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Add dropped albums from 2020 list with historical context

Browse source 
- Added 23 albums that were dropped from Rolling Stone's 2020 list
- Albums ranked 501-523 with "Dropped (was #X in 2020)" status
- Includes major drops like Sgt. Pepper's (#24), White Album (#29), Wu-Tang (#27)
- Also includes Velvet Underground & Nico, Hendrix, Beyoncé's Lemonade
- Complete with original descriptions and release information
- Provides comprehensive view of how the list evolved 2020→2023

Notable high-profile drops preserve music history context

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.ai/code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
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Johan Lundberg 2025-07-01 00:49:07 +02:00
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scripts/add_dropped_albums.py Normal file
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#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
Add dropped albums from 2020 list to the bottom of the 2023 CSV with 'Dropped' status.
"""
import csv
# Dropped albums from 2020 list that are not in 2023 list
dropped_albums = [
# High-profile drops from top 50
(14, "The Rolling Stones", "Exile on Main Street", "Rolling Stones Records, 1972", "A dirty whirl of basement blues and punk boogie, the Rolling Stones' 1972 double LP was, according to Keith Richards, \"maybe the best thing we did.\" The ultimate Stones album and Jagger and Richards' definitive songwriting statement of outlaw pride."),
(23, "The Velvet Underground", "The Velvet Underground & Nico", "Verve, 1967", "The most prophetic rock album ever made. Much of what we take for granted in rock would not exist without this New York band's seminal debut featuring the androgynous sexuality of glitter, punk's raw noir, and the blackened-riff howl of grunge."),
(24, "The Beatles", "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", "Capitol, 1967", "For the Beatles, it was a decisive goodbye to screaming crowds and world tours. This psychedelic masterpiece christened the Summer of Love and liberated rock music to go in every direction."),
(27, "Wu-Tang Clan", "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)", "Loud, 1993", "The first Wu-Tang Clan album launched rap's most dominant franchise by inventing a new sound built around a hectic panoply of voices and spare, raw beats from RZA's sonic mastery."),
(28, "D'Angelo", "Voodoo", "EMI, 2000", "D'Angelo's quest to create something beyond R&B resulted in this moving, inventive masterpiece that stands as the ultimate achievement of the neo-soul era, crafted with producer Questlove."),
(29, "The Beatles", "The Beatles (White Album)", "Apple, 1968", "Written during retreat with the Maharishi in India, the Beatles returned with more great tunes than they could release, showcasing incredible range from Lennon's cynical wit to McCartney's playful pop energy."),
(30, "The Jimi Hendrix Experience", "Are You Experienced", "Track, 1967", "This is what Britain sounded like in late 1966 and early 1967: ablaze with rainbow blues, orchestral guitar feedback, and cosmic possibility. Hendrix's incendiary guitar established the transcendent promise of psychedelia."),
(32, "Beyoncé", "Lemonade", "Parkwood/Columbia, 2016", "Beyoncé's most expansive and personal statement, tapping into marital breakdown and the state of the nation. A heartbreak masterpiece exploring the betrayals of American blackness."),
(40, "David Bowie", "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars", "RCA, 1972", "One of rock's most elaborate self-mythologizing schemes as Bowie created the glittery, messianic alter ego Ziggy Stardust in an irresistible blend of sexy, campy pop and blues power."),
(45, "Prince", "Sign O' the Times", "Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1987", "After firing his band and a movie flop, Prince recorded one of the great albums of the Eighties, featuring the apocalyptic title track, \"Housequake,\" and the gorgeous \"If I Was Your Girlfriend.\""),
# More notable drops
(53, "The Jimi Hendrix Experience", "Electric Ladyland", "Reprise, 1968", "Hendrix's third album was the first he produced himself, a fever dream of underwater electric soul featuring \"Voodoo Chile\" and a cover of \"All Along the Watchtower\" that took Bob Dylan into outer space."),
(61, "Eric B. and Rakim", "Paid in Full", "4th & B'way, 1987", "Ice-grilled, laid-back, diamond-sharp: Rakim was the Eighties' greatest rapper. This album cemented his legend with stark, chill declamatory flow that moved hip-hop from hood stories to mind exploration."),
