100 Best Albums of All Time: 60-41

Here's the next installment of this list! We're cracking the top 50 on this one, so things are starting to get really good. If you're so inclined, check out my previous installments, too. Remember: I'm a formalist, so most of the albums here were placed because of exemplary musicianship, composition, and arrangement. Read and enjoy! 

60.) All Things Must Pass - George Harrison (1970): Graceful, beautiful, and bound with some of the loveliest pop hooks of the 70's, this is truly Harrison's magnum opus. And while it's a little long and a little verbose (Phil Spector's "wall of sound" is in full bloom here), this is a collection of intensely personal songs. In my opinion, the best any Beatle ever did on his own.  

59.) Manassas - Manassas (1972): Swirls of southern-fired psychedelia radiate from this record; a corona of sunburst and easy melody. The vocals are lazy but tightly harmonized, the instrumentation feels off-the-cuff but incredibly professional, and everything slots together wonderfully. This is, arguably, the best country-rock album ever made.

58.) Magic Touch - Stanley Jordan (1985): This was the first jazz guitar album I ever owned, and it's certainly one of the finest. Jordan's licks and improvised solos solidify him and this album as one of the greats. The highlight? An airy exploration of "Eleanor Rigby" that is hauntingly beautiful. Bonus? That cheesy cover. I mean...how much more awesome can you get?  

57.) To Pimp A Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar (2015): A foray into the infinite cosmos of rap's potential, Butterfly is a multifaceted wonder. If you appreciate the avant-garde, especially when it comes in such funky packaging, then this should be high on your list. It is weird, wild, and wonderful. Check it out.

56.) Help! - The Beatles (1965): This is, in my opinion, the Fab Four's best straight pop album. From here on out, things get darker and more bizarre. But for a moment? Help! was the pinnacle of their career. It's bubbly, bright, and brilliant. 

55.) Fulfillingness' First Finale - Stevie Wonder (1974): What a treat this album is. Mesmerizing funk, playful pop, and gentle R&B intertwine and create some seriously smooth tunes. (And "You Haven't Done Nothin" is the catchiest criticism of the Nixon administration in existence.)

54.) Please Please Me - The Beatles (1963): Damn, what a debut. With this, The Beatles exploded onto the scene. Unpolished and giddy after years of playing dingy clubs throughout Germany, the Fab Four's first record practically bursts at the seams. Everything is hot and anxious. This is one heck of a rock & roll firecracker. 

53.) Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (1975): Born to Run is one of the finest pop-rock records of the 70's. The arrangements are epic, Bruce's vocals are wily and unhinged, and the lyrics are some of the best of all time. "Thunder Road," "Backstreets," and "Jungleland" are, in a word, masterpieces.

52.) Heartbreaker - Ryan Adams (2000): The genius here is how easy Adams makes it seem. The offhanded poetry of his lyrics, the casual competence of his musicianship, is invigorating. Yet it's also inviting. There's bottomless warmth here, and you'll be hard pressed to find a more artistically rounded turn-of-the-century country album.  

51.) Recovery - Eminem (2010): In terms of sheer flow, of outrageous cutthroat lyricism, Recovery might be the best rap album ever made. Although it's outshined by plenty of other more musical rap records, this one is still mighty impressive. When it's hot, it blazes. When it's intimate, it's right in your ears. And when it succeeds, it soars. "Not Afraid" is Eminem's comeback anthem, and deep cuts like "Talkin' 2 Myself" and "25 to Life" are terrific.

50.) Jazz in Silhouette - Sun Ra and his Arkestra (1959): It's boppy, it's groovy, it's innovative, and it's got some of the best musicianship of the 1950's. Silhouette reminds me of city traffic, brassy and blatty and bustling. Solos scream by like frantic taxis, and there's an earthy hum tying it all together. This album is truly, wonderfully, alive. 

