1980s
1980
1 PRETENDERS - Pretenders
2 GET HAPPY!! - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
3 UNDERWATER MOONLIGHT - The Soft Boys
4 I JUST CAN'T STOP IT - The English Beat
5 REMAIN IN LIGHT - Talking Heads
6 CROCODILES - Echo and the Bunnymen
7 SEARCHING FOR THE YOUNG SOUL REBELS - Dexy's Midnight Runners
8 THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS - The Psychedelic Furs
9 WALL OF VOODOO e.p. - Wall of Voodoo
10 BLACK SEA - XTC
11 CRAZY RHYTHMS - The Feelies
12 FREEDOM OF CHOICE - Devo
13 SCARY MONSTERS - David Bowie
14 LOS ANGELES - X
15 LIKE FLIES ON SHERBERT - Alex Chilton
16 METAL BOX (SECOND EDITION) - Public Image Ltd.
17 LONDON CALLING - The Clash
18 DOUBLE FANTASY - John Lennon
19 CATHOLIC BOY - Jim Carroll Band
20 CLOSER - Joy Division
1981
1 STANDS FOR DECIBELS - The dB's
2 TRUST - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
3 PRETENDERS II - Pretenders
4 IT'S A CONDITION - Romeo Void
5 SIGNALS, CALLS AND MARCHES - Mission of Burma
6 NON-STOP EROTIC CABARET - Soft Cell
7 WILD GIFT - X
8 TATTOO YOU - The Rolling Stones
9 THE ADVENTURES OF GRANDMASTER FLASH ON THE WHEELS OF STEEL - Grandmaster Flash
10 BEAUTY AND THE BEAT - The Go-Go's
11 TOM TOM CLUB - Tom Tom Club
12 NO REGRETS - SVT
13 HARD PROMISES - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
14 OF SKINS AND HEART - The Church
15 DANGEROUS ACQUAINTANCES - Marianne Faithfull
16 HONI SOIT - John Cale
17 KINGS OF THE WILD FRONTIER - Adam and the Ants
18 STREET SONGS - Rick James
19 DAMAGED - Black Flag
20 BLACK SNAKE DIAMOND ROLE - Robyn Hitchcock
1982
1 IMPERIAL BEDROOM - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
2 THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES - The Dream Syndicate
3 REPERCUSSION - The dB's
4 CHRONIC TOWN e.p. - REM
5 THE DREAMING - Kate Bush
6 ENGLISH SETTLEMENT - XTC
7 BIG SCIENCE - Laurie Anderson
8 AVALON - Roxy Music
9 GOOD CLEAN FUN - Bonnie Hayes and the Wild Combo
10 1999 - Prince
11 THRILLER - Michael Jackson
12 HEARTBEATS AND TRIGGERS - Translator
13 SPECIAL BEAT SERVICE - The English Beat
14 SHOOT OUT THE LIGHTS - Richard and Linda Thompson
15 GREEN ON RED e.p. - Green On Red
16 LIFE IN A DAY - Simple Minds
17 THE SALVATION ARMY - The Salvation Army
18 IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE - Chris Stamey
19 NEVER SAY NEVER e.p. - Romeo Void
20 COMBAT ROCK - The Clash
1983
1 MURMUR - REM
2 SIXTEEN TAMBOURINES - The Three O'Clock
3 AFOOT e.p. - Let's Active
4 BANGLES e.p. - Bangles
5 LEARNING TO CRAWL - Pretenders
6 EMERGENCY THIRD RAIL POWER TRIP - The Rain Parade
7 METAL CIRCUS - Husker Du
8 THE VIOLENT FEMMES - The Violent Femmes
9 SHOCK WAVES - Katrina and the Waves
10 THE CROSSING - Big Country
11 LET'S DANCE - David Bowie
12 POWER, CORRUPTION AND LIES - New Order
13 SPEAKING IN TONGUES - Talking Heads
14 SYNCHRONICITY - The Police
15 EVERYTHING AT ONCE - Plimsouls
16 SHE'S SO UNUSUAL - Cyndi Lauper
17 BEAUTY AND SADNESS e.p. - The Smithereens
18 TRUE WEST e.p. - True West
