* Denotes exceptional year
(d) – debut
🦋 – gut reaction

2023*

1. Romy, Mid Air 🦋
2. Samory I, Strength
3. The Japanese House, In the End It Always Does
4. Alison Goldfrapp, The Love Invention
5. Disclosure, Alchemy
6. Troye Sivan, Something to Give Each Other
7. Abraham Alexander, Sea/Sons
8. Peter Gabriel, i/o
9. Sam Smith, Gloria
10. Raye, My 21st Century Blues
11. Gracie Abrams, Good Riddance
12. Iris DeMent, Workin’ on a World
13. Beach Fossils, Bunny
14. Matthew Logan Vasquez, As All Get Out
15. Arlo Parks, My Soft Machine
16. Asake, Work of Art
17. Art Feynman, Be Good The Crazy Boys
18. Nothing But Thieves, Dead Club City
19. Sampha, Lahai
20. Allison Russell, The Returner

HONORABLE MENTION: Ghost of Vroom, Ghost of Vroom 3; Wednesday, Rat Saw God; Becky G, Esquemas; Rufus Wainwright, Folkocracy; James Blake, Playing Robots Into Heaven; Caroline Polachek, Desire; Louis Cato, Reflections; Boygenius, The Record; Buck Meek, Haunted Mountain; ANOHNI and the Johnsons, My Back Was a Bridge For You To Cross; The Leomon Twigs, Everything Harmony; Cory Wong, The Lucky One; Yves Tumor, Praise a Lord Who Chews…; Blur, The Ballad of Darren; Gorillaz, Cracker Island; Miley Cyrus, Endless Summer Vacation; Mitski, The Land Is Inhospitable; Bliss Station, Bliss Station

2022

1. Beth Orton, Weather Alive
2. Goose, Dripfield
3. Maggie Rogers, Surrender
4. Wet Leg, Wet Leg (d)
5. Viagra Boys, Cave World
6. The Smile, A Light For Attracting Attention (d)
7. Spoon, Lucifer On The Sofa
8. Afghan Whigs, How Do You Burn
9. Destroyer, Labyrinthitis
10. Andrew Bird, Inside Problems
11. Fontaines DC, Skinty Fia
12. Bob Moses, The Silence in Between
13. Black Keys, Dropout Boogie
14. Muna, Muna
15. Curse of Lono, People In Cars
16. Omar Apollo, Ivory (d)
17. Weyes Blood, And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow
18. Toro y Moi, MAHAL
19. SZA, SOS
20. Foals, Life Is Yours

2021

1. The War On Drugs, I Don’t Live Here Anymore
2. Celeste, Not Your Muse (d)
3. Japanese Breakfast, Jubilee
4. Aaron Frazer; Introducing Aaron Frazer (d)
5. Rufus du Sol, Surrender
6. Black Keys, Delta Kream
7. Francis Mercier, New York State of House: Midnight Edition, Vol. 1 and Sunset Edition, Vol. 1
8. Kings of Leon, When You See Yourself
9. Lakou Mizik & Joseph Ray, Leave The Bones
10. Magdalena Bay, Mercurial World (d)
11. Faye Webster, I Know I’m Funny haha
12. Flight Facilities, Forever
13. Nation of Language, A Way Forward
14. Joy Oladokun, In Defense of My Own Happiness
15. Kacey Musgraves, Star-Crossed
16. Jon Batiste, We Are (d)
17. Amythyst Kiah, Wary+Strange
18. Sleaford Mods, Spare Ribs
19. St. Vincent, Daddy’s Home
20. Viagra Boys, Welfare Jazz


2020*

1. Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia
2. Disclosure, ENERGY
3. Lauv, Lauv
4. Mac Miller, Circles
5. The Strokes, The New Abnormal
6. Cubicolor, Hardly A Day, Hardly A Night
7. DMA’s, The Glow
8. HAIM, Women In Music Pt. III
9. Fiona Apple, Fetch The Bolt Cutters
10. Taylor Swift, folklore
11. The Chicks, Gaslighter
12. The Mavericks, En Espanol
13. Fontaines D.C., A Hero’s Death
14. Alec Benjamin, These Two Windows
15. Mogwai, As the Love Continues
16. Four Tet, Sixteen Oceans
17. Ed O’Brien, Earth
18. Grouplove, Healer
19. M. Ward, Migration Stories
20. Phoebe Bridges, Punisher

HONORABLE MENTION: Tame Impala, The Slow Rush; Washed Out, Purple Noon; Steve Earle, Ghosts of West Virginia; Soccer Mommy, Color Theory; Lucinda Williams, Good Souls Better Angeles; Mariachi El Bronx, Musica Muerta, Vol. 1

2019

1. Taylor Swift, Lover
2. Fontaines D.C., Dogerel (d)
3. Michael Kiwanuka, Kiwanuka
4. Vampire Weekend, Father of the Bride
5. Andrew Bird, My Finest Work Yet
6. Cigarettes After Sex, Cry
7. Yuna, Rouge
8. Lana del Rey, Norman Fucking Rockwell! 
9. The Black Keys, Let’s Rock
10. Liam Gallagher, Why Me? Why Not
11. Maggie Rogers, Heard It In A Past Life (d)
12. The Murder Capital, When I Have Fears (d)
13. King Princess, Cheap Queen (d)
14. Julia Jacklin, Crushing
15. Foals, Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 2 and Everything Not Saved Part 1
16. Maren Morris, Girl
17. Black Pumas, Black Pumas (d)
18. MIKA, My Name is Michael Holbrook
19. Lizzo, Cuz I Love You
20. The Head and the Heart, Living Mirage

2018

1. Christine & the Queens, Chris
2. Bob Moses, Battle Lines
3. Kacey Musgraves, Golden Hour
4. Leon Bridges, Good Thing
5. Jungle, For Ever
6. Dave Matthews Band, Come Tomorrow
7. Wajatta, Casual High Technology
8. The 1975, A Brief Inquiry
9. Charlie Puth, Voicenotes
10. Bob Schneider, Blood and Bones
11. Yo La Tengo, There’s A Riot Going On
12. Rufus du Sol, Solace
13. Spiritualized, And Nothing Hurt
14. Death Cab for Cutie, Thank You For Today
15. The Nude Party, The Nude Party
16. Troye Sivan, Bloom
17. Shame, Songs Of Praise
18. The Smashing Pumpkins, Shiny and Oh So Bright
19. The Decemberists, I’ll Be Your Girl
20. Tom Misch, Geography

HONORABLE MENTION: Cat Power, Wanderer; Stantigold, I Don’t Want: The Gold Fire Sessions; Noname, Room 25; DeVotchKa, This Night Falls Forever; Amen Dunes, Freedom; Colin Self, Siblings;  Sarah Shook & The Disarmers; Sidelong

2017*

1. Tinariwen, Elwan
2. John Mayer, The Search for Everything 🦋
3. Midland, On the Rocks 🦋
4. Phoenix, Ti Amo
5. Cigarettes After Sex, Cigarettes After Sex 🦋
6. LCD Soundsystem, American Dream 🦋
7. The War On Drugs, A Deeper Understanding
9. Iron & Wine, Beast Epic 🦋
9. Lorde, Melodrama
10. Moses Sumner, Aromanticism
11. The National, Sleep Well Beast
12. Spoon, Hot Thoughts
13. Big Head Todd, New World Arisin’
14. Curtis Harding, Face Your Fear
15. SZA, Ctrl
16. Liam Gallagher, As You Were
17. H.E.R., H.E.R.
18. Dan Auerback, Waiting on a Song
19. Electric Guest, Plural
20. Kevin Morby, City Music

2016

1. Big Gigantic, Brighter Future
2. Jim James, Eternally Even
3. Rufus du Sol, Bloom
4. Bon Iver, 22, A Million
5. Frank Ocean, Blonde
6. Radiohead, A Moon Shaped Pool
7. Glass Animals, How To Be A Human Being
8. Alejandro Escovedo, Burn Something Beautiful
9. Cubicolor, Brainsugar
10. Kaytranada, 99.9%
11. The Record Company, Give It Back To You
12. The Weeknd, Starboy
13. Leonard Cohen, You Want it Darker
14. Pixies, Head Carrier
15. Mitski, Puberty 2
16. Kevin Morby, Singing Saw
17. Bruno Mars, 24K Magic
18. Michael Kiwanuka, Love & Hate
19. Mac Miller, The Divine Feminine
20.