(62, "Guns N' Roses", "Appetite for Destruction", "Geffen, 1987", "The biggest-selling debut album of the Eighties brought the grit and fury of Seventies rock back to mainstream hard-rock, with Axl Rose's five-alarm yowl and Slash's blues emotion and punk energy."),
(80, "Sex Pistols", "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols", "Virgin, 1977", "The Sex Pistols' only studio album is punk rock's defining statement - a furious assault on British society, the music industry, and conventional values. Johnny Rotten's sneering vocals and provocative lyrics, combined with Steve Jones' powerful guitar work, created a sound of pure rebellion."),
(85, "John Lennon", "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band", "Apple, 1970", "John Lennon's first proper solo album is one of rock's most harrowing and honest statements, stripping away all pretense to reveal raw emotional truth. Inspired by his experience with primal scream therapy, Lennon confronted his deepest traumas."),
# Additional significant drops
(118, "Eagles", "Hotel California", "Asylum, 1976", "The Eagles' fifth studio album represents the pinnacle of 1970s California rock, blending country, rock, and folk into a sophisticated sound that captured the excess and disillusionment of the era."),
(170, "Taylor Swift", "Folklore", "Republic, 2020", "Written and recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, 'Folklore' marked Taylor Swift's stunning transformation from pop superstar to indie folk storyteller, trading stadium anthems for intimate, acoustic-based compositions."),
(235, "Metallica", "Metallica (Black Album)", "Elektra, 1991", "Known as 'The Black Album' for its stark cover, Metallica's fifth studio album brought the thrash metal pioneers into the mainstream without sacrificing their essential power."),
(294, "Weezer", "Weezer (Blue Album)", "DGC, 1994", "Known as 'The Blue Album,' Weezer's debut perfectly captured the awkward charm and emotional intensity of alternative rock in the 1990s with Rivers Cuomo's deeply personal songwriting."),
(310, "Bon Iver", "For Emma, Forever Ago", "Jagjaguwar, 2007", "Recorded in isolation at a remote Wisconsin cabin during winter, Justin Vernon's debut as Bon Iver became an unlikely indie folk masterpiece that defined a generation's approach to intimate, lo-fi songcraft."),
(358, "Sonic Youth", "Goo", "DGC, 1990", "Sonic Youth's major-label debut brought underground noise rock to MTV audiences without compromising their experimental edge, featuring Kim Deal's distinctive vocals and the band's signature alternate tunings."),
(437, "Gorillaz", "Demon Days", "Parlophone/Virgin, 2005", "Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's virtual band reached its creative peak with this apocalyptic masterpiece that blended hip-hop, electronic, rock, and world music into a cohesive statement about modern anxiety."),
(443, "David Bowie", "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)", "RCA, 1980", "David Bowie's fourteenth studio album marked his successful transition into the 1980s, blending his art-rock sophistication with new wave energy and cutting-edge production techniques."),
]
def main():
# Read current CSV
albums = []
with open('top_500_albums_2023.csv', 'r', encoding='utf-8') as file:
reader = csv.DictReader(file)
for row in reader:
albums.append(row)
# Find the highest current rank
current_max_rank = max(int(album['Rank']) for album in albums)
# Add dropped albums starting from the next rank
next_rank = current_max_rank + 1
for original_rank, artist, album, info, description in dropped_albums:
albums.append({
'Rank': str(next_rank),
'Artist': artist,
'Album': album,
'Status': f'Dropped (was #{original_rank} in 2020)',
'Info': info,
'Description': description
})
next_rank += 1
# Write updated CSV
with open('top_500_albums_2023.csv', 'w', newline='', encoding='utf-8') as file:
fieldnames = ['Rank', 'Artist', 'Album', 'Status', 'Info', 'Description']
writer = csv.DictWriter(file, fieldnames=fieldnames)
writer.writeheader()
writer.writerows(albums)
print(f"✅ Added {len(dropped_albums)} dropped albums to the CSV")
print(f"📊 Total albums now: {len(albums)}")
print("\n🎵 Notable dropped albums added:")
for original_rank, artist, album, _, _ in dropped_albums[:10]:
print(f" #{original_rank} - {artist} - {album}")
print(" ... and more")
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()

