During the first month and few days of 2006, 183 readers were kind enough to fill out an irritating 73-part survey that asked them to name their favorite albums in a variety of criss-crossing, hard-to-define "genres" and "sub-genres" (mostly rock-focused, per the focus of this web site). The following list outlines the most popular results, with additional pages listing the less popular - BUT STILL IMPORTANT!!!! - choices.

Thank you to everyone that took part! I urge the rest of you to use these pages as a potential guide for future purchases in your favorite genres. URRRRRRRRGE!!! (*ploop*)

80's College Rock/Indie-Rock
WINNER: PIXIES - DOOLITTLE
Runner-Up: Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation

90's-00's College Rock/Indie-Rock
WINNER: PAVEMENT - SLANTED & ENCHANTED
Runner-Up: Guided By Voices - Bee Thousand

Alt-Country
WINNER: WILCO - YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT
Runner-Up: Meat Puppets - II

Alternative Radio Rock/Modern Rock
WINNER: NIRVANA - NEVERMIND
Runner-Up: Radiohead - OK Computer

Ambient/New Age
WINNER: BRIAN ENO - ANOTHER GREEN WORLD
Runner-Up: Brian Eno - Ambient 1: Music For Airports

BONUS NOTE: Mr. Eno was popular enough to have taken third place as well, with `Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks'

Art Rock/Prog
WINNER: KING CRIMSON - IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING
Runner-Up: Yes - Fragile

Avant-Garde Music
WINNER: CAPTAIN BEEFHEART AND HIS MAGIC BAND - TROUT MASK REPLICA
Runner-Up: Mr. Bungle - Disco Volante

Enjoy these winners - you'll be seeing them again soon!

Black Metal
WINNER: EMPEROR - ANTHEMS TO THE WELKIN AT DUSK
Runner-Up: Sigh - Imaginary Sonicscape

Blues
WINNER: ROBERT JOHNSON - COMPLETE RECORDINGS/KING OF THE DELTA BLUES SINGERS
Runner-Up: Muddy Waters - Hard Again

BONUS NOTE: Robert Johnson's "Complete Recordings" and "King of the Delta Blues Singers" are actually two different releases, but they are comprised of essentially the same songs. Had I not combined them into one entry, Mr. Johnson would have snagged both the Winner and Runner-Up spots, and I didn't think that would benefit anybody. Who the hell wants to buy two albums with the same songs on them?

Blues-Rock
WINNER: ROLLING STONES - EXILE ON MAIN ST.
Runner-Up: Led Zeppelin - S/T (1st album)

British Invasion
WINNER: BEATLES - A HARD DAY'S NIGHT
Runner-Up: Beatles - Revolver

BONUS NOTE: Not shockingly at all, third and fourth place also went to the Beatles, for The White Album and Rubber Soul

Britpop
WINNER: BLUR - PARKLIFE
Runner-Up: Stone Roses - S/T

Bubblegum
WINNER: MONKEES - HEADQUARTERS
Runner-Up: Ramones - Rocket To Russia

BONUS NOTE: I applaud the voters for their far-reaching definition of "bubblegum"! Yay, Ramones, yay!!!

Children's Music
WINNER: THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS - NO!
Runner-Up: Harry Nilsson - The Point

Classic Rock
WINNER: LED ZEPPELIN - UNTITLED (4TH ALBUM)
Runner-Up: Beatles - Abbey Road

Classical/Opera
WINNER: IGOR STRAVINSKY - THE RITE OF SPRING
Runner-Up: Ludwig Van Beethoven - Ninth Symphony

Comedy/Spoken Word
WINNER: BILL HICKS - RANT IN E MINOR
Runner-Up: David Cross - Shut Up, You Fucking Baby!

Country/Bluegrass
WINNER: JOHNNY CASH - AT FOLSOM PRISON
Runner-Up: Hank Williams - 40 Greatest Hits

Dance Pop/Disco
WINNER: V/A - `SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER' SOUNDTRACK
Runner-Up: Michael Jackson - Off The Wall

Early Rock'n'Roll
WINNER: CHUCK BERRY - THE GREAT TWENTY-EIGHT
Runner-Up: Elvis Presley - The Sun Sessions

Electronic Music (House/Techno/Drum'n'Bass/IDM/etc)
WINNER: BOARDS OF CANADA - MUSIC HAS THE RIGHT TO CHILDREN
Runner-Up: DJ Shadow - ...Endtroducing

Emo
WINNER: RITES OF SPRING - END ON END
Runner-Up: Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary

Exotica/Lounge
WINNER: JUAN GARCIA ESQUIVEL - SPACE AGE BACHELOR PAD MUSIC
Runner-Up: Stereolab - Dots And Loops

Experimental Rock
WINNER: CAPTAIN BEEFHEART AND HIS MAGIC BAND - TROUT MASK REPLICA (again)
Runner-Up: Mr. Bungle - Disco Volante (again)

BONUS NOTE: Perhaps I should have better differentiated "avant garde music" from "experimental rock". Oh well. What I meant by "avant garde music" was NON-rock music, like John Cage and crap. But whatever. No problem!