2015

1. Courtney Barnett, Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit (d) ðŸ¦‹
2. Stick Figure, Set In Stone ðŸ¦‹
3. The Mavericks, Mono ðŸ¦‹
4. Wilco, Star Wars
5. Boxed In, Boxed In (d)
6. JD McPherson, Let the Good Times Roll
7. Coldplay, A Head Full of Dreams
8. New Order, Music Complete
9. Eric Church, Mr. Misunderstood
10. Adele, 25
11. Everything Everything, Get To Heaven
12. Disclosure, Caracal
13. Florence + The Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
14. The Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness
15. Natalie Prass, Natalie Prass (d)
16. Freedy Johnston, Neon Repairman
17. Deerhunter, Fading Frontier
18. St. Germain, St. Germai
19. Tame Impala, Currents
20. Daniele Baldelli, Cosmic Drag

HONORABLE MENTION: Bob Moses, Days Gone By; The Chemical Brothers, Born in the Echoes; The Internet, Ego Death; Death Cab for Cutie, Kintsugi; Squeeze, Cradle To The Grave; Boz Scaggs, A Fool to Care; Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color; Lianne La Havans, Blood; Tracy Musgraves, Pageant Material; Nothing But Thieves, Nothing But Thieves; Protomartyr, The Agent Intellect

2014

1. TV on the Radio, Seeds
2. Taylor Swift, 1989
3. Spoon, They Want My Soul
4. Jungle, Jungle (d)
5. Flight Facilities, Down To Earth (d)
6. Paolo Nutini, Caustic Love
7. Glass Animals, Zaba (d)
8. Beck, Morning Phase
9. Tweedy, Sukierae (d)
10. The Smashing Pumpkins, Monuments to an Elegy
11. Prince, Art Official Age
12. Real Estate, Atlas
13. Mariachi El Bronx, III
14. Todd Terje, It’s Album Time (d)
15. Warpaint, Warpaint
16. Ty Segall, Manipulator 
17. Lydia Loveless, Somewhere Else
18. Curtis Harding, Soul Power (d) 
19. Big Head Todd, Black Beehive
20. Kelis, Food

2013

  1. Kings of Leon, Mechanical Bull
  2. Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City
  3. Jagwar Ma, Howlin
  4. Atoms For Peace, Amok
  5. Mayer Hawthorne, Where Does This Door Go
  6. Iron & Wine, Ghost on Ghost
  7. Jim James, Regions of Light and Sound of God
  8. Disclosure, Settle
  9. Kacey Musgrave, Same Trailer Different Parks
  10. Rufus Du Sol, Atlas
  11. Phoenix, Bankrupt
  12. The Weeknd, Kiss Land
  13. Lorde, Pure Heroine
  14. The 1975, The 1975 (d)
  15.  Kanye West, Yeezus
  16.  Sky Ferreira, Night Time, My Time (d)
  17. Dawes, Stories Don’t End
  18. Courtney Barnett, The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas
  19. Arctic Monkeys; AM
  20.  Daft Punk, Random Access Memories

2012

1. Frank Ocean, channel ORANGE
2. Poolside, Pacific Standard Time
3. Michael Kiwanuka, Home Again
4. The Smashing Pumpkins, Oceania
5. Benjamin Gibbard, Former Lives
6. Xxyyxx, XXYYXX
7. Avett Brothers, The Carpenter
8. Heartless Bastards, Arrow
9. Hot Chip, In Our Heads
10. The Shins, Port Of Morrow
11. Mike Doughty, The Flip Is Another Honey
12. Spiritualized, Sweet Heart, Sweet Light
13. Bob Dylan, Tempest
14. The Blasters, Fun on Saturday Night
15. Taylor Swift, Red
16. Deadmau5, >Album Title Goes Here<
17. Dave Matthews Band, Away From The World
18. Sharon Van Etten, Tramp
19. Dr. John, Locked Down
20. fun., Some Nights

HONORABLE MENTION: Actress, R.I.P.; Chromatics, Kill For Love; Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!; Brian Eno, Lux; Air, Le vogyage dans la lune; Mumford & Sons, Babel; The Robert Glasper Experiment, Black Radio; Donald Fagen, Sunken Condos

2011

1. Destroyer, Kaputt
2. The Black Keys, El Camino
3. Wilco, The Whole Love
4. Tom Waits, Bad As Me
5. Adel, 21
6. M83, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
7. The Decemberists, The King Is Dead
8. Ryan Adams, Ashes & Fire
9. Eric Church, Chief
10. Bob Schneider, A Perfect Day
11. SBTRKT, SBTRKT (d)
12. The Weeknd, House of Balloons (d)
13. Elbow, Build A Rocket Boys
14. My Morning Jacket, Circuital|
15. Radiohead, King of Limbs
16. White Denim, D
17. Coldplay, Mylo Xyloto
18. The Drums, Portamento
19. Iron & Wine, Kiss Each Other Clean
20. Yuck, Yuck (d)

HONORABLE MENTION: Lucinda Williams, Blessed; Drake, Take Care; Little Dragon, Ritual Union; Glen Campbell, Ghost on the Canvas; Tinariwen, Tassili

2010

1. LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happening
2. Vampire Weekend, Contra
3. Spoon, Transference
4. Kings of Leon, Come Around Sundown
5. Four Tet, There Is Love in You
6. Groove Armada, Black Light
7. Ozomatli, Fire Away
8. Elizabeth Cook, Welder
9. Two Door Cinema Club, Tourist History
10. The Black Keys, Brothers
11. The Drums, The Drums
12. Yeasayer, Odd Blood
13. Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Rocksteady
14. Band of Horses, Infinite Arms
15. Ray LaMontagne, God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise
16. Sade, Soldier of Love
17. Tame Impala, InnerSpeaker
18. Hot Chip, On Life Stand
19. Robyn, Body Talk
20. Scissor Sisters, Night Work

2009

  1. Dave Matthews Band, Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King 🦋
  2. Mariachi El Bronx, Mariachi El Bronx
  3. Avett Brothers, I And Love And You 🦋
  4. Green Day, 21st Century Breakdown
  5. Bob Schneider, Lovely Creatures 🦋
  6. Monsters of Folk, Monsters of Folk
  7. Fuck Buttons, Tarot Sport
  8. Levon Helm, Electric Dirt
  9. The Decemberists, The Hazards of Love
  10. Kasabian, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
  11. Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
  12. Miike Snow, Miike Snow
  13. Art Burt, Art Burt vs. Satan
  14. White Lies, To Lose My Life
  15. Wilco, Wilco (The Album)
  16. Moby, Wait for Me
  17. John Mayer, Battle Studies
  18. Zero 7, Yeah Ghost
  19. Lyle Lovett, Natural Forces
  20. David Gray, Draw The Line

2008

1. Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend 
2. The Black Keys, Attack & Release 
3. Juana Molina, Un Dia 
4. Death Cab For Cutie, Narrow Stairs
5. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
6. Jenny Lewis, Acid Tongue
7. Q-Tip, The Renaissance
8. David Byrne and Brian Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
9. TV on the Radio, Dear Science 
10. Van Morrison, Keep It Simple
11. Kanye West, 808s & Heartbreak
12. The Airborne Toxic Event, The Airborne Toxic Event
13. The Cure, 4:13 Dream
14. Mike Doughty, Golden Delicious
15. Friendly Fires, Friendly Fires
16. Lil’ Wayne, Tha Carter III
17. Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago
18. Chairlift, Does You Inspire You
19. Randy Newman, Harps and Angels
20. Goldfrapp, Seventh Tree

