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Writer's pictureJay Burgin

INHAILER RADIO'S TOP 500 ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME: (#425—401)

Updated: Jan 27, 2021

This is the 4th post in this series. Click here to start from the beginning: Inhailer's Top 500 Albums of All-Time: (#500--476)


Every Friday, Inhailer is counting down our totally objective, completely undisputed, most-correct list of the Top 500 albums of all time. We're doing so in bite-size chunks of 25 albums (nobody has the energy in their thumbs to scroll through 500 albums in one sitting). Last week we continued our countdown with the likes of Built to Spill, Oliver Nelson, and The Stranglers. This week we continue with Nos. 426-401. The ask was simple: excluding compilation albums, what are the 500 best albums of all-time, ranked? Here's the fourth list in the countdown:


425. The Antlers - Hospice (2009)

A harrowing concept album that tells the story of a hospice worker and a patient suffering from terminal cancer of the bone.

424. Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon: The End of Day (2009)

The mixtape that launched a hundred thousand mix tapes.

423. The Velvet Underground - Loaded (1970)

The VU spent four years and three studio albums building avant-garde, noisy art rock. Loaded dismantled this effort instantly.

422. Metallica - Metallica [The Black Album] (1991)

The best selling album of the last 30 years. *mic drop*

421. Richard & Linda Thompson - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (1974)

A wife says to her husband: "meet me at the station don't be late/I need to spend some money and it just won't wait."

420. Ian Dury - New Boots and Panties!! (1977)

Blockheads frontman dedicate an explosion of idiosyncratic punk rock dedicated to rockabilly hero Gene Vincent.

419. Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma (2010)

Lucid dreaming is celebrated on this brilliant blend of nu jazz, woozy psych, and experimental hip hop.

418. Run D.M.C. - Raisin' Hell (1986)

Arguably the first hip hop crossover walks their way into the mainstream.

417. The Jayhawks - Tomorrow the Green Grass (1995)

These sincere country-rock harmonies will dust off your optimism and make you croon along.

416. The Walkmen - Bows + Arrows (2004)

The first project of indie heartthrob Hamilton Leithauser gifted us with a near-perfect indie rock project.

415. Nick Lowe - Jesus of Cool (1978)

New wave architect is cute, upfront, and pop-friendly on his multi-dimensional, carefully-constructed apex.

414. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (2007)

Every millennial remembers the first time they heard the squishy synth of "Electric Feel" from their friend's iTunes download.

413. Fountains of Wayne - Welcome Interstate Managers (2003)

Don't laugh. If you've only heard the novelty hit "Stacey's Mom," take a listen to the brilliant power pop of "Bright Future In Sales," "Mexican Wine," and "Hackensack."

412. The Damned - Damned Damned Damned (1977)

Purposely messy and raucous punk that'll throw pie on your face too.

411. The dBs - Stands for Decibels (1981)

One of the foundational "college rock" records, The dBs were for the '80s kids in the know.

410. Gene Clark - No Other (1974)

Only two years after release, Clark's Asylum records had already deleted the critical disappointment No Other from their catalog. Today? A celebrated lost classic.

409. The Feelies - Good Earth (1986)

It took six years for the band to follow up their debut record. The Feelies undoubtably succeeded as sophomores too.

408. Chet Baker - Chet Baker Sings (1954)

Chet Baker's voice is whole milk and butter to a kid who's only known skim milk and margarine.

407. Yes - Fragile (1971)

Four songs under two minutes and three songs over ten minutes. Prog-greats Yes were anything but conventional.

406. Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder (1964)

Record label Blue Note had no idea this album would be a hit. They ran out of copies in three days, a big feat for that time.

405. Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual (1983)

Can you believe "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and "Time After Time" are on the same record? Talk about a 1-2 punch.

404. TOOL - Lateralus (2001)

This prog-metal quartet proved there can be diversity in metal. Jack of all trades, perhaps?

403. James Brown - The Payback (1973)

In the year James Brown turned 40, he released his 37th(!!) studio album, now considered the epicenter of '70s funk.

402. Van Morrison - Moondance (1970)

Side one may be the strongest collection of songs to ever grace vinyl. Only side two's pop excess keeps Moondance lower in the rankings.

401. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory (1970)

The sprawling seven-minute "Ramble Tamble" may be the best leadoff track of all-time. What follows is one of the most essential records of the 1970s.

 

Want to listen to our choice cuts from this list? Follow our countdown playlist on Spotify!

Stay tuned for Inhailer Radio's next installment in the totally objective, completely undisputed, most-correct list of the Top 500 Albums of All-Time. Disagree with our rankings? Definitely don't @ us on our Facebook and Instagram. Next week: #400-#376.

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