Ian Biles
Apple Music released a list of the top 100 albums of all time. This is the top 25 of that list, reordered how I would have done it.
1. Stevie Wonder, “Songs in the Key of Life”: This is the best record on this list. This album has dance tracks, deep cuts, beautiful guitar solos, and zero skips in an hour and forty-five minutes of runtime. On top of being flawless, this is a record by a blind man, making it that much more incredible. This record’s impact on Jazz, Funk, and Soul is greater than any other record on this list. Popular Hip-hop songs such as Coolio’s “Gangster's Paradise” and Jay-Z’s “Smile” use prevalent samples from songs in this album, further showing its cultural impact. This record is in my top 5 all-time because it truly is an amazing work of art, and it wholeheartedly deserves number one on my list.
2. Fleetwood Mac, “Rumors”: “Rumors” is one of my favorite records. This album does every genre it attempts to do, perfectly. There is no weak spot on this record, from classic rock songs like “The Chain”, or piano folk ballads like my favorite track “Songbirds”. The album is a 40-minute listen full of songs written and sung by band members, attacking other members. To me, this fact gives an already enjoyable album an element of humor, and for that, I’m placing it at number 2.
3. Prince, “Purple Rain”: Prince's sixth studio album is, without a doubt, one of the most impactful records of all time, in any genre. The synth-heavy pop-rock album manages to fill its forty-three-minute runtime with everything from beautiful guitar solos over slow drums and bass to emotional, high-flying rock songs like “When Doves Cry”. Written for a musical by the same name, the album is a theatrical listen with frequent changes in style and pace. Prince wrote, produced, and played almost all of the instruments on the album’s original release, only using backup bands out of necessity. This album's impact on culture, fashion, and music is massive and undeniable, making it the perfect album for number 3 on my list.
4. Michael Jackson, “thriller”: “Thriller”, Michael Jackson’s sixth studio album as a solo artist is his Magnum Opus. Released in 1962, this album showcases Jackson’s iconic upbeat style. Consistency is a large part of why this album is so great, Jackson’s infectious hooks on songs such as “Bad” and “Billie Jean” bring unmatched energy to the project. Jackson also shows versatility in ballad-like songs such as “The Girl Is Mine”, a track that features the legendary Paul McCartney. Overall, this album’s massive cultural impact and popularity, combined with its skillful production make it a perfect album for number 4 on my list.
5. Marvin Gaye, “What’s Going On”: Marvin Gaye is one of the greatest soul singers of all time, and this album’s impact on soul music is undeniable. The opening track, “What’s Going On” immerses the listener in Gaye’s thoughts about the civil rights movements. This song sets the tone for the album's main theme, Gaye’s call for a cease of hatred in America. Through powerful lyricism and diverse production, Gaye paints a picture of people’s divided thoughts about conflicts such as the Vietnam War, and the civil rights movement. This album checks all the boxes: impact, replay value, and popularity. This album is perfect, it deserves number 5.
6. The Beatles, “Abbey Road”: This album is possibly the most popular, and best record from the Beatles legendary discography. This album is the single most impactful rock album ever, and it could easily be ranked above the albums in the top five. This album’s impact is seen within this top 25 list, such as “Rumors”. This record is excellent, and it comes in repectively at number 6.
7. Joni Mitchell, “Blue”: Being one of the albums I hadn't heard before making this list, I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it. I knew the name Joni Mitchell but hadn’t heard any of her songs before I listened to “Blue”. This record is folk music at its finest, with Mitchell’s iconic voice shining over acoustic guitars and pianos. Standout tracks were “California” and “Blue”. I loved this record.
8. Lauryn Hill, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”: This album was number one on Apple’s list, and while it is a 10/10 album, I don’t feel that it deserved the top spot. This album is a melting pot of genres, with obvious inspiration from soul, reggae, and R&B. Hill tells about her “miseducation” on topics like love, and how it has hurt her in her adult life. She often refers to her ex-boyfriend and former bandmate Wyclef Jean in songs such as “Ex Factor”, and “I Used to Love Him”. With great storytelling, catchy songs, 10/10 album, it easily fills the number 8 spot.
