Treble (US) - Treble 100: A Series on Our All-Time Favorite Albums

[Nassim]

So, get ready for the greatest all time top album list ever ? Maybe ? I don't know, Treble is usually my favorite source maker.

Anyway, they are going to publish this year 100 articles, one for each of their 100 favorite albums.

They limited themselves to one album per artist and the list will be ranked.

Not too sure if we should update the list one album by one or by batch, but anyway I'm thrilled for the ride.
Unless they are massive pranksters and want to mislead their readers, the picture on top of the page shows that the list will include Blonde on Blonde, The Man Machine and The Low End Theory (I'd rather have seen Highway 61, Computer Love and The Low End Theory but hey, still excited !)

[StevieFan13]

This’ll be good!

[Nassim]

100. Converge - Jane Doe
99. Can - Ege Bamyasi
98. Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
97. Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West
96. Song Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co.
95. Hüsker Dü - Zen Arcade
94. Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger
93. James Taylor - JT
92. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
91. Thou - Summit
90. Carly Rae Jepsen - E MO TION
89. Baroness - Blue Record
88. Taylor Swift - Red
87. Broadcast - Haha Sound
86. J Dilla - Donuts
85. Sleater-Kinney - Dig Me Out
84. Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden
83. Peter Gabriel - So
82. Jorge Ben - Africa Brasil
81. Squeeze - East Side Story
80. OutKast - Stankonia
79. Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation Of...
78. SOPHIE – Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
77. PJ Harvey - Rid of Me
76. Paul Simon - Graceland
75. R.E.M. - Automatic for the People
74. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
73. King Crimson - Red
72. Mastodon - Blood Mountain
71. Portishead - Dummy
70. Elvis Costello & the Attractions - Imperial Bedroom
69. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
68. Massive Attack - Mezzanine
67. M83 - Saturdays=Youth
66. Elliott Smith - Either/Or
65. George Michael - Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1
64. Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs
63. Tom Waits - Rain Dogs
62. Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
61. U2 - The Joshua Tree
60. Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children
59. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
58. John Prine - John Prine
57. The National - Boxer
56. Aphex Twin – Richard D. James Album
55. De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
54. Low - Double Negative
53. Love - Forever Changes
52. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
51. Fela Kuti - Zombie
50. Deafheaven - Sunbather
49. Black Sabbath - Paranoid
48. Iggy & The Stooges - Raw Power
47. Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
46. Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
45. Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
44. Scott Walker - The Drift
43. Metallica - Ride the Lightning
42. Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt
41. D'Angelo - Voodoo
40. Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas
39. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?
38. Todd Rundgren - Something/Anything ?
37. Charles Mingus - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
36. Nirvana - In Utero
35. Burial - Untrue
34. The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
33. Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
32. Bjork - Post
31. Jason Isbell - Southeastern
30. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
29. Kraftwerk - The Man-Machine
28. Nina Simon - Pastel Blues
27. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
26. Funkadelic - Maggot Brain
25. Joni Mitchell - Blue
24. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
23. Frank Ocean - Blonde
22. Depeche Mode - Violator
21. A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory
20. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
19. The Clash - London Calling
18. Madvillainy - Madvillain
17. DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
16. Nick Drake - Pink Moon
15. Talking Heads - Remain in Light
14. Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde
13. Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
12. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
11. Miles Davis - In a Silent Way
10. Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
9. Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
8. Stevie Wonder - Innervisions
7. The Beatles - Revolver
6. David Bowie - Low
5. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
4. Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
3. Prince - Purple Rain
2. The Cure - Disintegration
1. Radiohead - Kid A

[Nassim]

Updated to 91, pretty sure they never posted #95

[Harold]

Updated to 91, pretty sure they never posted #95

#95 is Husker Du's Zen Arcade. It's definitely listed on the website, but the essay on the album has been made accessible exclusively on Treble's Patreon site. The intro says that approximately one album essay a month will only be available to subscribers, which in my view merits a hearty response that Treble can go perform obscene acts on itself.

[Nassim]

Updated to 81

[Nassim]

Updated to 67 straight away because I forgot to update it in the last coup weeks

[Nassim]

Updated to 61
2 of my top 10 all time favorite in those last 10, hoped Paul's Boutique would rank higher though.

[Nassim]

We're halfway there ! Losing hope of seeing Built to Spill included.

