I collected over 40 lists of the “Best Albums of All Time”, “Greatest Albums…”, “Most Important Albums…” from books, magazines and the Internet and combined them into one meta-list. Here are the results: every album on three or more of the original source lists, organized chronologically. Albums on the same number of lists are arranged chronologically. To see another version of the same list organized by rank (that is, with the albums on the most lists at the top), go here.
NOTE 1: These are not my personal opinions.
NOTE 2: The “Best Albums” lists I found focus on pop, r&b, hip hop and the many permutations of rock, with occasional nods to other genres (jazz, folk, country). To make up for the many missing genres, I have created other music meta-lists for classical, jazz, blues, hip hop, country, and world music. If you’re looking for Best Songs meta-lists, I’ve created some of those, too: rock/pop, etc., country, and hip hop.
1920s-1930s
Various Artists Anthology of American Folk Music (Harry Smith, ed.) (rec. 1926-1933, rel. 1952) (on 3 lists)
Robert Johnson The Complete Recordings (rec. 1936-1937) (on 4 lists)
1940s
Hank Williams 40 Greatest Hits (rec. 1947-1952, rel. 1978) (on 3 lists)
Muddy Waters The Anthology: 1947-1972 (rec. 1947-1972, rel. 2001) (on 3 lists)
1950s
Howlin’ Wolf Moanin’ in the Moonlight (rec. 1951-1959, rel. 1959) (on 3 lists)
Sam Cooke Portrait of a Legend (rec. 1951-1964, rel. 2003) (on 3 lists)
Elvis Presley Sunrise (rec. 1953-1955) (on 3 lists)
Elvis Presley The Sun Sessions (1954-1955) (on 10 lists)
Frank Sinatra In the Wee Small Hours (1955) (on 4 lists)
Chuck Berry The Great Twenty-Eight (rec. 1955-1965) (on 6 lists)
Frank Sinatra Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! (1956) (on 6 lists)
Elvis Presley Elvis Presley (1956) (on 8 lists)
James Brown Star Time (rec. 1956-1984) (on 6 lists)
Little Richard Here’s Little Richard (1957) (on 7 lists)
The Crickets (feat. Buddy Holly) The ‘Chirping’ Crickets (1957) (on 4 lists)
Various Artists Phil Spector: Back to Mono (rec. 1958-1969) (on 5 lists)
Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959) (on 21 lists)
Ornette Coleman The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959) (on 3 lists)
Charles Mingus Mingus Ah Um (1959) (on 5 lists)
The Dave Brubeck Quartet Time Out (1959) (on 3 lists)
1960-1964
Miles Davis Sketches of Spain (1960) (on 5 lists)
John Coltrane Giant Steps (1960) (on 7 lists)
Muddy Waters At Newport 1960 (1960) (on 3 lists)
Ike & Tina Turner Proud Mary: The Best of Ike & Tina Turner (rec. 1960-1976, rel. 1991) (on 3 lists)
Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962) (on 7 lists)
James Brown ‘Live’ at The Apollo (1963) (on 17 lists)
The Beatles With The Beatles (1963) (on 4 lists)
Bob Dylan The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963) (on 5 lists)
Charles Mingus The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (1963) (on 5 lists)
Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 (rec. 1963, rel. 1985) (on 6 lists)
Various Artists Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era (rec. 1963-1968, rel. 1972-1998) (on 4 lists)
The Beatles Meet the Beatles (1964) (on 4 lists)
The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night (1964) (on 11 lists)
Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto (1964) (on 3 lists)
1965-1969
The Beatles Rubber Soul (1965) (on 33 lists)
Bob Dylan Bringing It All Back Home (1965) (on 21 lists)
Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965) (on 28 lists)
Otis Redding Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965) (on 17 lists)
John Coltrane A Love Supreme (1965) (on 14 lists)
The Byrds Mr. Tambourine Man (1965) (on 6 lists)
B.B. King Live at the Regal (1965) (on 4 lists)
The Beatles Help! (1965) (on 3 lists)
The Beach Boys Today (1965) (on 4 lists)
The Beach Boys The Smile Sessions (rec. 1965-1971, rel. 2011) (on 4 lists)
The Beatles Revolver (1966) (on 38 lists)
The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966) (on 36 lists)
Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (1966) (on 27 lists)
The Rolling Stones Aftermath (1966) (on 7 lists)
The Monks Black Monk Time (1966) (on 4 lists)
The Mothers of the Invention (with Frank Zappa) Freak Out! (1966) (on 3 lists)
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (1966) (on 3 lists)
Bob Dylan The Bootleg Series, Vol. 4: Bob Dylan Live 1966: The “Royal Albert Hall” Concert (rec. 1966, rel. 1998) (on 4 lists)
The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) (on 36 lists)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? (1967) (on 33 lists)
The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) (on 32 lists)
The Doors The Doors (1967) (on 27 lists)
Love Forever Changes (1967) (on 21 lists)
Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) (on 12 lists)
Cream Disraeli Gears (1967) (on 12 lists)
Pink Floyd The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967) (on 9 lists)
The Byrds Younger Than Yesterday (1967) (on 6 lists)
The Who The Who Sell Out (1967) (on 6 lists)
The Doors Strange Days (1967) (on 4 lists)
Moby Grape Moby Grape (1967) (on 5 lists)
Jefferson Airplane Surrealistic Pillow (1967) (on 7 lists)
The Moody Blues Days of Future Passed (1967) (on 3 lists)
Leonard Cohen Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967) (on 9 lists)
Bob Dylan John Wesley Harding (1967) (on 4 lists)
Buffalo Springfield Buffalo Springfield Again (1967) (on 4 lists)
The Kinks Something Else by The Kinks (1967) (on 3 lists)
The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour (1967) (on 4 lists)
Otis Redding/Jimi Hendrix Historic Performances Recorded at the Monterey International Pop Festival (rec. 1967, rel. 1970) (on 4 lists)
The Beatles The Beatles [White Album] (1968) (on 37 lists)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland (1968) (on 27 lists)
Van Morrison Astral Weeks (1968) (on 26 lists)
The Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet (1968) (on 19 lists)
The Band Music From Big Pink (1968) (on 16 lists)
Aretha Franklin Lady Soul (1968) (on 11 lists)
Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (1968) (on 13 lists)
The Byrds The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968) (on 9 lists)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold as Love (1968) (on 9 lists)
The Zombies Odessey & Oracle (1968) (on 9 lists)
Simon & Garfunkel Bookends (1968) (on 5 lists)
The Incredible String Band The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter (1968) (on 4 lists)
Dr. John Gris-Gris (1968) (on 5 lists)
The Mothers of Invention (feat. Frank Zappa) We’re Only in It for the Money (1968) (on 4 lists)
The Velvet Underground White Light/White Heat (1968) (on 8 lists)
The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968) (on 6 lists)
Big Brother & the Holding Company (with Janis Joplin) Cheap Thrills (1968) (on 5 lists)
Laura Nyro Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968) (on 4 lists)
Creedence Clearwater Revival Chronicle (rec. 1968-1972, rel. 1976) (on 3 lists)
The Beatles Abbey Road (1969) (on 32 lists)
The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed (1969) (on 26 lists)
The Band The Band (1969) (on 21 lists)
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin (1969) (on 18 lists)
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II (1969) (on 19 lists)
Captain Beefheart Trout Mask Replica (1969) (on 16 lists)
Dusty Springfield Dusty in Memphis (1969) (on 16 lists)
The Who Tommy (1969) (on 16 lists)
The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground (1969) (on 16 lists)
Sly & the Family Stone Stand! (1969) (on 11 lists)
The Kinks The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1969) (on 13 lists)
Creedence Clearwater Revival Green River (1969) (on 7 lists)
Blind Faith Blind Faith (1969) (on 6 lists)
The Flying Burrito Brothers The Gilded Palace of Sin (1969) (on 8 lists)
Scott Walker Scott 4 (1969) (on 5 lists)
Skip Spence Oar (1969) (on 4 lists)
Nick Drake Five Leaves Left (1969) (on 9 lists)
King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King (1969) (on 8 lists)
