Tops of the Pops

1. Deadsy - Commencement--This album influenced my novel more than any other. It got lumped into the "Nu-Metal" category rather unfairly.

2. Alice in Chains - Dirt-- The first one my mom took away from me in HS--my introduction to devil music.

3. Pink Floyd - Darkside of the Moon--Best ever. To be fair, I didn't want to double up to get variety on this list--but every album after Meddle (Wall, Animals, Wish You Were Here) are all superior albums--best streak in Rock history in my opinion.

4. Nirvana - In Utero--Nevermind was good, but uneven. In Utero added a little fuzz and Steve Albini, pretentious as the bloke is, did a damn good job "recording" Cobain's last album.

5. Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights--This album summed up what it meant to live in a post-9/11 world.

6...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - Madonna--This is and the Source Tags and Codes album are the closest thing any American group has done to mirror the Pink Floyd aesthetic.

7. Tool - Aenima--A successful prog album in the days of Bush and 311.

8. Blur - Blur--Cut the brit-pop out of their act like a gangrene arm with a darker, indie feel.

9. Failure - Fantastic Planet--Saw these guys open for Tool not long after Aenima came out. Best two albums of the late nineties--but I think I like this one a little better.

10. Deftones - Around the Fur--To be truthful, White Pony is probably superior, but this one got me through summer-skool statistics.

11. Beck - Mellow Gold--Better than Odelay. Loser is effed out!

12. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours--Probably the most perfect album ever recorded.

13. Led Zeppelin - IV, Zoso, 4 Symbols - Led at their tipping point.

14. Anthrax - Sound of White Noise--Best metal album ever! Yeah, I said it.

15. Television - Marque Moon--Epic post-punk. If Genesis had sex with Joy Division, this band would be the prodigal offspring.

16. Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction--Best.Album.of.the.80's.

17. The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust--David Bowie dressed up like a geisha from Ursa Major and sang his little heart out on this one.

18. Pixies - Doolittle--Second best album of the 80's.

19. Radiohead - Kid A--The album that predicted 9/11?
http://vassifer.blogs.com/alexinnyc/2005/07/klostermans_the.html

20. King of Leon--Because of the Times--This one will always remind me of grad skool, Trader Joe's and LO'L.