[Nassim]

Pretty heavy section from 50 to 43 with Metallica, RATM, Deafheaven, Black Sabbath, the Stooges and Nine Inch Nails
Interesting to see Ride the Lightning picked over Master of Puppets, and I wouldn't be surprised if Reign in Blood ended as the highest ranked metal album (I don't expect anything else from the genre to appear)
Wouldn't have expected the Drift in the top 50, so don't take my expectations as more than very broad assumptions.

[Nassim]

70 down ! I started to thought there would never be big surprises left but that Jason Isbell at #31 was unexpected ! An album I quite liked back in 2013 but didn't revisit much since.

[Nassim]

After a couple slow months, they picked up the pace !
On to the top 20 now.

[VacantJoy]

nice nassim

[Nassim]

So I guess we have left :
A Beatles album
Blonde on Blonde (appeared in the original post)
A Bowie album
Kid A or OK Computer
Pet Sounds
A Love Supreme
Kind of Blue
Funeral
The Queen is Dead
a Led Zeppelin album ?
A Neil Young album
A Prince album
MBDTF
TPaB
Doolittle
Hounds of Love
London Calling (confirmed : #19)
The Velvet Underground & Nico
A Stevie Wonder album

That would mean no Aretha which seems odd... Maybe swap Led Zep out for her.

[sam.peeler]

Those are some good guesses, Nassim!! I got together 40 possible artists after they dropped #41 and I've got quite a few right. I hadn't considered Aretha Franklin, Arcade Fire or John Coltrane, but they definitely could be on the list. Some that I have that you haven't listed are The Cure (Disintegration?), Talking Heads (particularly Remain in Light), Pavement, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Public Enemy and Daft Punk. It will be pretty interesting to see what artists are left out. Also, I'm not sure if you're aware, but on the 100 Albums intro page on their Patreon, they included 6 albums as a display - the three that you mentioned above, as well as Raw Power, Violator, and Sign O' the Times; so Blonde on Blonde and Sign O' the Times are definitely yet to come. And they just revealed #18; it's not an album I was considering, but it is a pleasant surprise!!

[Nassim]

Those are some good guesses, Nassim!! I got together 40 possible artists after they dropped #41 and I've got quite a few right. I hadn't considered Aretha Franklin, Arcade Fire or John Coltrane, but they definitely could be on the list. Some that I have that you haven't listed are The Cure (Disintegration?), Talking Heads (particularly Remain in Light), Pavement, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Public Enemy and Daft Punk. It will be pretty interesting to see what artists are left out. Also, I'm not sure if you're aware, but on the 100 Albums intro page on their Patreon, they included 6 albums as a display - the three that you mentioned above, as well as Raw Power, Violator, and Sign O' the Times; so Blonde on Blonde and Sign O' the Times are definitely yet to come. And they just revealed #18; it's not an album I was considering, but it is a pleasant surprise!!

Not sure how I missed Endtroducing, one of my very favs !
Madvillainy is more of a surprise (though not such a big one all considered).
You are completely right on PE, The Cure, Pavement and Talkings Heads (Nick Cave and Daft Punk I would have expected in the top 100 but I'd be less surprised if they missed out), would be really strange if they were not there but then who gets left out is a mystery (probably Led Zeppelin but who else???)

[sam.peeler]

Not sure how I missed Endtroducing, one of my very favs !
Madvillainy is more of a surprise (though not such a big one all considered).
You are completely right on PE, The Cure, Pavement and Talkings Heads (Nick Cave and Daft Punk I would have expected in the top 100 but I'd be less surprised if they missed out), would be really strange if they were not there but then who gets left out is a mystery (probably Led Zeppelin but who else???)

I think you may be right on Nick Cave and Daft Punk (I was thinking Discovery, which is a popular album). And that's the thing! It's not like there is one that sticks out like a sore thumb; all of these artists that we mentioned are worthy of a spot on the list. I think there are some obvious ones who are going to be on the list (The Beatles, Radiohead, Stevie Wonder, The Cure, Pixies), but only time will tell who is left behind.

[Nassim]

OK I'll stop trying to predict, didn't expect Nick Drake to pick one of the last spots but that's an exciting turn of event !
Might almost let me hope Built to Spill is yet to appear

[sonofsamiam]

Doing the math on this, we are in for some inevitably shocking omissions. My gut on who makes it (and not)...

