Uncut Magazine - 200 Greatest Albums Of All Time

corm500

Uncut Magazine has released its list of the 200 greatest albums of all time:


1. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds - 1966
2. The Beatles - Revolver - 1966
3. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks - 1968
4. The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico - 1967
5. The Beatles - The Beatles (White Album) - 1968
6. Love - Forever Changes - 1967
7. Bob Dylan - Blond On Blond - 1966
8. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead - 1986
9. Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited - 1965
10. Television - Marquee Moon - 1977
11. David Bowie - Hunky Dory - 1971
12. David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust - 1972
13. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On - 1971
14. Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue - 1959
15. The Beatles - Rubber Soul - 1965
16. The Rolling Stones - Exile On Main Street - 1972
17. The Band - The Band - 1969
18. Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks - 1975
19. David Bowie - Low - 1977
20. Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express - 1977
21. The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band - 1967
22. Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back - 1988
23. The Clash - London Calling - 1979
24. The Beatles - Abbey Road - 1969
25. Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love - 1985
26. The Clash - The Clash - 1977
27. The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers - 1971
28. The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed - 1969
29. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced - 1967
30. David Bowie - Stationtostation - 1976
31. Lou Reed - Transformer - 1972
32. Neil Young - After The Goldrush - 1970
33. Joni Mitchell - Blue - 1971
34. Neil Young - On The Beach - 1974
35. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme - 1965
36. Joy Division - Closer - 1980
37. The Kinks - The Kinks Are The Village Green Society - 1968
38. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless - 1991
39. Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home - 1965
40. Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom - 1974
41. Otis Redding - Otis Blue - 1965
42. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland - 1968
43. The Stooges - Fun House - 1970
44. Sly And The Family Stone - There's A Riot Going On - 1971
45. R.E.M. - Murmer - 1983
46. Michael Jackson - Off The Wall - 1979
47. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (IV) - 1971
48. Fairport Convention - Liege & Lief - 1969
49. Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life - 1976
50. Nick Drake - Bryter Layter - 1971
51. Carole King - Tapestry - 1971
52. The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground - 1969
53. Big Star - Third/Sister Lovers - 1978
54. The Velvet Underground - Loaded - 1970
55. Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks… - 1977
56. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses - 1989
57. Pink Floyd - Piper At The Gates Of Dawn - 1967
58. Blondie - Parallel Lines - 1978
59. Prince - Sign O The Times - 1987
60. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures - 1979
61. Primal Scream - Screamadalica - 1991
62. The Byrds - The Notorious Byrd Brothers - 1968
63. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours - 1977
64. David Crosby - If Only I Could Remember My Name - 1971
65. Orange Juice - You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever - 1982
66. The Band - Music From Big Pink - 1968
67. Stevie Wonder - Innervisions - 1973
68. James Brown - Live At The Apollo - 1963
69. New Order - Technique - 1989
70. Patti Smith - Horses - 1975
71. Joni Mitchell - Hejira - 1976
72. LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver - 2007
73. The Cure - Disintegration - 1989
74. Public Image Limited - Metal Box - 1979
75. Can - Ege Bamyasi - 1972
76. John Martyn - Solid Air - 1973
77. Steely Dan - Countdown To Ecstasy - 1973
78. The Byrds - Younger Than Yesterday - 1967
79. Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator) - 2001
80. The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat - 1968
81. Radiohead - In Rainbows - 2007
82. The Who - Who's Next - 1971
83. Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan - 1963
84. Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon - 1973
85. Jimi Hendrix - Axix: Bold As Love - 1967
86. Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star - 1973
87. Joni Mitchell - The Hissing Of Summer Lawns - 1975
88. Can - Tago Mago - 1971
89. Big Star - No1 Record - 1972
90. The Cure - Head On The Door - 1985
91. Neil Young - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere - 1969
92. Dusty Springfield - Dusty In Memphis - 1969
93. Radiohead - Ok Computer - 1997
94. U2 - Achtung Baby - 1991
95. The Flying Burrito Brothers - The Guided Palace Of Sin - 1969
96. Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run - 1975
97. The Cure - Pornography - 1982
98. The Incredible String Band - The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter - 1968
99. John Cale - Paris 1919 - 1973
100. Laura Nyro - Eli & The Thirteenth Confession - 1968
101. Radiohead - Kid A - 2000
102. Serge Gainsbourg - Histoire De Melody Nelson - 1971
103. Pulp - This Is Hardcore - 1998
104. Johnny Cash - At Falsom Prison - 1968
105. David Bowie - Diamond Dogs - 1974
106. Talking Heads - Remain In Light - 1980
107. Spiritualized - Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space - 1997
108. Talk Talk - Sprit Of Eden - 1988
109. The Only Ones - The Only Ones - 1978
110. The Congos - Heart Of The Congo’s - 1977
111. Joni Mitchell - Court & Spark - 1974
112. New Order - Power Corruption & Lies - 1983
113. The Slits - Cut - 1979
114. David Bowie - "Heroes" - 1977
115. Tom Waits - Rain Dogs - 1985
116. The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet - 1968
117. The Specials - The Specials - 1979
118. Suicide - Suicide - 1977
119. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew - 1970
120. Big Star - Radio City - 1974
121. Can - Future Days - 1973
122. Prince - Parade - 1986
123. Steely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill - 1972
124. Nirvana - In Utero - 1993
125. Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True - 1977
126. Nick Drake - Pink Moon - 1972
127. Chic - C'est Chic - 1978
128. The Byrds - Sweetheart Of The Rodeo - 1968
129. Curtis Mayfield - Curtis - 1970
130. Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs - 1970
131. The Isley Brothers - 3+3 - 1973
132. The Human League - Dare! - 1981
133. The Who - Live At Leeds - 1970
134. Bruce Springsteen - Darkness On The Edge Of Town - 1978
135. The Beach Boys - Surfs Up - 1971
136. Ramones - Ramones - 1976
137. AC/DC - Back In Black - 1980
138. Van Morrison - Moondance - 1970
139. Gang Of Four - Entertainment! - 1979
140. The Beastie Boys - Check Your Head - 1992
141. Portishead - Dummy - 1994
142. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation - 1988
143. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - Safe As Milk - 1967
144. Cocteau Twins - Heaven Or Las Vegas - 1990
145. Blur - Modern Life Is Rubbish - 1993
146. Pixies - Doolittle - 1989
147. Jeff Buckley - Grace - 1994
148. Miles Davis - In A Silent Way - 1969
149. The Beatles - A Hard Day’s Night - 1964
150. Massive Attack - Blue Lines - 1991
151. Daft Punk - Discovery - 2001
152. Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul - 1968
153. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti - 1975
154. The Associates - Sulk - 1982
155. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - The Boatman’s Call - 1997
156. Tricky - Maxinquaye - 1995
157. Bjork - Debut - 1993
158. The Fall - The Nation's Saving Grace - 1984
159. Leonard Cohen - Songs Of Love And Hate - 1971
160. The Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers - 1993
161. Tom Waits - Swardfishtrumbone - 1983
162. PJ Harvey - Rid Of Me - 1993
163. Neil Young - Tonight's The Night - 1975
164. The Cure - Seventeen Seconds - 1980
165. Brian Eno - Here Come The Warm Jets - 1974
166. GZA - Liquid Swords - 1995
167. Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92 - 1992
168. The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come - 1987
169. T.Rex - Electric Warrior - 1971
170. Laura Nyro - New York Tendaberry - 1969
171. Prince - Purple Rain - 1984
172. Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory? - 1995
173. John Lennon - John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band - 1970
174. Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure - 1973
175. My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything - 1988
176. Neil Young - Harvest - 1972
177. Super Furry Animals - Radiator - 1997
178. Black Sabbath - Paranoid - 1970
179. The Who - Tommy - 1969
180. Michael Jackson - Thriller - 1982
181. The Replacements - Tim - 1985
182. Amy Winehouse - Back To Black - 2006
183. Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left - 1969
184. Kraftwerk - The Man-Machine - 1978
185. David Bowie - The Man Who Saved The World - 1970
186. Charles Mingus - The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady - 1963
187. Donald Fagen - The Nightfly - 1982
188. Talking Heads - Fear Of Music - 1979
189. The Smiths - The Smiths - 1984
190. Prefab Sprout - Steve McQueen - 1985
191. The Who - The Who Sell Out - 1967
192. Gene Clarke - No Other - 1974
193. Johnny Cash - American Iv: The Man Comes Around - 2002
194. Joanna Newsom - Ys - 2006
195. T.Rex - The Slider - 1972
196. The Fall - Hex Enducation Hour - 1982
197. Todd Rundgren - Something/Anything? - 1972
198. Mercury Rev - Deserters Songs - 1998
199. Dr John: The Night Tripper - Gris-Gris - 1968
200. Elvis Costello - Imperial Bedroom - 1982


Well!! what do ye think?:D

DrumSteve

I think there is a distinct lack of metal on there.