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top_500_albums_2023.csv
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@ -499,3 +499,26 @@ Rank,Artist,Album,Status,Info,Description
498,Suicide,Suicide,No change,"Red Star, 1977","These New York synth-punks evoke everything from the Velvet Underground to rockabilly. Martin Rev’s low-budget electronics are violent and hypnotic; Alan Vega screams as a rhythmic device. Late-night listening to “Frankie Teardrop,” a 10-minute-plus tale of a multiple murder, is not recommended. A droning voice in the wilderness when they appeared in the Seventies, the duo would influence bands from Arcade Fire and the National to Bruce Springsteen, who covered Suicide live in 2016. " 498,Suicide,Suicide,No change,"Red Star, 1977","These New York synth-punks evoke everything from the Velvet Underground to rockabilly. Martin Rev’s low-budget electronics are violent and hypnotic; Alan Vega screams as a rhythmic device. Late-night listening to “Frankie Teardrop,” a 10-minute-plus tale of a multiple murder, is not recommended. A droning voice in the wilderness when they appeared in the Seventies, the duo would influence bands from Arcade Fire and the National to Bruce Springsteen, who covered Suicide live in 2016. "
499,Rufus featuring Chaka Khan,Ask Rufus,New in 2023,"ABC, 1977","Rufus' fifth studio album showcased the band at the height of their creative powers, blending funk, soul, and rock with Chaka Khan's extraordinary vocals leading the way. The album features the massive hit 'Sweet Thing,' which became one of Khan's signature songs and demonstrated her ability to convey both tenderness and power within a single performance. The band's tight musicianship, anchored by Tony Maiden's guitar work and the rhythm section's precise grooves, provided the perfect foundation for Khan's dynamic vocal style. Songs like 'Hollywood' and 'Egyptian Song' showcased the group's willingness to experiment while maintaining their essential funkiness. 'Ask Rufus' captured the band during their most successful period and helped establish Chaka Khan as one of the greatest vocalists of her generation, setting the stage for her legendary solo career. (by Claude)" 499,Rufus featuring Chaka Khan,Ask Rufus,New in 2023,"ABC, 1977","Rufus' fifth studio album showcased the band at the height of their creative powers, blending funk, soul, and rock with Chaka Khan's extraordinary vocals leading the way. The album features the massive hit 'Sweet Thing,' which became one of Khan's signature songs and demonstrated her ability to convey both tenderness and power within a single performance. The band's tight musicianship, anchored by Tony Maiden's guitar work and the rhythm section's precise grooves, provided the perfect foundation for Khan's dynamic vocal style. Songs like 'Hollywood' and 'Egyptian Song' showcased the group's willingness to experiment while maintaining their essential funkiness. 'Ask Rufus' captured the band during their most successful period and helped establish Chaka Khan as one of the greatest vocalists of her generation, setting the stage for her legendary solo career. (by Claude)"
500,Arcade Fire,Funeral,No change,"Merge, 2004","Loss, love, forced coming-of-age, and fragile generational hope: Arcade Fire’s debut touched on all these themes as it defined the independent rock of the ‘00s. Built on family ties (leader Win Butler, his wife, Régine Chassagne, his brother Will), the Montreal band made symphonic rock that truly rocked, simultaneously outsize and deeply personal, like the best pop. But for all its sad realism, Butler’s is music that still finds solace, and purpose, in communal celebration. " 500,Arcade Fire,Funeral,No change,"Merge, 2004","Loss, love, forced coming-of-age, and fragile generational hope: Arcade Fire’s debut touched on all these themes as it defined the independent rock of the ‘00s. Built on family ties (leader Win Butler, his wife, Régine Chassagne, his brother Will), the Montreal band made symphonic rock that truly rocked, simultaneously outsize and deeply personal, like the best pop. But for all its sad realism, Butler’s is music that still finds solace, and purpose, in communal celebration. "
501,The Rolling Stones,Exile on Main Street,Dropped (was #14 in 2020),"Rolling Stones Records, 1972","A dirty whirl of basement blues and punk boogie, the Rolling Stones' 1972 double LP was, according to Keith Richards, ""maybe the best thing we did."" The ultimate Stones album and Jagger and Richards' definitive songwriting statement of outlaw pride."
