record, he proclaims it to the world. And while it's best remembered for chart-topping ditties like "Superstition" and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," I think it's best typified by "I Believe (When I Fall in Love it will be Forever)," which is sultry and sweet.

68.) Back to Black - Amy Winehouse (2006): By mixing 21st century cynicism with traditional R&B songwriting, Winehouse reinvented Motown. This album is sincere, sardonic, and spectacular.

67.) My Favorite Things - Joey Alexander (2015): Somehow, one of the decade's best jazz albums burst forth from the imagination and ability of a 12-year-old. Joey Alexander is a musical prodigy, and here he shows off his impressive and eclectic skills.

66.) Moondance - Van Morrison (1970): These soulful songs are some of Morrison's best, especially the flirtatious title track and the weighty "Into the Mystic." If you're craving pop music that emphasizes melody and mood, then look no further than this.

65.) Nevermind - Nirvana (1991): Well, here it is - the album that killed the 80's. I fell in love with this record in the 9th grade, but didn't really appreciate it until after college. Nevermind is more than a musical statement; it was a reinvention of modern rock & roll. And although "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Come As You Are" get all the attention, the deep cuts are just as compelling.

64.) A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles (1964): While this ain't necessarily The Beatles at their best, and it's certainly not their most mature sound, it's nonetheless a lovely little 60's pop record. "A Hard Day's Night" and "Can't Buy Me Love" are two of the brightest tunes of the decade.

63.) Pleased to Meet Me - The Replacements (1987): What I love about Pleased to Meet Me is that it kinda sounds like putting the 80's on shuffle - there's pop, there's rock, a touch of punk, a little jazz, and even a pinch of soul. When you finish listening to the whole thing, there's not one genre or mood that feels redundant. It's all varied, and it all flows. Wow.

62.) Lemonade - Beyonce (2016): I felt a little iffy about including this album on my list, simply because of how new it is. But...it would be criminal to neglect. Here, Beyonce's music is explosive, imaginative, humble, ferocious, weepy, and everything in between. It's a pop album of epic proportions, with unforgettable melodies and a truly standout vocal performance.

61.) In the Wee Small Hours - Frank Sinatra (1955): Here, we have another landmark work. In addition to being one of the best sounding records of the 1950's (it's warm, smooth, and incredibly emotive, thanks in large part to Frank's vocals), this is also perhaps the first concept album ever made. Each piece is tied together by loneliness, dejection, and heartache. Depressing, yes - but fabulous stuff.

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.