13.xx - Van Halen - Van Halen II - 1979 album 
Despite what critics say, this could be their finest album. It doesn't have the songwriting skills of Fair Warning nor the utter #### and swagger of Women And Children First nor the bombast of Van Halen but it has a mixture of everything. From the opening strains of an old soul cover (later abused a bit on Diver Down, but perfect here) in "You're No Good" to the punk aspects of "Outta Love Again" and "Light Up The Sky" to the beautifully thought-out segue of "Spanish Fly" into "D.O.A." this album was a bit metal/glam/punk/thrash, way before its time. 
I've always thought I was a little bit off for liking this album, but if Dimebag Darrell of Pantera fame thinks it was his favorite, then so be it, and screw Christgau's ranking. I love the sloppiness of this album -- it makes it human, and not a bit bad of a follow-up, but rather a step forward from pure bombast into heavy metal/punk/glam song writing.