Anesthetize

Predictable, predictable, predictable.

DrumSteve wrote: »

I think there is a distinct lack of metal on there.

Also this.

Predictable, lazy, and a bigger reflection on the people who compiles these lists than on any reality.

Without even looking at the artists I can tell by looking at the years - only two albums released more recently than 2006. Which means a) you could have written the same thing ten years ago with almost no change, and b) absolutely nothing has happened in the last ten years worthy of pushing Steely Fukcin' Dan off that list? Seriously?

I could probably write Uncut's top 200 album list for the year 2026 right now and have a 90% or better accuracy rate. But you know, then that would make me the lazy hack.

corm500

Can seem to be a bit over represented with 3 albums. I like them but....y'know

corm500

Deleted User wrote: »

absolutely nothing has happened in the last ten years worthy of pushing Steely Fukcin' Dan off that list? Seriously?

I know where you are coming from but Steely Dan should never be pushed off of any list, class act

Rigsby

These type of lists are always predictable. I'm surprised that anyone would give them a second thought.

The "greatest" albums of all time are the ones YOU like.

corm500

I find these list useful insofar as I might come across some new music, but with this list there is nothing new for me. What I find weird is that it's more or less the same lists from about 20 years ago.
One interesting thing about this top 200 is how far Sgt Pepper has fallen from favour. 20 years ago it was always popping up at the top of greatest album polls. Pet Sounds and Astral Weeks remain around the top though.

Relikk

DrumSteve wrote: »

I think there is a distinct lack of metal on there.

There's a good reason for that.

C.K Dexter Haven

2 albums from The Cure in the top 100??? :rolleyes:

The only thing these lists are any good for is seeing if there are albums you've over-looked or introducing you to new music; this is quite a poor example of an attempt at a greatest albums list though.

Anesthetize

C.K Dexter Haven wrote: »

2 albums from The Cure in the top 100??? :rolleyes:

The only thing these lists are any good for is seeing if there are albums you've over-looked or introducing you to new music; this is quite a poor example of an attempt at a greatest albums list though.

3 Cure albums in the top 100, and another just outside. But at least they ranked Disintegration highest.

stateofflux

predictable list with some dodgy stuff on it, MBV isnt anything should not even be in the top 5000 albums of all time...

agree with poster about metal ...the genre that never happened according to these safe music rags

DrumSteve

Relikk wrote: »

There's a good reason for that.

Which is?

Relikk

DrumSteve wrote: »

Which is?

The vast majority of Metal wouldn't be popular/mainstream enough or universally acceptable, in the same way you wouldn't see an Acid House or a Drum and Bass album in any of these lists, etc.

What, did you think I was going to say "Because it's shite"? :pac:

Anesthetize

Relikk wrote: »

The vast majority of Metal wouldn't be popular/mainstream enough or universally acceptable, in the same way you wouldn't see an Acid House or a Drum and Bass album in any of these lists, etc.

What, did you think I was going to say "Because it's shite"? :pac:

Even the typical metal stuff you'd get in these kind of lists is absent. Stuff from the likes of Metallica, Iron Maiden, Megadeth and Slayer would typically be more popular than a lot of stuff on that list. Not saying that popular equals better or anything but it just makes it evident that Uncut doesn't even consider metal.

fiachr_a

C.K Dexter Haven wrote: »

2 albums from The Cure in the top 100??? :rolleyes:

The only thing these lists are any good for is seeing if there are albums you've over-looked or introducing you to new music; this is quite a poor example of an attempt at a greatest albums list though.

The best thing about that list is The Associates. Even back in the 1980s they were forgotten or ignored.

cml387

Deleted User wrote: »

I could probably write Uncut's top 200 album list for the year 2026 right now and have a 90% or better accuracy rate. But you know, then that would make me the lazy hack.

Given that the concept of an "album" as we understood it is dead, you're probably correct.

GLaDOS

cml387 wrote: »

Given that the concept of an "album" as we understood it is dead, you're probably correct.

Can't say I agree with this. While it's obviously popular for a lot of people to just listen to individual songs on shuffle or whatnot, it doesn't mean artists aren't working to create well constructed albums.

As far as I'm concerned albums are the way music should be listened to and most of the music I listen to reflects this.

loyatemu

Anesthetize wrote: »

3 Cure albums in the top 100, and another just outside. But at least they ranked Disintegration highest.

Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me is their best, and it's not even on the list

is LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver really the best album of the 21st Century, and Gillian Welch the 2nd best? 8 of the top 10 are from the 60s, says a lot about Uncut's target market.