Chicago Transit Authority (later known as Chicago) Chicago Transit Authority (1969) (on 6 lists)
The Stooges The Stooges (1969) (on 7 lists)
Fairport Convention Liege and Lief (1969) (on 5 lists)
Crosby, Stills & Nash Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969) (on 5 lists)
Miles Davis In a Silent Way (1969) (on 7 lists)
Grateful Dead Live/Dead (1969) (on 4 lists)
Isaac Hayes Hot Buttered Soul (1969) (on 4 lists)
The Meters Look-Ka Py Py (1969) (on 4 lists)
Neil Young Everybody Knows this is Nowhere (1969) (on 7 lists)
Creedence Clearwater Revival Willy and the Poor Boys (1969) (on 4 lists)
MC5 Kick out the Jams (1969) (on 5 lists)
Frank Zappa Hot Rats (1969) (on 4 lists)
Elvis Presley From Elvis in Memphis (1969) (on 3 lists)
1970-1974
Neil Young After the Gold Rush (1970) (on 23 lists)
Van Morrison Moondance (1970) (on 17 lists)
Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) (on 20 lists)
John Lennon John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970) (on 16 lists)
Derek and The Dominos Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970) (on 15 lists)
Miles Davis Bitches Brew (1970) (on 16 lists)
The Stooges Fun House (1970) (on 14 lists)
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath (1970) (on 6 lists)
Black Sabbath Paranoid (1970) (on 14 lists)
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin III (1970) (on 8 lists)
Grateful Dead Workingman’s Dead (1970) (on 6 lists)
Grateful Dead American Beauty (1970) (on 10 lists)
Santana Abraxas (1970) (on 11 lists)
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Déjà vu (1970) (on 8 lists)
George Harrison All Things Must Pass (1970) (on 11 lists)
James Taylor Sweet Baby James (1970) (on 8 lists)
The Beatles Let It Be (rec. 1968-1970, rel. 1970) (on 4 lists)
The Velvet Underground Loaded (1970) (on 4 lists)
Nick Drake Bryter Layter (1970) (on 4 lists)
Tim Buckley Starsailor (1970) (on 3 lists)
The Beach Boys Sunflower (1970) (on 3 lists)
Cat Stevens Tea for the Tillerman (1970) (on 6 lists)
The Rolling Stones ‘Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!’: The Rolling Stones in Concert (1970) (on 3 lists)
The Who Live at Leeds (1970) (on 5 lists)
Randy Newman 12 Songs (1970) (on 3 lists)
The Doors Morrison Hotel (1970) (on 3 lists)
Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys (1970) (on 3 lists)
James Brown Sex Machine (1970) (on 3 lists)
Led Zeppelin [Led Zeppelin IV] (1971) (on 35 lists)
0
Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971) (on 32 lists)
The Who Who’s Next (1971) (on 27 lists)
The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers (1971) (on 26 lists)
David Bowie Hunky Dory (1971) (on 24 lists)
Joni Mitchell Blue (1971) (on 22 lists)
Carole King Tapestry (1971) (on 18 lists)
John Lennon Imagine (1971) (on 14 lists)
Sly & the Family Stone There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971) (on 12 lists)
The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East (1971) (on 10 lists)
Janis Joplin Pearl (1971) (on 10 lists)
Rod Stewart Every Picture Tells a Story (1971) (on 9 lists)
The Doors L.A. Woman (1971) (on 6 lists)
Jethro Tull Aqualung (1971) (on 6 lists)
T. Rex Electric Warrior (1971) (on 9 lists)
Leonard Cohen Songs of Love and Hate (1971) (on 7 lists)
Funkadelic Maggot Brain (1971) (on 7 lists)
The Beach Boys Surf’s Up (1971) (on 4 lists)
Can Tago Mago (1971) (on 6 lists)
John Prine John Prine (1971) (on 5 lists)
Serge Gainsbourg Histoire de Melody Nelson (1971) (on 5 lists)
Yes Fragile (1971) (on 5 lists)
Dolly Parton Coat of Many Colors (1971) (on 6 lists)
Isaac Hayes Shaft (1971) (on 3 lists)
Harry Nilsson Nilsson Schmilsson (1971) (on 4 lists)
Black Sabbath Master of Reality (1971) (on 3 lists)
Pink Floyd Meddle (1971) (on 3 lists)
David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (1972) (on 36 lists)
The Rolling Stones Exile on Main St. (1972) (on 32 lists)
Lou Reed Transformer (1972) (on 17 lists)
Neil Young Harvest (1972) (on 13 lists)
Stevie Wonder Talking Book (1972) (on 11 lists)
