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241.

Damn.

Kendrick Lamar

"After giving this a half-dozen more listens, I've got a few thoughts: As has been mentioned, DAMN. asks the question "Who is Kendrick Lamar?" We think we know Kendrick. And we do, don't we? This is that Compton kid, that Section.80 kid, that good kid, who broke out of his M.A.A.D. city with one m...""After giving this a half-dozen more listens, I've got a few thoughts: As has been mentioned, DAMN. asks the question "Who is Kendrick Lamar?" We think we know Kendrick. And we do, don't we? This is that Compton kid, that Section.80 kid, that good kid, who broke out of his M.A.A.D. city with one mission: To give back. And how does Kendrick Lamar give back? By doing his best to give life, hope, and power back to his community, back to his black brothers and sisters. Is it enough? Fox News doesn't understand him. He's exhausted by the work. Blind women might shoot him dead if he's at the wrong place at the wrong time when he's just trying to do right. Why do we demand great things from Kendrick Lamar? Kendrick Lamar is not shy about comparing himself to Jesus, albeit implicitly. The complement to DAMN., I'm finding, is none other than Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy: Another record about a distinct personality aiming to be understood. Kanye West is a brilliant, frustrating genius. On MBDTF, he asks that we forgive his humanity. DAMN. is coming from the other direction. We put Kendrick, King Kendrick, on a pedestal--one for which he did not ask. But he'll do what it takes to keep his family secure. He'll be the example his nieces and nephews need. He knows he's lucky to be a success. Yet, why can't he make mistakes? Why can't he let down his principles once or twice? Why can't he do a Maroon 5 feature for other reasons than to make some side cash? What does Kendrick Lamar owe us, if anything at all? DAMN. may not be a great record. Personally, I think it falls ever so short. Maybe that'll change for me. What I do believe is that, for once, Kendrick Lamar gets to tell his story. It doesn't have to be for Tammy or Keisha. It doesn't need to be about Compton. It doesn't need to be about the black experience in America. Maybe it's because he finally gets to speak to his wants and concerns, about his own well-being, that this, while not Kendrick's best work, is maybe his most important as an artist, because DAMN, it's really hard being Kendrick Lamar." [+] Reply

HoldenM | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +17 votes (21 helpful | 4 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2017

Appears in:

832 charts

Rank Score:

6,588

Rank in 2017:

Rank in 2010s:

Overall Rank:

241

Average Rating:

80 (1,316 votes)

Comments:

151

242.

Selected Ambient Works 85-92

Aphex Twin

"Aphex Twin breaks the boundaries of existence on this album. He creates a sphere that exists independently of this earth. Just by reading the songtitles this is indicated with titles such as Heliosphan and Hedphelym which is non-existing words, suggesting some kind of otherworldly spirit, but the..." [+] Reply

- | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +12 votes (14 helpful | 2 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

1992

Appears in:

705 charts

Rank Score:

6,587

Rank in 1992:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

242

Average Rating:

83 (900 votes)

Comments:

243.

Ænima

Tool

"hearing a sinister sounding man on your answering machine saying calmly, " You wanna know something? Fuck you! I want your balls smashed. Eat shit...." to the sound of a beautiful piano, priceless." Reply

- eatkhash | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +11 votes (11 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

1996

Appears in:

745 charts

Rank Score:

6,586

Rank in 1996:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

243

Average Rating:

81 (1,008 votes)

Comments:

244.

Toxicity

System Of A Down

"This is a fantastic record that is extremely unique and different to anything else I have heard. The lyrics are brilliant and are delivered with such power and emotion that you start to feel connected to the artist. Musically, it is stunning as well with the guitar sounding thick and it completel..." [+] Reply

- Untitled | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

2001

Appears in:

749 charts

Rank Score:

6,574

Rank in 2001:

Rank in 2000s:

Overall Rank:

244

Average Rating:

78 (1,085 votes)

Comments:

245.

Tapestry

Carole King

"Certainly one of the best albums ever made, as others have said every song is good, and there are some funny stories as well as heart felt reflections in there. A good selection of instruments as well. Its the sort of album you can listen to multiple times over and over." Reply

- HenryVIII | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +4 votes (4 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

855 charts

Rank Score:

6,571

Rank in 1971:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

245

Average Rating:

82 (962 votes)

Comments:

246.

