Spin magazine lists the 125 Best Albums of the Past 25 Years

Contributed by an Anonymous Source. Posted by aubin on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 6:00 PM (EDT)

To celebrate their 25th Anniversary, Spin has posted a list of their 125 best albums of those 2.5 decades. The list includes The Hives, LCD Soundsystem, Queens of the Stone Age, Green Day, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Flaming Lips, Against Me!, Animal Collective, Johnny Cash, The Arcade Fire, Elliott Smith, The White Stripes, TV On The Radio, The Fall, Sleater-Kinney, The Pogues, Pearl Jam, Tom Waits, U2, Fugazi, Dinosaur Jr., The Cure, Rage Against The Machine, Pixies, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Radiohead, Nirvana, Metallica, My Bloody Valentine, The Strokes, Hüsker Dü, Sonic Youth, The Replacements, Nine Inch Nails and others. Surprisingly, Nirvana's groundbreaking album Nevermind comes in at number four.

Check out the full list here and disagree completely.

News (136 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

regreteverything (June 10, 2010)

Anyone want to help me burn the Spin offices to the ground?

Cos (June 10, 2010)

waste of matches.

SATAN_THE_KOREAN_DINOSAUR (June 10, 2010)

outkast, the strokes in the top 25 = lol.
also...achtung baby isn't even the best u2 album, or the 2nd best. Much less the BEST ALBUM of the last 25 years.
good try spin. Ill never buy your crappy mag.

punk_sk (June 11, 2010)

why, did white crosses make the list?

africansk8er (June 10, 2010)

This list is making my head "spin".

Bob_Ice (June 10, 2010)

Best Fugazi record? Repeater

patod (June 10, 2010)

Wrong profile?

XchinatownX (June 11, 2010)

1. The Argument
2. Red Medicine
3. 13 Songs
4. In on the Killtaker
5. Repeater
6. End Hits
7. Steady Diet of Nothing

leecorsoisapenis (June 11, 2010)

I would switch Red Medicine with the Argument, unless you put the furniture ep with it. Good list.

DrGunn (June 11, 2010)

1. repeater
2. end hits
3. red medicine
4. the argument
5. 13 songs
6. in on the kill taker
7. steady diet of nothing

XchinatownX (June 11, 2010)

Releases by their post-Fugazi bands:

1. The Evens - Get Evens
2. French Toast - In a Cave
3. The Evens - S/T
4. French Toast - Ingleside Terrace
5. Joe Lally - There to Here
6. Joe Lally- Nothing Is Underrated

(Are there any more that I'm missing? Anyway, at their best, the Evens sound a lot like the quieter stuff on The Argument.)

XchinatownX (June 11, 2010)

Shit, I just realized that James Canty drums for French Toast, not Brendan. Busher did play on a few tracks on Fugazi's last album, though.

It's depressing to think it's been almost a full decade since Fugazi's last album.

McHank (June 11, 2010)

James didn't drum for French Toast, he sang and played guitar.
Jerry was the drummer for FT and played the second drumkit for the entire Argument album.

McHank (June 11, 2010)

Yeah, you're missing the ATAXIA albums which were completely killer.
Brendan plays drums on some of Ted Leo's tracks, and he did a few albums with Lois Maffeo.
Guy played guitar on the last couple of Vic Chesnutt records which were pretty awesome.

McHank (June 11, 2010)

It's hard for me to put Fugazi albums in a definitive order because each has been my favorite at some point in time. I'd agree with you that the Instrument soundtrack isn't essential.

2kings (June 10, 2010)

sersly fucking U2....

dreaminstereo (June 10, 2010)

there are only a few bands i truly dislike, but u2 are one of them. that is not a good album. not at all. the prince choice was much better, if any of the top 5 could have been number one instead of u2, it should have been that one.

nick_s (June 11, 2010)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Go2DK9VtQ

That sums it up.