2007

1. Radiohead, In Rainbows
2. Rufus Wainwright, Release the Stars
3. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver
4. Wilco, Sky Blue Sky
5. Mavis Staples, We’ll Never Turn Back
6. Iron & Wine, The Shepherd’s Dog
7. Lucinda Williams, West
8. The Apples in Stereo, New Magnetic Wonder
9. Kings of Leon, Because Of The Times
10. John Fogerty, Revival
11. Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare
12. Foo Fighters, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
13. Kanye West, Graduation
14. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand
15. Lyle Lovett, It’s Not Big It’s Large
16. Tori Amos, American Doll Posse
17. The Avett Brothers, Emotionalism
18. Levon Helm, Dirt Farmer
19. The New Pornographers, Challengers
20. Tinariwen, Aman Iman: Water Is Life 

2006*

1. Goldfrapp, We Are Glitter
2. Thom Yorke, The Eraser
3. Phoenix, It’s Never Been Like That
4. Beck, The Information
5. LCD Soundsystem, 45:33
6. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife
7. Kasabian, Empire
8. Silversun Pickups, Carnavas
9. TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain
10. Christina Aguilera, Back To Basics
11. Mogwai, Mr. Beast
12. Ray LaMontagne, Till The Sun Turns Black
13. Pete Yorn, Nightcrawler
14. M. Ward, Post-War
15. Morrissey, Ringleader of the Tormentors
16. Snow Patrol, Eyes Open
17. The Strokes, First Impressions of Earth
18. Amy Winehouse, Back to Black
19. Bob Dylan, Modern Times
20. Sonic Youth, Rather Ripped

HONORABLE MENTION: Donald Fagen, Morph The Cat; Flaming Lips, A War With The Mystics; Regina Spektor, Begin To Hope; Cold War Kids, Robbers & Cowards; John Mayer, Continuum; Yo La Tengo, I Am Not Afraid of You And I Will Beat Your Ass; Brightblack Morning Light, Brightblack Morning Light; Johnny Cash, American V: A Hundred Highways; Mat Kearney, Nothing Left To Lose; Sean Ono Lennon, Friendly Fire

2005

1. Mike Doughty, Haughty Melodic 🦋
2. LDC Soundsytem, LCD Soundsystem
3. Kanye West, Late Registration
4. Goldfrapp, Supernature
5. Josh Rouse, Nashville
6. Gorillaz, Demon Days
7. The Blasters, 4-11-44
8. Art Brut, Bang Bang Rock & Roll (d)
9. Madonna, Confessions on a Dance Floor
10. Dave Matthew Band, Stand Up
11. Bananarama, Drama
12. Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine
13. Jack Johnson, In Between Dreams
14. The Magic Numbers, The Magic Numbers (d)
15. Beck, Guero
16. My Morning Jacket, Z
17. The Hold Steady, Separation Sunday
18. Lemon Jelly, ’64-’95 
19. Death Cab For Cutie, Plans 
20. Jason Mraz, Mr. A-Z

2004*

1. Kings of Leon, Aha Shake Heartbreak (UK release)
2. Green Day, American Idiot
3. Madeleine Peyroux, Careless Love
4. The Killers, Hot Fuss
5. Zero 7, When It Falls
6. Keane, Hopes and Fears
7. Van Hunt, Van Hunt
8. Bob Schneider, I’m Good Now
9. Mylo, Destroy Rock n Roll
10. The Beta Band, Heroes To Zeros
11. Iron & Wine, Our Endless Numbered Days
12. Fatboy Slim, Palookaville
13. Rufus Wainwright, Want Two
14. Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand
15. Kanye West, The College Dropout
16. Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson Presents Smile
17. Ray LaMontagne, Trouble
18. Ozomatli, Street Signs
19. Morrissey, You Are the Quarry
20. Tinariwen, Amassakol

2003

1. Rufus Wainwright, Want One ðŸ¦‹
2. Jet, Get Born (d)
3. John Mayer, Heavier Things ðŸ¦‹
4. Pete Yorn, Day I Forgot
5. Ben Harper, Diamonds on the Inside
6. The Strokes, Room On Fire
7. Kings of Leon, Youth & Young Manhood (d)
8. Goldfrapp, Black Cherry
9. Josh Rouse, 1972
10. The Postal Service, Give Up (d)
11. Dave Matthews, Some Devil ðŸ¦‹
12. Lucinda Williams, World Without Tears
13. Van Morrison, What’s Wrong With This Picture?
14. Lyle Lovett, Baby Don’t Tolerate
15. Death Cab For Cutie, Transatlanticism
16. The Cardigans, Long Before Daylight
17. Steely Dan, Everything Must Go
18. The Decemberists, Her Majesty the Decemberists
19. DeVotchKa, Una Volta
20. Drive-By Truckers, Decoration Day

2002

1. Oasis, Heathen Chemistry
2. Lemon Jelly, Lost Horizons
3. Dave Matthews Band, Busted Stuff
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers, By the Way
5. Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
6. Patty Griffin, 1000 Kisses
7. Dixie Chicks, Home
8. Doves, The Last Broadcast
9. David Gray, A New Day at Midnight
10. Kinky, Kinky
11. The Noteist, Neon Golden
12. Steve Earle, Jerusalem
13. Neko Case, Blacklisted
14. Aimee Mann, Lost in Space
15. Tom Waits, Alice
16. Bob Schneider, The Galaxy Kings
17. Beck, Sea Change
18. Coldplay, A Rush of Blood To The Head
19. Jason Mraz, Waiting For My Rocket To Come
20. Brendan Benson, Lapalco

HONORABLE MENTION: Audioslave, Audioslave; Foo Fighters, One By One; Beth Gibbons and Rustin Man, Out of Season; Angelique Kidjo, Black Ivory Soul

2001

1. John Mayer, Room For Squares (d)
2. Lucinda Williams, Essence
3. Ryan Adams, Gold
4. Zero 7, Simple Things (d)
5. Garbage, Beautiful Garbage
6. Bob Dylan, Love and Theft
7. Basement Jaxx, Rooty
8. Spoon, Girls Can Tell
9. Cake, Comfort Eagle
10. Pete Yorn, musicforthemorningafter (d)
11. New Order, Get Ready
12. Rufus Wainwright, Poses
13. Radiohead, Amnesiac
14. Ben Folds, Rockin’ the Suburbs (d)
15. Pulp, We Love Life
16. Air, 10,000 Hz Legend
17. Travis, The Invisible Band
18. Jay-Z, The Blueprint
19. Gotan Project, La Revancha Del Tango
20. Daft Punk, Discovery; 

HONORABLE MENTION: Redd Volkaert, No Stings Attached; Beta Band, Hot Shot II; Avalanches, Since I Left You; R.E.M., Reveal; Starsailor, Love Is Here; Dave Matthews Band, Everyday; Mercury Rev, All Is Dream; Royksopp, Melody A.M.; Daft Punk, Discovery; Freedy Johnston, Right Between the Promises; Bob Schneider, Lonelyland; Eels, Souljacker

2000

1. Steely Dan, Two Against Nature
2. U2, All That You Can’t Leave Behind
3. Sade, Lovers Rock
4. Radiohead, Kid A
5. Oasis, Standing on the Shoulders
6. Green Day, Warning
7. Madonna, Music
8. Phoenix, United (d) 
9. Fatboy Slim, Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars
10. The Cure, Bloodflowers
11. Coldplay, Parachutes (d)
12. Bebel Gilberto, Tanto Tempo
13. Eels, Daisies Of The Galaxy
14. Aimee Mann, Bachelor No. 2 Or The Last Remains Of The Dodo
15. Teenage Fanclub, Howdy! 
16. Ryan Adams, Heartbreaker (d)
17. The Smashing Pumpkins, Machina/The Machines of God
18. Doves, Lost Souls (d)
19. PJ Harvey, Stories from the City, Stories From The Sea
20. Emmylou Harris, Red Dirt Girl

