Miscellaneous - http://maxpages.com/pure2000stuff/Top_25_Albums_of

Despite lyrics to the contrary, he's no "Loser" in the eyes (and ears) of the critics. That's right, Beck's "Midnite Vultures" managed to fend off stiff competition from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Santana to become your choice for the best album of 1999. Others who fared well include the Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine, TLC, Limp Bizkit, and Blink-182. And despite having the highest-selling album of the year, the Backstreet Boys come in lower than some might expect. Teen queen Britney Spears comes in at a disappointing No. 18, while her Mickey Mouse Club cohort Christina Aguilera comes in at No. 11. This is the year of the protégé: Limp Bizkit bests its mentor Korn by several notches, and Eminem just manages to outpace his mentor Dr. Dre, coming in one slot higher than the rap legend. Without further ado, we present the Top 25 Albums of 1999. This is all taken straight from MR. SHOWBIZ's Top picks of '99. Although I myself wouldve changed things quite a bit (RAGE #1) this is how some people feel.

1.) Beck: Midnite Vultures
(Geffen)
Beck's foray into Funkytown sits well with Wall of Sound readers, garnering him enough votes to be crowned the favorite album of the year. Alongside the funk he melds elements of classic rock, pop, hip-hop, country, new wave, or techno, or any combination therein, all the while maintaining a block rockin' beat to guide the song. With Vultures, Beck proves he hasn't lost his innovative edge.

2.) Red Hot Chili Peppers: Californication
(Warner Bros.)
Californication is the result of the Peppers' reteaming with prodigal guitarist John Frusciante; as the song goes, "Reunited and it feels so good …" The Peppers have made the most of their comeback year, including a special honor at this year's Billboard Music Awards.

3.) Carlos Santana: Supernatural
(Arista)
The spiritual guitarist surprised both fans and non-believers alike with this slow-burning success story, boosted in large part by the infectious No. 1 single "Smooth," featuring vocals from Matchbox 20 frontman Rob Thomas.

4.) Foo Fighters: There Is Nothing Left to Lose
(RCA)
Despite personnel troubles earlier this year (guitarist Franz Stahl departed in June), Dave Grohl led his Foo Fighters into one of the year's most critically acclaimed albums, described as "the finest, most tuneful blast of guitar rock of the year" by Wall of Sound.

5.) Rage Against the Machine: Battle of Los Angeles
(Columbia)
The quartet continues to use its music as a propaganda tool for radical organizing, and creates some thought-provoking music in the process.

6.) Backstreet Boys: Millennium
(Jive)
The fivesome from Orlando, Fla., exceeded high expectations with their latest, which broke a sales record its first week out and has gone on to sell over 8 million copies. They won Album, Group, and Album Artist of the Year awards at this year's Billboard event; look for Grammy to come sniffing around next year.

7.) Nine Inch Nails: The Fragile
(nothing/Interscope)
Spin declared Trent Reznor's long-awaited return to music its best album of the year. You disagreed slightly, but Nine Inch Nails' double-disc effort did make it onto your Top 10 list. The Fragile is a long, strange trip, but one that manages to energize more than it drains.

8.) TLC: Fan Mail
(LaFace/Arista)
Bankruptcy, intra-band conflict, children, and health troubles can't keep this trio down. TLC returned in grand style with Fan Mail, the title of which is a nod to fans' loyalty during the turmoil. T-Boz, Chilli, and Left Eye may have their differences, but together they create unforgettable music.

9.) Limp Bizkit: Significant Other
(Flip/Interscope)
They did it for the nookie, and that plan seems to have paid off for Fred Durst and Co. The band that made musical inroads with a George Michael cover laid all doubt to rest with this one, a hard rock/hip-hop hybrid with lyrics that show the lads' genteel side, and phat beats that still manage to rock the house.

10.)Blink-182: Enema of the State
(MCA)
The puerile trio from San Diego makes it into the Top 10 with this ode to twenty-something angst. The band was assisted, perhaps, by the video for its "All the Small Things," which finds the threesome mocking the popular boy band video style.

11.)Christina Aguilera: Christina Aguilera (RCA)

12.)Fiona Apple: When the Pawn … (Clean Slate/Epic)

13.)Mariah Carey: Rainbow (Columbia)

14.)The Chemical Brothers: Surrender (Astralwerks)

15.)Blur: 13 (Virgin)

16.)Metallica: S&M (Elektra)

17.)Tori Amos: to venus and back (Atlantic)

18.)Britney Spears: ...Baby, One More Time (Jive)

19.)Sugar Ray: 14:59 (Lava/Atlantic)

20.)Korn: Issues (Immortal/Epic)

21.)Sarah McLachlan: Mirrorball (Arista)

22.)Ricky Martin: Ricky Martin (C2/Columbia)

23.)Counting Crows: This Desert Life (DGC/Interscope)

24.)Eminem: Slim Shady (Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope)

25.)Dr. Dre: 2001 (Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope)

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