2kings (June 11, 2010)

LOL i remember this from years ago

Cos (June 10, 2010)

They posted a list like this a year or two ago and its basically the same. At least they're consistent?

sorryimlate (June 10, 2010)

Just trying to move some old records, I guess. Get people out and buying again.

Fuck that.

makeshifty (June 10, 2010)

Well at least the best Replacements album was pretty high. It was named after me because I was the most punk rock baby ever, true story bro's.

Cos (June 10, 2010)

there are some who call me.... Tim?

655321 (June 10, 2010)

How high were your parents to name you Sorry Ma Forgot to Take Out the Trash? Is that just your first name?

scientistrock (June 10, 2010)

So fucking wrong!

ffwoodycooks (June 10, 2010)

...........why did i read that?

patod (June 10, 2010)

Completely off.

ZachLeg (June 10, 2010)

Does New Wave really have the significance of 13 Songs and Fear of A Black Planet? No, it does not. I wish Spin would stop with all of the Against Me masturbation. If anything, the first two real LPs (not that Windows Audio Recorder crap) made a huge impact on underground music. Nobody went out and started a band that played overproduced stadium rock. But everybody went out and started a band where every song sounded like Pints of Guinness. Fuck it. The whole list fucking sucks. Fuck spin. I'm going to take a shit.

sorryimlate (June 10, 2010)

Stoked about Sign 'O' The Times, at least. That record's awesome.

Cheesetits (June 10, 2010)

No surprises here. It's fucking Spin, people. It's Rolling Stone's little brother, who thinks politics is boring.

DrGunn (June 10, 2010)

aside from the truly baffling #1 choice, that's a really "safe" list.

oh also, nevermind may have been an "important" record, but it's actually not all that great. it is, on its very best day, "pretty good". hell, it's not even the best nirvana record. remember, historical significance and quality are two different things.

hiimarlon (June 10, 2010)

i think lists that attempt to encompass such a large period of time (25 years in this case), do focus more on historical significance than the quality of the music. by no means am i saying that many of those albums aren't good, who am i to say that just cause i don't like Lil Wayne, but i don't think albums like Appetite For Destruction or Master of Puppets would be so high on the list if wasn't for the impact that they made.
i do completely disagree with their decision to even include New Wave on there. i don't think any real Against Me! fan can honestly say that it's their best record or even their most significant one.

nick_s (June 11, 2010)

Incesticide and Unplugged are the only albums I go to.

XavierQ (June 11, 2010)

The second half of Incesticide sucks, though. In Utero has some kick ass drums.

quickattack (June 10, 2010)

Haha Lil' Waynes on there. Any credibility this list had is completely gone.

sailin_on (June 10, 2010)

Let's be fair now although Lil wayne is wayyyyy overrated you have to admit that "Tha Carter 3" made quite a splash in the mainstream media so it has to count for something. I feel the same way about American Idiot. That is why I don't mind them taking the low spots on the list. But U2 numero Uno? The band led by the biggest turd* anyone has ever seen? God no. I hate that band more than I hate Yanni. And I fucking hate Yanni. Fuck you Bono (and Yanni).

*South Park pun intended

quickattack (June 11, 2010)

Yeah, I know what youre saying. I fucking hate Lil Wayne (and Bono).

anarchaeologist (June 10, 2010)

was dookie on there? i don't think i saw it but i'm too bored with the list to double check.

TrueBeliever (June 10, 2010)

It was in the 40's

2kings (June 10, 2010)

#42

stivy (June 10, 2010)

this kind of lists are completly pointless, everyone has a different view of what are the best albums of all time, plus, these bands are always in any list so there is nothing really new

hey_ska (June 10, 2010)

I still love Nevermind.

d_boons_ghost (June 10, 2010)

Bingo bango.

