Magazine one:

Godspeed You Black Emperor
Yanqui U.X.O.
The best post-rock out there. Well, some of the best. This isn't their best record (which is Lft Yr Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven) but it's DAMN good. Best track: "rockets fall on Rocket Falls".

Radiohead
Hail to the Thief
A lot of people dumped on this record because it really wasn't anything. Don't know why. There is some strong songwritting on here. If anything, Radiohead's sins on this record seems to be (at least telling from their b-sides for this record) that they are ready to move off further on the beaten track but don't quite have the material yet. Best track: "Sit Down. Stand Up.".

Sonic Youth
Daydream Nation
'nuff said. Best track: "Teenage Riot".

Brad
Interiors
Shawn Smith should have become famous with one of his 10,000 bands (some are Satchel, Brad, Pidgeonhed, Twilight Singers...), he always makes great records with whatever band. The highlight of "his" career is, in my opinion, Satchel's EDC album, but I haven't listened to Brad's second (and far more accomplished) second record in awhile. Best song: "Lift".

Hum
You'd Prefer An Astronaut
For some mid-90s alternacrunch. It's not Donward is Heavenward but it's pretty good. Best track: predictably: "Stars".

Neil Young
Mirrorball
The last great Neil Young record. Remember his great stuff in the early 90s? Best track: "I'm The Ocean".

The Fire Theft
The Fire Theft
It's as much of a Sunny Day Real Estate record as How It Feels To Be Something On or The Rising Tide. Some fantastic material on here, twisted with a mid-80s-prog-cock-rock edge. It's odd. Best Track: "Sinatra".

The Afghan Whigs
The Black Love
This album was recorded in Redmond/Woodinville and is one of the best rock records of the 1990s. Afghan Whigs played my most favoritist concert I ever saw, at the Showbox, supporting this record. Magic. Best Track: "Blame, Etc.".

The Cure
Disintegration
I'm just starting my Cure exploration. Best Track: can I be more predictable? "Pictures of You".

Manic Street Preachers
Know Your Enemy
I've been on a Manics kick lately. Here in the US, nobody knows about them so it is still cool to like them! Not their best record but far from their worst. Best Track: "Dead Martyrs".

Mike Watt
Ball-hog or Tugboat?
Because it's cool, and Watt is amazing. Best song: "Big Train".

They Might Be Giants
Factory Showroom
Because there is some fantastic stuff on this record even though it's not their best. Best Track: "I Can Hear You".