Arghus

Fairly predictable list really. Most of them are just different rearrangements, ranking whatever Beatles, Stones, Dylan, Beach Boys,Van, etc, etc release that you've read about a thousand times before. But with a slightly rejigged order.

Having said that, I did raise my eyebrows at a few things - OK Computer just about sneaking into the top 100. Thank Christ! It's a great album with great songs, but every time I see it topping some list I feel like screaming. Thankfully, they didn't put bloody My Bloody Valentine anywhere near the top ten - people may finally getting over confusing Kevin Shields with Jesus. Nice to see some Super Furry Animals in there, even if I think they have no real business being within miles of that list. There's always going to be a few curve balls to keep you turning the pages, I guess. Four different Bowie albums in the top thirty? He’s the man of the moment alright; if he can't make the list now, he's never going too.

Frankly, I'm surprised such a list exists in this day and age. I'd imagine most of the readership could conjure up one of their own of remarkable likeness if they had twenty minutes to spare, maybe after the kids have gone to bed- so what’s the point, really? It might only prove useful to someone young starting out in exploring the "classics", but from what I can gather the experience of actually listening to albums in their entirety is fast becoming an increasingly quaint past time.

Anesthetize

loyatemu wrote: »

Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me is their best, and it's not even on the list

is LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver really the best album of the 21st Century, and Gillian Welch the 2nd best? 8 of the top 10 are from the 60s, says a lot about Uncut's target market.

I'm a huge Cure fan but I think that Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me is their second worst 80's album after The Top. Some great tunes on it but they should have cut it down to a single album.

henryporter

How anyone can draw up a list of the 200 greatest albums of all time without any Elvis Presley, Robert Johnson, Frank Sinatra, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie, Son House, Joan Baez, Thelonious Monk, Frank Zappa, Smashing Pumpkins, The Police, Emmylou Harris, Queen, etc, etc is beyond me - would be interesting to see the criteria used to determine the list.

Am I the only person on the planet that absolutely hates the Beach Boys? Maybe I need to get over my predisposition and listen to Pet Sounds (having never done so in its entirety).

Too much emphasis on early Bob Dylan: 'Time out of mind' and 'Love and Theft' both comparable to anything other than 'Blonde on Blonde' and 'Highway 61 Revisited'.

Harry Palmr

Completely ludicrous list of great albums which in no way reflects anything other than the previous 1000 lists of greatest albums.

drugstore cowboy

henryporter wrote: »

Too much emphasis on early Bob Dylan: 'Time out of mind' and 'Love and Theft' both comparable to anything other than 'Blonde on Blonde' and 'Highway 61 Revisited'.

Time out of Mind for me is Bob's greatest album and the greatest album on love, loss & desperation I have ever heard.

henryporter

Gave 'Pet Sounds' a listen to see what I've been missing - WTF - deplorable muck altogether. Never again! That's Nr. 1 and 'Mellon Collie' ain't even in the 200?? :eek::mad:

UrbanSprawl

henryporter wrote: »

Gave 'Pet Sounds' a listen to see what I've been missing - WTF - deplorable muck altogether. Never again! That's Nr. 1 and 'Mellon Collie' ain't even in the 200?? :eek::mad:

Same,sure they have good songs but I never got why pet sounds is so highly rated,no doubt someone will tell us why. Siamese dream rules btw.

Released on May 16, 1966, it met a lukewarm critical and commercial reception in the United States, but received immediate success abroad, where British publications declared it "the most progressive pop album ever"

Anesthetize

henryporter wrote: »

'Mellon Collie' ain't even in the 200?? :eek::mad:

Must be all that filler.

Birneybau

DrumSteve wrote: »

I think there is a distinct lack of metal on there.

Never read Uncut magazine?

Their cover is usually: Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Sprinsteen, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, ....

Arghus

Birneybau wrote: »

Never read Uncut magazine?

Their cover is usually: Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Sprinsteen, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, ....

Don't forget Neil Young!

endacl

Endacl's list of the most pointless 'greatest <insert subject> of all time' list:

1. All of them.

If a magazine actually gas nothing to publish that month, maybe the staff should be given the month off.

Rigsby

endacl wrote: »

Endacl's list of the most pointless 'greatest <insert subject> of all time' list:

1. All of them.

If a magazine actually gas nothing to publish that month, maybe the staff should be given the month off.

I agree entirely. At the same time, it obviously serves a purpose when you see the amount of ... "why isn't X Y Z included....X is only rated number 20..." type of discussion going on.