Nick Drake Pink Moon (1972) (on 9 lists)
Todd Rundgren Something/Anything? (1972) (on 7 lists)
Various Artists (incl. Jimmy Cliff) The Harder They Come (1972) (on 6 lists)
Roxy Music Roxy Music (1972) (on 4 lists)
Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band Clear Spot (1972) (on 3 lists)
Curtis Mayfield Super Fly (1972) (on 7 lists)
Randy Newman Sail Away (1972) (on 4 lists)
Steely Dan Can’t Buy A Thrill (1972) (on 4 lists)
Black Sabbath Volume 4 (1972) (on 3 lists)
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Will The Circle Be Unbroken (1972) (on 3 lists)
Deep Purple Machine Head (1972) (on 3 lists)
Big Star #1 Record (1972) (on 4 lists)
Eagles Eagles (1972) (on 3 lists)
Aretha Franklin Young, Gifted & Black (1972) (on 3 lists)
Aretha Franklin Amazing Grace (1972) (on 3 lists)
Paul Simon Paul Simon (1972) (on 3 lists)
Stevie Wonder Music of My Mind (1972) (on 3 lists)
Yes Close to the Edge (1972) (on 5 lists)
Can Ege Bamyasi (1972) (on 3 lists)
Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend (rec. 1972-1983, rel. 1984) (on 11 lists)
Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) (on 31 lists)
Stevie Wonder Innervisions (1973) (on 21 lists)
Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) (on 17 lists)
Iggy & The Stooges Raw Power (1973) (on 15 lists)
Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy (1973) (on 12 lists)
The Who Quadrophenia (1973) (on 7 lists)
Gram Parsons GP (1973) (on 8 lists)
Al Green Call Me (1973) (on 8 lists)
New York Dolls New York Dolls (1973) (on 9 lists)
Paul McCartney & Wings Band on the Run (1973) (on 6 lists)
The Wailers (later Bob Marley & the Wailers) Catch a Fire (1973) (on 7 lists)
Brian Eno Here Come the Warm Jets (1973) (on 6 lists)
Steely Dan Countdown to Ecstasy (1973) (on 5 lists)
John Martyn Solid Air (1973) (on 4 lists)
Marvin Gaye Let’s Get It On (1973) (on 7 lists)
Lou Reed Berlin (1973) (on 3 lists)
The Isley Brothers 3 + 3 (1973) (on 4 lists)
Todd Rundgren A Wizard, A True Star (1973) (on 3 lists)
Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells (1973) (on 3 lists)
Herbie Hancock Head Hunters (1973) (on 3 lists)
Lynryd Skynyrd (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd) (1973) (on 3 lists)
Bruce Springsteen The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle (1973) (on 3 lists)
Can Future Days (1973) (on 3 lists)
Joni Mitchell Court and Spark (1974) (on 12 lists)
Gram Parsons Grievous Angel (1974) (on 9 lists)
Richard & Linda Thompson I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974) (on 9 lists)
Big Star Radio City (1974) (on 7 lists)
Bob Marley & the Wailers Natty Dread (1974) (on 5 lists)
Steely Dan Pretzel Logic (1974) (on 3 lists)
Robert Wyatt Rock Bottom (1974) (on 5 lists)
Neil Young On the Beach (1974) (on 7 lists)
Randy Newman Good Old Boys (1974) (on 4 lists)
Van Morrison It’s Too Late to Stop Now (1974) (on 4 lists)
Bad Company Bad Company (1974) (on 4 lists)
Gene Clarke No Other (1974) (on 3 lists)
1975-1979
Bob Dylan and The Band The Basement Tapes (rec. 1967-1975, rel. 1975) (on 4 lists)
Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (1975) (on 28 lists)
Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1975) (on 27 lists)
Patti Smith Horses (1975) (on 23 lists)
Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (1975) (on 22 lists)
Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here (1975) (on 21 lists)
Queen A Night at the Opera (1975) (on 15 lists)
Neil Young Tonight’s the Night (1975) (on 12 lists)
Aerosmith Toys in the Attic (1975) (on 9 lists)
Brian Eno Another Green World (1975) (on 10 lists)
Parliament Mothership Connection (1975) (on 7 lists)
Willie Nelson Red Headed Stranger (1975) (on 5 lists)
Joni Mitchell The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975) (on 5 lists)
David Bowie Young Americans (1975) (on 3 lists)
Neu! Neu ’75 (1975) (on 3 lists)
Toots and the Maytals Funky Kingston (1975) (on 3 lists)
Earth, Wind & Fire That’s the Way of the World (1975) (on 3 lists)
Kiss Alive! (1975) (on 3 lists)