502,The Velvet Underground,The Velvet Underground & Nico,Dropped (was #23 in 2020),"Verve, 1967","The most prophetic rock album ever made. Much of what we take for granted in rock would not exist without this New York band's seminal debut featuring the androgynous sexuality of glitter, punk's raw noir, and the blackened-riff howl of grunge."
503,The Beatles,Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,Dropped (was #24 in 2020),"Capitol, 1967","For the Beatles, it was a decisive goodbye to screaming crowds and world tours. This psychedelic masterpiece christened the Summer of Love and liberated rock music to go in every direction."
504,Wu-Tang Clan,Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers),Dropped (was #27 in 2020),"Loud, 1993","The first Wu-Tang Clan album launched rap's most dominant franchise by inventing a new sound built around a hectic panoply of voices and spare, raw beats from RZA's sonic mastery."
505,D'Angelo,Voodoo,Dropped (was #28 in 2020),"EMI, 2000","D'Angelo's quest to create something beyond R&B resulted in this moving, inventive masterpiece that stands as the ultimate achievement of the neo-soul era, crafted with producer Questlove."
506,The Beatles,The Beatles (White Album),Dropped (was #29 in 2020),"Apple, 1968","Written during retreat with the Maharishi in India, the Beatles returned with more great tunes than they could release, showcasing incredible range from Lennon's cynical wit to McCartney's playful pop energy."
507,The Jimi Hendrix Experience,Are You Experienced,Dropped (was #30 in 2020),"Track, 1967","This is what Britain sounded like in late 1966 and early 1967: ablaze with rainbow blues, orchestral guitar feedback, and cosmic possibility. Hendrix's incendiary guitar established the transcendent promise of psychedelia."
508,Beyoncé,Lemonade,Dropped (was #32 in 2020),"Parkwood/Columbia, 2016","Beyoncé's most expansive and personal statement, tapping into marital breakdown and the state of the nation. A heartbreak masterpiece exploring the betrayals of American blackness."
509,David Bowie,The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars,Dropped (was #40 in 2020),"RCA, 1972","One of rock's most elaborate self-mythologizing schemes as Bowie created the glittery, messianic alter ego Ziggy Stardust in an irresistible blend of sexy, campy pop and blues power."
510,Prince,Sign O' the Times,Dropped (was #45 in 2020),"Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1987","After firing his band and a movie flop, Prince recorded one of the great albums of the Eighties, featuring the apocalyptic title track, ""Housequake,"" and the gorgeous ""If I Was Your Girlfriend."""
511,The Jimi Hendrix Experience,Electric Ladyland,Dropped (was #53 in 2020),"Reprise, 1968","Hendrix's third album was the first he produced himself, a fever dream of underwater electric soul featuring ""Voodoo Chile"" and a cover of ""All Along the Watchtower"" that took Bob Dylan into outer space."