LinoleumMagazine (June 10, 2010)

White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean isn't #1, so this list is obviously flawed.

froggerwithmylife (June 10, 2010)

I've never read anything more right

burntorangepeel (June 11, 2010)

The Decline should get best album and best song.

hiimarlon (June 10, 2010)

Also, i would've included Repeater or The Argument instead of 13 Songs. sucks that albums like Double Nickels On The Dime and Let It Be (Replacements) missed the cut by just one year.

DrGunn (June 10, 2010)

agree completely. 13 songs isn't even close to being their best album.

655321 (June 10, 2010)

also - its a compilation and compliations shouldn't count in my opinion.

brandonsideleau (June 10, 2010)

I would agree...but Double Nickels came out 26 years ago.

hiimarlon (June 10, 2010)

that's why i said that they missed the cut by just one year.

scientistrock (June 10, 2010)

Not enough GBV.

facetofacereunion08 (June 10, 2010)

what! no angels are airwaves? are you kidding me

Mammoth (June 10, 2010)

You've got a problem with your life.

jacknife737 (June 10, 2010)

They're the voice of our generation.

tom_delonge (June 11, 2010)

It's a circular narrative in many ways where it kind of sums up the human race in a time capsule.

yourmomdotcom (June 10, 2010)

Yoshimi deserves better

pyroglass (June 10, 2010)

agree

hey_ska (June 10, 2010)

Wait, did I miss it or is the Weezer's first album not on there?

And I'm a little surprised they didn't have Relationship of Command or any Mars Volta...seems like an obvious choice for spin.

sailin_on (June 10, 2010)

I noticed that too. I think the blue album should've had some placement. Sublime wouldn't have hurt either.

XavierQ (June 11, 2010)

Pinkerton was better than the blue album by far and Deloused in the Comatorium is just fucking incredible.

overdefined (June 10, 2010)

They should have just put one record per page to get the maximum ad revenue out of their completely bullshit list.

Mammoth (June 10, 2010)

Is it wrong that I have no ambition to click on the link and read the list?

Sliced-T (June 10, 2010)

If I know you as well as I think I do, You'd be more right than you've ever been.

MN_DrNick (June 10, 2010)

Not really.

nick_s (June 11, 2010)

No, unkess you have the desire to spend the next 5 minutes wondering how the shit they came up with that list.

MN_DrNick (June 10, 2010)

Really? U2 with Achtung Baby? C'mon!

Also, Off With Their Heads tour kick off show tonight. I'm excited.

thegimper (June 10, 2010)

Wait? No Scrambles?
Pffffffffffffffffffffffftttttttttttt................

notfeelingcreative (June 10, 2010)

Wait twenty years. Ska will break out again and that album will be hailed as a one of the genre's defining masterpieces.

regulartrite (June 10, 2010)

It shits

notfeelingcreative (June 10, 2010)

Ok, I'm gonna be that guy. For a mainstream magazine this list isn't that bad. Obviously "Achtung Baby" is not the best album of the past 25 years, and I find the idea that "Stankonia" is better than "Awuemeni" and "Nevermind" is better than "In Utero" to be laughable, but at least The Repalcements Dinosaur Jr. and Husker Du were on the list!

scientistrock (June 10, 2010)

True, but they seem to just be namechecking Hüsker Dü and the Replacements. They both have quality albums after NDR and Tim respectively that are at least as good as say In Utero is compared to Nevermind or American Idiot is to Dookie.

