‘92 Year In Review : THE CONSENSUS TOP 10 : Los Lobos Takes No. 1 Spot

After nearly a decade as hometown heroes, East L.A.’s Los Lobos finally reached the top spot in The Times pop critics’ poll for album of the year, barely edging out rap newcomers Arrested Development. Los Lobos is no stranger to this poll--its “How Will the Wolf Survive” was No. 3 in 1984 and “By the Light of the Moon” No. 4 in 1987.

While Los Lobos is joined by longtime favorites Neil Young, Lou Reed, R.E.M. and Bruce Springsteen, three rookie acts made notable debuts on the list. Besides Arrested Development, the newcomers are soul-baring Polly Jean Harvey and sassy young hip-hop/R&B; trio TLC. Industrial rock kingpins Ministry lived up its love-’em-or-hate-’em approach, finishing first on four ballots, second on another and nowhere on the remaining 11 ballots.

Albums are awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, nine points for second and so forth. Here is The Times’ pop music critics’ consensus Top 10, followed by their individual first-place choices for best album.

THE CONSENSUS TOP 10

Artist, Title (Label) Total No. of Points Ballots 1. Los Lobos, “Kiko” 74 9 (Slash/Warner Bros.) 2. Arrested Development, 71 9 “3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of. . .” (Chrysalis) 3. Ministry, “Psalm 69” 49 5 (Warner Bros.) 4. Neil Young, “Harvest Moon” 40 6 (Reprise) 5. Lou Reed, “Magic and Loss” (Sire) 32 5 6. PJ Harvey, “Dry,” (Too Pure/Island) 26 4 7. R.E.M., “Automatic for the People” 25 5 (Warner Bros.) 8. Bruce Springsteen, “Lucky Town” 23 3 (Columbia) 9. En Vogue, “Funky Divas” 22 4 (EastWest) 10. TLC, “Ooooooohhh. . .on 20 3 the TLC Tip” (LaFace/Arista)

Gina Arnold--PJ Harvey, “Dry” (Too Pure/Island) Mike Boehm--Los Lobos, “Kiko” (Slash/Warner Bros.) Richard Cromelin--Ministry, “Psalm 69” (Warner Bros.) Jonathan Gold--Ministry, “Psalm 69” Patrick Goldstein--Neneh Cherry, “Home Brew” (Virgin) Robert Hilburn--Ministry, “Psalm 69” Steve Hochman--Los Lobos, “Kiko” Dennis Hunt--Arrested Development, “3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of. . .” (Chrysalis) Connie Johnson--Arrested Development, “3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of. . .” Randy Lewis--Los Lobos, “Kiko” Kristine McKenna--Nick Cave, “Henry’s Dream” (Elektra) J. Martin McOmber--R.E.M., “Automatic for the People” (Warner Bros.) Elena Oumano--Los Lobos, “Kiko” Jean Rosenbluth--Sugar, “Copper Blue” (Ryko) Katherine Turman--Ministry, “Psalm 69” Chris Willman--Bruce Springsteen, “Lucky Town” (Columbia)