The Modern Lovers The Modern Lovers (rec. 1971-1973, rel. 1976) (on 8 lists)
Ramones Ramones (1976) (on 27 lists)
Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976) (on 23 lists)
The Eagles Hotel California (1976) (on 15 lists)
Roxy Music For Your Pleasure (1976) (on 13 lists)
Bob Dylan Desire (1976) (on 4 lists)
David Bowie Station to Station (1976) (on 9 lists)
Kate & Anna McGarrigle Kate & Anna McGarrigle (1976) (on 4 lists)
Aerosmith Rocks (1976) (on 4 lists)
Kiss Destroyer (1976) (on 3 lists)
Joni Mitchell Hejira (1976) (on 4 lists)
Boston Boston (1976) (on 3 lists)
Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977) (on 32 lists)
Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977) (on 31 lists)
Television Marquee Moon (1977) (on 22 lists)
Elvis Costello My Aim Is True (1977) (on 13 lists)
Various Artists (incl. The Bee Gees) Saturday Night Fever (1977) (on 12 lists)
Bob Marley & the Wailers Exodus (1977) (on 11 lists)
Kraftwerk Trans-Europe Express (1977) (on 10 lists)
Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell (1977) (on 7 lists)
Steely Dan Aja (1977) (on 8 lists)
Wire Pink Flag (1977) (on 7 lists)
David Bowie Low (1977) (on 10 lists)
David Bowie Heroes (1977) (on 5 lists)
Suicide Suicide (1977) (on 7 lists)
Ramones Rocket to Russia (1977) (on 5 lists)
Iggy Pop Lust for Life (1977) (on 4 lists)
Billy Joel The Stranger (1977) (on 5 lists)
Eric Clapton Slowhand (1977) (on 3 lists)
Pink Floyd Animals (1977) (on 3 lists)
Buzzcocks Singles Going Steady (rec. 1977-1979) (on 4 lists)
Bruce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978) (on 14 lists)
Elvis Costello This Year’s Model (1978) (on 11 lists)
The Rolling Stones Some Girls (1978) (on 9 lists)
Blondie Parallel Lines (1978) (on 11 lists)
Van Halen Van Halen (1978) (on 9 lists)
Big Star Third/Sister Lovers (1978) (on 8 lists)
Pere Ubu The Modern Dance (1978) (on 5 lists)
Talking Heads More Songs about Buildings and Food (1978) (on 5 lists)
The Jam All the Mod Cons (1978) (on 4 lists)
Funkadelic One Nation Under a Groove (1978) (on 5 lists)
Cheap Trick Cheap Trick at Budokan (1978) (on 4 lists)
Devo Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978) (on 5 lists)
Marvin Gaye Here, My Dear (1978) (on 4 lists)
The Cars The Cars (1978) (on 4 lists)
Willie Nelson Stardust (1978) (on 3 lists)
Chic C’est Chic (1978) (on 3 lists)
Thin Lizzy Live and Dangerous (1978) (on 3 lists)
X-Ray Spex Germfree Adolescents (1978) (on 3 lists)
Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979) (on 18 lists)
The Clash The Clash (1979) (on 17 lists)
Pink Floyd The Wall (1979) (on 18 lists)
Public Image Ltd. Metal Box (re-released in 1980 as Second Edition) (1979) (on 11 lists)
Neil Young Rust Never Sleeps (1979) (on 11 lists)
Gang of Four Entertainment! (1979) (on 9 lists)
The B-52s The B-52s (1979) (on 6 lists)
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Damn the Torpedoes (1979) (on 4 lists)
Elvis Costello & the Attractions Armed Forces (1979) (on 5 lists)
Led Zeppelin In Through the Out Door (1979) (on 3 lists)
Graham Parker Squeezing Out Sparks (1979) (on 3 lists)
The Police Regatta de Blanc (1979) (on 3 lists)
AC/DC Highway to Hell (1979) (on 3 lists)
Talking Heads Fear of Music (1979) (on 5 lists)
The Specials The Specials (1979) (on 4 lists)
The Slits Cut (1979) (on 4 lists)
Chic Risqué (1979)
1980-1984
The Clash London Calling (1980) (on 30 lists)
AC/DC Back in Black (1980) (on 26 lists)
Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980) (on 19 lists)
The Pretenders Pretenders (1980) (on 12 lists)
Joy Division Unknown Pleasures (1980) (on 15 lists)
The Clash Sandanista! (1980) (on 5 lists)
Prince Dirty Mind (1980) (on 5 lists)
Bruce Springsteen The River (1980) (on 3 lists)
Dexy’s Midnight Runners Searching for the Young Soul Rebels (1980) (on 4 lists)
Dead Kennedys Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (1980) (on 3 lists)
X Los Angeles (1980) (on 3 lists)
Motörhead Ace of Spades (1980) (on 3 lists)
Joy Division Closer (1981) (on 16 lists)
The Rolling Stones Tattoo You (1981) (on 4 lists)
