Consequence’s 100 Greatest Albums of All Time: Rating the Rock

Consequence's 100 Greatest Albums of All Time dropped earlier this week, so let's talk about the rock albums that made the list.

I am fan of rock and/or roll music. Which is convenient, given the fact I'm a rock radio DJ. Some of my earliest musical memories are of rock songs I heard on the radio, or that my parents played from their vast record collection on our stereo at home. I collect songs and records myself, and I'm constantly scouring the internet for bands new and old to fall in love with. So Consequence has been a trusted companion of mine for years now, going back to when they were called Consequence of Sound.

This music blog that is so much more has turned me on to countless bands over the years. And they've given me reason to revisit and rediscover older musical gems as well, thanks to their compelling, passionate brand of music journalism. They're celebrating 15 years, and their 100 Greatest Albums list is part of that celebration. And you know we love a good list here at ROCK 92.9, whether it's ranking all 92 Led Zeppelin songs or dropping 50 of our favorite power ballads on you.

To be clear, the scope of Consequence's music and pop cultural coverage is wide, ranging from underground to mainstream and spanning countless genres. You'll find that scope represented on their full list. But for the sake of this exercise--and because we're Boston's ROCK 92.9--I'm singling out just the rock albums that made the cut. You'll see where they placed on the Consequence list, get a little bit of their analysis, and I'll add my thoughts. Because the only thing that's better than finding a brand new Top 100 list is finding reasons to argue about it!

Honestly, I was surprised that a Jane's Addiction album made the cut on this list. And I'm glad this one did. I feel like its importance gets overshadowed by the big alternative rock albums that would come three and four years later.

We don't play Fugazi on ROCK 92.9, but a good deal of the '90s bands we do play owe this album a debt of gratitude.

I don't want to live in a world where a System of a Down album makes a Top 100 list. Unfortunately, now I do.

Now this? This I can get behind. Gotta have your Twin Cities rock to balance out the L.A. nu-metal.

It's my favorite Who album, every damn song on it is essential, and it absolutely belongs on this list.

On a rock-albums-only list, this one would (and should) probably place higher. But on this list, it's right where it belongs.

Props to Consequence for not stiffing metal on this list, and props to them for including this absolute monster.

Why do I have the sinking feeling this is going to end up being the only grunge album on the list? And if that's the case, why? And why in the mid-80s?

As a pumpkins fan, I'm rooting for Siamese Dream to land on this list, too. But I'm also aware of how unlikely it is that any of these acts will end up with multiple album showings. So I guess, if you're making a Top 100 and you only have room for one Pumpkins album, you gotta go with this one.

In that same vein, this is the Police album you have to have on a list like this.

U2 fans will complain that this didn't come in high enough but that's just because U2 fans love to complain.

I'm gonna be that guy and play the "overrated" card, not to troll but simply because the two Beastie Boys albums that followed this one were and are better albums.

Depending on the day of the week and my overall mood, I'm either ranking this or The Bends as the best Radiohead album, so this checks out as far as I'm concerned.

Stone. Exile. Mid-pack. Box checked.

In a list chock-full of important albums, this is one of the most important albums, rock or otherwise.

"Without Raw Power, there is no Clash, no Ramones, no Sex Pistols." Amen, Consequence.

I don't even love this album the way most people do and I think it should've landed higher.

Another great example--and there are many on the list--of an album that's so much more vital than people realize.

Omnipresent. And for good reason.

Forget the Cobain name-dropping: this album from this band was a template for so much of what was to come in the '90s.

How do you pick just one Neil Young album? Well, you pick this one. And you put it in the right spot.

So much more than the sum of its parts.

Gotta love a list where Rage and The Beatles live side-by-side...

...and you gotta live a list where Metallica outranks 'em both.

Maybe a tad lower than one would expect?

As Consequence says: "The Ramones were the first true punk band, and their 1976 self-titled debut was the first true punk album." Facts.

Having Paranoid in the Top 25 is very satisfying.

What was I saying earlier about bands getting more than one album in the Top 100? I mean, I guess The Stones are worth it?

Gotta have a Zep album, and it's gotta be this one.

Great album. Important album. About 80 spots higher than it should be.

Were you waiting to see when and where this one would pop up? I was. And I'm not surprised.

Wouldn't have been surprised if this landed at Number 1. Certainly belongs in the Top 10. So here we are.

On any other list, this album in this spot would surprise me. But on a Consequence list, it makes perfect sense.

Another one that could've landed at Number 1 and made perfect sense.

I wanna complain about three Beatles albums on a Top 100 list, but I know if I do I'll come across as foolish.