#4 Best Albums of 1979- Damn the Torpedoes

Coming in at number four is this generation's favourite roots-rock dinosaur hero.  (Sorry, Bruce.)  Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' best album, and one of the best roots-rock albums ever, Tom and friends combine the best elements of the Byrds, Springsteen, Rolling Stones, Beatles, and the Who.  The best song here is obviously the breakthough Refugee, but there isn't a terrible song here.  A couple moments are a little behind pace, but this is an excellent album which is one of the best and most important of the decade which it helped close. -Ian, 5/5