1999

1. Freedy Johnston, Blue Days Black Nights
2. Le Tigre, Le Tigre
3. Les Rythmes Digitales (Stuart Price), Darkdancer
4. Santana, Supernatural
5. The Chicks, Fly
6. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Californication
7. Hank Williams III, Raisin’ Outlaw
8. Foo Fighters, There Is Nothing Left to Leave
9. Basement Jaxx, Remedy
10. Travis, The Man Who
11. Old 97’s, Fight Songs
12. Steve Earle and Del McCoury Band, The Mountain
13. Sting, Brand New Day
14. Tom Waits, Mule Variations
15. Richard Thompson, Mock Tudor
16. Beth Orton, Central Reservation
17. Underworld, Beaucoup Fish
18. The Chemical Brothers, Surrender
19. Bob Schneider, Songs Sung and Played on Guitar
20. Built to Spill, Keep It Like a Secret

1998*

1. Garbage, Version 2.0
2. Hole, Celebrity Skin
3. The Jesus and Mary Chain, Munki
4. Dave Matthews Band, Before These Crowded Streets 🦋
5. Lucinda Williams, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
6. Massive Attack, Mezzanine
7. Fatboy Slim, You’ve Come a Long Way Baby
8. The Brian Setzer Orchestra, The Dirty Boogie
9. REM, Up
10. Ugly Americans, Boom Boom Baby
11. Van Morrison, The Philosopher’s Stone
12. Plastilina Mosh, Aqua Mosh
13. Cher, Believe
14. Air, Moon Safari
15. Smashing Pumpkins, Adore
16. Fun Loving Criminals, 100% Columbian
17. Shakira, Donde Estan los Ladrones
18. Ozomatli, Ozomatli
19. The Cardigans, Gran Turismo
20. Gomez, Bring It On (d)

1997

1. Freedy Johnston, Never Home
2. Mansun, Attack of the Grey Lantern
3. Oasis, Be Here Now
4. Green Day, Nimrod
5. Radiohead, OK Computer
6. Blur, Blur
7. Texas, White on Blonde
8. Bob Dylan, Time Out of Mind
9. Stereolab, Dots and Loops
10. Yo La Tengo, I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
11. Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Beautiful World
12. Van Morrison, The Healing Game
13. The Verve, Urban Hymns
14. The Charlatans, Tellin’ Stories
15. Depeche Mode, Ultra
16. Spiritualized, Ladies and Gentlemen
17. Teenage Fanclub, Songs From Northern Britain
18. Cherry Poppin Daddies, Zoot Suit Riot
19. Mogwai, Mogwai Young Team
20. Built To Spill, Perfect from Now On

1996*

1. Gin Blossoms, Congratulations…I’m Sorry
2. Fiona Apple, Tidal
3. Elvis Costello, All This Useless Beauty
4. Dave Matthews Band, Crash
5. DJ Shadow, Endtroducing…
6. R.E.M., New Adventures in Hi-Fi
7. Los Lobos, Colossal Head
8. Counting Crows, Recovering the Satellites
9. Wilco, Being There
10. Stone Temple Pilots, Tiny Music
11. Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Come Find Yourself
12. Underworld, Second Toughest In The Infants
13. Social Distortion, White Light White Heat White Trash
14. Lyle Lovett, The Road to Ensenada 
15. Better Than Ezra, Friction, Baby
16. Beth Orton, Trailer Park
17. Everything But The Girl, Walking Wounded
18. Matchbox 20, Yourself or Someone Like You
19. The Duke Robillard Band, Dukes’ Blues
20. Beck, Odelay

HONORABLE MENTION: Jamiroquai, Traveling Without Moving; Aphex Twin, Richard D. James Album; The Cure, Wild Mood Swings; Sheryl Crow, Sheryl Crow; Fatboy Slim, Better Living Through Chemistry; Spoon, Telephono; The Cardigans, First Band on the Moon; Maxwell, Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite; BR5-49, BR5-49; Martin Sexton, Black Sheep; Stereolab, Emperor Tomato Ketchup; Cake, Fashion Nugget

1995*

1. Wilco, A.M. 🦋
2. Radiohead, The Bends
3. Poi Dog Pondering, Pomegranate 🦋
4. Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill
5. Oasis, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
6. The Smashing Pumpkins, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
7. Garbage, Garbage
8. Peter Murphy, Cascade
9. Pulp, Different Class
10. Matthew Sweet, 100% Fun
11. Aztec Camera, Frestonia 🦋
12. Teenage Fanclub, Grand Prix
13. Moby, Everything Is Wrong
14. Foo Fighters, Foo Fighters
15. G. Love & Special Sauce, Coast To Coast Motel
16. Joan Osborne, Relish (d)
17. Ben Harper, Fight For Your Mind
18. The Jayhawks, Tomorrow The Green Grass
19. Dwight Yoakam, Gone
20. Aimee Mann, I’m With Stupid

HONORABLE MENTION: Blur, The Great Escape; Steve Earle, Train a Comin’; Aphex Twin, …I Care Because You Do; Ugly Americans, Ugly Americans; Bjork, Post; Supergrass, I Should Coco (d); Pere Ubu, Raygun Suitcase; Annie Lennox, Medusa; Red Hot Chili Peppers, One Hot Minute; Nightmares On Wax, Smokers Delight; No Doubt, Tragic Kingdom; Elastica, Elastica; Paul Weller, Stanley Road

1994*

1. Dave Matthews Band, Under the Table and Dreaming (d)
2. The Cranberbies, No Need to Argue
3. Freedy Johnston, This Perfect World
4. Blur, Parklife
5. Morrissey, Vauxhall And I
6. Frank Black, Teenager of the Year
7. The Mavericks, What A Crying Shame
8. Oasis, Definitely Maybe (d)
9. Eric Clapton, From the Cradle
10. Stone Temple Pilots, Purple
11. The Jesus and Mary Chain, Stoned and Dethroned
12. Phil Alvin, Country Fair 2000
13. David Gray, Flesh
14. Underworld, Dubnobasswithmyheadman
15. Portishead, Dummy (d)
16. Massive Attack, Protection
17. Hole, Live Through This
18. G. Love & Special Sauce, G. Love & Special Sauce (d)
19. TLC, CrazySexyCool
20. The Stone Roses, Second Coming

1993*

1. Counting Crows, August and Everything After
2. Donald Fagen, Kamakiriad
3. Dwight Yoakam, This Time
4. Junior Brown, 12 Shades of Brown
5. Cracker, Kerosene Hat
6. Big Head Todd, Sister Sweetly 
7. Squeeze, Some Fantastic Place
8. Sarah McLachlan, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
9. The Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream
10. Freddy Jones Band, Waiting For The Night
11. Us3, Hand On The Torch
12. Pet Shop Boys, Very
13. Bjork, Debut
14. David Gray, A Century Ends
15. Morphine, Cure For Pain
16. Robert Plant, Fate of Nations
17. Liz Phair, Exile in Guyville
18. Alejandro Escovedo, Thirteen Years
19. Mazzy Star, So Tonight That I Might
20. Tom Waits, The Black Rider

HONORABLE MENTION: The Afghan Whigs, Gentlemen; Jamiroquai, Emergency On Planet Earth; Slowdive, Souvlaki; Nirvana, In Utero; U2, Zooropa; Taj Mahal, Dancing The Blues; Archers of Loaf, Icky Mettle; Paul Weller, Wild Wood; Widespread Panic, Everyday; Nanci Griffith, Other Voices, Other Rooms; The Cranberries, Everybody Else Is Doing It, Why Can’t We?; Sheryl Crow, Tuesday Night Music Club; John Hiatt, Perfectly Good Guitar; Hothouse Flowers, Song From The Rain; Junior Brown, Guit With It; Snoop Dogg, Doggystyle; Uncle Tupelo, Anodyne