IN

The Beatles (not sure which, though I'm leaning either Abbey Road or Revolver)
VU & Nico
Radiohead (guessing Kid A over OKC, with outside shot for In Rainbows)
Bowie (guessing Low over Ziggy, with outside shots for Station to Station and Hunky Dory)
Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

LIKELY IN

Prince (Purple Rain slight edge over Sign)
Kendrick (TPAB edge over good kid)
Pixies - Doolittle
Stevie Wonder (Innervisions slight edge over SITKOL) -- I worry about Stevie not making it, though I have to think he does since Marvin is at #20

SEEMS LIKELY BUT UNSURE

John Coltrane (Love Supreme)
Miles Davis (Bitches Brew slight edge over Kind of Blue and In a Silent Way)
-- with Mingus Top 40 I assume both these giants will make it, but who knows considering who has not yet been included

Public Enemy (It Takes a Million...) -- possible they don't make it since it seems "old" now, but having Tribe and De La and not
PE seems just wrong)

Neil Young (On the Beach or After the Gold Rush) -- normally I would consider him a shoo-in, but no obvious top album plus a dearth of classic rock on the list is making me think he doesn't make it (and if he does, ranking above Dylan would be a surprise)

Kate Bush (Hounds of Love)
Smiths (Queen Is Dead)
-- normally I would consider both of the above as '80s standards that would make it, but there has been a general lack of British music that is making me wonder. Also, Morrissey's general loathsomeness may keep him out (see comments on other artists below)

LIKELY NOT IN

First, that is 15 artists already covered above, so in my mind there will be 2 very surprising omissions, in addition to some others below that also feel like a shock. The fact James Taylor and Thou will be on this list and not these other artists is...surprising...
 
Daft Punk - maybe not considered enough of an album band? Though Discovery feels like it fits

The Cure -- Disintegration also would feel like a sure thing, but they may suffer similar to Kate and the Smiths from an odd anti-80s Brit bias

Led Zeppelin
The Who
The Kinks
The Doors
The Band
-- 60s/early 70s classic rock looks like it will be on the outside looking in

Leonard Cohen -- sort of a shocking omission given the prevalence of singer songwriters, but I don't see how there is room

Johnny Cash -- don't see how there is room, but having Jason Isbell included and not Johnny Cash feels very wrong

Bob Marley -- surprising, but no clear best album and reggae feels out of vogue these days

Arcade Fire -- cancelled?
Van Morrison -- cancelled? (also, associated with 60s classic rock)
Kanye -- cancelled?
Jay-Z -- if no Kanye, how do you have Jay-Z?

Aretha -- seen more as a singles artist
Nick Cave -- not a clear enough best album

Pavement
Beck
-- 90s alt-slacker feels out of style
Blur
Oasis
-- 90s Brit rock feels out of style

John Lennon
Lou Reed
Simon & Garfunkel
-- all understandable because they are represented with other albums, whether in groups or solo

VERY interested to see who makes it and not. Thoughts?

[StevieFan13]

Where’s Pitbull?

[Nassim]

Public Enemy and Kendrick are in, so I guess that's it for hiphop.

11 spots left, I think we can agree on Beatles, VU, Radiohead, Bowie, Beach Boys, Prince and Stevie Wonder taking 7 of them ; and very likely Pixies the 8th.
Given the list has had a few jazz albums already, I'd agree Coltrane and Davis will show up too, so the last spot will be a fight between Neil Young, the Cure, the Smiths and Kate Bush... I'd bet on Kate Bush but no Disintegration feels wrong.

Edit : I thought Pet Sounds was confirmed for appearing on the original post but I don't see it now... maybe that's one they left out.

[Nassim]

Kate Bush is in !

[sam.peeler]

I REALLY thought The Velvet Underground, Radiohead, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Prince, The Beach Boys, The Cure, Pixies, and David Bowie were going to be the last nine, but one of them (maybe more as we find out) is out!

[Henrik]

I REALLY thought The Velvet Underground, Radiohead, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Prince, The Beach Boys, The Cure, Pixies, and David Bowie were going to be the last nine, but one of them (maybe more as we find out) is out!

Wu-Tang is #9!

[StevieFan13]

I REALLY thought The Velvet Underground, Radiohead, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Prince, The Beach Boys, The Cure, Pixies, and David Bowie were going to be the last nine, but one of them (maybe more as we find out) is out!

Wu-Tang is #9!