X Wild Gift (1981) (on 5 lists)
Black Flag Damaged (1981) (on 6 lists)
The Go-Gos Beauty and the Beat (1981) (on 4 lists)
Rush Moving Pictures (1981) (on 4 lists)
Michael Jackson Thriller (1982) (on 29 lists)
Prince 1999 (1982) (on 9 lists)
Bruce Springsteen Nebraska (1982) (on 8 lists)
Duran Duran Rio (1982) (on 4 lists)
Donald Fagen The Nightfly (1982) (on 4 lists)
Elvis Costello Imperial Bedroom (1982) (on 3 lists)
Richard & Linda Thompson Shoot Out the Lights (1982) (on 3 lists)
Roxy Music Avalon (1982) (on 3 lists)
The Cure Pornography (1982) (on 3 lists)
R.E.M. Murmur (1983) (on 15 lists)
The Police Synchronicity (1983) (on 11 lists)
Tom Waits Swordfishtrombones (1983) (on 8 lists)
U2 War (1983) (on 5 lists)
Metallica Kill ‘Em All (1983) (on 3 lists)
ZZ Top Eliminator (1983) (on 3 lists)
Def Leppard Pyromania (1983) (on 3 lists)
Violent Femmes Violent Femmes (1983) (on 3 lists)
Cyndi Lauper She’s So Unusual (1983)
Madonna The Immaculate Collection (rec. 1983-1990) (on 4 lists)
Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (1984) (on 26 lists)
Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. (1984) (on 12 lists)
The Replacements Let It Be (1984) (on 12 lists)
The Smiths The Smiths (1984) (on 9 lists)
Minutemen Double Nickels on the Dime (1984) (on 10 lists)
U2 The Unforgettable Fire (1984) (on 6 lists)
Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade (1984) (on 6 lists)
The Smiths Hatful of Hollow (1984) (on 6 lists)
Tina Turner Private Dancer (1984) (on 4 lists)
Talking Heads Stop Making Sense (1984) (on 4 lists)
Run-D.M.C. Run-D.M.C. (1984) (on 3 lists)
1985-1989
Various Artists The Indestructible Beat of Soweto (rec. 1981-1984, rel. 1985) (on 4 lists)
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (1985) (on 12 lists)
Kate Bush Hounds of Love (1985) (on 13 lists)
Tom Waits Rain Dogs (1985) (on 14 lists)
Prefab Sprout Steve McQueen (1985) (on 6 lists)
Hüsker Dü New Day Rising (1985) (on 6 lists)
The Pogues Rum Sodomy & the Lash (1985) (on 4 lists)
The Smiths Meat is Murder (1985) (on 3 lists)
Whitney Houston Whitney Houston (1985) (on 4 lists)
The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (1986) (on 25 lists)
Paul Simon Graceland (1986) (on 22 lists)
Metallica Master of Puppets (1986) (on 15 lists)
Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill (1986) (on 11 lists)
Peter Gabriel So (1986) (on 11 lists)
Run-D.M.C. Raising Hell (1986) (on 10 lists)
The Jesus and Mary Chain Psychocandy (1986) (on 9 lists)
Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet (1986) (on 7 lists)
Slayer Reign in Blood (1986) (on 4 lists)
R.E.M. Life’s Rich Pageant (1986) (on 3 lists)
XTC Skylarking (1986) (on 3 lists)
U2 The Joshua Tree (1987) (on 24 lists)
Prince Sign o’ the Times (1987) (on 20 lists)
Guns n’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987) (on 21 lists)
Def Leppard Hysteria (1987) (on 5 lists)
R.E.M. Document (1987) (on 4 lists)
Eric B. & Rakim Paid in Full (1987) (on 5 lists)
Michael Jackson Bad (1987) (on 4 lists)
Sonic Youth Sister (1987) (on 3 lists)
Anita Baker Rapture (1987) (on 3 lists)
Boogie Down Productions Criminal Minded (1987) (on 3 lists)
George Michael Faith (1987) (on 3 lists)
Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988) (on 22 lists)
N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (1988) (on 14 lists)
Sonic Youth Daydream Nation (1988) (on 15 lists)
Pixies Surfer Rosa (1988) (on 8 lists)
Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman (1988) (on 5 lists)
Jane’s Addiction Nothing’s Shocking (1988) (on 4 lists)
Leonard Cohen I’m Your Man (1988) (on 3 lists)
Metallica …And Justice for All (1988) (on 3 lists)
Talk Talk Spirit of Eden (1988) (on 3 lists)
The Stone Roses The Stone Roses (1989) (on 18 lists)
Pixies Doolittle (1989) (on 18 lists)
Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique (1989) (on 14 lists)
The Cure Disintegration (1989) (on 10 lists)
De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) (on 9 lists)
Madonna Like a Prayer (1989) (on 7 lists)