1992*

1. Gin Blossoms, New Miserable Experience ðŸ¦‹
2. Freedy Johnston, Can You Fly ðŸ¦‹
3. Los Lobos, Kiko ðŸ¦‹
4. Sugar, Copper Blue (d) ðŸ¦‹
5. Lyle Lovett, Joshua Judges Ruth ðŸ¦‹
6. Madonna, Erotica 
7. Stereo MC’s, Connected ðŸ¦‹
8. Peter Gabriel, Us
9. Alejandro Escovedo, Gravity
10. KD Lang, Ingenue ðŸ¦‹
11. R.E.M., Automatic For The People
12. Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes 
13. Cracker, Cracker (d)
14. Lucinda Williams, Sweet Old World ðŸ¦‹
15. The Lemonheads, It’s A Shame About Ray
16. Morrissey, Your Arsenal
17. Tom Waits, Bone Machine
18. Neil Young, Harvest Moon
19. Shawn Colvin, Fat City ðŸ¦‹
20. The Black Crowes, The Southern Harmony

HONORABLE MENTION: The B-52s, Good Stuff; Lindsay Buckingham, Out of the Cradle; Loudon Wainwright III, History; William Clarke, Serious Intensions; Poi Dog Pondering, Volvo Volo; Barenaked Ladies, Gordon; Pavement, Slanted and Enchanted

1991*

1. U2, Achtung Baby
2. Big Audio Dynamite, The Globe
3. Richard Thompson, Rumor and Sigh
4. Nirvana, Nevermind
5. R.E.M., Out of Time
6. Squeeze, Play
7. Live, Mental Jewelry
8. Violent Femmes, Why Do Birds Sing?
9. Matthew Sweet, Girlfriend
10. Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Sky Is Crying
11. Blur, Leisure
12. Talk Talk, Laughing Stock
13. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Into The Great Wide Open
14. Lenny Kravitz, Mama Said
15. John Prine, The Missing Years
16. Smashing Pumpkins, Gish
17. The Orb, Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld
18. Teenage Fanclub, Bandwagonesque
19. Primal Scream, Screamadelica
20. Morrissey, Kill Uncle

1990*

1. George Michael, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
2. The La’s, The La’s 🦋
3. Blues Traveler, Blues Traveler
4. The Black Crowes, Shake Your Money Maker
5. Dwight Yoakam, If There Was a Way
6. Happy Mondays, Pills and Thrills
7. Stereo MC’s, Supernatural 🦋
8. William Clarke, Blowin’ Like Hell 🦋
9. Los Lobos, In The Neighborhood 
10. Morrissey, Bona Drag
11. The Fall, Extricate
12. Neil Young, Ragged Glory
13. Sinead O’Connor, I Do Not Want What I Have
14. Freedy Johnston, The Trouble Tree
15. Lloyd Cole, Lloyd Cole
16. Mazzy Star, She Hangs Brightly
17. World Party, Goodbye Jumbo
18. Depeche Mode, Violator
19. Teenage Fanclub, A Catholic Education
20. The Charlatans, Some Friendly

HONORABLE MENTION: Concrete Blonde, Bloodletting; The Neptunes, Nocturnal Habit; Ice Cube, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted; Lou Reed & John Cale, Song For Drella; A Tribe Called Quest, People’s Instinctive Travels; Yo La Tengo, Fakebook; Trashcan Sinatras, Cake; Aztec Camera, Stray; Pet Shop Boys, Behaviour; The Vaughn Brothers, Family Style; Greg Piccolo, Heavy Juice; Poi Dog Pondering, Wishing Like A Mountain and Thinking Like The Sea; Brian Eno & John Cale, Wrong Way Up; Midnight Oil, Blue Sky Mining

1989

1. De La Soul, 3 feet High and Rising
2. The Stone Roses, The Stone Roses 
3. The B-52s, Cosmic Thing 
4. Stevie Ray Vaughn, In Step
5. Tom Petty, Full Moon Fever
6. The Smithereens, 11
7. Pixies, Doolittle
8. Lou Reed, New York
9. The Wonder Stuff, Hup
10. The Mighty Lemon Drops, Laughter 
11. Van Morrison, Avalon Sunset
12. Lyle Lovett, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band
13. The Neville Brothers, Yellow Moon
14. The Jesus and Mary Chain, Automatic
15. Little Charlie & The Nightcats, The Big Break!
16. Blue Nile, Hats
17. The Cure, Disintegration
18. Nirvana, Bleach
19. Michelle Shocked, Captain Swing
20. 10,000 Maniacs, Blind Man’s Zoo

1988

1. Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (d) ðŸ¦‹
2. Cowboy Junkies, The Trinity Sessions
3. R.E.M., Green ðŸ¦‹
4. Duke Robillard and the Pleasure Kings, Rockin’ Blues ðŸ¦‹
5. Pixies, Surfer Rosa (d)
6. Traveling Wilbury’s, Vol. 1 (d)
7. Van Morrison and The Chieftains, Irish Heartbeat ðŸ¦‹
8. Dwight Yoakam, Buenas Noches From a Lonely Room
9. The Mighty Lemon Drops, World Without End
10. The Smithereens, Green Thoughts
11. The Feelies, Only Life
12. Peter Murphy, Love Hysteria
13. The Waterboys, Fisherman’s Blues
14. The Sugercubes, Life’s Too Good (d)
15. Morrissey, Viva Hate (d)
16. Steve Earle, Copperhead Road
17. Robert Palmer, Heavy Nova
18. Sade, Stronger Than Pride
19. Talking Heads, Naked
20. Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars (d)

1987

1. U2, The Joshua Tree
2. Asleep at the Wheel, 10
3. R.E.M., Document
4. New Order, Substance
5. INXS, Kick
6. Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets, Sins
7. Michael Jackson, Bad
8. 10,000 Maniacs, In My Tribe
9. John Hiatt, Bring The Family
10. Elvis Costello, Out of Our Idiot
11. George Michael, Faith
12. Dwight Yoakam, Hillbilly Deluxe
13. Lyle Lovett, Pontiac
14. Little Charlie & The Nightcats, All The Way Crazy
15. Alex Chilton, High Priest
16. The Smiths, Strangeways, Here We Come
17. Squeeze, Babylon and On
18. The Housemartins, The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death
19. Tom Waits, Franks Wild Years
20. Los Lobos, By Light of the Moon

1986 *

1. Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Blood and Chocolate
2. Peter Gabriel, So
3. Steve Earle, Guitar Town
4. REM, Life’s Rich Pageant 🦋
5. The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Tuff Enuff 🦋
6. Elvis Costello, King of America
7. Talking Heads, True Stories
8. Van Morrison, No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
9. The Smiths, The Queen Is Dead 
10. Husker Du, Candy Apple Grey
11. Dwight Yoakam, Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.
12. Cowboy Junkies, Whites Off Earth Now
13. Robert Cray, Strong Persuader
14. Madonna, True Blue
15. Paul Simon, Graceland
16. The Feelies, The Good Earth
17. The Beat Farmers, Van Go
18. New Order, Brotherhood
19. Crowded House, Crowded House (d)
20. The Mighty Lemon Drops, Happy Head

HONORABLE MENTION: Lyle Lovett, Lyle Lovett; T-Bone Burnett, T-Bone Burnett; Phil Alvin & The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Unsung Stories; Nanci Griffith, The Last of the True Believers; Run DMC, Raising Hell; Mantronix, Music Madness; The B-52s, Bouncing Off Satellites