19 HOOTENANNY - The Replacements
20 THE MEDICINE SHOW - The Dream Syndicate
1984
1 PURPLE RAIN - Prince
2 LET IT BE - The Replacements
3 ALL OVER THE PLACE - Bangles
4 THE SMITHS - The Smiths
5 CYPRESS - Let's Active
6 LIKE THIS - The dB's
7 RECKONING - REM
8 I OFTEN DREAM OF TRAINS - Robyn Hitchcock
9 MEAT PUPPETS II - Meat Puppets
10 KENDRA SMITH, DAVID ROBACK, KEITH MITCHELL e.p. - Kendra Smith, David Roback, Keith Mitchell
11 BUILDING THE PERFECT BEAST - Don Henley
12 INSTANT EXCITEMENT e.p. - Chris Stamey
13 OCEAN RAIN - Echo and the Bunnymen
14 PRIVATE DANCER - Tina Turner
15 ZEN ARCADE - Husker Du
16 LOVE AND POLITICS - The X-Teens
17 PLACES THAT ARE GONE e.p. - Tommy Keene
18 THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE - U2
19 BORN IN THE U.S.A - Bruce Springsteen
20 SLUGBUCKETHAIRYMONSTERBREATH - Tall Dwarfs
1985
1 WALKING IN THE SHADOW OF THE BIG MAN - Guadalcanal Diary
2 EXPLORING THE AXIS - Thin White Rope
3 ARRIVE WITHOUT TRAVELING - The Three O'Clock
4 MEAT IS MURDER - The Smiths
5 FEGMANIA - Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians
6 CINEMA VERITE - Dramarama
7 FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION - REM
8 UP ON THE SUN - Meat Puppets
9 TRANSLATE SLOWLY - Zeitgeist
10 THIS NATION'S SAVING GRACE - The Fall
11 OIL AND GOLD - Shriekback
12 PSYCHOCANDY - The Jesus and Mary Chain
13 LITTLE CREATURES - Talking Heads
14 FLIP YOUR WIG - Husker Du
15 SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR - Tears For Fears
16 TELEPHONE FREE LANDSLIDE VICTORY - Camper Van Beethoven
17 ROCKIN' AND ROMANCE - Jonathan Richman
18 RAIN DOGS - Tom Waits
19 STEVE McQUEEN (TWO WHEELS GOOD) - Prefab Sprout
20 DIFFERENT LIGHT - Bangles
1986
1 BIG PLANS FOR EVERYBODY - Let's Active
2 IN EXCELSIOR DAYGLO - Christmas
3 FREE DIRT - Died Pretty
4 LIFES RICH PAGEANT - REM
5 BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
6 SKYLARKING - XTC
7 ESPECIALLY FOR YOU - The Smithereens
8 THE QUEEN IS DEAD - The Smiths
9 KING OF AMERICA - Elvis Costello
10 CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN - Camper Van Beethoven
11 ALL NIGHT LOTUS PARTY - Volcano Suns
12 BROTHERHOOD - New Order
13 ALBUM - Public Image Ltd.
14 RUN - The Windbreakers
15 JAMBOREE - Guadalcanal Diary
16 HEYDAY - The Church
17 ELEMEN OPEE ELPEE - LMNOP
18 GRACELAND - Paul Simon
19 ELEMENT OF LIGHT - Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians
20 PARADE - Prince
1987
1 DOCUMENT - REM
2 THE OPHELIAS - The Ophelias
3 MOONHEAD - Thin White Rope
4 IT'S ALRIGHT - Chris Stamey
5 STRANGEWAYS, HERE WE COME - The Smiths
6 BRAVE WORDS - The Chills
7 PLEASED TO MEET ME - The Replacements
8 BOYLAN HEIGHTS - The Connells
9 SIGN "O" THE TIMES - Prince
10 ALONE WITH DADDY - Daddy In His Deep Sleep
11 THE SOUND OF MUSIC - The dB's
12 KISS ME KISS ME KISS ME - The Cure
13 COME ON PILGRIM e.p. - Pixies
14 EARTH, SUN, MOON - Love and Rockets
15 HAPPY? - Public Image Ltd.
16 CLOUD NINE - George Harrison
17 THE JOSHUA TREE - U2