Bonnie Raitt Nick of Time (1989) (on 4 lists)
Aerosmith Pump (1989) (on 3 lists)
New Order Technique (1989) (on 3 lists)
Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) (on 3 lists)
1990-1994
Public Enemy Fear of a Black Planet (1990) (on 11 lists)
Jane’s Addiction Ritual de lo Habitual (1990) (on 5 lists)
Sinead O’Connor I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got (1990) (on 4 lists)
Depeche Mode Violator (1990) (on 6 lists)
Cocteau Twins Heaven or Las Vegas (1990) (on 4 lists)
Ice Cube AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted (1990) (on 3 lists)
LL Cool J Mama Said Knock You Out (1990) (on 3 lists)
Nirvana Nevermind (1991) (on 36 lists)
U2 Achtung Baby (1991) (on 23 lists)
Pearl Jam Ten (1991) (on 20 lists)
Primal Scream Screamadelica (1991) (on 14 lists)
Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991) (on 14 lists)
Massive Attack Blue Lines (1991) (on 14 lists)
Metallica Metallica [Black Album] (1991) (on 14 lists)
My Bloody Valentine Loveless (1991) (on 15 lists)
R.E.M. Out of Time (1991) (on 7 lists)
A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory (1991) (on 12 lists)
Crowded House Woodface (1991) (on 3 lists)
R.E.M. Automatic for the People (1992) (on 23 lists)
Pavement Slanted and Enchanted (1992) (on 10 lists)
Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine (1992) (on 11 lists)
Dr. Dre The Chronic (1992) (on 9 lists)
Alice in Chains Dirt (1992) (on 6 lists)
Tori Amos Little Earthquakes (1992) (on 5 lists)
Aphex Twin Selected Ambient Works 85-92 (1992) (on 6 lists)
Pantera Vulgar Display of Power (1992) (on 3 lists)
The Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream (1993) (on 13 lists)
Nirvana In Utero (1993) (on 14 lists)
Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993) (on 13 lists)
Liz Phair Exile in Guyville (1993) (on 8 lists)
Björk Debut (1993) (on 5 lists)
PJ Harvey Rid of Me (1993) (on 5 lists)
Counting Crows August and Everything After (1993) (on 3 lists)
A Tribe Called Quest Midnight Marauders (1993) (on 5 lists)
Slowdive Souvlaki (1993) (on 3 lists)
Jeff Buckley Grace (1994) (on 19 lists)
Oasis Definitely Maybe (1994) (on 15 lists)
Portishead Dummy (1994) (on 16 lists)
Blur Parklife (1994) (on 11 lists)
Soundgarden Superunknown (1994) (on 10 lists)
Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral (1994) (on 13 lists)
Green Day Dookie (1994) (on 8 lists)
Hole Live Through This (1994) (on 9 lists)
Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York (1994) (on 9 lists)
Weezer Weezer [Blue Album] (1994) (on 7 lists)
Nas Illmatic (1994) (on 11 lists)
The Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die (1994) (on 8 lists)
Pavement Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994) (on 6 lists)
TLC CrazySexyCool (1994) (on 4 lists)
Manic Street Preachers The Holy Bible (1994) (on 3 lists)
Beastie Boys Ill Communication (1994) (on 3 lists)
Suede Dog Man Star (1994) (on 3 lists)
Mary J. Blige My Life (1994) (on 3 lists)
1995-1999
Oasis (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995) (on 17 lists)
Radiohead The Bends (1995) (on 17 lists)
Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995) (on 10 lists)
The Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995) (on 8 lists)
Tricky Maxinquaye (1995) (on 6 lists)
Björk Post (1995) (on 6 lists)
The Verve A Northern Soul (1995) (on 3 lists)
Leftfield Leftism (1995) (on 3 lists)
D’Angelo Brown Sugar (1995) (on 4 lists)
Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… (1995) (on 3 lists)
Mobb Depp The Infamous… (1995) (on 3 lists)
PJ Harvey To Bring You My Love (1995) (on 3 lists)
GZA Liquid Swords (1995) (on 3 lists)
Beck Odelay (1996) (on 16 lists)
DJ Shadow Endtroducing….. (1996) (on 12 lists)
Manic Street Preachers Everything Must Go (1996) (on 6 lists)
Pulp Different Class (1996) (on 8 lists)
Fugees The Score (1996) (on 6 lists)
Belle & Sebastian If You’re Feeling Sinister (1996) (on 6 lists)
Sepultura Roots (1996) (on 3 lists)
Stereolab Emperor Tomato Ketchup (1996) (on 3 lists)
Jay-Z Reasonable Doubt (1996) (on 3 lists)