1985

1. New Order, Low-Life
2. Talking Heads, Little Creatures
3. Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms
4. The Waterboys, This is the Sea
5. Dexys Midnight Runners, Don’t Stand Me Down
6. Bryan Ferry, Boys and Girls
7. John Fogerty, Centerfield
8. The Cure, The Head on the Door Cel
9. The Pogues, Rum Sodomy & The Lash
10. Roomful of Blues, Hot Little Mama!
11. Tom Waits, Rain Dogs
12. Blasters, Hard Line
13. Chris Isaak, Silvertone
14. The Replacements, Tim
15. REM, Fables of the Reconstruction
16. Richard Thompson, Across a Crowded Room
17. Stevie Ray Vaughn, Soul To Soul
18. Prince, Around The World In A Day
19. The Smiths, Meat Is Murder
20. Simply Red, Picture Book

1984

1. The Smiths, Hatful of Hollow and The Smiths
2. R.E.M., Reckoning
3. Los Lobos, How Will The Wolf Survive
4. Sonny Terry, Whoopin’
5. Stevie Ray Vaughn, Couldn’t Stand the Weather
6. U2, The Unforgettable Fire
7. Crazy 8s, Law and Order
8. Roomful of Blues, Dressed Up to Get Messed Up
9. Echo & The Bunnymen, Ocean Rain
10. The Go-Go’s, Talk Show
11. Pretenders, Learning to Craw
12. Meat Puppets, Meat Puppets II
13. Johnny Winter, Guitar Slinger
14. Violent Femmes, Hallowed Ground
15. Painters and Dockers, Love Planet
16. Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, Rattlesnakes
17. The Replacements, Let It Be
18. Sade, Diamond Life
19. Lou Reed, New Sensations
20. Madonna, Like A Virgin

1983*

1. Stevie Ray Vaughn, Texas Flood
2. REM, Murmur
3. The B-52s, Whammy!
4. The Police, Synchronicity
5. Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes
6. Los Lobos, …And A Time To Dance
7. Talking Heads, Speaking in Tongues
8. Tom Waits, Swordfishtrombones
9. Eric Clapton, Money and Cigarettes
10. The Fall, Perverted By Language
11. Stray Cats, Rant n Rave with the Stray Cats
12. David Bowie, Let’s Dance
13. Genesis, Genesis
14. The Blasters, Non-Fiction
15. William Clarke, Can’t You Hear Me Calling
16. Billy Joel, An Innocent Man
17. John Cougar Mellencamp, Uh-Huh
18. U2, War
19. Elton John, Too Low For Zero
20. Linda Ronstadt, What’s New

HONORABLE MENTION: Cyndi Lauper, She’s So Unusual; The The, Soul Mining; Tangerine Dream, Hyperborea; Pink Floyd, The Final Cut; Elvis Costello & The Attactions, Punch the Clock; Minor Threat, Out of Step; Hanoi Rocks, Back to Mystery City; Joan Armatrading, The Key; Aztec Camera, High Land, Hard Rain; X, More Fun in the New World; Green on Red, Gravity Talks; New Order, Power, Corruption & Lies

1982

1. Fleetwood Mac, Mirage 🦋
2. Fabulous Thunderbirds, T-Bird Rhythm 🦋
3. Donald Fagan, The Nightfly (d) 🦋
4. The Fall, Hex Enduction Hour
5. Yaz, Upstairs At Eric’s (d)
6. Duran Duran, Rio
7. Roxy Music, Avalon
8. Michael Jackson, Thriller
9. Prince, 1999
10. Billy Idol, Billy Idol (d)
11. Elvis Costello, Imperial Bedroom
12. Joe Jackson, Night and Day
13. Paul McCartney, Tug of War
14. Haircut One Hundred, Pelecan West (d)
15. The Cure, Pornography
16. The Clash, Combat Rock
17. Tom Petty, Long After Dark
18. Stray Cats, Built For Speed (d)
19. The Alan Parsons Project, Eye in the Sky
20. Mission of Burma, Vs (d)

1981

1. Joe Jackson, Jumpin’ Jive
2. The Blasters, The Blasters
3. Muddy Waters, King Bee
4. Prince, Controversy
5. Men at Work, Business As Usual
6. Grace Jones, Nightclubbing
7. Eric Clapton, Another Ticket
8. Squeeze, East Side Story
9. X, Wild Gift
10. The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Butt Rockin’
11. Rickie Lee Jones, Pirates
12. Penguin Café Orchestra, Penguin Café Orchestra
13. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Hard Promises
14. Stray Cats, Stray Cats
15. The Rolling Stones, Tattoo You
16. Brian Eno and David Byrne, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
17. Depeche Mode, Speak & Spell
18. ELO, Time
19. Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Trust
20. Tom Tom Club, Tom Tom Club

1980*

1. The B-52s, Wild Planet
2. Stevie Wonder, Hotter than July
3. Squeeze, Argybargy
4. Steely Dan, Gaucho
5. The Cure, Seventeen Seconds
6. Van Morrison, Common One
7. Pretenders, Pretenders
8. The Psychedelic Furs, Psychedelic Furs
9. Talking Heads, Remain in Light
10. Rockpile, Seconds of Pleasure
11. The Police, Zenyatta Mondatta
12. XTC, Black Sea
13. The English Beat, I Just Can’t Stop It
14. The Feelies, Crazy Rhythms
15. The Blasters, American Music
16. Dire Straits, Making Movies
17. The Fabulous Thunderbirds, What’s The Word?
18. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Against The Wind
19. Merle Haggard, Back To The Barooms
20. Joan Armatrading, Me Myself I

HONORABLE MENTION: Steve Winwood, Arc of a Diver; Elvis Costello, Get Happy!; John Prine, Storm Windows; The Rolling Stones, Emotional Rescue

1979*

1. Fleetwood Mac, Tusk 🦋
2. The B-52s, The B-52s (d) 🦋
3. Gary Numan, The Pleasure Principle
4. Dire Straits, Communique
5. Electric Light Orchestra, Discovery
6. Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Armed Forces
7. The Police, Reggatta de Blanc
8. Rickie Lee Jones, Rickie Lee Jones (d) 🦋
9. Joe Jackson, Look Sharp! and I’m The Man (d)
10. Dave Edmunds, Repeat When Necessary
11. The Clash, London Calling
12. Nick Lowe, Labour of Lust
13. Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Fabulous Thunderbirds (d)
14. The Cure, Three Imaginary Boys
15. Gang of Four, Entertainment! (d)
16. Van Morrison, Into the Music
17. Led Zeppelin, In Through The Out Door
18. The Eagles, The Long Run 
19. The Undertones, The Undertones (d)
20. Linton Kwesi Johnson, Forces of Victory (d)

HONORABLE MENTION: Tom Verlaine, Tom Verlaine; Little Feat, Down On The Farm; Japan, Quiet Life; Pink Floyd, The Wall; Talking Heads, Fear of Music; Michael Jackson, Off the Wall; Lucinda Williams, Ramblin’ on My Mind; Squeeze, Cool for Cats; Joy Division, Unknown Pleasure; The Specials, The Specials; Roxy Music, Manifesto; The Knack, Get The Knack; Iggy Pop, New Values; Gary Numan, Tubeway Army; Ian Dury & The Blockheads, Do It Yourself; Cheap Trick, Dream Police

1978*

1. Funkadelic, One Nation Under a Groove
2. Cheap Trick, Heaven Tonight
3. Rolling Stones, Some Girls
4. Muddy Waters, I’m Ready 
5. The Police, Outlandos d’Amour
6. Warren Zevon, Excitable Boy
7. Neil Young, Comes A Time
8. Elvis Costello & The Attractions, This Year’s Model
9. Dire Straits, Dire Straits
10. Joe Ely, Honky Tonk Masquerade
11. XTC, White Music
12. Tom Waits, Blue Valentine
13. John Prine, Bruised Orange
14. Van Morrison, Wavelength
15. Bob Seger, Stranger In Town
16. Lou Reed, Street Hussle
17. Willie Nelson, Stardust
18. Gerry Rafferty, City to City
19. Elton John, A Single Man
20. Barry Manilow, Even Now