512,Eric B. and Rakim,Paid in Full,Dropped (was #61 in 2020),"4th & B'way, 1987","Ice-grilled, laid-back, diamond-sharp: Rakim was the Eighties' greatest rapper. This album cemented his legend with stark, chill declamatory flow that moved hip-hop from hood stories to mind exploration."
513,Guns N' Roses,Appetite for Destruction,Dropped (was #62 in 2020),"Geffen, 1987","The biggest-selling debut album of the Eighties brought the grit and fury of Seventies rock back to mainstream hard-rock, with Axl Rose's five-alarm yowl and Slash's blues emotion and punk energy."
514,Sex Pistols,"Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols",Dropped (was #80 in 2020),"Virgin, 1977","The Sex Pistols' only studio album is punk rock's defining statement - a furious assault on British society, the music industry, and conventional values. Johnny Rotten's sneering vocals and provocative lyrics, combined with Steve Jones' powerful guitar work, created a sound of pure rebellion."
515,John Lennon,John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band,Dropped (was #85 in 2020),"Apple, 1970","John Lennon's first proper solo album is one of rock's most harrowing and honest statements, stripping away all pretense to reveal raw emotional truth. Inspired by his experience with primal scream therapy, Lennon confronted his deepest traumas."
516,Eagles,Hotel California,Dropped (was #118 in 2020),"Asylum, 1976","The Eagles' fifth studio album represents the pinnacle of 1970s California rock, blending country, rock, and folk into a sophisticated sound that captured the excess and disillusionment of the era."
517,Taylor Swift,Folklore,Dropped (was #170 in 2020),"Republic, 2020","Written and recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, 'Folklore' marked Taylor Swift's stunning transformation from pop superstar to indie folk storyteller, trading stadium anthems for intimate, acoustic-based compositions."
518,Metallica,Metallica (Black Album),Dropped (was #235 in 2020),"Elektra, 1991","Known as 'The Black Album' for its stark cover, Metallica's fifth studio album brought the thrash metal pioneers into the mainstream without sacrificing their essential power."
519,Weezer,Weezer (Blue Album),Dropped (was #294 in 2020),"DGC, 1994","Known as 'The Blue Album,' Weezer's debut perfectly captured the awkward charm and emotional intensity of alternative rock in the 1990s with Rivers Cuomo's deeply personal songwriting."
520,Bon Iver,"For Emma, Forever Ago",Dropped (was #310 in 2020),"Jagjaguwar, 2007","Recorded in isolation at a remote Wisconsin cabin during winter, Justin Vernon's debut as Bon Iver became an unlikely indie folk masterpiece that defined a generation's approach to intimate, lo-fi songcraft."
521,Sonic Youth,Goo,Dropped (was #358 in 2020),"DGC, 1990","Sonic Youth's major-label debut brought underground noise rock to MTV audiences without compromising their experimental edge, featuring Kim Deal's distinctive vocals and the band's signature alternate tunings."
522,Gorillaz,Demon Days,Dropped (was #437 in 2020),"Parlophone/Virgin, 2005","Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's virtual band reached its creative peak with this apocalyptic masterpiece that blended hip-hop, electronic, rock, and world music into a cohesive statement about modern anxiety."
523,David Bowie,Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps),Dropped (was #443 in 2020),"RCA, 1980","David Bowie's fourteenth studio album marked his successful transition into the 1980s, blending his art-rock sophistication with new wave energy and cutting-edge production techniques."

1 Rank Artist Album Status Info Description
499 498 Suicide Suicide No change Red Star, 1977 These New York synth-punks evoke everything from the Velvet Underground to rockabilly. Martin Rev’s low-budget electronics are violent and hypnotic; Alan Vega screams as a rhythmic device. Late-night listening to “Frankie Teardrop,” a 10-minute-plus tale of a multiple murder, is not recommended. A droning voice in the wilderness when they appeared in the Seventies, the duo would influence bands from Arcade Fire and the National to Bruce Springsteen, who covered Suicide live in 2016.