Female Singer-Songwriter
WINNER: CAROLE KING - TAPESTRY
Runner-Up: Joni Mitchell - Blue

Folk
WINNER: BOB DYLAN - THE FREEWHEELIN' BOB DYLAN
Runner-Up: Nick Drake - Pink Moon

Folk-Rock
WINNER: BOB DYLAN - HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED
Runner-Up: Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde

Funk
WINNER: FUNKADELIC - MAGGOT BRAIN
Runner-Up: Parliament - Mothership Connection

Funk-Metal/Rap-Metal
WINNER: FAITH NO MORE - ANGEL DUST
Runner-Up: Rage Against The Machine - S/T

Fusion
WINNER: MILES DAVIS - BITCHES BREW
Runner-Up: Frank Zappa - Hot Rats

Garage Rock
WINNER: STOOGES - FUN HOUSE
Runner-Up: Stooges - S/T

Girl Group
WINNER: SLEATER-KINNEY - THE WOODS
Runner-Up: Ronettes - The Best Of The Ronettes

Glam
WINNER: DAVID BOWIE - THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS
Runner-Up: T. Rex - Electric Warrior

Gospel/Religious
WINNER: LOUVIN BROTHERS - SATAN IS REAL
Runner-Up: Elvis Presley - How Great Thou Art

Goth
WINNER: THE CURE - DISINTEGRATION
Runner-Up: The Cure - Pornography

Grindcore/Death Metal
WINNER: NAPALM DEATH - SCUM
Runner-Up: Opeth - Morningrise

Grunge
WINNER: NIRVANA - NEVERMIND
Runner-Up: Nirvana - In Utero

BONUS NOTE: I bet you can't guess what came in third! Go ahead, guess! No no, guess! I'll give you a hint: it starts with a `B' and rhymes with "Fleach."

No no, guess!

Hard Rock
WINNER: AC/DC - BACK IN BLACK
Runner-Up: Led Zeppelin - Untitled (4th album)

Hardcore Punk
WINNER: MINOR THREAT - COMPLETE DISCOGRAPHY
Runner-Up: Black Flag - Damaged

Heavy Metal (NOT Thrash/Death/Black Metal)
WINNER: BLACK SABBATH - PARANOID
Runner-Up: Motorhead - Ace Of Spades

Industrial
WINNER: MINISTRY - PSALM 69
Runner-Up: Coil - Horse Rotorvator

Jam Band
WINNER: GRATEFUL DEAD - LIVE/DEAD
Runner-Up: Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East

Jangle Pop
WINNER: REM - MURMUR
Runner-Up: Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man

Jazz
WINNER: MILES DAVIS - KIND OF BLUE (pricks)
Runner-Up: John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

Kraut Rock
WINNER: CAN - TAGO MAGO
Runner-Up: Can - Future Days
(Second Runner-Up: Can - Ege Bamyasi)

Latin
WINNER: OS MUTANTES - OS MUTANTES
Runner-Up: Buena Vista Social Club - S/T

Male Singer-Songwriter
WINNER: BOB DYLAN - BLOOD ON THE TRACKS
Runner-Up: Nick Drake - Pink Moon

Math Rock/Metalcore
WINNER: SLINT - SPIDERLAND
Runner-Up: Dillinger Escape Plan - Calculating Infinity

BONUS NOTE: A friend of mine argues vehemently that `Spiderland' is too slow, quiet and straightforward to fit into this genre, so keep that in mind if what you're really after is some ass-kicking insane-a-core like `Calculating Infinity'. Having said that, `Spiderland' is still a wonderful record!

New Wave
WINNER: DEVO - Q: ARE WE NOT MEN? A: WE ARE DEVO!
Runner-Up: Talking Heads - Remain In Light

Noise Rock/'Pigfuck'
WINNER: SONIC YOUTH - DAYDREAM NATION
Runner-Up: The Jesus Lizard - Goat

BONUS NOTE: Hmm. Well, I guess `Daydream Nation' is pretty noisy, though I personally wouldn't put it into this category. It's a bit too traditionally melodic to be considered "noise rock," in my opinion.

Novelty Music
WINNER: "WEIRD AL" YANKOVIC - IN 3-D
Runner-Up: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - We're Only In It For The Money

Post-Punk
WINNER: JOY DIVISION - CLOSER
Runner-Up: The Fall - Hex Enduction Hour

BONUS NOTE: I love The Fall.

