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This is not an official Spin magazine list; rather it is a consolidation of nine major lists published by the magazine: Albums are in rank order, with the #1 album being the top left corner, #2 to its immediate right, etc. Hover your mouse over an album to get the name of the album and the recording act. You can also click on an album to link to its DMDB page.

Also, check out Spin’s annual picks for album of the year. They have made such picks since 1990. However, by looking at the consolidated lists described above, the list has been expanded back to 1965.

Most of the aforementioned all-time and annual lists can all be found at Rocklist.net.


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Spin’s 100 Greatest Albums

It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back: Public Enemy (1988) Nevermind: In Utero (1993) Ramones: Ramones (1976) Nevermind: Nirvana (1991) Pavement: Slanted and Enchanted (1992) PJ Harvey: Rid of Me (1993) My Bloody Valentine: Loveless (1991) Husker Du: New Day Rising (1985) Hole: Live Through This (1994) Achtung Baby: U2 (1991)
Liz Phair: Exile in Guyville (1993) Sleater-Kinney: Dig Me Out (1997) Green Day: Dookie (1994) A Tribe Called Quest: The Low-End Theory (1991) Siamese Dream: Smashing Pumpkins (1993) The Breeders: Last Splash (1993) The Queen Is Dead: The Smiths (1986) Radiohead: OK Computer (1997) Velvet Underground & Nico: Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures (1979)
Prince: Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987) Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation (1988) OutKast: Stankonia (2000) Nine Inch Nail: The Downward Spiral (1994) Odelay: Beck (1996) De La Soul: 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) Public Enemy: Fear of a Black Planet (1990) NWA: Straight Outta Compton (1989) Wu-Tang Clan: Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993) Black Flag: Damaged (1981)
The Minutemen: Double Nickels on the Dime (1984) Eric B & Rakim: Paid in Full (1987) The Notorious B.I.G.: Ready to Die (1994) Pixies: Surfer Rosa (1988) Bjork: Post (1995) Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the…: Sex Pistols (1977) Tricky: Maxinquaye (1995) Fugazi: 13 Songs (1990) Dr. Dre: The Chronic (1992) Lucinda Williams: Lucinda Williams (1988)
Beastie Boys: Licensed to Ill (1986) DJ Shadow: Endtroducing… (1996) Rage Against the Machine: The Battle of Los Angeles (1999) The Jesus and Mary Chain: Psychocandy (1985) Pavement: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994) Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) Elliott Smith: Either/Or (1997) Pulp: Different Class (1995) Chemical Brothers: Dig Your Own Hole (1997) Automatic for the People: R.E.M. (1992)
Portishead: Dummy (1994) OutKast: Aquemini (1998) Boogie Down Productions: Criminal Minded (1987) Ten: Pearl Jam (1991) Basement Jaxx: Remedy (1999) The Pogues: Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash (1985) Missy Elliott: Supa Dupa Fly (1997) Raekwon: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (1995) Soundgarden: Superunknown (1994) Husker Du: Zen Arcade (1984)
Murmur: R.E.M. (1983) Wire: Pink Flag (1977) Run-D.M.C.: Run-D.M.C. (1984) Gang of Four: Entertainment! (1979) Buzzcocks: Singles Going Steady (1979) X-Ray Spex: Germ-Free Adolescents (1978) Guns N’ Roses: Appetite for Destruction (1987) Beastie Boys: Paul’s Boutique (1989) The Clash: The Clash (1977) The Stooges: Fun House (1970)
Marquee Moon: Television (1977) Rage Against the Machine: Rage Against the Machine (1992) Nas: Illmatic (1994) The Replacements: Let It Be (1984) The Replacements: Tim (1985) Public Image Ltd.: Metal Box (aka “Second Edition”) (1979) The Pixies: Doolittle (1989) Massive Attack: Blue Lines (1991) The Feelies: Crazy Rhythms (1980) Radiohead: Kid A (2000)
Meat Puppets: Meat Puppets II (1984) PJ Harvey: To Bring You My Love (1995) New Order: Low-Life (1985) Guided by Voices: Bee Thousand (1994) Pere Ubu: The Modern Dance (1978) The Stooges: The Stooges (1969) The Mekons: Fear and Whiskey (1985) Uncle Tupelo: No Depression (1990) Run-D.M.C.: Raising Hell (1986) The Cure: The Head on the Door (1985)
Metallica: Master of Puppets (1986) Dinosaur Jr.: You’re Living All Over Me (1987) The Replacements: Let It Be (1984) The Descendents: Milo Goes to College (1982) The Replacements: Let It Be (1984) Devo: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo (1978) Oasis: Definitely Maybe (1994) Oasis: What’s the Story Morning Glory? (1995) Flipper: Album Generic (1982) PJ Harvey: Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000)

This page last updated April 23, 2010.