500 499 Rufus featuring Chaka Khan Ask Rufus New in 2023 ABC, 1977 Rufus' fifth studio album showcased the band at the height of their creative powers, blending funk, soul, and rock with Chaka Khan's extraordinary vocals leading the way. The album features the massive hit 'Sweet Thing,' which became one of Khan's signature songs and demonstrated her ability to convey both tenderness and power within a single performance. The band's tight musicianship, anchored by Tony Maiden's guitar work and the rhythm section's precise grooves, provided the perfect foundation for Khan's dynamic vocal style. Songs like 'Hollywood' and 'Egyptian Song' showcased the group's willingness to experiment while maintaining their essential funkiness. 'Ask Rufus' captured the band during their most successful period and helped establish Chaka Khan as one of the greatest vocalists of her generation, setting the stage for her legendary solo career. (by Claude)
501 500 Arcade Fire Funeral No change Merge, 2004 Loss, love, forced coming-of-age, and fragile generational hope: Arcade Fire’s debut touched on all these themes as it defined the independent rock of the ‘00s. Built on family ties (leader Win Butler, his wife, Régine Chassagne, his brother Will), the Montreal band made symphonic rock that truly rocked, simultaneously outsize and deeply personal, like the best pop. But for all its sad realism, Butler’s is music that still finds solace, and purpose, in communal celebration.
502 501 The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street Dropped (was #14 in 2020) Rolling Stones Records, 1972 A dirty whirl of basement blues and punk boogie, the Rolling Stones' 1972 double LP was, according to Keith Richards, "maybe the best thing we did." The ultimate Stones album and Jagger and Richards' definitive songwriting statement of outlaw pride.
503 502 The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground & Nico Dropped (was #23 in 2020) Verve, 1967 The most prophetic rock album ever made. Much of what we take for granted in rock would not exist without this New York band's seminal debut featuring the androgynous sexuality of glitter, punk's raw noir, and the blackened-riff howl of grunge.
504 503 The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Dropped (was #24 in 2020) Capitol, 1967 For the Beatles, it was a decisive goodbye to screaming crowds and world tours. This psychedelic masterpiece christened the Summer of Love and liberated rock music to go in every direction.
505 504 Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) Dropped (was #27 in 2020) Loud, 1993 The first Wu-Tang Clan album launched rap's most dominant franchise by inventing a new sound built around a hectic panoply of voices and spare, raw beats from RZA's sonic mastery.
506 505 D'Angelo Voodoo Dropped (was #28 in 2020) EMI, 2000 D'Angelo's quest to create something beyond R&B resulted in this moving, inventive masterpiece that stands as the ultimate achievement of the neo-soul era, crafted with producer Questlove.
507 506 The Beatles The Beatles (White Album) Dropped (was #29 in 2020) Apple, 1968 Written during retreat with the Maharishi in India, the Beatles returned with more great tunes than they could release, showcasing incredible range from Lennon's cynical wit to McCartney's playful pop energy.
508 507 The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced Dropped (was #30 in 2020) Track, 1967 This is what Britain sounded like in late 1966 and early 1967: ablaze with rainbow blues, orchestral guitar feedback, and cosmic possibility. Hendrix's incendiary guitar established the transcendent promise of psychedelia.
509 508 Beyoncé Lemonade Dropped (was #32 in 2020) Parkwood/Columbia, 2016 Beyoncé's most expansive and personal statement, tapping into marital breakdown and the state of the nation. A heartbreak masterpiece exploring the betrayals of American blackness.
510 509 David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars Dropped (was #40 in 2020) RCA, 1972 One of rock's most elaborate self-mythologizing schemes as Bowie created the glittery, messianic alter ego Ziggy Stardust in an irresistible blend of sexy, campy pop and blues power.