18 THE TURNING - Leslie Phillips
19 IN THE DARK - The Grateful Dead
20 THE IDEAL COPY - Wire
1988
1 NOTHING'S SHOCKING - Jane's Addiction
2 THE INDESCRIBABLE WOW - Sam Phillips
3 DIESEL AND DUST - Midnight Oil
4 LINCOLN - They Might Be Giants
5 EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY - Let's Active
6 DAYDREAM NATION - Sonic Youth
7 A BELL IS A CUP UNTIL IT IS STRUCK - Wire
8 SURFER ROSA - Pixies
9 BLUE BELL KNOLL - Cocteau Twins
10 STORYTELLING - Jonathan Segel
11 THE LION AND THE COBRA - Sinead O'Connor
12 OUR BELOVED REVOLUTIONARY SWEETHEART - Camper Van Beethoven
13 SISTER DOUBLE HAPPINESS - Sister Double Happiness
14 GREEN - REM
15 MY NATION UNDERGROUND - Julian Cope
16 VIVID - Living Color
17 GLOBE OF FROGS - Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians
18 THE REAL THING - Faith No More
19 TRACY CHAPMAN - Tracy Chapman
20 LET IT BEE - Voice of the Beehive
1989
1 DOOLITTLE - Pixies
2 CLOUDLAND - Pere Ubu
3 KITE - Kirsty MacColl
4 ORANGES AND LEMONS - XTC
5 COSMIC THING - The B-52's
6 THREE FEET HIGH AND RISING - De La Soul
7 QUEEN ELVIS - Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians
8 SPIKE - Elvis Costello
9 THE RAW AND THE COOKED - Fine Young Cannibals
10 THE BIG O - The Ophelias
11 BONA DRAG - Morrissey
12 13 SONGS - Fugazi
13 THE STONE ROSES - The Stone Roses
14 ULTRAPROPHETS OF THEE PSYKICK REVOLUTION - Christmas
15 MOTHER'S MILK - Red Hot Chili Peppers
16 WORKBOOK - Bob Mould
17 BLEACH - Nirvana
18 TIN MACHINE - Tin Machine
19 FREEDOM - Neil Young
20 HEAD - The Jesus Lizard
1990s
1990
1 SUBMARINE BELLS - The Chills
2 THE LA'S - The La's
3 BOSSA NOVA - Pixies
4 CHANCE - The Rave-Ups
5 DEAR 23 - The Posies
6 PERFECT SOUND FOREVER e.p. - Pavement
7 FEAR OF A BLACK PLANET - Public Enemy
8 A CATHOLIC EDUCATION - Teenage Fanclub
9 BELLYBUTTON - Jellyfish
10 SLOW - The Sneetches
11 RITUAL DE LO HABITUAL - Jane's Addiction
12 SACK FULL OF SILVER - Thin White Rope
13 RAGGED GLORY - Neil Young and Crazy Horse
14 HERE COMES THE GROOM - John Wesley Harding
15 BRICK BY BRICK - Iggy Pop
16 SOME FRIENDLY - Charlatans U.K.
17 FLOOD - They Might Be Giants
18 MEET THE BUNNY KING e.p. - The Billy Nayer Show
19 GOO - Sonic Youth
20 SEIZURE - Chris Knox
1991
1 NEVERMIND - Nirvana
2 BANDWAGONESQUE - Teenage Fanclub
3 LOVELESS - My Bloody Valentine
4 TROMPE LE MONDE - Pixies
5 BEYOND THE JAVA SEA - Metal Flake Mother
6 PEGGY SUICIDE - Julian Cope
7 GIRLFRIEND - Matthew Sweet
8 WORLDS IN COLLISION - Pere Ubu
9 OUT OF TIME - REM
10 SPOOKY - Lush
11 LEISURE - Blur
12 SEBADOH III - Sebadoh
13 DOUBT - Jesus Jones
14 JUNGLE FEVER (Soundtrack) - Stevie Wonder
15 EVERCLEAR - American Music Club
16 GENTLE - Anton Barbeau and the Joy Boys
17 SPIDERLAND - Slint
18 TEN - Pearl Jam
19 RUMOUR AND SIGH - Richard Thompson
20 DE LA SOUL IS DEAD - De La Soul
1992
1 AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE - REM
2 COPPER BLUE - Sugar
3 SLANTED AND ENCHANTED - Pavement
4 DRY - P.J. Harvey
5 RACKET - Sneakers