HONORABLE MENTION: Pere Ubu, The Modern Dance; Squeeze, Squeeze; Emmy Lou Harris, Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town; Linda Ronstadt, Living in the USA; Tom Petty, You’re Gonna Get It!; The Doobie Brothers, Minute By Minute; Eric Clapton, Backless; Talking Heads, More Songs About Buildings and Food; Poco, Legend; Brian Eno, Ambient 1: Music for Airports; Marvin Gay, Here, My Dear; Billy Joel, 52nd Street; Public Image Ltd., First Issue; Patti Smith, Easter; AC/DC, Powerage; Devo, Q: Are We Men? A: We Are Devo; Ramones, Road to Ruin

1977*

1. Muddy Waters, Hard Again
2. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours
3. Elvis Costello, My Aim Is True
4. Steely Dan, Aja
5. George Thorogood & The Destroyers, George Thorogood & The Destroyers
6. Electric Light Orchestra, Out Of The Blue
7. Al Green, The Belle Album
8. Bad Company, Burning Sky
9. Pink Floyd, Animals
10. James Taylor, JT 
11. Bob Marley & The Wailers, Exodus
12. Jackson Browne, Running On Empty
13. Brian Eno, Before And After Science
14. Television, Marquee Moon
15. John Martyn, One World
16. Fela Kuti, Zombie
17. Van Morrison, A Period of Transition
18. The Jam, In The City
19. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Street Survivors
20. The Stranglers, Rattus Norvegicus 

1976

1. Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life ðŸ¦‹
2. Steely Dan, The Royal Scam ðŸ¦‹
3. Steve Miller Band, Fly Like An Eagle
4. Bob Dylan, Desire
5. Billy Joel, Turnstiles
6. The Modern Lovers, The Modern Lovers (d)
7. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Night Moves ðŸ¦‹
8. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (d)
9. Bad Company, Running With The Pack 
10. Boz Scaggs, Silk Degrees
11. Rod Stewart, A Night on the Town 
12. Tom Waits, Small Change
13. Patti Smith, Radio Ethiopia
14. Ramones, Ramones (d)
15. Al Stewart, Year of the Cat
16. Eagles, Hotel California
17. Eric Clapton, No Reason to Cry
18. Peter Tosh, Legalize It (d)
19. Joni Mitchell, Hejira  
20. Al Green, Full of Fire

1975*

1. Tom Waits, Nighthawks at the Diner
2. Led Zeppelin, Physical Graffiti 
3. Fleetwood Mac, Fleetwood Mac
4. Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here
5. Patti Smith, Horses
6. Bob Dylan, Blood On The Tracks 
7. Wings, Venus And Mars
8. Electric Light Orchestra, Face the Music
9. Willie Nelson, Red Headed Stranger
10. Roxy Music, Siren
11. Curtis Mayfield, There’s No Place Like America Today
12. Steely Dan, Katy Lied
13. Bob Seger, Beautiful Loser
14. Little Feat, The Last Record Album
15. Heart, Dreamboat Annie
16. Elton John, Rock of the Westies
17. Earth, Wind & Fire, That’s the Way of the World
18. War, Why Can’t We Be Friends?
19. Linda Ronstadt, Prisoner in Disguise
20. Paul Simon, Still Crazy After All These Year

HONORABLE MENTION: Natalie Cole, Inseparable; Lou Reed, Coney Island Baby; Parliament, Mothership Connection; The Who, The Who By Numbers; David Bowie, Young Americans

1974

1. Professor Longhair, Rock n Roll Gumbo 🦋
2. Robert Palmer, Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley 🦋
3. Van Morrison, Veedon Fleece 🦋
4. Eric Clapton, 461 Ocean Boulevard
5. Stevie Wonder, Fulfillingness’ First Finale
6. Tom Waits, The Heart of Saturday Night
7. Little Feat, Feats Don’t Fail Me Now
8. John Hiatt, Hangin’ Around the Observatory
9. Steely Dan, Pretzel Logic
10. Jimmy Buffett, Living and Dying in ¾ Time 🦋
11. Bob Marley & The Wailers, Natty Dread
12. Willie Nelson, Phases and Stages
13. James Brown, Hell
14. Joni Mitchell, Court and Spark
15. James Taylor, Walking Man 🦋
16. Bob Seger, Seven
17. Earth, Wind & Fire, Open Our Eyes
18. Linda Ronstadt, Heart Like A Wheel
19. ELO, Eldorado
20. Albert King, I Wanna Get Funky

1973*

1. Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon 🦋
2. The Allman Brothers Band, Brothers and Sisters 🦋
3. Jimmy Buffett, A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean ðŸ¦‹
4. Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 🦋
5. Billy Joel, Piano Man
6. Dr. John, In The Right Place 🦋
7. Sly & The Family Stone, Fresh
8. Roxy Music, For Your Pleasure 
9. Incredible Bongo Band, Bongo Rock
10. John Martyn, Solid Air
11.  The Temptations, Masterpiece
12. Buckingham Nicks, Buckingham Nicks
13. Toots & the Maytals, In the Dark
14. Betty Davis, Betty Davis
15. Al Green, Call Me and Livin’ for You (would have been great double album)
16. Willie Nelson, Shotgun Willie
17. Paul McCartney & Wings, Band On The Run
18. Stevie Wonder, Inner visions
19. David Bowie, Aladdin Sane
20. Van Morrison, Hard Nose the Highway

Honorable Mention: Little Feat, Dixie Chicken; Paul Simon, There Goes Rhymin’ Simon; Fleetwood Mac, Penguin; Ringo Starr, Ringo; Herbie Hancock, Head Hunters; ZZ Top, Tres Hombres; Elton John, Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player; Led Zeppelin, Houses of the Holy; New York Dolls, New York Dolls

1972*

1. Elton John, Honky Chateau
2. Dr. John, Dr. John’s Gumbo
3. ZZ Top, Rio Grande Mud
4. The Rolling Stones, Exile on Main Street
5. Bill Withers, Still Bill
6. Al Green, Let’s Stay Together
7. David Bowie, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust
8. Randy Newman, Sail Away
9. Neil Young, Harvest
10. Tim Buckley, Greetings From L.A.
11. Van Morrison, Saint Dominic’s Preview
12. Toots & The Maytals, Funky Kingston
13. Lou Reed, Transformer
14. Jethro Tull, Thick as a Brick
15. Stevie Wonder, Talking Book
16. Edgar Winter Group, They Only Come Out at Night
17. Steely Dan, Can’t Buy a Thrill
18. Muddy Waters, The London Muddy Waters Sessions
19. Paul Simon, Paul Simon
20. Ry Cooder, Boomer’s Story

HONORABLE MENTION: Funkadelic, America Eats Its Young; Hugh Masekela, Home Is Where The Music Is; Curtis Mayfield, Super Fly; Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Will The Circle Be Unbroken; Chicago, V; Carpenters, A Song For You

1971*

1. Howlin’ Wolf, The London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions
2. The Who, Who’s Next
 3. Led Zeppelin, IV
4. The Doors, LA Woman
5. John Prine, John Prine
6. The Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers
7. Funkadelic, Maggot Brain
8. Sly & The Family Stone, There’s A Riot Goin’ On
9. Santana, Santana III
10. Pink Floyd, Meddle
11. Jethro Tull, Aqualung
12. Traffic, The Low Spark of High Healed Boys
13. Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On
14. Paul and Linda McCartney, Ram
15. Van Morrison; Tupelo Honey
16. Rod Stewart, Every Picture Tells a Story
17. The Beach Boys, Surf’s Up
18. Elton John, Madman Across the Water
19. Carole King, Tapestry
20. Boz Scaggs & Band, Boz Scaggs & Band   

HONORABLE MENTIONE: Joni Mitchell, Blue; Harry Nilsson, Nilsson Schmilsson; Yes, Fragile; Partridge Family, Up To Date