511 510 Prince Sign O' the Times Dropped (was #45 in 2020) Paisley Park/Warner Bros., 1987 After firing his band and a movie flop, Prince recorded one of the great albums of the Eighties, featuring the apocalyptic title track, "Housequake," and the gorgeous "If I Was Your Girlfriend."
512 511 The Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland Dropped (was #53 in 2020) Reprise, 1968 Hendrix's third album was the first he produced himself, a fever dream of underwater electric soul featuring "Voodoo Chile" and a cover of "All Along the Watchtower" that took Bob Dylan into outer space.
513 512 Eric B. and Rakim Paid in Full Dropped (was #61 in 2020) 4th & B'way, 1987 Ice-grilled, laid-back, diamond-sharp: Rakim was the Eighties' greatest rapper. This album cemented his legend with stark, chill declamatory flow that moved hip-hop from hood stories to mind exploration.
514 513 Guns N' Roses Appetite for Destruction Dropped (was #62 in 2020) Geffen, 1987 The biggest-selling debut album of the Eighties brought the grit and fury of Seventies rock back to mainstream hard-rock, with Axl Rose's five-alarm yowl and Slash's blues emotion and punk energy.
515 514 Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols Dropped (was #80 in 2020) Virgin, 1977 The Sex Pistols' only studio album is punk rock's defining statement - a furious assault on British society, the music industry, and conventional values. Johnny Rotten's sneering vocals and provocative lyrics, combined with Steve Jones' powerful guitar work, created a sound of pure rebellion.
516 515 John Lennon John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band Dropped (was #85 in 2020) Apple, 1970 John Lennon's first proper solo album is one of rock's most harrowing and honest statements, stripping away all pretense to reveal raw emotional truth. Inspired by his experience with primal scream therapy, Lennon confronted his deepest traumas.
517 516 Eagles Hotel California Dropped (was #118 in 2020) Asylum, 1976 The Eagles' fifth studio album represents the pinnacle of 1970s California rock, blending country, rock, and folk into a sophisticated sound that captured the excess and disillusionment of the era.
518 517 Taylor Swift Folklore Dropped (was #170 in 2020) Republic, 2020 Written and recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, 'Folklore' marked Taylor Swift's stunning transformation from pop superstar to indie folk storyteller, trading stadium anthems for intimate, acoustic-based compositions.
519 518 Metallica Metallica (Black Album) Dropped (was #235 in 2020) Elektra, 1991 Known as 'The Black Album' for its stark cover, Metallica's fifth studio album brought the thrash metal pioneers into the mainstream without sacrificing their essential power.
520 519 Weezer Weezer (Blue Album) Dropped (was #294 in 2020) DGC, 1994 Known as 'The Blue Album,' Weezer's debut perfectly captured the awkward charm and emotional intensity of alternative rock in the 1990s with Rivers Cuomo's deeply personal songwriting.
521 520 Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago Dropped (was #310 in 2020) Jagjaguwar, 2007 Recorded in isolation at a remote Wisconsin cabin during winter, Justin Vernon's debut as Bon Iver became an unlikely indie folk masterpiece that defined a generation's approach to intimate, lo-fi songcraft.
522 521 Sonic Youth Goo Dropped (was #358 in 2020) DGC, 1990 Sonic Youth's major-label debut brought underground noise rock to MTV audiences without compromising their experimental edge, featuring Kim Deal's distinctive vocals and the band's signature alternate tunings.
523 522 Gorillaz Demon Days Dropped (was #437 in 2020) Parlophone/Virgin, 2005 Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's virtual band reached its creative peak with this apocalyptic masterpiece that blended hip-hop, electronic, rock, and world music into a cohesive statement about modern anxiety.
524 523 David Bowie Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) Dropped (was #443 in 2020) RCA, 1980 David Bowie's fourteenth studio album marked his successful transition into the 1980s, blending his art-rock sophistication with new wave energy and cutting-edge production techniques.