6 STULL e.p. - Urge Overkill
7 SWEET OBLIVION - The Screaming Trees
8 SWITCHED ON - Stereolab
9 POND - Pond
10 HORSESHOES AND HAND GRENADES - Chris Mars
11 APOLLO 18 - They Might Be Giants
12 PALOMINE - Bettie Serveert
13 LITTLE EARTHQUAKES - Tori Amos
14 IT'S A SHAME ABOUT RAY - Lemonheads
15 THE CHRONIC - Dr. Dre
16 & THE FALL OF THE MOPSQUEEZER! - Flop
17 WATERY, DOMESTIC e.p. - Pavement
18 HEY BABE - Juliana Hatfield
19 3 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AND 2 DAYS IN THE LIFE OF ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT - Arrested Development
20 TELEVISION - Television
1993
1 EXILE IN GUYVILLE - Liz Phair
2 WHATEVER - Aimee Mann
3 FROSTING ON THE BEATER - The Posies
4 SATURATION - Urge Overkill
5 IN UTERO - Nirvana
6 FRANK BLACK - Frank Black
7 WHENEVER YOU'RE READY - Flop
8 STAR - Belly
9 BRING IT DOWN - Madder Rose
10 VORTEX - Christmas
11 SPILT MILK - Jellyfish
12 TELL IT TO YOURSELF - Matt Keating
13 SIAMESE DREAM - Smashing Pumpkins
14 LAST SPLASH - The Breeders
15 SUEDE - Suede
16 THIRTEEN - Teenage Fanclub
17 TOREADOR OF LOVE - Hazel
18 ICKY METTLE - Archers of Loaf
19 IN THRALL - Murray Attaway
20 MILLION SELLER - The Pooh Sticks
1994
1 BEE THOUSAND - Guided By Voices
2 BRUTAL YOUTH - Elvis Costello
3 WHIP-SMART - Liz Phair
4 WEEZER - Weezer
5 CROOKED RAIN, CROOKED RAIN - Pavement
6 TEENAGER OF THE YEAR - Frank Black
7 CARDINAL - Cardinal
8 AMERICAN THIGHS - Veruca Salt
9 MONSTER - REM
10 DEFINITELY MAYBE - Oasis
11 MELLOW GOLD - Beck
12 UNDER THE PINK - Tori Amos
13 INCONSIDERATE BITCH e.p. - Lisa Germano
14 SUPERUNKNOWN - Soundgarden
15 EVERYBODY'S GOT ONE - Echobelly
16 LIVE THROUGH THIS - Hole
17 TEENAGE SYMPHONIES TO GOD - Velvet Crush
18 BAKESALE - Sebadoh
19 ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY - Lenny Kravitz
20 MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS - Eugenius
1995
1 I'M WITH STUPID - Aimee Mann
2 BEN FOLDS FIVE - Ben Folds Five
3 WOWEE ZOWEE - Pavement
4 FOO FIGHTERS - Foo Fighters
5 (WHAT'S THE STORY?) MORNING GLORY - Oasis
6 ELASTICA - Elastica
7 ON - Echobelly
8 SPARKLE AND FADE - Everclear
9 WATERBUGS AND BEETLES - Anton Barbeau
10 MELLON COLLIE AND THE INFINITE SADNESS - Smashing Pumpkins
11 BLONDER AND BLONDER - The Muffs
12 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - Presidents of the United States of America
13 IT'S HEAVY IN HERE - Eric Matthews
14 RADIO JEJUNE - The Sugarplastic
15 PLEASURE e.p. - Semisonic
16 WHAT FUN LIFE WAS - Bedhead
17 ONLY EVERYTHING - Juliana Hatfield
18 VEE VEE - Archers of Loaf
19 ALIEN LANES - Guided By Voices
20 JESUS WEPT - P.M. Dawn
1996
1 FIRST BAND ON THE MOON - The Cardigans
2 ONE MISSISSIPPI - Brendan Benson
3 AMAZING DISGRACE - The Posies
4 AIN'T MY LOOKOUT - Grifters
5 UNDER THE BUSHES UNDER THE STARS - Guided By Voices
6 HARMACY - Sebadoh
7 ON AVERY ISLAND - Neutral Milk Hotel
8 FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE - Fountains of Wayne
9 COLOR OUT OF SPACE - The Favorite Color