DrGunn (June 10, 2010)

at least we can all agree than aquemini is obviously the best outkast album.

brandonsideleau (June 10, 2010)

Terrible list- couple of great bands and a lot of shit. U2 the best album of the last 25 years? What a disgrace...easily the most boring band on the planet. And no Bad Religion? Are these guys high? "Against the Grain" is the best album of the past 25 years if you ask me. Spin are a bunch of hacks.

idrum2 (June 11, 2010)

My thoughts exactly, although I would place Suffer over Against the Grain.

jaydischord (June 10, 2010)

As expected, a load of shite.....Ive always thought of Prince as a midget dipped in a bucket of pubes.

d_boons_ghost (June 10, 2010)

Prince is pretty fucking awesome, actually, but then again I'm the type of guy who always pops a boner over guitar solos.

jaydischord (June 10, 2010)

Fair play to you sir, personally, i only ever got boner's over D Boons 'solos'

thegreatestmanalive (June 11, 2010)

Have you seen his solo during that group cover of while my guitar gently weeps on youtube? Shit makes me wanna learn how to love again

victim (June 10, 2010)

The Karate Kid is black?

scientistrock (June 10, 2010)

And actually learning Kung Fu.

ozmanx (June 11, 2010)

They are actually using Shaq Fu in the film.

d_boons_ghost (June 10, 2010)

I used to have a white t-shirt upon which I had emblazoned the phrase "FUCK MOBY" in big giant letters. I don't even hate Moby, in fact I don't even care about Moby at all, but I just thought it would be funny to slag off such an unpolarizing figure. However, bald-headed vegans did not find it funny.

scientistrock (June 10, 2010)

FSU people, however, found it HYSTERICAL!

d_boons_ghost (June 10, 2010)

As a New Englander, let me be the first to say that FSU is the lamest of all the lame shit on this Earth.

d_boons_ghost (June 10, 2010)

I take it back, still not as lame as Moby.

scientistrock (June 10, 2010)

It's wicked close.

Make_Way (June 10, 2010)

No Love is Dead by Mr. T Experience or Pinkerton by Weezer (that I remember) on that list???

flawed. completely flawed.

shrapnel (June 10, 2010)

I knew this was going to be a bad list when I saw that Tha Carter III didn't even crack the top 100

hhrules (June 10, 2010)

No Doomriders, TBR, Thermals, Bright Eyes, PIB, Matt & Kim, Mr Lif, Murs, Dan Deacon, Sunn O)))), Boris, Russian Circles, EITS, GY!BE,
TBPB, Earth, Defiance, Ohio, (Young) Pioneers????

hey_ska (June 10, 2010)

Did you really expect any of those bands to make it?

thegreatestmanalive (June 11, 2010)

at least bright eyes is suprising

sundowning10 (June 11, 2010)

the only band listed there that SPIN has ever even heard of is Bright Eyes.

Oh and you put one too many ) on Sunn O)))

Marizo (June 11, 2010)

agree with their choices except for picking U2 at number 1.

tsiege (June 11, 2010)

Bono makes me not want to be charitable

Dedricthere (June 11, 2010)

You know damn well they name drop all these rap albums, but it reality, none of those geeky hipsters has ever listened to any of them. And once again, Punk rock is to these bullshit magazines what comedies are at the Oscars; nonexistent.

All of a sudden PAVEMENT is one of the best band ever ! LOL ! HA HA HA ! HA HA ! HA ! huuunn...

Siamese Dream, one of the greatest album ever, at # 65... What a fuckin' joke.

MrIndecisive (June 11, 2010)

Master of puppets, But no Vulgar Display of Power, Or Far Beyond Driven? Blasphemy Where's Smash by the Offspring? Id much rather Revolutionary Vol II than The Carter III. Not even Dirt by Alice in Chains is there. Lunacy.

thepopeofchili-town (June 11, 2010)

Master Of Puppets>>>>>>>>>> anything Pantera did. And I love Pantera.

chadreligion (June 11, 2010)

Spin magazine is a fucking joke...all the bands listed would probably agree as well.
They are notorious for miss-quotes, not to mention not being any reliable source or periodical.

XchinatownX (June 11, 2010)

While some of these albums are really good, the ordering pisses me right off. The Pixies at #45 but Green Day at #42? My Bloody Valentine at #20 and the fucking Strokes at #18?! FUCK YOU SPIN.

nick_s (June 11, 2010)

I think that is the worst part of this list, what they choose isn't perfect, but I'll let that slide. The order, on the other hand is a fucking joke.