Weezer Pinkerton (1996) (on 3 lists)
Radiohead OK Computer (1997) (on 26 lists)
The Verve Urban Hymns (1997) (on 8 lists)
The Prodigy The Fat of the Land (1997) (on 7 lists)
Bob Dylan Time Out of Mind (1997) (on 6 lists)
Spiritualized Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (1997) (on 5 lists)
Elliott Smith Either/Or (1997) (on 10 lists)
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds The Boatman’s Call (1997) (on 4 lists)
Sleater-Kinney Dig Me Out (1997) (on 4 lists)
Chemical Brothers Dig Your Own Hole (1997) (on 4 lists)
Björk Homogenic (1997) (on 6 lists)
Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) (on 14 lists)
Lucinda Williams Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998) (on 7 lists)
Air Moon Safari (1998) (on 6 lists)
Madonna Ray of Light (1998) (on 5 lists)
OutKast Aquemini (1998) (on 5 lists)
Mercury Rev Deserter’s Songs (1998) (on 3 lists)
Massive Attack Mezzanine (1998) (on 5 lists)
Neutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane over the Sea (1998) (on 6 lists)
Moby Play (1999) (on 5 lists)
Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication (1999) (on 6 lists)
The Flaming Lips The Soft Bulletin (1999) (on 7 lists)
The Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs (1999) (on 7 lists)
Eminem The Slim Shady LP (1999) (on 4 lists)
Sigur Ros Ágætis byrjun (1999) (on 6 lists)
2000-2009
Radiohead Kid A (2000) (on 16 lists)
PJ Harvey Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea (2000) (on 9 lists)
OutKast Stankonia (2000) (on 9 lists)
Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) (on 7 lists)
Coldplay Parachutes (2000) (on 5 lists)
D’Angelo Voodoo (2000) (on 4 lists)
U2 All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000) (on 3 lists)
Erykah Badu Mama’s Gun (2000) (on 4 lists)
The Avalanches Since I Left You (2000) (on 3 lists)
The Strokes Is This It (2001) (on 14 lists)
Jay-Z The Blueprint (2001) (on 7 lists)
Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2001) (on 7 lists)
The White Stripes White Blood Cells (2001) (on 5 lists)
System of a Down Toxicity (2001) (on 5 lists)
Bob Dylan Love and Theft (2001) (on 3 lists)
Gillian Welch Time (The Revelator) (2001) (on 3 lists)
Daft Punk Discovery (2001) (on 5 lists)
Coldplay A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002) (on 7 lists)
The Streets Original Pirate Material (2002) (on 3 lists)
The White Stripes Elephant (2003) (on 8 lists)
Dizzee Rascal Boy in Da Corner (2003) (on 3 lists)
Arcade Fire Funeral (2004) (on 10 lists)
Kanye West The College Dropout (2004) (on 9 lists)
Green Day American Idiot (2004) (on 6 lists)
Madvillain Madvillainy (2004) (on 4 lists)
Sufjan Stevens Illinois (2005) (on 6 lists)
Kanye West Late Registration (2005) (on 3 lists)
Amy Winehouse Back to Black (2006) (on 7 lists)
Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not (2006) (on 4 lists)
MGMT Oracular Spectacular (2007) (on 3 lists)
Radiohead In Rainbows (2007) (on 7 lists)
LCD Soundsystem Sound of Silver (2007) (on 6 lists)
M.I.A Kala (2007) (on 3 lists)
Elbow The Seldom Seen Kid (2008) (on 3 lists)
Portishead Third (2008) (on 4 lists)
Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes (2008) (on 3 lists)
Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009) (on 5 lists)
2010-Present
Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) (on 9 lists)
Arcade Fire The Suburbs (2010) (on 4 lists)
Adele 21 (2011) (on 3 lists)
PJ Harvey Let England Shake (2011) (on 3 lists)
Kendrick Lamar good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012) (on 3 lists)
Frank Ocean Channel Orange (2012) (on 4 lists)
Kanye West Yeezus (2013) (on 3 lists)
Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City (2013) (on 3 lists)
Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) (on 6 lists)
Sufjan Stevens Carrie & Lowell (2015) (on 4 lists)
David Bowie Blackstar (2016) (on 5 lists)
Frank Ocean Blond (2016) (on 5 lists)
Beyoncé Lemonade (2016) (on 3 lists)
Solange A Seat at the Table (2016) (on 3 lists)
Lorde Melodrama (2017) (on 3 lists)