Yep, I'm really going to do it! Following up on my
two lists of my favorite movies for each year I've been alive, here is my stab at the same kind of list, but for albums instead.
I'm keeping this list much briefer: just my #1 pick and one runner-up, and that's it. Arbitrary rules: no reissues, no greatest hits compilations. Original albums in the original years they were released only.
Source:
mostly here. It's not perfect. There are a couple of omissions I noticed here and there. Such as: no mention of Hoyt Axton. What do you got against Hoyt Axton, the Internet??? Anyhoo, hopefully I can cobble together a genuinely representative list of my musical tastes from this and a couple other resources, along with the meager assistance of my memory.
1970: Neil Young,
After the Gold RushRunner-up: The Beatles,
Let It Be1971: The Who,
Who's NextRunner-up: The Doors,
L.A. Woman1972: Neil Young,
HarvestRunner-up: George Carlin,
Class Clown1973: Elton John,
Goodbye Yellow Brick RoadRunner-up: The Who,
Quadrophenia1974: Hoyt Axton,
Life MachineRunner-up: Joni Mitchell,
Court and Spark1975: Pink Floyd,
Wish You Were HereRunner-up: Bruce Springsteen,
Born To Run1976: Hoyt Axton,
FearlessRunner-up: Billy Joel,
Turnstiles1977: Pink Floyd,
AnimalsRunner-up: Fleetwood Mac,
Rumours1978: The Who,
Who Are YouRunner-up: Van Halen,
Van Halen1979: AC/DC,
Highway To HellRunner-up: The Clash,
London Calling1980: AC/DC,
Back in BlackRunner-up: Pete Townshend,
Empty Glass1981: Billy Joel,
Songs in the AtticRunner-up: Rush,
Moving Pictures1982: Pete Townshend,
All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese EyesRunner-up: Bruce Springsteen,
Nebraska1983: Huey Lewis & the News,
SportsRunner-up: Def Leppard,
PyromaniaMan, we are really into the '80s now!1984: Bruce Springsteen,
Born in the U.S.A.Runner-up: Van Halen,
19841985: John Cougar Mellencamp,
ScarecrowRunner-up: The Pogues,
Rum, Sodomy & the Lash1986: They Might Be Giants,
They Might Be GiantsRunner-up: Peter Gabriel,
So1987: Guns N' Roses,
Appetite For DestructionRunner-up: John Cougar Mellencamp,
The Lonesome Jubilee1988: Metallica,
...And Justice For AllRunner-up: They Might Be Giants,
Lincoln1989: Tom Petty,
Full Moon FeverRunner-up: Don Henley,
The End of the Innocence1990: They Might Be Giants,
FloodRunner-up: Sinead O'Connor,
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got1991: Red Hot Chili Peppers,
Blood Sugar Sex MagikRunner-up: Matthew Sweet,
Girlfriend1992: Barenaked Ladies,
GordonRunner-up: Lemonheads,
It's a Shame About Ray1993: Liz Phair,
Exile in GuyvilleRunner-up: Sheryl Crow,
Tuesday Night Music Club1994: Green Day,
DookieRunner-up: Bad Religion,
Stranger Than Fiction1995: Smashing Pumpkins,
Mellon Collie and the Infinite SadnessRunner-up: Alanis Morissette,
Jagged Little Pill1996: The Refreshments,
Fizzy Fuzzy Big & BuzzyRunner-up: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers,
She's the One1997: Foo Fighters,
The Colour and the ShapeRunner-up: Green Day,
Nimrod1998: The Offspring,
AmericanaRunner-up: Barenaked Ladies,
Stunt1999: Red Hot Chili Peppers,
CalifornicationRunner-up: The Pretenders,
¡Viva El Amor!2000: Barenaked Ladies,
MaroonRunner-up:
O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack
I think I may actually not own a single other album released in 2000.2001: Dropkick Murphys,
Sing Loud, Sing Proud!Runner-up: Tenacious D,
Tenacious D2002: Foo Fighters,
One By OneRunner-up: Bad Religion,
The Process of Belief2003: Fountains of Wayne,
Welcome Interstate ManagersRunner-up: Therapy?,
High Anxiety2004: Green Day,
American IdiotRunner-up: The Donnas,
Gold Medal2005: Foo Fighters,
In Your HonorRunner-up: Kathleen Edwards,
Back To Me2006: Tom Petty,
Highway CompanionRunner-up: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes,
Love Their Country2007: Foo Fighters,
Echoes, Silence, Patience & GraceRunner-up: Fountains of Wayne,
Traffic and Weather2008: Kathleen Edwards,
Asking For FlowersRunner-up: Foxboro Hot Tubs,
Stop Drop and Roll!!!
I'm probably overlooking a few of my faves by mistake. But that looks pretty good as is. I'd listen to that jukebox!
Some years were very difficult to narrow down -- I hated to have to leave out Sugar's brilliant
Copper Blue and Tori Amos's
Little Earthquakes for 1992, or Therapy?'s
Troublegum and They Might Be Giants'
John Henry for 1994. Some years, I had trouble finding a runner-up at all. Mostly 2000 and on. My music-buying dropped way off around that point.
And there are obviously a lot of names which kept popping up. A
lot. What can I say? I find what I like and I stick with it. Nothing wrong with that, dang it, so lay off. If you think you're so darn smart, why don't you go and make your own list?? Smart guy.
Labels: Bad Religion, Beatles, BNL, Foo Fighters, George Carlin, Green Day, Hoyt Axton, Joni, Lists, Music, Neil Young, Refreshments, Springsteen, The Who, TMBG, Tom Petty, Who's Next