Hell yes! I would maybe guess Cure or Pixies at this point

[sonofsamiam]

Bold Prediction: Beach Boys and Beatles are left out

[Henrik]

Innervisions #8

[sam.peeler]

#7 is Revolver!!

[sam.peeler]

Low is #6!!

So my final guesses are Radiohead, The Velvet Underground, The Cure, Prince, and either Pixies or Beach Boys.

[StevieFan13]

Low is #6!!

So my final guesses are Radiohead, The Velvet Underground, The Cure, Prince, and either Pixies or Beach Boys.

The Cure is increasingly looking like the odd one out here, but I've been wrong before.

[Henrik]

Does anyone think Sufjan has a chance?

[sam.peeler]

Low is #6!!

So my final guesses are Radiohead, The Velvet Underground, The Cure, Prince, and either Pixies or Beach Boys.

The Cure is increasingly looking like the odd one out here, but I've been wrong before.

Treblezine has a feature where they score the albums of a particular artists' discography, and they've given The Cure three perfect (10) scores (which is the most perfect scores they've given an artist), and a lot of other Cure albums haven gotten damn near perfect scores. This is specifically why I've been so adamant about them. We would think The Cure would have already appeared on the list by now, but we've all seen where Disintegration is on the Paste list, so it's possible!!

[sam.peeler]

Does anyone think Sufjan has a chance?

It'd be nice if he did, but probably not

[Nassim]

Well, we completely forgot about the Wu Tang !
Pretty sure The Velvet Underground & Nico (their 5th of the 60s last year), Purple Rain (their #1 of the 80s) and Radiohead (I'd bet on Kid A but you know In Rainbows, that they named best of their "best album of the year" winner since the site exists, or OK Computer are possible too) are in the top 5.
Pet Sounds was their best album of the 1960s last year so it wouldn't make much sense not to include it. I'll give the edge to Disintegration (#7 of the 80s in their 2022 list) over Doolittle (#17) for the last spot.

[sonofsamiam]

Don’t forget we’ve not seen A Love Supreme yet, their #2 of the 60s, ahead of Revolver, In a Silent Way, and VU & Nico.

While they do appear to love The Cure, Disintegration was only #7 for the 80s.

My guess, since we’re all speculating here, is the top 5 are:

5. VU & Nico
4. A Love Supreme
3. Kid A
2. Pet Sounds
1. Purple Rain (matching the Consequence of Sound #1)

[Henrik]

Don’t forget we’ve not seen A Love Supreme yet, their #2 of the 60s, ahead of Revolver, In a Silent Way, and VU & Nico.

While they do appear to love The Cure, Disintegration was only #7 for the 80s.

My guess, since we’re all speculating here, is the top 5 are:

5. VU & Nico
4. A Love Supreme
3. Kid A
2. Pet Sounds
1. Purple Rain (matching the Consequence of Sound #1)

Well spotted! A Love Supreme is #5.

[sam.peeler]

It's probably looking like the last four will be The Beach Boys, Radiohead, The Velvet Underground, and Prince, like sonofsamiam has guessed!!

[sam.peeler]

Pet Sounds is #4!!

[sam.peeler]

Purple Rain is #3.

[Blanco]

Wow, so the podium is between Radiohead and The Velvet Underground. May the best one win!

[sam.peeler]

Disintegration is #2!!!

[sonofsamiam]

Disintegration is #2!!!

Ok this is shocking…my bet is on Radiohead for #1 with VU out in the cold, but at this point very little would surprise me

[StevieFan13]

Disintegration is #2!!!

Ok this is shocking…my bet is on Radiohead for #1 with VU out in the cold, but at this point very little would surprise me

Holy shit! You could make a case the Radiohead albums could cancel each other out, but at this point I have no idea. Shows what I know saying The Cure were the odd ones out!

[Nassim]

Biggest twist since the Sixth Sense

That seems so crazy that I can't compute anything else than a tie at first place.

[Henrik]

Kid A received the crown spot!

[StevieFan13]

And it’s the Velvet Underground getting snubbed! How about that?

[sonofsamiam]

So much to react to here, particularly the number of great artists and albums left out, but I want to start by especially reveling in the Top 30 here...really love it

[Jackson]

Disintegration is the #2 album of all time in two separate lists released over the last couple months.

[StevieFan13]

Disintegration is the #2 album of all time in two separate lists released over the last couple months.

The South Park boys were right all along!

[hectorthebat]