Josef K

Have some more lists while I put off getting debate blocks together.

1971:
10. Leonard Cohen: Songs of Love and Hate
9. The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers
8. Jethro Tull: Aqualung
7. Pink Floyd: Meddle
6. Joni Mitchell: Blue
5. Sly and the Family Stone: There’s a Riot Goin’ On
4. The Who: Who’s Next
3. Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On
2. David Bowie: Hunky Dory
1. Funkadelic: Maggot Brain

A really good year with a really incredible top four. I don't imagine this list will be too controversial - all very well-known and acclaimed albums here.

1972:
10. Nick Drake: Pink Moon
9. War: The World is a Ghetto
8. Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick
7. Todd Rundgren: Something/Anything?
6. Charles Mingus: Let My Children Hear Music
5. Neu!: Neu!
4. David Bowie: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
3. The Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street
2. Big Star: #1 Record
1. Miles Davis: On the Corner

Three of my favorite albums of all time here, and even if Ziggy Stardust is a little overrated, it's still pretty great.

1973:
10. Genesis: Selling England by the Pound
9. New York Dolls: New York Dolls
8. Faust: Faust IV
7. Fela Kuti: Gentleman
6. James Brown: The Payback
5. Bruce Springsteen: The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle
4. Bruce Springsteen: Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ
3. David Bowie: Aladdin Sane
2. Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon
1. The Who: Quadrophenia

And now begins the part of the list-making where I acknowledge that everyone else here hates Springsteen. In fact, both of these two are deeply flawed albums, especially Asbury Park, but I love them both. We now enter the Boss's unimpeachable period.

1974:
10. Sparks: Propaganda
9. Leonard Cohen: New Skin for the Old Ceremony
8. Van Morrison: Veedon Fleece
7. Brian Eno: Here Come the Warm Jets
6. David Bowie: Diamond Dogs
5. Sparks: Kimono My House
4. Kraftwerk: Autobahn
3. Brian Eno: Taking Tiger Mountain
2. The Band and Bob Dylan: Before the Flood
1. Big Star: Radio City

Am I cheating a little by putting a live album at #2? Well, yes, but is said live album totally awesome? Also yes.

1975:
10. Patti Smith: Horses
9. David Bowie: Young Americans
8. Miles Davis: Agharta
7. Brian Eno: Another Green World
6. Fela Kuti: Confusion
5. Neil Young: Tonight’s the Night
4. Kraftwerk: Radio-Activity
3. Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks
2. Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here
1. Bruce Springsteen: Born to Run

Let's be honest: this is kind of a weak year. But we still get that great top three - my favorite Floyd album and one of my favorite Dylan albums.

1976:
5. Todd Rundgren: Faithful
4. Cecil Taylor: Dark to Themselves
3. The Modern Lovers: The Modern Lovers
2. Tom Waits: Small Change
1. David Bowie: Station to Station

It pains me to say that I couldn't even get to ten here. The year before punk blew up, and it's easy to see why. I basically never listen to 3-5, though I love the top two.