The Consensus Top 10

Beck’s “official” follow-up to his breakthrough “Odelay” follows that 1996 album as a winner in the 19th annual best album voting by The Times’ pop music contributors. (His “side project” “Mutations” finished No. 6 last year.) “Midnite Vultures” withstood a strong showing by Moby, who made The Times’ Top 10 for the first time in his 10-year career.

Unlike last year, when Lauryn Hill’s blockbuster solo album swept the poll, the 1999 list is heavy on diversity and short on commercial clout, with the only million sellers so far rad-rockers Rage Against the Machine and rapper Eminem.

Albums receive 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for second, etc.

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Artist, Title (Label) Points Ballots (Firsts)

1--Beck, “Midnite Vultures” (DGC) 47 7 (3)

2--Moby, “Play” (V2) 46 5 (1)

3--Fiona Apple, “When the Pawn . . . “ (Clean Slate/Epic) 38 5 (1)

4--Nine Inch Nails, “The Fragile,” (Nothing/Interscope) 25 5

(tie) Tom Waits, “Mule Variations” (Epitaph) 25 3

6--Macy Gray, “On How Life Is” (Epic) 20 5

7--Eminem, “The Slim Shady LP” (Aftermath/Interscope) 15 3

(tie) Rage Against the Machine, “The Battle of Los Angeles” (Epic) 15 3

(tie) Gomez, “Liquid Skin” (Virgin) 15 2

(tie) Sleater-Kinney, “The Hot Rock” (Kill Rock Stars) 15 2

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Here are the individual best album choices of the 15 voters: Fiona Apple: Elysa Gardner; Beck: Richard Cromelin, Robert Hilburn, Randy Lewis. Jeff Beck, “Who Else?” (Epic): Natalie Nichols; Mary J. Blige, “Mary” (MCA): Connie Johnson; Cafe Tacuba, “Reves/Yosoy” (WEA Latina): Ernesto Lechner; Julie Miller, “Broken Things” (HighTone): Michael McCall; Mobb Deep, “Murda Muzik,” (Loud): Soren Baker; Moby: Steve Hochman; Primus, “Antipop” (Interscope): Sandy Masuo; Santana, “Supernatural” (Arista): Kris Ex; Michael Ubaldini, “Acoustic Rumble” (no label): Mike Boehm; Wilco, “Summerteeth” (Reprise): Steve Appleford; Kelly Willis, “What I Deserve” (Rykodisc): Marc Weingarten.