Black Sabbath

"Play this album at night (preferably with a thunderstorm outside), turn all the lights out, light only candles, turn it up loud and this will be on your top 100 (or 10). The song suite leading up to and including N.I.B. will blow your head off!! I play this every Halloween at parties & it's a sma..." [+] Reply

- jchurd601 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +11 votes (11 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

850 charts

Rank Score:

6,422

Rank in 1970:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

246

Average Rating:

83 (1,189 votes)

Comments:

247.

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

Genesis

"The Lamb just keeps getting better and more relevant with age. The most Peter Gabriel driven of any Genesis album, and the last before he left the band because of creative differences. Gabriel’s amazing voice and lyrics work perfectly with the highly melodic and sometimes very heavy progressive r...""The Lamb just keeps getting better and more relevant with age. The most Peter Gabriel driven of any Genesis album, and the last before he left the band because of creative differences. Gabriel’s amazing voice and lyrics work perfectly with the highly melodic and sometimes very heavy progressive rock grooves. Songs flow from one to the next as well as side two of Abbey Road. The atmosphere and texture at times could be mistaken for the best of Radiohead, before you are brought back by the sound of a flute, and you remember this was recorded in 1974. Gabriel brings a wicked edge to his voice right from the opening title track and into ‘Fly on a Windshield’. Five songs in is the 8+ minute ‘In a Cage’, which rocks as hard as anything ever recorded, with an organ solos thrown in to remind you this is Genesis. Next is ‘Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging’ which may still be ahead of its time in music and message, followed by ‘Back in N.Y.C.’ another highlight on a double album full of them…it really kicks in at the 1:50 mark. Even quiet interludes like ‘Hairless Hart’ are really good. ‘Counting Out Time’ is a great little pop number that foreshadows what Genesis did so well after Gabriel left, but still has a progressive edge in places. Next, ‘Carpet Crawlers’ has the power to haunt…it’s so hypnotic and layered. ‘Chamber of 32 Doors’ closes side two of disk one with some of my favorite parts of the album at the 1:45 and 4:22 marks. Lilywhite Lilith starts the second disk beautifully followed by the bazaar and beautiful ‘The Waiting Room’, which if you have the patience for really pays off in a big way at 3:10…out floyding Floyd at their best…(imo only parts of Dogs off of Animals surpass it). Outstanding run of songs continues with ‘Anyway’, and ‘Here Comes the Supernatural Anaesthetist’. ‘The Lamia’ is next, while wordy has become another favorite. ‘Silent Sorrow in Empty Boats’ is next, and could have been made last week by your favorite indie hipster pitchfork darling to be played on late night ambient mix playlists. Next, ‘Colony of Slippermen’ start so weird, has some weird parts, and is responsible for Gabriel’s weirdest stage costume. Nevertheless, it’s also become one of my favorites. ‘Ravine’ – similar vibe to Silent Sorrow in Empty Boats. ‘The Light Lies Down on Broadway’ ties together several musical themes (especially the title track and ‘The Lamia’) into quite a remarkable song…almost a mash-up of the two in places. If there has to be a weakest part to even the best album, it would be the third last song, ‘Riding the Scree’ (unless time simply hasn’t caught up to the genius of the song). The album closes with a nice combo of ‘In the Rapids’ and ‘it’, the later of which is great to scream along too in your best Gabriel voice…..”it is here!…it is now!” Put on your headphones and give this album a serious attempt." [+] Reply

- brent13 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +9 votes (9 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

797 charts

Rank Score:

6,412

Rank in 1974:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

247

Average Rating:

82 (980 votes)

Comments:

248.

Post

Björk

"Isn’t this album just ‘Kid A’ but, 6 years earlier?" Reply

Lastings | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +6 votes (6 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

1995

Appears in:

823 charts

Rank Score:

6,412

Rank in 1995:

Rank in 1990s:

Overall Rank:

248

Average Rating:

82 (1,101 votes)

Comments:

249.

Meat Is Murder

The Smiths

"The only Smiths album I find uneven. The U.S. version includes "How Soon Is Now", the quality of which dwarfs everything else and makes some songs sound particuarly mediocre. "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" is the only other highlight for me. "Barbarism Begins At Home" is quality but takes too lo..." [+] Reply

- KGB | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (6 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

Year of Release:

1985

Appears in:

836 charts

Rank Score:

6,396

Rank in 1985:

Rank in 1980s:

Overall Rank:

249

Average Rating:

82 (1,309 votes)

Comments:

250.

F♯ A♯ ∞ [F-Sharp, A-Sharp, Infinity]

Godspeed You! Black Emperor

"Fun fact: The story behind the album title is that the first side starts in the key of F#, and the second side stars in the key of A#, with the infinite loop at the end... F♯A♯∞!" Reply