9. Dr. Dre, “The Chronic”: One of only 2 Dr. Dre “solo” projects, “The Chronic” is a lesson on consistency. Dr. Dre uses a feature on every song on this album, Empoying legends such as Snoop Dogg, and RBX for hooks and verses. This Album is Dr. Dre at his peak, and the production shows that, with beats sometimes outshining his rapping. There's a reason this record is considered the pinnacle of West Coast hip-hop.
10. Daft Punk, “Discovery”: Revolutionary is the first word that comes to mind when I think of French electronic duo Daft Punk’s 2001 album “Discovery”. The duo’s second album features a revolution in club and EDM music through distorted vocals and varying drum patterns. My standout tracks for the album were “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” famously sampled on Kanye West’s 2007 song “Stronger”, and “Aerodynamic”, a flowing instrumental song full of masterful guitar, drums, and synth. Even though EDM isn’t for everyone, “Discovery’s” impact on the genre is undeniable, coming in the number 10 spot.
11. Radiohead, “OK Computer”: An extremely unique album from a band that can't be recreated, “OK Computer” is Radiohead’s best album. The album’s sound itself is an experience, but strong messages of grief and mental health help this album shine. The album sounds like a dystopia, with frayed guitars, loud cymbals, and singing that sometimes gets covered by the cacophony of background noise. “OK, Computer” is an intentionally crafted album, with songs having double and triple meanings. My standout tracks are “Exit Music For A Film, Paranoid Android”, and “No Surprises”. Overall, this album is well-crafted and impactful, landing it in the middle at number 11.
12. Frank Ocean, “Blonde”: A more recent album that makes Apple’s list is Frank Ocean’s second studio album 2016’s “Blonde”. “Blonde” is a deeply emotional album that centers on the complex emotions that come with relationships. The album is masterfully crafted, with a versatile 17-song tracklist that hooks the listener from the first seconds of the opener “Nikes” to the end of the closing track “Futura Free”. This album features production I can only describe as ethereal. “Blonde” manages to deliver a completely detached and personal listening experience, while also providing replay value in individual songs. However, recency bias is apparent in Apple Music’s number 5 ranking, as I believe this album deserved number 12.
13. David Bowie, “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars”: This album is weird. One of the albums on this list I listened to for the first time for this article, I found its strangeness refreshing. On first listen, this album seems like a well done, yet 2D, pop rock album that is the standard for the era of its release. However, the album has a surprising amount of depth for returning listeners to find. My standout tracks were “Starman” and “Five Years”.
14. Beyonce, “Lemonade”: “Lemonade” is a fluid album full of hits. Beyonce shows off her flawless vocals behind Colombia Record’s impressive production team and creates a great addition to her large discography. Standout songs were “Sandcastles”, “Six Inch Heels”, and “Freedom”. This is a solid record at number 14.
15. Bob Dylan, “Highway 61 Revisited”: I hate Bob Dylan's voice. It's grating, and often just sounds off in his songs. However, despite this, “Highway 61 Revisited” is an impactful record that deserves a spot on this list. Standout tracks on this record were “Ballad of a Thin Man”, “Like a Rolling Stone”, and “Desolation Row”. This record tells a story about Dylan’s struggles and the struggles of many people during the sixties. I can’t enjoy his voice, but his musical talent can’t be denied.
16. Nirvana, “Nevermind”: Nirvana’s second studio album made an entire genre of rock accessible to the general public. This record is very up and down, hits like “Smells like Teen Spirit, and Come As You Are” carry this listener through some of the less polished tracks such as the closing track, “Endless, Nameless”. Overall this album's impact on pop culture and grunge is undeniable, and most of the album is great, giving it number 16.
17. The Beatles, “Revolver”: “Revolver” is another notable addition to the Beatles discography. This album gives a refreshing reboot to the famous Beatles sound, adding a sitar, and a folksier more Americanised feel. Standout tracks were, “Yellow Submarine”, and “And Our Bird Can Sing”. Overall, this is a remarkably consistent-sounding album that evolved the Beatle's sound.