1970

1. Elton John, Tumbleweed Connection
2. Creedence Clearwater Revival, Cosmo’s Factory
3. Pink Floyd, Atom Heart Mother
4. James Taylor, Sweet Baby James
5. Neil Young, After The Gold Rush
6. Shuggie Otis, Here Comes Shuggie Otis
7. Crosby, Still, Nash & Young, Déjà vu
8. Canned Heat, Future Blues
9. Santana, Abraxas
10. The Guess Who, American Woman

HONORABLE MENTION: Savoy Brown, Looking In; Simon & Garfunkel, Bridge; Grateful Dead, Workingman’s Dead; The Beatles, Let It Be; Eric Clapton, Eric Clapton; Allman Brothers Band, Idlewild South; Curtis Mayfield, Curtis; Chicago, Chicago II; The Velvet Underground, Loaded; Cat Stevens, Tea For the Tillerman; Elton John, Elton John; Paul McCarney, McCartney; Stephen Stills, Stephen Stills; The Doors, Morrison Hotel; Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppein III; The Grateful Dead, American Beauty

1969*

1. The Rolling Stones, Let It Bleed
2. Credence Clearwater Revival, Bayou Country and Green River and Willy and the Poor Boys
3. Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin and Led Zeppelin II
4. The Beatles, Abbey Road 
5. Ike and Tina Turner, Outta Season
6. Neil Young, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
7. Albert King, King of the Blues Guitar
8. The Chicago Transit Authority, The Chicago Transit Authority 
9. Muddy Waters, After the Rain and Fathers and Sons
10. Jeff Beck, Beck-Ola
11. Canned Heat, Hallelujah
12. B.B. King, Completely Well
13. Crosby, Stills & Nash, Crosby, Stills & Nash
14. Townes Van Zandt, Townes Van Zandt
15. The Who, Tommy
16. Bob Dylan, Nashville Skyline
17. Santana, Santana
18. Nick Drake, Five Leaves Left
19. The Temptations, Cloud Nine
20. The Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground

1968

1. Aretha Franklin, Aretha Now and Lady Soul 🦋
2. B.B. King, Lucille
3. Van Morrison, Astral Weeks
4. The Beatles, The White Album
5. The Rolling Stones, Beggars Banquet
6. Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (d)
7. Etta James, Tell Mama
8. Creedence Clearwater Revival, Creedence Clearwater Revival (d)
9. Blood, Sweat & Tears, Blood, Sweat and Tears
10. Steppenwolf, Steppenwolf and The Second (d)
11. Johnny Winter, The Progressive Blues Experiment (d)
12. Dr. John, The Night Tripper, Gris Gris (d)
13. Buddy Guy, A Man And The Blues
14. Canned Heat, Boogie with Canned Heat
15. Magic Sam Blues Band, West Side Soul
16. Velvet Underground, White Light/White Heat
17. The Kinks, The Kinks Are Village Green
18. Simon & Garfunkel, Bookends
19. The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Electric Ladyland (d)
20. Cream, Wheels of Fire

1967

1. The Velvet Underground & Nico (d)
2. Van Morrison, Blowin’ Your Mind! (d)
3. The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band
4. The Doors, The Doors (d)
5. Bobby Gentry, Ode to Billie Joe (d)
6. The Kinks, Something Else By The Kinks
7. The Moody Blues, Days of Future Passed
8. Aretha Franklin, I Never Loved …
9. Arlo Guthrie, Alice’s Restaurant (d)
10. The Youngbloods, The Youngbloods (d)
11. Bob Dylan, John Wesley Harding
12. The Rolling Stones, Between the Buttons
13. The Mamas And The Papas, The Mamas And The Papas Deliver
14. Albert King, Born Under a Bad Sign
15. John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, A Hard Road
16. Cream, Disraeli Gears
17. Charlie Musselwhite, Stand Back! (d)
18. The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced (d) and Axis: Bold As Love
19. Nina Simone, Nina Simone Sings the Blues
20. The Beach Boys, Smiley Smile

1966

1. Bob Dylan, Blonde On Blonde
2. The Beatles, Revolver
3. The Rolling Stones, Aftermath
4. John Lee Hooker, The Real Folk Blues and It Serves You Right to Suffer
5. Ray Charles, Crying Time
6. The Mamas & The Papas, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
7. Nina Simone, Wild Is the Wind
8. Frank Sinatra, Strangers In The Night
9.  Sonny Boy Williamson II, The Real Folk Blues
10. Donovan, Sunshine Superman
11. Skip James, Today!
12. Doc Watson, Southbound
13. The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds
14. The Yardbirds, Roger The Engineer
15.Cream, Fresh Cream
16. Richie Havens, Mixed Bag
17. The Count Five, Psychotic Reaction
18. John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, with Eric Clapton
19. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, East West
20. Ike & Tina Turner, Get It

1965*

1. Otis Redding, Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul and Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads
2.  The Beach Boys, Beach Boys’ Party! and Summer Days (And Summer Nights!) 
3. The Beatles, Rubber Soul and VI
4. The Rolling Stones, December’s Children
5. Marvin Gay, How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You
6. Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass, Whipped Cream & Other Delights 
7. Paul Butterfield, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
8. Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited and Bringing It All Back Home
9. Otis Spann, The Blues Never Die!
10. Sam Cooke, Shake
11. Little Milton, We’re Gonna Make It
12. The Yardbirds, Having A Rave Up and For Your Love
13. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Going to a Go-Go 
14. Them, The Angry Young Them
15. Nina Simone, I Put a Spell on You
16. The Byrds, Mr. Tambourine Man
17. Lovin’ Spoonful, Do You Believe In Magic
18. Junior Walker & The All Stars, Shotgun
19. Junior Wells’ Chicago Blues Band, Hoodoo Man Blues
20. Four Tops, Four Tops Second Album

1964*

1. The Beatles, Meet The Beatles (January); The Beatles’ Second Album (April) (2)
2. Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, South of the Border 
3. Chuck Berry, St. Louis To Liverpool
4. The Rolling Stones, The Rolling Stones (d) and 12×5 and England’s Newest Hit Makers (3)
5. Johnny Cash, I Walk The Line
6. Sam Cooke, Ain’t That Good News
7. Bob Dylan, The Times They Are A-Changin’ and Shut Down, Volume 2 (2)
8. The Beach Boys, All Summer Long
9. Manfred Mann, The Five Faces of Manfred Mann (d)
10. The Kinks, Kinks (d)
11. Muddy Waters, Folk Singer
12. The Animals, The Animals (d)
13. Solomon Burke, Rock ‘N Soul
14. Otis Redding, Pain In My Heart (d)
15. The Supremes, Where Did Our Love Go
16. The Dave Clark Five, Glad All Over (d)
17. Bukka White, Mississippi Blues (d)
18. The Impressions, Keep On Pushing
19. Simon & Garfunkel, Wednesday Morning, 3 AM (d)
20. The Ventures, The Ventures in Space

1963

1. The Beatles, With the Beatles and Please Please Me 
2. Kenny Burrell, Midnight Blue 
3. Miles Davis, Seven Steps To Heaven
4. B.B. King, Blues In My Heart
5. Sam Cooke, Night Beat and Mr. Soul 
6. Grant Green, Feelin’ The Spirit
7. Bob Dylan, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
8. The Beach Boys, Surfin’ USA and Surfer Girl
9. Jimmy Smith, Back At The Chicken Shack
10. Koerner, Ray & Glover; Blues, Rags and Hollers (d)
11. The Dillards, Back Porch Bluegrass (d)
12. Roy Orbison, In Dreams
13. Peter, Paul And Mary, In The Wind and (Moving)
14. Thelonious Monk, Monk’s Dream
15. The Surfaris, Wipe Out (d)
16. Gerry & The Pacemakers, How Do You Like It (d)
17. Jackie McLean, Let Freedom Ring
18. Johnny Cash, Blood, Sweat and Tears
19. Marvin Gaye, That Stubborn Kinda’ Fellow
20. The Kingsmen, The Kingsmen In Person (d)