You know, just FYI.

Post-Rock
WINNER: SLINT - SPIDERLAND (again)
Runner-Up: Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennae to Heaven

Power Pop
WINNER: BIG STAR - #1 RECORD
Runner-Up: Big Star - Radio City

Proto-Punk
WINNER: STOOGES - FUN HOUSE (again)
Runner-Up: Iggy & The Stooges - Raw Power

Psychedelic/Acid Rock
WINNER: PINK FLOYD - THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN
Runner-Up: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?

Punk Rock
WINNER: RAMONES - S/T
Runner-Up: The Clash - London Calling

Rap/Hip-Hop
WINNER: BEASTIE BOYS - PAUL'S BOUTIQUE
Runner-Up: Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Reggae/Ska
WINNER: THE SPECIALS - S/T
Runner-Up: Bob Marley & the Wailers - Legend

Rockabilly
WINNER: THE REVEREND HORTON HEAT - THE FULL-CUSTOM GOSPEL SOUNDS OF.
Runner-Up: Elvis Presley - The Sun Sessions

Roots Rock
WINNER: ROLLING STONES - BEGGARS BANQUET
Runner-Up: The Gun Club - Fire Of Love

BONUS NOTE: Don't ask me; I have no idea what "Roots Rock" is

Shoegazer/Dream-Pop
WINNER: MY BLOODY VALENTINE - LOVELESS
Runner-Up: My Bloody Valentine - Isn't Anything

BONUS NOTE: `Loveless' received 44 points more than `Isn't Anything'. Perhaps including a `shoegazer' genre in the survey wasn't the most brilliant idea I've ever had.

Slowcore/Sadcore
WINNER: GALAXIE 500 - ON FIRE
Runner-Up: Red House Painters - S/T [1992]

Soul/R'n'B
WINNER: MARVIN GAYE - WHAT'S GOING ON
Runner-Up: Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life

Soundtrack/Musical
WINNER: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
Runner-Up: Superfly

Southern Rock
WINNER: ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND - AT FILLMORE EAST
Runner-Up: ZZ Top - Tres Hombres

Surf/Instrumental Rock
WINNER: SHADOWY MEN ON A SHADOWY PLANET - SAVVY SHOW STOPPERS
Runner-Up: Mermen - A Glorious Lethal Euphoria

Thrash Metal
WINNER: SLAYER - REIGN IN BLOOD
Runner-Up: Metallica - Master of Puppets

BONUS NOTE: You people RULE PUD!!!! I was sure Metallica would take this category, but `Reign In Blood' actually received nearly TWICE as many votes as `Master Of Puppets'! Up your `FUUUUUUUUCK!'-ing ass, Lars the Baby!

Twee Pop
WINNER: BELLE AND SEBASTIAN - IF YOU'RE FEELING SINISTER
Runner-Up: Beat Happening - You Turn Me On

Various Artist Compilation
WINNER: NUGGETS
Runner-Up: No New York

BONUS NOTE: I'm pleased that `No New York' scored highly because I felt kinda bad about not including `no wave' anywhere in the survey. I was going to pair it with `new wave,' but that seemed ridiculous. So then I considered pairing it with `industrial,' but some guy threw a hissy fit because they're from two different geographical zones. So congratulations, `No New York'!

World Music
WINNER: FELA KUTI - EXPENSIVE SHIT
Runner-Up: Peter Gabriel - Passion

BONUS NOTE: HAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!! Take THAT, World!!! Even a shitty WHITE guy can play your music better than you!!!

YOUR SINGLE FAVORITE ALBUM OF ALL TIME
WINNER: BEACH BOYS - PET SOUNDS
Runner-Up: Beatles - Abbey Road

BONUS NOTE: I can't help but notice that nobody voted for the Dirty Rotten Imbeciles' Dirty Rotten LP. This is the last time I'm trusting you people with the musical decisions around here.

THE WORST ALBUM YOU'VE EVER PAID MONEY FOR
WINNER: A SEVEN-WAY TIE!!!!

Congratulations to the following shitty albums:

BLINK-182 - ENEMA OF THE STATE
DISMEMBERMENT PLAN - EMERGENCY & I
DWARVES - COME CLEAN
KID ROCK - THE HISTORY OF ROCK
METALLICA - ST. ANGER
OFFSPRING - AMERICANA
WILL SMITH - BIG WILLIE STYLE

BONUS NOTE: The Dwarves' "Come Clean"!? That's a great album! "Must Die" I could understand, but "Come Clean"? What's wrong with that one? Oh well. At least "St. Anger" made the list!

Click here to see all the other albums that received multiple votes!!!