Over-owned albums by today’s semi-youngsters

Modest Mouse

The Lonesome Crowded West

Up Records

If you don’t own a copy of this, you at least have a few of the songs on an old mixed tape. Most likely retired a few years back in favor of the newest flavor, this catchy-ass double album personified the late ’90s Clintonian era while reminding us that singer Isaac Brock is more cretinous than any of us could ever strive to be (he’s also a better songwriter). I’m still not sure if this is a road-trip record or coffee shop soundtrack. That was 1997. “The years go fast but the days go so slow.” Indeed.

Bob Marley

Legend

Universal/ Tuff Gong

This Rasta doughnut lurks unsuspectingly in most everyone’s collection. “TUFF _GONG” it says across the bottom in the traditional Rasta rainbow. Don’t be ashamed, Bob Marley is a hero. You know when you like a musician, but you just can’t handle the fan base? Yeah well, there ya go.

Dr. Dre

The Chronic

Death Row Records

The high-pitched hip-hop synth-squeal reached its pinnacle with Dre’s dank-gangsta bomb droppings. Eazy, Cube, and Snoop soon followed suit. Snoop’s Doggystyle certainly could be on this list, but Dre is responsible for both albums and The Chronic revolutionized hip-hop.

Emerging from the ashes of NWA while paying respects to George Clinton/ Parliament, Andre Young (“Dr. Dre”) earned his way into the over-owned category with a 40 in his hand and a White Sox hat on his head.

Beastie Boys

Check Your Head

Capitol/ Grand Royal

More like Check Your Wallet. Both License To Ill and Ill Communication are worthy of over-ownership, so we’ll just say the entire Beasties catalog. One of these albums left the record store with you in the last 19 years, if not all of them. And why not? This shit’s ill, like it’s advertised. Still, the best part is that everyone knows that Paul’s Boutique is their best work.

Nirvana

Nevermind

Geffen

You have it or had it or wanted it but were too sick of it to buy it so you just waited for it to find your ass like a sore throat. Regardless, “I’m so happy ’cause today I found my friends, in my head,” is still a terrible line. Really, that was the voice of a generation?

Honorable mentions:

Led Zeppelin: I- IV

Built to Spill: There’s Nothing Wrong With Love and Keep It Like a Secret

Madonna: Like a Virgin through Like a Prayer

Jane’s Addiction: Nothing’s Shocking

Bob Dylan: Greatest Hits

Michael Jackson: Thriller

Rolling Stones: Hot Rocks 1964- 1971

Metallica: Black album

Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon

Guns N’ Roses: Appetite for Destruction