XchinatownX (June 11, 2010)

Some of the comments are fucking gold:

"Posted By Leila

Where's Madonna's Ray of Light? Won 5 grammys, was a sucess of critic and public... and it was a record that changed my life. This list is just wrong =/"

"Posted By Anonymous

would have been nice to see an incubus album on the list. they have been consistantly successful for 15 years now while evolving their music in the process. some of the artists here were one and done types...why not give some love to bands that have actually lasted, while staying true to themselves all the while? chili peppers? stp? there's a reason why they are popular big name bands...because they are damn good. enough with the trendy/sexy picks. face reality spin writers blaahh"

"Posted By andbellylaughs111

So you're really going to tell me that masterpieces like Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Californication, and By the Way missed a slot on your coveted little countdown? The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been, without question, one of the biggest bands to grace our culture since the early '90s. Just because the authors of this list obviously don't listen to them doesn't mean that they should be ignored. Way to go, Spin."

d_boons_ghost (June 11, 2010)

Haha, oh man, I can't believe there are still people on this planet who take Stone Temple Pilots seriously. To me, like Bush or Candlebox, that band represents the absolute nadir of commercial rock music during that early part of the '90s. Totally uncreative, totally talentless, total money-grubbing whores, total bandwagoners.

They're a bullshit rock group for bullshit people who like bullshit.

sweetpunkrock (June 11, 2010)

Well everyone has shit to say about this list, so lets all post our say.... top 10 from this time period. Mine's a little punk heavy I suppose.

10 GG Allin - Freak, Faggots Drunks and Junkies (1988)
9. Social Distortion - Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992)
8 Joe Strummer and the Mescelaros - Street Core (2004)
7 Weird Al - Dare to be Stupid (1985)
6 Andrew WK - I Get Wet (2001)
5.Rancid - Rancid (2000)
4 Operation Ivy - Energy (1990)
3 Dropkick Murphys - Do or Die (1997)
2. Bouncing Souls - Maniacal Laughter (1996)
1 The Ramones - Too Tough Too Die (1985)

notfeelingcreative (June 11, 2010)

10.The Coup-Party Music
9.Bouncing Souls-How I spent my summer Vacation
8.A Tribe Called Quest-Midnight Marauders
7.Dinosaur Jr-Where You Been?
6.Uncle Tupelo-No Depression
5.Dead Prez-Lets Get Free
4.Aus Rotten-...And Now Back to Our Programming
3.Discount-Ataxia's Alright Tonight
2. Avail-Over The James
1.Seaweed-Four

This is just my top ten favorites, it says nothing about what I think was important or influential, as I don't think most people outside of the crust-punk community have ever heard of Aus Rotten.

notfeelingcreative (June 11, 2010)

Crap, Replacements-Please To Meet Me should be in the top five somewhere!

XchinatownX (June 11, 2010)

Yes, it's certainly better than Tim.

ExtraCheesePizza (June 11, 2010)

I love me some Aus-Rotten. Their Fuck Nazi Sympathy 7" should be required listening for every punk.

Agreeing on hip hop and crust punk in one thread? fun

scientistrock (June 11, 2010)

10. The Mummies - Play Their Own Records
9. Dinosaur Jr - Your Living All Over me
8. Bad Religion - No Control
7. Green Day - Insomniac
6. Social Distortion - Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell
5. Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love
4. Jawbreaker - Bivouac
3. The Replacements - Tim
2. Hüsker Dü - Warehouse Songs and Stories (yeah, that's right)
1. Guided by Voices - Propeller

But that's just me.

ExtraCheesePizza (June 11, 2010)

Not too bad of a list overall. Surprised at the amount of hip hop they put on there. But no Liquid Swords?

And I'm really surprised at the lack of Violent Femmes.

notfeelingcreative (June 11, 2010)

Good call on "Liquid Swords".