49.) Solitude Standing - Suzanne Vega (1987): Listen to the first track - an unshakable little pop hook delivered with honey-sweet vocals - and tell me this isn't fabulous. The rest of the record is a treasure trove of lilting melody, effective instrumentation, and melancholic lyrics. Getting lost in Vega's silky voice and cutting imagery is impossible to avoid.

48.) Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots - The Flaming Lips (2002): The beautiful weirdness of this album is encapsulated perfectly by its title. The phrase is oddly poetic, like a line from some obscure John Lennon song. And indeed, there are many parallels to be made between The Flaming Lips and The Beatles, and this record communicates them all: Mystic psychedelia, inventive storytelling, playful hooks, understated arrangements, and a sacred chemistry between band-mates. This is an ambitious record, full of bubblegum philosophizing and groovy science-fiction.

47.) Who's Next - The Who (1971): Although The Who's career is stuffed with iconic music, this is their ultimate statement. It's a pump-your-fists kind of album, a scream-until-your-voice-goes-hoarse album, a sweat-in-your-eyes-but-who-the-hell-cares album. While other rockers at the time were becoming more melodic, The Who decided to harness the raw power they already had. Daltrey's voice is a roar, Entwistle's bass a thunderclap, Moon is a human stampede on the drums, and Townshend just wails away on that guitar. 

46.) The Beatles - The Beatles (1968): Not every tune works, not by a long shot, but this self-titled collection known popularly as The White Album is one of the most iconic albums ever made. While it's a heaping, meandering slew of songs, there are an ample amount of diamonds to mine. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Happiness is a Warm Gun," "Blackbird," "Back in the USSR," and "Helter Skelter" are infamous. But in spite of its occasional failure, this is still fascinating stuff. 

45.) Short Stories - Harry Chapin (1973): The pantheon of folk-rock is full of solid songwriters and albums - picturesque lyrics, strong vocals, and enchanting arrangements. Standing at the top of this mighty mountain is Chapin's Short Stories. It's a musical and emotional roller coaster, rocketing you to dizzying heights and plummeting to sickening lows. You'll chuckle, you'll cry, and you'll fall in love with these characters. But best of all? You'll sing along. (Track seven, "Mr. Tanner," is one of my all-time, top ten, favorite songs. Seriously.)

44.) The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989): In all honesty, I'm not one-hundred percent certain why this album works as well as it does. Everything just...fits. That's about as direct as I can be. This is the ultimate post-punk pop-rock record of the 80's. Fuzzy guitars, jingly-jangly percussion, and hooks so nonchalantly pleasant you'll be whistling them for days. It's a musical ray of sunshine.

43.) Heart Like A Wheel - Linda Ronstadt (1974): Some artists just ooze soul. Stevie Wonder. Jose Feliciano. Joss Stone. But on the other side, where the grass is bluer? There's Linda Ronstadt. She's the saucy songstress who's unafraid to not only wear her heart on her sleeve, but tattoo it to her wrist. This record is a satisfying sprint through the weedy wilds of country-pop, intermittently sad and sassy.

42.) My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West (2010): This is the pinnacle of West's decadent musical excess. Every track is slathered with layer upon layer of vocals and synths and hooks and instrumentation. And you know what? It's fantastic. Everything grooves on without letting up, keeping you hypnotized from the album's first words to its final, half-hearted applause. Six years have gone by, and I'm still entranced by "Runaway," "Monster," and "Lost in the World." This is, and may always be, the best rap record of the 2010's.

41.) Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin (1971): Wanna know how to start a rock album? With Robert Plant's fluorescent voice echoing in your skull. After that, it gets even better. Jimmy Page is maybe the best rock guitarist of all time (his chemistry with John Paul Jones is sublime), and here his riffs and solos are eternal. That acoustic melody in "Stairway to Heaven"? Unforgettable. But this is a record with iconic moments across the board, especially thanks to John Bonham's led-heavy drumming. The beginning of "When the Levee Breaks"? The intro to "Rock and Roll"? Some of this century's most imitated beats. Which makes sense. This is a phenomenal collection of songs, and one of my personal favorite entries on this list.

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.