10 MOSS ELIXIR - Robyn Hitchcock
11 NEW ADVENTURES IN HI-FI - REM
12 JASON FALKNER PRESENTS AUTHOR UNKNOWN - Jason Falkner
13 MUSIC FOR THE UNREALIZED FILM SCRIPT 'DUSK AT CUBIST CASTLE' - The Olivia Tremor Control
14 THE FUN OF WATCHING FIREWORKS - American Analog Set
15 THE BURDENS OF BEING UPRIGHT - Tracy Bonham
16 BANG, THE EARTH IS ROUND - The Sugarplastic
17 BOB MOULD - Bob Mould
18 NOT IN MY AIRFORCE - Robert Pollard
19 THE GREAT DIVIDE - Semisonic
20 UPGRADE AND AFTERLIFE - Gastr del Sol
1997
1 EITHER/OR - Elliott Smith
2 IF YOU'RE FEELING SINISTER - Belle and Sebastian
3 POST MINSTREL SYNDROME - The Negro Problem
4 O.K. COMPUTER - Radiohead
5 SLUGGO! - Mike Keneally & Beer For Dolphins
6 FLAMING PIE - Paul McCartney
7 TONE SOUL EVOLUTION - The Apples In Stereo
8 BRIGHTEN THE CORNERS - Pavement
9 MAG EARWHIG! - Guided By Voices
10 STANDING STONE - Paul McCartney
11 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WE ARE FLOATING IN SPACE - Spiritualized
12 I CAN HEAR THE HEART BEATING AS ONE - Yo La Tengo
13 THIS SOUNDS LIKE GOODBYE - Ken Stringfellow
14 RETREAT FROM THE SUN - That Dog
15 SONGS FROM NORTHERN BRITAIN - Teenage Fanclub
16 THE COLOR AND THE SHAPE - Foo Fighters
17 YOUNG TEAM - Mogwai
18 KON TIKI - Cotton Mather
19 TIME OUT OF MIND - Bob Dylan
20 IN IT FOR THE MONEY - Supergrass
1998
1 WHITECHOCOLATESPACEEGG - Liz Phair
2 XO - Elliott Smith
3 ACCELERATOR - Royal Trux
4 UP - REM
5 MUTATIONS - Beck
6 FEELING STRANGELY FINE - Semisonic
7 HOW IT FEELS TO BE SOMETHING ON - Sunny Day Real Estate
8 BRIGHT SIDE - John Easdale
9 GIRL BROS. - Girl Bros.
10 CORNERSTONE - Richard X. Heyman
11 MEZZANINE - Massive Attack
12 RUFUS WAINWRIGHT - Rufus Wainwright
13 IN THE AEROPLANE OVER THE SEA - Neutral Milk Hotel
14 SUCCESS - The Posies
15 CAR WHEELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD - Lucinda Williams
16 APARTMENT LIFE - Ivy
17 OVERCOME BY HAPPINESS - Pernice Brothers
18 THE BOY WITH THE ARAB STRAP - Belle and Sebastian
19 EL OSO - Soul Coughing
20 THE LAST DOG AND PONY SHOW - Bob Mould
1999
1 69 LOVE SONGS - Magnetic Fields
2 JOYS AND CONCERNS - The Negro Problem
3 THE SOFT BULLETIN - The Flaming Lips
4 HOURS... - David Bowie
5 MAGNOLIA SOUNDTRACK - Aimee Mann
6 THE UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY OF REINHOLD MESSNER - Ben Folds Five
7 ANOMIE & BONHOMIE - Scritti Politti
8 BLACK FOLIAGE - The Olivia Tremor Control
9 CAN YOU STILL FEEL - Jason Falkner
10 A SPLENDID TRAY - Anton Barbeau
11 TERROR TWILIGHT - Pavement
12 THE 3-WAY - Lilys
13 DO THE COLLAPSE! - Guided By Voices
14 APPLE VENUS - XTC
15 UTOPIA PARKWAY - Fountains of Wayne
16 APPLESAUCER - Applesaucer
17 THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE - Foo Fighters
18 MULE VARIATIONS - Tom Waits
19 CAREFUL HOW YOU GO - The Solipsistics
20 CALIFORNICATION - Red Hot Chili Peppers
If you have too much cash, or too much bandwidth (and no remorse
), you could do worse than to use that list as a rough guideline to 'things to own'.
X.