ExtraCheesePizza (June 11, 2010)

Except 36 Chambers, it's my favorite Wu-related release.

gemmmm (June 11, 2010)

after read the list, i think that the humanity are completely lost

JayTee (June 11, 2010)

As usual Offspring gets the shit end of the stick, and Green Day are the almighty stand alones of the "punk revival" era.

XchinatownX (June 11, 2010)

Fuck Offspring; I've yet to see a single Jawbreaker album on any of these lists by "major" publications.

JayTee (June 11, 2010)

I think I've met like 2 people in my life ever who have listened to Jawbreaker.

notfeelingcreative (June 11, 2010)

Two words: Orginal Prankster

JayTee (June 11, 2010)

One word; "Smash".

notfeelingcreative (June 11, 2010)

There's no denying the greatness of that record, but Green Day, as much as I don't like their current stuff, progressed into a multi-platinum arena rock juggernaut while the offspring released songs like "Hit That". I'll take "Smash", "Ixnay" and about half of "AMericana" over any of today's popular 'rock' bands but they don't get the respect they deserve because they chose to become Weird Al instead of the Who.

JayTee (June 11, 2010)

If we're going off of where these bands ended up, shouldn't half the records on this list be discounted? How many bands have a latest album that's one of their best?

Also, just personally, I'd take Offsptring's "Hit That", a song about America's sex obsessed society and the consequences therein, and "Americana"'s blanket statement of celebrity white trash culture over Green Day's ridiculous musical, U2 duet, and the unlistenable half of 21st Century Breakdown anyday.

Offspring just went from punk band to rock band. Green Day has gone from punk band to rock band to... some kind of... weird.. corporate entity? I can tell you I've never seen an Offspring wallet or keychain or wristband being sold at my local BP. But I've sure as fuck seen that dumb Heart-Grenade. I'd argue Offspring's integrity rivals Green Day's.

jacknife737 (June 11, 2010)

I wish i could hug you right now.

Dedricthere (June 11, 2010)

Fuck Smash, Ignition was their best record.

JayTee (June 11, 2010)

FUCK Yeah! I was going off the whole "important album" list type crap.

"No Hero", "LAPD", "Session", yep.

burntorangepeel (June 11, 2010)

"Get it right!"

jacknife737 (June 11, 2010)

So very true.

Sure there's no denying that Green Day did really well for themselves, but they had an entire major label marketing team behind them. What makes the Offspring's success more notable was that they did that with little to no pr behind them (at first).

chuckfart (June 11, 2010)

Six words: Fuck that shit, all of it

JayTee (June 11, 2010)

Four Letter Word: "I've Got A Crayon Up My Nose".

parxcore (June 11, 2010)

Im never going to agree with a bunch of fucking hipsters.

Im still mad about their article slamming ska, what a bunch of douchebags.

parxcore (June 11, 2010)

Please, no propaghandi references.

Salvador (June 11, 2010)

well, at least the Hives made it.
Fuck all the rap shit.

RonnieD (June 11, 2010)

Who cares what these nerds at Spin think? Everyone knows the greatest record of all time is Rancid's ....And Out Come The Wolves.

(I'm not necessarily saying I like it more than Rancid 2000 or Let's Go! or LWW but it is the best record ever).

floggingmolly123 (June 11, 2010)

did op ivy make it?

regreteverything (June 12, 2010)

No, they broke up.

thisdayforward (June 12, 2010)

wow most of the albums they list are amazing but in the totally wrong areas. Fucking The Blueprint is better than Illmatic, Paid In Full, and Low End Theory? That is FUCKED UP. And U2 being number 1? fuck them.

DFelon204409 (June 13, 2010)

Or we can just enjoy Sputnikmusic's last decade version of this list: http://sputnikmusic.com/blog/?p=2182

Grue (June 13, 2010)

"Ruiner" by AWS should be #1