Did I really just see 2 lists that didn't have Rust in Piece as a Top 5 Megadeth album? I'm speechless.
You can add me. I think RIP is by FAR the single most overrated Megadeth album (although CtE is right up there as well).
To tell you the truth, I used to absolutely LOVE Megadeth, but when RIP first came out I found it very disappointing (Holy Wars is the greatest song Dave ever wrote, and could be in the top 5 greatest metal songs of all time...but the album as a whole is very hit and miss to me). The first three albums are all superior to both RIP and CtE (which was terrible beyond 2 or 3 tracks). I just lost interest in Megadeth after that.
I heard a bit of Youthanasia and thought it was a big improvement over CtE. Cryptic Writings came out while I was working in a record store, and as it played on the in store, it really grew on me....so I really like that one (even though there were one or two duds).
I havn't heard the last few albums, but I will say that I never got the hate for The World Needs a Hero. I heard "1000 Times Goodbye" on internet radio, and it really struck a chord with me. (I was in a really bad relationship at the time) I picked up the album and I liked it better than *anything* since RIP. I don't know why I didn't pick up any album since then. Maybe I need to do some catch up.
My top 5 based on the albums I've heard:
1. So Far So Good, So What
2. Killing Is My Business...and Business is Good
3. Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
4. The World Needs a Hero
5. Cryptic Writings
EDIT: It seems weird. TWNAH was 12 years ago...doesn't seem that long. In that time, Dave's done 5 albums I've never heard. I should probably at least pick up The System Has Failed and pick up where I left off.