18. The Beach Boys, “Pet Sounds”: The Beach Boys were able to provide a classic album while also finding their niche in the competitive music scene of the sixties. The unique album combines barbershop quintet-esque vocals with Beatles-esque guitar and drums. Standout tracks were “I’m Waiting for the Day, and Don’t Talk (Put Your Hand on My Shoulder)”. It is a great album that only has this placement because of some inconsistency later on.
19.Miles Davis, “Kind of Blue”: Miles Davis is a pillar of jazz music, and “Kind of Blue” is a cornerstone of his legendary discography. Davis’s 1959 album is a masterclass in simplicity and doing small things perfectly. Being an early quintet-era Davis album, the influence of classic jazz is evident. Songs such as the track “Blue in Green”, showcase Davis and bandmate John Coltrane’s legendary and unique soloing chops. “Kind of Blue” was the second Davis album in two years that pushed Jazz music away from bebop and back into melodic ballads. However, many seasoned Jazz listeners found most of the album to be overrated and rebuked its status as Davis’s magnum opus. I find that “Kind of Blue” serves as the perfect introduction to jazz, but I don’t find myself going back to it often. It deserves number 19.
20. Kendrick Lamar, “Good Kid, m.A.A.d City (deluxe version)”: While Apple picked the wrong album to represent Kendrick Lamar on the top 25 list, this album is still amazing. Lamar crafts a faultless, fluid storyline about his life in Compton with production and beats from the legendary Dr. DRE, among others. There is not a miss on the original version of the album, however, some of the bonus tracks found in the deluxe version can seem like pointless additions to an already long album. The added tracks pale in comparison to tracks such as Lamar’s emotional near 13-minute odyssey, “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst”, My favorite track on the album, or the braggadocious flows and infectious beat of “m.A.A.d City”. My issue with this album being this high on the Apple list is that it doesn’t do many things differently, just better. This album's cultural impact is also a step below others on this list, placing it at number 20.
21. Bruce Springsteen's “Born to Run”: “Classic rock”’s Magna Carta album defined the seventies. A significant improvement from his previous two albums, Springsteen was finally able to combine storytelling with epic instrumentals in a way that sounded fluid. This album shows off Springsteen’s impressive vocal chops with songs such as the eight-minute epic “Jungleland”. However, this album sounds repetitive and long. Overall this album is iconic, but it falls in the lower section of this list at number 21.
22. Taylor Swift, “1989”: This record is full of classic dance hits, but that's about it. “1989” certainly has popularity, but it’s not doing a ton on the musical impact side. While most of the tracks individually work, the album feels more like a compilation of singles than a fluid body of work. Standout tracks were “Bad Blood and Blank Space”. It is not a bad album, but it is a simplistic one that doesn’t revolutionize anything in the pop space.
23. Adele, “21”: Adele is an extremely impressive vocalist, but her placement in the top 25 is odd. I don’t listen a lot to the genre of music that Adele sings, but I recognize her talent and passion. Standout tracks were, “Turning Tables”, and “Rolling In The Deep”. It is not a bad album, but it does fetch a bottom spot at number 23.
24. Jay-Z, “The Blueprint”: “The Blueprint” isn’t bad by any means, however, I don’t feel like it deserves a spot on this list. This album is long, and is carried heavily by hits like “Renegade” and “Ain’t No Love (Heart of the City)”. This album is too long, and it gets repetitive but is by no means a bad record.
25. Amy Winehouse, “Back to Black”: This was the only record on this list I actively disliked. I found that, although Winehouse has singing talent, her writing is lackluster and boring. Every single song on this short 34-minute album revolves around three things: Winehouse's alcoholism and her refusal to acknowledge it, her ex-boyfriend who “wronged her”, or how society set her up to fail and that she can’t do anything about it. There are dozens of vocal jazz records that are better and more complete than this mess, and the fact that this album made it above the likes of Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald is ridiculous. This album deserves the bottom spot at number 25.
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